A new ride-hailing app is making their way to Malaysia and it’s called Ryde. Originated from our neighbouring country Singapore, this app is set to bring much needed competition to the already established brands available to us right now.
The app will have similar features like others of its kind, such as review and ratings. But get this, the company will take a non-profit stance with drivers only able to pick up two passengers per day. So in order to attract drivers and customers alike, Ryde will not be taking any commission on payment.
Source: The Strait Times
Passengers of Ryde will also get the option to bid on a ride. This is to ensure that the drivers will feel more compensated for their expenses. However, the bidding option will only be available when there are a lot of riders in a single location.
Unfortunately, Ryde will only accept cash as payment at the moment. The app is available for download right now, though the service will only be available on 1st November 2019, within the Klang Valley. Other areas that the company plans to expand include Johor, Penang and Malacca but no official date has been confirmed.
Source: The Strait Times
Ryde is said to focus on carpooling as being a regular commute, instead of a one-off trip like most apps. Though, it is still unclear how Ryde will deal with the Passenger Service Vehicle (PSV) license. Ryde’s CEO Terrance Zou believes it may not be necessary as carpooling is not for profit.
Fellow teammates of f(x) Sulli (설리), Amber Liu (엠버) and Victoria Song (빅토리아) have made their way back to Korea today for her funeral.
After halting all her scheduled activities earlier this week, Amber was seen at the airport after she arrived back in Korea from the States. Additionally, Victoria – who was staying at China for her solo activities there – left the country yesterday.
According to Koreaboo, Amber arrived earlier than Victoria. In this case, the 27-year-old entertainer looked very solemn and gloomy. She kept her head down as she walked pass the fans and local press.
Both were wearing black outfits from head to toe to reflect their mourning state towards the loss of their beloved team member. Victoria also was seen wearing a mask and sunglasses to cover her face as she walked pass the public.
Check out the full clips of their arrival here courtesy of NewsEn:
Sulli’s funeral was held privately earlier today (17th October) with the presence of her family and close friends. Initially, f(x)’s agency, SM Entertainment, requested to ensure the funeral to be kept secret. However, it was later announced that fans were allowed to pay their tribute and bid their last goodbye to the singer-actress at the public memorial event.
The event was held at Funeral Hall 7 on the ground level of Sincheon Severance Hospital on 15th October (Tuesday) and 16th October (Wednesday). Besides Amber and Victoria, fellow f(x) member Luna was also seen at the funeral as they bid their final farewell to the late Sulli.
Earlier this year, “Sonic the Hedgehog” live-action movie was met with major backlash for its poor design.
Director Jeff Fowler later released a statement saying, “The message is loud and clear… you aren’t happy with the design and you want changes. It’s going to happen. Everyone at Paramount and Sega are fully committed to making this character the BEST he can be.”
Source: Paramount
Long time fans hated that the studio used human elements to depict the iconic game character. Thanks to a Twitter user, we now have a better look at what Paramount Pictures have been cooking up ever since they went into hiding.
2 new promotional photos have apparently leaked, revealing a new, improved look of our blue, furry friend. Instead of a humanoid figure, the redesigned Sonic is closer to the cartoon look – with white gloves and footwear.
Although these images look legit, fan designs are pretty impressive these days. We’ll know for sure if these redesigns are legit when the new trailer drops.
“Sonic the Hedgehog” is slated for release on 14th February 2020. The film stars Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Adam Pally, Neal McDonough, and Natasha Rothwell.
Hong Kong icon Jackie Chan took to the stage last weekend to announce that he wants to shoot a movie in Saudi Arabia.
Joined by other film icons such as Shah Rukh Khan, Jason Momoa and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The 65-years-old star, visited the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the first time as he was set to be honoured with the Joy Excellence award, in the kingdom’s Joy Entertainment Forum in Riyadh.
Source: Instagram
The “Rush Hour” actor took to the stage to thank the kingdom for their invitation, as he was handed the award by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Entertainment Authority.
“All those years, I made action comedy because I like to make joy and make people laugh but besides that we have a message (in the movie) and it’s about love, love your people, love your country, love the world and also bring the peace around the world,” he said.
Source: South China Morning Post
He later revealed that after a few hours he has already found some places for action scenes, and his intention for returning back to the kingdom with his film crew.
“It’s my first time in Saudi, and I know it’s a big country. After only a few hours (travelling) here and looking at locations I know there’s a good place for car chasing, explosions, action; so, next time, I hope to come back with my crew,” the star added.
Source: Instagram
The 2-day festival was held in the luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel, as the event was made in order to help development the kingdom’s entertainment sector, which they hope will allow them to become the leading movie and television hub of the region.
Moreover, the event was also part of the Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s modernisation efforts, which also had the long standing ban on cinema lifted just last year.
Award-winning air flight Qatar Airways has just elevated its on-flight delicacies for its Economy Class passengers to a whole new level.
To kickstart the good news, their signature meals served now come in larger portions than usual – appetisers increased by 20%, main dishes 25% and desserts 50%. This is perfect news for sweet toothed foodies.
