Epik High tops charts By Kim Ji-sooEpik High, a three-member hip-hop group, was up and running at 10 a.m., unusually early for pop artists.During a recent interview, Tablo, DJ Tukutz and Mithra shared jokes with each other and acted as if they were family members rather than friends.They have been together as group for 11 years, a rare feat in a time when most “idol” groups often don’t last half that time.In that period, the trio has produced eight albums, the last being “Shoebox” with 12 tracks, the result of a two-year endeavor, which was released Oct. 21.This has paid off.“Shoebox” has 10 songs on the top 50 Naver music list with “Happen Ending” and “Spoiler” in the top 10.“We enjoy hearing our own songs in streets, cafes, bars, anywhere where people gather,” Tablo said.All three attributed the success of the album to the lyrics ordinary people can relate to.“Born Hater,” despite its objectionable lyrics, appears to be an exciting “rap-posse” cut that features Beezino, Verbal Jint, B.I, Bobby and Mino.Nov 2, 2014
Epik High ponders secrets of success DJ Tukutz, from left, Tablo and Mithra Jin pose in this photo to promote therelease of their 8th studio album “Shoebox.” / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Ji-sooTopping K-pop charts when you’re over 30 and don’t dance may be a tall order. But there they are — Tablo, 34, DJ Tukutz, 32, and Mithra Jin, 31 of the hip-hop group Epik High — with their 8th studio album “Shoebox” released on Oct. 21. Two weeks after in this fast-changing Korean music scene, “Happen Ending” and “Spoiler” remain on the top 10 list.In their first album in over two years, the three offer a sophisticated mix between Tablo’s lyrics and nasal-toned rap, Mithra’s chocolate-like rap and Tukutz’s mixing.They have come far compared to their first appearance in 2002Tablo, Tukutz and Mithra all remember this.“We were promised 300,000 won to perform at the amusement park Everland in 2002, and I remember our performance was not even the major one,” said Tablo. There were about 12 people in the audience including Nov 2, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Experiencing Indian classical dance The Indian Cultural Centre of the Embassy of India in Seoul will provide opportunities for anyone to watch or learn the Indian classical dance “Kathak.” Kathak originates from the word katha, which means storytelling. The dance started in northern India and has been around for centuries. Dancers dress in colorful saris and silk garments, using gestures and dynamic footwork to tell a story. The stories are based on religious texts and mythologies, though modern Kathak has become more focused on aesthetics and rhythmic expression. On Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, workshops will be held where anyone can learn the dance for just KRW 30,000 and on the evening of Nov. 1, Deodatt Persaud and Dheerendra Tiwari, two Kathak teachers and performers who have received extensive training, will put on a performance. The workshops and performance will take place at the Indian Cultural Centre in Hannam-dong. For more information, visit http://indoculture.org/index.php. Oct 29, 2014
History talk show grows in popularity By Baek Byung-yeulLearning about history may sound boring and less appealing subject for television show, but a television history program is gaining popularity with a new approach — the talk-show format.“History Journal,” which began airing October of last year through state-run KBS TV every Saturday night, sheds light on critical moments of Korean history.Though the biggest public broadcaster has been beaming history programs for over decades, it was hard for viewers, especially young ones, to find interest as previous contents were delivered in an conventional documentary style, reciting historical facts. In order to inject fresh air into the new program, KBS chose to strengthen the fun by inviting guests who are not only historians but also poet, film director, comedian and more, and let them talk freely for 50 minutes.“We wanted to get a consensus from viewers by focusing on historical character’s inward mentality rather than just giving information,” Yoo Hee-won, one of the producer of “History Journal” said.A scene from KBS Oct 29, 2014
Nam Hyun Bum's view behind the lens Nam Hyun-bum, kneeling with his arms crossed, watches as other street fashion photographers shoot a model in Milan in this 2010 file photo.By Kim Ji-soo, Kim Jae-heunNam Hyun-bum, street fashion photographerCourtesy of Nam Hyun-bumNam Hyun-bum looks every bit the pioneer Korean street fashion photographer, wearing a beanie, in-style camouflage pants and a shirt, with a Leica M3-817351 camera hanging casually on his shoulder. Up close, however, he looks a little more serious, with the intense eyes and the hunch of a computer geek, which he once was.At 29, he already has four years of street fashion photography work, including for high-profile clients such as Vogue in the United States, Elle in France, Grazia in Italy and Vogue in Japan.He is usually busy all year round. This year, he started with fashion weeks in Milan in January, followed by fashion weeks in Florence, London, Paris and New York through March. Nam follows the same trajectory for the men’s fashion weeks in the fall.This month, however, is somewhat leisurely for Nam, giving him time to shoot away with his LeiOct 26, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
