The Korea Times

Jang to come back with new drama

Jang Keun-sukTentatively titled “Pretty Man,” the drama gained attention as Yoo Young-ah, the star-screen writer of the movie “A Gift from Room Seven,” wrote the script.Jang decided to act in the drama, after reading the script.Already industry experts cautiously predict that the series will repeat the success of the last TV drama he starred in and be the next hallyu production. In the drama, based on a cartoon of the same name, Jang will play the role of a man with perfect looks but a cold heart. He gets the attention of many women, but ignores them. However, as the series progresses he eventually finds his true love.Pretty Man will air in the latter half of the year.    

Jun 18, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

LG taps 2PM for marketing

Thai customers who bought LG Electronics’ smartphones pose during a video meeting with 2PM, held at the Grande Centre Point Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 13.  / Courtesy of LG ElectronicsLG Electronics invited customers in Thailand to a 2PM video meeting, as part of promotional events for its products.The local electronics giant announced Sunday it invited 100 customers who purchased LG smart phones to the meeting three days ago at Grand the Centre Point Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.In addition, it partnered with JYP Entertainment to provide other activities such as a dance competition and game shows, all related to the six-member boy band.LG Electronics has been actively employing hallyu marketing in their promotions. Late March this year, it has put 2PM’s music video trailers on the screens at Time Square in New York as well as at Piccadilly Circus, in London.“We are both aiming at a synergic effect. Through K-pop stars we can communicate with local customers and promote our brand image. But at the same time, we are playing the importa

Jun 16, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Asia and Europe embrace K-beauty

Spanish models pose during a Skin79 promotional campaign at its Madrid branch on April 18. / Courtesy of Skin 79By Park Jin-haiLocal cosmetic companies have expanded their reach from Asia to Europe.Following the lead of Nature Republic, a number of Korean cosmetics brands, including Coreana Cosmetics, Gowoonsesang and Skin79 recently opened local shops in both continents.Nature Republic opened a shop in Yangon, Myanmar, on May 29, its 12th overseas store and first in the Southeast Asian nation. It markets its products by focusing on a brand that emphasizes natural ingredients.Following this, it plans to open four more shops in major commercial districts in the nation by July.Coreana Cosmetics’ Zeniswell has ventured into Hong Kong. The organic cosmetics brand opened its first overseas shop there in the Wing On department store on May 30.“We hope our products will win over Hong Kong customers’ hearts as they have shown an immense interest in natural and organic cosmetics,” said a managing director.“Based on the local trend and market analysis, customized

Jun 16, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Travel & Food

Millennium Seoul Hilton holds 'Filipino culinary festival'

A dish of kare-kare or oxtail and peanut sauceBy Park Jin-haiCelebrity chef Sau Del Rosario,brings traditional Filipino foods to the Millennium Seoul Hilton during the Filipino Culinary Festival in June.Kaldereta or a traditional Filipinopork stew, made with tomato sauce, potatoes, spices, liver pate, olives, and bell and hot peppers./ Courtesy of Millennium Seoul HiltonTo commemorate the Independence Day of the Philippines, the Millennium Seoul Hilton’s international buffet restaurant is devoting the month of June to introducing Koreans to Filipino cuisine. The Orangerie buffet tapped renowned Filipino chef Sau Del Rosario to showcase taste-bud tingling traditional Filipino dishes during the “Philippine cultural and food festival.”Chef Rosario spent seven years in France as a protégé of several Michelin chefs including Christian Plumail and is entering the 20th year of his career. “I want to promote Filipino cuisine because I owe my country for being Filipino. I want to leave a legacy that the next generation would

Jun 13, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Millennium Seoul Hilton holds 'Filipino culinary festival'

Shows & Dramas

Hologram helps K-pop

Girls’ Generation performs during the “2013 Girls’ Generation World Tour — Girls & Peace” concert held on June 8 and 9 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in southern Seoul. Members’ holographic images are projected onto a stage backdrop. / Korea TimesBy Park Jin-haiGirls’ Generation concerts show where the future of K-pop lies ― holographic back projection.In the nine-member girl group’s “2013 Girls’ Generation World Tour – Girls & Peace,” hologram technology was used during their performance.The concerts held on June 8 and 9 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in southern Seoul, had members’ holographic images projected onto a stage backdrop.The images, appeared in the opening song “Hoot.”“The heart of our concert today is holograms,” said Tae-yeon, at a press conference before the concert.Holography is a technology that enables 3D images of the singers to be projected onto a backdrop. Major entertainment agencies including SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment joine

Jun 11, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Others

Fetishism: disorder or preference?