Source: Today Online
Apart from international dishes, passengers are also expected to be served with their all-time favourite local delicacies such as chicken rice, nasi lemak, briyani rice and roti canai with curry which are available exclusively for their thrice-daily Singapore-Doha flight.
Passengers can also enjoy pre-dinners drinks including sparkling wine and cocktail snacks for 5-hours and longer flights. On top of that, mouth-watering Godiva chocolates will also be served with hot beverage service, while individual bottled drinks are made available for Economy Class passengers on board. Additionally, passengers can now enjoy snacks like popcorn and also cheese crackers while watching movie mid-flight.
In support of not using disposable plastic bags on its flight, Qatar Airways has also increased their use of recyclable and biodegradable products onboard by 80%, while 80% of tray items will “comply with the ban on single-use plastics”, as written by Today Online.
And just when we thought that the airline forgot their young travellers, think again! The specially-designed snack box (as pictured below) are filled with tons of yummy treats for your kids to enjoy while on-board.
So wait no more! Hurry up and visit Qatar Airways’ official website to book your flight tickets.
Do you love apples and cider? Then keep your eyes open when the Apple Fox Cider’s Fox Mobile rolls into town.
That’s right, Apple Fox Cider is bringing their own Fox Mobile to town. The Fox Mobile will be touring Klang Valley and across the region to bring you a taste of delicious Apple Fox Cider.
You’ll be able to learn how Apple Fox Cider brew their cider and also participate in games to win exclusive prizes at the Fox Mobile. In conjunction with Apple Day, Apple Fox Cider is also inviting all ciders lovers to bring their own glass to be filled with Apple Fox Cider at absolutely no cost! The free ciders will be available over the weekend on the 19th and 20th October 2019 at participating pubs, bars, and restaurants.
Not enough ciders? Then keep a look out at major newspapers on 18th October for the fox cut out to get your hands on more apples. Just turn in the fox cut out in your newspaper for a can of Apple Fox Cider on 19th and 20th October at selected supermarkets and hypermarkets from 12pm to 8pm.
That’s not all, have fun and log into the Apple Fox website to play the online game Grand Theft Apple. All you have to do is collect as many apples as you can to win exclusives prizes. The top 3 scorers of the game will win the grand prize of 288 cans of Apple Fox Ciders.
So keep updated with the Fox Mobile location when you check out the Apple Fox Cider’s social channels. For more details regarding the games please log into the Apple Fox official website here.
Roll out the presidential carpet, cause the Obamas are coming to town, as both Barack and Michelle Obama will be arriving in KL this December.
According to The Star, the former United State president is coming to Malaysia to speak at the Obama Foundation’s inaugural Asia Pacific leaders gathering later this year. 200 emerging leader across Asia-pacific are scheduled to attend.
Source: Scholarship Positions
The gathering is part of a year-long programme focused on values-based and ethical leadership, which will include plenary sessions, skills-building workshops, leadership development training, and networking opportunities.
According to Bernadette Meehan, the Obama Foundation chief international officer, the region has deep ties with the former president, as he was born in Hawaii and his step-father was Indonesian.
“The Asia Pacific region holds a deep well of talented and passionate emerging leaders, and it is a region of great importance to President Obama given his strong roots in Indonesia and Hawaii.” she stated.
Source: YouTube
Bernadette also added that “This programme will build upon the community organising legacy of the Obamas, with a focus on shared values and ethical leadership, and we are excited to embark on a year-long programme to empower these leaders to tackle the unique challenges they face in their communities, ”.
Furthermore, the gathering will also have several emerging leaders that focus on girls’ education and empowerment from across the region. This is part of the Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance to raise awareness and action on the importance of adolescent girls’ education.
Source: The Star
The foundation hopes the gathering will show their dedication to the region, as they believe these emerging leader will bring about a positive change across the globe through their work.
The event will occur on the 10th to 14th of December this year, however, the time and place of the gathering have yet to be announce.
Source: The Star. / Featured Image: Scholarships Positions.
Just when everyone thought Krystal Jung (크리스탈) was absent the whole time during Sulli(설리)’s funeral service, reports suggest otherwise.
It’s been revealed that the 25-year-old stayed by her fellow f(x) member’s side for 3 days following her passing.
According to an exclusive report by Hankook Kyungjae, Krystal spent 3 days at the funeral home with the deceased’s family members, helping them along the process.“Krystal was at the funeral home for 3 days upon hearing the news about Sulli, and she was involved in all the necessary procedures,” said the source.
In addition, they also expressed their disappointment over the netizen’s hateful comments about the “The Bride of Habaek” actress. “The malicious comments are just too harsh for her to hear. It’s really shocking and sad,” the insider added.
As written by AllKpop, family members as well as friends will go through a mourning phase during the memorial service that spans multiple days, as accustomed by Korean tradition.
Meanwhile, Goo Hara (구하라) has finally arrived in Korea after finishing all her work commitments in Japan. The “City Hunter” star landed in the Gimpo International Airport yesterday (Thursday, 17th October).
