Seo Taiji's return is imminent By Park Si-sooIt seems that Korea’s “President of Culture” Seo Taiji will be back on stage soon.Major broadcasters and organizers of music festivals are reportedly trying hard to invite the 42-year-old rock musician to their upcoming events, promising that his stage will become something “special.”Seo has stayed out of the limelight after releasing his eighth album in 2009. He has finished recording his ninth album and now is looking for the best time for a comeback.“He is still a superstar,” said Kim Kyung-soo, a rock festival organizer. “Seo ruled the K-pop scene from the 1990s through the early 2000s.Although he has been inactive in recent years, he is still widely perceived as an undisputable superstar. His comeback will carry a huge impact on the K-pop scene.”Seo’s management agency said it had received a flurry of calls from major broadcasters and music festival organizers who are determined to have Seo on their stages.“Nothing has been decided yet,” an agency official said. The officiaMar 30, 2014
GD, CL featured song ranks 4th on U.S. Billboard By Park Jin-haiAmerican DJ Skrillex’s new album “Recess” that featured K-pop artists landed the fourth spot on the U.S. Billboard 200 Chart.As the dubstep maestro’s new album has enjoyed popularity, the two K-pop artists 2NE1’s CL and Big Bang’s G-Dragon are expected to share the lime light. They collaborated in the English-language song “Dirty Vibe,” where the two worked with other YG producers as well as Diplo and Baaurer. The two K-pop stars are known to have engaged in a series of collaborations with other artists. The producing duo Diplo and Baaurer had previously produced the G-Dragon’s title track of his 2nd EP “Coup D’Etat,” which hit the Billboard 200 last summer. Meanwhile 2NE1’s newest album "Crush,” the girl group’s second studio album, ranked 61st on the Billboard 200, breaking records for K-pop albums in America. Mar 30, 2014By Park Jin-hai
'Growl' producer talks about K-pop in U.S. Shin Hyuk, founder and CEO of Joombas Music Group, is renowned forEXO’s “Growl” written by his team of producers in the U.S./ Courtesy of Shin Hyuk Shin connecting Western musicians, Korean artists By Park Jin-haiEXO, SHINee, Girls Generation, f(x), VIXX, Teen Top and Justin Bieber. Looking at the profile of Shin Hyuk, 28, founder and CEO of Joombas Music Group, one might wonder how this young producer could make his musical mark both in Korea and the U.S. in less than 10 years. Best known for EXO's "Growl" ― a blend of rap, R&B melody and pop hooks ― written by his team of producers, the Korean producer has much credit for the boy band to gain international fame. The Billboard referred “Growl” as the crown jewel and it sold over a million copies in 2013 alone. His other hits include SHINee's "Dream Girl" and Teen Top's "Supa Love." "When I produce K-pop, I don’t only focus on the music," he said. "I consider the possibilities of the artist’s choreography and visual concepts. Also, I Mar 30, 2014By Park Jin-hai
`Avengers 2' shooting to begin Sunday By Kim Ji-sooFilming for “Avengers: Age of Ultron” will start Sunday in Seoul with only Captain America — actor Chris Evans — currently in Korea.Scarlett Johansson has said she will not come to Korea due to her pregnancy. Johansson has reportedly filmed much of her actions scenes earlier than originally planned.There is no word on whether stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth or Mark Ruffalo will be in Seoul. Korean actress Soo-hyun has a role as a genius scientist.Shooting will take place on Mapo Bridge from 6 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. and also on Saebit Dungdungseom floating islets near Banpo. The 1.6-kilometer Mapo Bridge is expected to be heavily cordoned off, making it unlikely that the public and press will have access to the actual shooting or the stars.Filming scheduled for April 6 in Gangnam Daero, however, is restricted to one side of the road, meaning people in cars and passersby may get a glimpse.Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Korea are keeping details under wraps and the public has been warned not to post photos that might amount to spoiler imagesMar 28, 2014
Korea-ASEAN friendship Guests and performance troupes pose at the “ASEAN-Korea Festival 2014,” which took place March 25 in Yangon, Myanmar. The festival was designed to introduce Korean traditional culture to other ASEAN countries and to invigorate the Korea-ASEAN cultural exchange. It was also held in Cambodia and Laos. / Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea CenterMar 28, 2014
