‘Big sisters’ to show where ‘Strong My Way’ is

Rapper Cheetah and JeA of Brown Eyed Girls are to be “big sisters” to young Korean women, returning in the second season of “Strong My Way,” which kicked off Thursday.The show’s first season, created by SBS’ mobile entertainment division Mobidic, was well received, recording 12 million views in its 13-episode run last year. Cheetah and JeA, known for their bold manner of speaking, read stories submitted by viewers and dished out harsh yet realistic advice. While the first season focused mainly o

TelevisionApril 19, 2018

Funeral held for late film icon Choi Eun-hee

The funeral for Choi Eun-hee, the late South Korean actress who was once kidnapped by North Korea to create propaganda films before escaping, was held on Thursday and attended by her family and close friends.Choi, a South Korean film icon of the 60s and 70s, died on Monday while receiving kidney dialysis treatment at a hospital in Seoul. She was 92. A portrait of late actress Choi Eun-hee at her funeral procession at the Catholic University of Korea`s St. Mary`s Hospital in Seoul on Thursday. (Y

FilmApril 19, 2018

Yoon Mi-rae to return with new single Friday

Singer and rapper Yoon Mi-rae is set to release her new single “Kawi Bawi Bo” on Friday, according to her agency Feel Ghood Music Thursday.“Kawi Bawi Bo” will be a part of the artist’s upcoming album titled “Gemini2,” a long-anticipated follow-up of her previous album “Gemini” that came out in 2002. The song will talk about the power of strong-willed women, the agency said.  A promotion image for Yoon Mi-rae‘s upcoming single “Kawi Bawi Bo” (Feel Ghood Music)Born in Texas to a Korean mother and

PerformanceApril 19, 2018

BTS' new album tops Amazon's pre-order list

K-pop boy band BTS topped Amazon's album pre-order list, its agency said Thursday.Big Hit Entertainment said "Love Yourself: Tear," the K-pop sensation's upcoming full-length album, shot to No. 1 on Amazon's CDs & Vinyl Best Sellers list in the US, a day after the pre-order became available on Tuesday local time.In September, "Love Yourself: Her," the first in the band's "Love Yourself" series, stayed on top of the list for six consecutive days. The album has so far sold over 1.49 million copies

PerformanceApril 19, 2018

Paik Nam-june's iconic video installation unplugged due to safety concern

An iconic video installation by media artist Paik Nam-june (1932-2006) has been turned off due to safety concerns, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art said Thursday.The MMCA said it has unplugged the late visionary artist's video work titled "The More The Better" after a safety check by the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation warned of a fire risk."Old monitors are the biggest concern," said an official from the museum. "We have considered replacing them, but that doesn't seem lik

Arts & DesignApril 19, 2018

Lee Seung-gi to host new season of 'Produce' audition show

Singer-actor Lee Seung-gi will host the latest season of Mnet's "Produce" music program, the network announced Wednesday.Lee will serve as emcee of "Produce 48," the third season of the popular "Produce 101" series, set to begin airing in June, according to Mnet.A file publicity photo of singer-actor Lee Seung-gi provided by Mnet (Yonhap)The show's past two seasons have lead to the creation of I.O.I and Wanna One, two of the most successful K-pop rookie groups in recent years. Boy band Wanna One

TelevisionApril 18, 2018

Recreating royal cultures of King Sejong’s reign

A Joseon-period mix of a royal ceremony and a folk play will be performed in downtown Seoul for the first time in more than 230 years.The event is part of the fourth annual Royal Culture Festival, this year focusing on programs related to King Sejong the Great to mark the 600th anniversary of his enthronement.The festival, hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration and operated by Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, will be held from April 28 to May 6 at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgy

CultureApril 18, 2018

Mamamoo’s solar confirms new releases for solo project

Part six of “Solar Gamsung (sentiment)” will be released at 6 p.m. on April 24, extending the solo project for the K-pop singer.According to her agency RBW, the vocalist for Mamamoo will release four songs for the latest “Solar Gamsung” project, including music videos for all four songs. A remake of Mamamoo song “Star, Wind, Flower & Sun,” which was written by Solar herself, will be included. Solar (RBW)The new record will be an LP that will consist of new songs, along with previously released o

PerformanceApril 18, 2018

Mamamoo’s solar confirms new releases for solo project

Part six of “Solar Gamsung (sentiment)” will be released at 6 p.m. on April 24, extending the solo project for the K-pop singer.According to her agency RBW, the vocalist for Mamamoo will release four songs for the latest “Solar Gamsung” project, including music videos for all four songs. A remake of Mamamoo song “Star, Wind, Flower & Sun,” which was written by Solar herself, will be included. Solar (RBW)　The new record will be an LP that will consist of new songs, along with previously released

PerformanceApril 18, 2018

[Album review] Eric Nam’s poppish new album offers whiff of freedom

Eric Nam“Honestly” CJ E&MEric Nam may be one of the K-pop scene’s most underrated talents, whose pursuit of musical growth has been overshadowed by his public image as a “boy next door.” Despite his versatility, most of his previous work has been feel-good music, which eventually became somewhat lackluster gradually eliciting the response “Yes, this song is sweet, exactly like him.” But let’s salute Nam, who has finally shed his old skin and unleashed a more genuine self in his new EP “Honestly.

