PHOBIA

There are a lot of interesting and random phobias out there.

Dendrophobia is the fear of trees. Blennophobia is the fear of slime.

neophobia is the fear of anything new. 

However, the fear of long words may have the most ironic (and cruelest name). Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. So let’s say you do have this phobia. You’d be terrify to name your ailment. Kind of a conundrum.

Phobophobia is the fear of phobias, or the fear of fear. A person with Phobophobia is mortified of developing a phobia.

Didaskaleinophobia is the fear of going to school! 

Few people look forward to going to school every day, but those who suffer from Didaskaleinophobia actually feel intense and continuous anxiety at the thought of attending class every day.

Children who possess this phobia can be bullied, suffer from learning disability, feel academically pressured (especially around exam time) or are even too bright and find it hard to stay engaged with the curriculum and their peers. 

This phobia can cause intense anxiety, heart palpitation, nausea, and above all, profound and all-consuming depression. Incidentally, it can also induce suicidal thoughts. 

Nowadays, there are many medications available for keeping this anxiety at bay, anti-depressants being one of them. However, milder cases can be cured by sharing your feelings with someone you trust and then working together to devise a solution. 

Take a look at that picture on the right. It's a lotus seed pod. Does it make your skin crawl and itch? You may suffer from Trypophobia.

Although it's not an officially recognized fear, there's a movement trying to get it officially recognized and people are petitioning for more research.

The 'official' definition for it is that trypophobia is the fear of asymetrical holes occurring either naturally or unnaturally. Some say that the fear comes from the fact that holes in your skin were a sign of disease, and therefore we are programmed to feel icky about those things. 

If you want more... extreme examples of this, check out this video. Do not watch it or google trypophobia if you don't want to possibly be disturbed!

Caligynophobia.

Being intimidated by beautiful women is pretty common, but there are some people who actually have a fear of beautiful women. 

This diagnosed phobia is called Caligynophobia and is usually connected to a social phobia or social anxiety dissorder.  The fear of beautiful women affects both men and women.  There is also a fear of men called Androphobia. 

You know the feeling. You suddenly pat your pants and can't feel your phone. You start to panic as you frantically look for it and you realize you left it at home. From that moment on, you're anxious about all the texts and calls you're missing out because you don't have it with you.

Researchers in the UK came up with a name for this fear: Nomophobia. It's an abbreviation for "no-mobile-phone phobia." The study, commissioned by YouGov found that 53% of mobile phone users in Britain tend to be anxious when they lose their phones, run out of battery, credit or have no coverage."

The study also compared the stress levels caused by nomophobia to those of wedding day jitters or going to the dentist. They also found that more than 50% of nomophobes NEVER switch off their phone. Are you a nomophobe? Let us know in the comments.

Anatidaephobia is the pervasive, irrational fear that, somewhere in the world, a duck is watching you. The person believes that no matter where they are or what they are doing, a duck is watching them.

The people who suffer from this phobia have suffered some sort of trauma in their lives, likely when he or she was a child. This trauma probably had to do with a duck or some sort of related water fowl, like a goose. Perhaps the person was attacked by one of these animals.

Some of the symptoms of this phobia include an anxiety or panic attack. This results in a dry mouth, shortness of breath, muscle tension, hyperventilation, etc.

Taecyeon explains how Jo Kwon eased away his worries during training days

Taecyeon joined the cast of KBS 2TV's 'The Human Condition' for a portion focusing on living stress-free.

Taecyeon revealed that he was always good at maintaining his stress level, revealing that his method was to think of someone who was having a harder time than himself.  He gave an example from his training days at JYP Entertainment.  As he did not know when he would ever debut, he felt very uneasy and uncertain, but then he would think of Jo Kwon, who had been a trainee for even longer.  Whenever he thought of Jo Kwon, he was able to overcome his uneasiness.

Taecyeon also said that while appearing on 'The Human Condition,' he found something new to be stressed out about, raising curiosity.  He then explained that he was a bit stressed about joining the cast members who were strangers to him, but decided that the way to relieve this stress was to quickly become friends with them.

source:allkpop

Suzy and So Ji Sub chosen as the best female and male celebrity for end-of-the-year parties

From November 11 to 22, Eduwill conducted a survey to find out which male and female celebrity that people wanted to attend end-of-the-year parties with. The survey asked 720 people from the Cultural Performance Event with the question, 'Which female/male celebrity would you like as your companion to an end-of-the-year party'?

