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March 17, 2009
After suicide, actress' letter details sexual exploitation
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, March 17 (Yonhap) -- An unfolding probe into a letter allegedly written by the late actress Jang Ja-yeon before she committed suicide is raising controversy here over the sexual exploitation of young starlets by high-powered entertainment figures.
Jang, 30, hanged herself at her home in Bundang, south of Seoul, on March 7. Her suicide shocked many as the young actress had just begun to win fame from her supporting role in KBS TV's popular drama "Boys over Flowers. "While Jang's family has said she suffered from depression, her former manager claimed there were "more specific reasons" behind the starlet's death and revealed a 12-page letter she allegedly sent him last month.
In the letter, reported by KBS TV over the weekend, Jang gives detailed accounts of how she was forced to perform sexual favors to powerful figures, including a TV producer and executives at Korea's top entertainment firm. Jang wrote that she was forced to join a golf trip out of town where she was ordered to drink and have sex with influential men against her will.
"I am a powerless young actress who can't fix what is so evidently wrong," the letter said. Jang also said she barely earned any profit and didn't even know how much she was making because her agent "took care" of all her finances.
Police said they plan to summon the entertainment agents listed in Jang's letter if it proves to be authentic. "If Jang did write the letter, all of these people will be questioned and and punished if found guilty," said Oh Ji-yong, the officer in charge of the investigation at the Bundang Police Precinct, Gyeonggi Province. "We have made several attempts to contact the head of Jang's former agency but have so far failed to contact him."
The authenticity of the letter remains a mystery. Jang's family claims they were unaware of any such hardships and has raised suspicions over why the manager suddenly chose to reveal the letter now. Regardless, this is not the first time such suspicions have been raised concerning the local entertainment industry. The reputations of several female celebrities have been tarnished in recent years after videos of them having sex appeared on the Internet, downloaded by millions.
Agents and managers often pressure actresses to have sex with them while being videotaped, using it as blackmail to prevent the starlets from skipping to bigger firms offering more money after they earn fame. Largely due to lingering Confucian values in Korea, it often takes years for these stigmatized female celebrities to re-emerge in the spotlight, if they do at all.
Despite these circumstances, burgeoning female celebrities say they "have no other choice" but to do as they are told in order to become popular and earn money. "I knew that he might use the video tape to threaten me, but I had no choice but to believe in him. It was either that, or return to being a nobody and give up my dreams," actress Lee Tae-ran had said in a tearful press conference after her sex video was leaked in 2001.
"We hope this turns out to be false, but if it is indeed true, something must be done right away," the Korea Broadcasting, Film and Arts Labor Union said in a press release Monday. "We plan to conduct our own investigation into whether any other actors have fallen victim to sexual pressure or financial extortion."
"If any similar cases are found, we plan to report them to the authorities immediately and seek their resolution."
Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr |
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March 17, 2009
'Temptation of Wife' Lures Advertisers
By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
Poster of TV drama "Temptation of Wife"
The never-ending battle of revenge getting uglier and dirtier between housewife-turned-vamp Eun-jae and her backstabbing friend Ae-ri in SBS-TV's hit drama "Temptation of Wife" is not only pleasing viewers, but also advertisers who are delighted to spot surefire, money-making exposure amid the slow economy.
Ad sales have been slow across the board in newspapers and televisions as companies tighten their budget on ad spending. But amid the dry market, all commercial slots before and after "Temptation of Wife" have been sold out for the past two months, according to the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corp (KOBACO).
"It's a rare success for sure," said Kim In-sup, a spokesman at KOBACO, which sells terrestrial TV and radio advertising on behalf of broadcast stations.
He said the hit drama, which kicked off its first episode Nov. 3 with just one commercial, started with modest viewer ratings of 12 percent, but the booming popularity of its fast-paced revenge theme spiked up the ratings to 30 percent by January.
And this was enough to attract companies that were looking to advertise, but didn't want to waste money on time slots that simply weren't good enough. So far, Samsung, LG Household & Health Care and others in the cosmetics and home appliance business have bought up the "golden seconds."
