Caption) Jung Tae-chunFolk singer Jung Tae-chun performs in front of Seoul Station, Dec. 22, at a donation drive and memorial for Seoul's homeless population. More than 300 homeless people die in the Seoul area every year, according to event organizer Homeless Action. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar 2019-12-22(코리아타임스) 2019-12-22(코리아타임스) 2019-12-22(코리아타임스) 2019-12-22(코리아타임스) Dec 23, 2019By Jon Dunbar
Singer-songwriter AIRY fulfills her long lasting crush for music Singer-songwriter Airy meets for an interview with The Korea Times held at a cafe in near Hongik University in Seoul, Wednesday./ Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukSinger-songwriter Airy winning Rookie of the Year, and New Artist of the Year Award at Korean Music Awards, Feb. 2019.By Jung Hae-myoung In contrast to the fast-changing K-pop industry which produces short-lived idol pop, there are musicians that build up their music careers purely through their talent and creativity. Singer-songwriter Airy is one of the musicians who ferociously and sturdily built her career path with her authentic style that is often described as “freak folk, psychedelic rock, dream pop” and sometimes featuring aspects of traditional Korean music. Earlier this year she was named Rookie of the Year at the Korean Music Awards. Selected by numerous music critics and music reporters, she also had the honor of taking the top prize at “Hello Rookie” aired on EBS, which has served as a career springboard for artists including rock band Guckkasten, post-rock fusion band Jambinai and indie Dec 23, 2019
2019 Project Contemporary Series showcases mixture of old and new Various artists present three concerts from Dec. 23 to 25 at the Jeongdong 1928 Art Center, each combining elements of traditional Korean and modern arts. The eight-member project group Lee Nalchi Band will perform pansori singing accompanied by electronic music. Courtesy of Korean Traditional Performing Arts FoundationBy Anna J. ParkThe Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation holds three special concerts in a row this week, Monday through Wednesday ― Christmas Day. Titled “2019 Project Contemporary Series,” each of the three concerts is a 90-minute performance, mixing elements of the old and new of what's unique about Korean arts. The Project Contemporary Series started its first installment last year to delve into a recurring question among contemporary artists: what is traditional art in today's context? This year's three concerts aim to showcase traditional Korean arts' innate popular appeal to the public with various artists combining elements of traditional Korean arts and modern styles. Audiences can get a rare opportunity to enjoy these unique and free-spiriDec 22, 2019By Anna J. Park
'90s female R&B duo comes back with 20th anniversary album Female duo "As One" sing on season 3 of JTBC's music show "Sugar Man" aired on Saturday./ Captured from JTBC YouTubeBy Jung Hae-myoung Following the rediscovery of the 1990s singer Yang Joon-il, the disbanded R&B duo As One made a return with season 3 of the JTBC music show “Too Yoo Project ― Sugar Man” with the backing of millennial fans to commemorate their 20th anniversary.As One is a Korean-American duo that debuted in 1999. The pair, Lee Min and Crystal, was named As One because they look alike and work as a team. Their music career came to a temporary end in 2017 with their album “Goodbye for a Moment.” “I got the request from the show for season two, but I couldn't make it because at that time I was in America with my husband and I had to adapt to my life there,” Crystal, one of the duo, said. She is now a mother of two children, working as a real estate agent in Los Angeles. Lee Min, another member of the duo, is working as an English instructor in Seoul. “My husband was our manager for our second album, but he quit his job after Dec 16, 2019
Singer Kim Feel to release first full album The cover of K-pop artist Kim Feel's first full album. Courtesy of Stone Music Entertainment.By Cho Hae-minK-pop artist Kim Feel is set to release his first full album ― “Yours, Sincerely” ― at 6 p.m. Friday. This is his first full album in eight years after debuting through Melon's singer-songwriter audition “Take#1” in 2011. The album's title track is “Excuses.” The seven other songs include “Beautiful Scar,” “Maybe,” “Pray” and “Black.” Kim rose to stardom when he was runner-up in Mnet's music competition series “Superstar K6” that premiered in 2014.His 2019 concert “COLOURS” will be held at Yonsei University Centennial Hall Dec. 20 to 22.Dec 13, 2019
