Crayon-H.O.T? Moon Hee Jun Announces Engagement to Soyul

On November 24, 2016, many K-Pop fans were surprised by the news that H.O.T’s Moon Hee Jun announced that he is engaged to be married via a letter posted on his fan café.

In the note, Moon states, “Although I’m an adult, after talking about this I think I’m really matured. My fans, I’m getting married. Although our relationship has changed you know that for me, you’re always first. Your precious existence won’t change. I know your feeling so conveying this news is heavy to me. Thank you as always.”

Initially, it wasn’t revealed who his bride-to-be is, but it was soon announced that his soon-to-be bride is Crayon Pop’s Soyul (Park Hye-Kyung). Koen Stars and Chrome Entertainment, Moon and Park’s respective agencies, confirmed the news adding the two stars will be getting married in February 2017.

When the news broke, Park posted on Crayon Pop’s fan café: “You all must have been very surprised…I am also extremely nervous right now. I met and will be getting married to someone I love who wholeheartedly cherishes me and loves me unconditionally.” She also revealed that she has no plans to retire from the industry.

Osen reports the two have been dating since April 2016, though other sources like Soompi suggest the romance may go as far back as 2013 when the two appeared on Pretty Boy Communication.

While some Crayon Pop fans may have known about the relationship for a while, there are still those in shock due to the couple’s age difference (he’s 38, she’s 25) and the fact that Park ceased promotions during Crayon Pop’s recent “Doo Doom Chit” comeback due to an anxiety disorder. Because of the latter, some Netizens find the news suspect and wonder if Park really has an anxiety disorder. Of course, when it comes to mental illness or anxiety, it’s wrong to speculate because it really does add more anxiety, which is something Internet commentators don’t fully understand.

Since the news broke, rumors have also circulated the Web suggesting the wedding is a “shot gun wedding” and that Park is pregnant. The rumors prompted both their agencies to respond with Chrome stating “It’s not pregnancy before marriage,” while Koen Stars states, “We do not know because it’s their personal matters.”

While the news did shock initially, the couple has received support for their upcoming nuptials. Hopefully the support will continue to flood in as the happy day inches closer.

Congratulations Moon Hee Jun and Soyul!

 

—-Joelle Halon

2016 will go down in K-Pop history as the year of monster rookies, up-and-coming groups, and international stars. For many, this was the year where the K-Pop Star-Power Mantle got passed to groups like TWICE, I.O.I, BLACKPINK, GFRIEND, Mamamoo, and BTS among others who made their voices heard in 2016. The year presented fans with strong, viral hits that showed K-Pop still has global staying power. While the year was a strong showing for some groups, 2016 also showed that the K-Pop market may be drying up a bit with some mediocre songs by long-established groups and many debuts from groups with some already forgotten. Despite the noise from groups who surged in popularity, 2016 marks one of the weakest years in recent K-Pop history.
Of course, not all is lost! In-between weak songs and mega-hits like “Rough,” “T.T,” “Cheer Up,” “Save Me,” “Very Very Very,” “Boombaya,” and “Whistle,” there are songs that didn’t get enough credit or attention. Grab your headphones: Here is a list of songs you need to hear!

021 “Show Me”

021’s debut single “Show Me” shows that sloppy composition can sometimes work in your favor; they along with D.Holic and Matilda show that if you have the talent, bad music arrangements can be successful. The song has a good beat with a strong chorus and nice vocals. The bridge is pleasant to hear and the dance break isn’t bad either. Some of the vocals are pitchy, but 021 have potential.

4Ten “Severely”

4Ten are a group with a forever-changing name. When they debuted, they were 4Ten before changing to Poten then back to 4Ten. With each change came the addition and subtraction of members. The current lineup is the magic formula as “Severely” was one of the bops of spring with fans domestically and internationally praising it. The dance track features solid vocals and arrangement to make it memorable while highlighting how 4Ten have poten[tial] in the industry if given a chance.

A-Daily “Chu”

“Chu” isn’t among A-Daily’s strongest releases. To be honest, the song suits Crayon Pop more, but that’s neither here nor there. A-Daily are a talented group with a strong discography, but they go unnoticed due to poor and lacking promotions. “Chu” is a cute return for A-Daily that is catchy and fun. The song’s beat has “club” written all over it, so listeners are guaranteed a fun dance track that can keep them motivated.

B.A.P “That’s My Jam”

The EDM track wasn’t promoted on music shows, which is a shame because it is a quintessential summer track. The MV has themes that show Zelo and Jongup are of age, but it’s lighthearted and playful and even pokes fun at past B.A.P MVs. The song has a high replay quality due to its addictive chorus and smooth vocal performances. “That’s My Jam” shows another facet of B.A.P’s range.

B.I.G “Aphrodite”

B.I.G often catch a lot of flak because of their group name and debut song “Hello.” Since their debut, they’ve strung together better music and singing abilities. “Aphrodite” should have earned them more attention because it has everything going for it: Amazing bass, strong vocals, and superb arrangement. The only issue is that “Aphrodite” came out a few years too late. If the song came out between 2007-2010, it would have been a standout hit because it fits the sound during this era. In 2016, not so much due to the market being over-saturated. “Aphrodite” ended up lost in the fray and forgotten.

Beenzino and BoA “No Matter What”

Released as one of SM Entertainment’s station songs, “No Matter What” is a nice electronica song that makes fans nostalgic for BoA’s magic and capabilities. Beenzino’s role in the song adds a unique flavor to add some depth to the cheery song. We hope for more Beenzino/BoA collabs in the future, but hopefully with an MV that’s less frightening.

Berry Good “Don’t Believe”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAicySTsvLo
Berry Good made a comeback in October with a more mature sound that suits them well. “Don’t Believe” is one of the better releases in all K-Pop this year due to it’s strong, catchy beat, bright sound, and richer vocals. The song’s arrangement highlights Berry Good’s improved vocals. With the familiar theme of heart ache and saying goodbye, the song is as much relatable as it is a certified bop. The MV, too, has strong imagery and what some perceive as LGBTQ-friendly theming. When combined with the song, it’s an all-encompassing treat.

Billion “I Have You”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehKKf5p5qcQ
It’s surprising that Billion have held on this long because they are the definition of a nugu group. However, they’ve had nice songs even though they’re not strongly on the memorable scale. “I Have You” is a fine example of this. The song is catchy but far from memorable, but it earns a nod on this list due to improved vocals and control.

Brave Girls “Deepened”

While the lineup isn’t the same, many were surprised when Brave Girls made a comeback. “Deepened” features an R&B sound that’s pleasing to the ear and presents a throwback feel to the 1990s and early 2000s. The rap parts caught the attention of YouTube viewers for good reason as the rap performance is solid and pleasant to hear. However, the chorus stands out as the best part with its mix of low and high tones. Brave Girls earned some new fans with the song, but many others let this gem go by unnoticed.

Bulldok “How’s This?/Why Not?”

KCONIC Entertainment’s Bulldok are full of familiar faces as all the members appeared on Produce 101; rapper Kimi is also a former member of the now-defunct group Scarlet. The song features a strong concept with a fierce beat and well-produced sound. Following the debut, Bulldok were among the top trends on Naver thanks to their fierce visuals and impressive song. While they were one of the rookies many watched out for, the song didn’t get as much love as it needed. However, future releases always fare better for impressive up-and-comers.

Cosmic Girl (Jooyi- formerly of RaNia) “So Then What Are You Going to Do?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dDJdIHAGnQ
A lot of K-Pop fans may have missed this release because Jooyi’s current name is similar to the girl group Cosmic Girls, which is a shame because it’s a nice return to the K-Pop scene for Jooyi. The R&B song highlights her voice beautifully as she exhibits an ability to hit high and low notes well. R&B in the K-Pop scene is often overlooked, so it’s nice to hear a song that exhibits why people should take note.

Cross Gene “Noona, You”

“Noona, You” should have been the song that earned Cross Gene the much-needed attention they deserve. The song was heading in that direction as it earned praised from international fans for its fun spirit and enjoyable sound. Casper’s rap portion stood out and caused some listeners to take notice. The MV, too, showed Cross Gene’s youthful, fun side in a humorous light. “Noona, You” had everything going for it to make it a hit, but it fell short on the charts and music shows.

D.Holic “Color Me Rad”

Please stop sleeping on D.Holic! Seriously. They’ve been consistently good and have had songs that show their many colors. “Color Me Rad” has a messy arrangement, but it works since it’s edgy and different, making it stand out from many songs this year.

Davichi “Beside Me”

When people think of Davichi, they usually consider them one of the top vocal duos in K-Pop. This thought is for good reason as they have a solid string of hits to back them. This is why it’s odd “Beside Me” didn’t get a lot of attention or music show wins because the song is glorious! The arrangement suits Davichi’s vocals beautifully, and their voices lend emotion to the story. The chorus reaches out and grabs the heart with moving delicacy to make “Beside Me” one of Davichi’s best and one of the year’s best.

Fiestar “Mirror”

Fiestar are a girl group that defines “underrated.” “Mirror” is one of the strongest songs to date due to lovely vocals and mature sexiness. The song fit Fiestar well to highlight their capabilities better than previous songs. The song came close to winning on The Show several times, so fans also viewed “Mirror” as one of Fiestar’s best.

Heize ft. Dean “Shut Up and Groove”

Heize has an unusual voice as it simultaneously high-pitched and almost whiny depending on what she sings. For “Shut Up and Groove,” the sound and tone work to create a nice summer jam. Dean’s vocals even out Heize’s pitch because he has a nice, even tone. The song is fun and enjoyable from beginning to end.

ICIA “Time Bomb”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP1hMjmxFnc
Formerly known as SIDA, ICIA got a name and member change and released “Time Bomb.” It’s low-budget and not a standout song, but it’s their best effort since their debut. It’s catchy with plenty of pep to help ICIA gain some recognition, especially since vocals are much better than from their debut.

Jessi “Excessive Love”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfLjhUauBaE
Confession: Jessi is better vocalist than she is a rapper. Of course, this is opinion, but her deep vocals have strong emotional depth that have an ability to carry a story about sadness and heartache. While “Excessive Love” has hints of Adele’s “Skyfall” in arrangement, the song is pleasant and heartrending and rich with haunting beauty. We hope to see this side of Jessi more often.

Jinsil and MC Mong “Aftereffect”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4y-aZWAxDM
MC Mong is still and enigma in South Korea due to his military service scandal, but it shouldn’t take away from his music quality. When he pairs with Jinsil (Mad Soul Child), magic happens thanks to their complementary tones and vocals. Both tend to be on the dryer side of the vocal landscape that make for interesting music. “Aftereffect” has a dreamlike quality to it that makes it a soothing tune.

Jung Joon Young “Sympathy” ft. Suh Young Eun

“Sympathy” gets the prize for being one of the year’s most masterful. The song comes complete with a symphony, emotional singing, and artful storytelling. Jung Joon Young’s voice just draws the listener in and makes him or her feel the story. Suh Young Eun’s vocals are a perfect, emotional reply to Jung’s as a couple that tries to decide how the relationship went wrong and how they drifted apart. Quietly, “Sympathy” became one of 2016’s best songs even though it had a short promotion period and not a lot of buzz. Who said you had to perform well on the charts to be dominant?

La Baie “The Bay”

As far as MVs are concerned, “The Bay’s” inclusion into the list is probably the oddest selection because the MV is trippy and psychedelic. Don’t let the MV deter you from an incredible New Age /Chic-Pop song that’s full of mystery, fantasy, and beauty. The singer sounds a lot like BoA, so there are listeners who may find the song comforting and familiar. “The Bay” takes listeners on a relaxing journey that makes the song worth its weight in gold.

