Culture Line AOA targets Japanese fan K-pop girl band AOA released second single album “Like a Cat” in Japan, the group’s management company FNC Entertainment said Wednesday.The company said the band’s single album contains three songs including “Like a Cat,” “Just the Two of Us” and “Elvis.”The eight-member girl band rose to stardom with a song “Miniskirt” in January of last year. The song was included in the band’s fifth single album released in Korea and recorded 17 million hits on YouTube. It was also introduced in their first Japanese single album released last October and ranked first on Japan’s Tower Records Japan on the day it was released.Comprised of Choa, Jimin, Yuna, Hyejeong, Seolhyun, Chanmi, Youkyung and Mina, the band made a debut in 2012. The band’s title AOA stands for “Ace of Angles.” Kumho Asiana to help budding artists Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo, 70, has been appointed as a ninth president of Korea Mecenat Association on Wednesday.The decision was made at a reguFeb 25, 2015
Hong Seok-cheon turns his eye to politics Hong Seok-cheon / Korea Times photo by Kim Jae-heunBy Kim Jae-heunKorea’s first gay celebrity, Hong Seok-cheon, 45, hopes to become a leader of the Yongsan District Office soon with the aim of promoting cultural spaces for young artists and small businesses, while providing welfare for sexual minorities.“I will build a counseling center for young homosexuals and help parents who have gay children,” he told The Korea Times at an Itaewon dessert restaurant that he owns. “I want to use my diverse connections and experience to build a night market, where the fashion business will grow and young artists share their ideas.Hong said he was ready to become an administrator.After living in Yongsan for 10 years, he believes he can bring changes. But, most importantly, he has a special reason to become the district’s leader. “If I am elected, I will be the first gay person to become a government official,” he said. “It means the country has accepted my identity as a homosexual.”Hong believes Yongsan needs an open-minded leader, because Feb 23, 2015By Kim Jae-heun
ENTERTAINMENT LINE ‘Non-Summit’ stars to promote ICLEI The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced Monday that it appointed two foreign entertainers ― Julian Quintart and Robin Deiana, currently featured in a local cable TV show “Non-Summit” ― as honorary ambassadors for this year’s world congress of International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).This year’s ICLEI world congress, a global network meeting of over 1,000 cities committed to build a sustainable future, will take place at Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Seoul Plaza from April 8 to 12.Quintart and Deiana, better dubbed their first name here, are from Belgium and France. They gained popularity after appearing on cable network JTBC talk show “Non-Summit.”The SMG said their first engagement as honorary ambassadors was to shoot an ad campaign for the ICLEI congress, adding that their footage will be launched over the media displays in bus satiations and subway stations in Seoul. Infinite honored at Korean Music Awards K-pop boy band Infinite, HA:TFELT, aFeb 23, 2015By Baek Byung-yeul