A 15-second slot leading up to and after the show costs 8.9 million won, according to KOBACO. This is cheaper than the traditional prime-time hours starting at 8 p.m., which costs 13 million won. "All 16 slots have been filled since January," said Kim, who explained that ad sales for daily serial dramas are usually low, despite its cheaper price, because of the early time. "Not a lot of people sit in front of the TV at 7:20 p.m., but 'Temptation of Wife' obviously shook up the preset idea."
Industry experts say that the 30-minute drama helps drum up ad revenue worth 200 million won per week. Aside from the parties directly involved, another group of businesses are apparently enjoying benefits from the continued temptation ― home shopping channels.
Officials from CJ and Hyundai Home Shopping said that products sold before or after the SBS series around 7 to 8 p.m. have been ringing up record sales as female viewers, who have been flipping through channels, end up making spontaneous purchases.
Credits: jhan@koreatimes.co.kr |
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March 17, 2009
Rain Questioned Over Canceled Hawaii Concert
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
South Korean pop star and actor Rain, 26, flashes a Hawaiian "shaka" sign
as he arrives at federal court, Monday. Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon,
and his producers are being sued over the performer's abrupt cancellation
of a June 2007 concert in Honolulu. / AP-Yonhap
South Korean pop star Rain appeared at a federal court in Hawaii Monday to testify on his abruptly cancelled concert there in 2007, which cost a Honolulu-based concert agency $1.5 million.
His appearance in the courtroom was made on the last day of the hearing, which began March 10, according to AP and other international media.
Rain ㅡ whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon ㅡ testified he had every intention of performing in Hawaii and other U.S. states but a series of abrupt concert cancellations were out of his control. "I was not the person that canceled the concerts," Rain was quoted as saying. "I would love to perform in North America. The cancellation was regrettable."
He was poised, polite and seemed at ease as he answered questions for about 90 minutes in Korean through a court interpreter, it reported. The 27-year-old singer and his producers are being sued over the abrupt cancellation of a June 2007 concert in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Hawaii-based Click Entertainment Inc. alleges in the suit that Rain and his producers defrauded it of more than $500,000 paid in licensing fees. It's also seeking additional damages for the cost of staging the event, including the rental of Aloha Stadium, stage production, travel, hotel accommodations, merchandising and advertising.
The company also claims it has sustained losses of valuable business opportunities, earnings and income in amounts to be proven during the trial. In addition, the company has suffered serious and lasting harm to its business goodwill and professional reputation, the lawsuit said. But the allegation was refuted by an official at JYP, a South Korean entertainment agency backing the singer and producers, during a separate session.
Byun Sang-bong, JYP's vice president and chief financial officer, blamed the cancellation and other problems on promotion company Star M. Byun said a legal copyright challenge in Nevada over the name "Rain" was another issue the company faced at the time.
Even though Rain's trip to Hawaii this time was motivated by an undesirable situation, it allowed Korean fans and his staff to be confident that the Korean entertainer has a substantial fan base, needed to succeed in the United States, the world's largest entertainment market.
Local media reported Rain was greeted by hundreds of cheering fans upon arrival at Honolulu International Airport and bombarded with flowers, gift baskets, and fans who just wanted to touch him.
Credits: pss@koreatimes.co.kr
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March 18, 2009
Police dig further into death of actress
The police are stepping up the investigation into allegations by actress Jang Ja-yeon, who recently committed suicide, that she had been forced by her agency to have sex with clients and other social figures.
Jang left hand-written notes testifying to the abusive treatment before she hanged herself in her house on March 7, according to her former manager. "If the hand-written documents turn out to have been written by Jang herself, the police will undertake a full-fledged investigation," said a police official of the Bundang Police Station.
The police, through this statement, moved from their previous opinion that the verification of the documents should precede any formal investigation. "The National Institute of Scientific Investigation is presently going through the handwriting identification," said the police official. "We expect the results as early as today."
Since Jang's manager Yoo, soon after her death, first claimed the existence of a hand-written document and hinted that somebody was liable for her death, the media and police have come up with several such documents. All contain Jang's name, social registration number, and a hand-written testimony on being forced to serve at drinking parties or have sex with influential figures by the instruction of the agency.
