Culture Minister sends congratulatory message to award-winning pianist The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has sent a congratulatory message to a pianist who won an international contest.Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon won the gold medal in the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday (local time) becoming the first Korean to win the Van Cliburn's Winner's Cup since the competition was first held in 1962."The ministry hopes this award serves as an opportunity to let the world know the excellence of Korean musicians. Domestically, we expect to expand the base for classical music," the ministry said in a statement.The 28-year-old performed Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81 and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 in his final rounds of the competition. He studied at Seoul Arts High School and went to the Juilliard School in the United States. He has won various international classical music contests, including the Sendai International Music Competition in 2013 and the International German Piano Award in 2015. (Yonhap)Jun 12, 2017
VIDEO K-pop duo Clon in comeback after 12 years By Lee Han-sooFirst-generation K-pop dance duo Clon will return to the stage later this month with a new album, ending a 12-year hiatus.Media Line Entertainment said the duo -- rapper Koo Jun-yup and dancer Kang Won-rae -- will release the album on June 29 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut. The album’s title and lead track are unknown.Clon debuted in 1996 and jumped to stardom with the song “Kung Ddari Sha Bah Rah.” The duo has earned nationwide popularity with hit songs “Funky Tonight,” “Cho Ryun” and “Come To Me.”Clon had to suspend performances in 2000 after a tragic motorcycle accident left Kang paralyzed from the waist down. Despite the hardship, the duo returned to the stage in 2005 with a fifth album, "Victory.”Jun 8, 2017
VIDEO K-pop band BTS's six music videos surpass 100 million views The K-pop boy group BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, has set a milestone on YouTube as six of its songs have been viewed more than 1 million times.Its management Big Hit Entertainment said Thursday that "Not Today" became the latest to surpass the number, just 109 days after its release.The other songs are "Dope," "Fire," "Blood, Sweat & Tears," "Boy In Love" and "Save Me."The feat was achieved just four years after the group debuted in June 2013, the company said."Not Today" was released in February and ranked No. 1 on the iTunes' music video chart in five countries -- the United States, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. (Yonhap)Jun 8, 2017
BTS' six music videos surpass 100 mln views on YouTube The K-pop boy group BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, has set a milestone on YouTube as six of its songs have been viewed more than 1 million times.Its management Big Hit Entertainment said Thursday that "Not Today" became the latest to surpass the number, just 109 days after its release.The other songs are "Dope," "Fire," "Blood, Sweat & Tears," "Boy In Love" and "Save Me."The feat was achieved just four years after the group debuted in June 2013, the company said."Not Today" was released in February and ranked No. 1 on the iTunes' music video chart in five countries -- the United States, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. (Yonhap)Jun 8, 2017
T.O.P's drug scandal may hurt G-Dragon's comeback By Kim Jae-heunBIGBANG rapper T.O.P’s recent drug scandal is causing a negative impact on his band-mate G-Dragon’s return as a soloist after four years. G-Dragon will release the single “Bullshit” today.The scandal broke unexpectedly through a local cable TV’s exclusive report on Thursday, a week prior to G-Dragon’s new song debut.The title of G-Dragon’s new album is “Kwon Ji Yong,” which is his real name and the track “Bullshit” has a powerful hip hop sound as can be gathered from the song’s title.The singer became Korea’s cultural icon, exercising his influence in the K-pop industry by holding art exhibitions and launching his own fashion label. His latest album received as much attention as his last album “COUP D’ETAT” was released in 2013. However, G-Dragon had to apologize on behalf of T.O.P first last week, even before he began his solo activities.“We are sorry to have caused you so much anxiety. We will make sure nothing like this will happen again. Please keep supportinJun 7, 2017
Brown Eyed Girls singer probed over marijuana offer Son Ga-inBy Ko Dong-hwanSinger Son Ga-in said Monday police are investigating after an acquaintance allegedly offered her a banned drug.Son, from four-member K-pop girl band Brown Eyed Girls, said on Instagram a friend of her actor boyfriend Joo Ji-hoon made the offer.“Joo’s friend offered me marijuana. I was almost convinced to take it because I am mentally unstable,” said Son, who had claimed to be suffering from depression and insomnia, and said she is now taking morphine.The post included an image capture of text messages between her and Joo’s friend, surnamed Park, in which Son criticizes him for saying the drug would make her “feel better.”“I will from now on voluntarily seek a drug test every three months,” the star, 29, said on the SNS site.The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s narcotics team said they will subpoena Son and Park as part of the investigation.Joo was indicted in 2009 for alleged drug abuse and his romance with Son was attacked in 2014. Their public image took another hit in 2016 when a sex video that spreadJun 6, 2017
YG earns nickname 'Yak Guk' over latest scandals Rapper T.O.P of BIGBANG leaves Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Monday, as his position at the agency to service 2-yaer military duty has been cancelled after the prosecution indicted him over illegal drug use in last October. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunYG Entertainment has recently earned the nickname “Yak Guk,” Korean for “drugstore,” after idol singer T.O.P of BIGBANG was charged with smoking marijuana.The rapper is currently serving his military duty at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) and he admitted to the charges that took place before his enlistment last October. The prosecution indicted T.O.P without detention.YG takes its name from founder Yang Hyun-suk’s nickname “Yang Goon,” but his K-pop bands’ involvement in drugs has tainted its original meaning. It is reported that T.O.P smoked marijuana three times with a girl group trainee from YG Entertainment at his home in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The woman in her 20s is also facing the same charges as the star rapper.Prior to T.O.P’s prosecution, his bandmate G-DragonJun 5, 2017
빅뱅 탑, 대마초 흡연 인정…어떤 처분 받을까? 최 씨는 현재 서울지방경찰청 홍보담당관실에 소속돼 강남경찰서에서 병역 의무를 이행 중이다. / 연합뉴스(서울=코리아타임스) 박시수 기자, 우지원 인턴기자 = YG엔터테인먼트는 그룹 ‘빅뱅’의 멤버 탑(본명 최승현, 30)의 대마초 흡연을 확인하고 사과했다. 1일 YG는 공식 입장에서 “회사에서 확인한 결과 보도된 바와 같이 최승현(탑)은 의경 입대 전 대마초를 피운 혐의로 최근 의경 복무 중 수사 기관에 소환돼 모든 조사를 성실히 마친 상태”라며 “조사 과정에서 자신의 혐의를 대부분 인정하고 깊이 반성 중에 있다”고 밝혔다.이러한 입장은 채널A가 탑(본명 최승현, 30)이 지난해 10월경 경찰의 모발 검사를 받았고 그결과 대마초 흡연 양성반응이 나왔다는 보도가 있고 얼마 지나지 않아서다. 보도에 따르면 경찰은 검사결과를 통보받은 후 최 씨에 대해 ‘마약류관리에 관한 법률위반 혐의'를 적용해 기소의견으로 사건을 검찰에 넘겼다. 최 씨는 현재 서울지방경찰청 홍보담당관실에 소속돼 강남경찰서에서 병역 의무를 이행 중이다.한편 빅뱅의 리더인 지드래곤(본명 권지용) 역시 지난 2011년 대마초 흡연 혐의로 검찰 조사를 받은 적이 있다. 당시 그는 기소유예 처분을 받았다. 기소유예는 범죄 혐의는 인정되지만 기소를 하지 않는 처분이다. 같은 소속사 출신 그룹 2NE1의 멤버인 박봄도 지난 2010년 마약류인 암페타민 밀반입 혐의로 입건, 기소유예 처분을 받은 바 있다.이 같은 소식이 전해지자 네티즌들은 YG 소속 가수에 대한 실망을 감추지 못했다. 관련기사에는 “YG 소속 연예인들 전수 조사를 해야 하는 것 아니냐”, “철저한 진상 조사를 요구한다” 등의 댓글이 달렸다.▼ YG 공식입장 전문안녕하세요. YG엔터테인먼트입니다. 먼저 진심으로 깊은 사과의 말씀 전합니다. 회사에서 확인한 결과 보도된 바와 같이 최승현(탑)은 의경 입대 전, 대마초를 피운 혐의로 최근 의경 복무 중 수사 기관에 소환돼, 모든 조사를 성실히 마친 상태이며, 조사 과정에서 자신의 혐의를 대부분 인정하고 깊이 반성 중에 있습니다. 다시 한번 많은 분들께 심려를 Jun 1, 2017
G-Dragon to release new album next month G-Dragon of boy band BIGBANG will release his first individual album in four years on June 8, his agency said Wednesday.The YG Entertainment, however, did not give any details of the upcoming album.Debuting as a BIGBANG member in 2006, the singer whose name is Gwon Ji-yong made a solo debut in 2009 with "Heartbreaker." He has since released two more albums: "One of a kind" in 2012 and "Coup d'etat" in 2013.Following the release of the new album, the singer is to begin a concert tour of 19 big cities around the world in Seoul on June 10. (Yonhap)May 31, 2017
Chu debuts as first Filipino-American K-pop soloist Kriesha Chu performs stage for the press at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Urban Works EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunKriesha Chu, runner-up in the popular TV audition series “K-Pop Star 6: The Last Chance,” has become the first Filipino-American to debut as a K-pop soloist.Chu’s first solo recording has yet to make a strong showing in music charts. But her debut as a soloist has drawn much attention because she will be a litmus test for other foreign-born performers preparing to debut in Korea. For this reason, Korean entertainment companies are keeping a close eye on Chu. “I am a foreigner, so I have to work harder and study harder,” she says. “I have to study (lyrics) in details, too. It is a tough job, but I am having fun.”Many K-pop groups have foreign-born members, but Chu is the first soloist.Earlier, many speculated that Chu would debut in a girl group with Korean members because she is not fluent enough in Korean to be a soloist. But the doubters were wrong. It took just a little over a month for May 26, 2017
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