American’s quest for traditional Korean art

Robert Moore’s collection of Korean art has expanded the presence of Korean art overseas, where it was long overshadowed by Chinese and Japanese art. Major museums in the U.S. boosted their holdings of Korean traditional art and artifacts by purchasing part of Moore’s collection. In 1999, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art purchased 250 works of Korean art from Moore, the largest purchase made by an art museum at that time. The beginning of his Korean art collection dates back to the mid-1950s

Feb. 23, 2014

A classy club experience

Fine art and classical music do not always have to be enjoyed in a gallery or a solemn concert hall. Traditional Korean paintings and classy brass sounds filled one of Seoul’s trendiest nightspots last Thursday evening, as calligrapher-painter Kim Mu-ho and the 10-member Klang Brass Ensemble presented their visuals and sounds under flamboyant lighting and LED screens at Club Octagon in southern Seoul.“Klang With Concert: Anticipation,” a monthly fund-raising concert, brought hundreds of people t

Feb. 23, 2014

Eyelike: Sunmi brings back ‘sexy’ with ‘Full Moon’

 Sunmi brings back ‘sexy’ with ‘Full Moon’Sunmi“Full Moon” KT MusicK-pop female acts today are increasingly partaking in a race to become “the sexiest,” as new song releases draw heightened attention with erotic music videos and provocative performances.The latest contender is Sunmi, who released her first solo EP “Full Moon” on Monday. Although the music video for the title track “Full Moon” does feature Sunmi’s sexy squats and grinds, the song is seductive simply by virtue of its sound, delive

Feb. 21, 2014

Ready to rock

 A few hours after its English-language digital single “Cigarette Girl” became available on overseas music sites Wednesday, YB members quietly awaited listeners’ reactions at an office in Hapjeong-dong, Seoul, near Hongdae area where the band got its start. The members seemed to be in no hurry.The rock band ― composed of vocalist Yoon Do-hyun, bassist Park Tae-hee, guitarists Heo Joon and Scott Hellowell, and Kim Jin-won on the drums ― has been in the business long enough to know that there won’

Feb. 20, 2014

Top ballerinas to collaborate in ‘Two in Two’

Two of the most celebrated ballet dancers in Korea will collaborate onstage for the upcoming restaging of choreographer Ahn Sung-soo and fashion designer Jung Kuho’s 2000 piece “Two in Two.”Kim Ji-young and Kim Joo-won, who were colleagues and also “rivals” at the Korean National Ballet, will take to the stage jointly with male dancers Kim Bo-ram and Jang Kyung-min. The last time the two Kims collaborated in the same performance was 14 years ago. Kim Ji-young still remains a principal at the Kor

Feb. 20, 2014

SM launches global auditions

For talented K-pop hopefuls looking for their opportunity to become the next Girls’ Generation, BoA, TVXQ or EXO, the wait is over. The nation’s biggest entertainment agency SM Entertainment has launched its annual global talent search starting today in Jakarta, Indonesia. This year’s “2014 S.M. Global Audition” is being held for the first time in Indonesia for four days and has already attracted more than 20,000 applicants. The global auditions will continue until May 25, stopping at 18 cities

Feb. 20, 2014

Boy band EXO to extend Japan concert series

Popular K-pop boy group EXO has expanded its Japan concert series scheduled for April, SM Entertainment announced. By adding one more concert to their original itinerary, the band is expected to reach out to about 100,000 fans in Japan.EXO is slated to deliver five “EXO Greeting Party in Japan ‘Hello!’” concerts at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo over three days from April 11-13. Originally, the group had planned to only perform two shows each on April 12 and 13, but added one more performance

Feb. 20, 2014

Absent David Bowie steals show at Brit Awards

LONDON (AP) ― David Bowie stole the show at Wednesday’s Brit music awards without even showing up, while Arctic Monkeys took home two big trophies at British music’s leading prize night. The 67-year-old Bowie, who is enjoying a renaissance with his first album in a decade, “The Next Day,” was named British male artist of the year. The trophy was accepted by supermodel Kate Moss. She was sent, presenter Noel Gallagher joked, as New York-based Bowie’s “representative on Earth.” Moss wore one of Bo

Feb. 20, 2014

Korean-American star on the rise

When Korean-American musician Bora Yoon began to discover more about her Korean heritage, there was one thing in particular that stood out to her. “My parents are from Jeolla Province, where pansori, a traditional Korean folk performance, originated. The more I started researching this music, the more I started to wonder about the music that I make, and I began to think to myself, ‘Bora, are you just making your own elaborate version of pansori?’” she said in a recent phone interview with The Ko

Feb. 19, 2014

Rocker Kim Bada releases first solo album ‘Moonage Dream’

