'Gentleman' snatches Guinness world record By Shim Jae-yunRapper and singer Psy’s newest single “Gentleman” snatched a Guinness world record as the most viewed video online in 24 hours, according to the Guinness Web site.“Gentleman became the most viewed online video in a 24-hour period when it drew 38.4 million hits on YouTube on April 14, the second day of its release,” the Web site said in an article posted on Thursday (local time).The Web site also noted, “Proving that ‘Gangnam Style’ was far from a one-hit-wonder, South Korean sensation Psy has secured another Guinness World Records title with his follow-up single, ‘Gentleman.’” “The video registered 38,409,306 views on YouTube within its first 24 hours on April 14, and at the time of writing 11 days later, has been seen more than 222,867,915 views,” it said.The 35-year-old sensation has set four Guinness world records so far including the previous three he won through “Gangnam Style,” in the categories of — the most viewed video online, the most “liked” video onliMay 1, 2013
Big Bang's Taeyang debuts in Japan Taeyang of the boy-group Big Bang is pictured on a poster announcing the schedule forupcoming tests administered by the Japan Street Dance Association.Taeyang of the five-member boy band Big Bang showed off his groovy dance moves in a Japanese ad, his talent agency YG Entertainment said Wednesday.This is the first time that the singer has appeared solo in an ad for the Japan Street Dance Association (JSDA), without the other members of G-Dragon, T.O.P, Daesung and Seungri.The JSDA was established in 2001 to promote the culture of dance, and the association officials were impressed by Taeyang’s moves during Big Bang’s world tour last year.The JSCA advertisement will grace the large screens in the neighborhood near Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Nagoya Station in Nagoya and at Osaka Shinsiahbashi.The ad was filmed around the middle of April in Tokyo. May 1, 2013
National Assembly hallyu association sets sail Participants at the founding ceremony for the National Assembly’s research committee on “hallyu” or the Korean wave discuss further promoting andexpanding the popularity of Korean cultural content. From left are Rep. Chung Byung-gook of the ruling Saenuri Party; Foreign Minister YoonByung-se; Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong; and Rep. Park Byeong-seug of the opposition Democratic United Party and deputy speaker of the NationalAssembly. / YonhapA research committee on “hallyu” or the Korean wave was officially launched Wednesday, with the nation’s lawmakers looking to further expand the popularity of Korean cultural content.The committee will be jointly led by Rep. Park Byeong-seug of the main opposition Democratic Party, who is also the deputy speaker at the National Assembly, and Rep. Chung Byung-gook of the ruling Saenuri Party who was also former culture minister. Also attending the launching ceremony were Foreign Minister Yoon Byung-se, Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong and about 40 ruling and opposition party members.At the ceremony that doubled asMay 1, 2013
5-year itch for top K-pop bands Members of the K-pop group 2PM perform at Tokyo Dome in their “Legend of 2PM” held last month in Tokyo, Japan. / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentThe cover of the girl-group 4minute’s new album is titled “Name Is 4minute”By Kim Ji-sooIf you have been trying to learn the names, faces and songs of the new K-pop groups, and this left you stressed out, there is good news.Familiar and popular K-pop groups are returning to the domestic small screen and stages. Coincidentally these groups are those that made their debut at the start of the full-fledged popularity of “hallyu” (the Korean wave) in 2009 and rose to its crest.Powerful and uninhibited, the five-members of 4minute have returned with a fourth mini-album titled “Name is 4minute.”Gone is their dark, raven hair and the five members ― Heo Ga-yoon, Kim Hyun-a, Nam Ji-hyun, Kwon So-hyun and Jeon Ji-youn ― now sport blonde and strawberry styles.Lean and casually-dressed like hip-hop sisters, their songs and dance moves are alluringly sexy enough. The album contains five sonMay 1, 2013
