K-pop strikes chord with US post-millennials K-pop fans cheer in front of the Prudential Center in New York at the 2018 KCON New York hosted by CJ E&M over the weekend. The two-day event offered K-pop performances, as well as food, and beauty and lifestyle products. / Courtesy of CJ E&M2018 KCON New York attracts 53,000 fansBy Kang Hyun-kyungThe two-day K-pop concerts this past weekend in New York, hosted by CJ E&M, proved Korean music continues to thrive in the United States year after year. The 2018 KCON where beauty, food and lifestyle events were also held on the sidelines attracted 53,000 fans to the Prudential Center, almost 10,000 more than last year's event. The Prudential Center was crowded with fans from America, Canada and Mexico as some enthusiastic fans traveled to New York to see their favorite K-pop acts in person. Seven out of 10 fans were 24 or younger, showing K-pop is popular among “Generation Z” or those born after millennials. Born in the internet era, this young generation has used the internet their whole lives, and technology and social media are a part of their lives. There's no Jun 25, 2018
Korean-American wife calls k-9 specialist husband 'hottie' Susan Elder, Kang Hyung-wook and their son captured from Kang Hyung-wook's Instagram.By Dong Sun-hwaSusan Elder, 33, the Korean-American wife of Korean K-9 specialist Kang Hyung-wook, described her husband as the “hottest Asian guy” she has met, on KBS2 reality show “The Return of Superman” Sunday. “I have been caring for my dog, Chelsea, since I was in the U.S.,” Elder said in Korean. “While I was looking for a gathering to walk my dog in Korea, I bumped into my husband.”Dubbing Kang the hottest Asian guy she had met, she said they began living together after going out only three times. “It was about 15 days after our first encounter,” said Elder. Kang, 33, who appeared on EBS1's “There Is No Such Thing as Bad Dog,” gained popularity for helping dogs or their owners in trouble. He stars in a reality show with his wife and six-month-old son. Jun 25, 2018
INTERVIEW Ex-comedian moving K-variety show to Philippines ShowBT's Jung Sung-han.By Dong Sun-hwaK-pop and K-dramas have been hot in the Philippines, and now the time is ripe for K-variety shows. This time, however, the show is not merely a cookie-cutter version of a Korean program. Jung Sung-han, 47, a former member of popular gag trio “Cult Triple” and head of entertainment firm ShowBT, is meeting this task head-on. “Hybrid is the key,” Jung told The Korea Times. “Philippines people have a different sense of humor, so we have Korean writers' scripts modified by native writers who add, subtract, divide and multiply, so to speak, to better entertain viewers.” Jung's first hybrid gig is a game show mixing Korean and Philippines culture, “Aja-Aja! Tayo!” which is ready to be aired in the Philippines on July 21. He is the first Korean to receive permission to air his show on TV5 for 13 consecutive weeks. “Aja-Aja! Tayo!” follows Korea's “get physical” show format, which is composed of physically challenging skits but adds a sense of humor that could satisfy Filipinos. &ldquJun 25, 2018
Singaporean reporter says candlelit protests is most moving memory Chang May Choon, Seoul correspondent for a Singaporean media outlet Captured from JTBCBy Dong Sun-hwaA Seoul correspondent from a Singapore media outlet picked candlelit protests in 2016 as one of the most moving memories in Korea during a JTBC variety show “Let's Eat Dinner Together” Wednesday. For this reality show's Wednesday' episode, Korean comedians Yoo Byung-jae and Kang Ho-dong visited Chang May Choon's home and the three talked over dinner. Chang has been posted in Seoul for three years after getting married to a Korean man. To her, the candlelit protests in 2016 were the most memorable. Some of these protests, held mainly over the weekend, attracted one million people, calling for the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, but with little violence. Park has been impeached and is being tried for corruption and abuse of power.She also strongly recalled the April 16, 2014, sinking of the ferry Sewol and the issue of comfort women, sex slaves forced to serve Japanese soldiers in the lead-up to and during World War II. “When I visited Danwon High School with mJun 22, 2018
Actor Jo Jung-suk, singer Gummy to have private wedding Actor Jo Jung-suk and singer Gummy. YonhapBy Dong Sun-hwaKorean actor Jo Jung-suk and singer Park Ji-yeon, better known by her stage name Gummy, will have a private wedding with family this fall. “We have been together for five years, and she is the one who can make me happy,” wrote the actor about the wedding plans. “I hope you support and celebrate us.”Jo and Gummy met on a blind date in 2013 and revealed their relationship in 2015.There was a rumor last year that they had split. But this faded since Jo described his fiancee as “my love, Gummy” at 2017 MBC TV Best Acting Awards. Jo, 38, rose to stardom thanks to the film “Architecture 101,” the drama “Oh My Ghost,” and “Don't Dare To Dream.”Gummy, 37, who made her debut in 2003 with the album “Like Them,” became one of Korea's most recognized ballad singers with hits such as “We Should've Been Friends,” and “You Are My Everything.”According to Gummy's agency, C-JeS Entertainment, the exact wedding datJun 22, 2018
