Culture Briefs

New hip-hop group 1PUNCH / Courtesy of Brave Entertainment

Brave Brothers introduce new hip-hop duo 1PUNCH

Brave Entertainment, an entertainment agency run by hip-hop artist and producer Brave Brothers, introduced the members of its new hip-hop boy group 1PUNCH Thursday.

Photos of the hip-hop duo were introduced to the public for the first time on the company’s official homepage and social network services on Thursday along with teaser videos of the title song “Turn me back.”

The name 1PUNCH is a combination of 1 and Punch, the nicknames of the youngsters who make up the duo. The two, ages 13 and 20, have been preparing for their debut with intense vocal, dance and rap training.

“The debut album of 1PUNCH is a modern remake of 1990s songs. We hope the ‘90s songs will ignite K-pop fervor both here and abroad,” the management agency said in a press release.

The teaser videos are available at the entertainment agency’s website (bravesound.com) or at the fan club page of 1PUNCH (1punch.co.kr). The group’s debut album, “The Anthem,” will be available from online music downloading sites. An offline version of the album will be available from Jan. 28.

Poet Ko Un to discuss his work

Korea’s legendary poet Ko Un will meet his fans on Saturday at the Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center in Myeongdong, Seoul.

During the meeting, Ko plans to read his poems, sign his books and take questions from the audience.

Brother Anthony, a renowned Korean literature translator and emeritus professor at Sogang University, is the guest moderator for the event from 2-4 p.m. The meeting will run in an interview format and the conversation will be translated simultaneously.

Since 1958, Ko has published nearly 115 volumes of literary works such as an autobiography, dramas, essays, travel books and more. His major works include the poem collections “First Person Sorrowful,” “Ten Thousand Lives” and “Songs for Tomorrow.”

The poet also won the Golden Wreath Award at the 53rd Struga Poetry Evening in Macedonia on Aug. 24.

The event is sponsored by 10 Magazine, and publishing company RH Korea is supporting the gathering.

Video artist Cha invited to Berlin film festival

Korea’s artist-and-director Cha Jae-min, 30, is officially invited to the 65th Berlin International Film Festival, known as Berlinale, for her works “Hysterics” (2014) and “Autodidact” (2014) in the 10th edition of “Forum Expanded” category.

Work on Work Production, producer of the videos, announced Thursday, that Cha became the first Korean contemporary video artist and film director to be invited to the “Forum Expanded” of Berlinale.

“Hysterics” was screened during her solo exhibition at the Doosan Gallery in Seoul in October. The seven-minute video reflects her endless study of social issues in a metaphoric way.

Cha graduated from the Department of Architecture of the Korea National University of Arts and Chelsea College of Arts, one of London’s most prestigious art and design schools. She won the Excellence Prize for her work “Fog and Smoke” (2013) at the 10th Green Film Festival in Seoul and received a Doosan Yonkang Art Award in 2014.

“Forum Expanded” is newly launched in 2006, presenting film, video, installation and performing arts works on varying themes and in multiple venues, according to the official site of Berlinale. The 65th Berlin International Film Festival runs from Feb. 5-15.

English edition of comfort women book published

The House of Sharing, a shelter for comfort women survivors in Korea, published an English edition of "Touch Me Not."

The book written by Yoon Jung-mo, originally released in Korean in 2008, tells the tale of young girls who were coerced into servitude in Japanese military brothels during World War II. The book also includes 14 drawings by the comfort women survivors which portray the despair and harsh life of the sex slaves.

The House of Sharing translated the book into English in cooperation with the Museum of Sexual Slavery by Japanese Military.

Ahn Shin-kwon, director of the House of Sharing, said, "We hope this book will help more people to embrace the comfort women, who braved their past. We began working on the English edition last May and it was completed with help from volunteers," Ahn said.

The comfort women facility will distribute the book internationally including the United States.

For more information, visit www.nanum.org or call (031) 768-0064.