Lucky J “No Love”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHwRNuNPvDc
“No Love” features strong rap and vocals to make it engaging song. Jessi’s vocals during the chorus have the right amount of distortion to make it pleasing and enjoyable, while J-Yo carries the song emotionally. One of the highlights is the use of traditional instrumentals to make the song well-grounded and haunting. Unfortunately, Lucky J went their separate ways following the release, but hopefully they’ll reconsider.

Madtown “Emptiness”

“Emptiness” sounds like a mashup of songs from B2st and WINNER, but it works for Madtown. It’s a light song that has a pleasant sound. The rap part could have been more refined, but it doesn’t detract from the song too much. “Emptiness” is a nice return for Madtown and worth a shot for potential new fans.

Matilda “You Bad! Don’t Make Me Cry”

Arrangement-wise, this song is a hot mess. It has hints of early 2NE1 combined with a dance track and reggae sound. Combined, it sounds like it doesn’t work, but listeners may find themselves warming up to this song quickly as it is catchy and groove-heavy.

Oh My Girl “Windy Day”

Oh My Girl are one of 2015’s strongest rookies, but they aren’t as popular as fellow girl group GFriend. This is a shame because OMG has more range and quirkiness. “Windy Day” is more J-Pop than K-Pop with its rock elements and cuteness, and it has a memorable fun chorus. The song is one of K-Pop’s most recognizable because it has a different sound than others released throughout the year.

Stellar “Sting”

Stellar are a group that can’t seem to make anyone happy. Since “Marionette,” they’ve struggled to find a path where no one hates them. Sexy image aside, they release great music, but no one cares. “Sting” is a return to sexy Stellar, but it’s sexy concept lite as there is more focus on breathy vocals and singing skill. “Sting” has a great beat and is arranged well to show off Stellar’s range. The chipper chorus invites listeners to groove while its mellow dance track keeps the song refreshing. “Sting” is another great hit in Stellar’s discography… if only people would listen to them!

Two-X “Over”

Many K-Pop fans waited for Two-X to return, but when they did, support for the group that was once called a group to watch in 2013 was non-existent. “Over” sports retro sound and more mature, more refined vocals that show Two-X’s growth over their hiatus. The song isn’t high on power vocals, but it’s catchy nonetheless.

 Younha “Get It” ft. Ha:tfelt and Cheetah

“Get It” is a surprising release from Younha as it’s edgier than other songs in her discography. Ha:tfelt and Cheetah add interesting elements to the song that seems like different aspects of oneself coming together to exact revenge. The vocals match well throughout the song and pair nicely with the song’s beat.

Do you agree?  Tell us what you think!

—-Joelle Halon

On November 7, 2016, B.A.P made their fall comeback with their second full-length album, Noir. The album, produced in part by Bang Yongguk who is on hiatus due to a panic disorder, focuses on B.A.P’s growth as artists. The album still has some of their signature sound, but there are smoother performances that highlight their maturity better than previous efforts. The album has been performing well internationally as it landed at number one on Billboard’s world album charts and appeared on the iTunes charts. Recently, the lead single, “Skydive,” won first place on The Show. With so many accolades, it appears B.A.P have another hit on their hands even if domestic audiences haven’t taken much notice.

The album kicks off with the introductory song “Le Noir.” The smooth, jazzy song helps set the mood for the album. Its tone sets the stage for a smoky lounge feel that’s dark and quiet. Vocals are soft and peaceful to invite listeners to listen closely. The brilliant softness creates a relaxing atmosphere before erupting into the harder-hitting “Skydive.”
“Skydive” features strong beats, great harmonies, and well-executed arrangements.  Himchan and Daehyun’s opening lines stir excitement. There’s a solid mix of rap and vocals, so both the rap and vocal-lines have a chance to shine. While some take issue with the repetitive nature of “Skydive’s” lyrics, the song is about taking chances (“throw your body, it’s do or die, skydive, freefall”), so the repetition can be interpreted as an inner voice reminding the listener to act boldly.  Jongup and Youngjae shine in their lines to add depth to the already strong single.

Track three is “Ribbon in the Sky.” Netizens view the song as a social commentary piece about the Sewol Ferry Tragedy and media and government corruption. The lyrics seemingly point to this being the case. B.A.P have a history of creating social commentary songs, so it’s not a surprise that this song does cover themes of corruption. The song has an old-school feel with some rich vocals that enhance the sound. At times, the higher notes feel out of the members’ range, but it comes together well enough to where it’s barely noticeable to the untrained ear. The background sections—the humming, hand-clapping, and “whoa” lines—make the song more interesting to hear as these elements add different layers to a song that’s one of the strongest songs on the album.

“Killer” is next and makes use of the vocal-line’s strengths. Youngjae, Daehyun, and Himchan shine with clear lines and improved English skills. Daehyun has a more refined sound due to better control and technique, while Himchan’s vocals add some much needed depth. The song has a bright beat that follows through from beginning to end. “Killer” truly highlights some of B.A.P’s stronger finesse.

Another highlight song is “Fermata.” Fermata is Italian for an “unspecified pause or rest on a musical note.” The smooth, slow track has a fitting title given the song’s cadence. The vocal line-only (Himchan, Jongup, Youngjae, and Daehyun) track has hints of R&B with lovely high notes and a relaxing beat. For anyone who doubted Himchan’s vocal ability, you need to hear this song because his tone is on-point, rich, and pretty. The only issue with “Fermata” is that Youngjae slurs some of his lyrics, so it’s not as strongly refined as other songs on Noir. With that aside, the vocal line proves their strong capabilities.

“Confession” (“Pray”) is track six and the album’s standout song. Prior to the album’s release, several B.A.P fansites indicated the song is about depression and suicide. The lyrics dark tones definitely point to this being the case. The rap-line—Yongguk and Zelo—take the reins. The opening seconds of the song are impressive with the choir chants, making the song sound heavy and epic. Zelo’s deeper vocals and a stronger ability to expand his range show how much he’s grown. Yongguk’s deep rap is rich with emotion and helps paint the lyrics’ image. The song has sharp edges that help the lyrics cut into the listener’s soul. “Confession” is the one song that’s guaranteed to stick with listeners for a long time.

“I Guess I Need U” sports nice melodies and falsettos. The chorus has pleasant harmonies that bring out some of the familiar sounds fans expect out of a mid-tempo B.A.P song. The song has an adult-contemporary feel that’s perfect for easy listening and may appeal to older fans. However, the song’s “whoa, whoa, whoa” parts feel out of place (sorry, Yongguk) and there only for filler.

“Chiquita” is track eight. The song is a quirky dance track that shows off B.A.P’s fun side. The beat has some Latin flair that makes the song fun for summer. While the track is bright with an ability to make listeners groove, the pronunciation of “Chiquita” is glaring because it’s elongated and pronounced like “she-key-da” (ʃikidɑ) to fit the meter; if it was pronounced correctly (t͡ʃiˈkit̪a), the chorus would have been thrown off, but it’s still glaring.
“Walk” is another calm track that has twinges of warmth to its composition. This is another song where the vocal-line shines. The song’s arrangement and composition are pure perfection as there is a lot of beauty within each note. Daehyun’s “baby you” in the chorus shows nice control and technique as his voice slides up and down the scale. It’s easy to play this song repeatedly.

One of the surprises on Noir is the inclusion of Jongup’s “Now.”  During LOE 2016 Awake, Jongup performed his self-composed song that quickly became a fan-favorite. Jongup has a solid voice for solo work because it’s pleasant and sweet. Zelo’s rap also has hints of softness to make “Now” have a heavenly quality to it.

The Korean version of “Kingdom” also makes an appearance on the album. For LOE 2016 attendees, the song’s addition is welcome. Himchan’s intro is still perfect as his English is much clearer. The Korean version is still just as catching as the Japanese version, but it’s a shame the song wasn’t promoted in Korea. The song is still a fan-favorite, and its inclusion is proof that B.A.P do listen to what fans want since the Korean version was in-demand since the tour.

The album wraps up with the instrumental versions of “Fermata” and “Skydive.”
The album as a whole shows off B.A.P’s depth and range. They’ve mentioned often how they would like to try different genres, and their abilities to do so are showcased here. Since the lawsuit, B.A.P have had more control over their music and their efforts shine. Even though there are a few nagging elements, Noir is one of their best efforts. The album earns a 4/5.

—-Joelle Halon

On November 24, 2016, YG Entertainment confirmed what many Blackjacks were afraid to admit: 2NE1 disbanded and have actually done so back in May 2016.

In April, Minzy departed the group following the end of her contract, but YG stated that 2NE1 would continue as three members with a new song or album scheduled for the summer. Summer came and went with no 2NE1 album. Dara was busy doing MC work, while CL prepared to promote her single “Lifted” and her Hello Bi+ches USA tour. Park Bom was rarely seen even though she was spotted at the YG building, sparking some hope that a comeback was on the horizon.

In an official statement, YG Entertainment revealed that CL and Dara resigned with the company in May, but that in addition to Minzy, Park Bom did not resign. The statement reads:

2NE1’s exclusive contract expired in May 2016, and with Minzy leaving 2NE1, we have come to the decision to officially disband after extensive discussion with the remaining members.

As 2NE1 was YG’s official girl group for seven years, we cannot begin to express how we feel, but we determined that it was too difficult to continue. Rather than waiting an unknown amount of time for 2NE1’s next promotions, we have decided to focus on the members’ solo activities.

We sincerely thank all the fans both in Korea and abroad that have loved the group and their music for all this time.
We would like to officially announce that after last May, we resigned with CL and Sandara Park. However, unfortunately, there is no new contract with Park Bom.

While the news may come as a shock to some fans, the news isn’t surprising as the group hasn’t performed together since MAMA 2015.

The group has had its share of controversy over the years from Park Bom’s 2014 drug scandal, to CL’s multiple “MTBD”/Quran controversies, and Netizen quips about Park Bom’s ever-changing appearance. YG Entertainment, too, seem more focused on CL’s budding Western career. Prior to the disbandment news, CL stated in a Style interview that she “was in a band called 2NE1,” confirming that the group was no longer together.

CL: “I WAS in a band called 2NE1(…)” I WAS. “”I WAS”” OMG @CHAELINCL WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH 2NE1?? pic.twitter.com/WCfbBGcqQ0

— ? Chaerin World ? (@ChaerinWorld) November 10, 2016

While Minzy signed a new contract with The Music Works Entertainment to prepare for a solo debut, Park Bom remains without a company home, but that hasn’t dampened her enthusiasm. Following the disbandment news, Park Bom posted a video on Instagram with the caption “Practicing singing in order to film a video to share with you guys..!!!. Maybe it’s because it’s a song I’m singing for the first time…. I repeated it several times… Ah…”

여러분 들려주려고 노래 영상을 찍으려고 노래 연습을 하는듕..!!!. 처음 부르는 노래라 그런지….계속 몇번을했는지… 아놔… ㅠㅠ ㅋㅋㅋ:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)’･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*❤️? pic.twitter.com/H9dsBnC6OV

— Bom Park (@haroobomkum) November 25, 2016

2NE1 debuted in 2009 and had a solid run for seven years. The group initially appeared in the MV “Lollipop” for an LG Electronics CV with labelmates BIGBANG before officially debuting with “Fire” May 9, 2009. During their successful run, the group was nominated for 84 awards, winning 66 of them including the Best Asian Newcomer Award (Asia Song Festival) in 2009, Album of the Year for Crush (2010 Cyworld Digital Music Awards), and Song of the Year for “I Am the Best” (MAMA 2011) among others.