The rock and roll way of life continues to flow through his veins as the 42-year-old Kim Bada ― former vocalist of the legendary rock band Sinawe ― is finally releasing his first solo studio album 18 years after his official debut with the band. “Rock and roll and being a part of a band is just who I am and it’s just something that I will always need in my life,” said Kim during a showcase held at the M Concert Hall in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, on Tuesday. With his dark vocals and high-soaring screams

Feb. 19, 2014

[Photo News] MBLAQ In Japan

Feb. 19, 2014

R&B artist Musiq Soulchild to stage Seoul concert in April

Internationally renowned R&B musician Musiq Soulchild will stage a live concert in Seoul on April 19 at the UNIQLO AX Hall in eastern Seoul.This year’s concert will mark the artist’s second solo performance in Korea, following his first sold-out concert in 2012. Musiq Soulchild entered the music scene in 2000 with his debut album “Aijuswanaseing,” which quickly went platinum and spotlighted the musician as an emerging star in the world of R&B and soul.Producing steady hits including “For the Nig

Feb. 19, 2014

Universal Ballet to celebrate 30th anniversary with a bang

This year is Korea’s Universal Ballet Company’s 30th anniversary, and the troupe is celebrating it with a bang.The company is throwing a special gala performance this week, featuring its star dancers. Titled “Thank You!,” the program consists of scenes from some of the troupe’s most successful repertoires including “La Bayadere,” “Onegin,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “Don Quixote.”“We weren’t sure how much the troupe could accomplish in a country where many people did not know about ballet 30 years ag

Feb. 18, 2014

Playboy Jazz Festival to celebrate George Duke

Singer Al Jarreau and bassist Stanley Clarke will celebrate the legacy of their friend and musical partner George Duke on the opening day of the 36th annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, which is presenting the festival for the first time, announced the lineup for the June 14-15 event on Monday. George Benson and fellow smooth jazz guitarist Earl Klugh will headline the closing concert. Saturday’s concert will pay tribute to Duke, the keyb

Feb. 18, 2014

B1A4 says no to school violence in comeback Seoul performance

Under the theme of high school friends, the members of B1A4 ― Jinyoung, CNU, Sandeul, Baro and Gongchan ― trotted out onto the SK Olympic Stadium stage decked out in mock high school uniforms. They ignited the sea of young, screaming teenage fans excited for the boys’ comeback with the opening performance of their new single “Who Am I?”Returning with its second studio album “Who Am I” on Jan. 13, almost two years after the release of the group’s debut studio album, the members of B1A4 greeted so

Feb. 17, 2014

Fashionable Seoulites redrawn a la Julian Opie

British artist Julian Opie is amazed at how well dressed people are in Seoul. “People in London tend to wear black and gray. And there’s not particularly much light and I found myself drawing very much shadow,” said Opie at the press preview of his solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery on Thursday. To transfer the impression he had onto his paintings, he chose to highlight the colors and details of the clothes worn by Seoulites. “When I looked at photographs taken in Seoul, there was not so much shad

Feb. 16, 2014

Girls’ Generation, 2NE1 lead comeback month

This month has been filled with comeback releases including returns from B.A.P., Crayon Pop and Ga In, and there are more on the way. With two of the country’s most popular girl groups, Girls’ Generation and 2NE1, announcing the release of their new albums, the remaining two weeks of February look to be a battle-filled competition among those hoping to make a big comeback. Along with the K-pop powerhouses, popular boy band CNBlue as well as R&B vocal group Brown Eyed Soul and veteran singer-song

Feb. 16, 2014

Eyelike: Yoo Seung-woo shows maturity in Early 19

 Yoo Seung-woo shows maturity in Early 19Yoo Seung-woo “Early 19” (CJ E&M)Two years ago, young singer-songwriter Yoo seung-woo, then a 16-year-old high school student, impressed judges and viewers with his musicality and clear voice on singing audition program “Superstar K4.”The young prodigy has returned to the music scene with his second EP, “Early 19,” equipped with his signature acoustic sounds and singing.Yoo’s new album expresses his current state of mind and worries as he enters adulthood

Feb. 14, 2014

‘Let It Go’ from Disney’s ‘Frozen’ stirs up Korean music scene

Two Disney princesses are leading the local music scene and setting new box-office records in South Korea.Since premiering on Jan. 16, Walt Disney Animation Studio’s recent film “Frozen” has been making local box-office history, becoming the most-viewed animated film in South Korea by attracting over 8 million local viewers according to the Korean Film Council on Tuesday.Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Snow Queen,” “Frozen” tells the story of Anna, a brave, determined princ

Feb. 14, 2014