Return of the boy bands

Boy bands are churning out new releases in time for fall. Returning with a new look just this week was the band GOT7, with the group’s first studio album in two years, “Flight Log: Turbulence,” released Tuesday. The music video for the album’s title track “Hard Carry” was also unveiled on the same day. SHINee also announced new releases Tuesday. The five-member act will roll out its fifth full-length album “1 of 1” on Oct. 5 at midnight, according to the group’s management agency S.M. Entertainm

PerformanceSept. 27, 2016

Bums and cash set tongues wagging at UK's Turner Prize

LONDON (AFP) -- A giant backside, a mountain of money and chastity belts suspended from a ceiling: the Turner Prize once again looks set to divide the contemporary art world after unveiling its finalists in London on Monday.The four shortlisted artists have each taken over a room at Tate Britain, filling the famous gallery with all manner of materials, shapes and surprises for an exhibition that organizers hope will promote debate about art when it opens to the public Tuesday.The prize is awarde

PerformanceSept. 27, 2016

Singer Lee Seung-chul celebrates 30 years

When singer Lee Seung-chul made his debut with the legendary Korean rock band Boohwal in 1986, he and his group released an LP record.　“Now this is the era of MP3,” Lee said at a press conference celebrating his 30th debut anniversary in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Monday. “It is an honor still to be a part of the culture that produced the globally-recognized K-pop.”　Now entering his third decade as a singer, Lee says he is just now beginning to realize the greater significance of music. 　“Until now, I

PerformanceSept. 26, 2016

Dangerously skinny K-pop girl groups

Member of a Seoul-based college dance group Lee Hyo-min (not her real name) says she has no fancy tricks up her sleeve when it comes to dieting. She simply “starves” herself, said the 22-year-old.　“I drink water and iced Americano,” the aspiring dancer told The Korea Herald. “If I get really hungry, I have one bite of pizza or something that the group has ordered.”According to Lee, “just not eating” is the most effective way to lose weight, easier than counting calories or calculating the nutrit

PerformanceSept. 26, 2016

SF9 gears up for debut

Entertainment agency FNC Entertainment is getting ready to lift the veil on its first boy dance group, Sensational First 9, or SF9, next month.　SF9 will release its debut single “Feeling Sensation” and its music video on local music and video platforms on Oct. 5, according to FNC Entertainment on Monday. 　The nine-member act is also scheduled to hold a showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjang-dong, Seoul on the same day at 8 p.m. 　 The boy band was formed through Mnet’s survival reality show

PerformanceSept. 26, 2016

Apink tops music charts

K-pop girl group Apink has returned with full force.　Following the release of their third full-length album “Pink Revolution” on Monday morning, the album’s lead track “Only One” topped seven local music charts -- Naver Music, Olleh Music, Mnet, Genie, Bugs, Monkey3 and Soribada -- in less than 12 hours, according to the group’s management agency PlanA Entertainment on Monday. Produced in collaboration with a leading producer and songwriting team Black-eyed Pilseung, “Only One” is the group’s fi

PerformanceSept. 26, 2016

MOBB tops global music charts

Hip-hop duo MOBB -- consisting of boy band Winner’s Mino and iKON’s Bobby -- is on the rise.　“Hit Me,” one of the two lead tracks off MOBB’s debut mini album “The MOBB,” topped the weekly K-pop chart on one of China’s largest music streaming platforms, QQ Music, according to YG Entertainment on Sunday. Mino’s latest solo release “Body” followed at second place, along with the duo’s remaining lead track “Full House” at No. 8, and Bobby’s solo song “Holup!” at No. 10.  Additionally, the album is c

PerformanceSept. 25, 2016

Jeju plays host to Royal Salute Polo Cup

JEJU CITY, Jejudo -- Team Time led by David Ko won the fifth Royal Salute Polo Cup at KPCC on Jejudo on Friday.Team Time beat Team Royal, led by Malcolm Borwick, one of the top professional polo players in the world and former captain of the British national polo team, in a two-day match that ended with Team Time winning 12 to 10 against Team Royal. Ko received the MVP award. Polo is still a relatively unfamiliar sport for many Koreans -- the country’s first polo club opened only in 2010. Since

PeopleSept. 25, 2016

Singer Jung Joon-young probed for sexual offense

Singer-songwriter and TV personality Jung Joon-young is being investigated over an alleged sexual offense.Jung’s ex-girlfriend, who has remained anonymous, filed for charges against the 27-year-old on Aug. 6 for secretly filming her during the couple’s sexual activities earlier this year, according to prosecutors on Saturday. However, the unidentified woman dropped her accusation a few days later. “I sincerely apologize for causing inconvenience to my colleagues and co-workers,” said Jung at a p

PerformanceSept. 25, 2016

Hong Sang-soo wins best director at San Sebastian film fest

Korean film director Hong Sang-soo has taken home the Silver Shell award for best directing for his new film “Yourself and Yours” at this year’s 64th annual San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain, which ran from Sept. 16 to 24. Best known for his films “Hahaha” and “Right Now, Wrong Then,” Hong’s latest feature film stars actors Kim Joo-hyuck and Lee You-young in a movie that chronicles one man’s desperate search for his girlfriend, who had gone missing after a serious spat between the two. The wi

FilmSept. 25, 2016