She took the morning flight on Thursday morning to attend the memorial service. Prior to this, Hara filmed a heartfelt Instagram live video to address the unfortunate news. She was unable to attend Sulli’s funeral due to her commitments in Japan, as she tearfully apologised to her best friend for not being there to send her off.
Koo hara live ig today, she’s can’t handle her tears and feel sorry about sulli, you did well eonnie stay strong rest in peace #sullipic.twitter.com/4cWmOOXJV9
Victoria Song (빅토리아) is snapping back at haters for bashing her and her f(x) members for not posting about Sulli (설리)’s passing after it dominated headlines.
The Chinese singer-actress, also known as Song Qian (宋茜), is done taking crap from negative social media users who have been directing malicious comments towards her and her girls.
Source: Instagram
Her lengthy statement reads:
“Since when have Weibo, WeChat, and Instagram become the rulers? The rulers by which we measure ethics, people’s relationships, emotions, anything that people wish to measure. A public platform is a place where you can share things with others. When did it become a place to put on a show? You can post if you want, and if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. There is no empathy, just yourself.
“If you want to see a show, then shout. If you want to create rumours, keep at it. I’m not extraordinary. I just want to live my life more grounded in reality than the people leaving comments.”
The 32-year-old K-pop star continued:
“Don’t speculate. If you have time to come up with a story, what do you think about spending that time doing something more meaningful? Please don’t let (commenting and social media) become your life. You can’t find your identity in a world that’s made up of falsehoods. People need to take walks through reality. Please don’t waste your time.
“Please don’t tell others what they need to do with their lives. Even well-intentioned advice has its boundaries. Don’t overstep. What right do you have to tell a stranger to do this, or don’t do that, when your own life is a wreck? Everyone’s life is different and unique. Who has the right to tell someone else how to live?
“Focus on your own life. Live in the present. If you live with a kind heart, that is enough.”
This came after Victoria was heavily criticised for not showing the world how devastated she was. Yesterday (Thursday, 17th October), she finally shared a sweet message on Instagram, bidding farewell to Sulli.
“Sulli~The weather is nice today. Goodbye~I won’t forget you. I love you…” she captioned the nostalgic photo of f(x) together.
Solo songstress Kan Mi Youn (간미연) and musical actor Hwang Ba Wool (황바울) are set to walk down the aisle next month!
On 9th September 2019, the former Baby V.O.X member and her beau announced the good news that they will be getting married on 9th November this year, after 3 years of dating.
During the interview, Kan Mi Youn – who is now known as a musical actress – was asked about how she and her future husband first met. She responded by saying, “Hwang Ba Wool and I acted together once, and then we happened to meet again by chance several years later.”
The 37-year-old starlet also described him as someone who is “cheerful and kind” and complimented him for having a “pretty smile”. In conjunction with their special day next month, the lovebirds also revealed adorable pictures taken during their wedding photo shoot through local media outlet “Xportnews”.
Check out their cute shots here:
In addition, the “Paparazzi” singer expressed her gratitude and thanked everyone for the warm wishes. “Thank you so much for sending us so many congratulatory messages and blessings. Even after the wedding, I will continue to greet you well through musicals and films,” she said.
As mentioned earlier, Kan Mi Youn was a member of 1st generation K-Pop group Baby V.O.X along with “Princess Hours” actress Yoon Eun Hye among others including Kim EZ, Lee Hee Jin and Shim Eun Jin. For those who are interested, check out their hit songs compilation here courtesy of MBCKpop:
Congratulations to the happy couple! We wish you all joy in the world.
“Suicide Squad” sequel director James Gunn gives his verdict on the Joker’s chances on appearing in the new movie.
Margot Robbie and Jai Courtney are reprising their roles in “The Suicide Squad”, while John Cena, Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, and Pete Davidson are set to play new characters. Notable absentee however, is none other than Jared Leto, who played the Joker in the 2016 DC film.
While the Jared Leto’s rendition left much to be desired, especially when compared to the recent Joaquin Phoenix version, some of Leto hopefuls still wish the actor will reprise the role again to redeem himself.
So a fellow fan took to social media to asked the “Guardian Of The Galaxy” director about the absent star during a Q&A session that Gunn recently did on his Instagram.
The fan asked the director, “how can you justify a Suicide Squad movie, that does not have a Joker in it?”
Which prompted Gunn to give his response, “No one but me and a few others know all the characters in the movie, but if the Joker isn’t in the film, I don’t think it would be strange as he isn’t a part of the Suicide Squad in the comics.”
Couple the response with a post the director did last month that showcase the cast of his movie, Leto’s appearance very unlikely. But never say never though, as the way the director phrased his words certainly does leave room for the Joker’s return.
There’s something about South Korea that keeps pulling us back time and time again. It’s like a siren call. If you’ve been to the country, you’ll know exactly just what we mean.
While sight-seeing and food hunting are often top priority, we recently got to experience the K-pop fever and immerse ourselves in various music activities. From musicals to live performances, here are some attractions to check out the next time you visit Seoul and Gangwon:
1. Music Bank: Enjoy a K-pop concert for free
Whoever that claims that “less is more” clearly has never attended Music Bank (뮤직뱅크). For the uninitiated, Music Bank is KBS’s long-run music chart show that airs every week where various K-pop stars will come to promote their new singles. There’s everyone from new rookies, indie bands, comeback artists, idol groups and more.
