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NEWS INDEX page 81
Jan 14: Cell phone topic of new thriller
Jan 14: Actor Lee Min-ho: "Past trials led me to drama role"
Jan 15: Copyright Infringement of Celebrity Images On the Rise
Jan 15: Slugger Appearance Signals Change in '1 Night 2 Days'
Jan 15: Double Standard By Drama Production Association Sparks Outrage
Jan 13: Singer Yoon-ha in a Japanese film
Jan 14: Fajr Film Fest Hosts Korean Retrospective
Jan 14: Danny Boyle Asked to Direct Lady Vengeance Remake
Jan 14: MoMA to Screen Korean Colonial-Era Films
Jan 16: Seeking solace with Cinderella
Jan 16: Will 'A Frozen Flower' Continue Box Office Lead for 3rd Week?
Jan 10: Lee Hyo-ri
Jan 10: Frozen Flower (Review 2009)
Jan 16: MBC Nixes Actor's Comeback Bid
Jan 17: Kim Tae-hee Responds to Rumors on TV
Jan 17: Korea抯 慶elebrity artist |
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January 14, 2009
Cell phone topic of new thriller
Mobile devices have become the norm, saving time and energy for a person on-the-go. Many folks, however, use them to store sensitive information like intimate photos and videos. It is not usually until they have been lost that the owner realizes they should have been more cautious.
That is the premise cooked up by director Kim Han-min for his second feature-length film, "Hand Phone," as Koreans usually refer to mobile phones. It stars Eom Tae-woong and Park Yong-woo as the story's anti-hero and villain.
Kim is considered a major up-and-coming director. His debut work "Paradise Murdered" two years ago drew 2.2 million to the theater, more than adequate by local standards, and also met with critical approval.
For Eom, this is his first lead role in a feature film. He tries to convince viewers his life is coming apart as his character is hounded by an unknown ominous figure played by character actor Park. Eom is the younger brother of Uhm Jung-wha, a leading pop star and actress, but he has proved to be an star in his own right over the past several years. Eom plays a high-profile company executive who gets involved with a psychopath (Park) who unwittingly picks up his mobile phone that contains sexually explicit videos of a rising starlet.
L - R: Eom Tae Woong, Park Yong Woo, Dir. Kim Han Min
At a press conference held Monday in Seoul, the film's plot sparked a discussion on issues of privacy and human nature between the two leads. It was hosted by MC and comedian, Kim Gu-ra, who also makes a cameo, playing himself. "For me, the loss of contact information like phone numbers would be the most important if I lost my phone, but I wouldn't be worried about having my private life exposed because I only have harmless pictures of my dog and girlfriend -- nothing scandalous," Eom said.
When the conversation shifted to whether the actors themselves have invaded the privacy of another by looking through a mobile phone, the two leads each had a different answer. "As a matter of fact I do frequently check my girlfriend's phone records to see who she's called and who she's been getting calls from -- she does the same thing, mind you. We've done this for two years and we do it because we trust each other."
Park had a different take. "I've never checked up on my woman's phone records ever. We have boundaries and that's a line we both agreed never to cross," Park said. "This isn't because we have secrets to hide, but we just feel certain things like phone records should be kept private."
But the two thespians had one thing in common. They have both frequently lost their phones during a night out drinking with buddies. "I've never gotten back my phone whenever I lost it, but if someone tried to mess around by toying with me using my phone, I would want to track him down and administer a beat down, that's for sure," said Eom.
Park said he hoped viewers would not interpret the two characters as simply good and evil, but as real people whose motivations they can understand in the context of situations they are pitted against in the film. "I hope people don't see both our characters simply as good and evil because both of our characters have endearing qualities," Park said.
"Hand Phone" will be released nationwide Feb. 19.
