Webtoon give inspiration to films “Secretly Greatly,” starring Kim Soo-hyunBased on the popular eponymous web cartoon, above, created by Hun in 2010. / Courtesy of Showbox/MediaplexBy Chung Ah-youngDigital comics or so-called “webtoons” have been making a jump to the big screen or stage since a digital comic strip, “Apartment” by Kang Full, the most popular web cartoonist, was adapted into a film version in 2006. Bringing the web cartoons to the big screen offers more opportunities to filmmakers by taking advantage of the original ideas along with their solid fan base and familiar storylines. The Korean movie industry recently suffering from dwindling popularity overshadowed by Hollywood blockbusters is now seeing the digital comics as crucial sources of ideas in their cinematic productions. A slew of Korean movies based on web comics are to be released or to be made, thus boosting the sagging local film industry. The industry expects a series of movies inspired by popular web cartoons would attract large audiences. “Secretly Greatly” is one of this year&rsquoJun 5, 2013
INFINITE to hold exhibit in Tokyo INFINITE K-pop boy group INFINITE will hold an exhibition of albums, stage costumes, photos and concert posters, and screen their music videos from June 12 to 30 at Tower Records Shibuya in Tokyo. The INFINITE Space event is designed to celebrate their first Japanese studio album titled “Koi ni Ochiru Toki” (When I Fall in Love), which will be released Wednesday.The album consists of 12 tracks including “Man in Love,” “Welcome to Our Dream” “She’s Back,” “Wings,” “BTD” (Before the Dawn), “Be Mine” and Tic Toc.”The group has seven members ― Sunggyu, Dongwoo, Woohyun, Hoya, Sungyeol, L and Sungjong. Renowned for its highly synchronized choreography in their “BTD” music video, the group is popular not only in Korea but also in the neighboring country.It began its activities in Japan with the single “BTD” in November 2011, which sold 30,000 copies in just three days. The band’s other singles ― “Be Mine” and “SheJun 4, 2013
Paldo expanding business in Russia, US American children taste Paldo products during the firm’s street promotional campaign in Los Angeles in this photo taken last August. Sixty countriescurrently sell the company’s products. Paldo is diversifying its product portfolio to enter new markets such as India, Latin American and African nations. / Courtesy of PaldoBy Park Si-sooThis is the fifth in a series of articles on Korean food companies and restaurants seeking to expand overseas ㅡ ED.Paldo CEO Choi Jae-moonInstant noodle maker Paldo is flexing its muscles to expand its international presence on the back of brisk sales in Russia, the United States, Japan and China. The company headed by Choi Jae-moon, entered Brazil and Singapore last year, raising the number of countries selling its products to 60. “Paldo’s globalization is going on,” Choi said in a statement, adding the firm keeps diversifying its product portfolio in an ambitious move into “uncharted markets” such as India, and Latin American and African nations. Paldo spun off in 2012 from the country’s largesJun 4, 2013
Actor Kim to tie knot on June 28 Actor Kim Jae-wonBy Park Si-soo Actor Kim Jae-won will tie the knot with his girlfriend on June 28, his management agency said Tuesday. Kim confirmed the announcement with a message he posted on a website for his fans the same day. “I’ve found my other half. I want to live with her for the rest of my life,” he wrote. The 32-year-old didn’t elaborate on his bride-to-be, saying “she is not a public figure.” According to his agency, she is a friend from childhood. The couple started seeing each other last October and Kim proposed in February. The date for the wedding was decided during a recent meeting of members of the two families, the agency said. In the message, Kim said, “We are the same age. She is warm-hearted, kind and considerate,” adding he believes that his fans will give them full support for a happy marriage. Kim made his debut in 2001 in the TV drama “Honey.” His beaming smile earned the actor the somewhat feminine nickname of “smiling angel”. Subsequently he has cultivated an image as a tough guyJun 4, 2013
Theater heals migrant women The theater group Saladboom features a play based on the real-life deaths of a group of migrant women at Gimhae Arts and Sports Center on May 28.The troupe is comprised of migrant wives from Asian countries. / Courtesy of Saladboom'Saladboom' soothes abused migrant wivesPark Kyung-ju, founder of “Saladboom”By Park Jin-haiUnder the mounting stress of the modern age, “healing” has become the most appealing buzzword to people of all ages. This has brought with it various therapies designed to relieve the tensions of everyday lives.However, for migrant wives who struggle to adjust to patriarchal Korean society, healing is just another luxury they simply cannot afford. For this reason, a theater troupe has emerged as a soulful shelter for “wounded” migrant wives since it was formed in April to offer them an opportunity to try out their artistic talent.