Which Korean Group Has Had The Biggest Japanese Debut So Far?
From TVXQ to Girls’ Generation, its no secret Japan has become by far one of the biggest hot spots for Korean artists to expand their talent, into the world’s 2nd highest selling music distributor. But which artist has had the biggest debut in sales so far?
Despite not taking the no.1 spot when they debuted, Girls’ Generation charmed the people of Japan with their debut single “Genie” selling 44,907 in 2010, making them the no.1 Korean female group with highest debut sales.
On the other hand Jang Geun Suk who made his debut less than 2 weeks ago with “Let Me Cry” sold an impressive 119,149 copies, not only breaking an Oricon record, but making him the no.1 soloist on the list.
Finally MBLAQ not only ranks as the highest debut sales by a male group, but they also broke a record becoming the 1st group to chart no.1 on the Daily Charts.
Check out the list below:
01. Jang Geun Suk 119,149
02. SNSD “Genie” 44,907
03. MBLAQ “Your Luv” 40,281
04. KARA “Mister” 29,238
05. Beast “Shock” 28,532
06. Big Bang “Heaven” 26,039
07. BoA “ID Peace B” 14,740
08. Supernova 8,542
09. ZE:A “Love letter/My only wish” 8,273
10. SES “Meguriau Sekai” 7,390
11. Se7en “Hikari” 7,303
12. 4MINUTE “Muzik” 4,241
13. FT Island “One Way” 4,043
14. CN Blue “The Way” 3,353
15. DBSK “Hug” 2,502
Did your favorite artist sell as much as you expected?
Source : GoKpop
BoA will begin shooting for “COBU 3D” on Monday
Top singer BoA’s acting debut and Hollywood dance movie “COBU 3D” is just around the corner. On May 7th, BoA updated her Twitter and wrote, “Just finished all preparing for my movie… All I need to hear from the director is ..’action’!!!!!!”
She continues, “Shooting starts on next Monday!!! Can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheer up for COBU 3D!!”
According to BoA’s agency, SM Entertainment, she has been staying in Toronto, Canada all this while and will officially begin shooting for the movie “COBU 3D” on May 9th.
BoA plays the female lead Aya alongside “Dancing With The Stars” Derek Hough. Their two characters grow up in different environment, but eventually meet at an underground New York club. However, Aya and Donny (Derek Hough) are put into a Romeo and Juliet situation as both of their brothers own rival clubs.
“Step Up” and “Save the Last Dance” director Duane Adler, and “Jumanji” producer Robert Cort have joined together to create “COBU 3D.” SM Entertainment and CJ Entertainment have been listed as co-producers.
Take a cruise with BoA, TVXQ, and SNSD
One of Korea’s biggest cruise line, AllThatCruise, announced on May 2nd at the “Korean Cruise Establishment” press conference about its plans of creating the biggest cruise line titled the “Hallyu Star.” The cruise line will be 74,000 tons and will be Korea’s biggest cruise line.
AllThatCruise has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SM Entertainment’s affiliated company, SM Art Company, who will be providing the Hallyu performances. They have also signed a letter of intent (LOI) with CJ CGV for plans to install an on-board cinema.
The “Hallyu Star” plans to make stops at major ports in China, Korea, and Japan. Passengers will be presented a variety of Hallyu-products in addition to the performances by SM Entertainment artists such as BoA, TVXQ, and SNSD. The planned on-board cinema will provide passengers with Hallyu movies and dramas as well.
An approximate cost for the cruise line “Hallyu Star” has also been revealed to be $190 USD per day per person, or 1.2 million won (approximately $1,115 USD) for 6 days per person.
AllThatCruise CEO Lee Kangok said, “We will be arriving at each nation’s ports in one to two day intervals, so passengers will be able to enjoy performances from Hallyu stars as they wait to leave the cruise liner at the next stop and explore a new destination. Through the 6 day package we will be providing, passengers will be able to enjoy various aspects of the Hallyu culture such as Korea’s food and traditional performances.”