Record-breaker: BLACKPINK Jennie's 'Solo' hits 400 million views BLACKPINK Jennie's song 'Solo' has reached a milestone 400 million views. Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Cho Hae-minJennie from K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has set a YouTube record for a female Korean artist after the music video of her first solo song hit 400 million views. “Solo” was released on Nov. 12 last year and reached the milestone on Dec. 12 this year. It was co-composed by Teddy and 24.The track topped major music charts ― including Bugs, Melon, Genie and Soribada ― right after its release. The music video garnered over 100 million views in just 23 days. Jennie has gained global popularity, topping iTunes charts in 40 countries and taking No.1 on the iTunes Worldwide Song chart with the track.Jennie debuted as a member of BLACKPINK in August 2016. She was the first member to go solo.The group kicked off its Japan Dome Tour at the Tokyo Dome on Dec. 4 and announced it is gearing up for a new album release early year. Dec 12, 2019
Wrapping up year with solemn beauty of royal ancestral ritual National Gugak Center presents its year-end performance “Jongmyojeryeak” from Dec. 20 to 25 (except on Monday). The largest number of musicians and dancers will join the performance. Courtesy of National Gugak CenterBy Anna J. ParkOne of the special ways to wrap up the past year and contemplate the coming year is probably attending a good-quality year-end concert, allowing oneself an opportunity to create a space and time for one's own relaxing moment with music. The National Gugak Center's year-end concert “Jongmyojeryeak,” traditional royal ancestral ritual music, will provide audience members to have their own solemn and calm meditation-like relaxation, as they ponder on the meaning of life, history and ancestors. Jongmyojeryeak is Korea's traditional royal ancestral ritual and its music is annually held at Jongmyo ― a symbolic Confucian shrine dedicated to deceased kings and queens of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom. The centuries-old ritual and its music were designated as Korea's National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 1 back in 1964, as well as UNESCO-liDec 11, 2019By Anna J. Park
Yang Joon-il, a musician living ahead of his time, finally recognized 30 year later Yang Joon-il performs his 1991 debut song “Rebecca” on season 3 of the JTBC TV show “Two Yoo Project: Sugar Man” aired on Dec. 6. Courtesy of JTBCBy Anna J. Park Singer Yang Joon-il is being called a time traveler, or a true genius whose artistic works have only started to be recognized by the public some 30 years after his songs were released in the early 1990s. He enjoyed belated stardom as some of his song have gone viral recently. His past performance videos of some three decades ago are getting hundreds of thousands of YouTube views, some exceeding 1 million. According to the NoxInfluencer, a YouTube trend analysis site, Yang's name was listed at fourth place as the most-searched keyword on YouTube on Dec. 7 in Korea. With this surge in his popularity, main broadcasters in Korea, including KBS, MBC and SBS, continue to upload more videos of his past appearances on their old shows to attract more viewers. Those videos are filled with ardent comments by the young generation who confess their infatuation with the singer. Yang Joon-il in the early 1990s / KorDec 10, 2019By Anna J. Park
U2 says 'women of the world unite' in Korea The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., Bono, and Adam Clayton, from left to right, perform at the first concert in Korea held at Gocheok Sky Dome, Sunday./ Courtesy of Live Nation KoreaBand's message of peace finds resonanceBy Jung Hae-myoung Irish rock band U2 marked a poignant message at their concert in Korea as part of their “The Joshua Tree 2019” tour, held at Gocheok Sky Dome on Sunday. Around 28,000 people filled the venue. Known for conveying powerful and philosophical messages through their music and concert, U2's message to Korea was “Herstory.” “Women of the world unite to rewrite history to herstory,” Bono, the lead singer, said when he started the song “Ultraviolet (Light My way).” As he spoke, the word “History” on the screen changed to “Herstory.” Images of historic female figures were shown on the screen starting from Mary Wollstonecraft, Sojourner Truth, and various suffragettes that fought for women's rights. The first Korean woman featured was Korea's first female lawyer Lee Tae-young, first female westerDec 9, 2019
TWICE Jihyo injured at airport due to fans K-pop girl group TWICE's leader, Jihyo gets injured. Korea Times fileBy Cho Hae-minK-pop girl group TWICE's leader Jihyo sustained injuries in a melee as fans crowded around her at Gimpo International Airport Dec. 8.TWICE arrived at the airport after their gig in Japan but Jihyo fell and was injured. The group's agency, JYP Entertainment, asked the fans to meet the singers at designated areas and to refrain from following them around at airports. Also, JYP said that the violators will be prohibited from participating in other TWICE activities.TWICE released their second Japanese album “&Twice,” Nov. 20, which has topped Japan's Oricon weekly chart.Dec 9, 2019