On 4th October, we fortunate enough to witness Twice (“Fancy”, “Feel Special”), SEVENTEEN (“Fear”, “Snap Shot”), NCT Dream (“Boom”, “Stronger”), ONEUS (“Lit”), Red Velvet (“Zimzalabim”), CLC and many more. Our favourite moments were when the balladeers sang their hearts out live, but watching the other K-pop acts lip sync to their sickening choreography were equally entertaining.
Tickets for Music Bank are given out through an online lottery. After creating a KBS account here, concert-goers can sign up for the lottery in hopes to win tickets here. Application for tickets are usually made a week prior to airing. So if you aren’t lucky this week, try again for the next show.
While we were in the area, we also dropped by…
The Gangneung Coffee Festival
Ever since it’s first event a decade ago, the Gangneung Coffee Festival has been a tourist attraction for coffee addicts to enjoy the city’s outstanding hand dripped coffee. This coffee culture celebrates famous coffee chains and artisan coffee shops with interesting events including exhibitions, coffee-making process and coffee bean-roasting experience programs.
2. Watch “Only You” musical
“Only You” will make you laugh and cry, but more importantly, the message of love will resonate deeply. This contemporary musical drama centers on the life-long marriage of an ordinary couple from Gyeongsang province that spans over 3 decades. Instead of using musical numbers, this award-winning show features famous 1990s K-pop hits.
The 4 main characters in the story are:
Kang Bong-sik (Husband) – A short tempered yet has a soft side to his personality.
Lee Pil-rye (Wife) – Affectionate and easy-going but her indecisiveness often drives her hubby up the wall.
Kang Eun-ji (Daughter)
Han Yeong-seok (Son-in-law)
P/s: Fret not if you don’t understand Korean as subtitles in English, Chinese and Japanese are provided.
The details for “Only You” are as follows:
Venue: JTN Art Hall Theater 3, 26, Ihwajang-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
How to get there: Alight at Hyehwa Station (Seoul Subway line 4), exit 2. Walk along the stream and past the Elementary School until you see the Art Hall on the right.
3. Daehakro Festival: Non-verbal performances
Daehak-ro is said to be the “Korean version of Broadway where culture meets art”. Since its inception it 2017, Daehakro (대학로) has been a festival where music lovers can gather to enjoy musicals, plays, and various Korean performing art genres.
Earlier this month, we were fortunate to gather at Marronnier Park to witness a series of non-verbal performances, all gathered in a single location. These acts are usually staged in major theatres across Seoul.
The 2019 Daehakro Performing Arts & Tourism Festival is held from 2nd September till 27th October. Some of the acts that we got to witness were Drumcat, Pang Show, Chef: A New Brand of Bibap, Sun & Moon, Fanta Stick, Jump, “KUNG” Season 3: Dreamer and Painters.
Nanta is a well-known non-verbal performance in Korea that specialises in rhythms, beats and body movements with the help of Korean traditional instruments. To experience this culture performance, visitors can enrol in the Nanta Academy for drum lessons. Besides learning a new skill through the rhythms of Nanta, this hobby is also great for stress relief!
5. Moonlight Tour at Changdeokgung Palace
Much has been said about the stunning Changdeokgung Palace (also known as Donggwol). Named a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1997, Changdeokgung Palace is one of the 5 Grand Palaces built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). As the longest-serving royal residential palace, these architectural gems didn’t just housed kings and queens, but it was also the center of politics and city life back in the day.
The Moonlight Tour offers tourist a different perspective of Changdeokgung Palace. Attendees are given paper lanterns as you explore the grounds. Our highlight though, was the traditional performance at Yeongyeongdang Hall where we also got to enjoy traditional tea.
For the next 30 minutes, there were an array of gugak (traditional Korean music) performances, pansori, shadow play, and traditional dance. The wooden house mirrors the same styles of homes in the Joseon era where the royal family were entertained with various ceremonies and performances.
Do note that foreigners are only allocated limited time slots with only 100 tickets per night. Therefore, visitors are advised to secure tickets online.
The details to Changdeokgung Palace’s Moonlight Tour are as follows:
Address: 99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 99)
“Abominable” was originally slated to premiere in Malaysia on 7th November 2019. However, we’ve now received word that it’s been banned here.
This comes after The Star reported yesterday that our film censor board (Lembaga Penapis Film) had ordered one particular scene to be censored from “Abominable”.
The scene in question revolves around China’s “nine-dash line” in the South China Sea. “The U-shaped line is used on Chinese maps to illustrate its territorial claims over vast expanses of the resource-rich South China Sea, including areas claimed by other countries,” the publication explained.
This is controversial because the South China Sea territorial conflict has been an ongoing issue for many years. To quote Lowyat in layman terms, “China is basically increasing claims in the South China Sea without permission from neighbouring countries”. Vietnam pulled the film from cinemas earlier on Monday while The Philippines have ordered the scene to be cut (and encourage the people to boycott it).
