Idols increasingly dominate dramas

With an array of new pop bands flooding TV screens every day, it is becoming more difficult for the newbies to stand out in the music scene. Aspiring idols, thus, are turning to acting to swiftly gain popularity from the public and broaden their presence in showbiz. Now it is common to see idol stars in the Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday-Thursday dramas on major TV networks.Among them are two girls -- Krystal of K-pop quintet f(x) and Sooyoung of megahit girl group Girls’ Generation -- who are vyi

Oct. 8, 2014

Jung Kyung-ho yet to have plan for marriage with Sooyoung

South Korean actor Jung Kyung-ho said Tuesday that he is in a good relationship with his girlfriend Sooyoung, a member of the K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation. But he has no plans for marriage just yet. The 31-year-old actor’s remarks came during an interview with local media ahead of the premiere of his film “Manhole.”Asked about his marriage plans with Sooyoung, the actor said that he had not decided anything but he could get married early if there was a chance. Jung also talked about Sooyou

Oct. 8, 2014

Red Velvet to make comeback with remake track

Rookie K-pop group Red Velvet is to return to the scene with its second EP “Be Natural” this fall, its agency SM Entertainment announced Tuesday. The album will be unveiled at noon on Oct. 13 through major music streaming sites, two months after the release of its debut EP “Happiness.” “Be Natural” is a remake of a song by the first-generation idol group SES. Group members Seulgi and Irene performed the song when they were in SM’s predebut team SM Rookies. The quintet is SM Entertainment’s first

Oct. 8, 2014

EXO ex-member Kris to sign contract with Chinese agency: report

Kris, a former member of K-pop idol group EXO, is about to sign a contract with a Chinese agency, local media outlets reported Tuesday. Korean daily Ilgan Sports reported that Kris is to sign a management contract with Hwai Brothers, one of the biggest talent agencies in China. It added that he failed to strike a deal with YUEHUA, the entertainment powerhouse that manages Super Junior’s ex-member Hangeng. Kris came under the spotlight when he filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment on May 15. H

Oct. 8, 2014

Who is next from YG this October?

YG Entertainment, home to some of the biggest names in K-pop, released a teaser image that reads “WHO’S NEXT?” on its official blog on Tuesday, heralding another YG musician’s imminent debut or comeback this October. The black-and-silver teaser photo -- with the caption “2014.10.10 0AM” alongside a question mark -- indicates that a YG artist or group will make a comeback or debut at midnight on Oct. 10. The poster does not specify who it will be. This year, the entertainment powerhouse has been

Oct. 8, 2014

Embattled rapper MC Mong to release album

The embattled South Korean hip-hop artist MC Mong, who was once mired in controversy over draft evasion, will drop a new album in November, his agency DreamT Entertainment announced Tuesday. The 35-year-old rapper will unleash his sixth studio album, five years after he released his fifth full-length album “Humaniman” in 2009. A slew of well-known K-pop acts including veteran musician Lee Sun-hee, rapper Gary, singer Baek Ji-young, Huh Gak and Ailee participated in the recording of MC Mong’s upc

Oct. 8, 2014

Sexy diva Seo In-young to collaborate with Zion.T

K-pop diva Seo In-young is to team up with hip-hop artist Zion.T this fall, her agency IY Company stated Tuesday. 　The 30-year-old singer will unveil the track featuring Zion.T on Oct. 15, a year after the release of her EP “Love Me.” 　Her upcoming EP is drawing more attention than usual as the sexy icon has joined hands with the well-known hip-hop figure to create a new style of music. 　Zion.T is a famous record producer as well as rapper who debuted in 2011. He rapidly gained recognition after

Oct. 8, 2014

Korean indie bands eye global stage

For some Korean musicians, the world is definitely shrinking. Following the K-pop explosion in Asia and the Psy sensation in the U.S., Korean indie bands are making their strides, trying to carve out their unique spots in the international music scene. MU:CON Seoul 2014, a music conference-cum-fair currently running in Itaewon, Seoul, highlighted three groups that are at the vanguard of what Korean officials hope will evolve into the “next big wave” of Korean music. Jambinai, one of the three gr

PerformanceOct. 7, 2014

K-pop works as a visual spectacle: Rodaidh McDonald

As a producer at the U.K.-based independent music label XL Recordings, Rodaidh McDonald has helped produce albums by a wide range of internationally renowned artists including Adele, The xx, The Horrors, Bobby Womack, Vampire Weekend, King Krule and many others.McDonald participated as one of the keynote speakers at the annual MU:CON Seoul music conference this week, discussing his experiences and his small indie label’s methods of creating internationally successful albums. In his first visit t

