Stellar to hold Tokyo concert May 19-20

Stellar will hold a concert in Tokyo from May 19-20, its agency said Thursday.It will be the second time the K-pop group is holding a concert in Japan.According to Entertainment Pascal, the band will not only perform its hit songs but also introduce new songs at the concerts. Solo performances by each members are also planned. Stellar (The Entertainment Pascal)The concert follows the four-member group’s debut in Japan with a showcase in Tokyo last August. It was also the first female K-pop group

PerformanceApril 27, 2017

Travel industry discusses tourism’s ability to change the world

BANGKOK -- The travel and tourism industry today generates over $7.6 trillion globally, supporting over 292 million jobs, and has outstripped the growth of the global economy in the last six years.Such is the economic power of the travel and tourism industry that it was highlighted as a driver of three of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals: inclusive and sustainable economic growth; sustainable consumption and production; and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources.“This sector plays

CultureApril 27, 2017

YG sets up drama production

YG Entertainment, a leading K-pop agency, said on Thursday it has established a drama production company named "YG Studio Plex.""It recently opened its office in Seoul's Shinsa-dong, and director Park Hong-gyun of MBC TV dramas 'The Great Queen Seondeok' and 'The Greatest Love,' will join next month," an official with the YG Entertainment said. (YG Plus)It has not yet been decided whether the studio will scout other famous TV producers or writers, the official added.YG has shown much interest in

Life&CultureApril 27, 2017

Hanwha Classic 2017 invites baroque master William Christie

Having hosted French conductor Marc Minkowski and the Musicians of the Louvre orchestra last year, this year’s Hanwha Classic 2017 annual concert series will once again highlight the French baroque era. According to Hanwha Group on Wednesday, the upcoming classical music concert series will feature American-born French conductor and harpsichordist William Christie and his Les Arts Florissants orchestral ensemble.  France’s Les Arts Florissants orchestral ensemble (Courtesy of Hanwha Group)The tw

PerformanceApril 27, 2017

Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo honored best actors at DramaFever Awards

Song Hye-kyo was named best actress at the fifth DramaFever Awards on Wednesday.She starred in KBS 2TV’s hit drama “Descendants of the Sun” (2016) as doctor Kang Mo-yeon, along with Song Joong-ki, who played Capt.Yoo Shi-jin.  Actress Song Hye-kyo (left) and actor Gong Yoo (United Artists Agency/Management Soop)Actor Gong Yoo took home the best actor award for his role of Kim Shin, an immortal goblin, in the tvN megahit drama “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,” which aired from December 2016 t

TelevisionApril 27, 2017

Actor Yoo Ji-tae to cameo in new Lars von Trier film

South Korean actor Yoo Ji-tae will appear in Danish auteur Lars von Trier's upcoming film "The House That Jack Built" as a cameo, the film's Korean distributor said Wednesday. At9 Film said that Yoo finished shooting in late March in Sweden, without specifying the actor's role.  (Yonhap)He is best known to the international audience for his lead role in Park Chan-wook's "Old Boy." Yoo's directorial debut "Mai Ratima" clinched the Jury Prize, the second top honor, at the 2013 Deauville Asian Film

April 27, 2017

2,917 stairs to the top of Korea’s highest skyscraper

Over 950 people from around the world gathered Sunday at Lotte World Tower to do one thing: climb up 123 floors -- or 2,917 stairs to be exact. Gripping banisters and taking the stairs two at a time, the climbers aimed to run up the top of South Korea’s tallest skyscraper located in Songpa-gu, eastern Seoul, as part of an international race hosted by the Vertical World Circuit.“I’ve always enjoyed pushing myself past the limit,” said Park Soon-eek as he was warming up in the Arena Square near th

CultureApril 26, 2017

Rock icon Jeon In-kwon mired in plagiarism controversy

South Korean rock musician Jeon In-kwon became engulfed in a plagiarism controversy on Wednesday amid allegations part of his hit song, "Don't Worry, My Dear" is similar to a 70s German rock number.A post raising questions about the originality of Jeon's song surfaced on a South Korean internet community.(Yonhap)The post alleged that the chorus of "Don't Worry, My Dear"sounded especially similar to that of Black Fooss' "Drink doch eine met." The title means "let's have a drink" in English.The 62

April 26, 2017

Political stance comes at a price in Korean entertainment

Jeon In-kwon’s concert on May 7 was canceled Tuesday. The veteran singer did not say why the organizers decided to pull the plug.But rumors have begun to circulate that it was connected to Jeon’s recent endorsement of Ahn Cheol-soo, a centrist presidential candidate of the People’s Party. Last week, Jeon publicly announced that he is supporting Ahn to win the May 9 presidential election. “We don’t know if it was because of the political statement. The promoters decided on it,” his representative

