One down, four more to go. (Shin Hye-sung is exempt due to a bum knee.)

Following Eric’s departure earlier this month, Shinhwa singer and actor Kim Dong-wan (The Person I Love, Taekwon Boys) will be enlisting for army duty on November 17.

According to his management, he is currently busy recording for his last album before he serves (wait, didn’t he already collapse once from overwork earlier this year to rush out an album?). This last album will be a single, to be released in early November.

(You wanna know why a lot of kpop sucks? Well, I’m sure hurriedly rushing through last-minute recording to maximize exposure before army duty doesn’t help any. I understand the sentiment, but come on — it’s late October and they’re recording for an album to be released in early November?)

I foresee a ton of new enlistments in the upcoming few months. You can practically see the new crop of up-and-comers champing at the bit to take over the limelight once their hyungs are sent away for the next two years.

Via Hankyung

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Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 9 Comments →

…or maybe the title of this post should be “Are you kidding me with this? Dude let the Shinhwa guys rest in peace! (And no, not that kind of RIP.)”

Because, seriously? Seriously? Another Shinwha member is hospitalized following the group’s hyped-up tenth-anniversary concert (March 29 and 30) and ninth-studio-album promotional activities?

First it was Kim Dong Wan, and now it’s Lee Minwoo. Or to be more accurate, apparently Minwoo was first, and then Dong Wan, only they didn’t alert the press about Minwoo’s condition until now. I’m not so sure why they’re announcing this after the fact; maybe they thought Dong Wan could use some press-mill company.

Minwoo was admitted to the hospital on the 4th for exhaustion, spent two nights and three days being treated, and was released on the 6th. His management explained, “Lee Minwoo had been working without rest on his solo material, which he was producing himself, and gone out on Shinhwa activities; his accumulated fatigue and stress wore him down.”

To the Shinhwa guys: Give it a rest! And I mean that in the nicest, most literal way possible. Working so hard to cram in activities before you enlist in the army that two of your members literally collapse in exhaustion is NOT the way to go. We’d like to have something left to welcome back in two years.

Via E Daily

SONG OF THE DAY

Minwoo – “Believe in Love” from his recent “The Sentimental Reason” single, featuring a different, jazzier style than his usual solo work. [ Download ]

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• Kim Dong Wan rushed to the emergency room
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Filed under: Kpop News by javabeans - 14 Comments →

Uh-oh. Shinhwa singer and sometimes actor Kim Dong Wan was rushed to the emergency room after collapsing in the studio while recording for his solo album on the 11th. On the 12th, his management issued the statement:

“While Kim Dong Wan was working on recording for his second album, he suffered from abdominal pains and received emergency treatment at a hospital in Kangnam. He’s currently hospitalized.”

He was diagnosed with acute enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine) and enterostenosis (abnormal narrowing of the intestine) and will likely have to remain hospitalized for several more days to be treated. As a result, it’s unclear whether his upcoming album will continue as planned.

After performing in Shinhwa’s tenth-anniversary concert at the end of March, Kim Dong Wan has been busily recording for his upcoming solo album release. His management explained that he’d felt abdominal pains for a few days, but because his album release date was approaching, he put up with the pain to finish working and overdid things.

Hopefully Kim Dong Wan is up and pain-free soon, but his health aside — the album goes on sale on April 24 and they’re still recording in the studio on April 11??? Talk about pushing it. No wonder the guy was stressed out.

Via No Cut News, Star News

SONG OF THE DAY

Shinhwa – “Voyage” from their recently released ninth album. [ Download ]

RELATED POSTS

• Shinhwa turning 10
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Filed under: Kpop News by javabeans - 23 Comments →

Shinhwa members at their 10th Anniversary Live in Seoul concert, March 30, for which they sold approximately 22,000 tickets to their two performances. The group celebrates while boasting some questionable styling choices — I count at least three ajummas and a gigolo in their midst.

Meanwhile, group member Minwoo prays for another ten years:

Filed under: Oh snap by javabeans - 34 Comments →

Eric will be enlisting for his mandatory military service by September of this year, but first he’ll eke out one more project — a sageuk drama.

According to his management, Eric felt a strong pull to the script — a “comedic heroic sageuk” already drawing cursory comparisons to Hong Gil Dong — and is currently in preparations for the part. The series, KBS2’s Monday-Tuesday drama Choi Kang Chil Woo (a pun on the character’s name also meaning “strongest Chil Woo” or “Chil Woo the best”), will be directed by PD Park Man Young (Vineyard Man) and premieres on June 9. The story places him in Joseon times as the titular Kang Chil Woo, an ordinary and lower-tier government official by day, and secret kickass assassin by night.

I’ve always thought Eric looked completely modern, so I’m curious to see how well he dons traditional garb and acts in a historical drama. Then again, the plot and description sounds like it’s not going to be sticking too closely to conventional sageuk structure, so maybe his modern looks will fit right in.

His last acting role was in last year’s Que Sera Sera, after which he took a break from acting and resumed activities with Shinhwa. Speaking of whom, Shinhwa gives their tenth-anniversary concert(s) in Seoul on the 29th and 30th.

Via Donga.com

SONG OF THE DAY

Lyn – “궁금해” (curious) feat. Eric [ Download ]

RELATED POSTS

• Shinhwa turning 10
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Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 17 Comments →