SME would welcome Hankyung back

Amidst controversies surrounding Hankyung’s Chinese CF, his agency, SM Entertainment, has revealed that they would still take back Hankyung, if he should decide to return to Korea.

A representative of the agency spoke with New Daily on November 19th and stated, “Hankyung filed an injunction against SM Entertainment on December 21st, 2009. All of the investigations have been completed and we’re waiting on is the final judgment. We’re curious on the reason as to why the court has yet to pass a judgment. The relationship between Hankyung and SM Entertainment is only becoming uncomfortable because of such delays.”

Regarding their feelings on Hankyung’s actual contract, the representative went on to state:

“At the time of the contract signing, Hankyung was present with his mother and clearly heard the explanation that the contract would be for 13 years. He is the one that signed it. For him to come out now and claim that he received unjust treatment from Korea and that the entire contract is invalid is ridiculous.

China has advanced a lot recently, but at the time, how could he have earned the skills in China in order to become an international star? Hankyung himself knew that SME’s star system was superior, which is why he came to Korea.

There were a few months in the beginning of Super Junior’s career where he was met with uncomfortable situations due to his visa problems, but the fact that he is claiming the contract as invalid is just an excuse.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding ’slave contracts’ in the entertainment industry lately, and the way we see it, Hankyung just wanted to join the bandwagon and is now being used by associates around him. If he knows that he did not become a top star in China on his own with absolutely no background, I hope that he will think once more on whether it is right for him to go against the company that has raised him thus far.

At the time of his lawsuit, the Super Junior members and company employees found out about it through the newspaper. We are also praying that his recent CF controversy isn’t true as well.

Despite all of this, SM Entertainment believes that it is better for both Hankyung and the company to come back together as opposed to terminating the contract. Whenever Hankyung wants to return, we will take him back.”

Source: New Daily + allkpop

Super Junior and SNSD head to head for top artist online votes in 2010 Melon Awards

SNSD and Super Junior are competing head to head for the Top artist award in the 2010 Melon Music Awards. The online voting for the Top 10 artists started on the 11th of November and after 4 days, on the 15th of November, SNSD is still number 1 but is having a head to head competition with Super Junior for the number 1 spot.

Currently, SNSD and Super Junior have 22% of the votes but SNSD is number 1 leading with over 544 votes more than Super Junior showing them being tied for the first spot.

SHINee is following closely ranking 3rd having 9% lower than SNSD and Super Junior. The top 3 spots are taken by SM Entertainment artists showing their huge fan base, f(x) is steadily rising up now ranking 5th.

In addition, 2pm, 2am, BEAST, KARA and other idols are also having heavy competition to be in the top 10 spots. The 2010 Melon Music Awards will be held this coming 15th of December at Kyunghee University in Seoul and it will be broadcast live on MBC and Melon's official website.

Star News

Rain or shine, MYX anniversary concert pushing through

MANILA, Philippines – MYX, undoubtedly the country’s leading music channel, celebrates a decade of playing awesome, beautiful music through what is expected to be its biggest anniversary concert ever.

“It’s a rain or shine event,” said Andre Alvarez, MYX Channel head and editor-in-chief of MYX magazine of the concert slated Nov. 18 at the Concert Grounds of SM Mall of Asia.

“This is not unexpected, I mean the rain to pour, because in the past, it has rained during our concerts but people didn’t mind being soaked wet. In fact, they hate it if some bring umbrellas. They really would rather get wet,” Andre added.

Performers include popular OPM artists and bands like Chicosci, Kjwan, Spongecola, Callalily, Imago, and Rivermaya among others. Also joining the celebration of Pinoy music are hitmaker Ogie Alcasid, pop rock princess Yeng Constantino, Noel Cabangon, Kitchie Nadal and Barbie Almalbis as well as acoustic singers Nyoy Volante and Jimmy Bondoc.

As always, the concert is for free but this time fans of the music channel who would want to be seated in the gold section may only have to buy the limited edition “I Love MYX” shirts available at SM Department stores nationwide. Shirts for the silver section are also available, and for the bronze tickets one has only to buy a copy of MYX magazine’s anniversary issue available in all 7-11 outlets.