By Song Woong-ki ([email protected]), captures from empas.com
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/15/200901150011.asp
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January 14, 2009
Actor Lee Min-ho: "Past trials led me to drama role"
Main lead of the KBS 2TV drama "Boys over Flowers"
The latest heartthrob for Korean women is the young actor Lee Min-ho, the hero of the new hit KBS 2TV drama (airing Mon-Tues) "Boys over Flowers." His casting as the hero of this drama series, extremely popular across Asia, created a buzz from the start. Any handsome actor would covet the role of one of the members of the "F4," a group of rich and popular boys at a school where the story takes place.
The Korean cast for F4 was finally revealed and the casting of a complete novice actor, Lee (22), for the role of F4 leader "Gu Jun-pyo" was almost shocking. The series has kicked off and Lee has literally become a star overnight, silencing doubts of how he would handle the heavyweight role. His name tops various Internet search-word lists and 100,000 fans visit his Internet homepage each day.
The "F4 craze" has hit Korea since the drama series was also made in Taiwan and Japan, and Lee is at the center of it all. But he had his share of trials thus far. He debuted in the 2006 EBS drama "The Secret Campus" but had to take a year off after a car accident. After his rehabilitation, he landed his first lead role in the SBS high teen drama "Mackerel Run!" but the series ran short.
Lee said, "If I didn't have the accident and continued acting I might not have been able to meet 'Jun-pyo.' I shiver at this thought. What I suffered led me to this breakthrough role. I worried about the role because I'm unknown to the public, but of course I was thrilled to be cast."
But the title role of the super popular Asian drama series is actually a heavy burden to shoulder.
Jun-pyo is the heir to Korea's number one conglomerate group and a typical spoiled and arrogant character. He is hot-tempered and rough, but also has childlike innocence. A polar opposite of his friend Ji-hu (played by Kim Hyeon-jung), Jun-pyo has his heart firmly set on Geum Jan-di (Gu Hye-seon), the daughter of a working class family who runs a dry cleaning store.
Women viewers empathize with the rich F4 boys doting on Jan-di. They also get to love Jun-pyo as more of his sides are shown and say he is attractive in many ways. Women want to take care of him and be embraced by him at the same time.
He is a high school student in the drama, but Lee is actually on leave from Konkuk Univ. where he majors in cinema/art. What is Lee really like? He said, "I think I'm somewhere between Jun-pyo and Jan-di. I have both sides of them. This cute handsome guy role is unfamiliar though. I can totally carry a pathetic role as well (laugh). But for now, I hope to be Jun-pyo and him alone."
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1565237_28572.html
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January 15, 2009
Copyright Infringement of Celebrity Images On the Rise
From left, BoA, Jang Na-ra, and Lee Young-ae
Overseas copyright infringement on images of Korea's top stars, including Jang Na-ra, BoA, Ha Ji-won, and Sung Yu-ri, is on the rise. Popular stars on the international stage are more likely to be exposed to the violation.
How their pictures are used also varies. BoA appeared as a model for an illegal business in the United States while Lee Young-ae's images were unknowingly used to promote a restaurant in China. Jang Na-ra's pictures also appeared on cosmetic products without her consent.
As the violation of portrait rights affects their modeling prospects for other products, the infringement is seen to damage the development of the Korean Wave.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200901/200901150013.html
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January 15, 2009
Slugger Appearance Signals Change in '1 Night 2 Days'
The popular "1 Night 2 Days" corner of the KBS 2TV entertainment program "Happy Sunday" is up for a new wave of change.
The rave response to its episode starring major League baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho and shot in Gongju has been forecast to signal a major revamping and second revival for 1 Night 2 Days.
Producer Lee Myung-han said, "Park seamlessly mingled with the cast members, which has laid the groundwork to invite any celebrities in future episodes." He stressed the principle of not using guest stars only for promotional purposes but that one or two more guests will appear this year.
The existing cast and the content of the show will remain intact but featured guests will appear once in a while to spice up the show. Another new attempted change is citizen participation. Some 9300 hundred teams of 150,000 people have applied for a joint shoot with the cast. This special episode of "Together with the viewers" will be shot this month and air next month.