The synopsis reads:
“After discovering a Yeti on the roof of her apartment building, teenage Yi and her two friends embark on an epic quest to reunite the magical creature with his family. But to do so, they must stay one step ahead of a wealthy financier and a determined zoologist who want to capture the beast for their own gain.”
Since the ban in our country was made official, United International Pictures Malaysia (UIP Malaysia) has deleted the trailer from their YouTube channel. It’s possible that LPF felt that “Abominable” was too controversial to be released in Malaysia.
It’s to safe to sat that many of us are still in shock following the sudden news of Sulli (설리)’s passing.
The former f(x) member was found dead by her manager on the 2nd floor of her house in Seongnam, south of Seoul. Police stated that they were investigating the case as a possible suicide.
Source: ABS-CBN News
Suicide is not a new thing in South Korea. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the suicide rate in South Korea is currently at its highest level – reaching at number 10. The country also lead the Organization of Economic Cooperastion and Development (OECD) with the highest rate of people who commit suicide.
In fact, suicide was the 4th leading cause of death among South Koreans. We’ve compiled a list of suicide cases among well-known celebrities that rocked the nation in the past. Keep in mind that the list are not arranged in chronological order.
1. Choi Jinsil (최진실) (24th December 1968 – 2nd October 2008)
Nicknamed “The Nation’s Actress” back during her heyday, Choi Jinsil was known for her string of TV soap operas as well as winning the Best Actress award at the 33rd Grand Bell Awards.
Her life soon began to change following the death of her former manager Ahn Jaehwan – a prominent figure in the entertainment industry – due to a murder case back in 1994. In this case, the late Jinsil was accused of being one of the main suspects for the crime.
As a result, she received several amount of backlash from everyone, which lead to her depression. She then decided to commit suicide by hanging herself on 2nd October 2008, in her home in Seoul.
2. Park Yongha (박용하) (12th August 1977 – 30th June 2010)
Park Yongha is no stranger among South Korean fans. At the young age of 17, he was admired for his skills in acting and singing, complete with his handsome looks. Aside from his antagonist role in famous TV drama “Winter Sonata” (2002) alongside A-listers Bae Youngjoon and Choi Jiwoo, he was also successful as a solo singer.
He was found dead by his mother at his home at Nonhyeongdong, Seoul; hanging from a camcorder charger after committing suicide. Prior to that, it’s reported that he had been struggling from the pressures of juggling between his entertainment company and his career, whilst also coping with his father having cancer.
3. Jang Jayeon (장자연) (25th January 1980 – 7th March 2009)
Jang Jayeon’s death remains the talk of the town even until the present day. She’s known for her appearance in the hit TV drama “Boys Over Flowers” (2009) as the character named Sunny.
She committed suicide by hanging herself at her house in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The news became a hot topic following reports about her being abused both sexually and physically throughout her short stint in the industry.
It was reported that in her 7-page unconfirmed suicide note, she revealed that she often got beaten by her agency and was forced to have sex with several VIPs – including directors, media executives and CEOs to name a few. Her scandal was adapted into a film called “Norigae” (2013).
4. Lee Eunjoo (이은주) (22nd December 1980 – 22nd February 2005)
Lee Eunjoo was the star for hit films including “Taegukgi: The Brotherhood Of War” (2004) and “The Scarlet Letter” (2000).
It’s believed that her life was at risk following her role in the latter movie. In the movie, she had to film nude scenes which in turn became a trauma for her. Throughout the years, Lee Eunjoo had suffered from depression, mental illness as well as insomnia.
On the night of 22nd February 2005, a few days after her graduation from Dankook University, Lee committed suicide by slitting her wrists and hanged herself at her apartment in Bundang, Seongnam. She was 24 at that time.
5. Daul Kim (김다울) (31st May 1989 – 19th November 2009)
Daul Kim was one of the biggest names in the fashion industry around that time. One of her major highlights was her cover page for Vogue magazine in 2007. Apart from that, this young and aspiring model had worked with other big names in fashion including Karl Lagerfeld, Vivienne Westwood, Chanel and Alexander McQueen to name a few.
However, beyond the glitz and glamour of the fashion world, Daul was actually lonely and depressed. She committed suicide by hanging herself at her apartment in Paris on 19th November 2009 at a young age of 20.
6. SHINee’s Jonghyun (종현) (8th April 1990 – 18th December 2017)
Jonghyun is no stranger among K-Pop fans worldwide. He debuted as the lead vocalist for award-winning boy band SHINee back in 2008.
It’s believed that everyone was aware about his struggle against depression throughout his time in the industry. However, he decided to end his life by committing suicide at a rented apartment in Chengdamdong in December 2017.
In his suicide note, the singer wrote, “The depression that was slowly devouring me at last consumed me.” His tragic passing was mourned by fellow Shawols (SHINee fans) as well as K-fans around the world.
7. Jeon Taesoo (전태수) (2nd March 1984 – 21st January 2018)
Jeon Taesoo was the younger brother to “Secret Garden” actress Ha Ji Won. He was notable for his appearance in the period drama “Sungkyunhwan Scandal”.