PerformanceApril 18, 2018

BTS nominated for Billboard Music Awards for second straight year

South Korean boy band BTS has been nominated for a Billboard Music Award for the second consecutive year, the organizer announced on its website on Tuesday (local time).BTS will compete for "Top Social Media Artist" at the Billboard Music Awards 2018 against big-name pop stars, such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and Shawn Mendes.The Korean act won the award in 2017 and snatched the top spot 70 times on the Billboard "Social 50" chart of the most influential and active artists on t

PerformanceApril 18, 2018

Big Day South comes to Busan for day of art and music

Angle Magazine is opening its flagship showcase event in the largest city in the south. The audiovisual festival of creativity in the south of the Republic of Korea is back after a year’s hiatus, with its biggest ever lineup. The festival will take place over four venues in the Pusan National University area, culminating with a main stage at Someday with performances from TFO, the Magus, Billy Carter and Drinking Girls and Boys Choir. “Well, for starters, I guess the headline band is Drinking Bo

Expat LivingApril 17, 2018

NU’EST member cleared of sexual harassment charge

Baekho of NU’EST has been cleared of the allegation that he sexually abused a minor in 2009, the boy band’s agency announced late Monday.According to Pledis Entertainment, the K-pop singer -- whose real name is Gang dong-ho -- had his name cleared by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office recently. Baekho (Pledis Entertainment)“We were formally notified that he has been cleared of charge. ... It wasn’t true to begin with, so it proves his innocence,’ an official of the agency told the lo

PerformanceApril 17, 2018

Travel spots feature film locations

With Hallyu spreading Korean culture across the world, the popularity of Korean movies, TV shows and music has been attracting foreign tourists to the country. Capitalizing on this trend, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday launched plans for this year’s Spring Travel Week -- 16 days in late April and early May designated to introduce travel destinations and programs based on locations featured in popular Korean movies and TV shows.Travel Week, which started in 2014, is a gove

TravelApril 17, 2018

Pianist Son Yeol-eum pays homage to Marriner with her new album

Pianist and artistic director of Great Mountains Music Festival, Son Yeol-eum is dedicating her latest album to her late mentor Sir Neville Marriner. Simply titled “Mozart,” the album due to be released Friday, includes a recording of Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K.467 by the young pianist and the venerated conductor. It is the first and the last recording the two have done together.Pianist Son and Marriner first met in April 2016, when she performed with Marriner and the Academy of

PerformanceApril 17, 2018

Hyolyn to drop new single next week

Hyolyn of disbanded girl group Sistar will drop a new single in a week.The singer’s agency Bridge said Tuesday that “Dally” will be released next Monday as part of Hyolyn’s solo project, “Set up Time.”It will be the second single of the project, following “To Do List” which was released in February. According to Bridge, the new single will feature a unique performance by Hyolyn, dubbed “heels dance.” (Bridge)Hyolyn established Bridge, her own one-person management agency after the breakup of Sis

PerformanceApril 17, 2018

BTS, Lee Joon-gi, Yoona voted hallyu stars of 2017: survey

K-pop group BTS, actor Lee Joon-gi and actress Yoona have been chosen as the most popular "hallyu" stars of 2017, a survey showed Tuesday.Soompi, a US-based online news provider specializing in Korean pop culture, announced the winners of the 13th annual Soompi Awards, who were selected in a vote by over 163 million hallyu fans from over 190 countries around the world. Hallyu refers to the global boom of Korean pop music, TV dramas and films. BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)BTS won awards in five cat

CultureApril 17, 2018

Korea International School to stage Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’

On an average Saturday afternoon, high school students in Korea are out relaxing with friends or cramming for their next exam. But the 96 students in the cast and crew of Korea International School’s upcoming production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” are spending all day at school rehearsing, painting and making last-minute fixes for their performance. Lauren Cuellar, the high school theater teacher and the director of this show, chose “Beauty and the Beast” to be the school’s biannual music

Expat LivingApril 17, 2018