No Kpop artist invited to this year’s Kouhaku

Despite all the hype by the media and netizens, SNSD, Big Bang and Kara will not be participating in Japan’s year-end show, NHK’s “White and Red Song Battle” or most commonly known as just “Kouhaku”.

On November 24th, the list revealed by Oricon indicated that no Korean artists were invited to participate in the 61st edition of the “Kouhaku” which will be held on December 31st, 2010. Among the big names mentioned in the 44-participants roster are all Japanese top stars such as SMAP, AKB48, Koda Kumi, Ayumi Hamasaki, AAA, etc.

Some of the Korean singers who have made an appearance on the year-end show in the past are BoA, Jo Youngpil, Kaye Eunsook and TVXQ.

*Look on the positive side! The girls get a chance to welcome the new year back home and we get to see them on end of the year shows @ gayo daejun.

Agencies use caution towards SNSD, KARA, and Big Bang’s participation in Kohaku

n contrast to news articles in Japan hyping SNSD, KARA, and Big Bang’s participation in the Japanese annual music show, “Kohaku Uta Gassen (Kohaku)“, the groups’ agencies are instead showing a more cautious response.

Speculation that Korean idol groups will be attending the music show has been a hot topic in the Japanese press lately. The media has been writing articles of their possible attendance even before Kohaku’s announcement of the official list of performers, showing a new phase in which K-pop is becoming of increasing significance in the Japanese music industry.

But despite this, the three idol groups are still weary on whether to participate in the show. “It’s difficult for us say anything when an official announcement hasn’t been made yet,” was the general statement made by all three agencies.

It can be said that the Korean agencies are being cautious due to the possibility of unexpected conditions. For example, if, for some reason, the agencies choose to exclude their groups from the event at the last minute, they would need to protect themselves from the respective consequences, so being cautious at the outset helps avoid any trouble. Additionally, showing interest in an event when the official announcement hasn’t even been made yet won’t always result in a beneficial outcome.

There is also the problem of keeping loyal to the Korean broadcasting companies. If the groups attend Kohaku, which is to be held on New Year’s Eve, it would be impossible for them to participate in the Korean year end public TV music show broadcasts.

The official announcement for the performers of Kohaku will be posted between late November to early December.

SNSD, Big Bang & KARA, granted distinctions from “Japan Record Awards”

Girl group SNSD can celebrate their successful debut into the Japanese market, as it was recently revealed that they were granted the ‘New Artist’ award from the ‘Japan Record Awards‘.

According to the judging committee of the ‘52nd Japan Record Awards‘, SNSD won the rookie award alongside ICONIQ, Kikuchi Madoka, and S/mileage. The rookie award automatically nominates them for the ‘Best New Artist Award,’ which will select the top debuting artist from the four winners.

The winner of the “Best New Artist Award” is scheduled to be revealed during the actual awards ceremony on December 30th.

Heartthrob group Big Bang also won a notable distinction this year, as their Japanese track “Tell Me Goodbye” received the award for being one of the “Best Songs” this year. Big Bang is now in the running to grab the highest honor of the night, the “Japan Record Award“, for which they’ll compete against the other artists who were also acknowledged for having a “Best Song”. Again, the winner of the “Japan Record Award” will also be announced on December 30th.

KARA also made fared well for themselves this year, as they were granted the “Best Project” award for their special packaged release, “KARA SPECIAL PREMIUM BOX FOR JAPAN“.

Stay tuned to MGGL for further updates on this exciting event!

Tae Yang, “I had a blind date with Yuri, and we are getting along well now”

Big Bang TaeYang’s surprising statement, “Through friend’s recommendation, I had blind date with So Nyeo Shi Dae Yuri last winter. Even now, we still keep in touch.”

Even though there are many stars who confessed on which other stars they meet up with, this will be the first time a popular idol confesses that he had met another idol through a blind date.

This was revealed during TaeYang’s appearance on SBS Strong Heart filming on 8th July. TaeYang said on the show, “I have not been in a relationship even until now. But for this year, I really want to meet a girl whom I really like and have my first relationship.”

Member SeungRi who was also present said, “We want to help TaeYang get a girl too. But without telling anyone of us, he actually went to So Nyeo Shi Dae’s concert alone.”

Taking SeungRi’s hint, MC Kang Ho Dong asked, “SeungRi’s really a good friend of ‘Strong Heart’. Thank you.” and to TaeYang, “Why did you go to SNSD concert alone? Did you receive anyone’s invitation?”

Flustered, TaeYang said, “For the 1 year I worked on the album, my mind was only on work and I didn’t go out much. Seeing that, a friend came forward and told me ‘I will introduce someone, go meet her. She has a good personality. It would be good if you can get along well.’. And the person turned out to be SNSD Yuri.” which had the other star appearances on the show shocked.

