Gov't to expand program to cultivate Korean culture expertsThe government will expand both in quality and quantity its education program for aspiring creators of content related to traditional Korean culture, the culture ministry said Wednesday. The ministry has offered a month-long education course on traditional Korean culture for producers, scriptwriters and others with creative jobs in the broadcasting and movie industries, since April, so they can play a role in increasing the world's awareness of Korean traditional culture through their work. It has recently renamed the program originally called "K-Arts Academy" to "Hallyu Academy," hoping their deep understanding of traditional culture will enrich contemporary cultural products, helping to continue "hallyu" or the rising worldwide boom of Korean pop music, films and TV dramas. To help participants get a deeper understanding of the culture, the ministry said it will double the total length of the education to 60-80 hours per person and run five courses -- one for beginners and four others for advanced-level takers -- starting in the second half of this year. Chiefs of varioAug 8, 2012
SISTAR: Unpredictable girls ready to grow up but no too fastBy Kwaak Je-yup As the girls of SISTAR settled down in the sofas of their dressing room backstage at SBS’s weekly K-pop show Sunday, it was striking how comfortable they looked, despite the presence of a reporter they had never met before. First to find her spot, Soyou, 20, asked for her poofy Rilakkuma pillow and kept the Japanese bear character in her arms. “It was a gift from a fan,” she said. “I carry it around with me everywhere I go.” Bora, the eldest at age 22, sat down to her left, impeccably dressed and with flawless make-up on, while the 19-year-old Dasom, the youngest of the four, rushed back from a break and found a seat on Soyou’s opposite side, eyes sparkling. Hyolyn, 21, the vocal powerhouse of the group, was sitting quietly in front of a mirror as stylists frantically brushed the locks of her hair. They were stars with a string of No. 1 hits in their discography, but nothing about their easygoing and cheerful demeanor seemed to suggest any diva attitude. “Are we popular abroad?” said Bora and Soyou in unison, when asked about their place in hallyu, oAug 7, 2012
From 'Gangnam' to US, video goes viralBy Rachel Lee Korean pop singer PSY’s new song “Gangnam Style” is capturing the world’s attention with its wacky music video. The title track of his sixth studio album has topped various online charts including Melon and Naver music for three consecutive weeks since its release on July 15. On YouTube, over 15 million clicks were recorded as of Monday for the song and comical video from the 34-year-old rapper, whose real name is Park Jae-sang. Gangnam refers to a posh neighborhood in the southern part of Seoul that is considered the capital’s center of fashion and culture with its many expensive restaurants and bars. The video for “Gangnam Style “ features Park and various backup dancers performing a funky routine of dance steps resembling horseback riding in various locations such as an underground parking lot, on a bus, and along the riverside. Well-known Korean comedians, Yu Jae-seok and No Hong-chul make cameo appearances in the video and Kim Hyun-a of K-pop girl group 4minute acts as the girl that Park is singing about. This marks the singer’s third biggest Aug 6, 2012
Wacky K-pop star's new song attracts world audienceAn eccentric Korean pop singer is getting a lot of clicks from an online audience across the world with his latest song as social network services have been tearing down the wall between different cultures. Park Jae-sang, more commonly known by his stage name "Psy," has been basking in a new wave of popularity via SNS on his title song "Gangnam Style," released on his sixth album last month. His comical video clip has gone viral, from evoking parodies to being introduced in U.S. media. It has been No. 1 on the country's major music charts for 20 days, with its YouTube hits surpassing 13 million clicks. In the iTunes store, Gangnam Style has topped the Finnish list, come in third in New Zealand, fourth in Denmark and seventh in the United States. Gangnam Style, which became Psy's second-biggest hit after the debut song "Bird" in 2001, features an electronic sound that cheers you up with his endless erratic dance. The lyrics have a lot of gags that relate listeners to their daily chores, which has successfully touched upon their sentiment. "My motto is 'be funny but not stAug 5, 2012
Hwayoung to leave T-araBy Rachel Lee Hwayoung left K-pop T-ara as of Monday, the group’s agency Core Contents Media has announced. According to a statement released Monday, the contract with the 19-year-old member has been nullified, without any strings attached. The news comes amid alleged conflict between Hwayoung and the rest of the group. The seven others have reportedly bullied the 19-year-old and recently left cryptic tweets that the public interpreted as infighting. However, Kim Kwang-soo, CEO of the agency, denied the widespread rumors and said that the company has made the decision for better teamwork. “Hwayoung is a talented young rapper with enormous potential. I hope she will continue to pursue a career as a musician.” he added. The trouble began when the group held the concert “T-ara Jewelry Box” in Japan on July 25 and 26. Hwayoung, who injured her leg before the shows, was not able to perform except for the recent track “Day by Day.” Other band members started to post tweets that stirred up talk of infighting. Hyomin tweeted, “Everyone has a different level of determinaJul 30, 2012
