Making splash in global fashion scene Kathleen Kye, left, enters a showroom with her long time patrons G-Dragon and Ciel at her 2013 Fall/Winter collection, at the Seoul Fashion Week, heldin March 2013. / Courtesy of Kathleen KyeKathleen Kye thrusts ‘witty, casual and rude’ in design By Park Jin-haiKathleen Kye, 26, is one of the hottest fashion designers in the K-pop scene.Her bold and witty designs with street art image textile patterns have been worn byKYE’s 2014 Fall/Winter collection was held at the New York Fashion Week at Industria Superstudio in New York in February. Kye’s standalone show, themed “identity,” has receivedrave reviews from local media. many K pop icons, imprinting her brand “KYE” in the minds of fashion fans. Her patrons include G-Dragon, 2NE1 and 4 Minute among others.Not limited to her home territory, the Seoul-based designer is also making a big splash on the global fashion scene too.After joining “Concept Korea,” a small circle of distinguished designers to showcase their collections together during tMar 9, 2014
Kim Soo-hyun evokes explosive response in China Actor Kim Soo-hyun take part in the Chinese program “Super Brain” in this captured image. / Korea TimesBy Kim Ji-sooActor Kim Soo-hyun seems poised to grab Chinese drama fans with his recently-ended “My Love From the Stars,” akin to the fashion his mentor Bae Yong-joon won the hearts of Japanese women with “Winter Sonata” (2002).Kim is affiliated with the talent agency Keyeast, which is led by Bae who is known as “Yon-sama” among Japanese fans.Kim flew on a chartered flight to Nanjing Saturday to appear on Jiangsu Satellite TV’s “Super Brain.” News reports had it that the audience at the recording was asked to wear name tags and no cameras or drinks were allowed, to protect the star. Kim reportedly received 400 million won for his appearance on the program. Chinese entertainment media reported that expensive illegal tickets circulated off and on-line for those who couldn’t obtain the tickets for the taping.“My Love” is evoking intense interest from fans, the Chinese media and even the government.Mar 9, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
4minute to return this month By Park Si-sooPopular K-pop girl band 4minute will release its fifth album on March 17.The group is expected to pose a big challenge to the dominance of Girls’ Generation and 2NE1 on the K-pop scene.The five-member band released a teaser image for the new album through its official website on Friday. The only writing on the image is its return date with the background drenched in black, giving no clue about the album.“They are making last-minute preparations,” a Cube Entertainment official said.He said the members have designed their stage costumes and props by themselves to match the style of music the band is pursuing. “Everything is going smoothly,” the official said.Mar 7, 2014
BTS to make foray in Japan in June K-pop boy band BTSBy Park Si-sooK-pop boy band BTS will make its splash in Japan in June with a digital single, “No More Dream,” a Japanese newspaper reported Friday.In a story based on an interview with BTS leader Rap Monster, the Sankei Shimbun unveiled the seven-member band’s plan to enter into the Japanese music market. Japan’s biggest music chart Oricon confirmed the move with an article posted on its website.Sankei reported the band’s show will be held on June 4, adding BTS is expected to wow the Japanese audience with “beautiful music and powerful and wild stage performances.”BTS held its Japanese showcases in Tokyo in December and in Osaka in January, drawing a total of 46,000 people. BTS made its debut here in June 2013 with a digital single, “2 COOL 4 SKOOL.” It won “best newcomer” honors at several domestic music award ceremonies including the 2013 Melon Music Awards and the 28th Golden Disk.Mar 7, 2014
Stars and outstanding parents Model and actress Clara, right, whose real name is Lee Sung-min, drapes her arm around her father’s neck in the top photo captured from a TV show aired on Nov. 4. Her father, Lee Seung-kyu, is the lead vocalist of singing group Koreana, which sang the theme song “Hand in Hand” at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.Kids of sport stars, top artists become entertainers, rising on parents’ fameBy Park Si-sooLike parent, like child?In several cases, fathers’ blue-blooded sports DNA has manifested into an artistic talent in their children.A case in point is pro baseball coach Kim Sung-gap and his daughter Kim Yoo-kyung, better known by her stage name U-ie. The senior Kim, 53, now serves as head coach of the Nexen Heroes’ second division team, while U-ie, 26, is a key member of K-pop girl band After School.Her father earned fame in the late 1980s and 1990s for his outstanding performances on the baseball diamond, is still remembered as one of one of the best infielders in the history of the Korean baseball league. Likewise, U-ie is said to have outdone herMar 7, 2014
