Latest news with #GirlsGeneration
CNA
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
K-pop to K-drama: Girls' Generation's Seohyun and 2PM's Taecyeon on working together after 15 years
In 2010, members from two of the biggest K-pop groups, Girls' Generation and 2PM, collaborated on what is possibly one of the catchiest commercial tunes of all time. Now, 15 years later, the former's Seohyun and the latter's Taecyeon are sizzling up the screen with their new drama series The First Night With The Duke, currently streaming on Viu. Based on the web novel of the same name, the series follows a modern-day woman named K (played by Seohyun) who suddenly gets transported into the world of her favourite historical romance novel. K finds herself inhabiting the body of Cha Seon-chaek, a noblewoman who only had one line in the original novel. Following a series of hijinks, Seon-chaek ends up having a drunken encounter with Prince Yi Beon (played by Taecyeon), the male lead of the novel. Now infatuated with Seon-chaek, Yi Beon starts to pursue her relentlessly, derailing the novel's original plot. CNA Lifestyle caught up with the two idols-turned-actors who shared what it was like to finally work together as co-leads. WHAT DREW YOU TO THE SCRIPT OF THE FIRST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE? Seohyun: Before I received the offer for the drama, I had already read the original webtoon and found it incredibly fun, so much so that it felt like fate. The storyline was captivating and impossible to look away from, and I was especially drawn to the character Cha Seon-chaek. She's bubbly, lovable and even a bit outrageous, which made her so charming that I was quickly pulled into the script. I also liked that it was adapted into a historical setting, which felt fresh and new. Taecyeon: When I received the offer and read the script, it was such a quick and enjoyable read. That's how much the character Yi Beon appealed to me. He came across as incredibly cool and charismatic. Just the fun storyline and the charm of the character alone made me want to take on the challenge. Before joining the project, I wasn't familiar with the original webtoon or web novel, but after reading the script, I got curious and ended up reading the entire original work from start to finish. WHAT INSPIRATION DID YOU DRAW FROM TO PORTRAY YOUR CHARACTERS? Seohyun: My character is flexible enough to turn any situation into something witty and humorous, is honest with her emotions, and shows a wide range of charm – sometimes lovable, sometimes goofy. Honestly, because she's quite similar to my actual personality, I was even more eager to take on the role. I wanted to express her playfulness through facial expressions, gestures, and tone, and I focused on making every part of her performance feel emotionally rich rather than one-dimensional. Taecyeon: Yi Beon is the ideal romantic male lead – excellent in martial arts, handsome, and seemingly lacking in nothing. But deep down, he's someone who has never truly been loved and lives a lonely life. Rather than being inspired by a specific part of the script, I focused more on his silent and action-driven nature. Since he's a man of few words, I paid particular attention to conveying emotion through his eyes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SEOHYUN (@seojuhyun_s) WAS THERE A SCENE THAT WAS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT OR MEMORABLE TO FILM? Seohyun: The scene where I make a soju bomb really stuck with me. In real life, I can hardly drink, so I had to rely on imagination and memory to portray being drunk. The actual filming was a blast. We shot it like a choreographed dance, having fun with it as if we were learning a routine. Taecyeon: Since Yi Beon is a straightforward and passionate lover, I felt a lot of pressure when it came to acting out his love confessions to Seon-chaek. The lines were things I wouldn't normally say in real life, so I worried about how best to deliver them. But I wanted the audience to feel the sincerity of Yi Beon, who doesn't know how to sugarcoat anything. So on set, I tried to stay completely immersed in his emotional state while acting. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viu Singapore (@viusg) YOU'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING IN A DRAMA FOR THE FIRST TIME? Seohyun: We've been in the same industry for a long time, so there was already a kind of familiarity. Although we didn't have a personal connection before, Taecyeon oppa is such a genuinely nice person that we got close quickly. It was great to be able to openly discuss the project and our characters with each other on set. It made the experience really rewarding. Taecyeon: Our idol activities often overlapped, so we ran into each other frequently, but we didn't have a close personal relationship. That said, having shared similar experiences since we were young, I did feel a sense of inner familiarity. While working on this drama together, we quickly grew close, and it was great to be able to openly discuss the project and our characters. ANY LESSONS FROM YOUR IDOL DAYS THAT YOU APPLIED TO YOUR ACTING ROLES? Seohyun: Being comfortable with the camera and expressing emotions are two big ones. I don't get nervous or overly self-conscious in front of the camera, and I think expressing feelings through either a song or a line of dialogue shares a common thread. It also helped with action scenes. My body picks up movement quickly and I'm quite free with physical expression. Taecyeon: I believe every single experience from my idol days has shaped who I am now. Rather than pointing to one specific thing, I think the entire journey of that life continues to support me in everything I do today. SO WHY SHOULD FANS WATCH THE FIRST NIGHT WITH THE DUKE? Seohyun: Because while you're watching, it becomes a happy escape from reality. Our drama is full of the kind of fun, comedic, and romantic story that people worn out by everyday life have probably imagined at least once. I hope it brings a lot of laughs and enjoyment to everyone watching. Taecyeon: It's a really lighthearted and entertaining drama. From comedy to romance, it offers a wide range of enjoyment, making it easy to binge without noticing the time pass. I hope viewers will also appreciate the charm and lively energy each character brings to the story. DO YOU HAVE ANY MESSAGE FOR FANS IN SINGAPORE? Seohyun: I'm truly happy that our Singapore fans will also be able to watch the drama. I hope it fills you with positive energy and gives your daily life a little extra boost. Wishing you all happiness and good health always! Taecyeon: To all my fans in Singapore! Thank you so much for your love and support. It's been quite a while since I last visited Singapore, but if you ever invite me, I'll come running. I hope we can meet again very soon, and I'll make sure to show you my best self when we do. Thank you.
