Tahiti‘s Jisoo claims harassment

Singer Jisoo of group Tahiti uploaded a screenshot Monday showing what she claims is a message from a “sponsorship broker” on Instagram. She added, “This kind of messages upsets me. You keep messaging me and commenting on every photo I upload, which you need to stop immediately.” Tahiti Jisoo (Dream Star Entertainment)　Sponsorship broker in Korea refers to a person brokering sugar-daddy deals.　The broker, who claims to belong to a membership-only networking society, asked Jisoo to meet a member

Jan. 12, 2016

DMZ art project opens residency program in border town

The DMZ Art Project, an annual exhibition project that takes place near the Demilitarized Zone in Korea, invites Korean and international artists to work in residence in a border town from April to October this year. The residency program will take place in Yangji-ri in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, a two- to three-hour drive from Seoul. Artists live for three to seven months at a remodeled house in the rural village to explore the meaning of the DMZ and related issues in the regional and broader

Jan. 11, 2016

[Herald Review] Zedd kicks off ‘5 Nights’ series with some ‘clarity’

Adding fuel to the thriving electronica music craze in Korea, international electronic dance music phenom Zedd kick-started this year’s Hyundai Card “5 Nights” concert series with his solo performance at the AX-Korea stadium Friday night. Dance music fan or not, it would be hard to come across a music lover who has never once listened to a Zedd collaboration. Since his U.S. debut in 2012, the young artist has become one of the music world’s most popular mainstream DJs.A visual concert if there e

Jan. 11, 2016

CJ E&M launches mega K-pop project ‘Boys 24’

CJ E&M, one of the country’s largest entertainment companies, is investing 25 billion won ($20.6 million) over the next three years in a new idol group that will perform throughout the year at a permanent venue.  　Boys 24 project envisions 24 male performers, selected through auditions and professional training, holding live performances throughout the year at an exclusive venue, according to a press release issued by CJ E&M on Friday.  Poster of "Boys 24" (CJ E&M, Liveworks Company)　Boys 24’s s

Jan. 10, 2016

Certificate for Lee U-fan’s famous painting forged, say police

The certificate for the authenticity of Lee U-fan’s 1978 painting, sold at the December auction of Korea’s second-biggest auction house K Auction, was confirmed to be forged, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said. “We confirmed the certificate to be a fake after we had it appraised by experts,” police said Friday.The fake certificate for Lee’s painting “From Point No. 780217” has the same registration number as one that appears on the certificate for artist Kim Ki-chang’s landscape painting

Jan. 10, 2016

[Album Review] EXO packs winter album with catchy pop

EXO“Sing For You - Winter Special Album, 2015”KT Music　The best thing about EXO’s “Winter Special Album” for 2015 is that it doesn’t feel like a winter album. There are no thinly veiled Christmas carol rip-offs or songs about being giddy about the holidays. Thank goodness.Instead, the five-track EP brings catchy tunes and pop beats that would have made the songs hits at any time of the year. With the double lead tracks “Unfair” and “Sing for You,” the members of EXO show that they can handle bot

Jan. 8, 2016

[Album Review] Dope’Doug solidifies style on EP

Dope’Doug“Feelin‘MySelf”Luminant Entertainment　Although hip-hop’s been steadily gaining ground in the Korean music scene, it’s hard to deny that many of the new rappers coming out have a similar style -- teetering between their underground roots and a more pop-friendly style. The difference between the two sides is not only in the lyrics, as rapper Dope’Doug shows in his seven-track EP “Feelin’MySelf.”The first five tracks of the EP are about different topics -- staying true to yourself, believi

Jan. 8, 2016

[Album Review] Quartet Dalshabet achieves ‘Naturalness’

　　　Dalshabet“Naturalness”Loen Entertainment　When girl group Dalshabet downsized two members to become a quartet before releasing their ninth EP “Naturalness,” there was some concern among fans about how the remaining members would rearrange the parts. For example, Serri was suddenly named a rapper to replace the former rapper Gaeun. But those concerns seem to have been misplaced; Dalshabet’s music remains intact and balanced, and the rap section is arguably the highlight of the Brave Brothers-pr

Jan. 8, 2016

Baekhyun and Suzy’s ‘Dream’ tops charts

Baekhyun and Suzy’s new collaboration song, “Dream,” has skyrocketed to No. 1 on eight music charts following its Jan. 7 release. Baekhyun and Suzy (JYP Entertainment)　“Dream” has been garnering attention as a collaboration between EXO’s Baekhyun and Miss A’s Suzy, rising stars of two powerful agencies, SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment, respectively. Such label crossover collaborations are rare in K-pop, but the two agencies were immediately sold on the idea by producer Park Geun-tae when

