Rapper to stand trial on second drink driving charge By Ko Dong-hwanGil from LeessangRapper Gil from hip-hop duo Leessang has been sent to a trial after being caught allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol ― for the second time ― in Seoul.Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office indicted him without arrest on Monday.The musician, 39, was caught at around 3 a.m. on June 28.He drove about two kilometers from Itaewon district in Yongsan-gu to a fire station in Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, after drinking with friends.He then parked his BMW in an emergency lane and fell asleep, leaving his car door open.A passer-by reported him to police, who allegedly found his blood-alcohol level was 0.172 percent ― over the license revocation limit.The star said on Instagram on July 1 that he had “no excuse whatsoever ― even with more than 100 mouths” ― and that he had intended to call a chauffeur.In April 2014 the rapper was caught with a blood-alcohol level of 0.109 percent, for which his license was revoked. Jul 31, 2017
Former K-pop star in love with younger bodybuilder / Captured from InstagramBy Chyung Eun-juKim Jun-hee, a former K-pop star who runs a popular online shopping mall, is in love with a bodybuilder 16 years her junior.Kim, 42, declared her love with Lee Dae-woo, 26, on Instagram, Monday. This is the first time she has revealed she had a boyfriend since her divorce in 2008.But she wrote,“There is no talk about marriage yet.”She called her boyfriend “my piggy."“My piggy has won two contests in a row,” Kim wrote. “Thank you for keeping your promise to bring home the trophy and medal.”Lee, an up-and-coming bodybuilder, has won several bodybuilding contests, including the FitnessStar Sports Model Rookie Short and Nabba Korea Sports Model Short Classic.Jul 25, 2017
Cho Seong-jin to release 2nd album in fall Cho Seong-jin / Courtesy of Tongyeong International Music FoundationPianist Cho Seong-jin is set to release his second album of Debussy’s works this fall, according to Deutsche Grammophon and Universal Music.Cho is known to have recorded the pieces for the album in Berlin and elsewhere around Germany.The album will contain Debussy’s Images 1, 2, Suite Bergamasque, Children's Corner and L'isle joyeuse. On his previous album released last November, he played Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 in e minor and Four Ballades by the same composer.The Debussy album is scheduled for a November or December release for the time being. Although the final track list for the upcoming album has not been completely fixed, Cho selected many of the pieces himself, Universal Music said.After he won the Chopin Piano Competition in October 2015, tickets for his first recital held in January in Seoul were sold out within 10 minutes. Tickets for his recital at the Tongyeong International Music Festival in May were sold out in 79 seconds and for the Lotte Concert Hall one year anniversary cJul 25, 2017
Notre Dame cathedral's organist to recreate classical pieces French organist Olivier Latry /Courtesy of Lotte Concert HallBy Yun Suh-youngFrench organist Olivier Latry, will be performing in Seoul as part of the pipe organ series organized by the Lotte Concert Hall.Latry was dubbed the "youngest organist" for the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris when he was appointed to the "titulaires des grands orgues of Notre-Dame, Paris" at the age of 23 in 1985. At the time, he drew much media attention, as usually organists were older and more experienced. He was among one of four appointees alongside Yves Devernay, Philippe Lefebvre and Jean-Pierre Leguay, following the death of Pierre Cochereau.Latry will be offering a one-day performance at the concert hall on Aug. 3. He is the third organist invited for the performance series, following Wayne Marshall on March 15 and Shin Dong-il on May 20. The pipe organ series invites four organists, two from abroad and two from Korea, to perform as part of the program.Some of the pieces in the program list include Bach's Sinfonia from Cantata 29 (Transcription Marcel Dupre), and Choral Schübler "Wachet auf,Jul 24, 2017
K-pop boy band BTS one of Rolling Stone's top 10 / Captured from Rolling Stone website By Park Si-sooK-pop boy band BTS is included in the “Ten New Artists You Need to Know” selected by renowned American music magazine Rolling Stone. Also on the list are rising musicians such as Jonas Blue, Kacy Hill and Missio.Rolling Stone suggested BTS's music is “For fans of: Justin Bieber, G-Dragon, Big Bang.”The seven-member band is described as having quickly become “one of Korea’s hottest new acts” after making its debut in 2013. The magazine praised BTS’s album “Wings” as “one the most conceptually and sonically ambitious pop albums of 2016.”Last month, Time magazine named BTS as “one most influential people on the Internet.” Earlier this month, BTS released a rendition of K-pop legend Seo Taiji’s “Come Back Home” as part of Seo’s 25th anniversary project. Jul 23, 2017
