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Kwak Yeon-soo

Korea Times Digital Content Reporter

Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.

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K-pop

Top 10 most memorable K-pop stories of 2018

BTS members pose for a photo during the annual year-end music awards of SBS held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-soo2018 has been the biggest year ever for K-pop. The genre landing on the charts in the U.S. and seeing K-pop acts win big in international markets. But it's also seen many acts fade or disband. K-pop has also played a role in inter-Korean relations and inspiring the youth. However the music scene was tarnished by chart manipulation accusations, assault cases and debt scandals. Here are the top 10 memorable K-pop news stories of the year.BTS is the future of pop (for post-millennial generation) If 2017 was about getting to know who BTS is, 2018 was the time to raise questions about why BTS has such a rabid fan base all over the world and is taking over the pop music world. This year, BTS became the first ever K-pop group to claim the No.1 spot on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The band won the online reader's poll for Time magazine's 2018 Person of the Year and earned the honor of being the most-tweeted-about celebrity in 2018. The members of the

Dec 26, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
Top 10 most memorable K-pop stories of 2018
Arts & Theater

Troye Sivan to hold debut concert in Seoul next year

South African-born Australian pop star Troye Sivan will stage his first Seoul concert at Olympic Gymnastics Arena on April 27, 2019. Courtesy of Live Nation KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-sooSouth African-born Australian pop star Troye Sivan is set to hold his first solo concert on April 27 at Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul. The Asia leg of his tour, which also includes stops in Tokyo, Taipei, Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, comes in support of his critically acclaimed album “Bloom,” released in August.The record spawned hits such as “My My My!” which topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and “Dance To This,” a duet with American pop star Ariana Grande. Sivan started his singing career by recording a mix of cover videos on his own YouTube channel. In 2014, he got signed and released a mini-album titled “TRXYE.” He released his second mini-album “Wild” after his debut studio album “Blue Neighbourhood,” consisting of one of his breakthrough hits “Youth” in 2015.Since coming out as gay in 2013, the

Dec 24, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
Troye Sivan to hold debut concert in Seoul next year
Entertainment

2nd-, 3rd-generation K-pop idols born in Year of the Pig

By Kwak Yeon-soo2019, the Year of the Pig, is approaching. Ranked as the 12th animal in the Chinese zodiac, pigs have often been called signs of wealth and fortune. Some astrologists believe people born under this zodiac sign are realistic, energetic, enthusiastic, hardworking and cooperative. And most importantly, they love entertainment. Given these characteristics, a number of them have entered show business and made massive fortunes. The second generation of K-pop idols ― formed between the early and late 2000s ― consists of BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Big Bang, Girls' Generation and many others. Many were born in 1983 under the zodiac sign of the pig, while a number of the so-called third-generation of K-pop idols formed from 2010 onward were born in 1995. The third generation includes BTS, EXO, TWICE, Wanna One and BLACKPINK. Here is the list of celebrities who were born in the Year of the Pig.Super Junior's Kim Hee-chul, left, and Lee Teuk Korea Times fileLeading second-generation K-pop boy band Super Junior's Lee Teuk and member Kim Hee-chul, both turning 36 next year, debuted i

Dec 23, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
2nd-, 3rd-generation K-pop idols born in Year of the Pig
K-pop

Lee Teuk, Jin Se-yeon to host 2018 KPMA

By Kwak Yeon-sooLee Teuk / Courtesy of KPMASuper Junior's leader Lee Teuk and actress Jin Se-yeon will host the 2018 Korea Popular Music Awards (KPMA) ceremony, which will take place Thursday at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. The organizing committee announced that this will be the pair's third time hosting an event together, as the two have emceed twice in the past at 2016 Super Seoul Dream Concert and 2017 Dream Concert in PyeongChang.Lee recently wrapped up the Super Junior World Tour titled “Super Show 7,” which kicked off in Seoul in December last year. The group also released its eighth repackaged album “Replay” in April and a special mini-album “One More Time” in October.Actress Jin has been a part of many variety and talk shows besides continuing to appear in movie and drama roles. She earned fame after appearing in the TV drama series “Bridal Mask” and was most recently seen in “Grand Prince.”The inaugural 2018 KPMA is jointly organized by the Korea Singers Association, the Korea Entertainment Producer's Associ

Dec 18, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
Lee Teuk, Jin Se-yeon to host 2018 KPMA
Arts & Theater

The Weeknd holds concert in Seoul

The Canadian R&B star The Weeknd performs during “The Weeknd Asia Tour Live in Korea” held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of Hyundai CardBy Kwak Yeon-sooCanadian pop/R&B artist The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, held his first ever concert in Seoul at the Gocheok Sky Dome, Saturday, playing an effortless set, showing off his incredible vocal skills before an estimated crowd of 24,000.The musician performed for just under 90 minutes made up of 25 songs handpicked from three of his award-winning albums, “Beauty Behind the Madness,” “Starboy” and “My Dear Melancholy.” Tesfaye raced from one end of the stage to another during the entire show so that by the time he left the stage, the R&B star was drenched in sweat. He powered through his set list, leaving little room for interaction with the band or crowd.The 28-year-old singer officially debuted in 2011 with a self-released mixtape “House of Balloons,” before being spotted by and collaborating with Canadian megastar Drake. Since then, he