A special edition similar to last year's highlight, a trip to Mount Baekdu, is also planned this year. Producer Lee said, "It's still being planned but we may visit a significant locale abroad where many Koreans live. We will pursue subtle, gradual changes and nothing drastic like a new cast member or a change in the format."
The episode in which pitcher Park led a tour around his hometown of Gongju was aired for three weeks until the past Sunday. Ratings pollster TNS Media Korea says viewer ratings posted 31.6% that day and a record 48% in per-minute ratings. A rival program on SBS recorded 27.7%.
Source: KBS Global |
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Posted on 01.15.09 to Korean Dramas, Star News by hanfever
Double Standard By Drama Production Association Sparks Outrage
Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response sometimes seen in abducted hostages, in which the hostage shows signs of loyalty to the abductor, regardless of the danger in which they have been placed. The Korea TV Drama Production Company Association has once stated that due to the high wages asked by the Korean stars, the TV drama market is facing a possible collapse fueled by the global economic recession. However recently, they have announced that some 搒pecial benefits |
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January 13, 2009
Singer Yoon-ha in a Japanese film
Youn-ha / Yoon-ha抯 popularity in Japan as a singer landed her a role in the Japanese film This Sunday. The film is scheduled for a Japanese release in this year抯 spring. It is still unknown when the film will play in Korean cinemas.
Yoon-ha plays a Korean exchange student who is struggling to adept to life in Japan. Yoon-ha has experience acting in a short film.
The male lead is a role by Japan's foremost kabuki actor Ichikawa Somekoro. Director Kenmochi Satoki is at the helm. The film was shot in Nagano and also on location in Korea.
Credits: Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC), image from empas.com |
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Official website FIFF 2009
January 14, 2009
Fajr Film Fest Hosts Korean Retrospective
Iran抯 major annual film event, the 27th Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF), held in Tehran, will showcase a retrospective of contemporary Korean films. 13 features produced from the years 2000 through 2008 will screen in the Persian capital, January 30 to February 10, 2009.
Along with the retrospective, JEON Soo-il抯 With a Girl of Black Soil (2007) was selected in the line-up of the Asian Cinema competition section. It will vie alongside North Korean film A School Girl抯 Diary by JAN In-hak and 11 other features from across Asia.
Among selections in the retrospective are titles such as PARK Chan-wook抯 Joint Security Area (2000), BAEK Woon-Hak抯 Tube (2003), KIM Ji-woon抯 The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), JOO Kyung-jung抯 A Little Monk (2002), and SHIM Hyung-rae抯 Dragon Wars (2007).
In previous year抯 a number of Korean films have won awards at FIFF, including YOON Jong-chan抯 Blue Swallow, which won the Best Screenplay award for Asian Cinema in 2007 and IM Tae-hyun抯 Little Brother, which won the Best Director award for Spiritual Cinema in 2006.
Credits: Nigel D扴a (KOFIC) |
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January 14, 2009
Danny Boyle Asked to Direct Lady Vengeance Remake
Reports of remakes of PARK Chan-wook抯 vengeance trilogy films have been headline news in the entertainment industry over the past year. The latest comes from the mouth of director Danny Boyle (Golden Globe winner for Slum Dog Millionaire) who told Empire Online that he has been asked to direct the remake of PARK抯 Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.
The film, PARK抯 final installment in the revenge trilogy, made news earlier last year when actress Charlize Theron announced she would produce the project and take the lead role (play by LEE Young-ae in the original).
Boyle, who has won numerous awards for hits such as Trainspotting, The Beach, and 28 Days Later, was expected to direct The Bromeliad trilogy for Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks, but announced that the project had fallen through, making Lady Vengeance a serious possibility. Boyle added that he had just bought a DVD of PARK抯 first installment, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.
The news follows on reports late last year that Spielberg and Will Smith were considering a remake of PARK's 2004 Cannes Grand Prize winner Old Boy. An exciting surmise would be that Spielberg may back Lady Vengeance with Theron starring and producing and Boyle directing.