The police have said that the document listed several celebrity names, most of them high-ranking members in broadcasting or major industries. Some broadcasting stations attempted to interview them, but all denied having any connection with the deceased actress.
The police refused to reveal the names, citing personal information protection. Online public opinion, however, is increasingly requesting disclosure of the names, and an off-the-record list is said to be circulated within securities and advertisement businesses.
Family members and friends of Jang's suspected that the documents were written under compulsion, whereas Yoo claimed that the actress wrote it herself. On the other hand, the then head of the agency, whom Jang accused of forcing her into abusive relationships, blamed Yoo for putting forward fabricated documents. Yoo, who has been in hospital since Friday, is to step out today and attend a press conference to announce his views on the issue.
While waiting for the report on the authenticity of the contended documents, the police questioned those who were closely related with the deceased actress. "We called in for questioning about 10 people who talked with Jang on the phone between the date on which the first document was written and the day of the suicide," said the police.
They also scanned through the conversation records in Jang's and Yoo's mobile phones for clues. Should the content of the document turn out to be true, the agency head who forced Jang have to sex, together with the person who was entertained by such enforcement, may face criminal punishment, said a police official.
Regardless of the authenticity of the documents, many in the entertainment business agree that certain measures should be taken to protect aspiring stars from unfair contracts. "We plan to set a standard contract format to be applied between the agency and the entertainer," said an official of the Fair Trade Commission on Monday. "The Corea Entertainment Management Association is to submit a draft version by next week."
The commission will reinforce surveillance and set to investigation upon detecting any case of inequitable contract, he added.
The commission recommended last November the amendment of unfair agency-entertainer contracts, cynically referred to as "slave contracts" to imply the absolute superiority of the agency over the aspirant.
Source: Bae Hyun-jung ([email protected]) via koreaherald.co.kr |
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March 17, 2009
March 21 is Song Il-gook Day in Hawaii
The state government of Hawaii has designated March 21st as the Song Il-gook Day after the star of 揓umong |
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March 18, 2009
BoA Releases First US Album
BoA
South Korea's pop superstar BoA Tuesday released her first U.S. album amid high expectations that she will be able to reenact her success story in Japan in the world's largest album market.
The self-titled album will also be released in Korea and Japan Wednesday and in China, Malaysia, India, Singapore and Thailand later.
The album contains 11 songs including flagship song "I Did It For Love," and dance tracks "Energetic," "Eat You Up," and "Look Who's Talking." The flagship song was written by Sean Garrett, the famous American producer, and its video was directed by Joseph Kahn, who has made promos for Britney Spears, Chris Brown and Eminem and won the Best Video of the Year and Best Direction in the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.
"Girls on Top," the title song for BoA's fifth album in Korea, has been arranged with new English lyrics.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr |
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March 17, 2009
BoA to Release First English Album
Pop star BoA has released her first English-language album. First hitting U.S. shelves on Tuesday, it will be released in 10 other nations on Wednesday, including Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The album consists of 11 songs, featuring 揑 Did It For Love |
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March 18, 2009
Korea's top *celebrity Kim Yu-na
Figure skater Kim Yu-na *proved that she is the nation's top celebrity. She was placed at the No. 1 position on the list of "Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40." Forbes Korea is a *monthly business magazine.
For its March issue cover story, the magazine *evaluated Korea's top celebrities and ranked them for the first time ever. The ranking was based on a celebrity's professionalism, popularity, *income, and influence.
According to the report, Kim placed second for influence, first for professionalism, third for popularity, and 12th for income. She became No. 1 in overall standing.
Surprisingly, Kim Yun-na was *unbeatable even by other power celebrities, such as Big Bang, Park Ji-sung, Kim Taehee, and Lee Hyo-ri. Big Bang came in second, Wonder Girls in third and Lee Hyo-ri in fourth.
Forbes Korea is a Korean version of the U.S. Forbes magazine. The U.S. Forbes magazine is well known for its lists of the richest Americans and list of *billionaires.
Kim Yu-na is currently one of the most influential celebrities in advertising, too. This year, she represents about five companies, including Samsung Electronics "Hauzen Air Conditioner," Hyundai Motors Co., and P&G. She stars in over 10 TV commercials.