He died at his home on 21st January 2018 in an apparent suicide. Reports stated that he was being treated for depression at the time of his death. He was 33 at that time.
According to “World Today”, lawmakers of South Korea are proposing an act called the “Sulli Act”. The bill was reportedly proposed by 9 members of of the National Assembly. The act wishes to tackle ongoing issue on cyber-bullying.
Soompi further reported that approximately 100 local organisations as well as 200 celebrities who have experienced receiving malicious comments are supporting the bill.
“Graceful Family” (우아한 가) recently concluded on an all-time high rating in Korea.
According to sources, the mystery melodrama was in first place its time slot across all channels, including public broadcast networks. The 16th and final episode that aired yesterday (Thursday, 17th October) has left wondering if there is a season 2.
Omg #GracefulFamily what did that ending mean?!?! Season 2????
Shouldn’t it be titled TOP instead of #ElegantFamily / #GracefulFamily since the show ended showing TOP group?The lead actors gone at the end lol.Reasonable for me if there’s season 2,but if negative…ending for me:::meh imoodealwithit
For those of you who don’t know what “Graceful Family” is about, the synopsis plot reads:
“Mo Seok Hee is an only child and her father runs the large company MC Group. She is beautiful, smart and rich. Mo Seok Hee appears like she is arrogant, but she struggles over her mother’s death. Her mother was killed 15 years ago.
“Heo Yoon Do is a lawyer, but he doesn’t even have an office. He solves small problems of neighborhood residents at a restaurant. He is full of love. Miraculously, Heo Yoon Do is headhunted to join the TOP team at MC Group. The TOP team manages the affairs of the family who runs the MC Group. Their job includes covering up immoral or illegal behaviors done by the family. Han Je Kook heads the TOP team.
“Mo Seok Hee and Heo Yoon Do work together to reveal the truth of what happened when Mo Seok Hee’s mother was killed.”
Source: MBN
While there is currently no word if there is a follow up to “Graceful Family”, the cast met up to share their final thoughts on the series.
“There’s always a start and end to a drama, but this drama was a project that I especially loved,” stated Bae Jong Ok. “A great project was created because everyone showed 200 percent of their capabilities. More than anything, thank you to the viewers for giving us lots of love.”
Lee Kyu Han said, “I thought a lot as to how to express my character who tried to mask his frustration with laughter. But we were able to conclude thanks to the wonderful script, best directing, colleagues, and energy from viewers. Thank you so much for giving us lots of love.”
“I focused on the love and pain of this character, and wanted to express a person who lived every day as if it was war,” stated Kim Jin Woo. “Thank you to the staff who worked with me, colleagues, the writer, and director who helped me to create the Mo Wan Joon I had researched.”
Im Soo Hyang said, “I want to say thank you to the viewers who joined us and the director, production staff, and colleagues with whom I spent the hot summer and fall. I’ll use what I learned through this valuable experience and work hard to show you good acting. Thank you once again.”
Lee Jang Woo commented, “After riding a good airplane and landing safely, I feel as if I’ve gone on a joyful trip. It’ll be a project that I remember for a long time. Thank you to the viewers who passionately loved us so that we could succeed beyond our expectations.”
Are you sad that “Graceful Family” has come to an end?
Wilber Pan (潘瑋柏), also known as Will Pan, will be “Coming Home” to Malaysia soon.
The 39-year-old singer have been touring across Asia – including China as well as Hong Kong – and local fans will finally get to see him live.
The Mandpop singer-songwriter, from West Virginia, United States, has dubbed as the hip-hop icon of the 1990s generation. Pan first released his first Mandarin solo album “Gecko Stroll” in 2002, featuring tracks like “By My Side,” composed by Chinese King of Pop Jay Chou, and “I’m Not Afraid”.
His star power started to rise between 2003 and 2004 when he debuted his 2nd and 3rd studio albums – “Pass Me the Mic” and “Wu Ha”. To date, the Chinese-American artist has worked with big names such as JJ Lin, Su Rui, F. I. R. and Shin.
In case if you’ve missed it, the movie “Joker” has been released in theatres worldwide.
If you’ve already watched the psychological thriller, you’ll remember this scene of Joaquin Phoenix’s character Joker a.k.a Arthur Fleck with his love interest Sophie Dumond (played by Zazie Beetz).
We’ll won’t drop any spoilers here. Instead, we wanted to shift your focus on this video by Andy Make Things called “If Joker Was A K-Drama”. It’s a 42-second clip depicted the same exact scene, but with an interesting twist.
The kissing scene between Joker and Sophie was edited exactly the same like almost every ending in a Korean drama – making use of effects such as the ending shot and also transition of the scenes.
To add in the mood, the song “Stay With Me” that was used as the main soundtrack for the popular Tv drama “Goblin” was also used in the video. Check out the full clip here:
Hats off to Andy Makes Things for his creative hands!
When we think of the month of October, Halloween immediately comes to mind. The one time in the year that allows you to dress up as your favourite costume characters without the fear of people judging you.