PerformanceOct. 7, 2014

Sewol sinking documentary screened in Busan despite controversy

A controversial documentary that deals with the April 16 sinking of the Sewol ferry, which claimed more than 300 lives, made its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival as planned on Monday despite calls and protests against its screening. “The Truth Shall Not Sink with the Sewol” (a.k.a. “Diving Bell”), directed by journalist Lee Sang-ho and director Ahn Hae-ryong, tells the stories behind the failed search for survivors that used a diving bell. “It was when I arrived at Paengmo

FilmOct. 7, 2014

‘Gangnam Style’ tops 2.1b YouTube views

Korean singer Psy’s music video “Gangnam Style.” (YG Entertainment)“Gangnam Style,” a megahit single by South Korean rapper Psy, has surpassed the 2.1 billion mark in YouTube views two years after it was released, his management agency said Tuesday.The video hit the 2.1 billion milestone on Monday and 2.1 billion views as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, YG Entertainment said.Uploaded on July 15, 2012, “Gangnam Style” topped 100 million views after 52 days and 1 billion views after 161 days. In May this year,

PerformanceOct. 7, 2014

Seoulites invited to show off Celtic moves

Over the years people have become familiar with its St. Patrick’s Day festivities, but this month the Irish Association of Korea is going to add a little Scottish flavor with the “The Ceilidh.” In conjunction with the St. Andrew’s Society of Seoul ― an association named after Scotland’s patron saint ― the association will be staging the family dance on Oct. 18. A ceilidh is a social event with folk music, singing and traditional dancing, with its roots in the Celtic traditions of Ireland and Sco

Expat LivingOct. 7, 2014

Bra auction to give cancer charity a lift

Brassieres are usually expected to provide support, but the uniquely decorated bras at two uplifting events will boost more than just cleavage.The Bras for a Cause events to auction off novelty bras are being held to raise money for the Korea Breast Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization.Men and women are invited to join a “Boob Crawl” ― a novelty pub crawl full of games, bra auctions and prizes ― on Oct. 17, and a main bra auction on Nov. 8. “I keep organizing this event because there are

Expat LivingOct. 7, 2014

'Gangnam Style' tops 2.1 bln YouTube views

"Gangnam Style," a mega-hit single by South Korean rapper Psy, has surpassed the 2.1 billion mark in YouTube views two years after it was released, his management agency said Tuesday.The video hit the 2.1 billion milestone on Monday and 2.101 billion views as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, YG Entertainment said.Uploaded on July 15, 2012, "Gangnam Style" topped 100 million views on the 52nd day and 1 billion views on the 161st day. In May this year, it became the first YouTube video to garner 2 billion views

Oct. 7, 2014

Herald Philharmonic Orchestra to debut

Herald Corp., the publisher of The Korea Herald, will launch the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra with a concert at Seoul Arts Center on Wednesday. The orchestra was established as part of the company’s efforts to give back to society. It aims to expand the reach of orchestral music in Korea and spread the spirit of harmony through music. It is directed and conducted by Kim Bong-mee and comprised of about 70 musicians who were educated at some of the finest music institutions in Korea and abroad. A

PerformanceOct. 6, 2014

Artists, artisans combined at Hermes

“Silence is Golden” by Oliver Beer (Fondation d’entreprise Hermes)Perfection may be what artisans seek in their craftsmanship, while uniqueness is what artists pursue in their artistic creations. At the world’s top workshops run by Hermes, artisans and artists have worked together to stimulate each other’s craftsmanship and creativity. Since 2010, their collaborative projects have played a link between the expertise of artisans and the motivation and inspiration of young artists. Hermes has invi

PerformanceOct. 6, 2014

Auction of ancient Egyptian relics averted

ST. LOUIS (AP) ― The renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York purchased a collection of 4,000-year-old Egyptian artifacts found a century ago by a British explorer, averting a plan to auction the antiquities that had drawn criticism from historians.The Treasure of Harageh collection consists of 37 items such as flasks, vases and jewelry inlaid with lapis lazuli, a rare mineral. Discovered by famed British archaeologist Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie, the relics date to roughly 1900 B

PerformanceOct. 6, 2014