The Korea Times

Foreigners embrace meaning of Dokdo

Students from Bulgaria, Spain, China, Japan, Mongolia, Taiwan, and Uganda pose under a banner on Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, Friday. The state-run Northeast Asian History Foundation arranged the fieldtrip as part of Northeast Asian history lectures for foreign students. / Korea Times photo by Park Jin-haiBy Park Jin-haiDOKDO —The field trip to Korea’s easternmost islets, Dokdo, can be challenging, to say the least.A trip starting in Seoul means traveling down to the port city of Donghae, Gangwon Province, taking a ferry to Ulleung Island in North Gyeongsang Province and then another two and half hours on a boat to Dokdo, also in the province. Foreign students on the journey were half excited and half worried, following the tragic sinking of the ferry Sewol.After the first night in Donghae, and another in Ulleung Island, it was only on the last day of the three-day that the fog shrouding Ulleung Island cleared up, opening the waterway to Dokdo, Friday.Some 18 foreign students from China, Japan, Taiwan, Mongolia, Spain, Bulgaria and Uganda, got on a boat

Apr 20, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Teen girls flock to EXO showcase

Members of the group EXO perform at a showcase for their second mini-album “Overdose” at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Seoul, Tuesday.  / YonhapBy Park Jin-haiIf the decibel level from a cheering crowd measures the popularity of a pop band, EXO tops them all.During the one-and-half hour showcase for the K-pop boy-band’s second mini-album, “EXO Comeback Show,” Tuesday night, the non-stop screams from swooning female teenage fans were literally deafening.Yet it was not even a proper concert — just a showcase prior to their album release slated for April 21 — and held in the evening in the middle of the week. Despite this, some 8,000 thrilled fans filled the Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Seoul.Some fans showed up as early as 11 a.m., although all seats were reserved except for an 800 person standing room area. Around half past four, fans queued for those on a first-come-first-served basis.“I’m a huge fan. I just came here for the showcase,” said Mia, from Japan, who was part of a group of Japanese tourists on a bus.Tong, a 20-someth

Apr 16, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Boy band EXO plays to sold-out concerts in Japan

K-pop boy band EXO meets some 100,000 fans in Japan at a large-scale meeting event “EXO Greeting Party in Japan, Hello!” at the Saitama Super Arena in the north of Tokyo, from April 11 to April 13. / Korea TimesBy Park Jin-haiTop K-pop boy band EXO wowed nearly 100,000 fans in Japan with sold-out concerts over the weekend, indicating that the geopolitics-driven anti-Korean sentiment there fell short of undermining the 12-member band’s popularity. The band hosted five mini concerts, titled “EXO Greeting Party in Japan, Hello!” at the Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo from April 11 to 13, according to SM Entertainment. They thrilled audiences at each event with nine songs, including “Growl,” “MAMA” and “Wolf,” as well as greeting fans in pre-practiced Japanese, the agency said.  “EXO’s dance routines are covered in school festivals. I like the band since they show powerful dance moves, even male students were amazed. My jaw dropped at the sight of them dancing up close,” said Daiske, 18, who came

Apr 14, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Hallyu boosts online shopping malls

English online shopping site for Stylenanda, a women’s street-wear maker, shows pictures of K-pop stars wearing their brand. / Courtesy of G-marketBy Park Jin-haiCathy, a 30-something Manila-based business editor, likes to scroll Korean online shopping sites at home.“I buy clothes mostly. And some accessories. There are a lot of choices at Korean online shopping sites,” said the editor who asked to be identified only by her first name. She has purchased several times over the past three years through G-market’s English website.Shay, 19, an art student and K-pop fan in North Carolina, received an oversized pink cardigan through online market place OKDGG and left a review on her blog.Once the key phrase “Korean style” is typed in on China’s eBay equivalent Tao Bao, over 40 million items are shown on screen, whilst “Korean fashion” will turn up some 9 million products.Riding on the popularity of Korean dramas and K-pop, online shopping malls are experiencing increasing sales to people from all over the world.Unlike local we

Apr 11, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

American critic falls for indie K-films

American film critic Darcy Paquet, who started the Wildflower Film Awards for independent films. / Courtesy of Darcy Paquet Darcy Paquet launches Wildflowser Film Awards Yeon Sang-ho’s animated film “The Fake” won the Best Director Award.By Park Jin-haiThe local film industry has been on a roll recently. The shooting for the Hollywood blockbuster "Avengers: The Age of Ultron" is still underway in Korea, suggesting that the country and its capital city is an attractive location for international moviemakers. A number of Seoul-based directors, including Bong Jun-ho and Lee Chang-dong, have risen to global recognition and fame, winning acclaimed international film awards. Bong’s “Snowpiercer” will be released in U.S. theaters this summer. Not as visible as the success of commercial films, Seoul also has seen its independent film industry booming over recent years.  At its forefront is Darcy Paquet, 42, an American film critic, who has organized a special award designated for low-budget independent films. “It's weird for

Apr 7, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Crayon Pop's new video appears on Billboard

