[NEWS] CNBLUE And Kara, Reaching New Heights On The Oricon Charts

Being a k-pop star isn't only about dominating Korea's music charts anymore. Many idol groups are eyeing out foreign markets with one of the most appealing targets being the neighboring country, Japan. Just weeks or months ago, girl idol groups were entering the Japanese music market, and breaking records by making it into the top ten. As if that wasn't an achievement in and of itself, a Korean group has now officially snatched away the coveted number one slot.

After releasing their second single, "I Don't Know Why" in Japan on September 16th, CNBLUE saw their song climb to number on on the Oricon weekly Indies Singles Chart on September 27th. Their first single, "The Way", released last June also is faring well, holding down the seventh spot. For those unfamiliar with The Oricon Charts, they are equivalent to The Billboards in the U.S. The group's success isn't surprising seeing as how "I Don't Know Why" had a strong start from the get-go. The track reached eighth -- not on the Indies Singles Chart, but the overall charts -- on the very day that it was released.

It then inched one up to be at seventh place during the week of the 18th before reaching number one the following week. CNBLUE also came out as the winning choice on a special k-pop survey conducted by the Japanese search portal site, www.biglobe.ne.jp. They were picked as the group that people would most love to see debut in Japan.?The popular band will be holding their first official fan club event, "Welcome to BOICE JAPAN", on October 28th at the Tokyo International Forum Hall. It's not just CNBLUE repping Korea well in Japan.

Kara has also reached an incredible feat; hitting number two on the Oricon Best Album Charts. After debuting in the foreign country in August, their debut single "Mister" reached fifth on the Oricon Weekly Charts, marking them as the first foreign Asian girl group to enter into the top ten. Also, 18,223 copies of their compilation album, "Kara BEST 2007-2010", were sold on the very first day of sales. That was a big enough figure to place them at number two on the daily Oricon Album Sales Charts. They were only behind one of the top singers in Japan, JUJU, who sold 19,974 copies of her album "Request". This is the best a Korean girl group has ever done in Japan.

Source : http://english.kbs.co.kr/

[NEWS] Kara's best album takes No. 2 spot on Oricon daily chart

Korean girl group Kara's best album has taken the No. 2 spot on the prestigious Oricon daily albums chart with their latest release.

According to the Oricon chart, the girls' record "Kara BEST 2007-2010", which went on sale in the country on September 29, came in second place with 18,223 copies sold, following behind Japanese songstress JUJU's album "Request", which went on sale the same day, with 19,974 copies.

Kara, who signed with Universal Music Group's sub-label Universal Music Sigma for their music activities in Japan, have made a successful debut into the country which came in May.

Their debut single album "Mister", which was released on August 11 in the country, earned them the title as the first Asian female group to place in the top 10 on the weekly singles chart, while their DVD titled "Kara VACATION" placed at No. 11, the highest rank for an Asian DVD to reach on the chart.

Known as one of the most popular girl groups in Korea, Kara splashed onto the local music scene in 2007 with their first album "Blooming" and have produced hits songs "Pretty Girl", "Wanna" and Lupin".

They will be releasing their second Japanese single in early November.

Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

[NEWS] Co.Ed Hyo Young "My sister who joined T-ara, We'll have a friendly competition"

T-ara's Jiyeon and Hwayoung throw a celebratory for Co.ed's debut.

Coed is a new rookie mixed group consisting of 10 members, including Hyoyoung (17, Ryu Hyoyoung).

Held this spring, Hyoyoung won the 80th annual Cheonhyung pagaent. Now, she will be debuting as an artist tonight through MNET M!Countdown with her groups title song, Too Late.

This group is especially unique because of the female and males members. It is also unique because Core Contents Media recruited twins, Hyoyoung and Hwayoung, who joined T-ara as the seventh member. Today the sisters were reunited and showed holding a cake, which attracted attention.

Hyoyoung said, "I really tremble when I think I'm going to debut. During the holidays, we did not even get a break but instead we continued training hard. For our first broadcast, we will show we prepared everything well."

She also said, "My twin sister, who recently joined T-ara, has good faith in me that we can be successful," she said laughing.

Meanwhile, former SeeYa member and current Co.ed leader, Soomi, said, "Through Co.ed's cool dance moves I'll be able to show a new image. I'm looking forward to showing fans this."

Source : Nate
Translated by : Nathaniel @ Core Clique

[NEWS] KARA will confront Japanese Girl Groups in November

KARA as Korean Girl Group Pride will confront with Japanese Girl Group

KARA will release second single ‘Jumping’ in Japan on 10 November. As opposed to the first single ‘Mister’ that was introduced last August, which was already released in Korea , ‘Jumping’ is a new song composed by Korean Staffs.

In addition, Kara’s second album release is on 10 November, which is just right where local artists (Japan) will also release their album on a large scale. On that day, Japanese popular artists including Arashi, Hirai Ken, Kajimi Yusuke will also release their albums.

Especially this day, Japan’s girl group representative will also confront with KARA. Japan Girl idol representative management Hello’s Berryz Kobo, which is also quite popular in Korea, as well as ‘Perfume’ which has confronted with KARA for awhile. AKB48 and Perfume are two groups that KARA is most concern about. Last August KARA has already confronted with Perfume when first single album was released. At that time, KARA was ranked at #5 on Oricon Chart while Perfume with 80,000 copies sales was up at #2 on Oricon Chart. However, KARA was able to catch up later on weekly chart. Moreover since KARA is gaining popularity in Japan and increased awareness, it seems like it is not that difficult for KARA to confront with them.

