Yu Seung-woo to release 2nd album K-pop soloist Yu Seung-woo will release his second album on Feb. 10, his management agency said Monday.In a teaser image, the 17-year-old poses wearing a black shirt and wiping tears from his eyes, suggesting the new album might have one or more emotional songs. Yu became widely known after appearing in cable music channel Mnet’s audition program “Superstar K” in 2012. He released his debut album in May.“The new album will contain songs that are totally different from his previous musical color,” UK Music said in a statement.“Although he is young, his musical talent is never young and fragile. You will be able to see his ‘matured’ music with this album.”Feb 3, 2014
B.A.P returns with 'First Sensibility' K-pop band B.A.PBy Park Si-soo K-pop boy band B.A.P on Monday released its new full-length album, “First Sensibility,” led by “1004 (Angel).”Its management agency said the album will cater to female fans in their 20s and 30s with its emotion-ridden music. The band will also appeal to its teenage fans with powerful stage performances of the songs, it added.“The band’s members have put a lot of effort and time into producing the album,” TS Entertainment said in a statement. “They’ve been working to showcase a variety of performances for their fans.”Noting that the new album features 13 tracks, the agency said it will show a new side of B.A.P fans have never seen before.In a teaser image released earlier, B.A.P members were seen wearing black suits. In the teaser video, B.A.P members expressed their emotions through their facial expressions and intense gazes, which highlighted their masculinity. They even put on exceptional crying performances in the video.B.A.P will hold concerts in Seoul March 8-9.Feb 3, 2014
Conflicting views of celebs on campus Minho of K-pop boy band SHINee poses for a photograph wearing a baseball jacket with “K” stitched on the left chest. The letter stands for Konkuk University where he has studied acting since 2010. He was appointed PR ambassador for the school last year. / Korea Times fileStars find easier way into college in exchange for school promotion By Park Si-sooCollegians, in particular those at Sejong, Dongguk and Chung-Ang University, are thrilled about young freshmen-age celebrities who are soon to land on their campuses.Nearly 10 K-pop musicians and actors will add their names to university roll books this year alone. Among them are Oh Seung-a of Rainbow, Son Na-eun of Apink, Sandeul of B1A4 and actors, Yeon Jun-suk, Joo Da-young and Choi Ah-ra. Hwang Kwang-hee of K-pop boy band ZE:A poses after being appointed PR ambassador for Digital Seoul Culture Arts University at the school in Seoul on April 13 last year. He hasstudied at the school since 2012, majoring in acting and stage performances.Lim Seul-ong of 2AM appears on the cover of a bFeb 3, 2014
Will they ever get it? The cast in the KBS television sketch comedy “Gag Concert” portray black characters in painted faces in the episode that aired Sunday. / Korea TimesSkit show reveals obsession with blackface makeupBy Jung Min-hoIt’s entirely inappropriate for 21st century television to feature people wearing blackface makeup, but KBS ― Korea’s state-run broadcaster ― must have missed the memo, or indeed the twentieth century.In Sunday’s edition of ``Gag Concert,’’ a popular sketch comedy show, comedians Kwak Beom, Kim Jung-hoon and Hong Ye-sul painted their faces and wore curly wigs to portray black characters on stage. They popped out of a cardboard drink machine because another female character wanted ``coffee made from African beans.’’In this pathetic attempt at social commentary, the comedians exposed not only their ignorance but also an appalling dearth of creativity. The fact that KBS allowed the pre-recorded skit to get on the air was also a serious lapse in judgment. “These are huge entertainment companies with educateFeb 3, 2014
Im Tae-kyung to release album in Japan Musical actor Im Tae-kyungBy Park Jin-haiMusical actor and crossover tenor Im Tae-kyung will release a new album titled “All This Time” concurrently in Korea and Japan on Feb. 5.The album will include various songs from musicals that Im has been starred in, as well as a soundtrack from a famous movie, his agency Theatro said.The songs are “All This Time” from the musical “The Count of Monte Cristo;” “From the Beginning Until Now” from the musical adaption of famous drama “Winter Sonata;” the theme song from the musical “Werther” as well as “Love Theme” from the movie “Cinema Paradiso.” A new song from star composer Frank Wildhorn will also be included on the album. Im’s agency said that Watanabe Music Publishing, a Japanese music label, which recognized Im’s Tokyo performance at the K-Musical Stars Concert in April 2013, will make the album available to Japanese fans. Feb 2, 2014By Park Jin-hai