Jan. 7, 2016

EXID to sign with Chinese agency Banana Project

Korean girl group EXID will sign a memorandum of understanding with Chinese agency Banana Project in Shanghai on Jan. 11, according to Yedang Entertainment, the management agency of EXID. EXID (Official Facebook)　Banana Project is owned by Wang Sicong, son of Wang Jianlin, chairman of China’s largest real estate developer Dalian Wanda Group. 　Under the memo, Banana Project will manage EXID’s activities in China, although the specifics have yet to be negotiated, Yedang Entertainment said. The age

Jan. 7, 2016

Anticipated art shows to excite in 2016

Museums and galleries in Seoul are getting ready to excite art audiences with an impressive lineup of artists this year. Some of the most anticipated names include Korean art masters Lee Jung-seob, Yoo Young-guk, Chung Chang-sub and Nam June Paik, while international artists to be featured include Anish Kapoor and Olafur Eliasson.   “Work” by Yoo Young-guk. (MMCA)This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of two giants of Korean art -- Lee Jung-seob and Yoo Young-guk. The National Museum

Jan. 6, 2016

CJ E&M acquires hip-hop label AOMG

CJ E&M announced Wednesday that it has acquired hip-hop label AOMG, continuing to strengthen its presence in the music genre.AOMG is famously headed by two artists -- Jay Park, a former member of JYP Entertainment boy group 2PM, and Simon Dominic. The label, formed in August 2013, is the home of trendy artists who perform both in mainstream music and in the underground scene, such as Gray, Loco and Ugly Duck.  AOMG (CJ E&M)Ahn Seok-joon, the head of CJ E&M’s music division, said in a statement t

Jan. 6, 2016

Epik High to be first K-pop act at Coachella

Korean hip-hop trio Epik High was confirmed Tuesday to perform at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, making them the first K-pop act to be invited to the festival.Epik High will perform April 17 and April 24.  Epik High (YG Entertainment)The annual two-weekend Coachella Festival is one of the largest music festivals in the United States, drawing fans to Indio, California, to enjoy music by top artists of all genres.This year’s Coachella is particularly notable because it will

Jan. 6, 2016

Paul Potts to hold exclusive ‘99’ concert in Seoul

British tenor Paul Potts is making his way back to Korea, performing an exclusive concert in front of exactly 99 select fans on Jan. 14 at the Stradeum concert hall in Seoul. In keeping with the concert theme of “99,” based on the idea that 99 fans plus Potts equals 100, tickets to the tenor’s upcoming performance will be sold in an auction. The bidding war for the concert tickets opened at m.allwin.co.kr Wednesday morning, with prices capped at 199,000 won ($166).According to concert promoter A

Jan. 6, 2016

‘Spartacus,’ ‘Romeo and Juliet’ among new season of ballet offerings

With the new year comes new beginnings, and with new beginnings comes a new season of ballet productions.From all-time classics to Korean originals and contemporary pieces, the 2016 season offers an array of revamped choreographies for local dance enthusiasts. Below are this year’s lineups from the country’s two biggest ballet companies. Korean National BalletThe Korean National Ballet company will be kicking off its 2016 season with Marius Petipa’s exotic tale of “La Bayadere,” which will be he

Jan. 5, 2016

Yoon Do-hyun to hold concert in New Zealand

One of Korea’s best known rockers, Yoon Do-hyun of YB band, is holding his first solo acoustic concert in New Zealand with lead guitarist Heo Joon.At the concert Yoon will play old favorites from his career days and relay his story and passion for music, according to a news release put out by G T Entertainment, the concert organizer. Yoon Do-hyun (Official Website)YB toured in New Zealand back in 2004, and the upcoming concert is about the promise to return that he made to the fans there, Yoon s

Jan. 5, 2016

Vienna Boys Choir holding auditions in Korea

Vienna Boys Choir (Lukas Beck)The Vienna Boys Choir is holding auditions in Korea in search of local talents wishing to join the prestigious and historical ensemble, according to Credia, the choir’s local concert promoter.The announcement comes just a few weeks before the choir’s upcoming concert recitals in Korea, which are slated to be held later this month. Starting Wednesday, the Vienna Boys Choir will be accepting the first round of applications for boys aged 9 and older. Successful applica

Jan. 5, 2016