Rain 'influential' in China RainBy Park Si-sooK-pop star Jung Ji-hoon, better known as Rain, was named the “most influential” foreign musician at China’s QQ Music Awards held in Shenzhen Thursday. It was an annual music awards hosted by China’s biggest music website QQ Music. The country’s biggest TV station CCTV broadcast it live across China. “I won a prize thanks to your support. Thank you so much,” Rain wrote on Weibo, Chinese version of Twitter, with an attached photo of him holding the trophy. “Let’s meet in my showcase tomorrow in Beijing.” He had a showcase to promote his new album “Rain Effect” at the National Gymnasium in Beijing, Friday. It was his first album showcase in China since its release in January. The singer and actor, who is dating actress Kim Tae-hee, has been actively promoting his new album and filming the Hollywood movie “The Prince.”Mar 28, 2014
Chae Rim dating Chinese actor Gao Zi Qi and Chae RimBy Park Si-sooKorean actress Chae Rim has been romantically linked to Chinese actor Gao Zi Qi.“Chae has been dating Gao Zi Qi for three to four months,” said an official of her management agency, Sidus HQ. He said they first met while shooting a Chinese TV drama, in which they acted as a couple. “This is an early stage of their relationship. It’s too early for them to talk about marriage.” Born in 1981, Gao is three years younger than Chae and made his debut in 2011. The two will also jointly appear on an upcoming Chinese drama, according to the agency. Chae married K-pop musician Lee Seung-hwan in 2003 and divorced three years later.Mar 28, 2014
'Yukpo' ㅡ delicacy made by toil, patience Traditional Korean jerky will go on sale in Hong KongBy Park Si-sooYEONGDONG, North Chungcheong Province — Humble buildings stand among low mountain peaks and rice paddies in this rural county, where a food factory busily produces Korea’s traditional jerky which is soon to be sold on markets overseas.Hundreds of jerky boxes were piled up like a wall in the factory’s warehouse. Trucks were being busily loaded, suggesting that the nutritional snack, called “yukpo,” is in high demand.What makes the Korean recipe unique is the use of soy sauce to marinate the meat before drying. The United States, the biggest jerky market in the world, normally uses salt, while Southeast Asian nations barbecue meat in order to preserve the final product for a long time.A worker is trimming a loaf of raw meat to remove fat and tendonsKorea’s indigenous method is believed to have been created hundreds of years ago to remove the odor of raw meat and make the end product more tender, tasty and able to be kept for up to one year.The factory owned by the Sempio Foods CoMar 28, 2014
Pop group 2NE1 will appear on 'America's Next Top Model' K-Pop girl group 2NE1 performs during their concert as part of their world tour, in Hong Kong, March 22. 2NE1 will appear as a guest act in the final of “America’s Next Top Model.” / YonhapBy Kim Ji-sooK-pop girl group 2NE1 will appear as a guest act in the final of “America’s Next Top Model” a model audition survival program.The four members’ performance will be taped on April 2 in Banpo, southern Seoul, while the program will air on U.S. channel CWTV in August.The program is currently taping its 21st season in Korea, as part of the government-backed Korean Film Council’s “location incentive” plan. Under this, the council offers foreign productions up to a 30 percent cash rebate on money spent here. The program hosted by American model Tyra Banks is the original format for the Korean audition program that airs on cable channel OnStyle.The cast for the program has been filming in spots including Gyeongbok Palace, Cheonggye Stream and Sinchon since March 21. Other Korean artists that will be featured in the program are K-pop Mar 27, 2014
Hallyu Line Lena ParkLena Park to release new album in April Korean-American R&B singer Lena Park, also known as Park Jung-hyun, will release a mini album titled “Syncrofusion” on April 18.According to the Blue Print Music, the album embraces a fusion of diverse genres through her collaboration with prominent musicians. It is the first of her coordinated project series. The album will include three tracks produced by Team 89, a group of musicians led by singer and songwriter Yoon Jong-shin.Park will hold a concert at Bule Square on May 9-18 which includes the performances of the new album’s songs. Born in Los Angeles, she made her debut with her first album “Piece” in 1998. Musicians sing for African childrenKorean musicians have teamed up to release a charity song to help African children.Jazz duo Winter Play with singers Kang San-eh, Lee Hyun-woo and Lee Juck, have recorded a song called “One By One.” The single was released on March 19 online. “One By One” is the theme song of the “1.25 Miracle Market” campaign to helpMar 27, 2014
