LA Times: Korea Seeks Next Asian Stars in US

The leading Western U.S. newspaper published an article on Jan. 1 about SM Entertainment president Lee Soo-man and his efforts to find new potential stars to lead the Korean pop culture in the U.S.

The LA Times reported on the audition that SM Entertainment held in the city in the article entitled "Called to Star in Asia" ,where a picture of Lee was also posted, courtesy of the JoongAng Ilbo U.S.

"The language doesn't matter. We can teach them that," the paper quoted Lee. "What we need is people who understand American culture. That is what will make them stars in Asia."

The newspaper said that SM has held auditions in 11 U.S. cities for the past several years to search for aspiring singers, actors and models who can make their way to stardom in Asia. Some of them have found real success to become celebrities in Korea, meeting Korea's demand for stars familiar with American culture.

The paper cited Francis Hur, the president of SkyLight Entertainment, a Los Angeles company promoting Korean music, as saying, [Korean youths] can't rap. There are just things that only Americans can do.

Timothy Tangherlini, a UCLA Korean culture professor, told the paper, "There's been a strange inversion, an almost fetishization of the foreign, whereas before it was almost shunned. The 'street cred' in Korea, the new types of voices and styles, are all coming from L.A. now."

Summer SM Town 2007 - Fragile

Summer is upon us, and the SM Entertainment family is once again presenting their all-star seasonal compilation. The biggest stars under the SM label, including Dong Bang Shin Ki, Super Junior, Kang Ta, Cheon Sang Ji Hee The Grace, and BoA, have come together for the highly anticipated 2007 Summer SM Town.

Since 1999, SM Entertaiment family releases their summer and Christmas album every year and now it feels like a summer without SM Town is not a real summer. If you feel hot and fresh summer, do not hesitate to listening to Korean biggest stars' compilation!

BY YesAsia.com

TVXQ Tops Oricon Single Chart

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Korean pop idol group TVXQ has finally topped the Japanese music chart. Its 12th single 'Summer Dream' topped the Oricon daily single chart on the first day it was released Wednesday. Excluding Ryu Si-won, whose acting fame boosted his chart rankings, the number one ranking is the first by Korean male singers. Heavyweight Japanese singers released their albums on the same day but they failed to rise above TVXQ. The milestone comes 2 years 4 months after the pop idol group released their first Japanese single in April 2005. It also took pop icon BoA considerable time to reach the top of the Oricon chart. But TVXQ's number one ranking was predicted from early on. Starting with its second single in July 2005, which made the top ten, all 13 of their albums including two regular ones had all entered the Oricon top ten. Their 11th album last month climbed to second place, indicating its likely number one ranking.

SM Entertainment to Set Up Global Fan Club

SM Entertainment will set up a global fan club for the entertainers it manages -- BoA, Kang Ta, TVXQ, The Trax, TSZX, and Super Junior. The agency said Monday that it will receive applications for membership to the club from May 30 until June 30.

The global fan club is designed to provide fast information and privileges for overseas fans as well as local fans.

Those who want to become members can apply by choosing an artist they like and their country at the website http://fanclub.smtowm.com. There will be eight country categories -- Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the U.S., and other international regions. The membership will be effective for one year.

Members will be given membership cards featuring pictures of the artist they chose to support. They will also receive the club¡¯s news letters and information and become part of the internet community for the club.

In addition, they will be entitled to attend not only the club¡¯s establishment ceremony, which all the artists will attend, but also TV programs, concerts and other events featuring their chosen artist.

DBSK surprised call to SUPERJUNIORS!