Unfortunately, all these costume and face paint would go to waste if you decide to party all by yourself at home. So in order to celebrate Halloween the way it was meant to be celebrated, we have compiled 11 events for you to enjoy with your buddies and have a frighteningly good time.
1. Common Ground Halloween Party
Organised by Common Ground
Venue: Common Ground, KL33, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur 50250.
Common Ground has got you covered with more than a drink at this Halloween event that comes with a free flow happy hours. That’s right, free Bacardi and Heineken will be serve in the event from 7pm to 9pm with a couple more complimentary drinks when you enter certain rooms. So grab your friend and head over to Common Ground Horror Hotel for a good drink and a nice night out.
2. The Monster Ball 2019
Organised by SOULed OUT Kuala Lumpur
Venue: SOULed OUT Kuala Lumpur (Desa Sri Hartamas)
Date: 26th October 2019
A ball with a twist, SOULed Out is certainly giving it their all at this year’s halloween party. The event will have performances and games to keep you entertain all through the night and with some of the wackiest drink on the list. Oh, did we forget to mention that the admission is free? Yep! So clear out your calendar and prepare yourself for a Hallow-tastic time in this Halloween Ball.
3. Publika Halloween Carnival
Organised by Publika
Venue: Publika Shopping Gallery, Level G2
Date: 24th to 31st October 2019
For those who like a little bit more family-friendly affair can head right over to Publika Shopping Gallery when they host their very own admission free carnival. The carnival will include a free Halloween make up for your kids, a carnival game area, interactive dance performance and many more.
4. Animal Instinct
Organised by Privi
Venue: Privi (Look for Drift Dining & Bar) Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Date: 26th October 2019
Unleash your wild side when you head over to the Animal Instinct party by Privi. The bar will have tunes to light up the atmosphere with their DJs. The event will also feature professional face painters and prizes will be given to the best dress beast of the night. If you’re the life of the party and want to have a good time, Animal Instincts might be the place for you.
5. Brew N Brush X Hearty Party: Glow Crazy
Organised by Brew N Brush and Hearty Party
Venue: Hearty Party, Setia Alam
Date: 26th October 2019
Price: RM180 per ticket
Fancy yourself as a bit of an artist? Then try your hand at this Glow Crazy event. It features a painting workshop for you to paint your art in incredible glow in the dark neon paint. People joining the event will also be given a free drink and a very special VR experience exclusive to participants.
6. Asia Comic Con
Organised by Asia Comic Con
Venue: Mid Valley Exhibition Center
Date: 26th to 27th October 2019
Price: RM 30 (1 day pass), RM60 (2 day pass), RM25 (1 day pass for Student), RM55 (1 day pass for Pair), RM 125 (1 day pass for 5 person group)
Want a Halloween but with a Japanese flair, then look no further than Asia Comic Con happening next weekend in Mid Valley. The event will feature a whole host of talented artist from all over the world that include cos players, comic book artist, musicians and more. There are plenty of activities jam packed into this event, so whether your into nerd culture or not, this event is one to look out for.
7. Halloween Neon Mashup Party (Jumpstreet Trampoline Park Malaysia)
Organised by Jump Street Trampoline Park
Venue: 8A, Jalan 13/6, Seksyen 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
26th October 2019
Price: RM30 (early bird), RM45
For those that seek a more active experience, then the upcoming Jump Street Trampoline Park event will most certainly cater to you. It is filled with the usual fan fare found in most Halloween events, such as lucky draws, face painting, best costumes competition, Halloween games, performance and more. But this time it’s in a giant trampoline park, so you can happily go ahead and do the hippity-hoppity.
8. Zouk Kl
Organised by Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur
Venue: 436, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
26th October 2019
Zouk, one of Kuala Lumpur’s popular club, is coming to you with an electrifying new Halloween event, A Toyol Story. Fully dedicated to the Halloween theme, the event will provide free access to anyone willing to be dressed in a costume, till 1 am. Moreover, the event will also have a costume competition with prize worth up to RM6000. Along with free gifts and killer tracks from some of the most exciting DJs, prepare to dance the night away when you experience the Zouk lifestyle this Halloween.
9. Strangers Night (A Halloween Pool Party)
Organised by Berlin Kuala Lumpur
Venue: Nizza, Level 3 @Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara
2nd November 2019
What do you get when you combine a pool party with a Halloween event? A Halloween pool party! Lame joke aside, this was certainly one of the more unique ideas someone has come out with. Filled with music, performance, food and drink, together with a competition for a night at a 5 star hotel, this event will certainly provide an unforgettable experience. Please take note that the entry for the event will be free but table booking might require a minimum spending.
The 9th annual Halloween event from Havana is back at it again, this time with a Halloween howl. Said to be the biggest and scariest event in Changkat. The most killer of costume will stand a chance to win a ton of cash prizes, with a RM500 for first prize. The event will also be accompanied by stellar performance from DJs Killer and Claw along with The Bodacious Diva Beasts. So bring your friends along and prepare to rock hard all night long when you visit Havana KL’s Halloween Howl event.
