Author: Denise Coley
Fourth of July this year brought in a new kind of bang when I attended the Seoul International Wines & Spirit Expo 2024 (SIWSE) hosted at the Coex Exhibition Centre in Gangnam, Seoul, organized by the Korea International Exhibition Co., Ltd. (KIECO). By the end of day three, I felt I had time traveled to tastes steeped in history and back again to the commanding allure that is modern-day Seoul. Unforgettable does not do the experience justice. Being a woman that is well into my ajumma (아줌마/married or middle-aged woman) phase at just a few years short of a half…
For the 2024 Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Film Critic and Journalist Carolyn Hinds spoke to writer, director, composer and actress Koo Hye-sun about her short film ‘STUDIO KOOHYESUN’ in which Koo takes a look back at what she wishes she could’ve done differently and audiences understood about her 2012 dramatic feature ‘The Peach Tree’. ‘STUDIO KOOHYESUN’ screened in the Korean Short Film Program of #SSFF2023. Interpreting for the interview was conducted by Jang Taek-soo. #KooHyeSun #KCrush #KoreanCinema #KoreanFilm #AsianCinema #KooHyeSun #KCrush #KoreanCinema #KoreanFilm #AsianCinema
LISTEN TO “UNBREAK” HERE WATCH VISUALIZER HERE Asian-American artist, KATIE, releases her new all-English single, “Unbreak”, via Sony Music Entertainment Korea. Don’t call her just a K-pop star because the pop sensation is primed for global takeover with new music that makes her true to herself. Poised for global stardom at a young age after winning first place on “K-Pop Star,” the hit TV program in South Korea, the singer-songwriter is ready for her comeback. KATIE’s unique sound and emotional vocals features an intimate performance and a luxurious soundscape in the future R&B genre. The song conveys the message of healing someone’s…
▲ 2024 EVERGLOW US & LATAM TOUR <PULSE & HEART> official poster K-pop sensation EVERGLOW is set to ignite stages across America and Latin America with their 2024 US & LATAM Tour <PULSE & HEART>. Organized by MyMusicTaste and managed by YUE HUA Entertainment Korea, this tour promises an electrifying experience for fans, featuring their latest hits and fan favorites, including the highly anticipated track ‘ZOMBIE’. Following their recent announcement, EVERGLOW has captured global attention with their 5th single album’s title song ‘ZOMBIE’, a song expected to showcase their signature charisma and dynamic musical style. Fans can look forward to…
Film Critic and Journalist spoke with writer and director Yoo Ji-min about her narrative short film ‘Jung Ok’, which screened at the 2024 Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Japan. In their interview, Carolyn and Yoo Ji-min spoke about how the film depicts how the journey from experiencing their period for the first time to entering into menopause changes how young girls and women see themselves and how the world sees them. ‘JungOk’ screened in the Women in Cinema Project program at #SSFF2024, and stars LEE Hyun, KIM Jingoo, KIM Bomin. Interpreting for the interview was conducted by Jang…
Film Critic and Journalist Carolyn Hinds spoke to filmmaker Lee Won-sik about his documentary ‘A Song of Korean Factory Girls’ about the young Korean girls and women who were taken to work in the Osaka cotton mills, during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The film screened in the Korean Cinema program of the 2024 Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea. #KCrush #JEONJUIFF25 #전주국제영화제 #제25회전주국제영화제 #JEONJUIFF2024 #KoreanCinema
The music video for ‘Hush-Hush’, a collaboration between the seven-member Japanese group BE:FIRST and the eight-member South Korean group ATEEZ, has been released on BE:FIRST’s official YouTube channel. BE:FIRST X ATEEZ / Hush-Hush -Music Video- https://youtu.be/6KEqMEmyuIs ‘Hush-Hush’ The collaboration between BE:FIRST and ATEEZ is an electrifying fusion that showcases each group’s unique abilities. The track pulsates with driving synth arpeggios and hard-hitting drums, while the members of each group take turns to show off their skills in twist after thrilling twist. Knowing when to go big but also when to hold back, this collaboration between two powerhouses of Asian pop music is a breathless three-minute…