Credits: Nigel D扴a (KOFIC) |
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January 14, 2009
MoMA to Screen Korean Colonial-Era Films
New York抯 Museum of Modern Art will present an exhibition of some of the earliest known Korean films, made during the 1930抯 and 40抯, during the Japanese Occupation. The seven films to be screened were rediscovered in 2003 and 2004 at the Chinese Film Archive and restored in new 35mm prints by the Korean Film Archive.
This is the first time these carefully restored prints will be shown outside of Korea. They present a rare visual record and narrative resource to this little-known period. The exhibition titled 揔orean Films Made During the Japanese Occupation |
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January 16, 2009
Seeking solace with Cinderella
慖ndulging yourself in this kind of fantasy is a healthy way of relieving stress,
especially because women can easily relate to the stories |
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January 16, 2009
Will 'A Frozen Flower' Continue Box Office Lead for 3rd Week?
With no particularly anticipated new film, eyes are on whether the domestic hit "A Frozen Flower (Ssanghwajeom)" can continue its box office lead for the third week.
The film opened Dec. 30. According to the integrated ticket sales network of the Korean Film Council, the film's share of ticket reservations was 25.4%, compared to 17.6% for the Hollywood animated film "Madagascar 2" and 15.8% for the domestic comedy "Speedy Scandal." On the ticket portal Interpark, "Flower" commanded 24.4% in reservations, higher than "Scandal" (21%) and "Madagascar 2" (12.6%).
"A Frozen Flower" has been running for the third week, "Madagascar" for the second week and "Scandal" is in its seventh week, but yet no new films are set to hit theaters, allowing the three way rivalry to continue this weekend.
Other movies ranking on the box office list are the action flick "Transporter III - The Last Mission" starring Jason Statham, Jim Carrey's comedy "Yes Man" and the Disney animation "Bolt."
Of particular note among the rankings list is the small-budget film "Old Partner" to be screened in only seven theaters nationwide. The Korean documentary by Lee Chung-ryoul is a story about an 80 year-old farmer and a 40 year-old cow, touching on themes of life, death and parting. The independent film competed in the Sundance Film Festival, a first for a Korean documentary.
"Old Partner" will mainly be screened in small art theaters but its reservation rate compares to those of other commercial films running on hundreds of screens at mega multiplex chains. Its ticket sales share the 5th rank on Interpark.com with 6% and a 7th place spot on Maxmovie.com with 2.6%.
Other new films include "Whatever Lola Wants," a film about an American girl succeeding as a belly dancer in Egypt, "Butterfly," a French film about the friendship of an old man and a boy, the wacky horror comedy "Teeth" and the screen version of a Japanese TV series entitled "Top Blade - The Movie."
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1565745_28572.html
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January 10, 2009
Lee Hyo-ri
Popular K-pop singer, actor and TV host Lee Hyo-ri recently shocked her fans when she was found unconscious by her manager in her own home in the morning of December 26. The pop diva was immediately rushed to the emergency room of Samsung Medical Center where she received treatment for pneumonia, dehydration and malnutrition.
Although the doctors insisted that she be hospitalized for at least ten days, she was released a week later on January 2 and is currently resting at home. She plans to return to TV next week.
Lee successfully held her very first solo concert since her debut on December 19th and December 20th. At the time of the concert, Lee suffered from a severe case of flu and was hospitalized just days before the concert and received treatment. Lee received medical treatment for a whole week following her concert due to weakened health conditions.
Lee reportedly lost seven kilos over a period of just ten days prior to her concert. Her physical condition since her collapase was in such a bad condition that she even had a hard time talking. The pop diva did not attend the numerous award ceremonies at the end of the year and has cancelled most of her schedule that had been set for early January including TV appearances and shoots for ad campaigns.
Lee reportedly went through a hard core training regimen for 60 days before her solo concert. She also skipped meals to lose weight and lost seven kilograms in just ten days.