K-pop girl group Crayon Pop grace the Billboard website, where the group earned a favorable review for the video of its new song and their choreography.By Park Jin-haiCrayon Pop’s new video “Uh-ee” has graced Billboard’s main page. In its article, posted on March 31, pop magazine Billboard said the K-pop girl group has unleashed “mind-bogging, non-stop dance routine” in the video. “Crayon Pop truly shines in the accompanying music video, performing a routine one could liken more to aerobics than a pop performance,” it said. It said that their viral choreography made them become the tour mate of Lady Gaga, introducing the characteristics of their song, choreography as well as dress code. “On the verses, the girls dole out karate kicks, silly faces and other whimsical choreography for the cameras,” the article said. The report goes on to mention the dance moves where the girls flap their arms like chickens, jumping while holding an “ankle and super-slick footwork on the section’s final hook.”The new song is a

Apr 2, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Crayon Pop's new video appears on Billboard

Others

As colorful as candy store

Sex toys and edible underwear are on display at an adult toy shop in Seodaemun-gu, northwestern Seoul. The owner said customers range from those in their 20s to 80s. / Korea Times fileAdult shops evolve from seedy to fun placeBy Park Jin-hai, Kwon Ji-youn, Yoon Sung-wonTwo female customers walk arm in arm, reading the instructions on the back of each item displayed inside a small adult shop that resembles a candy store.“After I visited the store out of curiosity last year, I became a patron,” said Kim Su-jin, one of the pair, holding up a pair of edible underwear at the condom specialty store “Condomania,” located near Hongik University in western Seoul. “I have seen it here when passing by. Since the edifice looks like a candy store, I felt less hesitant to go in,” Kim, the 35-year-old housewife, said. What she usually buys are flavored condoms that come in all kinds of shapes. “Sometimes I come here with my husband when we feel that we need something to spice up our love life,” she added.Minutes later, a couple entered the store.

Apr 1, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

Park Hae-jin to launch brand in China

By Park Jin-haiActor Park Hae-jin holds a promotional event for the launching of his brand in Beijing, Friday./ Courtesy of WM EntertainmentActor Park Hae-jin has launched a fashion brand under his own name in China, in collaboration with local designer Mark Cheung. At a promotional event for the launching of the brand in Beijing Friday, the 30-year-old former model-turned-actor showcased sportswear and sneakers he designed. Some 200 local media outlets were present, reflecting his soaring popularity there. Currently in China, the clothing the actor of “My Love From the Star” wore during the drama ― from long coat and turtle neck to limited edition sneakers ― has flown off the shelves, according to his agency WM Entertainment. The items worn by other stars such as actresses Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo-hyun are also popular overseas, but Park is the first to launch a brand. “I will design reflecting the market needs as well as incorporating what is trendy in the design,” said Park. “Personally I think the best style is one that people find comfortab

Mar 31, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

GD, CL featured song ranks 4th on U.S. Billboard

By Park Jin-haiAmerican DJ Skrillex’s new album “Recess” that featured K-pop artists landed the fourth spot on the U.S. Billboard 200 Chart.As the dubstep maestro’s new album has enjoyed popularity, the two K-pop artists 2NE1’s CL and Big Bang’s G-Dragon are expected to share the lime light. They collaborated in the English-language song “Dirty Vibe,” where the two worked with other YG producers as well as Diplo and Baaurer. The two K-pop stars are known to have engaged in a series of collaborations with other artists. The producing duo Diplo and Baaurer had previously produced the G-Dragon’s title track of his 2nd EP “Coup D’Etat,” which hit the Billboard 200 last summer.    Meanwhile 2NE1’s newest album "Crush,” the girl group’s second studio album, ranked 61st on the Billboard 200, breaking records for K-pop albums in America. 

Mar 30, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

'Growl' producer talks about K-pop in U.S.

Shin Hyuk, founder and CEO of Joombas Music Group, is renowned forEXO’s “Growl” written by his team of producers in the U.S./ Courtesy of Shin Hyuk Shin connecting Western musicians, Korean artists By Park Jin-haiEXO, SHINee, Girls Generation, f(x), VIXX, Teen Top and Justin Bieber. Looking at the profile of Shin Hyuk, 28, founder and CEO of Joombas Music Group, one might wonder how this young producer could make his musical mark both in Korea and the U.S. in less than 10 years. Best known for EXO's "Growl" ― a blend of rap, R&B melody and pop hooks ― written by his team of producers, the Korean producer has much credit for the boy band to gain international fame. The Billboard referred “Growl” as the crown jewel and it sold over a million copies in 2013 alone. His other hits include SHINee's "Dream Girl" and Teen Top's "Supa Love." "When I produce K-pop, I don’t only focus on the music," he said. "I consider the possibilities of the artist’s choreography and visual concepts. Also, I

Mar 30, 2014By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

Foreigners embrace meaning of Dokdo

Teen girls flock to EXO showcase

Boy band EXO plays to sold-out concerts in Japan

Hallyu boosts online shopping malls

American critic falls for indie K-films

Crayon Pop's new video appears on Billboard

As colorful as candy store

Park Hae-jin to launch brand in China

GD, CL featured song ranks 4th on U.S. Billboard

'Growl' producer talks about K-pop in U.S.

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