“If one takes into consideration the fact that those who purchase the 6 day package will have unlimited access to the cruise liner’s additional facilities, such as the restaurants, swimming pools and performances, one will see that it costs less to experience what the cruise liner has to offer than to pursue these activities independently in Korea.”
AllThatCruise claimed ownership to “Hallyu Star” after 7 years repaying all of their funds to companies such as KSF Ship Finance and Asia Trust. According to AllThatCruise, they are confident in this cruise line as the cruise line industry has increased at an average of 12.2% per year.
AllThatCruise has planned for “Hallyu Star” to launch the cruise line on January 2012 with plans to expand to the Mediterranean in 2014 with a 100,000 cruise liner. In order to further expand into Europe, North America, and the Middle East, AllThatCruise is expected to be one of the leading cruise liners in the world by launching four 150,000 cruise liners between 2016 and 2020.
Source: Koreaboo, EBN News, dongbangdata
SM Entertainment plans for South American tour in July!
“This time, it’s South America!”
TVXQ, BoA, Super Junior, SNSD, SHINee, f(x) and other SM Entertainment artists are preparing for a tour in South America. According to SM Entertainment representatives, the company is currently planning to hold a series of “SM Town Live” concerts in South American countries such as Brazil and Chile in July.
The South American tour has been in the planning stage since last year, when SM Entertainment artists embarked on the “SM Town World Tour” and held an unforgettable concert in Los Angeles, USA.
Due to the popularity of Kpop and SM Entertainment artists in South America, the company plans to tap into this untouched market with a series of concerts in the continent. In February, a Brazilian program asked viewers “Which Korean singer do you want to come to Brazil?” and SM Entertainment artists dominated the results, with Super Junior, BoA, SNSD and SHINee taking the #1 to #4 spots.
SM Entertainment is already taking major steps in making their mark in foreign countries, as it was recently announced that on June 10th, SM artists will hold “SM Town in Paris” and mark Europe’s first Kpop concert ever. Tickets for the show sold out within 15 minutes and large-scale protests are happening all over Europe for SM Entertainment to add another concert date.
Last year, SM Town held concerts in Los Angeles, Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo. This year, SM Entertainment will expand into two continents that Kpop artists have never stepped into, Europe and South America.
SM Entertainment representatives stated, “SM’s ripple effect is really amazing. They have already taken over USA, China and Japan and are now accomplishing the unheard precedent of going to Europe and South America. Isn’t this the path of a true ‘World Star’?”
Source: Koreaboo, Sports Seoul
BoA’s COBU 3D brother revealed
COBU 3D will star one of the favorite stars of the ABC show “Dancing With the Stars,” Derek Hough. BoA will be starring as the lead actress and the man who will play her brother is also supposedly a famous Korean entertainer! There has been little to no news of who will play the role of BoA’s fictional brother in the movie for a long time, but BoA recently revealed him through Twitter!
BoA recently tweeted her good friend Don Theerathada. She wrote, “Going to meet my brother KAZ!!!!! Can’t wait!!!” Shortly thereafter, Don Theerathada tweeted her in response, asking her if it was a man called “Will”, to which she confirmed. After that, a new tweet appeared on her Twitter page addressed to a username called WillYunLee1.
Her later tweets left no doubt that this person, WillYunLee1, is her “brother” in the movie COBU 3D, for she wrote to this person that Don Theerathada had mentioned his greetings to him and that they would do well together in the movie! Will Yun Lee will be playing the role of Kaz, BoA’s brother in COBU 3D.
Does he sound familiar? Here’s some background on Will Yun Lee:
Will Yun Lee is an emerging talent on both the big and small screens. Lee was featured in People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful and 25 Sexiest Men Alive issues.
