LOS ANGELES (AP) ― FBI files on Marilyn Monroe that could not be located earlier this year have been found and re-issued, revealing the names of some of the movie star’s communist-leaning friends who drew concern from government officials and her own entourage.But the records, which previously had been heavily redacted, do not contain any new information about Monroe’s death 50 years ago. Letters and news clippings included in the files show the bureau was aware of theories the actress had been

Dec. 30, 2012

Major art museums and galleries in Korea are planning exhibitions of famous foreign artists and established Korean artists this year. Some of the most anticipated exhibitions are retrospectives, including those of American sculptor Alexander Calder, Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto, American graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and American painter Alice Neel. Two Samsung art museums, Leeum and Plateau, feature some big names. Plateau hosts the retrospective in July of Murakami Takashi, a

Dec. 30, 2012

The 10th full album of ballad rock singer Kim Jang-hoon, which was released earlier last month, is flying off the shelves. The newly revealed album of the rocker stands out because it is not just a CD, but referred to as a “USB album” because it also includes a 4GB Kim-shaped USB. The album is apparently selling so well, with high demand from his fans, that production orders have been increased. This is the artist’s first full album in six years. The 10-track album, titled “Adieu,” includes the

Dec. 30, 2012

Dance“The 50th Anniversary of Yook Wansoon Modern Dance Festival”: In celebration of the 50th anniversary of modern dancer and scholar Yook Wan-soon, a special dance festival will be held in Seoul. Born in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Yook majored in physical education at Ewha Womans University and studied contemporary dance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After retuning to Seoul, she had her first solo performance at the National Theater of Korea, the first American-style cont

Dec. 28, 2012

Joa Band stays true to unique sound Joa Band“Melting the Moon”(Sony Music)Korean folk rockers Joa Band have released their latest release, “Melting the Moon.” The album’s quirky and non-flashy style is certainly in keeping with the band’s unique sound. The best way to describe Joa Band and this album is, “All things opposite of what is mainstream and in vogue, but in a good way.” The three-track EP is a slight shift from previous work but stays true to the distinctive sounds we’ve come to expect

Dec. 28, 2012

Attempts to bring the hip-hop mogul 50 Cent to Korea have failed once again. With less than three weeks before the rapper was supposed put on a show, it has been announced that “50 Cent Live in Korea” has been cancelled. Representatives from Smaf Production and Project K made the announcement on Thursday that both of the 50 Cent concerts in Seoul and Busan, which were originally scheduled to be held on Jan. 12 and 13, respectively, had been cancelled. It was reported that the concerts were to ha

Dec. 28, 2012

The year 2012 has certainly been a life-altering year for Psy. The man who horse-danced his way around the world to becoming the most-watched YouTube video in history with his comical music video, “Gangnam Style,” was placed in the No. 5 spot on CNN’s top celebrity news of the year.Psy’s music video launched him into the realm of global superstardom landing him on the cover of Billboard Magazine and in headlines across the world. Along with being named one of the top celebrity news stories of th

Dec. 28, 2012

 The brother of Kevin Federline, Britney Spears’ ex-husband, has claimed that he fathered the pop star’s first child, according to local news reports.Christopher Federline said that he is the father of Spear’s oldest son, Sean Preston, when he filed for a temporary restraining order against Spears.Federline alleged that Spears harassed him over the fact that they cheated together while Spears was married to his brother Kevin Fedrline.“She is out-of-control and a maniac,” Federline said in the co

Dec. 28, 2012

The four-member indie rock band Guckkasten has announced its plans to release a new compilation album titled “Time After Time Selection.” The album will feature 10 re-mastered tracks from their 2012 first full album and tracks from their later released mini album. A representative from Yedang Entertainment, the band’s agency, stated, “This is an opportunity for people to appreciate the re-mastered and upgraded sound of previously released first album and singles.”Some of the songs that will be f

