PyeongChang Music Festival to feature Russian masters Poster of PyeongChang Music Festival & School / Courtesy of the festivalBy Yun Suh-youngThe 14th annual PyeongChang Music Festival & School, July 18 to Aug. 8, will focus on Russian music as the festival's fifth and last in the series of geographically oriented themes. The summer festival will be the last music festival to be held before the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February, as the International Olympic Committee suspended the winter music festival in preparation for the Olympics.So far, the music festival has covered various regions for their themed performance series such as northern Europe, southern Europe (Italy and Spain), France, Germany and Austria. Dubbed the "Great Russian Masters _ Song of the Volga River," this year's summer music festival will feature music by legendary Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich.“This year we will be spotlighting music from Russia which has produced some of the world’s greatest musicians over the past 150 years,” artistic director Chung Myung-wha said during a pressJun 21, 2017
USB release - album or not? Rapper G-Dragon’s new solo album “Kwon Ji Yong” is released in a thumb drive on June 8. / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentG-Dragon’s memory stick format triggers disputeBy Kim Jae-heunK-pop icon G-Dragon’s new music released on a thumb drive is causing a dispute — whether to accept it as a real album or not.The popular idol group BIGBANG’s rapper released his first solo work in four years, introducing his new album “Kwon Ji Yong” that contains five new tracks including the title song “Untitled, 2014” on June 8.G-Dragon, who always seeks originality and innovative approaches in music and fashion, avoided recording his music on a disc in favor of a memory stick.Gaon Music Chart, a weekly music chart sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, denied to approve it as an official album.According to Gaon Music Chart, G-Dragon’s memory stick does not contain any music files and it only connects to YG Entertainment’s website where people can download music after inserting a serial number.Last year, the cJun 20, 2017
Ariana Grande to hold Seoul concert Aug. 15 By Yun Suh-young Ariana GrandePop star Ariana Grande will hold her first concert in Seoul on Aug. 15, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, southwestern Seoul.The concert will be part of Hyundai Card's culture project, aimed at introducing a variety of cultural icons. The musical project has previously invited popular musicians such as John Mayer, Beck and Coldplay."Equipped with great vocal and performance skills, Ariana Grande is an artist so many Korean fans have been waiting for," a Hyundai Card official said through a press release."This will be an opportunity for Korean fans to check out for themselves the true character of Ariana Grande. She is a brave artist who performed a repeat concert after the terrorism in Manchester."Despite the attack during her concert in Manchester on May 22, which killed 22 concertgoers, Grande returned to the same location to hold a benefit concert on June 4. She also visited the hospital where a young girl was hospitalized by the attack.Ariana Grande debuted in 2008 in the musical "13" on Broadway. In 2013, her single "The Way" was ranked ninthJun 20, 2017
NCT 127's return grabs global attention NCT 127 members perform to their title track “Cherry Bomb” during the press conference at YES24 LiveHall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, last Friday. / Courtesy of S.M. EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunNCT 127, the Korean boy band NCT’s Seoul-based sub-unit group, is receiving big global attention with its third mini-album “Cherry Bomb” released last Wednesday.The latest album’s title track of the of same name topped the popular Chinese music chart Xiami Music on Friday and Saturday while renowned Chinese media like People’s Daily, China Youth and United Daily News reported NCT 127’ comeback as their main entertainment news.The band also became the No. 1 real-time search word on China’s Internet portals, such as Tencent and Sohu TV.American music cable channel FUSE TV introduced NCT 127’s “Cherry Bomb” describing it as edgy and explosive. The cable TV channel further described their new title as the most sophisticated track by the group so far.Early last week, NCT 127’s third album topped iTunes Album ChJun 19, 2017
Singer makes successful comeback with new album Singer Hwang Chi-yeul poses during an interview at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul, last Friday. Hwang released the new album “Be Ordinary” 10 years after his 2007 debut album. / Courtesy of HOW EntertainmentHwang Chi-yeul sweeps charts with new songsBy Kim Jae-heunSinger Hwang Chi-yeul’s first mini-album “Be Ordinary” topped iTunes Album Chart in Malaysia and Singapore, Wednesday, kicking off a successful start not only in Korea, but also on the global scene.Hwang’s new album is currently ranked second on the iTunes Album Chart in Hong Kong and Taiwan and third in Macao.Hwang released his first mini-album in Korea 10 years since he came out with his debut album in 2007. However, the singer was forced on a long hiatus when his agency closed down due to financial difficulties.In March 2015, Hwang appeared in a music show “I Can See Your Voice” on cable TV channel Mnet, which became a turning point in his life. The episode shed new light on his musical career and Hwang instantly rose to stardom to star in mainstream TV shows.In the sJun 16, 2017