Will just completed shooting CBS’s Hawaii 5-0 and ABC’s Boston’s Finest. Also, in the MGM feature Red Dawn, Will is the lead villain opposite Chris Hemsworth, which will open this Thanksgiving. His film 5 Star Day, starring opposite Cam Gigandet is opening the 2010 Newport Beach Film Festival. Will starred in the critically acclaimed HBO/BBC filmTsunami: The Aftermath opposite Tim Roth, Sophie Okonedo, Toni Collette, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as well as the Emmy nominated F/X mini-series THIEF. Will’s feature credits also include the Marvel Entertainment action flick Elektra, where he played the lead villain opposite Jennifer Garner, as well as Die Another Day and Torque for Warner Brothers.
Lee was born in Arlington, Virginia, to parents recently emigrated from Korea. He was raised by both immediate and extended family and moved often, exposed to life on the Bronx streets and idyllic Hawaiian beaches. By his teens, he was living in the San Francisco area with his father, a Korean Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster. Lee also became an accomplished martial artist and won an athletic scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley.
While in school, Lee worked at the East Bay Asian Youth Centre teaching high-risk teens from neighborhoods not unlike those he had known as a child in the Bronx. It was there that his ongoing commitment to young people began, a commitment that continues to play an important role in his life.
It was also at this time that he became seriously interested in acting, and after landing a role in Nash Bridges he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career. Guest star roles in series such as Profiler and Brimstone led to a role in the TV movie The Disciples for UPN, and soon after to What’s Cooking and TNT’s Witchblade.
The casting of Will Yun Lee is another addition to the star studded cast of COBU 3D. His experience and recognition by the American entertainment industry is sure to assist the interest that’s already swirling around the movie. Do you think that Will Yun Lee makes a good fit for the role of BoA’s brother?
Source: Koreaboo, @WillYunLee1, @BoA_1105, @Don_Thai
MTVK Chooses the 10 Sexiest Female Idols
MTVK recently released their ranking of the top ten sexiest female idols.
MTVK recently released their picks for the top ten sexiest Kpop idols.
Check out their ranking below, and be sure to stay tuned, as MTVK announced that they will also release a list of the top ten sexiest male idols in the near future!
Rainbow’s leader Jae Kyung is well known for her well-proportioned physique, and has recently wowed fans with her new, more mature image.
Brown Eyed Girls’s Ga In has gained much fame through her sensuous “Abracadabra” dance, as well as her cat-like eyeliner and tiny outfits.
Wonder Girls’ rapper Yubin adds her own sex-appeal to the typically wholesome group image.
International soloist BoA creates a strong image with her powerful vocals, sexy choreography, and unique sense of fashion.
2NE1’s rapper Park Bom is known for her trademark long hair, and short skirt, giving the funky group a sexy edge.
HyunA is notorious for both her impressive rapping skills and her risqué choreography, as exhibited during performances of “Change”, and more recently, “Mirror Mirror”.
After School’s Ka Hi boasts a perfectly proportioned figure, and a dazzling presence which allows her to stand out even in a large group of nine.
Although she may have just recently made her debut, soloist G.NA’s impressive vocal talent and glamorous figure has made her a hit in the industry.
Amidst a group of nine, all known for separate attributes, such as Hyo Yeon’s dancing skills and Tae Yeon’s strong vocals, Yu Ri is most known for her sexy image.
Former Fin.K.L. member turned hit soloist, Lee Hyo Ri’s name is piratically synonymous with sexy.
What do you think of MTVK’s ranking of the top ten sexiest female idols? Who would you have added?
Source : GoKpop
BoA Features in HIGH CUT vol. 51
BoA recently appeared in a promotional clip for the skin care brand L’OCCITANE Korea for their latest product. While on set, High Cut magazine got up-close and personal with one of Korea’s brightest stars making her the front page of the site’s beauty section.