K-pop Star - the last show standing The judges for K-pop Star Season 4: From left, Park Jin-young of JYP Entertainment, Yang Hyun-suk of YG Entertainment and You Hee-yeol of Antenna Music. / Korea Times fileBy Kwon Ji-younYang Hyun-suk was dead on when he said that the fourth season of broadcaster SBS’s “K-pop Star,” which began airing last November, is a far cry from “Superstar K,” Mnet’s trademark audition program. At a press event prior to the show’s premiere, the music mogul said that while Superstar K does a good job of singling out “good singers,” the judges on K-pop Star are noted producers who can help these singers kindle and carry through successful careers. Indeed, Yang, Park Jin-young and You Hee-yeol are all musicians-turned-producers who are at the helm of major entertainment agencies. Winning at K-pop Star means management guaranteed at one of the following agencies ― YG, JYP or Antenna Music. Since Superstar K kick-started the country’s talent show craze in 2009, broadcasters have kept busy introducing their own versions, each boasting a sFeb 23, 2015
TV Schedule - February 22, 2015 (Sunday) EBS05:00 - Learning Multicultural Korean through K-POP05:30 - Success Era 06:00 - Real Experience Sweat 06:30 - Secret to Longevity 07:00 - Jack and Pang 07:30 - Superwings 08:00 - Tayo the Little Bus 08:30 - Gather Around Dingdongdeng 09:00 - Doodadakoong 09:30 - Pete Investigation Unit 09:40 - Baobab Island’s Paopao 10:00 - Eurachacha 10:10 - Real Experience Sweat 10:40 - Multicultural In-law Relations 11:30 - Scholar Quiz 12:30 - Andrea Bocelli’s Love and Passion 14:05 - Cultural Heritage Korea 14:15 - The Pursuit of Happyness16:45 - Eye of the World17:35 - Travel World 20:15 - EBS Docu Prime 23:00 - Good Morning President Arirang07:00 - Bizline 08:00 - After School Club 09:00 - Chef’s Foodcation 09:30 - Arts Avenue 10:00 - Discover World11:00 - Bizline12:00 - Chef’s Foodcation 12:30 - K-Populous13:00 - IN FRAME 14:00 - The INNERview 15:00 - Simply K-POP 16:00 - Arirang Prime 17:00 - Upfront 18:00 - Arirang News18:15 - Company Close Up 18:30 - K-Populous 19:00 - After School Club 20:00 - IN FRAME 21:00 - Discover World 22:00 - Arirang News22:15 - My LiFeb 17, 2015
TV Schedule - February 21, 2015 (Saturday) EBS 06:00 - Hope Environment06:30 - Multicultural Love07:00 - How to Train Your Dragon07:30 - Baloopo the Balloon Elephant08:00 - Pororo the Little Penguin08:30 - Gather Around Dingdongdeng09:00 - Robocar Poli09:30 - Gomdi and Friends10:00 - Mini Rangers10:25 - Ji Fighters11:15 - Space Jungle11:30 - I Would Like to Meet12:00 - The Best Recipe14:30 - EBS Music Travel15:20 - Take Care of My Baby15:50 - Sharing 070016:45 - Eye of the World17:35 - Scholar Quiz18:35 - Travel Korea20:05 - Fly Kangaroo21:00 - Mother22:40 - Secret to Longevity23:10 - The King’s Speech Arirang 08:00 - Showbiz Korea09:00 - IN FRAME10:00 - Discover World11:00 - The Sensation12:00 - Korea on the Move12:30 - K-Populous13:00 - Showbiz Korea14:00 - Upfront15:00 - After School Club16:00 - Travel Story16:30 - Arts Avenue17:00 - Bizline18:00 - Arirang News18:15 - Company Close Up18:30 - K-Populous19:00 - Showbiz Korea20:00 - Upfront21:00 - Discover World22:00 - Arirang News22:15 - Company Close Up22:30 - K-Populous23:00 - Showbiz Korea00:00 - Arirang News00:15 - Company Close Up00:30 - Chef’s Foodcation01:Feb 17, 2015
TV Schedule - February 20, 2015 (Friday) EBS 09:00 - Penguin Tok!09:10 - Gon09:40 - Buckwheat Flower, a Lucky Day, and Spring11:20 - The Best Recipe12:00 - EBS News12:10 - The Snake that Swallowed the Light13:05 - Knowledge Channel e13:10 - Survival Adventure13:40 - Korean History Time Travel14:00 - Heopoongsun Science Show14:15 - Bookmark Fairy Ttobo14:30 - Doodadakoong15:00 - Art Expedition15:30 - Moya Moya15:40 - Canimal15:50 - Me and My Robot16:00 - Dingdongdeng Kindergarten16:20 - How to Train Your Dragon16:45 - Who – Success Theater17:00 - Penguin Tok!17:10 - Lalala Papiye17:15 - Hello! Cocomong17:30 - Pete Investigation Unit17:40 - Eurachacha17:50 - School Land18:05 - Heopoongsun Science Show18:25 - Space Jungle18:45 - Wageul Wageul Art Exhibition19:00 - I Promise Your Safety19:30 - EBS News19:50 - EBS Focus20:20 - Global Sharing Project20:50 - One Earth21:30 - Travel Korea21:50 - Name22:45 - Gladiator01:40 - Cinema Heaven Arirang 07:00 - Korea Today08:00 - Showbiz Korea08:30 - Pops In Seoul09:00 - Bizline10:00 - Arirang Special11:00 - Korea Today12:00 - Discover World12:30 - Showbiz Korea13:00 - Simply K-POP14Feb 17, 2015