Almost every commercial featuring Kim is popular among her fans. But one of the most memorable commercials is the Samsung Electronics ad for the "Hauzen Air Conditioner." In this commercial, Kim sings and dances dressed like a winter *fairy.
By Yoo Bo-lam ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 18/200903180105.asp |
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March 18, 2009
Actor Im Joo-hwan Holds First Fan Meeting in Japan
Actor Im Joo-hwan, who played the handsome warrior Hanbaek in the recent hit film 揂 Frozen Flower, |
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March 16, 2009
Film 揃reathless |
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NEWS INDEX page 95
March 17, 2009: Searching for the Next Rain and Wonder Girls
March 18: Family and agencies speak out about actress' death
March 18: Probe looks into Jang's e-mails and phone calls
March 18: Former agent demands thorough probe into death of actress
March 18: Singer Fails to Return to Barracks After Leave
March 18: Calls Growing for Overhaul of Showbiz 'Slave Contracts'
March 18: Actor Cha In-pyo publishes novel
March 19: Police looking to question heads of Jang抯 agencies
March 19: Police looking to question heads of Jang抯 agencies
March 19: Actor Cha In-pyo to Release Debut Novel
March 19: Actor Kim Suk-hoon Speaks about His Role in 慣he Iron Empress |
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March 17, 2009
Searching for the Next Rain and Wonder Girls
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The final round of JYP's fourth open audition, which took place Feb. 26
near Samseong Station in southern Seoul. / Korea Times Photo by Han Sang-hee
In the past, Korean students wanted to become doctors, lawyers and the like. Now, sought after professions include acting, singing and modeling. These talented celebrities are nearly worshipped here in Korea and in Asian countries due to ``hallyu,'' the Korean wave.
JYP Entertainment, led by singer and producer Park Jin-young and whose roster includes the Wonder Girls, 2PM, 2AM and ``Dragon Ball: Evolution'' co-star Joon Park, is one of the biggest entertainment agencies here, along with SM and YG Entertainment. The company that once nourished singer and actor Rain held its fourth open audition last month, with high expectations among aspiring singers, actors and models, naturally supported by their parents and friends.
The agency received UCCs, or User Created Contents, through popular networking Web site www.cyworld.com. More than 18,000 elementary through university students posted their videos. Only 33 were chosen for the final audition.
"We discover more creative and talented kids uploading videos every year. Internet users are very enthusiastic and we are looking forward to more applications,'' the agency said.
Agencies, both large and small, have sprung up in the entertainment business, and there's been change since when agency managers scoured the streets in search of the next star. Now, thanks to the Internet, they don't have to go anywhere.
"It's not just about good looks. Talent is a prerequisite and so we see how hard they have worked and taken care of themselves. It has become a tough environment in which, if you don't work hard, you will never succeed,'' an employee from entertainment agency Star Empire said.
The audition took place for more than two hours, with the 33 contestants singing, dancing, rapping and strutting the stage, and finally ended with the announcement of three lucky winners who will be given the chance to train under JYP the supervision of and receive lectures from some of the best vocal and dance trainers.
"Thank you, thank you! I will do my best until I finally fulfill my dream as one of the most popular stars in Korea,'' Sohn Hyun-woong, the first prize winner and aspiring singer, said after receiving the prize.
Picking three out of the 33 may have seemed a bit stingy, but most of the contestants were more than happy to be chosen as the final 33.
"I never dreamed of (my son) winning third place. I didn't even prepare flowers!'' Jang Duk-sun, the mother of third-place winner Kim Sung-woong, told The Korea Times.
As a parent wishing the best for her son, she said she was worried about the life he may have to endure to achieve success as a singer.
"I'm sure he will have to go through a tough time. There's actually nothing I can do but support him and wish him the best. Music was his dream, and I'm glad that his dream is finally coming true,'' she said.
The mother of Cho Yun-young, the youngest contestant, at 14, also showed her enthusiasm even though her daughter didn't win.
"We have prepared for over a year now. Of course, I disapproved because she was so young, but I realized that she simply found what she wanted to do at an early age. She was good ever since fifth grade. She loved to dance and sing, and so we will try harder to make it big some day,'' she said.
