U-Kiss Visa card Issued in Japan U-Kiss Visa cardThe Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, one of Japan’s top three banks, has issued a Visa card featuring members of the seven strong K-pop boy band U-KISS.Photos of the boys feature on both sides of the card. Users of it can accumulate points that can be used to receive group-related products.U-KISS, affiliated with NH Media, comprises Soo-hyun, Eli, Ki-seop, Kevin, Dong-ho, Hoon and AJ and debuted in 2008 in Korea and in Japan in 2011.The group is the first K-pop band to be featured on Sumitomo’s visa cards. The bank has previously featured Japanese singers such as Dreams Come True, X-Japan’s Yoshiki and L’Arc en Ciel.After releasing its third full-length album “Collage” in March, the group splintered off into unit activity uBEAT the following month with Eli, AJ and Kevin. It is currently in preparation for a tour to South America at the end of this month and in July.Jun 17, 2013
Gov't ramps up effort to promote Korean food in emerging markets By Park Si-sooThe Food and Agriculture Ministry has joined forces with the state-run food business promoter to help exports by small and medium-sized food companies to enter emerging markets.Toward that end, the two will lay the ground to facilitate easy access of food producers to information that will assist them to export their products with relative ease, according to officials of the ministry and the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. (aT). The information includes currency exchange rate and market trends, trade regulations and restrictions, if any, of importing nations, they said.Seen above is Korea’s traditional fermented red pepper paste or “gochujang.”“The lack of information about emerging markets has been considered the biggest difficulty facing small and medium-sized food exporters,” said Park Jong-seo, an aT executive in charge of the project. “The joint project will help boost exports of Korean food. In the long run, we will be able to provide tailored services of this kind to our customers.”On top of this, aT will carry Jun 17, 2013
'We only tell the truth' Soccer player Ki Sung-yeung is dating actress Han Hye-jin sitting opposite him in a restaurant in Seoul in this photo released by Dispatch on March 27.Celeb-focused media enjoys reputation with a slew of scoops and errorless reportsBy Park Si-sooNews stories ought to be based on facts. Yet this does not always happen, especially when it comes to the secret love affairs of celebrities. Although rumors frequently abound, obtaining concrete evidence to prove them true often remains elusive. Making it tougher still are management agencies that refute such allegations to “protect” their entertainers.Within this difficult working environment, an online entertainment news outlet, Dispatch (www.dispatch.co.kr), is developing a solid reputation — among news consumers as well as journalist colleagues — after a slew of scoops and accurate reports.The company was created only two years and three months ago with a handful of reporters and photographers from a vernacular daily specializing in sports and entertainment news. But it has since disclosed the love stories of seveJun 17, 2013
New face of Korean drama Yoo Ah-in in a scene from “Jang Ok Jung, Living by Love”/ Korea Times fileYoo Ah-in steals show in SBS 'Jang Ok-Jung, Living by Love'By Do Je-hae When broadcaster SBS cast Kim Tae-hee in its latest historical drama series, viewers wondered how this superstar actress with zero period piece experience would portray the most infamous royal concubine during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).One of the prettiest faces on Korean TV, Kim is not known for her acting skills. While she does have sporadic moments of brilliance in “Jang Ok Jung, Living by Love,” it is Yoo Ah-in who is stealing the show with a charismatic portrayal of King Sukjong.Over the years, broadcasters and moviemakers have repeatedly used the romance between Jang Ok-jung and King Sukjong. Viewers will not have a hard time remembering the women who have played Jang but the men that have played opposite Jang were largely forgotten. “Jang Ok Jung, Living by Love” is likely to be defined as the first TV adaptation of Jang Ok-jung where the role of King Sukjong outshines the female leJun 17, 2013
TV documentaries: new hallyu genre By Chung Ah-youngAfter Japan’s national broadcaster NHK launched its documentary series “The Silk Road” in 1980, it became one of the most renowned documentary powerhouses in the world.Likewise, Korean broadcasting companies are trying to emulate NHK’s documentary turf with its own productions which have recently gained international recognition.Also, a recent survey by the KBS Broadcasting Culture Research Center supports the trend that documentaries are emerging as the next hallyu (Korean wave) content given the rising sales of Korean broadcasting content products overseas.Award-winning documentaries“ Superfish”“Television dramas and K-pop have played a pivotal role in exporting hallyu contents in the early period. Now Korean documentaries are now taking center stage,” Lee Jae-sook, researcher of the center, said.According to the report released by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) in 2011, the ratio of documentary exports among other broadcasting content has increased from 0.5 percent in 2008 to 11.5 percent in 2011. Its valuJun 16, 2013
