The Korea Times

Hallyu convention planned in LA

Members of K-pop girl group 4minute wave to fans in this file photo after performing at the inaugural KCON festival held at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, California. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Ji-sooIt’s a desired destination, an enigma and the largest music and cultural market. “It” is the U.S. market for K-pop and Korean popular cultural content sector.“The U.S. market is distinctive and different from the Asian market where the popularity of ‘hallyu’ or Korean wave is established,” said Kim Hyun-soo, general manager of the CJ E&M’s Global Festival Business.“Fans in the United States like to aggressively seek to find answers to what they are interested in, and we’ve decided that a convention was the key to responding to these fans,” he said.The company will be hosting the second edition of KCON in downtown Los Angeles Aug. 24-25 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.Different from last year where the convention was held for a day in Irvine, California, the convention will be held for two day

Jul 3, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Others

K-pop agency grooms Asian talent

Chinese girl group Seven Sense practice dance moves during the first session of their six months-long training at Rainbowbridge Agency in Bangbae-dong, Seoul earlier this month. / Courtesy of Rainbowbridge AgencyEntire training program offered for young singersBy Kim Ji-sooA seven-member Chinese girl group, Seven Sense, debuted in China in 2011. But they came to Korea to learn more about K-pop on June 10 and then spent nearly two weeks training at the Rainbowbridge Agency in Bangbae-dong, southern Seoul.The company, founded three years ago, is the first K-pop company set up to incubate young talent. Kim Jin-woo, CEO of the agency is a one-time singer, composer and producer.“For the first session, we’ve worked together on learning how to control the voice, delivering a performance on stage and recording skills,” said Kim during a telephone interview with The Korea Times.“The core concept of what we will be doing with Seven Sense is that we will be engaging in an exchange so that the popularity of K-pop won’t be short-lived,” Kim said.The seven membe

Jun 27, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Others

Imperial Palace Seoul prides itself as being best hotel for business

The Imperial Palace Seoul provides various convenience facilities for its guests. / Courtesy of Imperial PalaceThe classic and elegant edifice of Imperial Palace Seoul harmonizes with the business and cultural address of the hotel situated in Nonhyeong-dong, Gangnam.The prime business hotel in southern Seoul offers contrasts between its antique exterior that also extends to the interior with the high-tech businesses facilities it provides to business travelers. That was the intention of the hotel’s Chairman Sin Chul-ho since its inception, to provide customers with a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere with art gallery like decorations that are usually found in Europe.But the facilities are most high-tech. In the guestrooms, the hotel offers reinforced modern facilities including i-pod Station and high-speed wireless Internet services. The business center provides the latest IT facilities such as projectors and professional translation and interpretation services.The hotel’s core concept is to offer a classy interior matched by state-of-the art facilities at the banquet

Jun 26, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Imperial Palace Seoul prides itself as being best hotel for business

Others

Plaza embodies luxury boutique

The Plaza by nightWith its calming shade of dark beige and unique design, The Plaza hotel stands on one of the most convenient and coveted location in Seoul.Located just across from Seoul City Hall, it is surrounded by the Deoksu Palace and the Seoul Plaza. The Seoul Plaza is a historic venue where cheering Red Devils congregated during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup Games and Psy held his Guiness-record “Gangnam Style” concert in 2012.After renovations in 2010, the hotel has transformed itself into a luxury boutique facility where  the 410 guest rooms have different designs and colors. The room’s accessories and the interior elements were also specially custom designed by Italian designer and architect Guido Ciompi. The guest rooms now feature free wireless Internet access, touchpad room control system (automated system) to accommodate the modern lifestyle and business convenience, and all the furnishings in the guest rooms are made from eco-friendly materials. Ciompi was in charge of the 2010 renovation project.The hotel has six dining outlets, meeting event

Jun 26, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Others

Somerset brings comforts of home

view of Gyeongbok Palace from a room at the Somerset Palace in northern Seoul. / Courtesy of Somerset PalaceSomerset Palace Seoul sits beside the tranquil and picturesque Gyeongbok Palace, and is located in the heart of Seoul’s diplomatic, business and financial districts. You can take a leisurely stroll to the myriad of restaurants, shopping arcades and entertainment outlets, located along Insa-dong and the Jongno area. Other parts of Seoul are easily accessible and minutes from Anguk, Jonggak and Gwanghwamun Stations.Somerset Palace Seoul is more than just about location. You can expect spacious surroundings and a sophisticated ambience when you arrive. Their professionally-trained staff are at hand to meet and fulfill your every need. Whether you are on a business trip or enjoying a holiday with your family, Somerset offers you a level of luxury and comfort that’s unsurpassed in Seoul.Also it is designed with families in mind; Somerset knows the importance of keeping a balance between work and family life. Somerset Palace Seoul respects the guests’ privacy and fr