Infinite exude ambience of ordinaryThe seven members of K-pop group Infinite appeal to fans with their ordinary boy-next-door looks. After a somewhat lackluster debut in 2010, the group topped the charts with “Be Mine” in 2011 and “The Chaser” in 2012. They not only boast of meticulous dance moves but also high-quality synthesizer pop numbers by noted songwriters. Offstage, Infinite present a joviality common among any men in their early 20s, except for the faint traces of fatigue on their youthful faces. As the demand for K-pop rises both in Korea and overseas, popular singers or groups have been subsisting on two hours of sleep a day as they manage tough schedules. Infinite are no exception and they are glad and thankful to be part of the music scene. They have worked hard in sync with their producer and staff, to reach their nascent but storming popularity. Their hard work has paid off and they have concerts planned in Korea and Japan in the second half of the year. What comes next remains uncertain but the group’s members hope what they have will be Infinite.Jul 24, 2012By Kim Ji-soo
'Hallyu' — Korean teaching toolSuper Junior, ‘Winter Sonata’ as new primers By Jane Han NEW YORK ― For learners of Korean in the U.S., it’s goodbye to rote memorization and dull drills; hello to Super Junior and Bae Yong-joon. A new curriculum is set to revamp the traditional teaching method of Korean, a much-needed update aimed at giving the language a more fun and practical appeal. ``It’s always been about grammar and vocabulary, just like the way Korean students approach English,’’ said Lee Hyo-sang, associate professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Indiana University. ``You can pile on all the grammar and vocabulary you want, but it’s worthless if you can’t speak the language,’’ he said. ``What you know about the language isn’t important. What you can do with the language is.’’ To help Korean learners do more, Lee and members of the American Association of Teachers of Korean (AATK), a national group of Korean language educators in the U.S., are working on a new curriculum that moves away from textbooks and engages cultural elements instead. ``Many instructors havJul 17, 2012
Girls' Generation most popular among foreign K-pop fansKorean group Girls' Generation was the No. 1 choice for foreigners participating in a South Korean contest for emulating the choreography of popular K-pop groups, the organizer said Tuesday. After analyzing video footage sent in by the participants of the "2012 K-pop Cover Dance Festival," contest organizer Korea Year Committee said that Girls' Generation was emulated in 155 instances, the largest number. A total of 1,350 teams from some 50 countries submitted videos of their cover dance performances via the committee's Web site, it said. Participants could send in their videos from April 26 until Tuesday. K-pop boy band SHINee came second with 98 instances, followed by girl groups Miss A and SISTAR with 79 and 75, respectively. Another girl group, 2NE1, came in fifth place with 70, according to the civilian-government committee working to draw more foreign tourists to the country on the occasion of the 2010-2012 Visit Korea Year. By region, Girls' Generation was the most favored group among foreign fans in Asia and Europe while SHINee was the most popular in the AmeJul 11, 2012
Get your dose of 2NE1By Kwaak Je-yup If any girl group has a chance of global success, 2NE1 should be one. They are fluent in English and other languages; have distinct flair and charisma that fill up any arena; natural talent in singing and dancing; and years of training. They are also blessed with one of the most consistent, prolific and creative producers and one of the nation’s biggest agencies backing them with K-pop’s finest records, namely Teddy Park and YG Entertainment. The case of the newest single “I Love You,” which was released last week, speaks volumes about why there is an even brighter future ahead. Released to an extremely polarized public reception, the track kept the group in the center of the limelight. Even against some of the industry’s strongest groups in competition, including tried-and-true boy band Super Junior and star girl groups T-ARA and Sistar, they are holding their ground. The single’s oddly catchy melody on top of subtle beats slowly sneaks into the listener’s head and stays there like a kind of brain itch. The electro-pop sound is a complete departure fJul 10, 2012
2NE1 ― pushing boundaries, defying expectationsThis is the seventh in a 15-part series on the stars and trends of “hallyu,” or the Korean wave, which is gaining popularity in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The Korea Times is producing this special project in cooperation with the Korea Foundation and CJ E&M. — ED. By Kwaak Je-yup From day one, K-pop foursome 2NE1 have been all about breaking rules and surprises. Their larger-than-life stage presence and natural charm were already enough to make them stars but their uncanny ability to produce something fresh and out of the ordinary with every new release — catching fans and casual listeners off-guard without exception — has placed them in a league of their own. Just three years after their debut, they have become one of the most popular K-pop groups today, turning heads all around the world, from Korea and Japan to the United States and Brazil. They were at the Cannes Lions, presenting K-pop’s spread at the advertising world’s biggest event. Spin Magazine ranked the group’s sophomore EP “2nd Mini Album” No. 6 on its review of best pop albums, above Jul 10, 2012