BoA, who currently is residing in Toronto, Canada working on many other promotions, makes beauty seem effortless in these candid shots of her advertisement. As a professional in the music business, many rookie Korean artists look up to her as a strong and successful individual. Now she has many woman young and old looking up to her as well for keeping skin beautiful.
Take a look at her photos below!
Source : GoKpop
Which CDs Are the Most Valuable?
Dazed Korea asked 10 music critic to choose the top 5 CDs by idols. Are you curious which CDs they chose?
At the beginnings, music critics judged music by idol stars as disposable and consumer-oriented, and denied to review their releases.
However, times changed and with that not only the quality of idol music have risen but also music critics have been more open to the idols’ music.
Dazed Korea asked 10 music critics to make a ranking of the top 5 albums by idol stars. The critics chose their most valuable and good CDs.
Have a look at their ranking below!
1. Brown Eyed Girls’ “Sound-G” (29th October 2009)
2. 2NE1’s “1st Mini Album” (8th July 2009)
3. BoA’s “NO.1” (14th January 2002)
4. Taeyang’s “Hot” (22nd May 2008)
5. SHINee’s “2009, Year Of Us” (19th October 2009)
Source : GoKpop
BoA will begin shooting for “COBU 3D” in May
Update: BoA will begin film in Toronto starting May 9th until June 24th. Due to this, BoA has confirmed on her Twitter that she will not be attending “SM Town Live in Paris” on June 10th. “I’m not going to “SM town in Paris”.. I will be in Toronto shooting the movie.. ;(”
It has been announced that BoA has been casted for one of the lead characters in an upcoming Hollywood dance flick called “COBU 3D.” Derek Hough, a known dancer from “Dancing With The Stars,” will play the lead male character alongside BoA. BoA and Derek’s characters fall in love with each other, and they must choose between their love or their family.
For months now, BoA has been in Toronto training in dance for the movie. Most recently, a tweet by BoA indicated that she has been training with famous choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon. These hip-hop choreographers are known for their amazing work on the Fox show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”
BoA has been taking lessons in both hip-hop and tap dancing in preparation for “COBU 3D.”
It has been reported that BoA will finally begin shooting for “COBU 3D” in May. BoA began preparing for her shoot in February in LA, then moved to Toronto for more preparation.
‘COBU’ is a group that fuses the art of Japanese traditional taiko drumming with tap dancing and has received rave reviews from the New York Times and Chicago Sun Times.
Source: Sports Ilbo, mrwillw and @BoA_1105
KARA Breaks Oricon History With New Single
Debuting less then a year ago KARA 3rd single “Jet Coaster Love” has become one of group’s biggest hits to date and its success has broken Oricon history.
Facing stiff competition KARA was able to take the no.1 spot on Oricon’s weekly charts selling 123,000 copies, nearly twice the amount of their last single “Jumping”.
KARA biggest achievement though comes in the rankings, as they are officially the 1st Korean female group to ever chart no.1 for the week in Oricon history.
With that KARA joins the ranks of TVXQ and BoA as the only Korean artists to ever achieve a no.1 single.
source : Gokpop
BoA’s Selcas of Latest Cosmetic Ad
On April 7th, BoA released selcas of herself on set of her latest cosmetics ad revealing her fresh, healthy skin and her ageless beauty! How does she do it?
Via her twitter, she posted, “During the recording!” along with photos of her during the shooting of the cosmetic ad.
Seen in the photos, BoA dresses down in a light green tank top with minimal makeup flaunting her ‘flawless honey skin.’ Jung Saemul, known for doing some of BoA’s exotic looks, stated, “BoA’s fresh and clear appearance is what I love the most.”
Netizens commented,“Cosmetics ad? It must be for foundation,” “Even with lighter makeup, she looks pretty!” “You don’t age. Such radiant skin. I really envy you,” “A good face shape!,” “Come on I want to see the new ads ~ ~ “
source : GoKpop
Taeyang and Minzy ‘Best Dancing Idols’
Recently five of the top dancing leaders were asked to name the bast dancers on the industry.