With their disbandment, 2NE1 becomes the third 2009-era girl group to disband in 2016 including 4Minute and Rainbow. They’re also the sixth well-known group to disband including the aforementioned 4Minute and Rainbow as well as KARA, SPEED, and F.Cuz; they’re the 24th confirmed disbandment this year.

What are your thoughts on the 2NE1 disbandment news? Was it a surprise or totally expected? Weigh in!

—-Joelle Halon

On November 24, 2016, YG Entertainment announced that Nam Taehyun’s contract has been nullified and that his now-former group WINNER will continue with four members with no plans to add a replacement for him.

In a statement, YG Entertainment sources said,

WINNER who had many things planned for them this year had put all their activities on hold unfortunately due to Taehyun’s mental health issues.

YG and the other members have put Taehyun’s mental health as the main priority and decided to wait for his recovery. However, due to the fact that the mental issue was one that has been present ever sine his childhood, it is impossible to predict when he will recover and when he will be able to return to activities.

After much discussions with Taehyun, we have decided that it is not possible for him to continue activities as a part of WINNER and as of November 18^th, the exclusive contract between YG and Nam Tae Hyun has been terminated.

This is mainly due to the fact that Taehyun felt responsible for the fact that the team was put on halt because of him and that WINNER, who is only two years into their debut, can no longer wait to continue their activities.

Although Taehyun will no longer be with WINNER we hope that they will continue to support each other in their musical careers.

In October 2016, YG announced that Nam would be on hiatus to seek treatment for mental health reasons. The company stated then that Nam has been battling mental health issues since his trainee days, even though some sources suggest he’s been struggling since his youth. Multiple sources reported that Nam’s situation was dire and that he left the YG dorms to go home to seek therapy and treatment. Thus, WINNER’s comeback was postponed.

When news of Nam’s mental health status broke, YG Entertainment stated, “It’s a disappointing situation that the timing for WINNER’s next activity cannot be anticipated. YG hopes the WINNER members successfully overcome the team’s first crisis, and we’ll be doing our best so that they can take off once again.”

Naturally, there were Netizens that did not believe the mental health reasoning for his hiatus at the time. Netizens speculate that there were issues between Nam and his fellow WINNER members, using “evidence” from his Soundcloud to back their claims, pointing to lyrical content suggesting there was bad blood.

Prior to the announcement that Nam would no longer continue with YG and WINNER, he posted a now-deleted Instagram photo that said “I just want to sing.” Again, Netizens wondered if there were issues between him and the company and him and WINNER.

These speculations were not confirmed.

Others speculate that the post merely suggested he wanted to return to the music scene quickly because he misses making music. Given his love for music as many often note, this seems like this reason is the case more.

Surely, there is more to the story as there always is in K-Pop, but chances are we’ll never know everything completely. However, we hope to see Nam return to the music scene when he’s ready, and we wish him wellness and good health as he continues treatment and therapy.

As for WINNER, they were supposed to return during 2016’s fourth quarter. Their comeback schedule has not been released yet since the announcement of Nam’s departure.

 

—-Joelle Halon

If you’re like me, finding good skincare products that don’t irritate sensitive skin, cause breakouts and other flare-ups is a must and sometimes a daunting task. In previous reviews, Kcrush discovered some impressive products, while there were others that weren’t so grand.

We recently tried Elizavecca MilkyPiggy Hell-Pore, a peel-off mask that promises to remove blackheads and whiteheads to clear pores. The product has rave reviews on Amazon and across the Web, with many beauty bloggers and vloggers praising the mask for how well it removes facial gunk. With so many positive reviews, it sounds like Hell-Pore is a miracle product. Let’s find out!

Packaging

Presentation is everything. The box Hell-Pore comes in is cute with a little devil piggy chasing off the nasty blackheads from someone’s skin. The instructions for how to use the product are written in Korean with a poorly-written English blurb describing the product located on the side of the box. Ingredients

Active Ingredients: 4% Charcoal (controls sebum), Chinese Pea Shrub, and Camellia flower

Inactive Ingredients: Water, PVP Alcohol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Charcoal Powder, Titanium Dioxide, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Cosmos Bipinnatus Callus Culture Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Rosa Hybrid Flower Extract, Saccharomyces/Caragana Sinica Root Ferment Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Illicium Verum(Anise) Fruit Extract, Aluminum Hydroxide, Silica, Methyl acetate, Lithium, Magnesium, Sodium Silicate, Tetrasodium, Pyrophosphate, Fragrance

For those who are curious, an Elizavecca rep I contacted stated the product is duty-free and not tested on animals.

Use

Thankfully, the product is easy to use, so having the instructions in English wasn’t necessary.

• Wash and dry your face to remove any residue or makeup.
• Squeeze a small mound of the mask into your hands, then spread it evenly on the face while avoiding the eyes, mouth, and hairline (the latter is especially important!).
• Let the mask dry and wait about 10-15 minutes.
• After the time passes, peel the mask off. Do not pull down; pull up in order to remove debris from pores.
• Rinse any remaining mask off with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Trying It Out

It took two tries to get this mask to work correctly. The first night I tried it, it was a hot, humid night, so the mask actually didn’t set the way it was supposed to in order to work. Instead of a hard mask, I ended up with a tacky, slimy mask that didn’t do a thing. The parts that did dry didn’t work and pulled off in stringy clumps. If you want to use this mask, don’t make the same mistake I made and use it on a muggy day or evening.

The second attempt worked much better because it was used during a cooler, drier evening. Because of this slight adjustment, I found the product went on smoother and more evenly, and it actually dried the way it needed to in order to work.

When the Hell-Pore mask is initially put on, it looks like a milky grey latex Lucha Libre mask. It’s really unattractive. As it dries, it makes the skin feel tight and stiff like you either:

1. Willingly had a friend pour cement on your face
2. Went overboard with Botox at a back-alley Botox clinic

I’ve tried several face masks before, but none of them felt this hard or stiff. It was a different experience. While the mask makes it difficult to talk, it doesn’t feel uncomfortable, so that is a definite plus.

It should be noted, too, that the Hell-Pore mask doesn’t have a scent—at least in my experience (some have said it smells like alcohol). So those who are sensitive to different scents should not have an issue.

After the 10 to 15-minute time period passed, it was time to peel off the mask. This actually proved a difficult task for my clumsy fingers because the mask didn’t want to peel. Instead of coming off in one piece, it peeled off in strips. Because of the uneven peel, I had a lot of product left behind on my face, so I did have to wash my skin off again in order to finish removing the mask.

How’d It Do?

Looking at the mask after it was peeled off, I have to say it did a great job removing some whiteheads and superficial gunk. My skin also appeared brighter thanks to the removal of some dead skin. However, blackheads weren’t removed as well. I would have to say my Clearasonic does a better job.

I did expect my skin to be red or itchy following mask removal, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this wasn’t the case. The charcoal in the mask did a nice job helping to ease some redness I already experience, so I will provide kudos to the mask for this reason, especially since my skin tends to be on the sensitive-side.

I felt the mask could have been better given the hype surrounding the product and how well it does. It just felt lackluster and not as strong as it could have been. While it did some good, it just felt like the hype is all fluff and no substance. My cheek and jaw areas appear much better, but trouble spots on my chin, nose, and T-Zone didn’t experience much of a difference.

Other Observations

For anyone else planning to try the Elizavecca MilkyPiggy Hell-Pore mask, there are a few observations to keep in mind.

• The mask will point out how large your pores are: If you peel the mask off too soon or it doesn’t set well, when you peel it off, it will follow your skin pattern. If your pores are small, it’ll be more even. If they’re larger, your mask may look like grey Swiss cheese.
• It will have a hell-grip on your hair: There is a reason why you should avoid your hairline while using this product. It will have a death-hold on it! I made the mistake of coming too close to my hair line, getting the mask on some fly-aways, and my eyebrows. While peeling the mask off, I did manage to pull some hair out, and I’m now sporting a partial eyebrow on one side. Perhaps I could start a new eyebrow trend? Plus, it will not peel off hair well. Use this mask if you plan on taking a shower afterwards to remove any product if your hair does end up with product in it.
• It will tingle:There will be a tingling sensation with the mask. This is due to the charcoal. Don’t panic! The tingling does go away quickly. However, if the mask burns, remove immediately! Burning is never good.
• It might hurt when pulling it off:Since the mask dries super-hard, peeling it off is a pain (literally and figuratively). It might hurt as you peel it, so keep this in mind.
• Not recommend for people with dry skin and anyone prone to dry skin:The mask does tend to dry out skin. If you have dry patches on your face, this mask will make it worse as I discovered thanks to some flakiness I had following a sunburn. If your skin is prone to dryness, you may find that the product will exasperate that issue following the treatment.
• Spot-check prior to use: Do not jump in and use the product immediately. Instead, test it on the inside of your arm or the back of your hand to see if you have an allergic reaction or any other sensitivity issues.
• Open the pores with warm water first:You will thank me later if you want better results. I found washing my face with warm water then drying it and immediately putting the mask on helps more than washing with lukewarm or cool water.
• Do not use the product every day:Doing so may cause pore trauma while drying out the skin too much. Once a week will suffice for better results.

The Verdict

Given all the positive reviews for Hell-Pore, I had high expectations. While I wasn’t expecting a miracle-worker like others seem to suggest it is, I expected something a bit more potent than what I got given how the product is called Hell-Pore. Perhaps waiting 20-25 minutes for the mask to dry would work better instead of the recommended 10-15 minutes.

The verdict: Not completely impressed even though I can see how the product works well for some people.

 

—-Joelle Halon

On November 18, 2016, Fueled by Ramen announced One OK Rock will be releasing a new English-language album, Ambitions, on January 13, 2017. Ahead of the release, the J-Rock group released “Taking Off” and “Bedroom Warfare.” Both songs have been earning praise on different blogs and music sites, but there are many fans who feel the singles, album, all-English re-release of 2015’s 35xxxv album, and a few world and US tours are signs One OK Rock are “selling out” and losing their edge to appease a global audience. Instead of wishing the group success, many of these negative voices—which can be found on social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube—ask for the group to revert to their old style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0mnMzAAv7Q

One OK Rock isn’t the only group to face such sellout criticism as other rock and alternative groups have experienced the same criticism. For example, when Linkin Park changed their sound in the mid-to-late 2000s, fans shared their displeasure with some still doing so to this day. While One OK Rock’s sound has changed over the years, some fans need to realize that changes are part of the music business, and change can be a good thing. This doesn’t mean that a group is selling out: It’s part of the business and part of how groups grow and improve with time.
Since debuting in 2005, One OK Rock has experienced a meteoric rise that has caught the attention of rock fans in Japan and abroad. Much of the love and praise is well-earned as the group has music that is listener-friendly, memorable, meaningful, and timeless in an ever-changing and sometimes throw-away-ish rock scene in recent years. What is impressive is that lead vocalist, Takahiro “Taka” Moriuchi doesn’t speak English as a rule, but he writes lyrics and sings in English with exceptional clarity. His talents, strong vocals, and musicality hasn’t gone unnoticed as he and his group have been invited to perform on the world music stage via various musical festivals, opening act gigs, and album appearances including the 2014 Van’s Warped Tour, joining Five Seconds of Summer in 2016, and covering “The End” on My Chemical Romance’s 10th anniversary album. Of course, this is just a handful of the group’s accolades.