The young Cho looked confident as she appeared on stage, singing and dancing to a song by the Wonder Girls, but as soon as she stepped down from the spotlight, she blushed like any other 14-year-old.
"I love to dance and my favorite group is the Pussycat Dolls,'' she said.
On its fourth mission to find the next Wonder Girls and Rain, the agency said that they were surprised to see so many contestants, including some from other parts of the country.
"Many contestants from other provinces participated in the audition, and we realized that we need to work more on auditions beyond Seoul,'' the agency said.
The winners will train under the famous agency until they make their debuts, while others who didn't make it to the top three will continue their search for stardom.
"I tried out for the audition but didn't make it to the final round. We want to stand in the spotlight, too, like our favorite singers. We didn't make it this time, but we'll continue until we do. We will someday,'' one 19-year-old said, smiling, before leaving the audition venue.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/03/135_41449.html |
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March 18, 2009
Family and agencies speak out about actress' death
Amid the police investigation into the suicide of actress Jang Ja-yeon, who left a set of documents detailing forced sexual relationships, concerned parties are raising different views on the case.
Bundang Police Station yesterday launched an in-depth investigation into Jang's death as the National Institute of Scientific Investigation identified the handwriting of the documents as hers.
During the investigation, more than two sets of similar documents have been discovered, all containing Jang's testimony that she was forced by her agency to serve at drinking parties and sometimes have sex with designated individuals. Those listed in the documents are said to be influential figures in the broadcasting, entertainment and industrial fields, according to the police.
The existence of such revealing documents was first suggested by Jang's former manager Yoo Jang-ho, who pledged to vindicate her by revealing those liable for her death. Though Yoo said he destroyed the documents after talking to Jang's family members, another set of hand-written papers was published by a broadcasting station last Friday, raising questions about their authenticity.
Jang's brother filed a suit against Yoo for defaming the deceased actress by spreading the contents of unidentified document, police said yesterday. Jang's family also urged the police to find out how the documents were leaked, in addition to the truth behind her death.
Yoo, however, denied delivering the documents to the media. "The document I had in my possession was completely burned up by Jang's family members and myself," he said in a press conference yesterday. "I have never tried to take advantage of her death, and am sorry for the misunderstanding that her family members have against me."
All the while, police investigators have been focusing on clarifying three points - the detailed backgrounds of Jang's suicide, the channels through which the documents were leaked to the media, and the documents' contents. For the direct cause of the suicide, investigators have so far found no specific reason other than depression, though they traced the actress' actions and thoughts during the week leading up to her death.
The police yesterday requested that the Japanese government extradite Kim Sung-hun, a former representative of Jang's agency, whom the actress accused in her documents of having forced her to perform certain services against her will.
Kim, indicted last year for sexually harassing another woman, earlier denied all the allegations against him and accused Yoo of forcing Jang to write the documents. "International extradition is usually not requested based on a petty case like sexual harassment," said a police official. "We, however, judged the case to be one concerning public interest."
Extradition processes are, however, complicated and will take time, police officials said.
By Bae Hyun-jung ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 19/200903190037.asp
[ Last edited by katt at 18-3-2009 22:53 ] |
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March 18, 2009
Probe looks into Jang's e-mails and phone calls
The investigation into the mysteries surrounding the suicide of actress Jang Ja-yeon continued yesterday with Bundang Police Precinct looking through her e-mails and phone records and announcing that a document alleging sexual exploitation was highly likely to have been written by Jang.
Oh Ji-yong, the head of the criminal affairs division at Bundang Police Precinct in Gyeonggi, reported during a press briefing yesterday that investigators had also searched the residence of the head of her former management company, identified as Kim, and obtained a total of 88 pieces of possible evidence, including four cell phones and seven boxes of photographic film.
Oh said Bundang Police have also taken Jang抯 personal computer and cell phone from her home.
Police executed a search warrant to obtain records from several wireless phone companies. A total of 96,973 communications from six of Jang抯 acquaintances were looked into.
