Kara to make comeback this year

Following the recent news of Kara members Nicole and Ji-young’s decisions to leave the popular K-pop girl group, representatives of the girls’ agency DSP Media announced that despite their departure, which is shrinking the five-member act into a trio, Kara will in fact continue on as a group. Although nothing has been decided on whether or not the agency will look for replacements, an official of DSP publicly stated that the remaining three members will focus on their individual activities durin

Jan. 19, 2014

TVXQ’s ‘Tense’ No. 2 on World Albums chart

Ten-year K-pop idol veterans TVXQ have landed the No. 2 spot on the U.S. Billboard’s World Albums chart this week with the duo’s seventh Korean studio album “Tense.” “Tense” was dropped on Jan. 6, more than a year after the duo’s chart topping “Catch Me” album.The album was released in commemoration of TVXQ’s 10th Anniversary, which fell on Dec. 26 and was ranked on the iTunes Top 10 Charts in nine countries including Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Hong Kon

Jan. 19, 2014

Calendar

 DanceA scene from “Full Moon” (LG Arts Center)“Full Moon” by Pina Bausch: It’s been almost five years since Germany’s legendary choreographer Pina Bausch died, but her works are still as popular as ever. Bausch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal is returning to Seoul this year with her 2006 work “Vollmond (Full Moon).” The troupe last performed in Korea in 2010. The dance is well-known for using a giant rock and deep water that take up a large part of the stage, while its themes include the celebration of

Jan. 17, 2014

Boxoffice: Miss Granny, Oldboy, Blue is the Warmest Color

Miss Granny (Korea)Opening Jan. 22Comedy. Drama. Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. Oh Mal-soon (Na Moon-hee), a 70-something grandmother, lives with her son and his family. She is controlling and shameless, and has a difficult relationship with her depressed daughter-in-law. She is proud of her son, a university professor, and the fact that she managed to raise him by herself against all odds. One day, Mal-soon’s daughter-in-law gets hospitalized after suddenly collapsing, and doctors strongly advise

Jan. 17, 2014

Eyelike: Girl’s Day has ‘Something’ to offer

 Girl’s Day has ‘Something’ to offerGirl’s Day “Everyday 3”(LOEN Entertainment)Since the release of its new EP, Girl’s Day has been the talk of the town in the K-pop scene for its bold and seductive dance moves and outfits that accompany their new song, “Something.” The group has indeed shed its cutesy image with its new song, successfully situating itself at the forefront of the long line of “sexy” girl groups in the Korean music industry.Even with all the attention about the dance moves aside,

Jan. 17, 2014

‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ is pitch-perfect

The latest character to be fed into the Coen brothers’ metaphorical wood chipper is a 1960s Greenwich Village folk singer. Yet their bleak, bittersweet comedy of frustration, “Inside Llewyn Davis,” is surprisingly empathetic toward its embattled title character. To a rare degree, the Coens encourage our emotional identification with Llewyn. He’s a gifted, pompous, sensitive, arrogant, sympathetic cad, played without a false note by Oscar Isaac.Sure, Llewyn endures an avalanche of abuse, most of

Jan. 17, 2014

Chung aims for another high note for Seoul Phil

Nine years have passed since Chung Myung-whun took the helm of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. But his goal has not changed since the day he took over as music director. “The advancement of the orchestra ― that is my only goal,” the maestro said. “I ask one thing from all members ― be better every day.” That is tough, he admitted, but ceaseless efforts are the only way for the orchestra to advance to the global level. “World-class orchestras are still way ahead of us,” the pianist-turned-conductor

Jan. 16, 2014

Kang Ji-young to leave KARA

Popular K-pop starlet Kang Ji-young of KARA will be leaving the group, following fellow member Nicole’s departure confirmed just a day before, according to a statement issued by her agency, DSP Media, on Wednesday.Kang, whose contract with DSP Media ends in April, has previously mentioned that she may leave the group in order to study abroad.DSP Media announced on Tuesday that only Nicole was leaving KARA as her contract expired on Jan. 16, but that Kang was still considering her options regardi

Jan. 16, 2014

JYP’s GOT7 debuts with ‘Girls Girls Girls’

Park Jin-young, one of the nation’s most successful music producers, has officially launched his new boy band GOT7 under JYP Entertainment, with the group’s public debut at a garage showcase held in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, Wednesday. Equipped with flips, tricks and stunts, the seven members of GOT7 ― leader JB and Jr., of the former JJ Project duo; Mark; Jackson; Bam Bam; Youngjae; and Yoogyeom ― took the stage with the group’s first lead single, “Girls Girls Girls.” The track was written and produ

Jan. 16, 2014

‘Pine Trees’ bring attention to tricky issue of photograph copyright

Internationally acclaimed British-American photographer Michael Kenna appeared in a Korean court Wednesday afternoon.He was there to testify as a witness in the copyright lawsuit filed by his Korean agent Gallery Kong against Korean Air, which used “almost the same” image as his for a TV commercial in 2011.He called Korean Air’s use of the image “bad behavior.”Kenna said he believes Korean Air was aware of his picture, “Pine Trees,” when it used a similar photograph taken at the same location an

Jan. 15, 2014

Psy and Snoop Dogg to film music video in Incheon

Psy and international hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg are filming the K-pop star’s latest music video in Incheon, according to an announcement released by YG Entertainment on Wednesday. It reported that Snoop Dogg flew to Korea for the video shoot. Filming began Tuesday and will continue for two to three days in various locations around Incheon. “Snoop Dogg has come to Korea and we are currently shooting the video in Incheon,” stated a YG representative. “However, we have not yet decided when the actual

Jan. 15, 2014

Bruno Mars to bring ‘unorthodox jukebox’ for first Seoul concert

Renowned American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars will stage a live concert for the first time in Seoul on April 8.The gig to be held at Olympic Park Gymnastics Gymnasium is part of the 2014 Moonshine Jungle Tour, his East Asian debut tour stopping through China, Japan, then moving on to Southeast Asia.Born to a musical family in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mars moved to Los Angeles with the dream of becoming a musician after graduating from high school. The first thing he did on the way to a musical career

Jan. 15, 2014

Young Korean pianists win prizes in Russian competition

Two young Korean pianists won prizes in an international music competition in Russia. An Bong-su and Lee Jung-soo, both studying at the prestigious Moscow Conservatory, took first and second prizes in the piano section of the 15th International Maria Yudina Music Competition held in St. Petersburg from Jan. 3-10.The grand prix went to Oleg Kopeliuk of Ukraine. The annual contest started in 1999 to honor the late Russian pianist Maria Yudina (1899-1970). This year, 63 players participated in its

Jan. 15, 2014

Conductor still pushing the envelope

New York Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director Alan Gilbert is returning to Korea with a program that he says will show “the breadth of what the orchestra can do.” In two Seoul concerts scheduled for Feb. 6 and 7, the maestro will lead his hometown orchestra in its performances of classic European masters Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, as well as contemporary American composers such as Christopher Rouse and Leonard Bernstein. “This is a nice pairing because this orchestra can play anything with pa

Jan. 14, 2014

Psy to represent hallyu at World Economic Forum

Korean rap star Psy has been selected as the goodwill ambassador with the initiatives of promoting hallyu and YouTube as tools for “creative economy” at the upcoming 44th World Economic Forum, which was to be held from Jan. 22 to 25 in Davos, Switzerland. The World Economic Forum attracts some of the world’s most influential international business leaders. About 2,800 figures are slated to attend this year, including around 30 Korean business leaders such as Hur Chang-soo, chairman of the Federa

Jan. 13, 2014