With the rise comes demand, and the group has been in demand as one of the top world acts today. Instead of being one of Japan’s secret weapons as a gateway drug to the J-Rock scene, One OK Rock is now a regular introduction into today’s global rock and alternative scenes. As the group becomes more marketable, changes are bound to occur much to the chagrin of fans who’ve been there since the beginning.

Change is a two-fold thing: One type of change is for profitability while another is for growth. Sadly, money rules the music business so companies must produce music with mainstream profitability. Since One OK Rock’s signing with Fueled By Ramen, they do have a lighter, more mainstream sound. There are differences between songs like their latest songs (“Taking Off” and “Bedroom Warfare”) and earlier hits like “The Beginning,” “Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer,” and “Clock Strikes” among many others, but that doesn’t take away from how they still make great music that does catch fans and new listeners alike. The music has a different feel, but vocally and talent-wise, the same One

OK Rock still prevails.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slbGwyE_9oY

For fans, change is scary because if a group changes, fans fear they’ll never be the same and fall even further into the mainstream trap. However, without change, a group cannot grow. If a group’s sound remains unchanging, it becomes boring and predictable because the group isn’t growing. Just because the lyrics and beat change with each new album, the group is stuck in a hole because they’re not exploring their full capabilities because the group’s makeup doesn’t change. If everything stays the same as “not to ruin the integrity of the group” as some YouTube comments suggest One OK Rock should do, the same fans who dislike the group’s recent music may be complaining because the group hasn’t branched into different avenues.

Basically, if the group is popular, they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t.

One OK Rock is heading into new territory by reaching out to Western audiences. With differences in their sound, they can reach a broader audience, earning more fans. If successful, they are also paving the way for other J-Rock groups to also break down barriers. This is an opportunity to embrace and shouldn’t be shunned.

Furthermore, the Western expansion isn’t a Doomsday scenario for One OK Rock, nor is it a guarantee that their current mainstream-friendly sound is here to stay. They still have a Japanese market to cater to, so One OK Rock has plenty of opportunity to return to a sound that’s familiar to their domestic and international fans. Right now, this foray into the Western market gives them an opportunity to discover what works and what doesn’t, and it gives them a chance to work with people they may not have been able to work with before while solely working in the Japanese market. This is a chance to expand their brand and discover themselves more. Besides, there are still several areas in which One OK Rock hasn’t changed, so the core of the group still exists despite what fans say.

Change is good. Change may be outside one’s comfort-zone, but it’s good. Change builds character, fosters self-discovery, and helps with finding an identity. Instead of saying One OK Rock is selling out or becoming too mainstream, let them test the waters and try new things. Fans who choose to go on the journey with the group may find themselves richly rewarded with stronger efforts and music down the line. Like in the case of Linkin Park, many fans look fondly upon the Era of Change and appreciate the music of the past and present more. For One OK Rock, this time will come also. For now, let them explore the different aspects of themselves and praise their efforts because they are opening doors across the world for themselves and their J-Rock Brethren.

—-Joelle Halon

We all want to put our best faces forward. Sometimes we need a little help to make sure our best faces are present and flawless. Missha’s Magic Cushion SPF 50 foundation has the potential to be a strong contender for making someone beautiful as it promises an anti-caking formula, long-term coverage, rich pigments, a flawless complexion, and sweat and sebum absorption. With this, it has SPF 50 to help protect skin from the sun. After reading positive reviews online, we decided to try the makeup to see if it lives up to the hype.
Packaging

Missha does a nice job packaging their products. This foundation comes in a pretty white box that looks like you spent a lot of money. Then, the compact is made from a sturdy white and silver plastic that has a mirror, a compartment for the makeup pad, and another compartment for the cushion makeup. Everything is kept separate, so the pad isn’t always touching the makeup, and the makeup is enclosed well so it doesn’t dry out, separate, or harden like some other liquid compacts tend to do over time. The overall presentation looks great for the price.

Ingredients

Water(Aqua). Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Glycerin, Peg-8 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima(Avocado) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Xylitol. Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Calophylum Inophylum Seed Oil, Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Cereus Grandiflours (Cactus) Flower Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Oxygen, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Cetyl Peg/Ppg – 10/1 Dimethicone, Peg-8, Magnesium Sulfate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Silica, Boron Nitride, Peg-32, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance(Parfum), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides(Ci 77499)

Application
This foundation promises an even, medium coverage. To apply, press the makeup pad into the cushion to pick up the foundation. Then, pat the makeup onto the skin; do not rub. Once there is even coverage, use a makeup sponge and roll it on the face to help smooth out the makeup. The foundation will be dewy once application is complete.

Impressions
Upon opening the compact, the product doesn’t look like much. The compact makes it look like you’re getting more makeup than what’s actually inside. The makeup pad is small and clumsy to use even for small fingers and hands. The foundation section is no more than two inches in diameter, and since it’s a cushion compact, it’s difficult to tell how many ounces are contained within the cushion.
One of the first elements I noticed about the product is that it has a light fragrance to it. In the container, it doesn’t smell bad, but when it heats up during application, the fragrance becomes stronger and starts to become weird as the day continues. The fragrance is okay if you don’t mind smelling like a light perfume, but it could be an allergy-trigger for those with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivities.
For lighter skinned individuals, this compact has some nice pale and medium shades that match well and adjust to your skin tones. For the review, we used shade 21 and it matched well. Unfortunately, for people with darker skin tones, this makeup wouldn’t work because it doesn’t have a variety of shades. This is an issue with Asian makeup brands in general.

On paper, the dewiness sounds like it would be a good thing and something that would make skin look healthy all day long. Unfortunately, this is not the case with this foundation. The dewiness looked more ruddy and sweaty; as the day wore on, the makeup looked less attractive. It started to flake in spots and settled into pores badly. After a while, the makeup wasn’t an improvement because my skin appeared much older-looking and like I engaged in a lot of drunken shenanigans.

As the day continued, I noticed that my skin started to itch and burn slightly. Apparently, there are ingredients that can serve as allergy triggers for allergy sufferers and those with sensitive skin. Check the ingredient list to see if there’s anything that can be a trigger. For me, it was the sunflower ingredients.
The one plus for the Missha cushion foundation is that it washes off well. Double-cleansing works best for removing the makeup at the end of the day.

Verdict
Even though the Missha cushion foundation has a lot of positive reviews, this foundation did not work for me. For a 30-year-old, I have a fairly young-looking face, but wearing this foundation aged me about 10 years. I did not like the coverage or the wear, and I felt worse wearing the makeup than I did without it. Of course, I don’t have quality skin, so for those with good skin, the foundation may work. For me, this was a no-go. The foundation earns a 1/5.

—-Joelle Halon

Continuing with our beauty review series, we have a bubble pore mask by that’s sure to be a hit in a skincare regimen. The blackhead O₂ bubble pore pack by Caolion works hard and leaves behind soft, clean-feeling skin. While there are many positives with the mask, there are a few warnings to consider.

Packaging

The dark packaging gives the product a mysterious feel. The jar is a nice, sturdy plastic that has a good weight to it and nicely sealed to protect its integrity. When I received mine, there were multiple seals on it: One outside the jar and two inside. Even though the jar isn’t too large, there is a decent amount of product in it, so users can easily get at least several months of use if used only once a week (recommended). The mask even comes with a small plastic spoon so wearers can scoop out the product without oily or damp fingers causing the mask to bubble inside the jar.

Ingredients

Water, Cyclomethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethyl Perfluorobutyl Ether, Ethyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Polysorbate 60, Polyethylene, Dimethicone, Avena Sativa (oat) Kernel Flour, Charcoal Powder, Allantoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Panthenol, Peg/ppg-18/18dimethicone, Peg-100 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, C12-16 Alcohols, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Hyaluronic Acid, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (licorice) Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Rhus Semialata Gall Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Trideceth-6, Disodium Edta

Use

To use, wash and dry face as usual. Then, use the spoon to scoop out some of the product. Then, gently massage the mask onto skin in circular motions to activate the exfoliators. Take care to avoid the mouth and eyes. Leave the mask on a few minutes until it carbonates and your face is full of tingly bubbles. Massage the product into skin again once bubbles form. Let the mask sit on your face between five to ten minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Pat dry and finish up with your regular skincare routine.

Impressions

The bubble pack is one of the strangest products I’ve used to date, but it’s strange in a good way. The bubbles tingle and sting a bit which caused my face to feel a little weird as the bubbles formed. After a minute or two, it ceases to feel odd and the mask starts to have a cooling effect. The exfoliating properties in the mask also feel like they do a nice job removing dead skin and cleansing the skin. I like this element best because it feels like it does a better job than my usual exfoliator.

I mostly love how easy-to-use this product is during the application and removal stages. With these two steps, the mask is foolproof.

One of the main ingredients for the mask is charcoal. Charcoal is making its way into a lot of cleansers these days because it works as a neutralizer for getting rid of trouble spots, extracting blackheads, and for exfoliation. Naturally, the main purpose of the mask is to exfoliate and remove blackheads. On the exfoliating front, I give the pack a solid ten out of ten because it feels like it’s working. Once the mask is washed off, there is a smoothness and a brightness left behind. As for blackhead removal, it works well on the chin area, but not so much the nose area. For this, I recommend the Milky Piggy Hell Pore peel-off mask.

When used correctly, the blackhead mask does its job well.

Warnings

Take note of the three key words above: When used correctly. What does that even mean? Well, I managed to somehow use the mask incorrectly, so there are some important lessons to learn.

I figured that once a week wasn’t enough to get the full benefits of the mask. Instead of doing my usual routine of switching moisturizing masks daily, I used the blackhead pack two days in a row. On the second day, I also thought “if ten minutes is good, 15 minutes would be better.” I was wrong on both accounts.

First, using the mask two days in a row does not improve skin; in fact, it has the opposite effect because there isn’t enough of a recovery period since charcoal tends to be a bit harsh depending on skin type. Leaving the mask on for a few minutes longer also has a negative impact. With both ill-advised decisions combined, I ended up with skin that was the equivalent of sandpaper because I sucked out every ounce of moisture I had in it. The brightness I had gave way to redness, so instead of looking fresh and exfoliated, I was one-step away from looking like the walking dead. Take my advice:  Once a week is good and so is wearing the mask for under ten minutes.

Another element to keep in mind is to not, under any circumstances, stick your fingers (or any water) into the jar. Doing so will activate the bubbles and may ruin the product.

Verdict

Caolion’s blackhead O₂ bubble pore pack is a nice addition to a skincare routine if used correctly. It does have a lot of benefits if not abused, and it can help skin look luminous. It’s strange at first, but that’s part of the cool factor with this product. The bubble pore pack earns a solid 4/5.

 

Caolion’s blackhead bubble pore pack can be purchased at Sephora for $26.

 

—-Joelle Halon

In our quest to always find the best beauty products available in Asia, we’re always trying new things to see what works and what doesn’t. In our recent installment, we tried the Skinfood Rice Mask Wash-Off to see if it’s worthwhile. Of course, our results may be different from yours, but it’s fun to try new things!

The rice mask promises to leave skin soft and radiant. The rice extracts are supposed to leave skin more moisturized while evening tone and brightening skin. There is also ground rice that, through massaging, removes dead skin to leave behind softness. Per Skinfood, the rice in the product provides a good source of vitamin E that “fights aging and free-radical damage,” while linoleic acids serves as an anti-inflammatory. With all that it promises, the rice mask sounds like a great option to a skincare routine.