Racing model Choi Yu-jung poses for a photo, wearing black stockings. Some people have a fetish for something black.    / Courtesy of Choi Yu-jungAcceptable unless it is dysfuctionalBy Park Jin-hai, Kwon Ji-youn, Yoon Sung-wonEveryone has his or her own little secret. If you have peculiar sexual inclinations like fetishism, however, beware. If your secrets are revealed, you will be judged not only by people around you but also by the rule of law as well.Sexual fetishism is the state of sexual arousal a person feels toward an object or situation, for instance, certain body parts or articles of clothing.A recent court ruling heated up the debate about whether fetishism is a harmless inclination or a pathological disorder. On March 7, a district court in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, sentenced two men to six and eight months, respectively, in prison, for uploading pornographic video clips featuring adult women in school uniforms performing sexual acts. Under the revised Youth Protection Law, adult pornographic actors dressed in school uniforms are considered underage youth. U

Jun 11, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Chinese version of 'Get It Beauty' is on air

Tips and know-how of Korean make-up in particular those of stars are available to Chinese audience, as “Get K-Beauty” began airing on Friday through one of China’s biggest video hosting websites.The Chinese version of local popular beauty talk show “Get it Beauty” will be uploaded by the Youku Inc. once a week for six weeks, CJ E&M’s channel Onstyle announced Saturday.CJ came up with the program motivated by the Chinese’s’ high demand for beauty tips, such as makeup, hair and fashion from Korea thanks to the hallyu or Korean wave.“The ‘Get it beauty’ had been a success to Koreans, by introducing easy-to-do makeup tips. I hope a similar effect will happen to the Chinese viewers,” said producer of the program.As part of the program, Chinese bloggers will visit big-name makeup artists, exchange their beauty secrets and apply them on site.The first episode of the program will feature “K-pop idols’ doll-like makeup,” while the second one will feature “five-minute speed makeup for career wom

Jun 9, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Chinese version of 'Get It Beauty' is on air

Shows & Dramas

Theater heals migrant women

The theater group Saladboom features a play based on the real-life deaths of a group of migrant women at Gimhae Arts and Sports Center on May 28.The troupe is comprised of migrant wives from Asian countries. / Courtesy of Saladboom'Saladboom' soothes abused migrant wivesPark Kyung-ju, founder of “Saladboom”By Park Jin-haiUnder the mounting stress of the modern age, “healing” has become the most appealing buzzword to people of all ages. This has brought with it various therapies designed to relieve the tensions of everyday lives.However, for migrant wives who struggle to adjust to patriarchal Korean society, healing is just another luxury they simply cannot afford.    For this reason, a theater troupe has emerged as a soulful shelter for “wounded” migrant wives since it was formed in April to offer them an opportunity to try out their artistic talent.“Saladboom” provides various programs including one-month percussion classes for migrant women, who are fleeing from abusive spouses aimed at offering them psychological heali

Jun 4, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Four UN offices placed under one roof

Dignitaries cut ribbon at the opening ceremony of the United Nations premises at I-Tower in Songdo, Incheon, Friday. They include Kilaparti Ramakrishna, at the podium, director of UNESCAP-ENEA, and Han Seung-soo, ninth from left, former prime minister. Song Young-gil, Incheon mayor, and Noeleen Heyzer, UN under-secretary-general and executive secretary of UNESCAP, are on Han's left. / Courtesy of UNESCAP-ENEABy Park Jin-haiFour offices of the United Nations held a ceremony to celebrate their joint move into the same building in Songdo, Incheon, Friday.Their new home is the 33-story “I-Tower,” which was constructed to host international organizations. The building, completed in February, has emerged as a landmark in the city with its eco-friendly design.The four U.N. offices are the East and North-East Asia Office of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (UNESCAP-ENEA), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the Asian and Pacific Training Center for Information and

Jun 2, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Jang, 2PM sweep Japan's Oricon charts

Jang Keun-sukA K-pop singer and group took first and second place on Japan’s Oricon music charts on the same day of their new releases.Jang Keun-suk, 25, released his second album “Nature Boy” in Japan, Wednesday, and immediately topped Oricon’s Album Chart.“Even though other famous Japanese singers released albums, Jang ranked top in terms of sales by a large margin,” said a manager of his agency.  This is the third time he has ranked top in Japan, following his debut single “Let Me Cry” in 2011 and first album “Just Crazy” in 2012.  Jang, who has starred in K-dramas “Hwang Jin-i,” “You’re Beautiful” and “Mary Stayed Out All Night,” is popular both in Korea and Japan.The day after the release, he appeared on Nippon Broadcasting Company’s radio program “Jang Keun-suk’s All-Night Nippon Gold,” and talked about recoding the album.   Jang will release two singles from the album, the title track “Nature Boy” and “Indian S

May 30, 2013By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

Jang to come back with new drama

LG taps 2PM for marketing

Asia and Europe embrace K-beauty

Millennium Seoul Hilton holds 'Filipino culinary festival'

Hologram helps K-pop

Fetishism: disorder or preference?

Chinese version of 'Get It Beauty' is on air

Theater heals migrant women

Four UN offices placed under one roof

Jang, 2PM sweep Japan's Oricon charts

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