[Video] Mamamoo gets mellow, returns with yellow spring vibe

Having been one of the few K-pop groups that brought booming girl power to the stage, Mamamoo this time portrayed a mellow and bright image. The four-piece act’s new spring-inspired EP “Yellow Flower,” released Wednesday, veers away from the group’s previous powerful image. Mamamoo’s sixth EP, “Yellow Flower,” is the first of the group’s new project series called “Four Seasons,” through which the act will showcase four albums that combine one seasonal color and a matching member’s characteristic

PerformanceMarch 8, 2018

Apink to return with single in April

Girl group Apink will return with a new single in April, the group’s agency Plan A Entertainment said Thursday. According to the agency, the six-piece act will release the song to celebrate its seventh anniversary this year. It will be the group’s first release since “Pink Up” in June last year.  Apink (Plan A Entertainment)Band leader Park Cho-rong hinted at the upcoming song in a Naver V live broadcast last week.Apink made its debut in April 2011 with its first EP “Seven Springs of Apink.” Oft

PerformanceMarch 8, 2018

Korean-American couple brings own brand of craft soju

Think of the quintessential Korean get-together and you’ll no doubt be reminded of the infamous green bottle. 　Its contents are the fiery mother of many hangovers and drunken conversations spilling into the early morning. Often paired with sizzling meat in boisterous company, there is no shortage of “Korean firewater.” And at less than 2,000 won ($1.90) at your typical convenience store, it’s no wonder so many drinkers reach for the mass-market spirit. But a Korean-American couple from Los Angel

Expat LivingMarch 8, 2018

Kotesol seeks submissions for international conference

Korea Tesol is seeking submissions from English education professionals for its international conference in Seoul this autumn.The Kotesol International Conference, scheduled to take place from Oct. 13-14 at Sookmyung Women’s University, typically attracts around 1,000 people, providing an opportunity for English educators to present their research, share ideas and network with other professionals.This year’s conference will focus on techniques, research and ideas used to help English language le

Expat LivingMarch 8, 2018

Yoo Byung-jae’s comedy show set to launch on Netflix

From March 16, Netflix subscribers will be able to enjoy a “good laugh” from a stand-up comedy show by Korean TV personality Yoo Byung-jae. A Netflix original, “Yoo Byung-jae: Too Much Information,” is the first Korean entertainment show produced by the world’s leading internet entertainment service.  The poster for “Yoo Byung-jae: Too Much Information” on Netflix (Netflix)Yoo shot the show in 2017 and pre-released short clips have been popular, gaining more than 10 million views online. Yoo was

TelevisionMarch 8, 2018

Artist Lee Jung-jin pushes boundaries of photography

“I am not interested in mere representation of landscapes. Instead, I have been driven to capture the state of landscape where my personal emotions are projected. It still applies to the works I am currently working on. For me, the camera has been the best means through which I can express myself. That’s perhaps why I am called a photographer,” said Lee Jung-jin during a press conference held on Tuesday for her solo exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Gwacheon bran

Arts & DesignMarch 8, 2018

MBC's long-running show to conclude on March 31

MBC's long-running variety show "Infinite Challenge" will have its finale on March 31, a top MBC official said Wednesday. Cast members of "Infinite Challenge" (Yonhap)"The existing show will end on March 31, and we're planning on a new show," Kwon Seok, director of MBC's entertainment bureau, told reporters after a PR event for another MBC program.MBC producer Choi Haeng-ho will helm the new show, while current director Kim Tae-ho is set to leave after more than 12 years with "Infinite Challenge

TelevisionMarch 7, 2018

More actresses accuse Kim Ki-duk, Cho Jae-hyun of sexual assault

More allegations of sexual assault involving filmmaker Kim Ki-duk and actor Cho Jae-hyun were raised Tuesday night in an episode of MBC’s investigative news show “PD’s Notepad.”Kim, who has won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, has been accused of sexually assaulting an actress, while veteran actor Cho has been accused of sexually assaulting staff on set and students at a college where he taught.  Kim Ki-duk (left) and Cho Jae-hyun celebrate winning the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice

FilmMarch 7, 2018

Park Shin-hye, Choi Tae-joon confirm dating

Park Shin-hye and Choi Tae-joon are in a romantic relationship. Choi’s agency Huayi Brothers announced in a statement Wednesday, “After being close friends, as they went to the same university, Park and Choi started dating at the end of last year.”A few hours earlier in the day, there had been news reports claiming that the two had been dating for a year, along with photos of them on a date.  Park Shin-hye (Agatha) and Choi Tae-joon (Huayi Brothers)Park’s agency, Salt Entertainment, denied the c

TelevisionMarch 7, 2018

Rumors of romance between Park Shin-hye, Choi Tae-joon continue

Rumors surrounding actress Park Shin-hye and actor Choi Tae-joon have surfaced again. A local media outlet reported Wednesday morning that the two have been dating for the past year. Citing entertainment industry officials, the report added that Park and Choi are close as they both studied at Chung Ang University.  Park Shin-hye (Agatha) and Choi Tae-joon (Singles)Park’s agency denied the claim, saying they are just close friends. The two stars had been caught in a rumor last April, when photos