Seodaemun-gu hosts music festival June 17-18, 21 By Yun Suh-youngThe French Embassy is sponsoring a street music festival in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, this weekend and on June 21.The “Fete de la Musique,” which is an annual street music festival in France, will take place in the streets of Sinchon and Chungjeongno. Previously, the festival was held annually on a smaller scale in Seorae Village, a French community in Bangbae-dong, southern Seoul. In France, the festival is held every year on June 21, the longest day of the year. It started in 1982.The festival is free and features musicians ranging from amateurs to professionals. It is open to all genres of music. The festival was created to commemorate music in general, regardless of type and style. Last year, the music festival was held simultaneously in 120 countries around the globe.This weekend, the festival will be held in the streets of Sinchon near Yonsei University, from noon to 8 p.m. On June 21, the festival will be held in Chungjeongno starting at 7 p.m.In Sinchon, the streets will be decorated with the French flag, and a variety of French artworks, foods and musiJun 16, 2017
Pianist releases first album after winning Van Cliburn competition By Yun Suh-youngSunwoo Yekwon/ Courtesy of Ralph LauerPianist Sunwoo Yekwon, who won the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition on June 10 in Fort Worth, Texas, will release his first digital album on June 23.Sunwoo's recording includes his performance in the 15th Van Cliburn competition. The winner's album is called the “Cliburn Gold 2017.” It will go on sale in August.The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is a quadrennial event established by renowned pianist Van Cliburn of the United States in 1962 and is held at Cliburn’s hometown, Fort Worth. Van Cliburn won the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow.Sunwoo won the competition with a rendition of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor. He will receive a $50,000 prize, as well as three years of performance and recording opportunities across the U.S. and sponsored attire from Neiman Marcus.The pianist, 28, was among 30 finalists at the competition that was whittled down from 290 applicants. The Asia preliminary was held in Seoul in January, and in May, 30 finalists from 15Jun 16, 2017
Police protect K-pop girl group Apink after death threat APink / Korea Times fileBy Lee Han-sooPolice are protecting K-pop girl group Apink after the Gangnam Police Station received a death threat directed at the band, according to the group’s agency Plan A Entertainment on Thursday.It is believed that a cyber troll, who said the group’s agency had sued him, made the threat on Wednesday.“I know where all the Apink members are located,” the troll allegedly said. “I will go find them and kill them.”The agency said in May that it plans to take legal action against cyber trolls who make offensive comments about the group.“We do not know if it was one of the cyber trolls,” a Plan A official said. “The police are currently investigating.”Group members are in shock after the death threat.“Apink members were shocked after hearing that they had received a death threat,” the official said. “We have hired private bodyguards to protect the members in case anything happens.”Meanwhile, police sent units to the entertainment agency and the group’s practice room in SJun 15, 2017
Romance in bloom: K-pop star in love with rhythmic gymnast queen F.T. Island’s leader Jonghun, left, and former rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae. By Park Si-sooK-pop boy band F.T. Island’s leader Jonghun is reportedly in love with former rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae.Paparazzi media Dispatch on Wednesday revealed photos of the two taken on multiple dates over the past year.They were first spotted celebrating Son’s birthday on her birthday eve, May 27, at a Seoul restaurant. They were also seen at an amusement park in Japan just before F.T. Island's arena tour early this month.Jonghun and Son reportedly met in February through an acquaintance. Jonghun’s agency FNC Entertainment said it is checking whether the report is true.To see related photos: http://www.dispatch.co.kr/776986Jun 14, 2017
손연재, FT아일랜드 최종훈…핑크빛 열애? 전 국가대표 리듬체조 선수 출신 손연재(23)가 지난해 브라질 리우데자네이루 바하 리우올림픽에서 경기를 마친 후 인사를 하고 있다. / 코리아타임스(서울=코리아타임스) 우지원 인턴기자 = ‘데이트 현장’이라고 알려진 사진이 언론에 보도되면서 아이돌 밴드 FT아일랜드의 멤버 최종훈(27)과 전 리듬체조 선수 손연재(23)가 열애설에 휩싸였다. 연예전문매체 디스패치는 14일 오전 “최종훈과 손연재의 비밀 데이트 현장을 포착했다”며 한국과 일본에서 찍힌 두 사람의 사진을 보도했다. 지난달 27일과 31일에 포착된 사진 속에서 두 사람은 손연재의 생일과 FT아일랜드의 콘서트를 기념하기 위해 일본에서 비밀 데이트를 즐긴 것으로 알려졌다. 보도에 따르면 두 사람은 지난 2월 지인의 소개로 만난 이후 서로에게 호감을 느껴 좋은 관계를 이어오고 있다. 손연재는 당시 은퇴 이후 힘든 시간을 보내던 중 최종훈을 만나 의지처를 찾은 것으로 알려졌다. 또한 밴드의 10주년 컴백을 앞두고 있던 최종훈 역시 손연재와의 관계에서 많은 영감을 얻었다는 후문이다. 이에 대해 양측 소속사는 "현재 열애설 사실 여부를 본인에게 확인 중 "이라는 입장을 밝혔다.한편 최종훈이 속해 있는 밴드 FT아일랜드는 지난 7일 10주년 앨범을 발표했다. 전 국가대표 리듬체조 선수 출신인 손연재는 지난 2월 선수 생활 은퇴를 선언한 이후 다양한 방송 활동을 이어오고 있다.Jun 14, 2017
