Koda Kumi is getting married!

On December 13th, Koda Kumi (29) made an announcement via her official website that she is getting married to KENJI03 (27), the vocalist and guitarist of mixture rock band BACK-ON.

Koda wrote on her official site, “He is a wonderful man who accepts everything about me as an artist Koda Kumi, and also makes it comfortable so I can stay as the way I am.  I wish that we will make a family that’s full of smiles, so please watch over us with your warm eyes.  Please continue to support me.”

Congratulations to Koda Kumi!

Source & Image: Daily Sports via YAHOO! JAPAN + Koda Kumi official site

Yamashita Tomohisa & Nishikido Ryo withdraw from NEWS

On October 7th, Johnny & Associates Inc. announced that two NEWS members, Yamashita Tomohisa and Nishikido Ryo,  withdrew from the group on the same day.  Yamashita will pursue his solo activities, and Nishikido will focus on his activities in Kanjani∞. Consequently, NEWS will continue their activities with four members: Koyama Keiichiro, Kato Shigeaki, Masuda Takahisa, and Tegoshi Yuya.

Yamashita commented, “It will be a challenge all on my own from now on. There may be inconvenient or hard things which I have never felt before, however, I would like to strive in every project with the precious experiences that I received with NEWS.”

Koyama, who will stay in NEWS, expressed positively, “Although we will be going on different paths, the four members of NEWS will continue the legacy of the eight years we walked together.”

Nishikido, who belonged to both Kanjani∞ and NEWS, revealed that the reason behind his withdrawal was that his schedule adjustments for both groups didn’t work well. He said, “Please continue to support this new NEWS with Koyama, Kato, Masuda, and Tegoshi.”

Source: Sponichi Annex

New S/mileage sub-member Kosuga Fuyuka withdraws due to poor health

It’s only been three weeks since Kosuga Fuyuka was named as a new sub-member of S/mileage. Unfortunately, it’s been revealed that Kosuga had to withdraw from the group due to poor health.

The announcement posted on the official S/mileage website states:

“Thank you for always supporting S/mileage. Due to S/mileage sub-member Kosuga Fuyuka’s poor health being brought to our attention, she underwent a careful examination at a hospital. According to the results of the exam, it was discovered that she has a problem with her blood composition. Due to her severe anemia, she must refrain from exercise and must undergo medical treatment for several months.
It is truly unfortunate, but her activities as a S/mileage sub-member will be cancelled for now, and she will focus on her treatment regimen. After she has completes treatment and her health returns to normal, we plan to have her start again as a member of Hello! Pro Egg [Hello! Project's trainees].“

Hello! Project’s producer Tsunku♂ also commented on the announcement:

“What I was able to say to her was, ‘Please don’t over-do it, and devote yourself to your recuperation.’ When I asked her, ‘After your full recovery, you would be able to continue your lessons as a member of Hello! Pro Egg, but what would you like to do?”, she replied, ‘I want to quickly get better and start over again as an Egg.’

She’s still young, so I would like her to quickly regain her health and start again as an Egg with her wonderful smile.

The newly reborn S/mileage will go forward with the three original members and  four sub-members. Everyone, please cheer for the girls!”

Source: S/mileage Official Website

Goo Hara and B2ST’s Junhyung are no longer a couple

Breaking news, K-Poppers: it looks like KARA‘s Goo Hara and B2ST‘s Junhyung have called it quits on their fledgling relationship!
According to Star News, the two of them had split up in July following an official recognition of their relationship in late June. However, they had withheld the news until now in order to protect both sides of the equation.
The former lovebirds agreed to go back to their platonic relationship, and it appears all’s well with their friendship. Since the news of their split broke just as they were getting their ship under way, it put extra pressure on their relationship with each other, and was a catalyst in their decision to eventually call it quits.

B2ST’s Junhyung asserts he is still seeing Goo Hara

The K-Pop fandom was thrown into turmoil when news leaked out earlier, claiming that KARA‘s Goo Hara and B2ST‘s Junhyung were no longer a couple.

Although the reports seemed to have been verified by insiders at the time, both agencies quickly refuted the allegation, resulting in the curious case of agencies actually denying that a couple was not dating.