11. APW Present: The Halloween House
Organised by APW
Venue: APW Bangsar, 208 Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Date: 2nd November
RM30 per ticket
APW is back with another Halloween House Party. It is filled with House Party vibes, good music, Bring Your Own Bottles, beer pong, face paint, free Heineken (whilst stocks last), free mixers and cups, DJ’s and an after party at KYO KL! All of this for an incredible low price of RM30. So what are you waiting for? Book your ticket now and meet some new people at this exciting Halloween event.
Honorable Mention:
12. Night Of Frights 7
Organised by Sunway Lagoon
Venue: Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall
Date: 4th October to 3rd November 2019.
Price: RM79 per ticket (Basic)
For more information please check on our previous post here.
TWICE’s Mina (미나) generated buzz among ONCEs (TWICE fans) recently when she made her surprise appearance at the group’s 4th anniversary fan-meeting.
The award-winning girl group held a special fan-meeting entitled “ONCE HALLOWEEN 2” on Sunday (20th October) at the Hwajeong Gymnasium of Korea University in Seoul to celebrate their 4th anniversary. They managed to catch people’s attention with their choice of Halloween outfits during the event.
Initially, the plan was to proceed with only 8 members – Nayeon, Jihyo, Jeongyeon, Sana, Dahyun, Momo, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu. But the Japanese idol chose to perform with her members on her own will. For those who don’t know, Mina is still recovering from her anxiety disorder.
The interesting part was, this event marked the 1st time TWICE performed their latest song “Feel Special” as a full group. Despite not being able to dance with the other girls, Mina made sure that she gave her all for the fans.
Another interesting highlight was the moment when the famous girl band was surprised with a cake by a staff member to celebrate their anniversary. At that time, Mina (full name Myoui Mina) was not seen on stage as she was resting backstage.
But the girls made sure that Mina was not left out during the celebration. In this case, fellow Japanese member Sana went off stage to bring her back on stage so that they could blow the candles together as a full group.
They halted everything during the cake celebration and Sana went off stage just to bring Mina back to make a wish together. TWICE made it a point they weren't celebrating the anniversary without all 9. pic.twitter.com/ixSNQKSZSc
ONCEs took to their social medias to post several fan cams of the special moments between Mina and the other members. They expressed their happiness upon seeing the girl group member comfortable and smiling during the fan meeting.
Her fellow TWICE members also ensured that Mina was at ease on stage. This proved that the girls have been showcasing a strong sisterhood bond for the past 4 years in their career. Check out some of their heartwarming moments here:
Mina barely spoke tonight but she held the mic and said "ONCE, thank you" after the emotional fan video… she was tearing up so all the members rushed to hug her right away My heart is in pieces.. pic.twitter.com/QONYPARKTc
It’s official! Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney are now husband and wife.
The newlyweds tied the knot at the Belcourt Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. According to reports, there were roughly 150 guests, consisting of friends, family and some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Source: Twitter
Security was apparently super tight as attendees to hand in their mobile phones to be stored by the company Yondr (who created phone-free spaces for artists) when they arrived. 100 fans reportedly stood outside the venue, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite actress.
The long weekend wedding kicked off on Thursday with a rehearsal dinner at The Frick gallery in New York City. The next day, guests travelled to the coastal town of Newport where some stayed in local hotels such as the Vanderbilt, Gurneys and the Viking. That evening, everyone celebrated a get-together under specially-erected white tents on Rhode Island.
The wedding ceremony took place at the Belcourt Castle during the weekend. Organised by highly-secretive celebrity planner Mark Seed, the nuptials had a fall theme with carved seasonal vegetables and vintage utensils.
Among the many Hollywood A-listers who showed up for the happy occasion were Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, film director David O Russell, Amy Schumer with hubby Chris Fischer, and many more.
Take a look at the paparazzi shots of the famous wedding guests here:
Sienna Miller, 37, stunned in a red gown (with her toyboy beau, 28-year-old Lucas Zwirner)
Source: Backgrid
Ashley Olsen and boyfriend Louis Eisner
Source: Backgrid
Emma Stone
Emma Stone & Dave McCary attended Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney's wedding in Newport, Rhode Island pic.twitter.com/vO5ZknG9fL
Kris Jenner skipped daughter Kim Kardashian’s birthday party to attend the wedding with boyfriend Corey Gamble
Source: Splash News
When J-Law appeared on Catt Sandler’s podcast back in June, she shared, “I definitely wasn’t at a place where I was like, ‘I’m ready to get married’. I just met Cooke and I wanted to marry him. We wanted to marry each other“.
The Oscar winner continued, “We wanted to commit fully. He’s my best friend so I want to legally bind him to me forever. And fortunately the paperwork exists for such a thing. It’s the greatest. You find your favourite person in the planet and you’re like you can’t leave. So I wanted to take that offer.”
Source: Backgrid
Lawrence reportedly worn a Dior dress. The wedding outfit had “detailed beaded dress with a top covering the bride’s shoulders and sleeves” while her hair was styled with a loosen up do.
Hopefully we’ll get to see some official wedding photos soon
rest in peace 
| au 
| (@glowingdahyun) 