揂s soon as analysis of the phone call records is completed, we will further investigate the necessary people, |
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March 18, 2009
Former agent demands thorough probe into death of actress
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, March 18 (Yonhap) -- A former agent of the late actress Jang Ja-yeon on Wednesday called for a thorough investigation into the causes for Jang's suicide, saying a letter left behind by her would offer clues to those responsible for her death, as well as to his innocence.
Yoo Jang-ho, who once worked as Jang's agent, argued in a news conference that the letter written by Jang prior to her suicide contained the truth on the circumstances leading to her death. He refused to speculate how the letter was leaked to local media, but defended himself against growing public suspicion about his role in Jang's suicide.
Jang, 30, hanged herself at her house in Bundang south of Seoul on March 7, in a move that shocked the nation as the young starlet had just begun to win popularity from her supporting role in a popular KBS TV series. The case took an unexpected turn last week as the contents of a lengthy letter Jang wrote to her manager Yoo was made public by a local broadcaster. In the letter, Jang said another former agent, known only by his family name Kim, had forced her to provide sexual favors to high-powered entertainment figures and journalists.
Calling herself a "powerless young actress," Jang also said she was constantly battered and barely earned any profit with her former agent "taking care" of all her finances. The letter was proven authentic by experts late Tuesday.
Yoo denied the suspicions he forced Jang to write the letter in front of him and purposely leaked it to media to win a legal battle with the entertainment firm led by Kim over profit Jang has made. "God knows I never forced Ja-yeon to do anything. The letter was burnt after it was written and I have no idea how the broadcaster got a hold of it," he said. "I have never been in a legal battle with anyone living in the Republic of Korea."
"Ja-yeon is a brave victim who died while fighting against something wrong," Yoo went on. "I hope her death will not be meaningless and the case is thoroughly investigated and revealed."
Police said they will soon summon the 10 people listed in Jang's letter, including Kim, for questioning, adding they will be punished if the contents turn out to be true. Bundang police are currently looking into Jang's e-mails and phone call records as well.
The probe into Jang's letter is snowballing into a massive social scandal as it is not the first time suspicions over the abuse of female actresses have been raised in the local entertainment industry.
In January, cloning of top actress Jeon Ji-hyeon's mobile phone by her agent triggered renewed debate on the boundaries between an entertainer's right to privacy and commercial interests.
And in recent years, the reputations of several female celebrities have been tarnished after videos of them having sex appeared on the Internet, downloaded by millions. Agents and managers often pressure actresses to have sex with them while being videotaped, using it as blackmail to prevent the starlets from skipping to bigger firms that offer more money after they earn fame.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ ... 0318006700315F.HTML |
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March 18, 2009
Singer Fails to Return to Barracks After Leave
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Singer Lee Jae-jin
Lee Jae-jin, a former member of the now disbanded K-pop group, Sechs Kies, has been declared absent without leave after failing to return to his army unit for 12 days, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday.
According to officials, Lee was supposed to return to his unit in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province on March 6, after a five-day leave.
But he has not been heard from since telephoning his unit commander that morning to confirm his return, the army police said. "We still don抰 know where he is," a military police officer said. "We also confirmed his family and friends have been out of contact.拻
It抯 uncertain what led the 30-year-old to vanish, but the military has speculated that the depression he has suffered for a number of years may be one of the reasons. The depression is said to stem from the death of both of his parents, one in 2006 and the other last year, military officials said.
His condition is thought to have worsened following his mother抯 death last May, just three months before he was enlisted, the aide said. "Since enlistment, he has frequently visited military hospitals for mental checkup. This leave was also given for a checkup at an outside hospital,拻 the officer said.
Another aide who met Lee during his break said that he looked "pale and weak."
As an alternative form of national service, he worked at a military-related company in 2006. But he was enlisted as a regular serviceman again last August after being involved in an illegal scheme to dodge military service.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 9/03/117_41528.html |
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March 18, 2009
Calls Growing for Overhaul of Showbiz 'Slave Contracts'
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Actress Jang Ja-yeon抯 suicide and the spreading rumors about forced sexual liaisons are raising calls for the overhaul of the way entertainers are contracted to their agencies.
"Some of the rumors on the sponsors and sex are true. I heard some actresses endure hardship or pay money in order to make an appearance," Mun Jae-gap of the Korea Broadcasting, Film and Performance Artists Union said on a CBS radio program.
