Culture Briefs TVXQ / Korea Times fileTVXQ’s Japanese album ‘With’ released in KoreaK-pop duo TVXQ’s eighth Japanese studio album “With” was released in Korea, Wednesday.The album set a new record for the duo by topping Japan’s Oricon Weekly Chart for the fourth consecutive time, beating American rock band Bon Jovi, which topped the chart with three albums in a row, the group’s management company SM Entertainment said.The “With” album, which was introduced in Japan last December, was released in three different versions― a CD only version with two bonus tracks including “Christmas Is Loving” and “Refuse to Lose”; Version A, a CD+DVD with six music videos and live performances in Japan; and Version B, another CD+DVD version with a short documentary film of the duo’s recent tour.TVXQ made their debut as a five-member boy band in 2003, but they split into two in 2010 after three members left due to legal dispute with their company.MMCA ticket to be free during SeollalAdmissions to the National Museum of Modern anFeb 11, 2015By Baek Byung-yeul
Culture Briefs Korean sisters win top music award in Denmark Trio con Brio Copenhagen, an award-winning trio based in Denmark, was conferred an esteemed award at one of the Scandinavian country’s most distinguished music festivals, the Korean Embassy in Denmark said Sunday. The group, comprised of Danish pianist Jens Elvekjaer and two Korean sisters, Hong Soo-jin on the violin and Hong Soo-kyung on the cello, was awarded the P2 Artist Award at the Danish Music Awards on Jan. 10 for its influence on Danish life as ambassadors for chamber music. Hong Soo-jin was the first Korean to be named concert master for the Denmark National Symphony Orchestra in 80 years, and her sister Soo-kyung is its top cellist. Trio con Brio Copenhagen is the first ensemble to receive the P2 Artist Award. Former recipients include Danish conductor Michael Schonwandt, violinist and conductor Nikolaj Znaider and opera singer Bo Skovhus. The trio, founded in 1999, rose to prominence when it won the main award at the prestigious German ARD International Music Competition in 2002. It became an Ensemble in Residence at CoJan 26, 2015By Baek Byung-yeul
Culture Briefs New hip-hop group 1PUNCH / Courtesy of Brave EntertainmentBrave 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,&Jan 23, 2015By Kim Jae-heun
Culture Briefs Lee Min-jung is 27 weeks pregnant MS Team Entertainment confirmed Monday that Lee Min-jung, wife of actor Lee Byung-hun, is pregnant. The agency issued a press release, which said the 32-year-old actress is 27 weeks pregnant. “We were hesitant to confirm Lee’s pregnancy given the circumstances involving her husband,” the agency said. “Though pregnancy is a blessing, Lee had no choice but to give the announcement a lot of thought.” The press release thanked Lee’s fans, and asked them for their support as she enters motherhood. Media artist to hold exhibition in London Media artist and filmmaker Park Chan-kyong, 50, will hold a solo exhibition in London. According to Kukje Gallery, Park’s exhibition, titled “Pa-Gyong _ Last Sutra Recitation,” will take place at the Institute of International Visual Arts, Iniva, through March 21. On show will be a number of his best-known paintings and installations, including his 2008 “Sindoan,” which focuses on the Utopian aspirations of communities that have congregated at Mount Jan 19, 2015By Kim Jae-heun
Culture Briefs KBS to produce web-drama version of ‘Prince of Prince’State-run broadcaster KBS will produce a web drama version of webtoon “Prince of Prince,” sources told local media, Sunday. The webtoon tells a comic story of two men betting on the future of a game company that has employed only good-looking men. It has been published regularly on Naver, the nation’s largest search portal, since last May. “The web drama will consist of seven episodes, each 10 minutes long,” the source said. “The production crew is currently looking for producer, writer and actor options.” KBS is expected to produce a number of web dramas this year, as it has recently launched a drama portal page of its own.Popular children’s song writer diesChildren’s songwriter Jeong Keun, who wrote and composed a famous song “I wish I was on TV,” passed away on Saturday. He was 85. The cheerful song is still sung by many children. Jeong also wrote songs and poems about nature including flowers, trees and seasons.Jeong was born in Gwangju, Jeolla Jan 18, 2015