“Saladboom” provides various programs including one-month percussion classes for migrant women, who are fleeing from abusive spouses aimed at offering them psychological healiJun 4, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Hallyu may lose popularity base in 5 years By Baek Byung-yeulKorea in the past years has invested Herculean efforts to extend the international boom for its cultural exports, dubbed "hallyu" (the Korean wave). However, there are increasing arguments that the government should relax its aggressive marketing as foreigners seem to be showing signs of recoiling from the smell of nationalism.A survey of more than 3,600 people from Asian countries, Europe, the United States and Russia by the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) showed 66 percent of the respondents predicting hallyu will become irrelevant as a commercial force in their countries within the next four years. More than 15 percent of them believed hallyu has reached that point already.KOFICE, which conducted the poll in November last year and recently unveiled the results, observed that the popularity of Korean cultural products in Japan and China, which have been the centers of the hallyu boom, is dwindling rapidly.The success of hallyu is critical in the minds of policymakers, who are desperate to extend the country’s industrialization "Jun 4, 2013
Junsu to release 2nd solo album JYJ’s main vocalist JunsuBy Park Si-soo The lead singer of popular boy band JYJ, Junsu, will release his second solo album next month, said his management agency Monday.The precise date of release has yet to be decided, C-Jes Entertainment said, but the new album will feature a mix of romantic ballads and upbeat songs with catchy tunes which will enable listeners to verify the 26-year-old’s “balanced musical talent.” “Junsu has lived up to his fame with his first solo album,” the agency said in a statement. “The upcoming album will help bolster recognition and show his fans that the singer’s music is continuing to evolve.”Junsu’s first solo album “Unequalled” with 12 songs was released in May last year. He has since hosted concerts in eleven cities across Latin America and Europe, selling 180,000 copies of the album. The agency said he will focus more on overseas markets to facilitate the building of fan bases in China, Germany, Chile and many Southeast Asian countries. Jun 3, 2013
Cube expanding presence with new artists Six-member boy group BEAST’s single “Will You be Alright?” is flying high, while the group is scheduled to hold concerts in Seoul on July 20 and 21.Rain, who will be discharged from the military on July 10, will sign with Cube Entertainment./ Korea Times fileBy Kim Ji-soo To the delight of BEAST fans, the six members broke their one-year hiatus as a group and released an online single “Will You be Alright?” The ballad featuring an R&B rhythm topped music charts immediately after its release Wednesday.The group will hold number of events in the coming days including concerts on July 20 and 21 at Seoul Olympic Park Gymnasium. Another group registered with Cube, 4minute, is cruising with their latest album that was released in April. The five girls of 4minute are busy promoting “What’s Your Name?” a single that topped the country’s largest music chart, Melon, in the last two weeks of May. On May 26, they topped the rankings on SBS’s “Inkigayo” program for second straight week. With its stronJun 3, 2013
Psy promotes Korean tourism in TV ad Psy promotes Korean food in one of “Psy’s Wiki Korea’’ series of commercials, produced by Korean tourism authorities, which have started to be shown on 70 television channels worldwide. / Courtesy of KTOBy Yun Suh-youngA television advertisement featuring Psy promoting Korean tourism has gone on air worldwide as the Korean government attempts to milk the international popularity of the "Gangnam Style’’ rapper.The six 15-second commercials, dubbed "Psy’s Wiki Korea,’’ shows Psy explaining various subjects in Korean culture: "banchan’’ (side dishes), "bulgeum’’ (Friday night leisure activities), "cosmeroad’’ (shopping areas for cosmetics products in Myeong-dong, Seoul), "samgyeopsal’’ (grilled pork belly), Dongdaemun (a central Seoul shopping and leisure district), and olle-gil (trekking trails in Jeju Island). The commercials have begun to be broadcast on 70 television channels worldwide, including cable network giant CNN and China’s CCTV."Psy introduces only some of tJun 3, 2013
JYJ member to release second solo album next month By Park Si-soo The lead singer of popular boy band JYJ, Junsu, will release his second solo album next month, said his management agency Monday. The precise date of release has yet to be decided, C-Jes Entertainment said, but the new album will feature a mix of romantic ballads and upbeat songs with catchy tunes which will enable listeners to verify the 26-year-old’s “balanced musical talent.” “Junsu has lived up to his fame with his first solo album,” the agency said in a statement. “The upcoming album will help bolster recognition and show his fans that the singer’s music is continuing to evolve.” Junsu’s first solo album “Unequalled” with 12 songs was released in May last year. He has since hosted concerts in eleven cities across Latin America and Europe, selling 180,000 copies of the album. The agency said he will focus more on overseas markets to facilitate the building of fan bases in China, Germany, Chile and many Southeast Asian countries.Jun 3, 2013