VIDEO Brazilian TV host mocks K-pop band with 'slit eyes' Raul Gil, host of “Turma Do Vovo Raul” on SBT, makes slit eyes at the audience with K-pop band KARD and an interpreter behind him. / Screen capture from YouTube Watch from 9:20By Ko Dong-hwanFans of a rookie K-pop band have criticized a Brazilian TV show host for disrespecting them on his program by making a “joke” derogatory to Asians.Raul Gil, host of musical and variety TV show “Turma Do Vovo Raul” broadcast on SBT, angered fans after four-member band KARD were guests on the show on July 15.The joke was sparked after Gil asked the DSP Media band that debuted this month if there was a romantic relationship among the band of two men and two women. They all said no, which drew shouts from the excited audience.The host then jokingly asked the crowd whether they would marry the Koreans, adding, “Your eyes will become smaller if you date these Koreans,” making slit eyes with his both hands.The gesture, notorious among Asian communities, has been used by non-Asians to make fun of Asians’ comparatively small eyes.The on-stage inteJul 21, 2017
PyeongChang Music Fest opens with renowned performers series By Yun Suh-young Kevin Kenner Lluis ClaretThe 14th annual PyeongChang Music Festival & School began Tuesday with the Renowned Performers Series which featured Ensemble The Bridge opening the first day of performances, titled "PyeongChang," of the "Gangwon" series which tours eight regions in the province.The first performance featured Mozart, Bartok, Bach and Tchaikovsky. The rest of the series' performances are slated for July 20 in Wonju, July 24 in Jeongseon, July 25 in Chuncheon, July 26 in Taebaek, July 31 at the Seamarq Hotel, Aug. 3 in Hoengseong and Aug. 7 in Daegwallyeong.Cellist Lluis Claret will be collaborating with the Chuncheon Philharmonic Orchestra while pianist Kevin Kenner will perform in Jeongseon and Taebaek. The final performance on Aug. 7 will be performed by the festival’s artistic director Chung Kyung-wha who will add narration to her performance. She has been participating in the program for four years with support and wide enthusiasm from the local community. The program list will be revealed on the day of the performance."I feel the pridJul 19, 2017
JYJ's Kim Jae-joong injured while shooting drama Kim Jae-Joong from boy band JYJ sustained an injury to his left thumb while shooting for a new TV series, his agency said.C-JeS Entertainment said the actor and singer cut his finger on a glass bottle Monday night on the set for KBS 2TV's Wednesday-Thursday drama "Man-Hole."Kim had a doctor stitch the wound and took a day off from shooting."It is actually not a light injury but Kim's acting portion is too big for him to rest for more than a day," the agency said, adding that he needs to see the doctor every other day for a while.The fantasy comedy drama centers around the jobless man Bongphil, played by Kim, who falls in a manhole. The drama will succeed "Queen for Seven Days" next month.Kim was discharged from the military in December. The new series will mark his official return to the small screen in two years. (Yonhap)Jul 18, 2017
Park adds dance to musical repertoire Singer Park Bo-ram sings her new song “Why, You” during a press conference at YES24 MUV Hall in western Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of MMO EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunSinger Park Bo-ram returned with her second mini-album “Orange Moon,” Thursday, adding dance skills to her solid image as a ballad singer.Park earned a reputation as a successful balladeer after three consecutive hit songs from her debut album in 2014. The singer’s debut single, “Beautiful” featuring popular rapper Zico, won the Artist of the Year award at the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards and was nominated for the Best New Artist award at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.It took a year and three months for Park to finish “Orange Moon.” Her previous album, “Dynamic Love,” was released in April 2016.“I lived in the recording room until I came out with this album,” Park said during a press conference for her new album at YES24 MUV Hall near Hongik University in western Seoul last week. “It was physically demanding, but I was under even more presJul 17, 2017
Films screened with live orchestra performance By Kwon Mee-yooFilm concerts, or movies being screened with a live orchestra performing the soundtrack, are gaining popularity in Korea. Film concerts are breaking prejudices against orchestra music, often considered difficult, as audiences feel more familiar with the movies the music accompanies. The leading event is "Beauty and the Beast in Concert," held at Lotte Concert Hall in southern Seoul, August 26 to 28. The live-action remake of the Disney film starring Emma Watson as Belle was a big hit, topping box offices around the world. The musical film will be screened with vocals of its stars including Watson, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth and more, accompanied with a full orchestra playing the musical score live. The Korean concert will be performed by the Korea Coop Orchestra and conducted by Paik Yun-hak. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call 02-552-2505. "Amadeus Live" will revive the musician Mozart's turbulent life in a concert featuring the 1984 motion picture "Amadeus" on Nov. 15 at the ConcerJul 17, 2017