Culture Briefs Drama professor Kim passes awayKim Hyo-kyungFormer Seoul Institute of the Arts and Seoul Arts College (SAC) professor Kim Hyo-kyung died of pancreatic cancer, Wednesday. The 70 year-old theater director participated in nearly 100 different productions over 40 years, including his very first play “Hamlet” in 1975. Kim also directed the musical “Annie,” the opera “The Marriage of Figaro” and the dance drama “Ganggangsulae.”Kim also worked as the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Musical Theatre from 2010 to 2012, directing Puccini’s famed opera “Turandot” in the form of a modern musical title “Turando.” He won a production prize at the 17th Korea Musical Awards.While at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, Kim taught the nation’s top actors including Ahn Jae-wook, who will be the chief mourner at Kim’s funeral, Ryu Seung-ryong and Kim Soo-ro.Kim became the dean of the Department of Acting at SAC in January 2013. Despite his illness, he was preparing for the play “Medea,” which was slated for Jan 9, 2015By Kim Jae-heun
Culture Briefs Korean hornist joins Oslo Philharmonic Korea’s rising brass musician Kim Hong-park, 33, has been named principal hornist for the Oslo Philharmonic, according to his agency MOC production, Monday.Kim’s first year in the orchestra starts in the forthcoming season. It is extremely rare for a Korean brass instrumentalist to join a prestigious European orchestra as a principal member.Kim graduated summa cum laude from Seoul Arts High School and Seoul National University’s College of Music. Korean works included in Smithsonian online collection The Smithsonian Institution has revealed over 40,000 images of Asian artifacts online, some of them opened to the public for the first time.The 40,691 digitized images are from the collection of the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. The collection ranges from East Asian countries, including China, Japan and Korea, to Middle Eastern countries. The collection includes 781 Korean works such as ink-and-wash paintings, celadon from Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392), Buddhist Paintings from JoseoJan 6, 2015
Winners of 3rd Multicultural Youth Awards Chopra drums for communityOutstanding elementary student Kaya ChopraTwelve-year-old Kaya Chopra, a fifth-grader at Itaewon Elementary School, has been named a winner in the 3rd Korea Multicultural Youth Awards in the elementary school category.A drummer who plays for troubled people in the neighborhood, Chopra was born in India to an Indian father and Korean mother. Three years ago, the family moved to Korea. He speaks Hindi, Korean and English fluently. When The Korea Times went to interview his school last year, he was a jolly kid who savored the time to hang out with schoolmates.He is a member of a multicultural youth band, called “Families Love You,” playing the drums. Recently, his band played at the “Seodawoo Kyungridan-gil Busking Festival” in Seoul and donated the proceeds to elderly people in the neighborhood who are in need of financial help.He also plays cello for a local children’s orchestra. He said his musical interest in drums goes back to when he was 6 years old. He wants to be a musician when he grows up.Shin wishes to help othDec 14, 2014
'Courage, hope and endless support' The judges for the 3rd Korea Multicultural Youth Awards are, from left, Cha Yun-kyung, president of the Korean Association for Multicultural Education and professor at Hanyang University; Lee Yoo-ri, president of the Vietnam Women’s Union; Kim Joon-sik, chairman of Asian Friends; Choi Jin-young, director of Seoul YMCA’s Youth Activity Department; Joo Gun-ihl, a representative from Seoul YMCA; Lee Seung-hun, executive secretary to Rep. Jasmine Lee; and Kim Hae-sung, president of Global Sarang. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Judge's commentBy Kim Joon-sikIt was my great honor to serve as a judge for the Korea Multicultural Youth Awards for the second consecutive year, because I have found that most young students with multicultural backgrounds are growing up healthy and superbly despite our society’s general concerns over perceived differences.This year’s contenders were proud sons and daughters of immigrants from countries including Ghana, Sudan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and China.They are all pDec 14, 2014
'I'm proud of my African heritage' Park Ji-han, right, winner of the Gender Equality and Family Minister Award of the 3rd Korea Multicultural Youth Awards, poses with his friend, Yoo Seung-yean, at Daekyeong Commercial High School in Seoul./ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulTop award winner Park Ji-han says taekwondo changed himBy Kim Se-jeong When Park Ji-han was in his first year at elementary school, his classmates called him “African shala shala” because of his background and because he spoke Arabic.Now, a decade later, the handsome youth’s nickname is “walking statue.” The high school sophomore stands about 179 centimeters tall, and he has chiseled features that could stare down any K-pop star or actors for that matter.The change speaks volumes about how much Park, 17, went through as a young boy and how far he has come. He attributes this to taekwondo.A student at Daekyeong Commercial High School in Seoul, he was recently named the grand winner in the 3rd Korea Multicultural Youth Awards organized by The Korea Times and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.ParDec 14, 2014