When embroidery becomes art Thread artist Son In-sook poses with the folding screen titled “A Dialogue With Life” at the Gaepodong Exhibition Center for Yewon Silgrim Art and Culture Foundation in southern Seoul. / Courtesy of Yewon Silgrim Art and Culture FoundationBy Kim Ji-sooThe exhibition center for thread artist Son In-sook is located in the most unlikely place: on the first floor of a four-bedroom apartment in Gaepo-dong, southern Seoul. Son used to live there but now uses the space to show her thread artworks. Son, 63, an artist of threads, creates her unusual works using just needle and thread eight floors up.In the exhibition center, Son showcases her version of Joseon (1392-1910)-era painter Shin Yoon-bok’s “Portrait of a Beauty.” Unlike traditional Korean embroidery, which is done on a blank silk background using only the five traditional colors of red, yellow, white, black and blue, Son’s works recreate a picture’s background on the silk in a calm hue.An up-close look at Son’s handwork including the use ofhuman hair for the woman’Oct 22, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Beast returns with year's 2nd album Beast members Lee Gi-kwang, from left, Son Dong-woon, Yong Jun-hyung, Yang Yo-seob, Yoon Doo-joon, and Jang Hyun-seung pose in this file photo for the seventh album “Time.” / Courtesy of Cube EntertainmentBy Kim Ji-sooBoy band Beast is back with a second album this year to the delight of fans. Members Yoon Doo-joon, Jang Hyun-seung, Yong Jun-hyung, Yang Yo-seob, Lee Gi-kwang and Son Dong-woon looked tired but glad about the special album celebrating their fifth anniversary as a music group.“It’s been a long time since we released two albums in one year. I hope to have a good time with fans,” said the band’s front man Yoon Doo-joon during a press conference at CafeCube located on the first floor of the band’s agency, Cube, in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.Outside, the usual throng of young female fans waited for the chance to see their favorite stars.The special album(“Time”) features the ballad “12:30” written by member Yong Joon-hyung. “We attempted to convey a softer image of the band this time, which is appropriaOct 19, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Master wood carver wins belated recognition Small wood furniture master Um Tae-jo works with wood, his lifelong subject and teacher in life, at his workshop in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province in this file photo. He was appointed the Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 55 or small wood furniture making. / Courtesy of Um Tae-joUm Tae-jo says he learned about life through woodworkingBy Kim Ji-sooYEONGCHEON, North Gyeongsang Province —Walking into Um Tae-jo’s factory, one container-like building in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, one immediately comes face-to-face with elaborate, traditional Korean furniture such as a full-length wardrobe, bedding closets, half-sized chests and wooden beds made from pine wood. They’re the type of furniture one would see in various Korean dramas and films. In fact, Um’s works have been featured in Korean dramas such as “Jang Ok-jeong” and the Korean movie “Gwansang” (2013)or “The FaceReader.”The smell of the furniture, of the wood dried over several years, sometimes decades, imbues a sense of calm as one takes in the Oct 15, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Cartoon-inspired TV dramas on the way Poster for forthcoming drama “Misaeng” / Courtesy of tvNBy Baek Byung-yeulThree new TV dramas based on popular comic books will appear on the small screen this fall season.Though they all originate from cartoons, the three shows deal with very different themes ― one depicts the life of a desperate rookie businessman, while another focuses on a group of university music majors. ‘Misaeng’ The most noteworthy show would probably be “Misaeng,” based on cartoonist Yoon Tae-ho’s smash hit Internet cartoon of the same name.The cartoon, about precarious intern workers at a trading company, gained explosive popularity to an extent where a TV or film adaptation seemed inevitable.During its two-year-long serializing period on the portal site Daum (www.daum.net) from 2012 to last year, the cartoon drew more than 100 million views.“Misaeng,” which can be translated as “an incomplete life,” tells the story of Jang Geu-rae, a 26-year-old man who tries to adjust to life as an office worker after failing to become Oct 12, 2014
Janice Min says K-pop needs authenticity Janice Min, 44, co-president and chief creative director of the Entertainment Group of Guggenheim Media, speaks on the sidlines of the annual music festival the MU:CON Seoul 2014 on Monday in Hannam-dong, Seoul.Top US entertainment media executive says K-pop should evolve to reach wider audienceBy Kim Ji-sooJanice Min, a top U.S. entertainment media executive said that K-pop is the best known product after Samsung right now, but it needs more authenticity to connect with a wider audience.Min is co-president and chief creative officer of Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group. In particular, she is in charge of the Hollywood Reporter and Billboard, two American entertainment media outlets that extensively cover K-pop.Min was in Seoul to attend MU:CON Seoul 2014, which was held Oct. 6-8 at Blue Square in Hannam-dong, Seoul. MU:CON is an annual event on K-pop organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency. She gave the opening speech on Monday, after which she held a press conference. The Korea Times talked to her additional in a separate e-mail interview. “K-pop, Oct 8, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