Dec 16, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
The Weeknd holds concert in Seoul
K-pop

Music video director Lee talks pressure, artistry behind scenes

Music video director Lee Rae-kyung Courtesy of Lee Rae-kyungBy Kwak Yeon-sooInspired by the films that dominated her childhood, Lee Rae-kyung had the ambition to become a movie director. As things turned out, however, Lee ended up not close to cinema but with a prime position in making music videos for some of the most popular K-pop stars including IU, Girls' Generation's Yoona, Lee Moon-sae, Bolbbalgan4 and many others.Following her path with determination has led her to dominant position behind the camera. But Lee recalls that breaking into the industry was tougher than she had imagined.After graduating from high school, Lee attended three universities in eight years. One year into her first college, she struggled to see how she could turn media studies into a career. So instead of going to classes, Lee spent most of her time at the student-operated radio station. There she taught herself how to mash videos and images together and edit them.Luckily, her perspective changed once she entered into Kaywon University of Arts & Design the following year, majoring in Moving Image Desi

Dec 13, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
Music video director Lee talks pressure, artistry behind scenes
  • Director behind iconic K-pop music videos
K-pop

Director behind iconic K-pop music videos

A teaser image of BTS' “MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)” Courtesy of Big Hit EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooAlongside the rip-roaring success of K-pop, its music videos have seen some staying power in the age of YouTube. Now the platform's views and comments prove to be useful gauges for a music video's success.The colorful, choreography-heavy visual for K-pop sensation BTS' “Idol” video set a new record this year as the most-viewed Korean music video within a 24-hour period on YouTube, garnering a staggering 45 million views.To date, it holds second place among all genres following Ariana Grande's clip for “Thank U, Next.” Another K-pop group, girl band BLACKPINK's “Ddu-du-Ddu-du” was ranked in fifth place, amassing 36.2 million views in one day. As the records suggest, a music video is more than a visual narrative to a song's lyrics. It conveys the message of the song, whether to deliver symbolism or an empowering message. Music video director Kim Sung-wook Courtesy of Korea Creative Content AgencyUnlike well-received K-pop music videos, pe

Dec 13, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
Director behind iconic K-pop music videos
  • Music video director Lee talks pressure, artistry behind scenes
K-pop

Stray Kids, IZ*ONE win best new artists awards at 2018 MAMA

Korean-Japanese project band IZ*ONE won the best new female artist of the year at 2018 MAMA Premiere in Korea held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Monday. Courtesy of MnetBy Kwak Yeon-sooRising rookies Stray Kids and IZ*ONE topped the best new artist awards at 2018 MAMA Premiere in Korea held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, Monday.Nine-member boy band Stray Kids was named the best new male artist of the year while Korean-Japanese project band IZ*ONE ― made up of 12 finalists from Mnet's idol survival show “Produce 48” ― won its very first best new female artist award.Nine-member boy band Stray Kids won the best new male artist of the year at 2018 MAMA Premiere in Korea held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Monday. Courtesy of MnetIt is the fourth trophy for Stray Kids, which has won best rookie awards at three other major music awards including Asia Artist Awards, MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards and Soribada Best K-Music Awards. (G)I-DLE was presented with the Best of Next Artist Award at 2018 MAMA Premiere in Korea held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Monday. Courtesy of Mne

Dec 11, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
Stray Kids, IZ*ONE win best new artists awards at 2018 MAMA
K-pop

BTS' 'Love Yourself: Tear' album receives Grammy nomination

Members of BTS pose for a photograph on the red carpet at the 2018 Melon Music Awards on Dec. 1. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooBTS' “Love Yourself: Tear” album, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in May, has earned a Grammy Award nomination for best recording package, awarded for the overall visual elements of the album packaging design.“Love Yourself: Tear” album design is distinguished for its more subdued color scheme with the members sporting dark hair and denim clothes ― all keeping in line with the album's themes relating to the pain and sorrow of separation.The album is nominated alongside HuskyFox, which was responsible for the album's art direction. HuskyFox is a professional branding company based in Seoul, which aims to “build a relationship between brands and users by creating an identity through brand languages and visual elements,” according to its website.Although the best recording package is not presented to the performers but the art director, it is still a huge achievement for BTS as the septet ― consisting of Jin, Suga, RM, J-hope, V,

Dec 9, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
BTS' 'Love Yourself: Tear' album receives Grammy nomination
K-pop

Welcome to Eddy's studio

Singer-songwriter Eddy Kim held his fifth-ever concert titled “Eddy's Studio” at the Memorial Hall of Ewha Girls' High School on Saturday. He and his seven-piece band played beyond the set list in addition to time promised, to boast a diverse spectrum of musical genres including folk-pop, country, funk and soul. During the show, a few audience members were invited to play instruments such as the triangle and foot tambourine alongside the band on stage. “I want to thank my fans and everyone who supported me the whole time, and I promise I'll continue to make music in my own way,” Kim said during the show. Courtesy of Mystic Entertainment

Dec 9, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo
Welcome to Eddy's studio
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