Two K-pop artists have won prizes at a music awards ceremony hosted by a Chinese online music service, their management agencies said Friday.Pop singer and actor Rain and G-Dragon, leader of the boy band BigBang, won awards for most influential overseas artist and for most popular artist from South Korea or Japan, respectively, at China's "QQ Music Awards," Cube Entertainment and YG Entertainment said. Rain performed some of his latest hit songs during the awards show held in the southern Chines

Latest NewsMarch 28, 2014

Hundreds of Chinese fans were in a frenzy at the opening of Seoul Fashion Week last Friday, when K-pop boy group EXO took the catwalk presenting the creations of young Korean designers. The popularity of K-pop has put a spotlight on the Korean fashion industry event, launched in 2000, and designers as well. Now, Seoul Fashion Week is one of the most anticipated fashion shows in Asia.“K-pop and Korean TV dramas play an important role in attracting attention to Korean fashion,” said Griffin Chan,

Arts & DesignMarch 27, 2014

Lee Oi-soo is one of the most active writers online, dubbed “Twitter President” with more than 1.7 million followers. And it is not surprising to hear “Wanjeon Byeontae (Complete Metamorphosis),” his latest collection of short stories, is a result of his “writing exercises” on Twitter.“People often said to me, ‘You are spending so much time online. When do you actually write your novels?” the 68-year-old author told reporters during a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. “But I actually thought

BooksMarch 27, 2014

In Korea, spring is high season for orchestras. Around this time of the year for the past 25 years, about 20 orchestras from all over the country have traveled to Seoul to participate in a nearly three-week relay concert, celebrating blossoming flowers with great symphonic works by Brahms, Beethoven and many others. “Orchestra Festival,” in its 26th year now, will open on April 1 at Seoul Arts Center. “This year, a total of 18 orchestras will be performing. They are selected by our advisors, who

PerformanceMarch 27, 2014

Signature South Korean alt-rock band Nell is scheduled to hold a series of concerts next month, showcasing its new studio album “Newton’s Apple.”Nell will stage five live performances titled “Nell’s Season 2014 ― Newton’s Apple” at the Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Seoul from April 3-6.The four-member band, composed of vocalist and leader Kim Jong-wan, guitarist Lee Jae-kyung, bassist Lee Jung-hoon and drummer Chung Jae-won, entered the local music scene in 2001 with the indie album “Reflecti

March 27, 2014

CHICAGO (AP) ― Eminem and Outkast will headline a diverse lineup of more than 130 acts at this year’s three-day Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, Jane’s Addiction lead singer and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell announced Wednesday. The lineup also includes recent Grammy darling Lorde, rockers Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys and electronic dance music stars Calvin Harris and Skrillex.  “Every year you’re shooting to have just an incredible bill that people will look at and say, ‘I’m the

PerformanceMarch 27, 2014

China Bridges: Living Architecture from China’s PastBy Ronald G. Knapp (Tuttle Publishing)Budding bridge engineers should look to Asia for inspiration.For thousands of years, China has built bridges for commerce, convenience and sometimes, to mark the “material achievements of emperors down through the ages,” says Ronald K. Knapp, writer of “China Bridges,” an oversized paperback coffee-table book.“Born of necessity to span streams, valleys and gorges, bridges are literally underfoot and often i

BooksMarch 27, 2014

Providence RagBy Bruce DeSilva(Forge)The difference between justice and the truth can be miles apart as well as diametrically opposed to journalism ethics as Bruce DeSilva succinctly shows in his third solid novel featuring Liam Mulligan, a Providence, R.I., reporter.“Providence Rag” is an unflinching look at how doing right thing can have dire reverberations. DeSilva’s other novels, including the Edgar-winning “Rogue Island,” have shown Mulligan secure in his career as an investigative reporter

BooksMarch 27, 2014

The cycling section of Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon, is vast. And as you stand before it, as I did recently, it’s easy to split the volumes into distinct categories: before doping and after.In the first realm rest the hagiographies and how-to tomes mostly about or inspired by Lance Armstrong, including “It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life,” “Lance Armstrong: Images of a Champion” and the now painfully ironic “The Lance Armstrong Performance Program: Seven Weeks to the Perfect