LISTEN HERE MUSIC VIDEO HERE Music collective 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE has released their latest single “Gasoline” with South Korean rock singer/songwriter LØREN. Out now via 88rising and RCA Records, the single is accompanied by a high-octane music video. Listen to “Gasoline” HERE. “Gasoline” is an electrifying pop-punk re-emergence for both LØREN and the genre-bending collective 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE. The all-English single touches on LØREN’s inner turmoil and angst as he struggles against both his personal demons and societal pressures. Meanwhile, the music video, directed by James Mao, perfectly captures the spirit of teenage angst and rebellion. Watch the…
‘Connection’ is a 2024 K-drama revolving around the grueling fight against drug traffickers embedded deep into crucial departments that govern society. Jang Jae Kyeong, a diligent drug trafficking agent is drugged into an addict even as his former best friend, Park Joon Seo, dies a mysterious and gruesome death. An investigation of the friend’s death while working to dismantle the reigning traffic gangs, layers of revelations connected to the very powerful in the society resurface with each episode making everyone a suspect. Jae Kyeong joins hands with Oh Yoon Jin, also a former friend of Joon Seo, especially since both…
‘My Sweet Moster’ k-drama tells the story of Seo Ji Hwan, a reforming gangster who dismantles his gang and strives to give them a fresh beginning through his company, Thirsty Deer. While on his newly found venture, Seo Ji Hwan bumps into the bubbly Go Eun Ha, whose bubbly spell traps him. Go Eun Ha is a kids’ content creator whose career is on a rocky road with the only source of hope finding her long-lost childhood friend, Hyun Woo. Jang Hyun Woo is a prosecutor famous among girls for his good specs but has a secret crush on Go…
iKON’s Junhoe is making his solo debut this coming July. Junhoe is scheduled to make a debut with the ‘BRUISE’ mini-album on July 3. Junhoe, also a talented actor, will be following the steps of his other group members who have walked before him in the solo artist realm, including DK, Bobby, and Song. Junhoe’s solo debut also comes days after iKON’s Chanwoo and Bobby enlisted into the military. This is a monumental moment for Junhoe who has been in the K-Pop industry for the last 9 years. —-Karen Mwenda #JunhoeofiKON #iKON #Junhoe #JUNHOEminialbum #kcrushnews #Chanwoo #Bobby #militaryenlistment…
The former Wonder Girls member is above the moon with the joy of becoming a mother again. Hyerim, who walked down the aisle with her lover in 2020, first joined motherhood in 2020 after giving birth to their firstborn, Si Woo. On June 25, the former Wonder Girls member shared the joyous news about her pregnancy thrilled that Si Woo would finally get a sibling. With the baby’s gender still a mystery, fans have shown their unwavering support through heartwarming congratulatory messages on her social media platforms. Hyerim promised to keep her fans updated, including through her YouTube channel. Congratulations…
On June 28, BTS’s Jimin graced fans with a pre-release single in collaboration with the talented rapper Loco. Titled “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band”, this lyrical piece is a track from Jimin’s upcoming solo album, ‘MUSE’. ‘MUSE’ will be Jimin’s 2nd solo album scheduled for release on July 19. The “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” pre-release single comes days after a full track list for the upcoming ‘MUSE’ album was revealed. With the track list reveal, fans cannot wait to see how Jimin’s voice blends with the various artists he has collaborated with in this ‘MUSE’ album. Loco, Jimin’s iconic collaborator for…
In this interview, Film Critic and Journalist Carolyn Hinds speaks with director Raita Yabushita about his black & white short film ‘AI Love You’, which screened in the Asia & Japan Program of the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, 2024. It stars 柄本時生, 佐々木春香, 広岡由里子, 谷川昭一朗. Interpreting for the interview was done by John Haggerty, MC for the festival. #SSFF2024 #KCrush #JapaneseFilm #ShortFilm #AsianCinema
KARA, a legendary second-generation girl group, is set to make a comeback this coming July according RBW Entertainment. KARA, which debuted in 2007, was among the leading contributors to the rise of Hallyu wave, especially with the 2012’s “Mr.” hit song. This comeback will be KARA’s release in a while with their last release being the ‘Move Again’ special album in November 2022 for their 15th anniversary. The album gained massive views confirming that KARA is indeed the queen on Hallyu. The “When I Move” single, a track from the ‘Move Again’ album, was also selected among Billboard chart’s “Best…