BoA's brother fighting terminal cancer Music video director Kwon Soon-wook, left, and his sister BoA, right / Korea Times file By Kwak Yeon-sooMusic video director Kwon Soon-wook, better known as the brother of K-pop soloist BoA for their family ties, made a shocking disclosure about his health: he is battling terminal cancer. Kwon shared on his Instagram that he was recently diagnosed with stage four peritoneal cancer. He underwent surgery in December as he was suffering from peritonitis. However, the stent inside his body perforated his intestine.“Doctors said I have about two to three months to live. I can't believe this happened to me. I feel like it's a dream, but every morning I wake up to this harsh reality,” he said.Kwon revealed that he had lost so much weight, because he was unable to eat due to an intestinal obstruction, that he now weighs only 36 kilograms. “The loss of bodily functions is discouraging, but I'm trying not to lose hope until the last moment,” he said. The 40-year-old director May 11, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
LOONA tapped as culture ministry's honorary ambassador K-pop girl band LOONA / Courtesy of Blockberry Creative12-member K-pop girl band to promote Korean culture overseas By Kwak Yeon-sooFollowing its predecessors Stray Kids and ATEEZ, K-pop girl group LOONA will represent Korean culture overseas this year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday.The culture ministry said it has named the 12-member group, comprised of Heejin, Hyunjin, Haseul, Yeojin, ViVi, Kim Lip, Jinsoul, Choerry, Yves, Chuu, Go Won and Olivia Hye, as the country's honorary ambassador to promote Korean culture abroad.For its first act as envoy, LOONA will appear in public video clips, including a piece on “Talk Talk Korea,” an international Korea-related content competition hosted by the ministry's affiliate the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS). The videos will be released on the government body's YouTube channel, May 20 and 25, respectively. “Newly appointing LOONA as promotional ambassador comes at the right timing as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of KOCIS,” Culture Minister Hwang Hee saidMay 10, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Musicians blend jazz rhythms across Estonia-Russia border Estonian guitarist Jaak Sooaar, background center, performs in the Narva Castle in Narva as Russian saxophonist Alexey Kruglov, foreground right, performs in the Ivangorod Fortress on the Russian-Estonian border in Ivangorod, 130 km (80 miles) west of St.Petersburg, Russia, April 30. AP-YonhapTwo jazz musicians gave an unusual concert on the Estonia-Russia border, Friday, when Estonian guitarist Jaak Sooaar and Russian saxophonist Alexey Kruglov performed from castles on the opposing banks of the river that separates their countries. The musicians combined rhythms on International Jazz Day as an act of friendship, despite the deteriorating relations between Russia and Estonia. The coronavirus pandemic has limited opportunities for cross-border contact.``As the border stayed closed, I have friends on the other side of the border with whom I wanted to play with, so we decided to do it,'' Sooaar said before the concert.For the predominantly Russian-speaking residents of the Estonian border city of Narva, the concert was a chance to reconnect with their foreign neighbors, albeit through May 1, 2021
EU hits Apple with music streaming charge in boost for Spotify This combination of file photos shows the European Union flag at the European Commission building in Brussels, April 23, and the logo of US tech giant Apple, Sept. 20, in Paris, on the first day of the annual five-day Apple exhibition. The EU formally accused Apple, April 30, of unfairly squeezing out music streaming rivals through its App Store in one of the biggest-ever competition cases to hit the iPhone maker. AFP-YonhapEU regulators accused Apple of distorting competition in the music streaming market, Friday, siding with Spotify in a case that could lead to a hefty fine and changes in the iPhone maker's lucrative business practices.The preliminary findings are the first time Brussels has levelled anti-competitive charges against Apple, although the two sides have had bruising clashes in the past, most notably a multibillion-dollar tax dispute involving Ireland.Apple, Spotify and other parties can now respond officially and legally to the case. If the case is pursued, the EU could demand concessions and potentially impose a fine of up to 10% of Apple's global turnover ― as much May 1, 2021
Lady Gaga bulldog heist: suspects charged with attempted murder Lady Gaga sings the national anthem at Joe Biden's inauguration as President of the United States in Washington in January. South China Morning PostThree men were charged with attempted murder and robbery on Thursday in the theft of singer Lady Gaga's dogs in February, authorities said, a crime that saw her dog walker shot on a street in Hollywood.The suspects are three men ages 18, 19 and 27, and two were also charged with assault, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office said in a statement."This was a brazen street crime that left a man seriously wounded," District Attorney George Gascon was quoted as saying, underscoring the "very serious" nature of the case.The three, described by Los Angeles police as "documented gang members," allegedly approached Lady Gaga's dog walker Ryan Fischer while he was out with the singer's French bulldogs near Sunset Boulevard on February 24.Two suspects got out of a vehicle and demanded Fischer hand over the pets at gunpoint. He was shot once in a struggle with the two men who fled with two of the dogs, Koji and Gustav, police said.A third dog, MApr 30, 2021