BooksMarch 27, 2014

Our culture has a way of romanticizing the booze-addled scribe, the rakish writer quick with a quip ― Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Cheever, Tennessee Williams, Raymond Carver.These were masters of American letters. These were also incorrigible drunks who left a trail of human wreckage and misery along with their novels, plays and poems.The myth of the rakish drunk writer dashing off bon mots between martinis starts to teeter once you peel away the illusions and delusions of alcoho

BooksMarch 27, 2014

In South Korea, all able-bodied Korean men 19 or older are obliged to serve in the military for two years. Even the hottest stars like Kim Soo-hyun and Lee Min-ho can’t avoid enlistment.South Korean drama production companies and broadcasters are expected to face obstacles in casting A-list actors as many are preparing to enter military service as early as this year. “The stars who are preparing for military enlistment from this year and next are unexpectedly the most wanted actors for upcoming

March 27, 2014

More operas, ballets and classical music concerts are coming to movie screens in Korea, offering a chance to watch and listen to world-renowned artists at a fraction of the cost. Megabox, the nation’s largest cinema chain, is launching a new program Thursday, showing famed pianist Lang Lang’s solo recital held at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November last year. Arguably one of the most beloved living pianists, Lang Lang mesmerized the 5,300 audience members who filled the prestigious Briti

CultureMarch 26, 2014

It is certainly no secret in Korea that the training process to debut as a K-pop star is no quick or simple venture. Often referred to as music “boot camp,” K-pop training among some of the nation’s biggest talent agencies is intense, to say the least. And with only a fraction of trainees able to become K-pop stars, the atmosphere among trainees can be fiercely competitive and cutthroat. Although other nations’ talent agencies play a role in “grooming” acts to make it big in the entertainment in

PerformanceMarch 26, 2014

Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince” is often described as a handbook for ruthless rulers. In the book, he famously wrote: “In the actions of men, and especially of princes, the end justifies the means.” An exhibition in Seoul aims to provide a reappraisal of Machiavelli, taking visitors to Italy 500 years ago. At the time, the country was going through political upheavals, and the author dreamed of a unified and independent Italy. “Machiavelli, Renaissance Man,” now running at the National Librar

CultureMarch 26, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) ― An eclectic mix of some of the most cherished autographs in history ― including those of George Washington and Michael Jackson ― are on display to showcase what curators say is the dying art of the signature. The “Marking the Mark” exhibit, which opened Friday at the National Archives, includes more than 100 original signatures by the famous and infamous and is the result of a wide search by curators for signatures representing important names and events in history.  The exhibi

PerformanceMarch 26, 2014

LAS VEGAS (AP) ― Universal Pictures had a strong start at the box office this year, with “Lone Survivor” grossing more than $124 million and “Ride Along” bringing in nearly $146 million globally. The run could continue for the studio, which previewed its upcoming slate of films on Tuesday at the annual movie theater convention CinemaCon. “A healthy slate is a diverse one,” said Donna Langley, chairman of Universal. “Hits don’t come just in summer and Christmas,” added Nikki Rocco, president of d

FilmMarch 26, 2014

Internationally famous British alt-rock band Travis returned to Seoul an old friend, kicking off a lively concert Tuesday night.“Hi everyone, it’s been a long time since we’ve been here,” said Fran Healy, the vocalist and leader, opening up the show. “And we’ve never forgotten you!” he shouted.Travis, considered a forefather of modern British pop-rock, is currently on its Asia tour for its recent album “Where You Stand,” which topped the U.K. album charts last year. Composed of vocalist and guit

PerformanceMarch 26, 2014

MILWAUKEE ― You might have thought rubber stamps and embossers had gone the way of buggy whips and common sense, but not so at Schwaab Inc., which has been making stamps and embossers for 133 years.The Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, firm, at one time the world’s largest manufacturer of watch fobs, has added a third work shift to meet the growing demand from Internet sales.The company once known for having a small army of door-to-door sales people now generates more than a third of its business from websi

CultureMarch 26, 2014

BEIJING ― A Peking duck dinner might inspire a twinge of guilt about indulging in some decadent, fatty fowl. But health-conscious diners at the high-end Da Dong restaurant chain here in the Chinese capital can at least rationalize that they did a little weightlifting before their meal.That’s because the menus at Da Dong are heftier than a small gym dumbbell ― 2.4 kilograms, to be exact. Measuring 45 centimeters tall, 38 centimeters wide and more than 2.5 centimeters thick, the 140-page menu outw

CultureMarch 26, 2014