YeinJee's Asian Journal

Korean pop star Ivy is back on stage at a K-pop concert in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov 25 after staying hiatus since early November following a sex tape saga.

Ivy at the K-pop concert in Vancouver (Image credits to Chosun)

Ivy ex-boyfriend has blackmailed her in October threatening to expose their (hidden) relationship to the public and claimed that he had a tape to prove it. Early speculations suggested that the ex-boyfriend might have a sex tape recorded secretly… but later investigations showed that such tape never existed.

Her ex-boyfriend is now charged for distortion and violent conduct (he is alleged to have hit Ivy and damaged her car).

The saga also led to rumours that Ivy had an affair with another singer (as claimed by her ex) that led to the sour relationship. The accusation raised heated discussions among netizens… some has shown their support for Ivy, but some doesn’t share as much sympathy. In the end the rumours still remained unproven despite some indications that it might be true.

Regardless, Ivy is back.

The Singapore Media Development Authority (MDA) has created a video with their senior management rapping and dancing, in order to promote the growth of the media industry, and perhaps to bridge their relationship with their citizens…

The bizarre video has been quite a hit since it was posted on YouTube, but has received mix responses from the netizens and Singaporeans.

Frankly, I think the rap and dance sux. I give them thumbs up for their effort though, as I believe it took enormous courage for them to try this gimmick.

More red carpet pictures from the 28th Blue Dragon Awards…

Daniel Henney with a bizarre hair style

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The 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards was held at the National Theatre in Seoul last Friday (Nov 23). Blue Dragon Awards (Cheongryong) is one of the most important movie awards in Korea.

“The Show Must Go On” won the best movie and best actor award (Song Kang-ho); best director is won by Hur Jin-ho with “Happiness”; while Jeon Do-yeon, as expected, won the best actress with “Secret Sunshine”.

Below are pictures from the event (red carpet mostly)…

Best actor Song Kang-ho and best actress Jeon Do-yeon

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The showgirls are almost synonymous to automobile exhibition these days; they probably attract as many visitors as the exhibited vehicles during the events.

Below are some photos of showgirls in the 5th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition, the last grand automobile exhibition in China for 2007, which kicked off on Nov 20.

Showgirls at 5th China (Guangzhou) Int’l Automobile Exhibition

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Miniskirt mouse pad… hmmm, not sure what I should think now.

Miniskirt mouse pad (Image courtesy of Rakuten, via Japundit)

Tokyo has unseated Paris as the world’s culinary capital. That’s according to Michelin Guides, the French bible of gastronomy, which announced a Tokyo edition Monday – its first outside Europe and the United States.

Michelin’s Tokyo guide awarded 191 stars to 150 restaurants in the Japanese capital, the most number of stars awarded in any city. Previously, Paris had the most stars, at 65.

The first Michelin guide was published in 1900 as a hotel and restaurant handbook for French motorists. It is published by the Clermont-Ferrand-based tire company of the same name.

Surin Elephant Round-up is a festival normally held on the 3rd weekend of November in Surin province, Thailand.

The annual event was first held in 1960; it normally consists of a series of shows like football games and tugs of war etc. Although elephant is a national symbol of Thailand, I don’t think the festival carries much cultural value; it’s probably more for entertainment and tourism purposes.

Elephants showing off football skills (Image courtesy of Xinhuanet)