CultureApril 26, 2017

Minzy ranks No. 2 on Billboard world chart

Minzy’s first EP took the second spot on Billboard’s world albums chart as of Wednesday, marking the former 2NE1 member’s successful transition into a solo artist.Released April 17, “Minzy Work 01 Uno” made an immediate impact on local and international charts. It took the top spot on the iTunes K-pop top album charts upon its release in several countries, including the US, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.Minzy (Music Works)Minzy, 23, participated in writing the lyrics for all six songs in the

PerformanceApril 26, 2017

YG signs trainee deal with 11-year-old audition show contestant

YG Entertainment, one of South Korea's leading music labels, has signed a trainee deal with an 11-year-old former contestant on SBS TV's audition show "K-pop Star," the company said Wednesday.(SBS)"We signed with Han Byul, who's shown talent in 'K-pop Star 6.' The trainee is young so she will receive systemic training three to four times week while continuing with school," YG said.Han, who appeared in the final season of the popular SBS TV show earlier this year, is half Korean and half Swedish.

April 26, 2017

Zico, BewhY to perform at ‘Seoul Sessions Live Music Event’

Korean rappers Zico and BewhY will headline the “Seoul Sessions Live Music Event 2017,” along with American rapper Wiz Khalifa.The upcoming music event will mark American rapper Wiz Khalifa’s first music performance in Korea. He has enjoyed high international fame with hit songs such as “Black and Yellow,” “Work Hard, Play Hard” and “Young, Wild & Free.”The “Seoul Sessions Live Music Event 2017” poster showing Zico (left) and BewhY as headliners. (Mixmag Korea)Mixmag Korea, which represents the

PerformanceApril 26, 2017

Eat, cook, read at Cooking Library

Devoted to all things food, Hyundai Card’s latest project is an establishment where visitors can eat, cook and read about eating and cooking. Called Cooking Library, it is a space that offers an in-depth look into the craft of cooking, where the “production, literature and experience of food come together,” said Lee Mee-young, vice president of the credit card company’s brand division, at the press opening Wednesday. “The idea is that the visitor can indulge in all five senses.”Open exclusively

FoodApril 26, 2017

Actor Lee Byung-hun to star in Psy's new music video

South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun will appear in a new Psy music video, according to informed sources Wednesday.Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, became a global sensation with his 2012 mega hit "Gangnam Style."  (Yonhap)Lee has finished filming for the video accompanying a song in Psy's eighth full-length album that will come out next month, according to K-pop industry insiders, who asked not to be named.The video is reportedly different from another yet-released Psy video featuring Son Nae

TelevisionApril 26, 2017

Park Chan-wook appointed to Cannes jury

Korean director Park Chan-wook is to sit on the jury of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival that kicks off next month. Director Park Chan-wook (Yonhap)The international festival said Tuesday that Park was included on the festival jury to decide its top prize this year, along with other big names including Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, Italian director Paolo Sorrentino and US actor Will Smith. Park has become the fourth Korean to sit on the festival’s jury. Shin Sang-ok was the first-ever in 1994, foll

FilmApril 26, 2017

'Rebel' outstrips 'Whisper' in heated TV drama race

 MBC TV's "Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" took the lead in the Monday-Tuesday late night drama race, outstripping its hard-hitting rival "Whisper," data showed Wednesday. (MBC)Tuesday night's 26th episode of "Rebel" recorded 12.4 percent nationwide viewership, up 0.3 percentage point from the previous broadcast, according to Nielsen Korea. SBS TV's legal thriller "Whisper," which maintained the lead for several weeks, clocked in at 11.9 percent, dropping 4.1 percentage points from Monday. KB

TelevisionApril 26, 2017

Lee Je-hoon’s radical transformation in historical film

Lee Je-hoon has taken on various roles such as the sweet boyfriend in the recent time-travel tvN drama “Tomorrow With You” alongside Shin Min-ah. But the actor becomes almost unrecognizable in the upcoming historical film “Park Yeol” (unofficial translation).Lee is seen sporting much stubble and a maniacal grin in posters released by the film’s distributor Monday. Written is the film’s tagline, “Joseon Dynasty’s biggest rebel.” Lee Je-hoon is depicted in a poster for the upcoming film “Park Yeol

FilmApril 25, 2017

G-Dragon confirms global tour

 G-Dragon is set to kick off a world tour of 19 cities across the globe in June, his agency YG Entertainment said Tuesday. A promotional image for G-Dragon’s upcoming world tour. (YG Entertainment)The K-pop icon will hold “G-Dragon 2017 Concert: Act III, M.O.T.T.E” in World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, Seoul on June 10, which will herald the beginning of the tour named “Act III, M.O.T.T.E.” He will perform across four continents in places that will include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto,

PerformanceApril 25, 2017

Singer-actor Kim Hyun-joong indicted for alleged drunk driving

Prosecutors said Tuesday they have summarily indicted singer-actor Kim Hyun-joong for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol last month. (Yonhap)The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office said it sought a fine of 2 million won (US$1,700) against him. A summary indictment does not require a formal trial. The member of K-pop boy band SS501 was caught on March 26 as he fell asleep for about 15 minutes in his car while waiting for a traffic light to change in southern Seoul, acco

April 25, 2017