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
Joseon treasures enthrall US audience The “Treasures from Korea: Arts and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910” exhibition opened at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on March 2 and will continue through May 26 before traveling to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from June 29 to Sept. 28 and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from Nov. 2 to Jan. 11, 2015, displaying more than 150 works. / Courtesy of National Museum of KoreaKorean artwokrs travel to three American museums By Chung Ah-youngThe Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) is one of the longest-surviving monarchies in the world, shaping the culture of modern Korea in ways that continue to resonate today. It tickles foreigners’ fancy as the era offers clues to better understand modern Korean manners, norms, and societal attitudes. A show of Joseon’s culture and history is now captivating the U.S. audience with its time-honored beauty and values. Organized by the National Museum of Korea, the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) are holding or will hold thMar 6, 2014
Beast's Yang Yo-seob grabs musical lead By Kim Ji-sooYang Yo-seob, main vocalist of the K-pop group Beast, will star in the musical “Full House,” Cube Entertainment said Wednesday. The musical is based on a Korean cartoon series that was adapted into a television drama in 2004 with Rain and Song Hye-gyo in lead roles. Yang will play the character that Rain played. The drama was a big hit in Korea where it recorded 40 percent ratings and also became popular in Southeast Asia.This is Yang’s third musical appearance. He first appeared in the 2011 musical “Gwanghwamun Love Song,” and followed it up with a starring role in the “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” last year winning favorable reviews.Chu and his daughter will film their commercial in early March, and it will be released in April. Mar 5, 2014
Chu Sung-hoon, daughter to donate Chu Sung-hoon, left, and his daughter Chu SarangBy Kim Ji-sooKorean-Japanese fighter Chu Sung-hoon and daughter Chu Sa-rang will donate their performance fees to multicultural families.The father and daughter who are starring in the parenting reality show on KBS, “Superman Returns,” will model for the Korean company Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s wet dressing EZ-Derm, and donate all the proceeds to support children of multicultural families in Korea.Chu, 38, whose Japanese name is Akiyama Yoshihiro, married his Japanese model wife Shiho Yano in 2009. Chu said that the donation is to return the love that viewers have shown him and his daughter through the “Superman Returns” program.Chu and his daughter will film their commercial in early March, and it will be released in April.Mar 5, 2014
Soo-hyun to star in 'Avengers' sequel Korean actress Soo-hyun will appear in a supporting role for “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”By Kim Ji-sooIt’s official.A Korean actress will have a supporting role in the “Avengers” series that will be partially filmed in Korea.Soo-hyun whose English name is Claudia Kim passed the audition for “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Disney Company Korea said Wednesday. It was announced that parts of the film shoot will happen in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province between April and May.Soo-hyun, who is a graduate of Ewha Womans University’s international division, has several works under her belt including a role opposite Rain and Daniel Henney in the KBS drama “Plan B.” The actress has changed her name few times, from Kim Soo-hyun to now Soo-hyun.Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios and the film’s producer said in February that locations for the movie include Seoul, Johannesburg, Aosta Valley (Italy), London and Burbank, California.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is expected to reimburse up to 30 percent of the expendiMar 5, 2014