The results of the survey showed Suzy to be the number one pick in the female category receiving 32.9% (237 votes).  Moon Chae Won came in second with 26.3% (189 votes), Son Ye Jin in third with 20.4% (147 votes), IU in fourth with 12.9% (93 votes), and HyunA in fifth with 7.5% (54 votes).

For men, So Ji Sub came in first with 36.2% (261 votes).  Lee Seung Gi came in second with 19.2% (138 votes), Hyun Bin in third with 18.8% (135 votes), Lee Min Ho in fourth with 14.6% (105 votes), and Lee Jong Suk in fifth with 11.2% (81 votes).

source:allkpop

Lee Seung Gi becomes a missing child at airport in Turkey on 'Noonas Over Flowers'

On November 29, the very first episode of tvN's 'Noonas Over Flowers' aired!

On this episode, the cast members were at an airport in Turkey and were looking for the bus that would take them to their lodgings.

While Lee Seung Gi, who was on the show as the noonas' porter, was known for his sincere personality, it turned out that his ability to handle sudden situations fell a bit short.

He managed to ask the Turkish people where the buses were, but he had no idea where they were located and left the airport for the time being.  He wandered for forty minutes to look for the bus while looking at the hotel's address as if it were a map.

Ultimately, Lee Mi Yeon decided to take the lead and set forth Yoon Yeo Jung, Kim Hee Ae, and Kim Ja Oke to look for the road and the bus themselves.  During that time, Lee Seung Gi had become a missing child in the airport.

source:allkpop

Super Junior invite fans to 'Treasure Island' for their 'SMTOWN WEEK' concert

Super Junior will invite fans to their 'Treasure Island' for their upcoming solo concert during 'SMTOWN WEEK'!

Super Junior will hold their concert, 'SMTOWN WEEK SUPER JUNIOR Treasure Island', at KINTEX, Ilsan on December 28-29. Super Junior will conclude 'SMTOWN WEEK' with a bang during their adventurous concert which is also Heechul's first domestic concert since his discharge.

Super Junior will unveil the Korean version of their upcoming Japanese single, "Blue World", to be released on December 11. They will also get fans dancing along to their hit songs and solo stage.

source:allkpop

Gary Gives Song Ji Hyo Piggyback Ride: Monday Couple Strikes Again!

The release of a teaser picture in which Gary gives Song Ji Hyo a piggyback ride is becoming a hot topic.

The “Running Man” members face off against this week’s guests, Lee Seung Gi, Han Hye Jin, and Sistar’s Bora, in the December 1 episode of SBS’s “Running Man.”

The “Running Man” members and their guests were involved in a race in which they had to deduce numbers from questions. In order to solve the secret behind the numbers stamped on the backs of their hands, the members had to go through a piggy back mission. Gary gave Ji Hyo a ride on his back, earning cheers of support from the people watching. Aside from the matching jackets, which the rest of the cast also donned, the Monday couple also had accessories with matching pink accents.

Be sure to catch this weekend’s episode of “Running Man,” airing at 6:10 PM on Sunday!

source:soompi

EXO’s Kris Gives Up His “Cool City Guy” Image for Fried Chicken!

The hottest boy group of 2013, EXO, has just entered the world of variety with their own variety show “EXO’s Show Time.” Those who have seen the pilot episode might already know, but one member in particular stood out with his hilarious image. That member is Kris, who throughout the show surprised the viewers with his funny comments and entertaining skills.

The first episode of MBC Everyone’s “EXO’s Show Time” aired on November 28, and since the announcement of the show, fans have been excited to see how the members will leave behind their charismatic stage image and turn into humorous young men. They did not fail to meet the viewers’ expectation, and despite everyone bringing much laughter to the table, Chinese member Kris left an unforgettable impression with his inability to resist fried chicken.

From the beginning, Kris tried to maintain his image of a “cool city guy” by looking unamused and keeping his cool whenever the other members burst into laughter. When it was time to take turns showing a happy pose, Kris remained seated until the very end and seemed to not care. However, he surprised everyone by posing in a chic but funny way, and the room was quickly filled with laughter.

