Big Bang performs for 30,000 fans in Osaka

As part of the group’s Japanese dome concert tour, the five hallyu stars of K-pop idol group Big Bang performed in front of 30,000 screaming Japanese fans on the tour’s Osaka stop, selling out the weekend performances. The three-day, three-hour long concerts held at the Kyocera Dome were the second leg of the group’s six-city, 15-concert “Big Bang Japan Dome Tour 2013-2014.” The tour kicked off with two performances at the Seibu Dome in Saitama on Nov. 16 and 17 and will soon take the artists to

Dec. 2, 2013

EXO to release special winter album

Ultra-popular K-pop rookies EXO will be ending the year on a celebratory note with the release of the group’s winter EP, “Miracles of December.”The new album is said to contain five “winter-inspired tracks” and will be released in both Korean and Chinese, according to a representative at S.M. Entertainment. EXO will prerelease the album’s lead track on Thursday through local music sites. The album in its entirety will be available on Dec. 9. The 12 members of EXO, also split into the subunits of

Dec. 2, 2013

U.S. rappers say they filmed music video in N. Korea

BEIJING (AP) ― Two aspiring American rappers said Saturday that they had filmed part of a music video in North Korea, hoping the novel locale will make it a hit.The rappers known as Pacman and Peso did not say where and how they filmed the footage, which their fundraising proposal suggested would be done on a karaoke party bus in Pyongyang.Their custom trip was arranged through a travel agency specializing in taking Westerners to North Korea, according to the proposal.Americans are able to trave

Dec. 1, 2013

Taking pride in Korean hip-hop

This is the 17th article in a series on producers, MCs, DJs and artists working in the Korean underground hip-hop scene. ― Ed.When Korean rapper Digiri first heard hip-hop in middle school, he thought it was hilarious. He didn’t even think it was real music.“I thought it was just murmuring. I didn’t like it at first because back then, Korean people only listened to hip-hop music with Seo Taiji,” he said. “I thought it was just funny. But after I listened to the music of Deux, I felt the rhythm l

Dec. 1, 2013

All in white: Sensation lures 12,000 clubbers

Around 12,000 party-goers decked themselves out from head to toe in all-white, ready to liberate themselves in a night of thumping house music with a naughty storyline at one of the world’s biggest club scenes. KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, was filled with eye-catching and seductive theatrics on Saturday night through the theme of Wicked Wonderland, mesmerizing lights and special effects, explosive fireworks and tense electrifying beats by internationally praised DJs, including the night’s

Dec. 1, 2013

Eyelike: Hyolyn shows promise on “LOVE&HATE”

Hyolyn shows promise on “LOVE&HATE”Hyolyn “LOVEA&HATE”(LOEN Entertainment) Sistar member Hyolyn’s unique, husky voice has always been a main feature of many of the group’s tracks. No doubt she has a special voice, but compared to the hype, Hyolyn was not able to show her full potential on her solo album. Instead the 10-track album delivers pleasant-sounding but overall mediocre pop tunes. Hyolyn’s usually strong vocals are toned down in starting track “Lonely,” a mid-tempo ballad. But in “One Wa

Nov. 29, 2013

Fake eyeballs, paper planes and failed crowd surfing

“You’re lucky, lucky, you’re so lucky” chanted the thousands who had gathered to see rockers Franz Ferdinand as they performed “Do You Want To” during their first concert in Seoul. The four Scots lit up the UNIQLO AX stage on Thursday night with heart-thumping beats and enough chaotic flashing strobe lights to send almost anyone into an epileptic seizure. It was a rare yet pleasant surprise to have a performance actually start right on time; and as the four members strutted out onto the stage, t

Nov. 29, 2013

Renzo Piano building expands Kimbell’s gallery space

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) ― The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth is expanding its gallery space with a new building designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano that is a nod to the museum’s original Louis Kahn-designed building.“There are so many echoes of the Khan building here,” said museum director Eric M. Lee as he stood in one of the new building’s galleries. “The facade is the same length as the facade of the Kahn building and both are broken down into three equal bays, with a lobby in the cent

Nov. 28, 2013

Speaking a universal language

With no attachment to Korea to fall back on and having never even been to Asia before, independent American singer-songwriter Audra Connolly decided to leave her home in Idaho and take a short-term position as an English teacher on the outskirts of Seoul. Nearly three years later, Connolly is still living and working in Korea ― much to her surprise.“I thought I would come here for a year, and then I thought I would be here for two years,” she said, laughing. “I’ve kind of made this life here.”Bu

Nov. 28, 2013

K-pop beloved, far under the radar

Earlier this month, K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation beat out big names Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and even Korean YouTube sensation Psy to take the “Video of the Year” award at the first-ever YouTube Music Awards.The initial reaction of the crowd gathered at the awards ceremony in New York can be summed up with one word: Huh?Despite being one of the hottest groups in Korea and most of Asia, their name still does not ring a bell immediately in U.S. mainstream music. On YouTube, howe

Nov. 28, 2013

Art seized from Chun family to be auctioned next month

The art collection confiscated from the family of former President Chun Doo-hwan will be put on the auction block in December at two major auction houses in Korea. K Auction and Seoul Auction, designated as the official auction houses by the Korean government to sell the seized artworks, will present a total of 235 pieces at their regular winter auctions next month. The artworks are estimated to be worth more than 3.7 billion won ($3 million) and include masterpieces of Korean art ― from old lan

Nov. 27, 2013

KNO to highlight Shakespeare next year

In honor of the 450th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) in 2014, the Korea National Opera will stage two operas based on the English playwright’s works next year. “Romeo et Juliette” by French composer Charles Gounod will be staged on Oct. 2-5 at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Hall. The tragic story of teenage lovers Romeo and Juliet has been one of the most loved romantic tales around the world, made into several film and uncountable TV adaptations, love songs and others.

Nov. 27, 2013

Ex-Bolshoi star says jealousies led to acid attack

MOSCOW (AFP) ― Ousted Bolshoi ballet star Nikolai Tsiskaridze said in graphic court testimony Monday that deep personal rivalries were behind the vicious acid attack against the troupe’s venerable artistic director.One of Russia’s most cherished cultural institutions has been riven by controversy ever since an assailant splashed a mixture of urine and acid in the face of Sergei Filin outside his Moscow apartment block on Jan. 17.The assault nearly blinded the 43-year-old former dancer while fuel

Nov. 26, 2013

Korean rendition of ‘Wicked’ touching and charming

Just a year after the first Seoul run of the popular Broadway musical “Wicked” ― performed by an Australian cast ― Korea celebrated the opening of the first Korean-language rendition of the show last week, starring local big-name stars as the two beloved witches.Sunday’s show was greeted with tumultuous applause and a standing ovation at the Charlotte Theater in Jamsil, Seoul. The audience repeatedly cheered as actresses Oak Joo-hyun and Kim Bo-kyung took their bows. “Wicked,” which is marking i

Nov. 26, 2013

Young Korean, Chinese artists exhibit works in Beijing

A group exhibition of young Korean and Chinese artists opened at Songzhuang Art Center in Beijing Saturday, showcasing artwork in diverse mediums and dealing with various topics in contemporary art. The exhibition, held by city-run museums in Seoul and Beijing, presents photographs, installations, video works and drawings by 10 Korean and Chinese artists in their mid-30s to early 40s whose works shed light on their engagement with reality and the society in which they live.“The exhibition aims t

Nov. 25, 2013