Jun 26, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Others

Oakwood is solution for total living

 The cool, calming pastel shades of the rooms at the Oakwood Premier Coex Center in southern Seoul are part of its aim to provide luxurious hotel services with privacy. / Courtesy of OakwoodThe location of Oakwood Premier COEX Center Seoul may well seem to go against its central concept that combines luxurious hotel services with the spaciousness of a private home.The property stands adjacent to the City Air Terminal, COEX Convention Center, COEX Mall, Korea World Trade Center and Hyundai Department Store, one of the most bustling commercial districts in Seoul.Amid this bustling neighborhood, Oakwood Premier brings its know-how and professionally-trained staff to provide signature amenities and services.The 27-story property has 280 furnished apartments ranging from studio type, to one, two, three and four bedroom apartments that span in size from 47 square meters to 228 square meters and the 397 square meter-large regal penthouses. The residences are only accessible by key-operated elevators.Each luxurious residence has its separate living, dining and sleeping areas, as well as

Jun 26, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

5 frachises advance to US

By Kim Ji-soo Five franchises are stepping up their efforts to advance into the U.S. market with government help.The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation (aT) has set up a Korea booth at the International Franchise Expo NY 2013 underway at the Jacob K. Javits Center, to help facilitate five Korean franchise groups target the American market.The five are the chicken franchise Genesis BBQ, Chuncheon Dakgalbi, Dae Dae FC’s Kkuldak, grilled-meat franchise Seoraestor’s Seorae Galmaegi and VS company’s lunchbox set Bentorang. Genesis BBQ already has several shops in the United States, but along with the other companies is seeking to expand in the U.S. and neighboring markets.These food companies specialize in grilled meat, chicken and lunch boxes. Korean franchise companies have been helped before by aT in their overseas forays. Another Korean franchise, 1962 Tofu, attended the franchise expo in New York last year, after which it opened its first store in Flushing, Queens.Since 2010, aT has been activ

Jun 21, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

South Korea

Government to help train 'hanok' experts

By Kim Ji-sooThe “hanok” (Korean traditional house) village in Bukchon, northern Seoul has become a hot cultural treasure favored by Koreans and visitors alike. The once-shunned housing is now very fashionable after extensive renovations that started in the early 2000s, with an estimated 14,000 hanok houses located mostly in the Jongno area that includes not only Bukchon, but Insa-dong, near Unhyeon Palace, and east of Gyeongbok Palace.But the construction of hanok is an expertise not widely shared and remains costly. To address this, the government is seeking to work with four private and national universities to rear expert hanok builders.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said that it will invest 600 million won into educational institutes and programs for a course that will begin in July.The ministry delegated six-month long hanok design courses to four private and national universities and institutes – Gyeongsang National, Myongji and Chonbuk National Universities and the Korea Institute of Registered Architects. The Korea Institute for Construc

Jun 19, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

Sexy or obscene?

After School members perform using the pole with their latest single “First Love.” / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kim Ji-sooPole dancing has made inroads as a fitness trend, but there is still a whiff of a strip club to it.Taking advantage of this duality, K-pop girl group After School has introduced pole dancing into center stage of K-pop with their latest single “First Love.” Seven girls on stage perform in harmony to their latest song about the pains and memories of first love.The K-pop girl group landscape has largely been bifurcated into the sweet and cute groups versus the sexy groups. After School has always stood out for its sexy image and powerful performance on stage, where the members once strutted around playing drums.The latest pole dancing move however raises the “sexy” gauge higher for both the group and the K-pop scene.The group appeared on the weekend entertainment program “Star King,” along with two professional pole dance lecturers to drive home the point that it is much a fitness trend nowadays.The four

Jun 18, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Shows & Dramas

K-pop groups rush to embark on world tours

Just three years after its debut, the seven-member K-pop group Infinite will go on a world tour starting in Seoul Aug. 8-9, and then going to the UnitedStates and Latin America. The tour is jointly organized by its agency Woollim Entertainment, Live Nation and CJ E&M. / Courtesy of Woollim EntertainmentBy Kim Ji-sooInfinite is a young K-pop group that debuted in 2010 but is already making great progress in the showbiz industry. The group on Monday announced a world tour titled “2013 Infinite 1st World Tour-One Great Step.”It’s a bold step for the seven-member group that is steadily gaining popularity.“It’s still like a dream that we were able to achieve our dream of going on a world tour in just three years,” said Hoya, an Infinite member, at a press conference held Monday in Seoul. “We will do our best to convey Korean culture to the world,” said Sung-kyu, the group’s leader.Popular in Korea and Asia, they began making their mark in 2011 with “Be Mine,” from their first album “Over the Top” and the &ld

Jun 14, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

Hallyu convention planned in LA

K-pop agency grooms Asian talent

Imperial Palace Seoul prides itself as being best hotel for business

Plaza embodies luxury boutique

Somerset brings comforts of home

Oakwood is solution for total living

5 frachises advance to US

Government to help train 'hanok' experts

Sexy or obscene?

K-pop groups rush to embark on world tours

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