Packaging

The mask arrives in a 100g white plastic jar. The jar is sturdy and not see-through, so the product’s integrity is well-intact. Skinfood does a nice job letting purchasers know when products are made, so you’re guaranteed fresh product when you order direct from them or through their Amazon store. The batch we purchased was manufactured August 28, 2016, so we’re within a few months of its creation.

Skinfood packages their products well! The product is well-sealed with plastic wrap and a plastic cover. If you receive an open product, chances are you didn’t receive a fresh mask and should dispose of it or send it back.

Ingredients

The rice mask has the following ingredients:

WATER, CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, CETYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, ORYZA SATIVA (RICE) BRAN WATER, STEARIC ACID, POLYSORBATE 80, HYDROGENATED JOJOBA OIL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, SORBITAN STEARATE, CARBOMER, DIMETHICONE, TRIETHANOLAMINE, SODIUM ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, SUCROSE COCOATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, DISODIUM EDTA, METHYLPARABEN, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, BUTYLPARABEN, FRAGRANCE

Use

The rice mask is easy-to-use and doesn’t require a lot of attention.

After washing and drying the face, apply a thin layer of the mask onto skin using gentle circular motions to allow the ground rice to exfoliate your skin. Do not rub the mask into your skin, however. Let it sit on top so it works well. Then, allow the mask to work its magic for ten-to-15 minutes before washing it off with warm water. Then, pat skin dry.

Impressions

The scent for the mask is light and unobtrusive. It smells almost like a tapioca or rice pudding, so you’re not smelling chemicals or florals. For those with scent sensitivities, the mask should not bother you.

This mask is one of the easiest masks to use from the Skinfood line. The mask has a nice texture and consistency that doesn’t feel goopy or sticky on the skin. The mask has a nice cooling effect that feels relaxing, creating a spa-like experience.

While wearing the mask, everything went well and felt great. After washing it off, however, the experience was less enjoyable because the mask left behind a strange film that made my skin shiny and unnatural looking. My skin was soft and felt supple, but the film felt strange and required washing it off with face wash, defeating the purpose of the mask to some degree. Thinking it was a fluke and that I didn’t wash off the mask well enough, the next day I used it again and had the same results.

Despite the film, which did eventually wear off, my skin felt radiant and it did appear much brighter. The mask isn’t a whitening mask, but it enhances skin to put your best face forward. Makeup also smoothed on better and looked more natural after the mask was used, so it appears to have been a good product… until later in the day.

After a few hours, my normally dry skin felt like it had oil poured all over it. For some reason, the rice mask made my skin go haywire to where it become unnaturally oily. At first I thought it was because of my makeup, but after washing it off, the oil production continued at an uncomfortable rate. No amount of cleansing stopped it until I switched back to my usual Skinfood honey and black sugar mask.

In addition to oily skin, my face did break out along my jaw and T-zone. CosDNA identifies some of the ingredients as skin irritants and potential breakout causers, so my sensitive skin probably reacted to one of the ingredients in it. It took a while for the breakouts to subside, so it was an unpleasant experience despite my face feeling baby-soft.

Verdict

As much as I love Skinfood products, this is one of my least favorite masks to date. I wanted to like it because of how great it feels texture-wise and while in-use, but the after effects are far too negative to even consider this a good product. For those who don’t have sensitive skin, it might be worth a try. Others have used this mask and had great results and didn’t experience the issues I did. For me, this mask isn’t worth the risks.

 

—-Joelle Halon

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, this past year, Nintendo promised upgrades to its aging hit game and Japanese import Animal Crossing: New Leaf. On November 2, 2016, Nintendo finally unveiled the updates in Animal Crossing: New Leaf Welcome Amiibo. The large-scale update—which can be downloaded on the Nintendo 3DS for game owners or available to purchase physically in stores soon—comes with some needed improvements to make the game fun again, but it still leaves players wanting more.

What’s New

There are several new features available on Animal Crossing: New Leaf that will delight players. Features like the new campground, player initiatives, mini games, and Amiibo compatibility help make the game fresh and exciting for fans young and old.

The Campground

The biggest addition to New Leaf is the campground run by Harvey. At the campground, you can buy exclusive furniture like tables, bikes, and yoga furniture to help enhance your home. Harvey the Dog is a throwback, 1960s-stereotype with hippie hair, clothes, and glasses. There are times when he makes obvious marijuana references when he discusses his brain being fried, but that may be over young players’ heads. He’s a friendly pooch, and he’ll even let you feed the birds if you catch him early enough in the day.

At the campground, some of the game’s special characters like Pavé, Wendell, Joan, and Copper park their RVs and spend the day unwinding. While they’re in town, players can visit their RVs, buy furniture using the new MEOW coupon system, and find out more about special characters’ lives. It’s a cute touch even though the RV feature could have been more interactive.

In addition to the daily visitors, players can invite guests and other special characters using Amiibo cards and the campground’s Wi-Fi feature. To invite special characters to the campground, use Wisp the Ghost and an Amiibo; for other villagers, players need to talk to Harvey and use Wi-Fi to summon them. At the time of testing, the Wi-Fi option wasn’t operating as Harvey kept saying he couldn’t get the doohickey to work. The campground may be a strong addition to the game once players figure out its full functionality.

Wisp

Another new addition is Wisp, the spirit who first appeared in Animal Crossing and again in City Folk. Wisp inhabits a lamp players must find and place in their home. Wisp can be used with the Amiibos to invite animal villagers over to stay at the campground, give presents, or even move into players’ towns. Wisp can be used once-a-day.

What’s nice about Wisp is that players can fill their towns with villagers they want if players have the Amiibos for them. If your town is filled to the ten-character limit, Wisp will ask characters to move out so new characters can move in quickly. While his role is minimal for now, it’s a welcome change.

Amiibo Functions

One of the biggest changes is the inclusion of Amiibo usage. As mentioned, Wisp can help players summon different characters who appear in the game, but the best surprise is how players can summon characters not in the game.

In addition to the Animal Crossing characters, players can use Amiibos from the Legend of Zelda and Splatoon series to come stay at the campground. These characters come with their own exclusive items from their respective games including outfits, wallpaper, and furniture. As an Easter egg, players who invite Zelda characters to the campground can “unlock” outfits from the upcoming Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild game.

Starting December 2, 2016, new Animal Crossing Amiibo cards will be available for sale. The cards will feature 50 brand new or previously excluded characters to help expand the rolling villager population.

Also on December 2, the exclusive Hello Kitty Animal Crossing cards will be released that will have characters donning Hello Kitty gear. The actual Hello Kitty characters will not be featured, but the exclusive furniture is enough of a temptation to make the cards worthwhile. If you can’t wait for the December 2 release dates, the Japanese and European cards are being sold on eBay.

Mini Games

Two new mini games have been included in the Welcome Amiibo update, but you need to purchase a 3DS or a Wii system from one of the RV characters (if they have the systems) or by winning them in the expanded fortune cookie roster at Timmy and Tommy’s store.

The games, Island Escape and Animal Crossing Puzzle League use Amiibo figures or cards’ special abilities to defeat puzzles and activities. Adding the mini games is a smart move as it provides a break from the mundane.

Town Initiatives

Every day, players have an opportunity to complete four initiatives to earn MEOW coupons. MEOW coupons are available at the new CAT Machine by Town Hall and allow you to buy goods at the campground. Initiatives consist of daily tasks players may engage in already such as selling fruit at Retail, buy goods at Timmy and Tommy’s, or having fossils evaluated by Blathers. There are harder tasks available like hunting isopods, finding lucky items, or even waiting around for Sahara to show up so she can “fix” players’ homes in ugly wallpaper. The initiatives help make game-play fun and are made better when players compete against each other (not in-game) to see who can complete theirs first.

Many of the initiatives can be completed in a matter of minutes, but others may take longer depending on if players must search for specific fish, insects, or items.

Lottie Joins the Party

For players who have Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, there is an option to upload your HHD player data onto New Leaf Welcome Amiibo. When this is done, Lottie comes to town to show you how the new furniture-moving functions work. Her appearance means that moving furniture in your house is more intuitive and doesn’t require placing items in pockets and drawers and moving items across the room manually. This makes things easier!

Little Things

In addition to the bigger updates, there are several small changes that make the game enjoyable to play since players may not know what’s different until they try everything and anything. Upon the first few plays, players may notice the following:

• The villager can now sit on rocks in addition to stumps and benches
• The player can now shake trees while holding onto the net, fishing pole, or slingshot
• Balloon gifts are no longer only balloon furniture as other furniture items also float overhead. This means it’s worth trying to get the balloon badges again!
• Timmy and Tommy have new fortune cookies with different prizes including Nintendogexclusives and Nintendo goodies
• The islands sell other items besides Cabana and Mermaid furniture. During recent trips, music instruments have been sold
• There’s now hidden storage available for the house. The hidden storage has several places to store more furniture, clothes, and random odds and ends
• Through the camera feature, Animal Crossing villagers can interact with real-world surroundings. This feature could have been like Pokemon Go, but it’s a basic cute feature that’s better for young players than adults looking to take gaming outside the 3DS.

It appears there may be other discoveries to come as players continue to engage in activities. Presently, the above newbies are the confirmed ones.

Still Room for Growth

While the present changes are good ones, there are some things the update “missed the boat” on that could have made the game even more enjoyable.

Full Happy Home Designer Support

While it’s great that the Welcome Amiibo update allows for easier furniture moving, there are features from HHD players should have gotten to make game-play more awesome. For example, players should have the option to place outdoor furniture outdoors where it belongs instead of in the house. The ability to use the outdoor furniture outside would make towns look more appealing instead of waiting for ugly town projects to unlock. For starters, a cute café set is better than an oil drill any day, so full customization should have been made available.

Along with the ability to customize outdoors, the indoors should have more freedom too. With HHD, players can use rugs, curtains, and ceiling fixtures to make rooms look more cozy and welcoming. These features were oddly left off for this update.

Another great feature that could have been added is the ability to expand Main Street. In HHD, players can build schools, restaurants, and hotels; in New Leaf, shops are limited. With the ability to build, more abilities and initiatives could be unlocked to generate a complete experience. Maybe there will be future updates to include more HHD features, but it took four years for New Leaf to update, so don’t hold your breath.

Overall

The Welcome Amiibo features add enough interest to New Leaf to make the game fun again. While there are many exciting things to do with the update, there’s still a lot that could have been done to fully enhance the gaming experience. If more updates are to come, New Leaf can once again become a best seller. Right now, there’s still room to grow. Animal Crossing: New Leaf Welcome Amiibo earns a 3/5.

 

—-Joelle Halon

The “hospital”
“Teacher, I go hospital”. Upon arrival in Korea, these words filled me with genuine concern. In the states, the hospital is reserved for tests for serious ailments, surgeries, emergency rooms, or admittance for long hospital stays for observation. In Korea, this statement can mean anything from, “I stopped by the ear nose and throat doctor for some anti-histamine”, to “I broke my leg, but they sent me back to school an hour later”. Consequently, I learned quickly not to panic when students, family or friends told me that they had visited the hospital, it usually wasn’t anything serious.

