Samsung Electronics unveiled some new appliances at its new-product presentation on August 28 at its headquarters in Seoul. Some of the machines being launched include newfangled washing machines and kimchi refrigerators, which boast the ad-buzzwordy “3E” strategy — or emotion, ecology, and energy saving.

Sounds like pretty mundane business, if not for the appearances of Samsung’s three high-profile brand models: actresses Han Ga-in (who has advertised for Samsung’s kimchi refrigerator), Lee Da-hae (in her third year in the spokesperson gig), and Yoon Eun-hye (which explains the reason for her singing the “Salad song” recently).

More photos from the event >>

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 21 Comments →

Here’s a twofer: Shin Mina exudes a “modern” and “sexy” image in the pages of September’s issue of Harper’s Bazaar. She also gets into a pair of designer Calvins as the new brand model for Calvin Klein Jeans, advertising its new “silver omega” denim line. The line apparently premiered at 2008 Fashion Week in Seoul and happens to correspond with the brand’s thirtieth year in the biz.

With her recent film activities and more planned for the near future, Shin is being called an “It Girl” for the upcoming year (although it doesn’t seem to require much to be called that these days). Her new movie Go Go 70 — in which she stars opposite Jo Seung-woo as a trend-setting fashion leader (their words, not mine) in the disco era — opens in October.

Shin Mina shows her stuff in Bazaar >>

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 13 Comments →

Gah! As if the recent spate of celebrity accidents and deaths (RIP) weren’t enough, we have another.

Model-turned-actor Im Joo-hwan (M, Arang) was in a car accident on the morning of August 26 on the way to work. He was riding with his manager, heading to the set location of his upcoming movie Ssanghwajeom [쌍화점] when their car had a collision with a truck. The manager is said to be very injured, while Im Joo-hwan suffered a bruised body, a neck fracture, and chest pains. He is expected, however, to make a full recovery in twelve weeks.

A rep from management company Yedang Entertainment expressed relief: “The entire car was totaled, but thankfully they came out alive.”

The manager was driving the car, and apparently the truck in front of them made a sudden lane change, causing their vehicle to hit the back of the truck. (Not one to pour salt in the wound, but sounds like it was kinda-maybe their fault.)

As Im will be out of commission for the next three months, the film is planning to make do and film around their missing actor, in which Im plays bodyguard to star Jo In-sung; the movie also stars Joo Jin-mo (200 Pound Beauty) and Goong’s Song Ji-hyo.

Via No Cut News

RELATED POSTS

• More stars pay their respects to deceased colleague
• Stars mourn Lee Eon
• Lee Eon dies in accident
• Next up on the car-accident roster: Lee Ji-hoon
• Tablo and Tukutz hit by drunk driver

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 13 Comments →

Fashion designer Andre Kim must be feeling secure in his “veteran” status as an old eccentric, because he keeps trotting out the exact same show, year after year. He may swap out his main models but not his actual clothing.

Each show has his leading lady (this time “Barbie Doll” Han Chae-young) dressed up in voluminous dresses of similar silhouette and varying shades of color, with a teardrop-headdress reminiscent of nothing so much as a Bedazzled hairnet. The male (Park Shi-hoo) is decked out in stiff multilayers in a cross between a business suit and a suit of armor, except for the purple outfit where he looks like a woodland fairy nymph. Both look like they come from a Star Wars acid dream.

And you can’t forget the piece de resistance: In the middle of the stage, there’s always a pose with the lady running — with anguish! and emotion! — into her man’s arms, and the man dropping a kiss on her forehead.

Yup. Sums it up for the “new” Andre Kim Fashion Art Collection which showed in Bali on August 25 for the International Bali Fashion Week ‘08.

More photos from the Andre Kim Fashion Art Collection >>

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 28 Comments →

As always, Yoon Eun-hye sure knows how to get people talking.

A recent video clip surfaced online on August 23 of Yoon singing a “Salad song” (which indie-electronica band Humming Urban Stereo first recorded; song below).

The new video showing Yoon Eun-hye singing the upbeat song cheerfully in the recording studio has given rise to speculation of whether this indicates that she’ll be returning to the pop-music scene, after retiring from girl group Baby VOX to pursue acting in 2005. She recently recorded another song for rookie hip-hop group Mighty Mouth, providing vocals for their track “I Love You” — but although she’d denied the possibility of coming back as a singer at that time, the statement hasn’t done much to curb hopeful fan speculation.

Check it out:

Via Star News

SONG OF THE DAY

Humming Urban Stereo - “샐러드 기념일” (Salad days/memories) [ Download ]

RELATED POSTS

• Boyish again for Marie Claire
• Shampoo ad + fake hair = irony?
• Mighty Mouth featuring Yoon Eun-hye
• Yoon Eun-hye gets crafty
• Coffee Prince Store #1

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 28 Comments →

After releasing his first album in years, the Japanese- and Korean-language-album My Biography, Lee Dong-gun has launched himself into singerly activities, marking the occasion with two days in concert in Tokyo for his “Lee Dong-gun 2008 Debut Concert in Japan.”

“My Biography” was released earlier this summer; Lee previously released a single album in Japan in March, and has contributed to various soundtracks in his Korea since his 1998 debut as a singer.

He’d arrived in Japan on August 14 to prepare for the concert, which took place on August 22 and 23, and performed fifteen songs. He plans to spend a few days vacationing in Japan before returning home. No doubt he’ll throw himself back into his work, what with his military service looming large on the horizon (he’s 28; therefore he’s likely to enlist in relatively short order).

Via Newsen

SONG OF THE DAY

Lee Dong Gun - “El dorado” [ Download ]

RELATED POSTS

• Lee Dong-gun takes on a new album and possible tour

• When Night Comes: Episode 1
• Posing pretty for When Night Comes
• Army-bound

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 7 Comments →