Kim Kyu Jong Discharged from the military

Photo Credit: Facebook SS501 My Brothers

Yeah!  Kim Kyu Jong...my bias...is out of the military after serving 2 years of his required duties.
A statement was released "Kim Kyu Jong was set to be discharged by 10 am KST today, but the discharge ceremony was held earlier than expeted... When Kim Kyu Jong stepped out of the Jeonbuk military manpower office, there were already around 100 fans waiting to greet him there and Kim Kyu Jong gave a short greeting and waved his hand to show his gratitude."

"Kim Kyu Jong has departed for his home in Jeonju and will spend time with his parents for a few days... He will then hold an official fan meeting to repay ffans for their support up until now."

He looks like he lost a lot of weight.  His face is so narrow.

Well, Jongie, get lots of rest at home.  Your fans have waited 2 years, we can wait a few more days to see you again.

By the way, I must have forgotten, I didn't realize Young Saeng was in the military.  When did that happen?

Credit: AllKpop

TVQX Spellbound Comeback

Photo Credit: kofan.com

This is what I get for watching so much K-Dramas.  I haven't kept up with the comebacks.  Actually, it's been a while since any of my favorite groups been having any comebacks.  I think SM Entertainment have been focusing on EXO's promotions that the others have been put aside.  Now Super Junior and TVXQ are having comebacks, plus SNSD.  I missed TVXQ's first comeback this year.

Their first song Something and now Spellbound have the same style, very U.S. 20's style. Looking at Super Junior-M song Swing! and SNSD's Mr. Mr., those have the same style as well. I'm expecting SHINee to come out with a song similar to that genre.  I prefer Spellbound over Something.

I'm loving how they look in suits and slick hair.  I'm also getting use to just seeing Yunho and Changmin but I still prefer the 5.

Here's the video from SMTown's Youtube account:

Super Junior M - SWING comeback

Photo Credit:kayoforum.net

Hey Suju fans! Super Junior - M is coming out with a 3rd Mini Album.  Their comeback song is Swing.  After watching the two Teasers, I was getting excited.

I'm loving how they look in their black suits.  Very clean and sharp.  They all look super cute and handsome.  I'm just not happy with Siwon's mustache.  I get why they did it but he doesn't look good.

Some songs it usually takes me a few times listening to it before I start to like the song, but I liked Swing from the start and that's only from watching the teaser.  I finally found the full MV and, yes, I still do like the song.

I also like the video and choreography.  It's very quick and fast. Funny too.

Here's the video.  Hopefully, SMTown with come out with a HD version of the video.

**UPDATE: I keep on finding better videos.  Here's one from SMTown youtube account.

Boys Before Friends - American Drama Remake

photo by:Soompi.com

Okay, I know this isn't a Korean or Japanese Drama but it's a remake of the Japanese Manga Hana Yori Dango.  They remade Hana Yori Dango basically because the Korean version Boys Before Flowers was a huge success.

Now it's been years since I watched the Japanese version and the Korean version but I do remember liking the Japanese version the best, maybe because I saw it first.  I liked Rui Hanazawa, the actor who played him, Shun Oguri, was cute. The main girl, Makino Tsukushi, I think is cuter than the Korean Geum Jan Di.

In the Korean version, who could not like Yoon Jiho, played by Kim Hyun Joong? I ended up liking SS501 because of Kim Hyun Joong.  Also, I really liked So Yi-Jung, Kim Bum's character.  I thought he was the cutest of the whole group. Plus, Yi-Jung seemed like the nicest one of the whole group, maybe because he smiled alot.

This American version, changed the kids from high schoolers to college students in a performing arts graduate school. I'm okay with that but there were so many things wrong with just watching the first episode.

First, the main girl Zoey, I wish they played down her looks and not make her so sexy.  Her makeup was too packed on her face.  I think she is suppose to be the opposite of the students at the school.  Those girls look like they are dressed to go clubbing at a moments notice.  Plus, I think she suppose to be middle class or a bit poorer since she can't afford to go to this elite school.  I'm wondering, how does she and her friend afford that really nice big apartment they live in? I'm thinking, they should be living in a studio at least.

Second, Liam, the leader of F4.  I really don't like that ponytail that he has.  I don't get how that's an upper class hairstyle.  I can understand the curls on Gun Jun-Pyo since that's a status thing in Korea (even though I didn't like it).

Also, for such an elite school, with the best of everything, their dance studio is a small room with no mirrors. And it looks like she's the only dance student there.  I haven't seen any other student in that room practicing.

At the beginning of the episode, there were so many flashbacks and harsh cuts it was very confusing.  I couldn't tell who the characters were and what was going on or why the events were happening.  The only reason I figured out what was going on because I already knew the storyline.

