Soompi Insider: This Week in K-Pop+, Issue 2

HOT TOPICS: JYJ vs. KBS, Super Junior Teasers, 2NE1’S Hate You, Park Shin Hye Accident

Welcome to Soompi Insider, a look at what happened in the K-Pop world this past week, as well as all the goodies you may have missed along the way. We have something for everyone (eye-candy, gossip, romance, contests, mental stimulation), so don’t be shy, and enjoy the ride! I added the “+” to “K-Pop”, since it’s the hot thing, and because by K-Pop, I mean Korean Pop Culture, not just K-Pop music. Glad that’s cleared up!

<hint>There may be a giveaway at the end of this article.</hint>

The most talked about stories this week were about our favorite stars being (or perceived as) less-than-perfect, whether it be Kim Hyun Joong‘s best friends saying he pretended not to know them, or Kara being criticized for washing their hands right after a handshake event (um, who wouldn’t?). Photos of BEAST’s Lee Ki Kwang surfaced showing the young (but adult) singer/actor smoking, Jang Geun Suk suffered from depression because of his immense workload, and as usual, our friends JYJ can’t catch a break. Fans were shocked, then relieved, and then worried again when actress Park Shin Hye was in a car accident. She was initially cleared to go back to shooting the drama Heartstings, but had to return to the hospital, cancelling Thursday’s episode. Perennial hero/villian SM Entertainment was all over the news with their stock reaching its highest value yet.

In happier news, Super Junior is coming back on August 3rd, and has been releasing outrageous(ly awesome) teasers for each member. Big Bang’s Daesung and the family of the victim of his motorcycle accident finally reached a settlement as well, though Big Bang won’t be making any appearances as a group for the rest of the year.

It was an active week in K-Drama land this week, with Micky Yoochun and Lee Da Hae‘s melodrama Miss Ripley coming to an end, and City Hunter reaching its penultimate week while maintaining its ratings dominance. Newcomer The Princess’ Man started off strong, a fusion-sageuk retelling of the Romeo & Juliet story.

The charming Heartstrings with CN Blue’s Jung Yong Hwa and the aforementioned Park Shin Hye continues to struggle with ratings domestically, but is fan-favorite abroad, as evidenced by its great popularity here on Soompi. Eric Moon and Han Ye Seul’s Myung Wol the Spy continues to be a fun action/rom-com with style. The eagerly awaited post-military comeback by Lee Dong Wook is finally here, with Scent of a Woman starting this weekend, starring the always fantastic Kim Sun Ah.

Here’s the rest of the week in a big fat nutshell:

• Fashion Closet: Lee Da Hae’s Chic Handbags from “Miss Ripley”
• Fashion Closet: Park Shin Hye’s Cute Backpacks from “Heartstrings”
• Who Wore It Best: Backpack Edition
• Cosmetics Brand Overview: Nature Republic (JYJ, Kara, and Jang Geun Suk)
• Wedding Bells Are Ringing – Celebs & Wedding Dresses
• Celeb Style File: Yoo Ah In

• Kara is the No.10 Idol Group who Appears on Japanese TV the Most
• YG Family is Going All Out for Japan?
• HyunA Introduced as “Sexiest Pop Icon” by UK Press
• DBSK Ranks #1 on Daily Oricon Chart with “Superstar”
• JYJ’s Overseas Fans Release Joint Statement: “KBS Tarnished Korea’s Brand Image”

• F(x)’s Amber Plays Pretty Boy for Date with Victoria during “Nylon” Photo Spread
• Song Joong Ki Shows Off His Milky Skin in Vogue Girl

• JYJ’s Junsu and Super Junior’s Eunhyuk Still Keeping in Touch
• Eat Your Kimchi Appears on “Star King” with Super Junior, f(x), and Infinite
• Lee Min Ho Stars in “Hunter Over Flowers”

• Park Yoochun Has Herpes Zoster, Still Working Despite Condition
• KBS: “SM Lawsuit Reason for Cancellation of JYJ’s Appearance”

• 2NE1’s New MV “Hate You” Released
• miss A’s “Goodbye Baby” MV is Finally Out!
• 2PM Releases MV for “Give It To Me”

I watched this video at least 5 times. Or 50 – I forget: An Easy (and Funny) Way to Get the Taeyang and TOP Look

Finally, the part you actually care about! I received the Dream High Director’s Cut DVD Set in the mail today, and it came with 10 nice 5×7 photo cards. Would you like them? Not the DVD’s, sorry – I mean the photo cards.

Here’s the easy way to enter: Follow @soompi on Twitter, and tweet “Hey @soomp, I want your Dream High photo cards! http://bit.ly/qLESkb”. That’s it! I’ll announce the randomly selected winner in next week’s edition of Soompi Insider. You can enter as many times as you’d like – tell a friend!

(sorry about the glare on the blurry pic :P)

This was your captain speaking,
-soomp!

Pic spam of the week:

Do you guys remember The Ceej? He’s all grown up now: