Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Culture Briefs
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TVXQ / Korea Times file
By Baek Byung-yeul
TVXQ’s Japanese album ‘With’ released in Korea
K-pop duo TVXQ’s eighth Japanese studio album “With” was released in Korea, Wednesday.
The album set a new record for the duo by topping Japan’s Oricon Weekly Chart for the fourth consecutive time, beating American rock band Bon Jovi, which topped the chart with three albums in a row, the group’s management company SM Entertainment said.
The “With” album, which was introduced in Japan last December, was released in three different versions― a CD only version with two bonus tracks including “Christmas Is Loving” and “Refuse to Lose”; Version A, a CD+DVD with six music videos and live performances in Japan; and Version B, another CD+DVD version with a short documentary film of the duo’s recent tour.
TVXQ made their debut as a five-member boy band in 2003, but they split into two in 2010 after three members left due to legal dispute with their company.
MMCA ticket to be free during Seollal
Admissions to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) will be free during the Lunar New Year (Seollal) holidays.
The MMCA said two of three MMCA branches -- Gwacheon branch in Gyeonggi Provicnce, Seoul branch in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul -- will offer free admission for four days from Feb. 18 to 22. Various kinds of cultural events will take place during the period.
In Gwacheon, traditional Korean percussion band Tattoo will perform on Feb. 20 and 21. In Seoul branch in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a concert featuring various artists including fusion “gugak” (traditional Korean music) band RA:KK and tap dancer Kim Seung-hwan will take place on Feb. 18.
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