Soon all of the members were challenged to eat one whole fried chicken by themselves. Kris said, “Chicken is not my style,” and explained how he does not usually eat fried and greasy food. He simply kept staring at and smelling the chicken, maintaining his chic image. But seeing others enjoy the food, he could not resist the chicken for too long. He slowly began to empty his plate, and the members quickly noticed the sudden change in Kris’ attitude, teasing him playfully. The viewers could not help but fall for his charm when he said, “Chicken is delicious. Chicken and being a cool city guy are not related to each other,” trying to make up a cute excuse for the bones piling up in front of him.

“EXO’s Show Time” airs every Thursday at 6pm.

source:soompi

Jang Geun Suk Enjoys His Food in “Beautiful Man”

Actor Jang Geun Suk is gaining attention for his carefree way of eating food in the drama “Beautiful Man.”

While watching the November 28 broadcast of KBS2′s Wednesday-Thursday drama “Beautiful Man,” scenes of Dokko Ma Te (Jang Geun Suk) enjoying a variety of dishes have caught the viewers’ eye. Now, a picture collage featuring “three levels of eating” by Dokko Ma Te is topping the lists of most searched topics today, as everyone wants to see how intensively he can devour his meals.

In the first episode, Jang Geun Suk could be seen ripping apart and eating delicious chunks of meat despite often following a vegetarian diet. More recently, he grabbed Kim Bo Tong’s (IU) lunch box with leftovers and enjoyed the last bits of food like he had just won the lottery. Viewers could not help but smile, seeing him unable to put down his utensils. Also in the fourth episode, Il Rek’s parents prepared a table full of food for Dokko Ma Te, and he once again kept eating like his stomach did not exist. 

Moreover, these scenes prove that Jang Geun Suk is truly an actor worth his reputation, and that he is not afraid of giving his all while acting. Aren’t you interested to see what food he will be eating next — and how?

source:soompi

Rain Will Continue With Schedule Despite Ongoing Investigations

Rain will be continuing with his comeback schedule as planned, despite facing an investigation for failure to carry out military duties after a complaint by an ordinary citizen.

Rain performed at the 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Hong Kong on November 22, and revealed his plan to return to the music scene next year on January 6. His first in four years, this new album will include songs written by Rain himself.

He is also working with Mnet on a reality program that will document his daily life and comeback process. Rain has gotten fans excited with the teaser that was shown at the 2013 MAMA, and while details have not been fully worked out yet, the program will be aired beginning mid- or end-December before Rain’s album is released in January.

However, Rain is currently facing issues once more with regards to allegations of military misconduct. The Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office has begun an investigation into the matter, after receiving a complaint lodged by an ordinary citizen.

For now, Rain’s agency and Mnet are going forward with his comeback as planned. Another source gave their careful opinion on the matter. “On the grounds that investigations against him by the Ministry of Defense have already been concluded, and he has received probation and been  discharged from military service, it will be difficult for him to receive additional punishment.”

Rain entered the active military service in October 2011, and gained the celebrity soldier title in February 2012. However, after news of his dates with Kim Tae Hee surfaced, Rain was put under probation for violation of military conduct. There were further small issues of leaving camp and nights out, but Rain did not face severe disciplinary action in the June controversy involving celebrity soldiers. He was discharged from service in July.

Aside from his new album and reality program, Rain has also been cast in the movie “The Prince,” directed by Brian A. Miller, costarring Bruce Willis and John Cusack.

source:soompi

Henry Works Part-Time at McDonald's?

You’re not imagining things: Super Junior M’s Henry might be working part-time at a fast food restaurant, or so it may seem.

On November 28, Henry posted on his Twitter and Weibo a photo of himself wearing a red uniform with the famous golden arches stitched on. With the photo, the singer posted a message saying, “I am tired these days. I am currently working part time at McDonald’s ㅠㅠ If you come to McDonald’s, I will give you a drink for free -3-”

However, no need to freak out thinking the singer quit his singing career to pursue a secret passion for burgers! The part-time gig actually happens to be for Henry’s upcoming drama, “My Sweet City.” Back in August, the Super Junior M member had been cast to star in the Chinese drama as the lead character.