“After checking, the two of them are still meeting. We cannot understand how these articles came to be. The rumors of their breakup have no footing in truth,” said a representative for KARA.

Cube Entertainment echoed the above message, saying, “Although we haven’t checked with him, we haven’t heard anything about their potential split. As far as we are aware, they are still dating.”

A few minutes later, Junhyung replied with his own statement, “I am still in a relationship with Goo Hara. I think the rumors came about since we have had less time to meet each other.”

Source: E Daily via Naver, Sports Chosun via Naver

Brown Eyed Girls confirmed to make comeback this month!

It seems the rumors of a comeback have been factual as Brown Eyed Girls have just wrapped up their 4th album, and they are now reported to be readying themselves for a comeback. Their new album is slated for release on September 30th, and their new single will be revealed on the 16th.

It’s been almost two years since Brown Eyed Girls have been active as a group. Their most recent single was “Sign“, released in October of 2009. Management agency Nega Network stated, “For songs like ‘Abracadabra‘ and ‘Sign‘, it took them 8 months to master for their comeback. It’s not the time to reveal the new concept, but we tried our best to make the songs at the level of ‘Abracadabra’ and ‘Sign’, it’s just now that we’re happy with the results.”

When asked how they felt about girl groups like SNSD and KARA making a comeback around the same time, Lance from the agency stated, “We heard that the best girl groups will be returning in September. This team helped start the girl group boom. Though the networks are saying that it would be a good idea to space out the comebacks, I want to see everyone on the same stage. With this new album, Brown Eyed Girls will be showing their best vocals, and will be a girl group that shows power.”

Representative Lance also mentioned that the Brown Eyed Girls have a significant foreign fan base, and they are revealing the comeback date now, in order to get the news out as soon as possible.

Source + Photo: 10 Asia via Nate

SNSD’s Sooyoung gets injured in a car accident, forced to withdraw from schedules

It’s just been reported that SNSD’s Sooyoung was involved in a car accident early yesterday morning, but fortunately, she did not receive any serious injuries.

On August 29th, SM Entertainment released a statement that said, “Sooyoung is suffering from a sacrovertebral fracture from the car accident, but thankfully, the injury is nothing serious.”
They continued, “The doctor in charge gave a positive prognosis and said that with plenty of rest and treatment, she will be fully recovered in no time. Sooyoung will be unable to participate in upcoming planned schedules.”

The injury from her car accident means that Sooyoung will not be able to perform at the “SM TOWN LIVE in Tokyo” or at SNSD’s live concert in Taiwan.
According to SM Entertainment, Sooyoung was traveling from Seoul to Chunan at 9 AM on August 28th for her next schedule, when the car on the opposite lane had carelessly crashed into Sooyoung’s car.
SM added, “Sooyoung was on her way to complete her volunteer services for the visually impaired when the accident occurred. The car in the opposite lane crossed the center line and consequently crashed into Sooyoung’s vehicle.”

Sooyoung is currently receiving treatment at a hospital and is recuperating from the accident.
Source + Image: Star News, Seoul NTN News

Big Bang’s Daesung receives a verdict of ‘Not Guilty’

Big Bang’s Daesung has finally concluded his court case regarding his car accident on May 31st with a verdict of ‘not guilty’.

After reviewing the case, prosecutors decided that there wasn’t enough hard evidence to determine whether or not the motorcyclist Hyun had been alive or deceased before Daesung ran him over with his vehicle. Also, they did not rule out the possibility that the motorcyclist, who was under the influence upon the time of his death, could’ve died from the initial collision with a streetlight.

“Although it should be recognized that Daesung drove without maintaining a safe distance and ignoring his surroundings, it is hard to make the connection between this fact and the death of the victim,” stated a representative for the police. “We made a judgment of not guilty based on the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’.”

Based on the above information, they rendered a verdict of ‘not guilty’ for the beleaguered Daesung. “Since Daesung reached a civil settlement with the victim’s party on July 19th, you can say that this case is now closed,” said the police.

Source: allkpop And Star News via Naver