Host: We have a special telephone contact surprise ready!
Suju boys: OHHHH!
Host: Who has become our special telephone guest? I'm very curious to know. Now, Eeteuk, if you say "hello" they will respond.
Eeteuk: Hello?
Jaejoong: Hello.
Eeteuk: Who is it?
Jaejoong: Oh, hello, I'm a big fan of Super Junior (he said hyung-dul, which means "you guys" in a more formal sense)
Everyone: Please introduce yourself.
Jaejoong: Hello, I live in the Degu(Taegu)area and right now, I've become a first year junior high student (based on the Korean education system, which is 7th grade in the States. He's around 12-13 yrs old).
Host: (directed toward the listeners) Now, who might this person be?(he just says to call a number now in order to guess who the mystery guest is)
Eeteuk: Oh! Wait a minute! Someone came in mind!
Eunhyuk: Is it someone you know?
Eeteuk: I think I know who it is!
Host: Even if you know who it is, you cannot say it right now!
Jaejoong: Hello?
Eeteuk: Hello!
Host: Keep asking him questions to see who he is!
Jaejoong: I saw "you guys" ever since a long time ago.
Eeteuk: I think I know who it is! Excuse me, first year junior high student?
Host: I don't know who it is!
Eeteuk: Amongst the Super Junior members, who do you like the most?
Jaejoong: Uh...I...um.. I like Kangin the best.
Host: Kangin!! Respond!
Kangin: Hello, this is Kangin!
Sungmin: I think I know who it is! I think I know who it is!
Jaejoong: Oh! Kangin hyung!
Eeteuk: Can I say who it is?!
Kangin: I KNOW WHO IT IS HAHAHA
Jaejoong: MOM! I'M TALKING WITH KANGIN HYUNG!!! (OMG SO CUTE)
Eeteuk/Kangin: I know who it is!!!
Eunhyuk: Really? I dont know who it is!!
Eeteuk: Can I say?
Host: Oh, No, not now! Right now we're too surprised and confused. Lets just listen a little more to our surprise guest. Eeteuk, you're saying you know?
Eeteuk: Yes I know!
Kangin: I know too!
Host: Okay, Kangin knows. Now, Sungmin, ask him a question. If you know who it is, just say that you know. Okay, ask!
Sungmin: Hello?
Jaejoong: Hello?
Sungmin: Yes, hi.
Jaejoong: Hi!
Sungmin: Do you know a lot about us?
Jaejoong: Umm.. well since I like you guys a lot, I know a lot about you guys. But umm.. since there are so many hyungs, truthfully, there are some hyungs that I dont like.
Everyone: WHO WHO?!
Sungmin: Who do you dislike?
Kangin:Okay, special guest, please tell us who you dislike the most among the Super Junior members.
Jaejoong: Umm.. I...umm.. J...umm..Jongwoon hyung. (Yehsung's real name)
Everyone: YEHSUNGIE!!
Host: PWA HA HAHA (Dude, the host's LAUGH IS SCARY!! HAHAHA)
Jaejoong: I dislike Yehsungie hyung the most. Ummm..I also dislike Hyukjae hyung (Eunhyuk)
Eunhyuk: What the..who is that?!
Kangin: Um, special guest, you're very busy nowadays right?
Jaejoong: huh?
Kangin: You're very busy due to public affairs, correct?
Eunhyuk: Just a minute! Can I talk to him?
Host: Okay, Eunhyuk will be speaking. Eunhyuk?
Eunhyuk: Hello?
Jaejoong: Hello.
Sungmin: I know I know!
Eunhyuk: I've seen that you're speaking to us very clearly. How do you know me?
Jaejoong: Ever since you guys started practicing/rehearsing...
Eeteuk: You were a fan, right?
Jaejoong: Yes.
Eunhyuk: I seriously cant capture who it is!
Host: Excuse me?
Jaejoong: Yes?
Host: I really dont know who it is! But, excuse me?
Jaejoong: Who is this?
Host: Uh..I'm Park Joonhyoung.
Eunhyuk: Do an interview!
Jaejoong: MOM!!!! WHO'S PARK JOONHYOUNG?! (OMG cute head)
Sungmin: Who's Park Jinyoung? HAHAHA (repeating JJ)
Host: Pardon me. Pardon me.
Jaejoong: hello?
Host: Yes. Maybe, by any chance...
Jaejoong: Ah! ah! Dahl Gah Ree! (Name of Radio station)
Sungmin: You don't know? I know who it is!