Sick days
As a foreigner, one of the biggest shocks was the realization that Koreans do not understand nor tolerate the concept of sick days. Children who are sick are sent to school regardless of their condition. Once, a student of mine who was about 7 was positively green sitting in his place at the table in the classroom. “Teacher sick”, he told me. There was nothing I could do for him as the director had parked him in the chair and told him to stay there. The lesson continued until he leaned over and vomited all over the floor. Only then was he allowed to leave the classroom. He was led downstairs and gently laid down on a floor mat to feverishly sleep and wait for his mother who would arrive at the end of the day, 8 hours later. Walking back to the classroom, I heard him whimper “Oma”, or “mama”, and my heart broke for him, knowing that he would be left alone miserably waiting for the rest of the day.
Older students and adults are not afforded the same comforts. Unless you need to go to the hospital (and be admitted), there is very little sympathy for illness. Older students who are ill generally are allowed to rest their heads on their desks (provided they are really ill, and God help them if they are faking), but they are not permitted to return home. Teachers, staff, and employees of other establishments are expected to carry on as usual. An employee might be begrudgingly permitted a half an hour to visit a pharmacy or a doctor (hospital to Koreans), but they are expected to report directly back to work.

Once, very early in my stay as a teacher in Korea, I had the misfortune to contract either the stomach flu or food poisoning. Either way, I spent a very unpleasant night and much of the morning in intestinal distress. As soon as it was a decent hour, I called my director to tell her that I was very sick, too sick to come in. After a pause and some nervous laughter on the other end of the line, came the question that I will never forget “what time you come in today”. I was absolutely flabbergasted. What do you mean, what time? American stomach flu buys you one day off, or even two, and my director wanted me to come back to work in an hour or so. After a little negotiation, it was decided. I would work in the afternoon, and I did. Chills and all.

Doctor’s Visits
Visiting the Doctor in Korea is a very efficient experience. There are no appointments. Upon arrival, your insurance card is presented, and you take a seat in a large waiting room. Within 10-30 minutes depending on the time of day, your name is called and you are escorted into a smaller waiting room with 4-5 people. There is a large chair with plenty of medical apparatus around it, and the 4-5 people who are in constant rotation to be seen look on as you have a brief conversation with the doctor. Foreigners always know where the doctors are who speak English, and although the English is often curt and limited due to the language barrier, the job is done and you are on your way within minutes:

Doctor: What’s your problem?
Patient: My nose is stopped up, and I have a rattling in my chest.
(Doctor takes a metal scope and sticks it up your nose taking a picture of your nasal cavites, both left and right)
Doctor: You have inflammation in your nose
Doctor: I give to you something for inflammation
(Doctor sprays liquid up your nose and down your throat. The metal instrument always hit my teeth, which made me cringe to see them coming, this was because my doctor was always in a hurry.)
Doctor: You have bronchitis
Doctor: I listen to your chest
(Doctor listens to chest)
Doctor: I think I give to you antibiotic. 3 days.
Patient….um, ok…. Can you tell me the name in English?
Doctor cocks head, then shakes it and says “See you again”

The whole interaction takes less than 5 minutes and then you go to the front office where you pay about $10 and they print off your prescriptions for you to take to the pharmacy. There were a couple pharmacies where some of the people spoke limited English, so I would take my prescriptions there and sometimes they would be able to tell me in English what the medication was and what it was designed to do.

The medication would be put in sealed packets by when you were supposed to take them, not by what the medication was. Each packet would have different color lettering on it to tell you when you would take it, morning, afternoon, and night. Inside each packet would be the various pills that had been prescribed to you. For bronchitis, or the flu, or a cold, it was usually anti-biotic, anti-histamine, and some variety of Tylenol. If you were coughing a lot, they would also give liquid codeine cough medicine to be taken.

Pain Medication
Not all medical needs in Korea are simple. Over the course of our three year stay, my husband was paralyzed with back pain. I received a call from my director who had taken him to the hospital that he was “in traction”. We had the only serious argument that we only had during my stay in the country that day because the doctors refused to give him anything for the pain but Tylenol. Outraged, I tried to insist that he was given something stronger. My director retorted that if I didn’t like how things were done in Korea, I could go back to America and get stronger medication.

Patient Philosophy
Hospitals seemed to be more like hotels. It was not uncommon to see patients in gowns walking the streets pushing an I.V., wearing a hospital gown. In Seoul, I spotted three patients in a very busy district of Seoul in full hospital dress scooting across the street in wheel chairs looking like they were on their way to a night on the town. Treating patients like guests who are allowed to come and go as people and not prisoners was my favorite aspect of Korean medicine, something I think the west could learn from Korean medicine.

The number of weddings in the period this year was the lowest since 2004, with 188,200. At this rate, this year may fall short of 2015, which had a record-low 302,828 weddings. Experts say this year’s figure may not reach 300,000.

For many young singles in South Korea, they think marriage is a sort of luxury that they have lots of other things to do first. Before tying the knot with their ideal partners, they want to achieve career goals, receive more education and consider themselves still too young to get married. Economic reasons, such as a small income and lacking funds for wedding expenses, were ranked second. Since this social atmosphere continues, recently people are focusing on a ‘reasonable wedding’. It is not easy to prepare an affordable wedding for busy modern people. Including wedding halls, dresses and makeup, wedding photography and honeymoon as well, everybody knows this is a once in a lifetime event, but sadly weddings cannot be afforded because of the expenses and the time to be taken off for the honeymoon.

Thus, it increased that people prepare their wedding through wedding fairs or do their own leg work to save money. If wedding planners are used, it can be more convenient to prepare, but price bubbles such as extra options after wedding contracts are still contentious social problem in South Korea.

According to the ‘2016 Status Report about wedding expenses’, the average wedding cost amounts to 274.2 million won.  The wedding ceremony costs around 82.4 million won except for housing funds.  Therefore, to reduce the burden of these excessive costs, soon-to-be married couples have chosen to have a ‘small wedding’. They reduce the scale of ceremony such as inviting people, but host a very unique and special wedding. That’s the point of this conception’s wedding.

But a small wedding with good facilities at an affordable price are difficult to find since they are already booked like six months to a year ahead.  In addition, small wedding halls located in cheongdam-dong or Gangnam district are too expensive to use. Those small wedding venue fees are more expensive than regular venue fees.

Q. Who’s normally responsible for paying for the wedding?
Traditionally a few days before the wedding in South Korea, the families will go through exchange of several kinds of gifts. It called ‘honsu’ and ‘yedan’. They include many things such as gifts of household goods, clothing and jewelry between the bride and groom.

Q. How do the bride and groom prepare for the wedding?
1. Create a list of wedding preparations and set up budgets
For marriage check-list, it is easy to research on websites or via married friends or through information about what wedding planners can provide.
And it’s better to do market research for venue, attire, makeup, honeymoon and etc.

2. Venue
When the date is determined, the next thing you have to do is make a reservation to visit the venues.
If your hometown is provinces, you have to consider about this fact.

3. Honeymoon
And the groom and the bride determine duration of honeymoon.
(And if working, check availability of vacation.)

4. Photography, Attire and Makeup
Those three avengers, Studio / dress / makeup, are one of the most important preparation for the bride.
1) Studio (Photography)
Select your favorite studio that has your taste and good atmosphere.
And then make a reservation.
2) Attire Korean Women rarely buy wedding dresses/hanbok (Korean traditional costumes) but rather rent them. Same goes for men as well.
Prices also vary widely, so definitely plan specific budget for it.
3) Hair / Makeup
Even though it is within the same shop, prices can vary by designers. Check carefully.

5. Yedan (gifts)
Originally, the gifts given by bride’s family to the groom and his family, are called ‘yedan’.
But these days that gift is presented by greeting the groom’s family and entering his home. Normally, you have to check out what that groom’s family wants such as only cash or in kind, then right before marriage like one month before, send them the ‘yedan’ by having courtesy and wrapping them with ‘yedan’ envelope and ‘yedan’ cloth.

Q. The top 5 most popular places to have a traditional and non-traditional wedding.

1. Popular non-traditional wedding places

1. $ – Resident Hall / Church / Cathedral
2. $$ – Novotel wedding (https://novotel.ambatel.com/gangnam/weddings )
3. $$$ – Hotels (The Shilla Seoul – http://www.shilla.net )
4. $$$ – Hotels (The Chapel at Cheongdam – http://www.thechapel.co.kr )

 

2. Popular traditional wedding places

1) At Unhyeon Palace (Unhyeongung)
In Unhyeongung Palace, to hold a traditional wedding ceremony, you can pay as much as $800 US Dollars. (0.9million won). You can hold the wedding at relatively low cost.
2) At Lotte World Folk Museum
They have easy access to airport and downtown in Seoul.
They won’t allow you to get bored at your wedding as they provide various activities like performances and playing Korean traditional music instruments. Lotte World’s traditional wedding cost around $1,500 US Dollars. (1.7million won) And, the groom and the bride can rent traditional wedding costume, Hanbok. They offer free tour of the Folk Museum to every wedding guest.
 3. Top 5 Wedding planners in South Korea
1) i-Wedding http://www.ifamily.co.kr/
2) Vernovia in Cheongdam http://www.vernovia.kr/
It is an open gallery wedding shop. It means you can choose wedding dresses or dresses to wear anytime. 80% of wedding dresses are all brand-new ones.
3) Denam since 1994 http://www.denam.com/
4) Hannah Wedding http://www.hannawedding.co.kr
5) Wooa Wedding http://www.wooawedding.com/
Do you know anyone getting married in Korea or Who will you marry in Korea?

Kоrеа has еаrliеr tооk thе lеаd аѕ hаving thе hоttеѕt fаѕhiоn trеnd аnd iѕ рrоbаblу going tо hоld that lеаd fоr a vеrу lоng timе.

Bеfоrе Kоrеа tооk thе lеаd, thе hоttеѕt fаѕhiоn trеnd in Aѕiа wаѕ Jараn. But it ѕееmѕ likе Jараn hаѕ lоѕt itѕ titlе to Korea in the раѕt couple оf уеаrѕ.

Sо, whаt hаѕ Kоrеа intrоduсеd tо thе wоrld whiсh mаdе it ѕuсh a ѕuссеѕѕful fаѕhiоn trеndѕеttеr? Thеrе аrе a numbеr оf роѕѕiblе rеаѕоnѕ whiсh led tо their ѕuссеѕѕ whiсh I will bе diѕсuѕѕing аbоut in thе nеxt few раrаgrарhѕ.

• Firѕtlу, Asia’s еx-lеаding fаѕhiоn trеndѕеttеr hаѕ intrоduсеd, if not mаdе bеttеr, ѕоmе оf thе most fаѕhiоnаblе lаdiеѕ’ blоuѕеѕ аnd drеѕѕеѕ fоr ԛuitе ѕоmе time. It iѕ оnlу nаturаl thаt thеу wоuld run out оf idеаѕ аftеr tаking such a lоng lеаd. Thеrеfоrе, Korea tооk thiѕ орроrtunitу tо ѕnаtсh thе lеаd frоm Japan аftеr itѕ fаѕhiоn сrеаtivitу hаѕ run drу.
• Sесоndlу, it соuld bе due tо thе ѕurgе in рорulаritу оf Kоrеаn рор grоuрѕ whiсh has lеd tо thеir fаѕhiоn ѕuссеѕѕ. As уоu аll might knоw, рорulаr рор grоuрѕ uѕuаllу ѕеt thе lаtеѕt trеnd аѕ thеу аrе thе frоntlinе оf thе еntеrtаinmеnt ѕсеnе аnd wоuld hаvе tо drеѕѕ uniԛuеlу tо idеntifу thеmѕеlvеѕ. Yоu hаvе рrоbаblу hеаrd muсh аbоut thе lаtеѕt Korean pop grоuрѕ ѕuсh as Big Bаng, Suреr Junior аnd Girl’s Gеnеrаtiоn (SNSD). All thеѕе рор grоuрѕ аrе nоw thе mоѕt tаlkеd аbоut in thе еntеrtаinmеnt wоrld. And ѕinсе thеу are ѕuсh hоt tорiсѕ, it iѕ nо wоndеr thаt реорlе wоuld wаnt tо imitаtе their idols аnd wоuld thеrеfоrе drеѕѕ ѕimilаrlу tо their idоlѕ. I bеliеvе that thiѕ iѕ thе mоѕt сruсiаl роint whiсh lеd Kоrеа tо оvеrtаkе thе lаtеѕt Aѕiаn trеnd.

