Korea Observer

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Chinese pop star Hangeng is set to do his first Hollywood film. The former member of K-pop boy band Super Junior has been cast in the American movie "Transformers 4," sending his fans into a frenzy. Hangeng (Photo by www.michaelbay.com)

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By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop acts Kim Hyun Joong and TVXQ's respective singles have been certified gold in Japan. Kim Hyun Joong's third Japanese single "Tonight" and TVXQ's new single "Ocean" have sold at least 100,000 copies each, according to the latest certifications issued by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Kim Hyun Joong and TVXQ (Photos by KeyEast and TVXQ Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin A year after Hwayoung left K-pop act T-ara amidst accusations that she was bullied, another member has decided to leave the girl group to launch a solo career. Ahreum has been announced that she will be leaving T-ara for her solo debut. Apparently, her musical preference is different from that of T-ara’s music. Ahreum (Photo by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin A week before the finals of the 2013 Pinoy K-pop Star, 18-year-old Kristine Bernadette Solis was suffering from pharyngitis, or inflammation of the throat, that she was unable to practice her song "Can't Let You Go" by Seo Young Eun, an original soundtrack for the hit drama "49 Days." What she could only do was listen to the song over and over. She was only able to practice her piece the night before the finals. Pinoy K-pop Star 2013 winner Kristine Bernadette Solis (center) together with judges Director Hwang Seong-un (left) of KCC in the Philippines and Director Kim Yoon-sik (right) of the Korea Copyright Commission. (Photo by KCC Philippines)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin In 2011, Lester Avan Andrada, a Communication Arts majoring in Theater student at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos (UPLB), became an exchange student at the Far East University (FEU) in Korea. As he was training at FEU-Korea's Theater and Acting Department, he saw an ad for a role in a Korean film posted by a talent agent in March last year. He tried his luck and auditioned the following month.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Asian pop star Rain has been discharged from the Korean army at about 8 a.m. today after serving for 21 months. Hundreds of fans including from Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, Malaysia and the US and the media waited for him outside the Ministry of National Defense office in Yongsan, Seoul. Photos by www.newsen.com

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop diva Lee Hyori, 34, is getting married to her boyfriend, musician Lee Sang Soon, 40, according to reports. The two are reportedly planning to wed in September in Jeju Island in Korea. (Clockwise from top left) Lee Hyori, Lee Sang Soon, Lee Na Young and Won Bin. (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Back in February, indie band Crying Nut filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against pop rock band CNBLUE and its agency, FNC Entertainment, for using one of its songs on a TV show and DVD without permission. Now, FNC Entertainment has asked a Korean court to order indie band Crying Nut to delete posts on the latter's website pertaining to the lawsuit. CNBLUE in Manila (Photo courtesy of CNBLUE's Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Some fans of Super Junior, called ELFS, are targeting again Super Junior M members Henry Lau and Zhoumi as they demanded SM Entertainment to clarify and define the boundaries between Super Junior and the two in the Super Show 5 world tour. S uper Junior with Henry Lau and Zhoumi in the Super Show 5 in Chile (Photo courtesy of SM Entertainment)