Chung Myung-whun reflects on life with new album and recitals Chung Myung-whun, the conductor and pianist, speaks during a press conference for his new album, “Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms: Late Piano Works,” and his recital at Cosmos Art Hall, Seoul, Thursday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonThe cover image of Chung Myung-whun's piano album, “Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms: Late Piano Works” / Courtesy of Universal Music KoreaConductor Chung Myung-whun has returned with his second album, “Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms: Late Piano Works,” and the first recital in seven years.Chung, who started his musical career as a pianist and became famous after winning the second prize at the 1974 International Tchaikovsky Competition, for the first time as a Korean, has built his career as a conductor and music director of international orchestras, such as the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as being a member of the Chung trio. With the album including the most famous pieces written by the three composers during their twilight years, Chung tried to express himself through the piano, which is his fApr 25, 2021By Park Ji-won
DMX immortalized by family and close friends at memorial People gather for a "Celebration of Life Memorial" for rapper DMX at Barclays Center, Saturday, April. 24, 2021, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. AP-YonhapDMX's legacy was immortalized as a man beloved by his family, honored for his strong faith and respected as one of hip-hop's greatest icons at his memorial service Saturday, with several heartfelt speeches from those who knew the rapper best.The speakers included friends Swizz Beatz and Nas, as well as his daughter, who rapped in honor of her father. Kanye West and Busta Rhymes were among the big names who attended the two-hour ceremony at the Barclays Center in New York. The service at the Brooklyn arena was closed to the public and restricted to close friends and family because of the coronavirus pandemic. In a touching moment, DMX's 15 children gathered on stage to talk ― and sometimes rap ― about the star as a father who taught them such lessons as ``always say thank you,'' ``be kind to everyone'' and that being afraid can sometimes show a person how to be brave.``Our father is a king. Our father is an icon,'' eldest son XaApr 25, 2021
Musicians to perform in celebration of international jazz day The official poster for the Korea Jazz Association's “International Jazz Day Eve Concert” / Courtesy of KJABy Park Han-solJazz musicians in Korea, who have paved the way in cultivating the appeal of the musical genre in the country, will perform April 29, the eve of International Jazz Day, the Korea Jazz Association (KJA) announced Thursday.In 2011, UNESCO designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in recognition of the genre's cultural and diplomatic role in uniting people from all walks of life around the world. Since then, musicians in nearly 100 countries have celebrated the day by hosting their uniquely styled performances.But in Korea, jazz is still viewed and treated as a non-mainstream form of music, the KJA explained. As a result, not enough attempts have been made in the past to lead a large-scale, official movement regarding the genre.Aiming to change such an atmosphere, an ensemble of Korean jazz musicians from the first to third generations will perform together at the Textile Center Building in Gangnam, Seoul in the evening of April 29. The event will be Apr 23, 2021By Park Han-sol
Conductor Chung Myung-whun makes comeback as pianist with DG album, recitals Conductor-pianist Chung Myung-whun, former musical director of the Seoul Philharmonic, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Opera Bastille, plays on a Steinway grand during a press conference at an arts center in Seocho District, Seoul, Thursday. The renowned conductor and opera director initially rose to stardom on the piano as the second prize winner of the 1974 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. YonhapFor award-winning conductor Chung Myung-whun, playing the piano is a way to express love through an instrument he has cherished since childhood."One thing that has not changed (over time) is that the piano remains my first love," the maestro said in a news conference in Seoul marking the release of "Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms: Late Piano Works," his second album as a pianist.Chung, the youngest of the musical family Chung trio, saw his musical career get traction after finishing second in the 1974 International Tchaikovsky Competition. But he has since spent most of his career conducting for and collaborating with top orchestras around the world.Chung, who has built an Apr 22, 2021
20 classical artists to release healing neo classical music to mark World Sleep Day From left are composers Max Richter, Yiruma and Ludovico Einaudi. Courtesy of Universal MusicBy Park Ji-wonUp to 20 classical artists released 18 songs to help people find solace as part of a campaign to mark World Sleep Day which falls on March 19.Universal Music said in a press release that the label will release classical songs Thursday created by leading composers, such as Max Richter and Ludovico Einaudi, on the theme of sleep. The songs, including Korean pianist and composer Yiruma's “Nocturnal Mind in d minor” and German-born British composer Max Richter's “Dream 3 (Remix),” will be unveiled through Universal's classic labels such as Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics.Dickon Stainer, CEO of Universal Classics, said in the release, “We realize the power of music to heal people and are happy to introduce special songs through the World Sleep Day campaign.”Mar 18, 2021By Park Ji-won
