The Korea Times

Actress Kim So-hyun hosts new travel show set in California

Kim So-hyun speaks about Lifetime's new travel show “Because This is My First Twenty: Kim So-hyun's YOLO SOLO California” during a meeting with the press at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of A+E Networks KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-sooActress Kim So-hyun, highly acknowledged for her role in “Moon Embracing the Sun” has turned 20 in Korean age and is now ready to host a travel show titled “Because This is My First Twenty: Kim So-hyun's YOLO SOLO California.” In the show, Kim embarks on a journey to California where she meets and asks advice from social influencers on fashion, beauty and career. Being Kim's first solo reality program, the starlet shared her feelings on the pressure of having to host the show alone in an unfamiliar environment. “At first I was a bit hesitant to star in a reality show because I'm not the kind of person that enjoys challenges,” Kim said during a press conference in Seoul, Friday. “But I decided to give it a go because I recently turned 20 and wanted to try new things, beyond my comfort zone.&rdq

Sep 30, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo

Actress Kim So-hyun hosts new travel show set in California

K-pop

What are K-pop stars doing on Chuseok holiday?

GOT7 was recently named as a publicity model for adidas Originals. Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe Korean Chuseok holiday ― the three-day harvest festival to be celebrated from Sept. 23 to 25 this year ― is when most Koreans visit their families or hometowns. Some K-pop idols, who normally overwork themselves on tight schedules, will take some time to spend with their families and relax, while others will continue with their relentless schedules.A handful of popular K-pop idols ― TWICE, BLACKPINK, Sunmi and Monsta X ― will take a break during the Chuseok holiday. The nine-member K-pop group TWICE doesn't have an official schedule planned during the holiday. But they might find the time to get together and practice for their first Arena Tour 2018 “BDZ” scheduled to start in Japan Sept. 29.BLACKPINK will hold its first solo concerts under the title BLACKPINK 2018 TOUR [IN YOUR AREA] SEOUL X BC CARD, Nov.10 and 11 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul. Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBLACKPINK, the K-pop girl group fastest to reach the milestone of 400 millio

Sep 21, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo

What are K-pop stars doing on Chuseok holiday?

Chuseok puts Koreans on the move

North Korea

Kim Jong-un projects leadership through humble speech

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, gestures as he welcomes President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook to the Paekhwawon Guest House, in Pyongyang, Tuesday. Joint Press CorpsBy Kwak Yeon-sooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un once again projected a candid and humble image by publicly acknowledging his country's shortcomings unlike his father Kim Jong-il, who spent his lifetime promoting the image of a “socialist paradise.” At the Paekhwawon Guesthouse where President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook are staying during their three-day trip, the North Korean leader apologized to the President for having him stay at “a shabby place compared to hotels in developed countries.” In late April, Kim unexpectedly cried over his country's poor infrastructure and advised President Moon to fly to North Korea in September because the nation's roads were in bad shape.According to analysts, Kim appears deferential partly because the young leader wants to project himself as a frank and open-minded leader unlike his stoic father. His attempt to break through iso

Sep 19, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kim Jong-un projects leadership through humble speech

K-pop

GOT7 tops 25 iTunes album charts with “Present: YOU”

GOT7 members pose for photos during a press conference announcing the release of their new album “Present: YOU,” Monday. Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooGOT7's third full-length album “Present: YOU” is excelling on iTunes album charts across the globe, and so is their single “Lullaby” released in four languages: Korean, English, Mandarin and Spanish.The album was released on Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. (KST) and soon after topped the iTunes Top Album charts in 25 countries, including Brazil, Finland, Hong Kong, Mexico and New Zealand.“Present: YOU” is a beautiful compilation of solo tracks by each of the seven members and five other tracks including the lead song “Lullaby.”“We decided to record our title track in four languages because we want to communicate better with our international fans and reach out to a wider audience,” member Jinyoung said during the press conference in Seoul, Monday. “The world tour made us feel the love and support of our fans across the globe.” GOT7 recently wrapped up

Sep 18, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo

GOT7 tops 25 iTunes album charts with “Present: YOU”

K-pop

Cosmic Girls continue without Chinese members

WJSN members pose before a media interview to promote their upcoming album “WJ Please?” in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Starship EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooCosmic Girls, also known as WJSN, will release their fifth mini-album titled “WJ Please?”and its lead track “Save Me, Save You” on Wednesday, without three Chinese members who chose not to participate due to busy schedules.Thus the originally 13-member girl group will return as 10 members this time, without Mei Qi, Xuan Yi and Cheng Xiao. Earlier this year, Mei Qi and Xuan Yi finished first and second, respectively, on the Chinese version of “Produce 101.” Although the two members left the show's project group, Rocket Girls, their Chinese label Yuehua Entertainment later confirmed the two would promote both as members of Rocket Girls and Cosmic Girls in the future. But the two decided to take part in promoting Rocket Girls in China for now instead of joining Cosmic Girls. Meanwhile, Cheng Xiao could not participate in the album due to her preplanned schedule in China. “Unfortun

Sep 17, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo

Cosmic Girls continue without Chinese members

K-pop

BTS cancels project with rightist producer

BTS members speak with Grammy Museum Artistic Director Scott Goldman during a sit-down interview “A Conversation with BTS” at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, Tuesday. Courtesy of Big Hit EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooTop Korean boy band BTS’ management agency Big Hit Entertainment decided to exclude the single “Bird,” written by controversial Japanese producer Yasushi Akimoto, from the group’s upcoming Japanese single. This move comes after the label faced a severe backlash from Korean fans over the act’s collaboration with the rightist producer. The problematic track will be replaced with a remix of “Idol” instead.“The track list of the Japanese single album slated for November release has been changed due to production reasons,” Big Hit Entertainment wrote on their official fan club site late Sunday. “We apologize for any inconvenience.”Akimoto, well known for his creation of Japan’s top idol group AKB48, is not a welcoming figure in Korea for using the Rising Sun flag in AKB48’s costumes. Th

Sep 16, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo

BTS cancels project with rightist producer

Sports

476th Turtle Marathon

The Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times, hosted the 476th Turtle Marathon at Namsan Park, Saturday. Participants included Hankook Ilbo President Lee Jun-hee, sixth from left; Korea Native Chicken Association President Moon Jung-jin, seventh from left; and finalists of the 2017 Miss Korea beauty pageant. / Korea Times photo by Shin Sang-soon

Sep 16, 2018By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kwak Yeon-soo

Read more

Actress Kim So-hyun hosts new travel show set in California

What are K-pop stars doing on Chuseok holiday?

Kim Jong-un projects leadership through humble speech

GOT7 tops 25 iTunes album charts with “Present: YOU”

Cosmic Girls continue without Chinese members

BTS cancels project with rightist producer

476th Turtle Marathon

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