TaeYang added, “I was invited to SNSD’s concert by Yuri. After that we kept in touch and got along well. And this year, SeungRi became schoolmates with Yuri at JoongAng University and he got to know about me and Yuri.”

Hong KyungMin then chipped in, “Talks like these are talks we would not have dreamed to do on shows during our times.”

TaeYang also said on the show that day, “If I my relationship with Yuri is very deep, I don’t think I will confess like this today. We talk a lot about music on the phone these days. I look at us as close colleagues.”

And SeungRi then gave a hilarious comment, “It always starts with friends right.”

The show is set to air on 20th July.

SNSD’s Yuri thanks Big Bang’s Seungri

SNSD’s Yuri has thanked Big Bang’s Seungri on a recent episode of Strong Heart.

She said, “I’ve adapted really well into the college life since I enrolled this year. Big Bang’s Seungri is in the same major as me and he helps me a lot with my college life.”

She continued, “Since Seungri is so outgoing, I made new friends through him really easily and I got used to my college life smoothly as well.”

The episode airs on the 25th. I’ve always been dying for some Big Bang-SNSD action so this is nice to hear. Seungri has certainly delivered.

Soo Young has a crush on Dae Sung?

There’s been so much information coming out about the new SBS pilot program HahaMong Show and I’m sure every little tidbit is making you get really excited.

To increase more hype, It has been revealed that SNSD’s Sooyoung wants to get closer to Big Bang’s Daesung.

Sooyoung said, “I think it’s very brave for a female idol to admit that Big Bang is their ideal type. All SNSD members wants to get closer with Daesung. When I saw him get close to Taeyeon on Family Outing, I got really jealous.”

I’m sure Daesung started to blush as he heard this. Daesung replied in kind, “I got a good vibe from her in the dressing room.”

Why does every female idol love Daesung?

KARA’s Jiyoung, T-ara’s Eunjung, the Brown Eyed Girls and now all of SNSD (except Tiffany probably)? Daesung should take advantage of this chance.

Big Bang’s Seungri and SNSD’s Yuri attend Chung-Ang University entrance ceremony

We reported in October 2009 that Big Bang’s Seungri and SNSD’s Yuri had been accepted to Chung-Ang University for 2010 as freshmen and the day has finally arrived.

Despite their busy schedules, both managed to find some time to attend their college entrance ceremony on February 26th. They will be majoring in theatre and acting for which they had qualified amidst tough competition, at a ratio of 23 to 1. We wish them all the best in their studies.

Daesung and Tae Yeon chosen as lovable co-workers

Although they are a couple of the current hottest idols, people think they would even be loved in the office; 20- to 30-year-old office workers chose Big Bang’s Daesung and SNSD’s Taeyeon as “the idol you would like to hire.”

The poll was held at Incruit, an internet corporation that manages resumes and jobs. The male celebrity winner, Daesung, won with 16% of the votes. The office works agreed that, “He looks like he wouldn’t complain, but rather work hard. He has a friendly image.”

In second place was Jokwon of 2AM with 7.7% of the votes. Third place was Taecyeon of 2PM. Big Bang’s T.O.P was tied with U-Kiss’s Dongho for fourth place. In particular, Jaebeom of 2PM, who won fifth place, caught the attention of many.

SNSD’s Taeyeon won for the girls’ poll with 12.4% of the votes. The reason being, “She’s very smart and precise. She seems to have good manners and would appeal to workers.

UEE of After School trailed behind at second place while YoonA of SNSD, Brown Eyed Girls‘ Narsha and Kara’s Han Seungyeon came in third, fourth and fifth place respectively.

The office workers have spoken, but what are your thoughts on the results?

Big Bang’s Seungri wants to hook SNSD’s Yuri up with someone!

Back in October, we reported that Big Bang’s Seungri and SNSD’s Yuri would be starting classes as freshman at Chung-Ang University this year. Although classes have just started for these two idols, it seems like Seungri already has plans for his new life as a uni-student.

Yesterday, on KBS 2TV’s broadcast of ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ Seungri stated, “As Yuri and I now go to school together, I’m going to give her a boyfriend.” In addition, he commented that he wanted to get to know Yuri more throughout the school year. Could it be that Seungri has a crush on Yuri? Not quite. On being asked if he had feelings for Yuri, Seungri answered, “No, it’s not like that.” However, Seungri did mention that he was anticipating ‘meetings‘ (a.k.a. blind dates) as a college student.

During this show of ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ they joined Big Bang on a subway set for yet another CF that they were filming. And as the boys were fooling around, Seungri revealed, “I never rode the subway before.” To this, G-Dragon responded, “It’s because Seungri rode horses in Gwangju. He was popular for that.” Even Taeyang, who is usually the quiet one, added, “Seungri was the prince of Gwangju.”

Best of luck to Seungri and Yuri on their first year of college. May Yuri get a boyfriend this year, and good luck to the lucky girl(s) who will get to go on a blind date with the prince of Gwangju.