Host: Kyuhyun, now the last to speak.
Kyuhyun: Can I ask..Hi, I'm Kyuhyun.
Jaejoong: Oh, Hyung!
Kyuhyun: Yes, Hi. Can I ask you a question?
Jaejoong: Yes.
Kyuhyun: By any chance, do you know what A-nation is?
Everyone: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! HAHAHAHA
Jaejoong: ........What's that?
Host: Okay, its about time to discover who it is. Let's see if it fits with who you think it is. Okay, reveal who it is. Eunhyuk doesnt know? Kyuhyun? You don't know either?
Kyuhyun: I dont know either.
Host: Kangin, do you know?
Kangin: Yes, I know.
Sungmin: I know too.
Host: So Kangin, Sungmin, and Eeteuk know?
Kangin, Sungmin, Eeteuk: 1, 2, 3 JAEJOONG!
Host: Who?
Kangin, Sungmin, Eetuek: JAEJOONG!
Kangin: TVXQ's Youngwoong Jaejoong!
Host: Jaejoong? By any chance, is this Jaejoong?
Jaejoong: Yes, Hello.
Everyone: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Kangin: The reason I knew, was because I knew it was Jaejoong after hearing he disliked Yehsung
Sungmin: I thought Junsu was just joking around, but after listening for a while, it was Jaejoong's voice.
Jaejoong:I was going to do an old man's voice with satoori (southern accent) but the members declined it.
Eeteuk: I thought you were in Japan!
Eunhyuk: I thought you were in Japan!
Host: Right now, where are you?
Jaejoong: Right now, we're in Japan. Oh, and today, on the weekly Oricon Chart, we placed third place!!
Everyone: YAHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Host: Sky, right? Haven't all your Japanese songs been on the chart?
Jaejoong: Yes!
Host: Are all the TVXQ members together right now?
Jaejoong: Yes, we're watching a movie.
Host: Oh, it was so nice talking to you. Can we talk to the other members?
Jaejoong: Yes, hold on a minute.
(Laughing in background)
Host: Hello?
Sungmin: I thought it was Junsu! (referring to Jaejoong)
Everyone: Hello?
Junsu: Hello!
Everyone: It's Junsu!
Kangin: It's not Changmin?
Eunhyuk: Please give the phone to someone else.
Everyone: HAHAHA
Host: Hello! Who is this?
Junsu: Yes, hello! I'm Xiah, Eunhyuk's superior. (It's really hard to translate, but he's basically saying he's manlier, more powerful than Eunhyuk. Basically, above Eunhyuk. Something along those lines)
Eunhyuk: Be quiet, be quiet!
Sungmin: Eunhyuk's superior HAHA
Host: Hahaha, overshadowing him?
Junsu: Yes!
Host: I truthfully congratulate you for the 3rd place!
Junsu: Oh, thank you Donghae!
Everyone: Donghae?
Eunhyuk: HUH?! What kind of person are you?! Leave!
Host: I'm Joonhyoung!
Junsu: Ah, Hello! Your voice sounds so much like Donghae's!
Host: My voice must be similar to Donghae's. Anyway, Xiah are you resting for a bit with the members tonight?
Junsu: Yes, we ended a bit early today, so we're resting.
Host: Oh, well, I truthfully congratulate you!
Junsu: Oh, thank you!
Host: Can we speak with another member?
Junsu: Yes, one moment!
Changmin:Hello?
Everyone:Hello?
Changmin:Hello?
Everyone:Yunho?
Changmin:............who might I be?
Kangin: YUNHO! You're Yunho right?
Changmin: HEE YOU'RE WRONG!(omg he's so cute)
Everyone: What the... Yoochunnie?
Changmin: WHO MIGHT I BE?!
Kangin: Yoochunnie?
Eunhyuk: It must be Yunho hyung!
Changmin: This is Changmin
Everyone: AHHHHHHHHHH
Kangin: Changmin...why is your voice...
Host: It's nice to talk to you!
Changmin: Who is this?
Host:This is Park Joonhyoung.
Changmin: Ah..huh?
Host: Park Joonghyoung Hyung.
Changmin: AHHHH hello!
Host: You must be suffering a lot. (Struggling)
Changmin: Sorry for my voice change earlier.
Everyone: HAHAHA
Host: Is your life in Japan fun?
Changmin: Life in Japan?
Host: Isnt it difficult?