Back in September, Henry set out for China after wrapping up his solo activities, in order to participate in the filming of his new drama. So everyone can breathe a sigh of relief! Fans can catch the singer on television for his new drama, rather than behind the counter of a local fast food joint.

source:soompi

Comedian Shin Bora to Debut as Singer with Single “Frozen”

The talented comedian Shin Bora, who is also known for her exceptional singing ability, is finally set to debut as a formal singer with the release of her new single, “Frozen.“

On November 29, YMC management announced that Shin Bora’s upcoming single “Frozen” will be released on December 2. The single has an emotional tone, and we will be able to hear Shin Bora’s true singing ability. The teaser for her new single was also released.

Shin Bora’s singing abilities became widely known through her comedy performances on KBS2‘s “Gag Concert.” Even though Shin Bora has sung onstage with other members of her popular comedy segment “Brave Guys,” she has yet to debut as a solo singer without any associated comedy acts. 

It was also reported that the MV will star BIA4‘s CNU and A Pink‘s Ha Young. Earlier this year, Shin Bora started dating fellow comedian Giri.

source:soompi

Infinite Beautifully Wraps Up “One Great Step” Tour in US After Rocking the NYC Stage

In November, boy group Infinite embarked on the US leg of their “One Great Step” world tour, beautifully bringing their time in the US to an end with an unforgettable show in NYC. What a rollercoaster night – one filled with tears, laughter, and the undying quench for more. Read on for our full (and detailed) recap of the concert!

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The excitement of the fans was evident in the air, hours before the start of the concert. As more and more people began taking over the entire Hammerstein ballroom floor, screams of anticipation could be heard echoing through the venue, while teasers of the show to come played repeatedly on the large screens.

The lights dimmed and seven shadows emerge, each striking a pose behind a large, white screen. All of a sudden, the curtains fell, and the seven members of Infinite began swaying powerfully to the music, as they prepare to get into formation. On the final note, all members but L drop to the floor, cuing the beginning of “Destiny.”

Infinite’s charismatic presence became too much for some fans to bear, as a wave of deafening screams overtook the venue. Unfazed, Infinite continued with “Tic Tock,” perfectly on point with every step of every move. As if to answer the prayers of the fangirls in the crowd, the next song, “Paradise,” had the members stripping off their jackets, standing on stage in front of thousands of fans in their fitted black tank tops.

Flawlessly, the boys then treated the crowd to “Wings,” and with the help of chairs, “Inception.” Finally getting a break to greet the fans formally with their cute English, Infinite expressed their happiness to see the Inspirits in person, but sadly remarked that it was their last show in the United States. Unfortunately, the intensity of the concert caused many fans to faint on the standing room floor, arousing concern from the members. Member Dongwootook time out of his introduction to tell fans to be careful, reassuring the crowd: “Take it easy! We’re here a long time.”

Immediately, the boys proceeded with “Can U Smile” and “Going to You” before retreating off-stage to make way for small group performances. Up first, members Sungjong andSungyeol donned their best DJ personas, and had the crowd on their feet for their rendition of “1/3.” The two then passed the baton to Infinite H members Hoya and Dongwoo, whose energetic live performance of “Victorious Way,” to the delight of fans, included a dance battle between the two of the best dancers in Infinite. The boys gladly slowed down the pace with their next song, sweetly pointing out members of the crowd as their “Special Girl.”

Briefly reappearing back on stage, the completed Infinite melted the hearts of fans with a medley of “That Year’s Summer” and “I Like You,” pouring their emotions wholeheartedly into the songs. Not forgetting to provide the fans with plenty of fanservice, the members then each threw out into the crowd baskets of plushies and autographed paper airplanes (some even made it to the upper balconies!), making sure that some fans in the front row received one by personally stuffing it into their outreached hands.

Next up, L, accompanied by a large teddy bear, appeared on a bench for “Love U Like You,” injecting the performance with many aegyo moments. Woohyun then treated Inspiritson the upper levels to a special surprise, as he appeared on first balcony to propose to a lucky fan and personally sing her “Beautiful.” Back on central stage, crowd-favorite Sungkyu delivered a powerful rendering of an orchestra version of his solo venture “60 Seconds,” making for one of the most vocally-enticing sets of the night. The seven members reconvened for “Still I Miss You” and “Mother,” combining together their voices in perfect harmony.