Aѕ a fаѕhiоn аdviѕоr, I uѕuаllу аdviѕе mу сliеntѕ tо hаvе a сlоѕеr lооk аt thе fаѕhiоn in Aѕiа. The арраrеl in Aѕiа lооks mоrе арреаling tо thе еуеѕ аnd thе rаngе оf арраrеl аrе сlоѕе tо unlimitеd. I lоvе how сrеаtivitу is expressed thrоugh fаѕhiоn. Fоr сliеntѕ whо hаvе dоubtеd mу аdviсе, I wоuld buу thеm a niсе рiесе оf арраrеl frоm thе lаtеѕt Kоrеаn fаѕhiоn. Aftеr wеаring thе арраrеl I bоught thеm, mоѕt оf thеm wоuld bе in awe аt hоw a рiесе оf сlоthе could bring оut ѕо much in thеm.

Sо, tо уоu people оut thеrе, tаkе mу аdviсе and gеt уоurѕеlvеѕ thе lаtеѕt Kоrеаn fаѕhiоn сlоthеѕ аnd bе amazed at hоw ѕuсh littlе things саn dо уоu much good.

If you are visiting Korea without plans to visit the spas, saunas or jjimjilbang that the country has to offer, then you would be missing out a very fun cultural experience.

Over the recent years, spas, saunas and jjimjilbangs have quickly turned into social hubs for couples, friends and families of all age ranges. These favorite places to hang-out offer detox options that range from purification to anti-aging to enhance your skin and benefit your well-being.

Most of the spas’ services are open for 24 hours, offering facial and body massages, scrubs, manicures and meals. Compared to hotels or guest houses, the fees are extremely low and to stay for a night or two or longer would be very a convenient and enjoyable experience for tourists and travellers.

Each place will provide unique services that market certain clients; most spas and saunas would have clear instructions in English, Japanese and Chinese, which would assist foreigners enjoy the experience in convenience.

First, you collect your locker key at the front desk, after purchasing the basic entry fee that usually covers up to 12 hours of unlimited use of all the baths and saunas.

The next step is to shower thoroughly before you step inside a hot or cold tub; you are free to pick and choose which tubs to get and in which rooms to relax in. Most spas allow customers to sleep over for the night for extra cost.

One of the reasons why spas, saunas and jjimjilbangs are visited frequently by locals and tourists is because the heat is known to soothe tired muscles, loosen sore bones and cleanse pores. However, excessive heat and high temperature can be overwhelming to individuals with high blood pressure or other physical weaknesses and those who have never been inside a bulgama/heated pool should play safe and be cautious. Just because someone else next to you is lying for hours inside the temperature of over 40 degrees, it does not in any way indicate everyone else has to do the same.

Regular spas offer unique and diverse types of hot baths (e.g: green tea, rose, salt, ginseng) and basic necessities like soaps, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes are available with hair dryers, lotions and perfumes. There are assistants who scrub your back and give you a foot massage.

Korean spas are usually created separately for men and women in the bath area but the main facilities including some spas, sauna and jjimjilbangs are for both genders to share.

Below, I listed five popular and unique Korean spas/saunas.

 

Spa Land Centum City

Located inside the world’s biggest department store, the “Shinsaegae Centumcity Department” in Haeundae, Busan – Spa Land has all the benefits of a traditional spa, Korean-style.

Spa Land consists of 22 spas of all-natural spring water from 1000m underground, 13 diverse ‘Jjimjilbangs’ and saunas themes and an open-air foot spa.

The first floor consists of the Korean traditional ‘Jjimjilbang’ and traditional saunas from all over the world. Finnish Sauna, Roman Sauna, Wave-Dream Room, Body Sauna Room, SEV Room, Roman Room, Milky Bath, Steam Sauna, Open-air Spa, Pyramid Room, Yellow Earth Room, Hard Wood Charcoal Room, Salt Room, Dry Sauna, Ice Room, Attraction Pool and many more. The Entertainment Zone on the second floor provides a range of beautification programs, a PC room, a restaurant, and a conference room.

 

Spa Lei http://www.spalei.co.kr/

Spa Lei is a female-only spa which provides an immaculate and stylish service and environment, from various cosmetic treatment, nail art, tanning room, sports massages and etc services females demand. The décor is made of a range of materials including stained wood, marble and rock in tones of warm colors.

The spa has Joseon-generation styled furniture, candelabras hanging over mirrors in an antique fashion. The saunas include pinewood, saltwater pool to ginseng, mineral and rose baths. A restaurant and coffee places are also available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragon Hill Spa http://www.dragonhillspa.co.kr/

Dragon Hill Spa is one of the most visited and highest rated saunas in Seoul. The spa boasts of its eight floors fully equipped with various de-stressing zones and entertainment facilities, from fitness areas, spas, saunas, and rooftop gardens.

This spa features outdoor baths, charcoal saunas, crystal salt rooms and ginseng and cedar baths. This spa also has a great movie theater. There is a golf driving range, cinema and rooftop garden that offers an Indian barbecue. The outdoor heated pool for both genders; making this a perfect gathering place for family and friends for parties and meetings.

This spa will get over-crowded on weekends, but it is definitely one of the first spa places to check out when it comes to Seoul-style jjimjilbang.

 

The Spa in Garden 5 http://eng.spagarden5.co.kr/

The Spa in Garden 5 is one of the newest spas in Seoul with a large scale. It boasts of great views of the outdoor scenery. Located on the 10th floor of Garden 5 shopping center, this modern spa offers the well-known features, as well as with extra-ordinary themes like a library, arcade, internet cafe and yoga classes.

This spa has specialized atopy treatment room, DVD room, restaurants, various sauna rooms separate for women and men, ice room and etc.

 

Hanhwa Resort Baegam Spa http://www.hanwharesort.co.kr/irsweb/resort2/eng

Baegam Hot Spring is one of the oldest spring spas in Korea, since it existed since the Shilla Dynasty (57 B.C.E.- 935 C.E.). This natural spring is situated on Korea’s east coast, Baegam Hot Spring is one of the most popular tourist attractions within the Hanhwa resort. The resort is located close to several beaches and it has the view of Baegam Mountain.

The spring spa is sulfuric, thus the thermal waters have fragrance and color are quite unique. The sulfur is known to have effect in healing chronic dermatitis, endometritis and arteriosclerosis, so that healing factor alone has drawn numerous visitors each year. Baegam Hot Spring also offers a theme park.

You will be mildly surprised to find that each spa, sauna and jjimjilbang in Korea has its unique asset and specialty for its clients the experience the best of service during their stay.

 

And last but not least, Hurshimchung spa in Busan is one of my personal favorite spas in Korea. The link of th spa/sauna and its facilities and the hotel it is located in is provided in English.

http://www.hotelnongshim.com/eng/html/03_spa/spa_01.php

Before deciding on the place to visit, please take the time to do a thorough research on the spa/sauna that you are interested in, since most web sites are available in English and other languages translation, it should not be too intricate. It would also be helpful to be informed of the additional services that you can utilize, the cost and its opening hours of it services.

It is mostly recommended to visit a spa/sauna during the season of winter, however spas and saunas agreeable to utilize at any time or season of the year. There are countless numbers of spas/saunas to select in Korea and if you spend the time with family members and friends, then the enjoyment will be greater still.

— J.Chung

Blood Type A

People with the blood type A are generally known to be kind and compassionate individuals who regard others peoples’ interests and needs first.

These people may seem calm from their outer appearance but they often suffer from turmoil and anxiety. People with blood type A personality are great listeners who tend to make good friends with strangers.

They like to be accepted by other people, but since many of them have introverted personality, they sometimes find it hard to trust and make new acquaintances.

Jong-kook Kim

Jong-kook Kim is a Korean singer and TV personality. In 1995, Kim joined a duo called Turbo with Jung-nam Kim, which was hugely popular with their up-beat songs for several years until the Jung-nam left after a conflict with their management company. He was replaced by Mikey and the group later disbanded in 2001. Since then, Kim has been a solo act focusing mostly on ballads for his music.

Over the years, Kim has actively participated as a guest or an entertainer in many variety shows including, ‘X-man’ and ‘Family Outing’ and most notably the ‘Running Man’. He is also known to host a documentary program called ‘Escape Crisis No.1’ as well as co-hosting the show, ‘Everybody’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sumi Jo

Su-gyeong Jo is a Grammy Award winning Korean soprano singer. Jo was born in Seoul, Korea. Her mother was an amateur singer and pianist who was unable to pursue music professionally, Jo’s mother made her daughter take piano lessons at age 4 and voice lessons at 6. Jo would spend up to eight hours a day, practicing music. When she was a music student at Seoul National University, Jo made her professional recital debut, appeared in several concerts with the Korean Broadcasting System, made her professional operatic debut as Susanna in ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ with the Seoul Opera. In 1983, Jo left her school, to study at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where she performed in concerts in Italy and on national radio and TV frequently. Jo decided to use “Sumi” as her stage name around this era. In 1986, she was unanimously awarded the first prize in the Carlo Alberto Cappelli International Competition; open exclusively to first-prize winners from major competitions.

Jo has over 50 recordings to her credit, including ten solo albums for Erato Records of Warner Classics. These include complete operas, oratorio, operetta, orchestral works and etc. Sumi Jo is one of Korea’s top soprano singers, actively performing in important events in Korea and abroad.

 

 

 

 

Utada Hikaru

Utada is a Japanese-American singer and songwriter. Since the release of her Japanese debut album, ‘First Love’ became the best-selling album in Oricon history in 1997. Three of her Japanese studio albums listed Top 10 best-selling albums ever in Japan and six of her albums.

In total, Hikaru has a record of holding twelve number-one singles in the Oricon Singles chart. She has five million-sellers and four Top 100 All-Time Best-selling Singles. It is estimated that Utada has sold more than 52 million records worldwide.

 

 

Si-kyung Sung

Sung Si-kyung is a Korean ballad singer and actor. Sung’s debut was in 2001 when he released his first album, mainly consisting of ballads. Sung achieved three top hits that year making him the best newcomer singer of the year.

His second album released in 2002 was also a massive success, selling more than 650,000 copies. In September 2011, after coming back from the military service Sung returned to the music scene with his seventh album. Sung is often regarded has the emperor of ballads in Korea, the singer Seung-hoon Shin who was known previously as a ballad king for years is said to state Sung as his successor.

 

 

 

Ji-won Eun

Ji-won Eun is a Korean rapper, host, composer and former member of the 90’s group, Sechs Kies. After the group disbanded in 2000, Eun pursued a solo career a year later with the first solo single (“A-Ha”).

In 2007, Eun released a hip-hop single called “Adios”. The following year, he released an album entitled ‘G Code’ and a single called ‘Dangerous.’