 The sets and the filming looks like it's one of those B movies.  Even the acting seems like one of those B horror movies.  The acting is stiff and it just sounds like they are just reading a script instead of acting.  The only thing that saves the B horror movies is that you can actually make fun when the killing starts. I don't think that's going to happen in this drama. =/

Some of the F4 bullying seems more violent than the Korean version, and the boys seems more mean but I think that's how they were in the Manga, although I didn't read the manga but that's what I heard.

This is only from watching the first episode.  I don't know if I'm willing to watch the next episode.  It was really painful watching the first episode.  I read that their budget cost is really low since it was funded by fans on the online crowdfunding Kickstarter so they can't improve on their sets but lets hope they improve on the acting and scripts.  I hope the ones that wrote the script researched how the characters are because this seems like any other American TV show instead of Boys Before Flowers.

Good luck to them. =/

Song Seung Heon Reaches 1million fans

Photo: Song Seung Heon facebook cover

Wow, on Facebook Song Seung Heon's page had reached 1 million fans.  Way to go SSH! With that milestone he did a video on Facebook to thank his fans.  Here you go, hope you can see the video from this link to SSH's Facebook page:

SSH Thank You Video *updated link 12/29/13

Switch Girl, Season 1

Photo Credit:doramax264.com

I know most of the stuff we've been posting have been mostly Korean stuff but this time I wanted to write about a JDrama I recently finished watching.  It's called Switch Girl. It's an Aida Natsumi manga turned into a drama.

Synopsis:
Tamiya Nika is the switch girl.  She is the beautiful glamorous popular high schooler, during the school day.  But she has a secret life back home, she switches "off" into a complete mess.  She dresses in sweatsuits, glasses, no makeup, weird hairstyle, no manners when eating and farts. A complete slob.  She is the complete opposite of how she is in school.  Then she meets Arata, a transfer student and her life gets complicated.  

This drama is super short, 8 episodes and about 30 minutes per episode.  It's a cute drama and it's like a live action anime.  The actress Nishiushi Mariya is really good going from beautiful to weird.  I wouldn't say ugly because she doesn't look ugly even at her worst but she does look like a weird awkward geek.  I love her over the top expressions, just like in an anime.

Nika lives with her parents and older sister (you never see the dad).  Her mom and sister are also switch girls.

Nika also has a best friend since kindergarten, Nino.  Nino is the only person in school who knows about Nika's switch off.  It's actually during their lunch breaks on the school's rooftop that Nika switch off with Nino.

There is also the Boss Monkey, Nika's rival in school.  Boss Monkey, use to be the most popular and beautiful one in school until Nika transferred into that school and that's when she lost her status from number one to number two, which she hates.

Then there's Arata played by Kiriyama Renn.  He's the quiet transfer student that doesn't want to be bothered by anyone.  He wears these "coke" bottle glasses to looks nerdy.  He's also very smart.  Without his glasses, he's really cute.  He actually reminds me of Yamapi. His hair style and even the way he acts.

If you can catch Switch Girl, it's worth watching. It's funny and over the top acting like anime.

There's Season 2 as well.  I haven't watched that yet.

Dongho from U-Kiss leaving group?

Photo credit: kpopstarz.com

I read from asia247.wordpress.com that Dongho from U-Kiss is leaving the group because his "...determination about being active as a celebrity weakened." Also, he has health reasons.

NH Media made this announcement:

“Dongho will be absent from team promotions starting withU-KISS’ new album which will be released this month, and he will be putting a hold on his activities as a celebrity…Starting from the beginning of this year,Dongho’s determination about being active as a celebrity weakened, and he has revealed that he doesn’t believe his health condition and stamina fit well with the life of a singer… After a long discussion with his parents, we have decided to accept their decision…Dongho expressed that he wanted to live a normal life rather than that of a celebrity…Although the decision of Dongho’s leave from the group is one that causes harm to the team’s activities, the members have all decided to accept this change as well… Although we feel burdened by the empty spot, the group will release a new album as scheduled as six members.”

He is the third member to leave the group. Alexander and Kibum had left in 2011.

He is actually the only member of U-Kiss I know because of the variety show, Maknae Rebellion years ago.  He was also on Raising Idol.  He was trying to learn how to speak English.  He was kind of cute, but I've only watched Key's portion of the show.  I've only liked the song Man Man Ha Ni.  And I haven't gotten really into U-Kiss that much.  It's too bad when a member leaves.  The group isn't the same when they do.

Well, good luck to Dongho. All the best for him.  Hope he comes back, he was pretty funny in variety shows.