Choreography director from JYP Entertainment, YG Entertainment (Lee Jae Wook), SM Entertainment, together with the dance director of Beast (Haw of Prepix) and Secret (Park Sang Hyun) were the ones consulted to find the best dancers.
According to them Taeyang and Minzy are the idols with the right skills for dancing.
Boys: The glamorous Taeyang
Taeyang got 3 votes and the he choreography for YG Entertainment mentioned that he his power and technique accompanied by his facial expression make his unbeatable.
He also has the ability to perform different types of dances, as an example during his solo activities his stle was characterized by Soul and R&B.
A JYP choreographer also praised him saying that he has clear performances that match the music, while the SME representative said that his skills are outstanding.
Other male idol included on the best dancers list was Jay Park, who is good at dancing Old and New School, but still does not go with the usual trend.
Girls: Minzy, BoA and Min
On the girls side there were some conflicted opinions.
At the end Minzy received 2 votes and it was mentioned that she has her own unique style, exceptional talent and very good expressions.
source : GoKpop
Kyle Hanagami working with BoA for ‘COBU 3D’?
Early on this year, BoA’s casting in the Hollywood film ‘COBU 3D‘ was announced. With the announcement, the media stated that she would begin preparing for her lead role this spring. Well, it appears as if her preparations for the dance flick could be well under way!
Recently, dancer and choreographer Kyle Hanagami posted a selca of himself with the megastar. Although nothing has been confirmed as of yet, the photo along with tweets suggests that he has been working with BoA in Los Angeles
for an upcoming project, possibly being ‘COBU 3D’. He tweeted, “Sucks when u work with an artist and you can’t talk about it! Haha. :(“ and followed up with, “So nice meeting and teaching you @BoA_1105. My pleasure :).”
In addition, BoA has been known to be tweeting Derek Hough, her counterpart and love interest in the film.
So what do you readers think? Could Kyle Hanagami be choreographing some routines for BoA’s Hollywood debut? And if you haven’t seen any of this amazing dancer’s work, check them out below!
Source: Kyle Hanagami’s Twitter (@KyleHanagami), BoA’s Twitter (@BoA_1105) via allkpop
BoA for “Cosmopolitan”
Three days before BoA left Korea to begin preparations for her upcoming movie, “Step Up,” the singer joined forces with “Cosmopolitan” for an eccentric make-up themed photoshoot.
Using four key words – ‘unique,’ ‘energetic,’ ‘changeable,’ and ‘mature’ – as the photoshoot’s themes, BoA teamed up with her long-time make-up artist ‘Jung Saem Mool.’
BoA revealed, “Director Jung Saem Mool always tells me that I’ll always stick out in whatever situation I’m put in. She told me, ‘There is not one person alike in this world. They could be wearing the same make-up and take the same pictures, but it’ll all come out different. Let’s express your uniqueness.’”
Jung added, “BoA is young, but she’s a long-time friend of mine that knows how to express herself through colors and pictures. She has a soul full of creative freedom, more than we could ever imagine.”
BoA’s full photoshoot will be revealed through the April edition of “Cosmopolitan.”
source : allkpop
photos are re-uploaded by #TudimistWorld
f(x)’s Luna picks BoA as her role model
f(x)’s Luna shares another interesting story during her trainee days on a recent appearance on MBC “Come To Play.” The episode made its broadcast on March 14th and Luna shared the story of her intense training prior to debut stating that she practiced so hard that she experienced nosebleeds.
On the show, Luna further confessed that BoA is her role model and wanted to become like her when she was training. According to Luna, BoA also experienced frequent nosebleeds while intensively training for her own debut. She then continued saying, “One day, when I had my first nosebleed after several months of intensive training, I was happy. It felt like I’ve finally reached my goal.”
Source: Star News and affxtion via koreaboo
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