'Snack culture' Digital users typically consume online cultural content on average 10 minutes. Referring to this quick habit of consuming information and cultural resources, the so-called “snack culture” is becoming representativeof the Korean cultural scene. / Korea Times fileFast-changing web-based content spawns new pop sub-genresBy Chung Ah-young “The Aftereffect,” a web drama series, has garnered more than 2 million views.It’s easy to find Koreans reading news articles or watching films or dramas on their smartphones on a subway or bus.To cater to this increasing number of mobile users whose tastes are changing fast, the web-based cultural content is churning out diverse sub-genres from conventional formats of dramas and cartoons to novels.Digital users typically consume online cultural content on average 10 minutes. Mainly on the move, they get addicted to the short segments. Referring to this quick habit of consuming information and cultural resources rather than engaging in a deeper read, the so-called “snack culture” is becoming representaFeb 2, 2014
Lee Min-ho's agency to launch Chinese branch Actor Lee Min-hoBy Chung Ah-youngStarhaus Entertainment, actor Lee Min-ho’s agency, is preparing to launch a branch in China. The agency has kept a strategic partnership with Chinese entertainment company Huayi Brothers to help Lee’s promotions in China since a concert there in 2009. Starhaus China and Huayi Brothers are expected to pursue business cooperation, the Korean company said.Huayi Brothers has previously supported Lee’s concerts and fan meetings in Beijing and Shanghai and remain poised to expand his activities in additional cities in China due to his soaring popularity there.His recent drama “The Heirs” was a smash hit in China with more than 160 million views on one of the biggest Chinese streaming sites, Youku (www.youku.com). The drama owes its success to Lee, who has established a strong fan base there over the past two years with his previous drama “City Hunter.”Feb 2, 2014
Ahn, Shin to star in musical 'Sun King' Actors Ahn Jae-wook and Shin Sung-rok will feature Louis XIV in the musical “The Sun King” that will open in April, EMK Musical Company said Tuesday.The French musical titled “Le Roi Soleil”is set against one of the most elaborate times of the French court and successfully premiered in 2006. It is the first production in Korea under license.Ahn, one of the first-generation Korean wave actors who has a large fan base in China, returns to the musical stage after a one-year hiatus. Shin is currently portraying a sociopath tycoon in the television drama “Man from the Stars.” Jan 29, 2014
KARA to recruit 2 new members K-pop group KARA’s management agency DSP Media has said that it will recruit two new members to replace Nicole and Kang Ji-young.Former member Nicole has not re-signed with the company, and is currently in New York preparing a solo album. Another member Kang Ji-young, whose contract is up in April, has also said that she will not re-sign, leaving members Han Seung-yeon, Park Gyu-ri and Goo Hara as the backbone of KARA.DSP Media said that it is planning a comeback for the group with two additional members later this year.The agency has already started an in-house recruitment project among its trainees.Jan 29, 2014
BTOB to release new album in Feb. BTOB members pose with Rain, center in the back row in this file photo.K-pop group BTOB, all seven members, will release a new song, “Twitwibbangbbang,” in February.The group took photos with label-mate Rain and veteran trot singer Tae Jin-ah in front of a poster heralding the new song. The song is expected to entail witty lyrics and sentimental vocals, which will be an improvement from “Thriller” which the group released in September.The group’s talent agency, Cube DC, said that the upcoming song will feature not only powerful performance-based dance but also new jack swings. The group debuted in 2012 with “Insane.”Jan 29, 2014