According to Mun, it is impossible to become a top star without an agent in Korea. So most newcomers have to sign a contract with an agency that provides basic expenses. This relationship forces new talent in show business to sign unfair contracts.
Entertainers have to sign a contract that says the agency takes 90 percent of their earnings, while the performer only takes the remaining 10 percent. Long contract terms cause trouble between them as well. "When a contract runs long haul, the signee has to suffer many injustices, with some having to maintain the disadvantageous conditions even after becoming a star," Mun said.
Analysts say the entertainers usually have no one to rely on when forced to do things. "It抯 hard to appeal to the law because their image is very important, especially for young and upcoming actresses. Also, they are helpless to in dealing with wrongdoers who coerced sexual relations," Mun said.
Rotten Underside
The union said it will investigate the contract conditions of other entertainers. "We will ask the police to look into victims who are asked to pay money or coerced into having sex in order to get roles, and root out the practice," a union official said.
The union will also seek help from the National Human Rights Commission. "The police should investigate thoroughly get to the truth," the union added. :Jang抯 suicide is an opportunity to uproot the abuses in the entertainment industry and we will try to prevent any recurrence."
Rep. Choi Mun-sun of the Democratic Party, who was the former president of broadcasting station MBC, is trying to legislate against the shady practices in show business. "We need to revise the unreasonable agreements practice, especially the slave-like contracts," Choi said. "These problems are directly related to the human rights of the entertainers and we need laws to protect them."
Choi added that the recent suicide of Jang showed the rotten underside of the Korean entertainment business.
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) will also provide standardized contract forms to entertainment agencies in order to prevent unfair contracts between new faces and the agencies during the first half of the year. The FTC said they will first accept a draft from management agencies, and discuss the details with the entertainers |
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March 18, 2009
Actor Cha In-pyo publishes novel
Actor Cha In-pyo, 41, has become a novelist. Cha next Wednesday will be releasing his first novel titled "Goodbye, Hill," about a village on the edge of Mount Baekdu in the 1930s, internet bookshop Yes24 said yesterday.
The novel highlights the importance of peace and forgiveness through the main characters, including a boy who comes to a village to pay revenge to a tiger that hurt his mother, a local girl and a Japanese military officer.
Cha, who reportedly worked on the novel for the past 10 years, said he hoped to tell a story of "our grandfathers and grandmothers who survived through the era when Korea was the weakest and the poorest." Cha will be holding a meeting with readers to mark his first publication on April 6.
Credits: [email protected] via koreaherald.co.kr, image from daum.net |
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March 19, 2009
Police looking to question heads of Jang抯 agencies
Yoo Jang-ho
The investigation into circumstances surrounding the suicide of Jang Ja-yeon will see the head of her last management agency questioned by police, as well as an attempt to seek the extradition from Japan of the manager of an agency she had worked with previously.
Oh Ji-yong, head of the criminal investigation division of Bundang Police Precinct in Gyeonggi Province, announced yesterday that Jang抯 older brother has filed a defamation lawsuit against Yoo Jang-ho, head of Hoyaspotainment in Songpa, eastern Seoul and Jang抯 manager at the time she died. Yoo had been hospitalized since Friday due to a failed suicide attempt.
A total of seven people were named in the lawsuit, including three on charges of defamation. 揥e cannot specifically say what Yoo抯 charges are, |
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March 19, 2009
Actor Cha In-pyo to Release Debut Novel
Cha In-pyo
Actor Cha In-pyo is debuting as a novelist. His first novel will be released nationwide on Mar. 25. A meeting with readers is also scheduled at SangSangMaDang in Seoul on Apr. 6.
His novel evolves around the sorrowful history of Korea since the Japanese colonial period of the 1930s, including comfort women forced into sex slavery during the Pacific War.
Yes24, an online bookstore organizing Cha's meeting with readers, said, "Cha started writing the novel after he learned of the story of a comfort woman who visited Korea in 1997 from Cambodia. Since then, he has frequently visited the House of Sharing, the shelter of comfort women, to collect data. The novel is based on his 10 years of research."
Credits: englishnews@english.chosun.com |
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