Changmin:More than being difficult, it's very exciting.
Host: Oh, is that so? Our Super Junior went to Japan too correct? But you were not able to meet them.
Eeteuk: Yesterday, we were walking in Osaka, and their recent Japanese single was playing.
Kangin: Oh, that's right! Sky.
Sungmin: Music Video!
Eeteuk: We saw it twice, including the interview.
Changmin: OH! Ohh HOOOO~
Eeteuk: The reaction was good.
Kangin: There were many Japanese people watching the TVXQ Music Video on the monitor.
Changmin: So many different voices keep coming out!
Host:It's because we're all together in the studio.
Kangin: It's so nice hearing from him.
Host: Changmin, thank you so much for speaking with us!
Changmin: Aihoo~ Oh, no. I did, hm? I didn't do anything to receive thanks!
Host: Will you please give the phone to Yunho?
Changmin: Just one..Just one moment!
Eeteuk: Yunho.. he was really hurt. I wonder if he's okay.
Yunho: -cough cough-
Host: Oh, his voice..
Yunho: Hello?
Everyone: Hi, Yunho!
Yunho: Yes, hello!
Host: Yunho, how are you doing? I heard your body was in bad condition.
Yunho: Oh, I have the cold, and some other things.
Host: You hurt your leg too, correct?
Sungmin: Your ankle. Is it okay?
Yunho: Yes, If I wait a little longer, I'm sure it will get better.
Eunhyuk: Ah~ that's a relief.
Kangin: Even though he's hurt, he's very leaderly, and takes care of his dongsaengs (younger peers, namely the younger members). Whenever I see him, he's very manly. He's an amazing person. Yunho! It's Kangin hyung!
Yunho: Oh, hello!
Kangin: Hiii!
Host: Okay, now, we have only one member that we haven't met.
Sungmin: Yeah, Yoochunnie.
Host: Can you give the phone to Yoochun?
Yunho: Yes, one moment.
Host: Please take care of your body (health)
Yunho: Mhmm!
Yoochun: Hello?
Everyone: Hello!
Yoochun: Yes, Hello!
Everyone: HI!!
Yoochun:I can't tell who is who!
Host: That's because everyone is speaking at the same time! It's nice to talk to you! This is Dahl Gah Ree's Joonhyoung Hyung!
Yoochun: Oh hello!
Host: It's so nice to talk to you.
Yoochun: Yes, the same!
Host: Were you watching a movie?
Yoochun: Yes! It's the first time in a while that we ended a bit early. So, after Jaejoong Hyung and I cleaned our rooms and took showers, we're watching a video.
Host: How is life in Japan? Is it okay?
Yoochun: Yes! I like it very much.
Host: Oh, I see.
Yoochun: Oh, and, before, when Jaejoong Hyung said he disliked Yehsung Hyung, I think it's the truth.
Everyone: HAHAHAHAAHA
Yoochun: But the rest of us four like him very much!
Host: Is there a reason why Jaejoong dislikes Yehsung?
Everyone: Hmmm...
Yoochun: Uhhh..
Eunhyuk: Possibly, his hair? (or something to do with his hair. I couldn't hear him because my sound got really quiet)
Host: Yoochun!
Yoochun: Yes?
Host: Do a good job in Japan, and the members have joined to rest..so thank you so much for doing this surprise phone call!
Yoochun: Later, please bring us on!
Host:You must come onto my FM inkigayo soon!
Yoochun: Yes! We will!
Host:Do well in Japan, and I truthfully congratulate you for your third place on the Oricon charts, right after it was released!
Yoochun: Thank you!
Host: Please tell the other members! Thank you!
Everyone: BYEEEEEEE!!!!
Yoochun: Thank you! Bye!

Message from TVXQ

TVXQ! has got first place in Japan's Oricon with their new single [summer]!

Message from TVXQ!:

Congratulations first

[Summer]'s number 1 Oricon

really really really~ happy ^^

it's all because of you guys, thank you very much!

tomorrow's "summer touch" signing, looking forward to it ^^

we will work harder later on~

JunSu
YooChun
JaeJoong
ChangMin
YunHo