TV Schedule - February 19, 2015 (Thursday) EBS 08:00 - Dingdongdeng Kindergarten08:20 - Pororo the Little Penguin08:35 - Ppung Ppung08:50 - How – Shall We Make It?09:05 - Baobab Island’s Pao Pao09:20 - Mini Rangers09:35 - Peter Pan10:20 - The Best Recipe12:00 - EBS News12:10 - Heaven’s Bird13:10 - Survival Adventure13:40 - My Name is Punky13:50 - Dduidduipangpang Olly14:00 - Watch Village Tikitok!14:15 - Chiro and Friends14:30 - Art Expedition14:45 - Me and My Robot15:00 - Hugo the Little Philosopher15:05 - The Little Prince15:30 - The Jungle Book15:45 - Mopi and Friends16:00 - Dingdongdeng Kindergarten16:20 - Bubble Bubble Marine16:35 - Wonderballs16:45 - How – Shall We Make It?17:00 - Fart Boss Ppung Ppung17:15 - Baobab Island’s Pao Pao17:30 - Robocar Poli17:45 - Pororo the Little Penguin18:05 - Jack and Pang18:25 - Arthur18:45 - Podol Investigation Unit19:00 - Gon19:30 - EBS News19:50 - EBS Special Project20:40 - Docu Today20:50 - World Travel21:30 - Travel Korea21:50 - Fly Kangaroo22:45 - Multicultural In-law Relations23:35 - Global Sharing Project00:10 - EBS Space Sympathy Arirang 07:00 - KoFeb 17, 2015
Why are people full of nostalgia for the 1990s? S.E.S., a girl group popular in the late 1980s and early 2000, perform on stage. / Korea Times fileBy Rachel LeeA nostalgia boom for the 1990s is sweeping across Korea.Renewed interest in pop culture that entertained the nation twenty years ago is in full swing, particularly the music scene; MBC’s “Infinite Challenge,” one of the country’s most popular shows, recently broadcast a performance of the 90s’ top singers titled “Saturday, Saturday is for Singers.” The artists, including dance duo Turbo and girl band S.E.S, aired on Dec. 27 and Jan. 3, recording a whopping 22.2 percent of viewer’s ratings and captured the hearts of nostalgic fans. Called "Totoga" in Korean, the show also featured hip-hop duo Jinusean, techno singer Lee Jung-hyun and ballad singer Jo Sung-mo. Cable network tvN’s “Reply 1994,” which was broadcast in 2013, was another show that provoked nostalgic feelings for video tapes, beepers and other features of that era. The 90s boom is also evident in the local club scene. “In Between Night and MusFeb 16, 2015
TV Schedule - February 18, 2015 (Wednesday) EBS 08:00 - Dingdongdeng Kindergarten08:20 - Pororo the Little Penguin08:35 - Fart Boss Ppung Ppung08:50 - Why – The Best!09:05 - Baobab Island’s Pao Pao09:20 - Mini Rangers09:35 - Lou09:40 - Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs11:20 - The Best Recipe12:00 - EBS News12:10 - EBS Docu Prime13:10 - Survival Adventure13:40 - My Name is Punky13:50 - Dduidduipangpang Olly14:00 - Watch Village Tikitok!14:15 - Chiro and Friends14:30 - Art Expedition14:45 - Me and My Robot15:05 - The Little Prince15:30 - The Jungle Book15:45 - Mopi and Friends16:00 - Dingdongdaeng Kindergarten16:20 - Bubble Bubble Marine16:35 - Wonderballs16:45 - Why – The Best!17:00 - Fart Boss Ppung Ppung17:15 - Baobab Island’s Pao Pao17:30 - Robocar Poli17:45 - Pororo the Little Penguin18:05 - Jack and Pang18:25 - Arthur18:45 - My Younger Sibling and I19:00 - Mini Rangers19:30 - EBS News19:50 - Multicultural In-law Relations20:40 - Docu Today20:50 - Travel World21:30 - Travel Korea21:50 - EBS Docu Prime22:45 - Masquerade01:05 - Green Planet Arirang 08:00 - Showbiz Korea08:30 - Pops In Seoul09:00 - ArirFeb 16, 2015
