The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the largest museum in the western United States, will present broad surveys of Korean art for the next 10 years under the longest corporate sponsorship the museum has ever had, said Michael Govan, director of the museum.“We will be making at least three groundbreaking exhibitions of Korean art that has never been made on this scale before,” said Govan during a press conference in Seoul Tuesday to announce the 10-year partnership with Hyundai Motor Company. 

April 1, 2015

Singer Park Si-hwan of “Superstar K5” fame is widening his musical horizons with his first full-length album, hoping to show fans his full range of charm.“The album was a chance for me to sing songs from many different genres,” Park said at a press showcase Wednesday at Rolling Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul, ahead of the album‘s official release at midnight. “I wanted to reach as many people as I could by offering them a wider variety of songs. I tried to show them all the different sides of me.” Park

April 1, 2015

TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province ― The southern port city of Tongyeong is the hometown of one of the country’s most beloved classical music composers, Isang Yun. Now, the city’s backdrop of a crisp blue coast and vibrant seaside life is being reinvigorated with the kickoff of the annual Tongyeong International Music Festival.In its annual homage to the late Yun, TIMF opened its curtains this season on March 27 for a 10-day, 19-performance run, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the patron

March 30, 2015

Fresh off EXO’s massive five-day, sold-out solo concert series in Seoul earlier this month, 10 of the biggest names in K-pop have returned to the airwaves with the release of the group’s second full-length album, “Exodus,” on Monday. “We think that through this new album, you will be able to see a brighter and more evolved side of each of the members,” said EXO leader Suho, during a press conference held at the SMTOWN@coexartium Theater in Gangnam-gu prior to the album’s release. EXO’s highly aw

March 30, 2015

Up & Coming is a series of interviews with emerging artists in various fields of arts and entertainment ― Ed. Strictly speaking, Park Ji-hae is not an emerging artist. She is a reemerging artist. Having recovered from years of depression and a subsequent hiatus in her violin career, she is now performing actively and has just released an album on label Decca.“The other day I was crossing the Hangang River (by car), it struck me that I am so happy these days. The thought almost brought tears to m

March 29, 2015

Kim Jae-joong, a member of K-pop band JYJ, will release his second solo studio album shortly after enlisting for his military service on March 31. The exact release date of the album is not yet confirmed.  “I didn’t want to have a gap (during the service period) so I prepared a lot for a month prior to entering the service,” Kim told fans on Saturday during his fan meeting concert, titled “The Beginning of the End,” held at Hwajung Gymnasium of Korea University in Seoul. It was his last concert

March 29, 2015

“Gangnam Style” star Psy topped a Chinese online music chart with his latest Chinese version of “Father,” his agency YG Entertainment said on Saturday. “Father,” which was released on the QQ Music site, nabbed the first place on the QQ popularity chart for two consecutive days since its release on March 26.  As of Saturday, Psy’s “Father” was streamed a total of 1,872,566 times on the website. The popularity chart is based on the changes in number of streamings each week on the Chinese portal si

March 29, 2015

Jussie Smollett wears crown on ‘Empire’ soundtrackVarious artists“Original Soundtrack from Season 1 of Empire”(Columbia)If there‘s one thing that could have sunk Fox’s “Empire” faster than bad acting, it‘s bad music. But ratings for the record-breaking hip-hop drama are soaring, thanks to its addictive storyline and entertaining cast, as well as its slew of catchy tunes, which are now included in the “Original Soundtrack from Season 1 of Empire.”Not every song on the compilation is a gem, but th

March 27, 2015

With his subtle grace and staccato-like fortitude, young Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel is undoubtedly one of the hottest stars in the global classical music world now. Leading his Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the maestro came to Korea for two concert performances Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall, showing just why he is considered the future of classical music. Indicative of his fame here, tickets to Wednesday’s performance were sold out, even th

