Lawmaker’s son quits rap show amid prostitution allegations

The high school son of a lawmaker has pulled out of a rap auditioning show after being accused of attempting to solicit sex for money, a local cable channel said Monday.Chang Yong-jun -- son of Rep. Chang Je-won of the Bareun Party -- recently told producers of “High School Rapper” that he wants to leave the show, which aired its first episode on Friday, according to Mnet. All remaining footage of Chang will be edited out of the show, producers added. This screen capture shows Chang Yong-jun app

Feb. 13, 2017

David Bowie wins 3 Grammys; Adele, Beyonce also winners

David Bowie’s final album, released days after he died of cancer last year, earned him three Grammy Awards on Sunday, while Beyonce and Adele also picked up early awards.“Blackstar” won best alternative music album, rock performance _ where Bowie beat Beyonce and Jack White _ and engineered album, non-classical, where Bowie won over Prince (Bowie is listed as one of the engineers on “Blackstar.”)Bowie was nominated for four Grammys, and his final category _ best rock song _ will be announced in

Feb. 13, 2017

Tablo to attend Grammys

Tablo of Korean hip-hop trio Epik High will attend the Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday. Tablo’s invitation to the 59th Annual Grammy Awards (Official Instagram)He publicized his scheduled attendance by posting a photo of his invitation to the ceremony via Instagram on Saturday.The rapper recently released “Cave Me In” with Eric Nam and American singer-songwriter Gallant. Gallant was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album for “Ology,” released in April 2016.  Cov

Feb. 12, 2017

Twice reveals track list for new album

Girl group Twice has revealed the track list for a new album titled “TWICEcoaster: LANE 2,” set to release on Feb. 20. The album will consist of 13 songs, including remixes of the K-pop group’s three consecutive hit releases “Ooh-Ahh,” “Cheer Up” and “TT.” The lead track for the new album, “Knock Knock,” will be another bubbly pop-dance track, according to the group’s label JYP Entertainment.　 Track list for Twice’s upcoming album, to be released on Feb. 20 (JYP Entertainment)The album is a “spe

Feb. 12, 2017

Mnet show to feature best high school rappers

Mnet has kicked off its newest audition program pitting the nation’s top teenage rappers against each other. “High School Rapper,” which aired its first episode Friday, features rap battles between those of high school age -- even ones currently not attending school. According to the producers, the idea is to show the high schoolers’ stories and their school life through the genre. Some 2,000 participants from across the country have thrown their hats in the ring to be judged by seven establishe

Feb. 12, 2017

Around the Hotels

Citrus spa at Hyatt Regency JejuThe Hyatt Regency Jeju is offering a Jeju Citrus spa package until the end of this year. The one-hour spa treatment is designed to help relieve fatigue using the fresh fragrance of citrus fruits. The package includes a one-night stay in a guestroom, a one-hour spa treatment for two adults and 20 percent discounts on additional spa treatments. Access to a sauna, swimming pool and fitness center is included. The price starts at 236,000 won for two adults, excluding

Feb. 10, 2017

Seo In-guk to release song on “Tomorrow” soundtrack

Korean singer and actor Seo In-guk will unveil a song for tvN drama series “Tomorrow With You” as part of its soundtrack. Korean singer and actor Seo In-guk (Yonhap)The TV drama, which finished airing last week, will release a soundtrack that includes Seo’s song “Flower.” The singer did not act in the drama, although he participated in the songwriting and composition. The song has romantic lyrics with strong piano and string sounds. It will be released on Saturday at midnight via various music s

Feb. 10, 2017

Yoon Jong-shin to start national tour

Singer-songwriter Yoon Jong-shin will start a nationwide tour around Korea from late March to early April, dubbed the “special lesson,” according to his agency Mystic Entertainment. Singer-songwriter Yoon Jong-shin (Mystic Entertainment)The tour will begin in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, on March 25 and travel on to Daejeon on April 1, Jeju Island on April 8 and Gwangju on April 30. Yoon will unveil songs composed by himself and share his know-how in songwriting, the agency said. The concerts

Feb. 10, 2017

Boy band NCT wins endorsement deal from Thai firm Singha

Korean idol group NCT has been hired by Thailand's Singha Corp. to promote the company's popular dried seaweed snack, the group's agency said Thursday. Five of the total 15 NCT members -- Ten, Taeyong, Doyoung, Mark and Jaehyun -- held a two-day promotional event in Bangkok from Tuesday for Singha's seaweed snack Masita, S.M. Entertainment said. The singers were greeted by hundreds of fans upon their arrival at the Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday, S.M. Entertainment said. O