YG to build content facility in US By Chung Ah-young YG Entertainment said Friday that it will establish its entertainment facility in the United States in 2015.One of the nation’s big three talent agencies, which is home to iconic K-pop stars such as Psy and BigBang, will join “The Source,” a multi-use complex for entertainment, food and shopping, to be completed in 2015 in Orange County in California. YG recently joined hands with M+D Properties, a U.S.-based real estate management firm, as a joint business partner in the area now under development. The company will use the facility as the strategic point to boost their entertainment business in North American region. The agency has tentatively named it “YG Land” which it will open in the area as an all-in-one system helping its entertainment business from production, performance to promotion. The facility will be equipped with recording studios, training studios and other creative content spaces. “We’ve recently signed with M+D Properties. We will cooperate with it for diverse business models such as planning and Mar 7, 2014
2NE1 splashes on Billboard By Chung Ah-youngK-pop girl group 2NE1 has set the record for the highest-ranking K-pop album on the Billboard 200 with its latest album “Crush.” 2NE1's second full-length album was No. 61 on the Billboard 200, Wednesday, one of the main charts along with the Hot 100. The album sold 5,000 copies in the week ending March 2, according to Billboard.com, quoting Nielsen SoundScan."Crush" broke the record for K-pop albums, set by Girls’ Generation’s TTS unit’s extended-play album “Twinkle,” which reached 126th in 2012.The four-member 2NE1 also landed in fifth place for World Digital Songs, Billboard’s genre chart, with "Come Back Home," a song from the new album.The Billboard 200 is one of the two major Billboard charts along with the Hot 100 singles chart, on which Korean rapper Psy held the second spot for seven consecutive weeks with his global viral hit "Gangnam Style" in 2012. 2NE1 made its debut in 2009 under YG Entertainment, one of the nation’s big three talent agencies, which is home to a slew of iconic K-pop stars, including Mar 7, 2014
'K-pop Night Out' due in Texas Korean rock band No Brain performs at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas in this 2013 file photo. The band will again take the stage at the festival, which runs March 7-13./ Courtesy of Korea Creative Content AgencyBy Kim Ji-soo A “K-pop Night Out” will be held next week in Austin, Texas, on the sidelines of the South by SouthWest (SXSW) festival.The SXSW is one of the world’s largest music festivals and will run from March 7 to the 13.On March 11, K-pop artists Hyuna of the girl group 4minute, Jay Park, the four rock bands of Nell, Kiha and the Faces, IDIOTAPE and Crying Nut, and the fusion “gugak” band Jambinai will perform at the SXSW’s main Elysium venue.The artists are supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), to promote the diversity of K-pop music.“More diverse genres of Korean music are earning popularity, so we believe that we can open a K-pop 3.0 era at the SXSW,” said Hong Sang-pyo, president of KOCCA.At this SXSW, a total of 15 KoreanMar 6, 2014
YG works with Woori Bank, Woori Card YG Entertainment has signed an accord to cooperate with Woori Bank and Woori Card to boost the cultural industry.Yang Min-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment, attended the signing event at the bank’s headquarters in Hoehyeon-dong, downtown Seoul, on Wednesday.According to the agreement, YG will receive various supports by cooperating their business projects using financial products from Woori Bank and Woori Card in its broadcasting and performances. “If we get various support from them, we can focus more stably on creating content,” YG said.YG Entertainment is one of the big three talent agencies in Korea along with SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. YG is home to leading K-pop groups such as BigBang, 2NE1 and global star Psy.Mar 6, 2014
Kim Bum-soo becomes president of music academy Singer Kim Bum-soo has become the president of the M Academy, a popular culture and art educational institute. / Korea Times fileBy Chung Ah-youngSinger Kim Bum-soo has become the president of the M Academy, a popular culture and art educational institute, according to CJ E&M.The academy was established by CJ E&M and Polaris Entertainment to nurture talented artists in 2012.Kim has taken part in educating would-be artists as vice president of the academy since its opening in 2012. “We’ve appreciated Kim’s educational endeavor by communicating well with the students,” the academy said.“We should not forget the founding spirit of offering the best education. The quality of the education should be the top priory rather than profits. I made enormous efforts to realize my dream of becoming a singer. I will do my best to help them make their dreams come true,” Kim said.Best known for a music video of his song “Promise,” Kim made his debut in 1999. After appearing in “I am a Singer,” a reality singing contest show, hisMar 6, 2014