KARA (and their agency) are looking forward to have over 100,000 copies sales for second single and hoping to enter Oricon Chart Top 5 for the second consecutive time.

Meanwhile, KARA’s Korean version ‘BEST ALBUM’ is released on 29 September. This album is ranked at #2 on Oricon chart which show positive signs.

Thanks Anne for the tip
Translated by aank1 @ karaholic.com
Source : Newsen

[NEWS] Kara’s ‘Mister’ concept copied by a Japanese female idol group?

A controversy of a popular Japanese girl group copying Kara has been rising.

Korean netizens are in doubt that the Japanese idol girl group, ‘9 nine’, have copied Kara’s clothing concepts, who released their debut single ‘Mister’ in Japan in early August.

A 5-member female idol group ‘9 nine’ who debuted in 2005 recently released a single album with a concept similar to Kara’s clothing for ‘Mister’ – short-sleeved colour t-shirts, baggy hip-hop pants and even the gloves.

Moreover, netizens are suspecting that Kara has influenced them a lot, making a point that ‘9 nine’, who used to rely on their cute images, transformed into a powerful and sexy concept as SNSD and Kara had quite an impact on the Japanese girl group industry.

Netizens have commented on internet forums, saying “You can tell that it’s similar to the concept for ‘Mister’,” “This is like copying the concept,” “I can see nothing different from ‘Mister’s image,” and have expressed their doubts and suspicions.

While some netizens are disagreeing, saying “Different singers’ different images influence each other of course, so aren’t you reacting too sensibly?” but most netizens are agreeing that the concepts are too similar to each other.

Other netizens have wrote, “I’m proud that Korean girl groups are popular enough to have a big influence over Japanese girl groups,” “Korean music-entertainment industry used to copy the Japanese culture, but now it’s the opposite,” and have shown their pride.

Source : Newsen
Translated by : Lorah@dkpopnews.net

[NEWS] T-ara, 'We want to be more than singers'

'Being a singer alone does not satisfy us'

T-ara(Eunjung, Hyomin, Soyeon, Jiyeon, Kyuri and Boram) discuss their goal to become multi-entertainers in the entertainment business.

With hits like 'Bo Peep Bo Peep' and 'Go Crazy Because of You', they now challenge themselves to do more than singing.

Qri had her acting debut in MBC's historical drama 'Queen Seon-dook' although she played a little part. She then took part in 'Southern Trader Kim Chulsoo"

Jiyeon debuted in MBC's drama aswell, named 'Soul'. She then got another gig through KBS 2TV's 'God of Study'. She had her first movie role in the successful horror movie 'Death Bell 2', and her first variety show as a fixed cast in SBS' 'Heroes'. She will return later this month with 'Jungle Fish 2'.

Eunjung had already started her acting and modeling career before even getting in T-ara. She got her first lead role acting in SBS' drama 'Coffee House'. She will have her first movie role in 'White'.

Leader Boram has had her share aswell. Aside from acting along-side Jiyeon in 'Soul', she followed her mother's footsteps by debuting in the one-shot 'In Purple Heels, The Grim Reaper is Coming!".

Hyomin is acting in the variety field as well through the show 'Invcinible Youth'. As a member of T-ara, she's also had alot of guestings with the group, but her first role in the drama is in SBS' 'My Girlfriend Is A Nine-Tailed Fox'.

Lastly, member Soyeon, aside from appearing in varios variety and talk shows, will have her own movie debut soon aswell.

In a recent interview with T-ara, they explained us their experiences with their acting/solo projects. While promoting for the movie 'Death Bell 2', T-ara joined member Jiyeon to show their support and gather more fans and meet them. "If Death Bell 3 is done, we will be the new heroines of the movie" said in a joking manner.

-'I want to be paired up with Lee Seung-Gi'

Hyomin transformed in to an actress for the first time in 'Gumiho'. She expressed her feelings of wanting to be paired up with Lee Seung-Gi who is her co-star in the drama 'My Girlfriend is a Gumiho'.

The members joke around about Hyomin, as Soyeon says "Hyomin wants to be paired of with Lee Seung-Gi but the truth is they look more like brother and sister!" she continues "I hope Lee Seung-Gi has a deep kissing scene!!"

Jiyeon was asked, what was the hardest part participating in her latest solo project 'Jungle Fish 2'.

"I think the hardest part is playing the role of a problematic teenager. I play a teenager in her school days who is addicted to ADHD pills. The director is very meticulous with every movement and action I do."

She continues, "Im not yet of legal age, but I have to play someone who breaks the boundaries. But this gives me challenge. I want to play more challenging parts in the future"

While talking to T-ara, it seems there is this certain sparkle in their eyes when talking about being multi-entertainers. It seems there's no boundaries for this girl group.

Credits : Kwon Soobin(interviewer) + Diadem Gallery
Translation : *YANiPOPO* @ Tiaradiadem.com

[NEWS] 4Minute to sing for 'The Fugitive: Plan B' OST

On 28th September, details of the OST CD for KBS drama 'The Fugitive: Plan B' were officially announced. The OST CD will include the theme song, Running & Running, by MBLAQ, as well as 2 other songs by 4Minute and Shin SeungHoon respectively.

Starring Rain, Daniel Henney, Lee NaYoung, Lee JungJin and more, 'The Fugitive: Plan B' will have its first episode aired on 29th September, 9:55PM KST.


Sources : Fancafe + Baidu
Translation + Reporting : kueensora@4-minute.com