After a brief recess backstage, the members greeted the audience with “Nothing’s Over,” “Entrust,” and “Cover Girl,” taking the time out to really connect with fans. The boys posed for fancams, took selcas with some fans’ phones, and had fun teasing the other members while jumping around on stage. Despite being plagued with exhaustion as the end of the concert neared, Infinite nevertheless tried to put on a memorable show, showering the audience with love in “Be Mine.”

“Before the Dawn” was next – as the song continued, anticipation was rising for its notorious dance move, leaving the crowd on the edge of their seats and on their tiptoes.  All of a sudden, the music stops. For the next second, all could be heard were the abated breaths of fans lingering in the air.

Then, perfectly synchronized and not even breaking a sweat, the boys effortlessly performed the much-awaited Scorpion, bringing the crowd back to its usual frenzy.

It was the official end of the show. As the closing numbers of “Man in Love” and “The Chaser” greeted the audience, Infinite quickly disappeared offstage, plunging the Hammerstein into darkness. Little by little, fans’ chants of “Come Back” in Korean begin to resonate, until the whole venue was filled by the audience’s cries for more.

On center stage, one loud voice rings out: “Come Back Again,” welcoming the boys back on stage. Grateful, Infinite expressed their gratitude once again for having the opportunity to perform in New York City, remarking that “there are no words to describe what [they] feel right now.” Their final greetings were heartfelt, and several members looked teary-eyed (except member Dongwoo, who was sobbing) as they began to close out the concert, promising to come back in the future. Hilariously, Sungyeol also tells the crowd: “If you ever cheat on us, I will chase you to the end of the world!”

As the night comes to an end “Hysterie” and “With,” the crowd seems to be in a daze. The concert, wildly successful because the unbounded energy and the never-ending will of Infinite to please the fans, closed on a hopeful note. Bound by an engaging plot and premise (the members, through videos scattered throughout the concert, were revolting against a dystopian society in which music is forbidden and have to rescue L, who has been captured), the concert seemed to have prefaced Infinite’s future success, with their efforts paying off most recently at the MAMA 2013 as they clenched prizes for Worldwide Performer and Best Male Group.

Currently, Infinite is still on their “One Great Step Tour” in Europe, their next stop on December 1st in Paris. If you have a chance, be sure to catch them performing live!

We also like to give a special thank you and shout-out to United Inspirits of America, who helped us pass out I Love K-Pop buttons and stickers at the NYC concert! Be sure to join them for more events, projects, and more!

Images include Infinite’s “One Great Step” tour in Maryland and NYC, and are courtesy of CJ E&M.

source:soompi

Heechul to Perform at Domestic Super Junior Concerts for First Time After Military Discharge

Korea’s representative male group Super Junior will be returning to the domestic concert scene after a long break next month, and member Heechul will be meeting his Korean fans on the stage for the first time after finishing his military service.

Super Junior will be spending the end of the year with their fans by holding two concerts from December 28 to 29 at Kintex in Ilsan. They are titled SMTown Week Super Junior – Treasure Island and are a part of SMTown Week, a large-scale series of concerts by artists of SM Entertainment. The two concerts will also be the finale of the week. While the group has previously held tours with the title Super Show, these upcoming concerts are said to have a fairytale-like theme, presenting the fans with something unseen. Moreover, this will be the first time for member Heechul to make an appearance at a domestic concert after being discharged from the military.

The idol group will be releasing a new Japanese single “Blue World” on December 11, and to make the concert even more special, they will be revealing the Korean version of their new single for the first time during SMTown Week. From their hit songs that everyone can enjoy to solo stages that highlight the members’ unique charms, Super Junior has prepared a great show with high-quality performances and special stages.

SMTown Week will be held from December 21 to 29 at Kintex in Ilsan, and list of the performers include TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, f(x), and EXO.

source:soompi

Lee Bo Young and Ji Sung whisked off to Thailand for their honeymoon

Lee Bo Young and Ji Sung were finally able to go on their honeymoon in Thailand!

Ji Sung's agency Namoo Actors stated on the 29th, "Married couple Ji Sung and Lee Bo Young departed to Thailand on the 28th. They plan to spend one week there and return... They both chose to go to Thailand for their honeymoon to enjoy a break rather than for the sightseeing.

Lee Bo Young and Ji Sung tied the knot back in September but were unable to go on their honeymoon due to their busy schedules. Now that Ji Sung is done with 'Secrets', the couple can enjoy their long awaited honeymoon!

source:allkpop