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Park Jin-hai

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.

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Shows & Dramas

Ladies' Code to release new single

The five-member girl group Ladies’ Code will release  a new single titled “So Wonderful” on Feb. 13. The new song is the composed and written by JYP’s Super Changddai. Like the group’s previous songs, the new song has lyrics that catch one’s ears so easily.  The band, after its debut last year, had gained popularity with “Pretty Pretty” the title track of its second mini album. In January, the group was listed as one of “top 5 K-pop Artists to watch in 2014,” together with JYP’s GOT7 and YG’s  Winner.    

Feb 5, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Shows & Dramas

'Korean models are strong, confident'

Participants in the ninth “Asia Model Festival Awards” are seen on stage at the opening show of French designer Castel Bajac, at the Olympic Hall inJamsil, southern Seoul on Jan. 17. / Courtesy of KMAModel-in-chief promotes globalizationYang Eui-sig, Chairman of Korea Model AssociationBy Park Jin-haiNo one knows better about the ins and outs of the local model industry than Yang Eui-sig who chairs the Korea Model Association (KMA), one of the largest grouping of models with its 7,000 members.“Now is the right time for more Korean models to stand on foreign catwalks, becoming another locomotive of the Korean wave,” said Yang, 47, a former model who has been in the industry for more than 20 years.“Korean models are regarded as trendy and having a posture and expression that stands out from those of other Asian models,” he said. “On the back of the Korean wave as well as the fast growth of Asian fashion industry, fashion people are starting to look at Korea differently.”Eleven young KMA models recently signed five-year contracts

Feb 5, 2014By Park Jin-hai
'Korean models are strong, confident'
Shows & Dramas

Im Tae-kyung to release album in Japan

Musical actor Im Tae-kyungBy Park Jin-haiMusical actor and crossover tenor Im Tae-kyung will release a new album titled “All This Time” concurrently in Korea and Japan on Feb. 5.The album will include various songs from musicals that Im has been starred in, as well as a soundtrack from a famous movie, his agency Theatro said.The songs are “All This Time” from the musical “The Count of Monte Cristo;” “From the Beginning Until Now” from the musical adaption of famous drama “Winter Sonata;” the theme song from the musical “Werther” as well as “Love Theme” from the movie “Cinema Paradiso.” A new song from star composer Frank Wildhorn will also be included on the album. Im’s agency said that Watanabe Music Publishing, a Japanese music label, which recognized Im’s Tokyo performance at the K-Musical Stars Concert in April 2013, will make the album available to Japanese fans. 

Feb 2, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Im Tae-kyung to release album in Japan
Shows & Dramas

Startups taking steps toward creative tourism

Tourists ride the Artee pedicab as they tour around Changdeok Palace, Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The pedicab business won the grand prize at the 2013 competition for “creative tourism business model” run bythe Korea Tourism Organization. / Courtesy of ArteeBy Park Jin-haiAlong the Bukchon Hanok Village, where traditional Korean houses and small alleys dating back to the Joseon Kingdom(1392-1910) stand, runs a blue pedicab. "This area is called Bukchon. It was the center of old Seoul. New Seoul is much bigger," says the driver, Lee In-jae, 28, founder of Ride Artee. Tourists on the ride by his guide slowly go around the beautiful neighborhood, including some hidden tourist spots like Bokjeong Well which supplied water only to royal palaces in the past.  Artee pedicab is a venture firm that was honored to receive the top prize at the 3rd competition for the “creative tourism business model,” run by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in May 2013.Ride Artee offers two routes in central Seoul. The History Course takes passengers around historical attractions

Jan 28, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Startups taking steps toward creative tourism
Shows & Dramas

International co-production frequent in musicals

By Park Jin-haiThis is a scene from “Feast for the Princess,” a musical produced by CJ E&M in cooperation with China's United Asia Live Entertainment./ Courtesy of CJ E&MThe saturation of the domestic musical market is prompting local entertainment firms to seek co-productions in China and Japan.Highlighting the attractiveness of these two markets is the saturated local musical industry in recent years.Dream International signed a contract with a Chinese production company to produce the musical “Mulan.” The musical, which was an animated film by Disney in 1998, will feature the heroic life story of fictional Chinese character Fa Mulan. There are already several movies and dramas based on the story within China.“It will depict a tragic love story as well as comradeship during war time,” said Lee Yong-do, producer of the musical.Starting with a showcase scheduled for June during the Daegu Musical Festival, the musical will be staged from January to mid February in Seoul in 2015, before touring several Chinese cities.Another pr

Jan 27, 2014By Park Jin-hai
International co-production frequent in musicals
Shows & Dramas