Lee Hyori is a pop singer who debuted in the summer of 1998 as a member of pop girl group Finkl. She went solo in 2003 with the release of her debut solo album entitled 慡tylish匛. |
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January 16, 2009
MBC Nixes Actor's Comeback Bid
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Actor Lee Kyung-young
Actor Lee Kyung-young's attempt to make a comeback in the upcoming MBC drama "Iljimae Returns" has failed as MBC asked the producers to remove Lee's scenes from the drama.
Lee, 48, has been blacklisted by MBC since he was arrested in 2001 for having sex with a minor. Since then, he has not appeared in a television drama on MBC or other major networks.
Lee was recently cast in a supporting role of a father of Dari, a girlfriend of Iljimae in the drama which deals with the Joseon Kingdom's version of Robin Hood (played by Jung Il-woo), which begins airing Jan. 21. Lee's character was supposed to appear in four episodes, before being killed off.
However, MBC deemed it inappropriate to cast Lee in the drama. The production was asked to remove Lee's scenes, and to re-shoot the scenes with a different actor.
Before the scandal, Lee appeared in several popular TV dramas such as SBS's "Firework" with actress Lee Young-ae and actor Cha In-pyo, and "Blue Mist" from KBS. He also starred in the film, "The Windmill Palm Grove" in 2005.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/01/178_37984.html
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Frozen Flower (2009)
10th January 2009
Ok. I抦 impressed. I went into town and watched Yu Ha抯 latest film, Frozen Flower starring Jo In-seong, Ju Jin-mo and Song Ji-hyo. Eventually. I actually had to wait two hours because the screening time I expected to see was sold out at several theaters. But it was worth the wait. Beautiful costumes, excellent acting, impressive sets and an interesting story combined to make the 133 minute long running time of this film fly by. The story has been well publicized in the Korean media, but if you haven抰 been able to see it, here is a spoiler-free synopsis:
It is the story of the Koryo king who has fallen in love with the head of his personal guards, Hong Rim and the two have been lovers since they were young. Of course, the queen resents this relationship and her bitterness is clearly portrayed in her silent fury. The king, however, must produce an heir but he refuses to bed his wife. Instead he turns to his best friend/confidante/and lover to impregnate his wife. Although reluctant at first, Hong discovers that he swings both ways and enjoys his time with the queen. The queen also comes to respond to Hong杊er hatred of him turing to love. However, a relationship outside of the king抯 mandated affair would prove dangerous to both and Hong struggles between his love and duty for the king and his growing love for the queen.
I was warned by one of my students not to see this film. 揈veryone takes their clothes off |
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January 17, 2009
Kim Tae-hee Responds to Rumors on TV
Kim Tae-hee
Actress Kim Tae-hee first spoke about the rumor surrounding her relationship with the son of a giant conglomerate. She appeared on Sunday's Park Jung Hoon Show aired by KBS and candidly addressed the rumor.
She said, "In the beginning, I thought the rumor would soon disappear, since it was not true. However, it spread uncontrollably and became established as fact. I didn't take any active measures because I didn't know it would become this serious. And I waited because if I made a fuss, I thought the rumor might snowball."
She also added, "My agency selectively sued netizens who spread the malicious rumor, but dropped it later because the police investigation confirmed it to be untrue. Also they were not the ones who started the rumor in the first place."
She also spoke about the controversy surrounding her acting skills. She has been spotlighted as a model in commercials but has so far failed to prove her appeal in other fields. When asked about this, she said, "That's because I haven't yet been able to show interesting sides of myself in other works. I was confident and comfortable shooting commercials because they are relatively easy, but dramas and movies require more skills and the burden has prevented me from doing better."
However, she also showed her passion as an actress saying, "I am still developing and becoming more confident. I will never stop pursuing acting as long as the viewers allow me to. As I live the lives of others and try to find things inside me to express genuine emotions, I become increasingly thirsty to act."
