Jiyeon caught in controversy over ramen CF

Jiyeon was recently swept up in a controversy over T-ara’s latest commercial for Nongshim ramen.

T-ara was selected to be the brand’s advertisement models last year, and recently released videos of the members personally introducing several recipes can be seen on Nongshim’s Japanese homepage.

In the commercial, Jiyeon decided to eat her ramen using the lid of the pot as a plate, like many Koreans do. While it was meant to be a fun way for the fans, this manner of eating is considered rude in Japan.

The commercial became somewhat controversial in Japan, perhaps because of cultural differences. As a result, Japanese netizens even left harsh comments like “Lack of manners” and “Uncivilized.”

While other have come to her defence saying, “I’ve seen this in Korean dramas. So they do eat like this in real life too.”

What is your opinion about this?

Eunjung looks gloomy in Italy

T-ara member Eunjung shared a somewhat gloomy selca taken during their stay in Europe.

On May 3rd, Eunjung tweeted, “I was skimming through the photo album and.... I found a picture from Italy, we were here for most of the rainy days”, and attached the photo above.

The monotone effects of the photo emphasize the cloudy atmosphere. Her pictorial-like poses, show much emotions, conveying the ‘sadness’ towards the rainy days.

Netizens commented, “Is it just because it’s raining? You look lonely”, “Cheer up Eunjung!” and “I want to see T-ara soon!”

2PM has it all for the domestic CF hit model ranking!

2PM has filled the hit-model ranking chart of the biggest advertisement portal site within Korea.

Recently, in the model chart among the TVCF’s ranking charts, TVCF being the advertisement portal site, 2PM has taken the 1st place, Nichkhun 2nd, Taecyeon 3rd, Wooyoung 5th, Junho 6th, Chansung 7th, Junsu 9th place. Like these, all members have been placed in the chart, and the group has literally filled the chart’s Top 10.

In continuance of taking last December’s model chart, – Nichkhun on the 1st, 2PM on the 2nd, Taecyeon on the 10th – this proves that 2PM has been the most beloved model from the advertisement companies and general consumers.

The model ranking of TVCF, the advertisement portal site, is determined by the total ranking list that collects all advertisements on air for the last 12 months and services 3 categories of list such as number of advertisements, average scores, and the hit rankings.

Among these, 2PM has taken the chart within the hit rankings as an advertisement model as follows: 1st-2PM, 2nd-Nichkhun, 3rd-Taecyeon, 5th-Wooyoung, 6th-Junho, 7th-Chansung, 9th-Junsu. Also for the average scoring 2PM has taken the 3rd, Taecyeon 5th, Nichkhun 6th, and proved their power and the excellence as the most beloved advertisement model in Korea.

Meanwhile, 2PM is preparing the ‘Budokan 6 Days’ concert at the end of May scaling 90,000 audiences.

Hyomin comes to defense of Jiyeon in ramen CF controversy

The Japanese division of Korean Food Manufacturer Group Nongshim selected the lovely ladies of T-ara to be their advertisement models last year, and recently released videos of the members personally cooking their own bowl of ramen through their homepage.

The videos were meant to be a fun way for the fans to see how each member prefers to eat the instant noodles, and member Jiyeon decided to eat her ramen using the lid of the pot as a plate, like many Koreans do.

This action which is considered completely normal in Korea became somewhat controversial in Japan. Perhaps because of cultural differences, the Japanese netizens had some difficulty in understanding the way Jiyeon ate.

Some wondered why she would eat off the lid, and even used harsh words such as ‘uncivilized’, and ‘disgusting’.

Jiyeon’s fellow group member Hyomin then responded to the controversy by writing on her officialTwitter page on May 3rd, “Ramen tastes best when you eat it off the lid. And of course, you would dishwash both the lid and the pot afterwards. Ahh! I want to eat some ramen that’s been cooked in a nickel-silver pot.”

Netizens were glad to see that Hyomin was showing her support for fellow member Jiyeon and wrote, “Hyomin is awesome!”, “I applaud Hyomin!”, and “T-ara fighting!”

2PM will be showing the 'beauty of the beast' with the release of Japanese single!

2PM, facing the 90,000-audience scale ‘Budokan 6 Days’ (including the additional performance at Yokohama Arena), is releasing the single album ‘Beautiful’ and plans to color the entire Japanese territory with “the beauty of the beast’

2PM’s new single title song, ‘Beautiful’, is the BGM for Sampyo brand’s ‘Dark vinegar’ advertisement, and it has been pre-released as such and on April 17th, blew off the chart and took on the 1st place on Recochoku, the biggest ringtone download service site in Japan.

 

Not only that, this time the single album is expected to track Junho’s self-composed song, ‘Kimiga Ireba’, thus raising the expectation for locals as well as the domestic fans in Korea.

In continuance of the album release, there will be a HI-Touch event at the local premise in Japan, and the Live DVD for 2PM’s first Arena Tour, which drew 100,000 audiences, will also be released on the 6th; drawing more attention.

2PM was awarded with the ‘New Artist of the Year’, the grand prize of the Japanese Golden Disk 2012, and has taken its toll as the most expected rookie. Also, the NHK Korean Teaching program, ‘Dark Vinegar’ advertisement, and the fixed program of Tokyo MX, as well as the movie ‘Oran Highschool Host Club’ is receiving the most beloved attention from the crowd.

 

Meanwhile, 2PM is facing the ‘Budokan 6 Days’ Concert at the end of May.