South China Morning Post
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
K-drama The First Night with the Duke: Seohyun, Ok Taec-yeon lead escapist period fantasy
Lead cast: Seohyun, Ok Taec-yeon Advertisement Latest Nielsen rating: 3.3 per cent K-drama formulas can be pretty rigid, but for many viewers, it is precisely the comforting sense of familiarity that they offer that keeps them coming back for more. This also applies to the popular webtoons and web novels that many of these shows are based on and their readers. The fantasy drama The First Night with the Duke begins with just such a reader, a nameless college student – played by Seohyun from K-pop group Girls' Generation – who loves to lose herself in her favourite period romance, the tawdry and clichéd webtoon Lord Tyrant's Obsessive Love. When the webtoon announces it will go on hiatus, the woman lambasts the writer during a drunken comment rampage before falling over and knocking her head just as the writer responds: 'Since you're so great, why don't you try writing it yourself?'
CNA
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Rapper Snoop Dogg reposts teaser of Twice's upcoming album, prompting rumours of collaboration
Is the one and only D-O double G going to Dance The Night Away this July? That's what fans are asking after iconic rapper Snoop Dogg reposted a teaser of K-pop girl group Twice's upcoming album, This Is For, on his Instagram page. On Sunday (May 25), the 53-year-old Emmy winner shared a post from American producer Dem Jointz featuring the teaser trailer of Twice's This Is For, which will be out on Jul 11. Dem Jointz is a longtime collaborator of Snoop Dogg, having worked together on the 2015 album Compton and the 2024 track Gangsta Pose. In recent years, Dem Jointz has racked up an impressive discography within the K-pop scene – having composed the megahit Aespa song Supernova and Gold by Itzy. Snoop Dogg himself is no stranger to K-pop, having worked with Girls' Generation on a remix of The Boys, singer Psy on the song Hangover and with BTS and Benny Blanco on the 2022 track Bad Decisions. A potential collaboration between Twice, Snoop Dogg and Dem Jointz would follow on the heels of the nine-member group's recent works with Western artistes, including 2024's Strategy with rapper Megan Thee Stallion and the remix of Coldplay's We Pray which was released in April this year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coldplay (@coldplay) Comprising Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu, Twice will release its fourth full-length album This Is For on Jul 11 – seven months after its recent mini-album Strategy. This Is For is set to have 14 tracks and more details will be announced at a later date.
Pink Villa
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo and Jessica Jung attend model Irene's wedding, ex-Girls Generation member catches bride's bouquet
Model and broadcaster Kim Irene tied the knot with her businessman partner John, in a lavish ceremony on May 23, 2025. Photos and videos from the Christian wedding, Korean rituals, and after-party flooded social media. Fans were thrilled to spot some popular faces from the K-pop industry, like Cha Eun Woo and Jessica Jung, among the guests. The celebrities, known to be close friends of Irene's, made time for her big day despite their busy schedules. The 37-year-old model looked nothing short of a dream in a custom Miss Sohee white strapless fish-cut gown as she walked the aisle. The guests at Irene's wedding seemed to have had a gala time, as evident from their social media updates. However, in all their posts and stories, the guests were careful to protect the non-celebrity groom's identity, as they either cropped him out or covered his face with stickers. Among the star-studded attendees of the event, was ASTRO member and True Beauty fame Cha Eun Woo. He exuded effortless charm in a casual beige shirt and black trousers, complemented by black-framed glasses. During Irene's pre-wedding photoshoot, he posed with her, sharing a warm side hug that captured their friendly bond. Cha Eun Woo arrived with a green bag, making fans curious as to whether it contained a special wedding present for the bride. Besides him, former Girls Generation member Jessica Jung, also made her much-anticipated appearance at the auspicious occasion. She donned a strapless black gown with a white bow detail at the bustline lining, giving off sophisticated and elegant vibes. The artist even caught bestie Irene's tossed bouquet, creating a lovely moment. Jessica Jung celebrated with Irene from the latter's bachelorette bash to the wedding after-party. It showcased their deep and meaningful bond that goes way beyond the industry's surface-level friendship. They grooved along with the other guests in the after-party and enjoyed themselves with delicious food and drinks. Overall, the marriage party can be said to be a joyous one, with happiness all around, both from the hosts and the guests. Here's to wishing the new spouses lifelong happiness and prosperity.
South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
K-drama Second Shot at Love: Choi Soo-young, Gong Myung tackle alcohol in new rural romcom
Lead cast: Choi Soo-young, Gong Myung Latest Nielsen rating: 3 per cent Second Shot at Love, a new rural romantic comedy starring Choi Soo-young of Girls' Generation and Gong Myung (recently seen in Way Back Love ), opens with a young doctor making a presentation about the dangers of alcohol in Korean society. The doctor, played by Gong, talks about how tolerant South Korea is of alcohol, with few – if any – restrictions as to when and where you can drink. He goes on to highlight how drinking is woven into the social fabric and work culture, where there are many high-functioning alcoholics who drink their way through successful careers. Play Though rarely identified as such, Korean dramas are littered with these high-functioning alcoholics – leading characters who excel at their jobs during the day while frequently getting blackout drunk at night.