Dec. 27, 2012

U.S. pop star Janet Jackson is engaged to Qatari billionaire Wissam al-Mana, her boyfriend of two years, UsMagazine.com reported Wednesday.Al-Mana “gave her a huge, expensive ring,” an insider told the celebrity magazine.“She‘s afraid it will get lost, so she keeps it locked up!”A spring wedding in Qatar is being planned, the report said. (UPI)　<관련 한글 기사>　팝스타 자넷 잭슨, 결혼 임박!　미국 팝스타 자넷 잭슨(Janet Jackson)이 2년간 사귀어온 카타르의 억만장자 위삼 알-마나(Wissam al-Mana)와 약혼했다고 UsMagazine.com이 수요일 보도했다.알-마나는 "그녀에게 아주 크고 비싼

Dec. 27, 2012

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) ― U.S. singer Stevie Wonder joined Brazil’s Gilberto Gil late Tuesday for a massive free Christmas concert on Rio’s Copacabana beach attended by half a million people.“Tudo bem?” (Everything allright?) Wonder shouted out to the crowd in Portugese after being led on stage by his sons.Dressed in a golden suit, the blind singer began his set with “What a Wonderful World,” then performed hits like “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” and to sing a

Dec. 26, 2012

LOS ANGELES ― Once, when asked how he thought history would consider his work, John Cage responded that he had made so much, getting rid of it all would be very difficult. Twenty years after his death he has been spectacularly proven right. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth in Los Angeles on Sept. 5. As part of an international celebration, Cage’s work appeared and continues to appear in concert halls, opera houses, museums, galleries, clubs, alternative spaces, reco

Dec. 26, 2012

A large collection of American Impressionists paintings are on exhibit for the first time in Korea. The exhibition “Transcending Vision: American Impressionism 1870-1940” presents 130 paintings that highlight unique characteristics of American Impressionism, the mainstream style in American art from the late 19th century to the beginning of World War II.The exhibition of 130 artworks by 90 artists on loan from Bank of America also marks the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South

Dec. 26, 2012

From a tough girl image to sexy and sophisticated choreography, five-member girl group EXID is one of the latest projects from the hit-making songwriter and producer Shinsadong Tiger. Original members LE and Sol-ji, and new members Jung-hwa, Ha-ni and Hye-rin, make up the new hip-hop/dance girl group, whose name is a combination of “exit” and “dreaming.”“The concept behind our group’s name is our desires to go beyond just dreaming,” said Ha-ni. EXID first debuted as a six-member group in Februar

Dec. 26, 2012

Can a white paper filled with an invisible substance instead of paint and drawings be called art? If the paper contains the most striking idea ever presented, will it change the viewer’s initial perception of the paper? Viewers at the 12th SongEun Art Award exhibition may confront the moment when they have to answer these questions. With artists claiming that “contemporary art is not about who draws well, but about whose idea is better,” more and more artists are challenging the boundaries of ho

Dec. 25, 2012

Girls’ Generation’s latest performance will air on Jan. 1, marking the release of their fourth album.The girl group will perform the title tracks of the fourth album, “I Got a Boy” and “Dancing Queen,” on MBC’s “New Year’s Special Girls’ Generation Romantic Fantasy,” which will be aired at 11:15 p.m. on New Year’s Day. According to the broadcaster, hundreds of fans gathered to see the girl group’s performance which was pre-recorded on Dec. 23. The girl group hinted at their comeback last week on

Dec. 25, 2012

VIENNA (AP) ― It was 1947 in post-war Vienna, and Hilde Zadek remembers taking a deep breath behind the curtain. A rookie on her first opera gig, she was about to sing the prestigious role of Aida for an audience full of particularly harsh critics ― whistle-packing Nazis she says were determined to show “that Jew from Palestine’’ she was not welcome at one of the world’s greatest opera houses.But their whistles stayed silent, as Zadek celebrated her first on-stage triumph.“At the end even they a

Dec. 24, 2012