Smoothie King among 'Top 100 outlets' Smoothie King announced it has listed its name on the Franchise Direct’s “2013 Top 100 Global Franchises” list.Smoothie King ranked 65th while its juice brand “Jamba Juice” ranked 100th.Franchise Direct releases global rankings every year based on surveys such as each franchise’s growth rate, market expansion and franchisee support and training.Smoothies Korea, the Korean branch of U.S.-based beverage firm Smoothie King, purchased its parent firm in 2012. Since then, it has evolved into a global business by beefing up its original smoothie image as well as adding its business know-how built on the Korean market over the 10 years.The firm is expanding its global presence aggressively. It entered the Singaporean market in just five months of its acquisition and opened its second franchise in April.May 1, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Cosmetics & Beauty Expo to kick off with colorful events 24-day-event unlocks secrets of K-beauty The 2013 Cosmetics and Beauty Expo will open in Osong, North Chungcheong Province, Friday.The 24-day festival of beauty under the motto of “Beautiful Life & Healthy Bio” will run through May 26.More than 3,000 visitors are expected for the opening ceremony including key officials from the beauty industry and Prime Minister Chung Hong-won.The show includes traditional drum recitals, body painting exhibitions and performances by K-pop singers.The event, with over 300 companies from home and abroad participating, is expected to attract more than 1 million visitors, making it the largest beauty fair in Korea. Local big-name companies, including AmorePacific Corp. and LG Household & Healthcare, have reserved booths for the exhibition.Six special themed pavilions will be open to the public - the World Beauty Pavilion, the Bio-Beauty Pavilion, the Korea Fever Culture Pavilion, the World Beauty Dolls Pavilion, the Cosmetic Industry Pavilion and the Beauty Industry Pavilion.The Korea Beauty Pavilion introduces traditionalMay 1, 2013By Park Jin-hai
Girl group Miji to perform 'Gentleman' Group MijiMiji, an eight-membered girl group featuring traditional Korean music, will present their version of world star Psy’s “Gentleman.”The Korean Cultural Center has invited the group to perform at the event titled “K-Style DC” that will be held May 1-3 at Dulles International Airport.The group that specializes in “gugak”or traditional music plays Korean instruments including as gayageum, haegeum, daegeum, and saenghwang to present a rich melody on stage. At the Dulles performance, they will also will present their version of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” as well as Korean traditional musical pieces.At the three-day event, there will also be performances of fusion gugak, traditional Korean attire fashion show, K-pop dance and taekwondo performances.Apr 30, 2013
Audition winner releases album Park Su-jinPark Su-jin, the runner-up in “Star Audition: The Great Birth 3,” will release the single “Tteolyeoyo” with the hip-hop group ElecrtoBoyz.Park’s management agency Brave Entertainment disclosed the cover of the single Monday.“The song is about spring, a comfortable song to listen to,” Brave Entertainment said.Park signed up with the agency after taking second place in MBC’s talent show last year. The teen is preparing for an official debut slated for the second half of the year. ElectroBoyz released the album “In Love” on April 2 that features the popular song “Ma Boy 3.” Apr 30, 2013
Jeju Air to have hallyu models Jang Geun-sukFans can’t get enough of them, so a local budget carrier has decided to grace their airplanes with portraits of three “hallyu” stars ― actors Jang Geun-suk and Choi Ji-woo and K-pop singer Kim Hyun-joong.Jeju Air said that the pictures of the three leading Korean wave stars will be on the exteriors of their planes flying domestically as well as those flying to Japan, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand and Guam.Jang recently wrapped up a two-day fan meeting, held in conjunction with Lotte Duty Free, in High 1 Resort in Gangwon Province where he met with 1,500 inbound Japanese tourists-cum-fans. Jeju Air said that it is looking to hold such fan meetings, in collaboration with Lotte Duty Free. The three stars also currently advertise Lotte Duty Free.This is the second time that the budget air carrier has used hallyu stars. Last year, they selected the popular K-pop group Big Bang.Apr 30, 2013
Korean traditional medicine set to lead medical tourism By Park Jin-haiThe government plans to provide financial support for the development of Korean traditional medicine in a bid to make it new growth engine for medical hallyu or Korean wave.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it launched so-called “Well-KOM Care” project to nurture Korean traditional medicine to lead medical tourism. Well-KOM is the abbreviated term for “Get Well, Korea Medicine, Care.”A total of 500 million won ($446,000) has been earmarked for this project, and the amount is projected to double next year. It is the first time the government has included traditional medicine in its medical hallyu package and allocated a budget to that effect.Last year provincial governments and hospitals all geared up to attract foreign patients as part of the “medical tourism” campaign. Until now, the emphasis of the medical tourism campaign was overly tilted towards western medicine and surgical its related surgical procedures barely leaving out the field of traditional medicine.“The year 2013 will be remembered as a great leap forward iApr 30, 2013By Park Jin-hai