March 26, 2015

The full moon is the ruler of the night at the North Pole, casting a yellow glow on the snow-covered surface. What seems like the only moving object is a man kite-skiing through serenity. The stunning photograph was shot by Sebastian Copeland, polar explorer, photographer and environmental advocate. “The full moon at the North Pole means the sun is aligned on the opposite end. You could see the reflection of the sun coming down on the other end. This is one of the greatest and most peaceful mome

March 26, 2015

Two of Korea’s quartet idol group 2AM are leaving its management agency, JYP Entertainment, but the split won’t affect the group’s future activities, the agency said Thursday. Seulong and Jinwoon have decided not to renew their contract with JYP while their teammate Jo Kwon chose to remain. The fourth member, Changmin, is currently mulling his course of action, as he has four months left until his contract expires, said the agency. Seulong signed with Sidus HQ, another local talent management co

March 26, 2015

To be 20 years old in Korea is a peculiar time. It marks the long-awaited freshman year at college for those who survived years of cramming for the entrance exam. Drinking also becomes legal. But it’s also an awkward age to be ― no longer an adolescent, but not fully an adult yet. Just when young people feel they are capable of making life decisions, they realize how little is under their control.  From left: Lee Jun-ho, Kang Ha-neul and Kim Woo-bin in comedy flick “Twenty.” (NEW)The new comedy

March 25, 2015

From avant-garde and modern rock to classical and traditional Korean music, Seoul’s soon-to-be launched “Right Now Music 2015” festival is looking to play catch-up to Europe and America by strengthening the city’s contemporary music scene. The two-day, 16-hour art house music marathon concert will be held on April 11 and 12 at the old Seoul Station building, renamed Cultura Station Seoul 284. It will showcase modern music with simultaneous live performance art that pushes the boundaries of non-m

March 25, 2015

“Wondaland,” the first studio album from hip-hop group MFBTY, has made a strong showing on the music charts, nearly a week after its release on Thursday. MFBTY, composed of female rapper Yoon, her husband and rapper Tiger JK and Bizzy, topped the Kakao Music chart for the fourth week of March with one of its lead tracks “Hello Happy.” The other two lead tracks ― “Bang Diggy Bang Bang” and “Make It Last” ― also made it to the top three of the chart.  MFBTY achieved rare success as a hip-hop group

March 24, 2015

Set in that twilight zone-like period of the year when winter transitions to spring, “Early Spring, Late Winter” explores new realms of musical and dance theater.Vivid, hazy floral patterns float around on the dark canvas of the stage; huge rectangular structures are rearranged at will to create a minimal yet varied space.Members of the Seoul Performing Arts Company, in eerie black and white makeup, display a wealth of talent as they prance around in a mixture of casual movement and modern dance

March 23, 2015

Internationally regarded as one of the world’s most renowned musical institutions, members of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University’s chamber orchestra made their way to Seoul this week for the ensemble’s first ever concert in Asia since the establishment of the school more than a century ago.In honor of the many close ties that the School of Music continues to maintain with local Korean universities, the chamber orchestra ― made up of 36 musicians, including two faculty members and s

March 22, 2015

Spring break is over for maturing Luke BryanLuke Bryan“Spring Break . Checkin‘ Out”(Capitol Nashville)Luke Bryan opens his annual spring-break album with “My Ol’ Bronco,” a song about an aging vehicle that still gets the job done. The Bronco could be a metaphor for Bryan himself -- both were born in the 1970s and both have outgrown an affinity for kicking up sand at musical beach parties. “Checkin’ Out” is Bryan’s seventh spring-break collection in as many years; that‘s in addition to four full-

March 20, 2015

The man dubbed the godfather of Korean hip-hop, Tiger JK, alongside his queen of hip-hop wife Yoon Mi-rae and long-time friend Bizzy, have proclaimed their new album “Wondaland” is one of the driving forces that helps blur the distinctions between Korean rap music and K-pop. “I know many people are anticipating a hip-hop album from us, but to the three of us, this is our attempt at trying to reinterpret the definition of K-pop,” said Tiger JK during a press conference held at the M Academy Conce

March 19, 2015