LG taps 2PM for marketing Thai customers who bought LG Electronics’ smartphones pose during a video meeting with 2PM, held at the Grande Centre Point Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 13. / Courtesy of LG ElectronicsLG Electronics invited customers in Thailand to a 2PM video meeting, as part of promotional events for its products.The local electronics giant announced Sunday it invited 100 customers who purchased LG smart phones to the meeting three days ago at Grand the Centre Point Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.In addition, it partnered with JYP Entertainment to provide other activities such as a dance competition and game shows, all related to the six-member boy band.LG Electronics has been actively employing hallyu marketing in their promotions. Late March this year, it has put 2PM’s music video trailers on the screens at Time Square in New York as well as at Piccadilly Circus, in London.“We are both aiming at a synergic effect. Through K-pop stars we can communicate with local customers and promote our brand image. But at the same time, we are playing the importaJun 16, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Asia and Europe embrace K-beauty Spanish models pose during a Skin79 promotional campaign at its Madrid branch on April 18. / Courtesy of Skin 79By Park Jin-haiLocal cosmetic companies have expanded their reach from Asia to Europe.Following the lead of Nature Republic, a number of Korean cosmetics brands, including Coreana Cosmetics, Gowoonsesang and Skin79 recently opened local shops in both continents.Nature Republic opened a shop in Yangon, Myanmar, on May 29, its 12th overseas store and first in the Southeast Asian nation. It markets its products by focusing on a brand that emphasizes natural ingredients.Following this, it plans to open four more shops in major commercial districts in the nation by July.Coreana Cosmetics’ Zeniswell has ventured into Hong Kong. The organic cosmetics brand opened its first overseas shop there in the Wing On department store on May 30.“We hope our products will win over Hong Kong customers’ hearts as they have shown an immense interest in natural and organic cosmetics,” said a managing director.“Based on the local trend and market analysis, customized Jun 16, 2013By Park Jin-hai
FTISLAND sings for Japanese film K-pop group FTISLAND has sung the closing song for the Japanese animation film “Toriko” that will open in Japanese theaters on July 27.The song titled “Siawaseiori” will be released as the group’s 11th single prior to the opening of the film.The five member group had also sung the ending song “Satisfaction” for the animation’s television version that aired on Fuji Television in 2011.Toriko is about an epicurean’s adventures in search of diverse food ingredients.FTISLAND, which debuted in 2007 with FNC Entertainment comprises lead singer Lee Hong-ki, Lee Jae-jin, Song Seung-hyun, Choi Min-hwan and Choi Jong-hoon. The group is focusing on its Japanese activities having released their third Japanese studio album titled “Rated-FT”on June 12. They will embark on a seven-city, 11-date tour in Japan starting June 15.Jun 14, 2013
K-pop groups rush to embark on world tours Just three years after its debut, the seven-member K-pop group Infinite will go on a world tour starting in Seoul Aug. 8-9, and then going to the UnitedStates and Latin America. The tour is jointly organized by its agency Woollim Entertainment, Live Nation and CJ E&M. / Courtesy of Woollim EntertainmentBy Kim Ji-sooInfinite is a young K-pop group that debuted in 2010 but is already making great progress in the showbiz industry. The group on Monday announced a world tour titled “2013 Infinite 1st World Tour-One Great Step.”It’s a bold step for the seven-member group that is steadily gaining popularity.“It’s still like a dream that we were able to achieve our dream of going on a world tour in just three years,” said Hoya, an Infinite member, at a press conference held Monday in Seoul. “We will do our best to convey Korean culture to the world,” said Sung-kyu, the group’s leader.Popular in Korea and Asia, they began making their mark in 2011 with “Be Mine,” from their first album “Over the Top” and the &ldJun 14, 2013By Kim Ji-soo
Harim spearheads globalization of 'samgyetang' By Park Si-soo This is the sixth in a series of articles on Korean food companies and restaurants seeking to expand overseas — ED. Kim Hong-kukHarim chairmanHarim is stepping up efforts to promote “samgyetang” (chicken stew with ginseng), as an international dish. It is widely regarded as representing a traditional energy booster of the nation.Toward that end, Harim, the country’s biggest poultry processing company has invested nearly $10 million to build a samgyetang plant in Delaware, the United States. The plant, with the capacity of processing a maximum 300,000 chickens per day, is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year. The product will be sold in the U.S. and exported to Europe and the Middle East.“I once thought it’s impossible for us to become the No.1 chicken processor in the U.S. But I’m confident that it’s a matter of time for us to achieve the goal with the plant,” said Kim Hong-kuk, chairman of Harim, during a press conference in Seoul on June 5.Seen is a bowl of “samgyetang” or Korea&Jun 13, 2013