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200901/200901170002.html
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January 17, 2009
Korea抯 慶elebrity artist |
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January 17, 2009
Singer honored for her filial devotion
Singer Jung Hyoun-sook will receive a special award
at the Samsung Foundation抯 Filial Piety Awards ceremony
later this month. By Kim Do-hun
Filial duty is more than simply obeying or submitting to one抯 parents. Rather, the sentiment should spring from deep within the heart, according to 50-year-old Korean singer Jung Hyoun-sook.
Jung, who burst onto the Korean music scene in 1979, is renowned not only for her voice, but for her devotion to her late parents. For nearly three decades, she nursed her mother, who had a stroke in 1980 and passed away in 2007, and her father, who was diagnosed with dementia from 1991 and passed away in 1996.
During these years, she experienced some hard times.
It was up to Jung to bathe her parents. Her father often wandered off alone, causing many anxious trips to the police station. Sometimes, not recognizing his daughter, Jung抯 father would attack her as she tried to help him bathe.
Despite the difficulties, Jung, the youngest of six siblings, was always there beside her sick parents. Now, years after their deaths, Jung抯 devotion to her parents will be honored when she receives a special award this month at the 33rd Samsung Filial Piety Awards, an annual ceremony held by the Samsung Foundation.
She remains modest. 揑 should have looked after my parents more carefully - I owe them so much, |
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January 14, 2009
Seung Ri's solo debut with 'Strong Baby'
Seung Ri's solo song "Strong Baby" is becoming the new hit song in *recent days. Strong Baby is *rapidly topping several online music charts such as Cyworld.
As the youngest member of the boy band Big Bag, Seung Ri successfully debuted as a solo singer just before the New Year arrived. On Dec. 29, Seung Ri performed his song for the first time on SBS's "Gayo-daejeon" (가요대전 ).
The newly image for his first solo performance showed the charismatic, *masculine side of the 18-year-old. Being the baby of the team, he was always *portrayed as the cute, *energetic teenager. But his *remarkable first performance *proved otherwise as he *vigorously *flaunted his sexiness. He also surprised his fans by sporting a *sleek look with a *suit and was *exceptionally *praised for his killer *abs he revealed in Strong Baby's music video.
Seung Ri's solo debut is getting mixed *reviews from young netizens. Most netizens think he is undoubtedly getting his first *big break as a solo artist. On the other hand, some think his new manliness is a little *awkward and wish he would *remain as the cute, *bubbly boy.
In the meantime, the song has also been *banned by KBS's *Deliberation Commission due to "*explicit content." There is a part in the song that says "crack" which the dictionary defines it as something getting damaged or broken. But crack is also a *slang word for *drugs so that is why the song became banned.
Seung Ri's management company YG Entertainment is planning to make an *appeal after replacing the word "crack" with "clap" in the lyrics.
Strong Baby is one of the songs on Big Bang's 2nd official album "Remember," released last November. It was written by the team's leader and producer G-Dragon and composer Bae Jinryeol, who composed Rain's "Rainism."
By Yoo Bo-lam ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 14/200901140088.asp |
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January 18, 2009
Cultureline
TVXQ
TVXQ Album Goes Gold in Japan
Korean pop group TVXQ's latest Japanese single "Jumun-Mirotic" became a 2008 'Gold' seller, the Recording Industry Association of Japan announced Thursday.
The association analyzes annual album sales and certifies titles: a 'Million' if a record sells over 1 million copies; 'Platinum' if over 250,000; and 'Gold' if over 100,000.
This is TVXQ's fifth Gold album in Japan following "T," "Summer," "Beautiful You" and "Why Did I Fall in Love With You.'' It is the five-member boy band's 25th single released in the country, where they have held top spots in the music charts since making headway in the market two years ago. 'Million' sellers for 2008 went to seven albums by Japanese artists such as Hikaru Utada and Namie Amuro.
"Jumun-Mirotic" was released in Korea in September 2008 as part of TVXQ's fourth album. It sold over 500,000 copies in 103 days, breaking the local sales record set five years ago by Kim Kun-mo's eighth album.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr |
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