DMZ Peace Train Music Festival begins DMZ Peace Train Music Festival poster. Courtesy of DMZ Peace Train Music Festival Bureau.By Dong Sun-hwaThe DMZ Peace Train Music Festival is on until Sunday in Seoul and Cherowon, a border city in Kangwon Province near North Korea. With Korea divided, the aim is to use music to appreciate freedom and peace beyond nations, politics, economies, ideologies or race. Some conferences and showcase events are being held today (Friday), while on Saturday and Sunday, 34 groups from seven countries will have gigs on the train, which departs from Seoul for Cheorwon.Korean musicians including Lee Seung-hwan and Sunwoo Jung-a play, as will legendary English bassist Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols and English singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner.Martin Elbourne, an internationally acclaimed performing arts promoter from England, suggested such a festival after visiting the DMZ last year.Check dmzpeacetrain.com or fb.com/dmzpeacetrain for additional information. Jun 22, 2018
Japanese porn star girl group to hold adults-only fan meeting in Korea Japanese girl band Honey Popcorn. YonhapBy Dong Sun-hwaJapanese girl band Honey Popcorn, whose three members also work as adult video actresses, will hold their first fan meeting ― only for adults ― in Korea on July 7.The three are Yua Mikami, Moko Sakura and Miko Matsuda. The group released their debut mini album “Bibidi Babidi Boo” in March with songs in Korean. Some Koreans were on a petition drive to foil the trio's debut. “We expected that there would be diverse opinions (about us),” Yua was quoted as saying. “But since there are people who support us, we will try hard to meet their expectation.” Only adults over 19 are allowed at the event. Tickets are 77,000 won ($69).Reportedly, the three will continue working as adult film actresses while in the group. Jun 21, 2018
Cartoonist attacks actor Jung Woo-sung on refugee issue Webtoon artist Yoon Seo-in. Captured from Yoon Seo-in's FacebookBy Dong Sun-hwaControversial Korean webtoon artist Yoon Seo-in wrote anti-refugee comments on his Facebook Wednesday, rebutting actor Jung Woo-sung's support for asylum seekers. “Why do you ask other people to be a hope (for refugees)?” Yoon wrote. His comment was a response to the activist for refugees and Korean actor Jung Woo-sung's post on his Instagram the same day as a celebration of the June 20 World Refugee Day.“If you want to say such things, you should take in some of them and set an example,” Yoon said.Actor Jung Woo-sung. YonhapJung had uploaded the UNHCR Representative in the Republic of Korea's statement and a photo of Kutupalong Refugee Camp in Bangladesh, commenting that Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have been living in the world's largest refugee camp with little hope of returning to their homes. “Globally, some 68.5 million people are displaced, with 16.2 million people being forced to flee in 2017 alone,” the actor wrote. “Please stand #WithRefugees today in uJun 21, 2018
Father's surveillance of actor son a big turn-off Teenage actor Ji Min-hyuk and his father. Captured from tvNBy Dong Sun-hwaKorean actor Ji Min-hyuk, 17, is under his father's closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance … in a reality show. Ji and his father appeared Tuesday as guests on tvN's “Nest Escape 3.” While Ji was practicing in a room for an acting audition, his father monitored him. Spotting Ji having trouble, the father called and advised him to get help.But Ji ignored his father's order and called a friend.He then turned off the CCTV and left the room. When he returned to practice, his father called again and scolded him. “I know this is a practice room, but loss of privacy is hard to endure,” Ji said. The camera was installed because Ji went out with a friend before an important audition while his father was on a business trip.But Ji revealed he wanted to move to Seoul to get away from his father. The actor appeared in tvN's drama “Prison Playbook” in 2017.Jun 21, 2018
K-pop balladeers knock on overseas market Asia's largest music market offers size, diversityKorean rock band Nell announces that it will perform in Tokyo in July. Courtesy of Space BohemianBy Kim Ji-sooK-pop is thriving. The popularity of top K-pop idol groups such as BTS and TWICE has the effect of expanding the size of the overseas market for all Korean musicians.And top balladeers are taking the jump.The Korean band Nell announced Monday its plans to perform in the Japan market. The band will perform at WWW stage in Shibuya, Tokyo, under the title Nell's Season 2018 “The Colors.”The rock band that debuted in 2001 has numerous hits including “Time Walking on Memory” and “Green Nocturne.” Popular Korean R&B singer Lena Park popularized one of the band's songs, “Thank You” when she sang her version of it in an “I Am a Singer” reality television show.The Nell members have also been a frequent performer at Korea's music festivals such as Jisan Valley Rock Festival, Seoul Jazz Festival and Greenplugged.The band set up their own label company, Space Bohemian, in 201Jun 21, 2018