Feb. 9, 2017

[Herald Interview] Kumho and Kuhmo join hands to highlight young talents

Jet lag is part of the life of internationally renowned musicians these days. Vladimir Mendelssohn, a Romanian-born violist and composer now based in the Netherlands, is no exception. In Seoul for the three-day Kumho & Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Mendelssohn said he fell asleep at 9 a.m. for about an hour before leaving his hotel for the interview held Thursday morning at the Kumho Art Hall in downtown Seoul. Artistic director of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival since 2005, Mendelssohn is used

Feb. 9, 2017

BTS’ ‘Outro: Wings’ deemed unfit for broadcasting by KBS

State broadcaster KBS has banned a song from BTS’ (Bangtan Boys) soon-to-be-released album citing obscene language. KBS announced that one of the songs contained in BTS’ upcoming album “Wings: You Never Walk Alone” does not meet broadcasting standards. BTS (Bangtan Boys) (Big Hit Entertainment)“After a thorough review, we decided to pull the song from our broadcast,” KBS said. “The lyrics contain profanity and vulgar words including one particular line saying, ‘B------, don’t be scared’.” Bangta

Feb. 9, 2017

Big Bang's T.O.P, JYJ's Kim Jun-su enlist in military

Two South Korean idol stars started their military service Thursday, temporarily leaving behind the glamorous world of show business as well as teary fans.   (Herald DB)Although Big Bang's T.O.P and JYJ's Kim Jun-su had previously warned there would not be any events for fans in front of the basic training camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, some 200 fans nonetheless showed up to wish them well.Fans, some from as far as China and Japan, held up signs for their super stars that read "Stay

Feb. 9, 2017

Cover image for final single features Wonder Girls in watercolors

The soon-to-be-disbanded Wonder Girls released the cover image for final single “Draw Me” on Thursday.The image depicts watercolor versions of the group’s four current members.Yubin, Yeeun, Sunmi and Hyerim all contributed to the songwriting and lyrics-writing process, according to the album label JYP Entertainment. 　Cover image for Wonder Girls’ final single “Draw Me” (JYP Entertainment)On Saturday, JYP announced the disbandment of Wonder Girls, which rose to icon status after a decade of catch

Feb. 9, 2017

Zion.T to perform solo in London

Korean hip-hop and R&B artist Zion.T will perform at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on Feb. 17, joined by producer Choice 37.One of the country’s hottest artists at the moment, Zion.T has released scores of popular tracks, including “No Makeup,” “Yanghwa Bridge” and “Eat.” Zion.T is part of the VV:D crew, along with Crush, Loco, Gray and ELO. The singer is famous for his collaborations with K-pop stars such as G-Dragon, Song Min-ho, Psy, Gray, Simon D and Crush.Industry insiders have said t

Feb. 9, 2017

‘Star of the Universe’ soundtrack to be released

Jung ji-chan, a Korean singer, composer and music director, and EXO’s Suho are to release the original soundtrack for the nine-part MBC drama series “Star of the Universe” on Friday. The drama is the first of the color drama trilogy made by MBC and Naver, which will be followed by “Romance Full of Life” and “Queen of Ring.”Suho of EXO (Yonhap)Jung Ji-chan (Yonhap)The plot is a love story between a gifted singer-songwriter Woo-joo (Kim Jun-myeon) and Byul (Ji Woo), a 19-year-old student who becom

Feb. 9, 2017

Painting stolen by Nazis returned to Jewish owner’s heirs

NEW YORK (AP) - Some 80 years ago, the Nazis forced prominent German Jewish art gallery owner Max Stern to sell his family’s roughly 400-piece collection before he was exiled from his country.FBI agents on Wednesday returned one of those works, a 17th century oil painting by a Dutch master, to representatives of the Dr. and Mrs. Max Stern Foundation during a ceremony at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York.The recovery of Jan Frans Verzijl’s “Young Man As Bacchus’’ marks the 16th piece of S

Feb. 9, 2017

Bily Acoustie to hold concert in March

South Korean singer-songwriter Bily Acoustie will hold three solo concerts next month in Seoul. The artist will meet fans at CJ Azit Daehakro from March 10 to 12. The concerts will be different from previous shows, showcasing colorful acoustic sounds and a string quartet to capture the warm feel of spring, according to sources. DH Play Entertainment said the event will “radiate a warm glow of spring” and “Bily Acoustie’s soul-touching tone will be harmonized with the strings’ tunes.”The 34-year-

Feb. 8, 2017