TelevisionMarch 7, 2018

As 'Me Too' sweeps Korea, conspicuous silence within K-pop

Since late January, the "Me Too" movement in South Korea has spread like wildfire throughout all avenues of society, with the arts and cultural circles, similar to Hollywood in the United States, revealed as one of the most predatory areas in terms of sexual violence.But it's worth pointing out that the alleged sexual perpetrators exposed within the cultural industries have been mostly identified in the film and TV community, leaving many observers of Korean culture asking -- Is K-pop, an indust

CultureMarch 7, 2018

[Video] Extraordinary stories of ordinary police officers

TvN’s new drama series “Live” features countless police officers. But there aren’t any amazing heroes, thrilling cases or exciting mysteries. Rather than focusing on spectacular events, the overall plot centers on the everyday lives of average police officers.Jung Yu-mi and Lee Kwang-soo play the lead roles in the Saturday-Sunday drama, as rookies who just started at a busy patrol division. They learn to handle drunken citizens, find lost children and help out with the daily difficulties of the

TelevisionMarch 6, 2018

Seoul’s runway fashion headed to overseas markets

Aiming to be more than just a grand fashion showcase for local designers, 2018 F/W HERA Seoul Fashion Week intends to be a bridge for local brands to reach out to overseas markets. The fashion event will take place from March 19 to 24 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, serving as a venue for an intensive examination of Korea’s fashion scene.  The poster for the 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week (Seoul Design Foundation)　A total of 40 local fashion brands are to participate through the S

Arts & DesignMarch 6, 2018

More dirt on scandal-ridden actor, director to be aired on TV

Further revelations on alleged sexual harassment involving director Kim Ki-duk and actor Cho Jae-hyun will be aired Tuesday on an MBC show.According to the producers of the investigative journalism program “PD Notepad,” the latest episode will be about the two prominent figures in Korea cinema. Kim was recently accused of assaulting an actress and coercing her to do an unscripted sex scene while filming the 2013 movie “Moebius.” Cho recently admitted to the sexual harassment allegations involvin

TelevisionMarch 6, 2018

JYP’s Stray Kids to officially debut on March 25

JYP Entertainment will formally showcase Stray Kids, its newest heavyweight in the boyband department, at Jangchung Stadium in Seoul.According to the agency, the debut showcase for the nine-piece K-pop act will take place at 6 p.m. on march 25, titled “Stray Kids Unvil [Op. 01: Iam NOT].” It marks the first time in four years since JYP is debuted its last boyband, GOT7. A screen grab from the trailer video for Stray Kids’ upcoming debut showcase (JYP Entertainment)Along with the news, JYP also u

PerformanceMarch 6, 2018

Ian Bostridge to hold first concert as artist-in-residence of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

“I am always struck by the incredible nature of (the) audience here, the enthusiasm you feel not just after you perform the concert but even when you arrive on the stage. It’s wonderful to come here,” said tenor Ian Bostridge during a press conference at Sejong Center on Monday. Introduced by the orchestra’s new CEO Kang Eun-kyung at the press conference, English tenor Ian Bostridge is the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s first artist-in-residence. The tenor will start his season at the orchestra

PerformanceMarch 5, 2018

[Newsmaker] Poet Choi Young-mi reaffirms sexual harassment allegations denied by Ko Un

Poet Choi Young-mi, who revealed her experience of being groped by an unnamed senior poet through her poem, on Monday reaffirmed sexual harassment allegations made against renowned poet Ko Un, who recently denied the allegations.In a statement uploaded on Facebook on Sunday, Choi said, “The statements related to the poem ‘Monster’ are facts. I will reveal the details further, when there is an official body dedicated to investigating claims of sexual wrongdoings in the arts circle here.”  Poet Ko

BooksMarch 5, 2018

‘Snatch-Up’ to use humor in depicting struggles of life

Seven men, seven different motivations and seven different reasons they each should snag a bag full of cash -- this is the plot that drives the upcoming comedy action flick “Snatch-Up” by director Heo Jun-hyeong.“(The film) captures the comedic elements that come at unexpected moments. I tried to make it different from existing crime-themed films,” Heo said in a press event for the film Monday. The cast of “Snatch-Up” poses for a photo with director Heo Jun-hyeong at a press event in Seoul on Mo

FilmMarch 5, 2018

Big Bang member Daesung to start military duty on March 13

Daesung of K-pop group Big Bang will start his mandatory military service on March 13, YG Entertainment said Monday. According to the agency, Daesung applied for military service in 2017 with hopes of enlisting at a similar time with other members of the group.In South Korea, all able-bodied men have to carry out their military duty for about two years.  Daesung, member of Big Bang (Yonhap)As Taeyang is set to enlist on March 12, Seungri will be Big Bang’s only member yet to enlist. T.O.P and G-

PerformanceMarch 5, 2018

[Trending] #7Princess #SugarMan

The members of the K-pop group 7 Princess returned to the small screen Sunday night all grown up after unofficially disbanding a decade ago. The group made a surprising appearance on JTBC’s show “Two Yoo Project Sugar Man” on Sunday and sang their hit number “Love Song.”The show, hosted by Yoo Jae-suk and You Hee-yeol, features K-pop singers who had enjoyed only a brief period of popularity with their single hit. (JTBC)The group, which debuted in 2003, consisted of seven members who were only 7

PerformanceMarch 5, 2018