It was on Nov. 20, 2000 that MYX started its test broadcast on Studio 23 with Clara Balaguer as their first VJ. After only two months, it had a full music block on the same UHF channel, playing music for a more sophisticated crowd. In 2002, MYX fused with Vid-Ok karaoke channel to become a 24/7 cable network. Soon, MYX attracted not only the classy audience but also a larger and broader market segment.

“But initially we were geared towards an alternative audience,” Andre said. “Our programming was very alternative. We played what the other music channel (MTV) wasn’t playing, para hindi magbanggaan.”

When MYX was relaunched, they started to tap a new breed of VJs, no longer the half-Spanish, half-British types. Among them were Heart Evangelista, Karel Marquez, Geoff Eigenmann, Iya Villania, Robi Domingo, Luis Manzano, Nikki Gil, among others.

“After only a month we relaunched, we became No. 1 and there was no turning back,” Andre proudly stated. “We empowered our viewers. Kung ano ang gusto nila, ‘yon ang pina-patugtog namin.”

Ady An and Vanness Wu recreate classic scene from Autumn’s Concerto

Ady An has also been making the headlines thanks to Barbie Hsu’s sudden engagement. The couple was reportedly introduced at An's birthday party back in September. However, rumors began to circulate in regards to her involvement with the groom-to-be. Some said she has secretly loved him for 5 years, while others claimed she was drinking herself drunk after news of the engagement broke out.

The actress recently returned to Taiwan and responded on being dragged into the media frenzy, “The phone calls were endless. I was filming at the time, (it) really scared me to death!”

As for photos of her crying in the arms of Wang Xiao Fei, her friend refuted, “She is close with everyone, it's something she does often. It is not directed to anyone specifically.”

Ady An met up with her Autumn’s Concerto director Chen Hui Ling and costar Van Ness Wu for a dinner gathering a few days ago. Chen directed them to recreate the classic photo moment from their drama. She also joked that since Ady An knows a lot of rich men in the mainland, people should suck up to her if they want to marry into a rich family.

Source: Nownews, UDN, images from Ady An’s blog

I simply love them!

Dara sheds tears of gratitude after receiving a gift from a Filipino fan

2NE1’s Sandara Park shed tears after being presented with traditional, handmade Filipino meals by a Filipino fan.

On the latest episode of Mnet’s ‘2NE1 TV Season 2′, Sandara was unexpectedly greeted by a Filipino fan, who was able to find her by asking around which hotel the group was staying at while they were in America for their album work.

Sandara, who was always fond of traditional Filipino meals, felt more gratitude than usual as her health had been taking a downward spiral at the time. Sandara was even more thankful that her fan had taken the effort to find her all the way in America.

Dara said, “I was really moved by all the fans who were able to recognize us on the streets while in America. It reminds me of the times when I auditioned back in the Philippines. Back then, I was put in one of the very bottom piles of the audition, however, because of the fans’ support and love, I was able to place second. If it wasn’t for them, I would not have been 2NE1’s Sandara Park.”

Newsen

Shu Qi has no hope for marriage

Some women bravely move forward for love, knowing each other for only 20 days before getting engaged like, Barbie Hsu (Da S). While some women whom have been hurt deeply by love, which resulted in depression, no longer hold any expectations for marriage, like Shu Qi.

Shu Qi appeared on the cover of ELLE Magazine recently and during the interview revealed how deeply she was hurt by her former flame, Leon Lai. She had dated Leon Lai for 6 years and yet he refused to acknowledge their relationship. And if they bumped into reporters during their dates, Leon Lai would quickly leave without a word, leaving her to fend for herself.

This combined with the fact that the fans and Leon Lai’s father do not support their relationship led to Shu Qi’s emotional decline over the years which ultimately led to depression. She used a year quietly healing her wounds by learning Psychology for self-treatment. Right now, although she is more open minded towards her views on relationships, she bluntly said she does not harbour any expectations for marriage because she self professed to have no sense of responsibility.

When asked on her thoughts regarding the romance that blossomed between Leon Lai and model Gaile Lok, who is currently his wife, Shu Qi replied “When you love someone, you won’t think too much about it; when you don’t love anymore, then just separate. When your fate is over, it’s over, we should not compare who loved more or less, we must all take responsibility for our actions.”