Leessang wraps up Asia showcase

Popular hip-hop duo Leesang wrapped up their first Asia showcase with unexpected success. According to their agency Leessang Company, the duo ― Gary and Gill ― met fans from four Asian countries through the “2013-2014 Leessang 1st Asia Showcase.” The tour, started out in Singapore on Nov. 30 last year, went through Taiwan and Hong Kong and wrapped things up in Malaysia on Jan. 11. “The showcase was made at the request of overseas fans, wanting to know more about the duo other than their appearances in popular variety shows,” said a manager of the agency.Gary, 35, has earned popularity across Asia through SBS’s “Running Man,” while Gill has also been known for starring in MBC’s “Infinite Challenge.” “This is large for a hip-pop act. Also meaningful is that it is not from typical K-pop idols but from musicians of a different genre,” said his agency. Some 3,000 fans crowded each of the performances. CJ E&M, organizer of the event, said they were surprised to see fans singing along with the act, adding

Jan 26, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Shows & Dramas

K-pop system incubates foreign stars

Indonesian boy group S4 was trained under the K-pop grooming system for a year at the Rainbowbridge Agency prior to its debut. The group has beennominated for four World Music Awards. / Courtesy of Rainbowbridge AgencyIndonesian boy band S4 captures Korean looks, feelBy Park Jin-haiIndonesian boy band S4 ― comprised of “sexy” Firly, “sweet” Jeje, “sentimental” Arthur and “smart” Alif ― evokes images of Korean pop-stars.Their outfits, hairstyles and hand gestures, as well as the symmetric and spacious background settings in their music video are similar to those of 2PM. Their song resembles the hook-heavy dance songs of Korean acts.The fact is that the four-member group, winners of the Korea-Indonesia audition project “Galaxy SuperStar Season I,” received yearlong training in Korea before their debut in October 2012.Their title song, “She Is My Girl,” was composed by K-pop song hit-maker Kim Do-hoon, who composed songs for Korean idols like 2AM, G.NA and Davichi.Hyun-a, Korean female singer famous for he

Jan 26, 2014By Park Jin-hai
K-pop system incubates foreign stars
Shows & Dramas

G-Dragon tops MTV Iggy 2013 with “Crooked”

G-Dragon of Big Bang performs at the 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards inthis November 2013 file photo. / Korea Times fileBy Park Jin-haiBig Bang member G-Dragon’s “Crooked” was selected as MTV Iggy’s Song of the Year. In a week-long poll, conducted on its website from Dec. 13 through Dec. 20, 2013, music fans across the world picked “Crooked” as the number 1 song for 2013, receiving the 47.7 percent of the vote.Bunji Garlin‘s “Differentology” was a close second with 47.68 percent.Other competitors included Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” Drake’s “Started from the Bottom,” Lorde’s “Royals” and PSY‘s “Gentleman.” K-pop girl group 2NE1 ― also nominated for the Song of the Year ― saw “Falling in Love” picked as MTV Iggy’s 2013 Song of the Summer. MTV Iggy commented that K-pop spread its global dominance a little more during 2013. The website added, “G-Dragon made a big splash in the world of K-pop and beyond with his solo album Coup D’

Jan 22, 2014By Park Jin-hai
G-Dragon tops MTV Iggy 2013 with “Crooked”
Shows & Dramas

Lee Min-ho invited to China TV festival

By Park Jin-haiLee Min-hoKorean actor Lee Min-ho, 26, will become the first Korean artist to be invited to the Chinese Central Television’s (CCTV) 2013 Spring Festival Gala, reflecting his strong fan base in China.CCTV’s Weibo account released part of the list of the guests invited to the annual event, Sunday, and Lee’s agency Starhaus Entertainment confirmed that he was on it. The Spring Festival Gala is CCTV’s special program celebrating the Chinese New Year, which will be aired live through the national broadcaster on Jan. 30. Watched by some 750 million people, it has become the single most viewed program among Chinese viewers annually. Last year, it broke the Guinness World Record in terms of viewership.Pop diva Celine Dion was featured on the program last year.  The star of “The Heirs” (2013) and “Boys Over Flowers” (2009), will perform a song included in the original sound track of the drama Boys Over Flowers. Last December, Lee won the Best Asian Actor award at the 2013 Baidu Feidian Awards ceremony, the largest award cerem

Jan 20, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Lee Min-ho invited to China TV festival
Shows & Dramas

Messenger of elegance

Hanbok designer Koo Hye-ja who was designated the Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 89 in needlework by the Cultural Heritage Administration in 2007 / Courtesy of Koo Hye-jaNeedlework master Koo delivers traditional beauty of hanbokPresident Park Geun-hye wears a yellow “hanbok,” or a Korean traditional dress, made by Koo Hye-ja, a needlework master in this June 2013 file photo. / Korea Times fileBy Park Jin-haiWhen President Park Geun-hye visits other countries or greets foreign heads of state, she wears “hanbok” or Korean traditional dress. Her traditional couture is seen as an attempt to show her so-called “hanbok diplomacy” to emphasize the “soft” side of her leadership as well as hospitality.“At a time when tradition gives way to modernity, the head of state wearing hanbok itself means a lot,” said Koo Hye-ja, 71, the designer who made Park's yellow hanbok for the June 2013 summit with China.Also, Kim Young-seok who learned needlework from Koo as an apprentice designed President Park’s inau

Jan 19, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Messenger of elegance
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