Eun has appeared on numerous TV shows including, Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days and currently co-hosts the health program Vitamin and the network’s song-contest program Saturday Freedom: Immortal Songs 2 on KBS World TV 2.

 

Yunho (DBSK)

Jung Yun-ho is a Korean singer, actor and a member of the pop duo DBSK, a.k.a TVXQ. After winning a prize at the 1st Annual SM Best Competition in 1999, Yunho signed with S.M. Entertainment, officially started his training in 2000.

Yun-ho spent most of his high school vacations in Seoul as a trainee, returning to his hometown, Kwangju for school. In 2002, Yunho was chosen to be part of the project boy band Four Seasons; this project was later dropped when Yunho and Jaejoong joined TVXQ in 2003. Yunho was put as its leader.

Regarding his dancing ability, Yunho has been given the title as “K-pop’s dancing king” by critics. He was the only Asian artist to be invited to Michael Jackson’s tribute concert held in 2010.

 

 

Taebin Im

Danny Im who is also known by his Korean name Taebin, is a Korean-American singer. Since 1998, he was an active member as the lead vocal for the hip hop group, 1TYM; the group was managed under YG Entertainment. 1TYM produced many hits and six albums.

During 2006, 1TYM was on a hiatus due to member, Jin Hwan’s military service. 1TYM has not officially broken up; however they have been inactive as a group since 2005. In 2004, Im released his first solo album. In September 2012, he began his own TV show, “Danny from LA”, which premiered on Mnet America. In the show, he covers topics of the latest trends in Korean pop, music and culture.

 

 

 

Hyun-Suk Yang

Yang Hyun-Suk is a Korean music mogul, musician and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of ‘Seo Taiji and Boys’ during the 90’s. Yang was well-known for his dancing skills even before he joined the group, along with his band-mate, Juno. The band disbanded in 1996.

In 1998, Yang established YG Entertainment and became its CEO, the company is currently one of the most successful recording companies in Korea. Around that time, Yang released his first solo album which featured a song composed by Seo Taiji. Yang Hyun-Suk has since produced numerous successful artists under his entertainment label, focusing mainly on Hip Hop genre and the various.

 

 

 

 

Blood Type B

People with the Blood type B are outwardly outgoing and friendly. They are naturally friendly and hospitable to most people. They are great leaders who can deal with working under pressure with anyone.

The males have a stereotype of being unpredictably temperamental at times and like to rely on themselves and their own judgment. Especially in Asia, men of this blood type are regarded by women to have a difficult or complicated personality; they are often known to be excessively stubborn, unpredictable and unsuitably flirtatious.

Wan-sun Kim

Kim I-seon is a Korean female singer. Her sensational debut was at the age of 17 in 1986. She is known for her dancing skills and charismatic presence.

In 1990, her fifth studio album, she achieved three consecutive No.1 singles and sold more than 1 million copies. In the mid-1990s, she retired from the Korean music scene to start a new career in Hong Kong due to complications with her family’s debt and etc. She managed to achieve success in Taiwan, released three albums in Mandarin under the name Jin Yuan-Xuan.

From 2006, she lived in Hawaii for three years, studying digital arts at the University of Hawaii. She returned to Korean music scene in April 2011, releasing the Super Love EP. Kim currently owns her entertainment company.

 

 

Jang-hoon Kim

Kim dropped out of school at an early age and worked as a D.J. at cafes.

In 1991, he released his debut album which included, “On A Sunny Day”, written by Heeyul Yoo, “Always Between You And I”, and “To The Tomorrow” written by Cho Dongik. His second album, including “Now”, was released in 1993. Kim debuted in 1991, but it was not until Kim’s 4th album, ‘Fool’ that got him recognized for his musical ability and gained him popularity.

Kim is well-known for his charity work for over ten years; he is particularly known for his activities in the Liancourt Rocks territorial dispute between Japan and Korea.

 

 

Ha-neul Kim

Ha-neul Kim is a Korean actress and model. Kim started her career by modeling for a clothing brand ‘Storm’ in 1996, appearing in magazines.

She made her acting debut in the 1998 film, ‘Bye June’ – over the years, she has been best noted for her lead roles in the romantic comedies ‘My Tutor Friend’ (2003), ‘Too Beautiful to Lie’ (2004), ‘My Girlfriend Is an Agent’ (2009) and Blind (2011).

 

 

 

 

 

Eric (Shinhwa)

Eric Mun is a Korean-American singer, actor and a member of the Korean boy band Shinhwa that was formed by S.M Entertainment in 1998.

In 2014, Eric teamed up with is long time manager of ten years to set up a new management agency E&J Entertainment for his individual activities. Eric is currently the CEO of Shinhwa Company with Lee Min-woo since 2011, with the remaining Shinwha members; Kim Dong-wan, Shin Hye-sung, Jun Jin and Andy Lee as its shareholders.

 

 

 

 

Jae-suk Yoo

Jae-suk Yoo is a Korean actor, comedian and television comedy show host.

His debut was on the KBS Comedian Festival, which was held for college students in 1991.

In 2002, after spending about nine years as a low profile comedian, he got a chance to host a program called Live and Enjoy Together, which was recommended to him by the actress, Jinsil Choi. The program became instant hit, since then Yoo hosted many programs.

Yoo is often dubbed as the “MC of the nation”- a survey by the Korean netizens proved he was the country’s most popular comedian for five consecutive years, from 2004 to 2008. Yoo has hosted several variety TV shows, including the popular programs Infinite Challenge and Running Man.

 

 

Seung Hwan Lee

Seung-Hwan Lee is a Korean singer songwriter who is often quoted as ‘the emperor of live performances’ – produces all his records himself since his debut album was released in 1989. He won the New Artist’s Gold Disc in the year of 1991.

Lee has released more than ten singles, albums and EPs that all reached the top of the charts. Lee is a first musician who is also the president of his company. His entertainment company, Dream Factory estimated that Lee has sold over 10 million records. Lee has so far held more than 1000 solo concerts.

“Chakage Salja (Let’s Live a Good Life in Korean)” is a fund-raising concert Lee hosts every year, partial of the donation goes to the Korean Childhood Leukemia Foundation.

 

 

Tae-hee Kim

Tae-hee Kim is a Korean actress who is known to be one of the most popular actresses of her generation. Kim was born in Busan and was brought up in Ulsan. She later moved to Seoul to attend the Seoul National University, majoring Fashion design.

Kim started her career in TV commercials, later appearing in supporting roles in dramas as Stairway to Heaven in 2003. In the start of her career, her lack of acting ability was very much criticized was later acclaimed when she starred in one of the leading roles, ‘Iris’ (2009); which was one of the most expensive Korean TV dramas to be ever produced. Kim famous for being the face of   various commercials, from make-up brands to IT-related devices and etc. Kim’s younger brother, Hwan Lee is also an actor.

 

 

 

Blood Type O

This type is described as responsible individuals who are extremely organized. They are outgoing and sociable, love to gain attention and popularity from others.

They make excellent leaders and conversationalists, they are usually liked and promoted by people in general.

At times, they like to be alone and need to spend time by themselves.

Blood type O people are very creative and confident, but since they are not very persistent; they do not always meet their goals and plans.

Sang-woo Kwon

Sang-woo Kwon is a South Korean actor. He rose to stardom in 2003 with the romantic comedy film, ‘My Tutor Friend’ and ‘Once Upon A Time In High School’ released in 2004.

Kwon started his career as a model in the late 90s. He had his first acting experience in the TV drama, ‘Delicious Proposal’. For few years of his entertainment career he received only minor roles, before making his big-screen debut in the martial arts film ‘Volcano High’ (2001). The following year he played his first lead role in the comedy ‘Make It Big’ (2002).

 

 

 

 

Gun-mo Kim

Gun-mo Kim is a Korean singer and musician who has released twelve albums.

Kim debuted with an album, ‘Kim Gun Mo 1’ in 1992, which was followed by his second album ‘Excuse’ in 1993. His third album ‘Mis-Encounter’ came out in 1995. Kim holds the record for having the biggest selling album in Korea; his third studio album sold over 3.3 million copies. Kim’s 8th album, ‘He-story,’ was the best-selling album in the year of 2003. His most recent work was released in 2008, entitled, ‘Soul Groove.’

 

 

 

 

 

Siwon Ryu

Si-won Ryu is a Korean actor, singer and professional car racer. After his debut in the KBS drama, ‘Feeling’ in 1994, Ryu has been in countless TV dramas and commercials. Ryu also pursued a singing career and was active both as an actor and a singer in Japan.

He was the first Korean artist to hold two live concerts at the Tokyo Dome, in December 2008. Then in November 2011, he held his 100th solo concert in Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

Ri-na Chae

Hyun-ju Park is a Korean singer and rapper. Her stage name is Ri-na Chae.

Ri-na is a former member of Roo’ra, Diva and later a project team called Bros. She officially joined Roo’ra as its youngest member in 1995, while still in her teens when the group released their second album. As soon as the group disbanded she formed a trio group called, ‘Diva’ and the released three albums until they disbanded. Roo’ra members were reunited but the reunification was short lived due to complications and personal issues between the members. The group released nine albums in total. Ri-na herself has released one solo album, ‘The First Step’ in 2002. As of 2006, she and Yuri from the K-pop group, ‘Cool’ formed a duo called Girl Friends, after releasing two albums before they disbanded.

 

 

Woo-sung Jung

Woo-sung Jung is a Korean actor and model. He grew up in a very under-privileged region in Seoul, so he had to undertake many jobs since he was young to earn his living. He later dropped out of high school in order to pursue his career in acting. Jung made his film debut in the 1994 movie, ‘The Fox with Nine Tails’. In 1997, Jung found widespread fame in Director Sung-su Kim’s film, ‘Beat’, playing a role of a high school student who becomes caught up in gang life.

Since his acting debut in 1994, Jung has featured and did numerous work on films, TV commercials, dramas, directing short films and music videos; winning and being nominated for many major awards as one of Korea’s top actors.

 

 

 

Joo-hyun Ock

Joo-hyun is a singer and theatre actress, best known for being the main singer for the 90’s girl group Fin.K.L. After the group disbanded in 2002, Ock released three solo albums and has participated in musicals, Chicago, Cats, 42nd Street to name a few. In 2003, Ock came out with a solo single called “Nan…”, meaning “I…” in Korean, which entered the top 10 of Korean music charts.

In addition to launching three albums, she has worked as a radio DJ for several years, as well as an emcee for SBS, MBC, and KBS. She has also received an award for “Best Radio DJ” during the MBC awards of 2005. Ock has appeared on various television works and since 2005, she has appeared in various musicals like Cats, Chicago, Rebecca, Guys and Dolls and etc.

Takuya Kimura

Takuya Kimura is a Japanese singer and actor. He is a member of the well-known Japanese group, SMAP. The numerous TV dramas he starred in produced high ratings in Japan. Born in Tokyo, Kimura attended elementary school and junior high school in Chiba. In 1987, his aunt sent an application to the Johnny & Associates talent agency, where he became a member of Johnny’s Juniors which was a group for trainees.

In 1988, SMAP was created, and Kimura joined as its member. The members began to host a weekly Japanese TV variety show SMAP×SMAP. Kimura is currently regarded as one of the most successful entertainers in Japan and Asia.

 

 

Blood Type AB

AB types are strong-willed and rational people. They don’t care too much about tedious things and accept life’s challenges without their emotions getting in the way. AB types are popular people who enjoy freedom and hate being ordered around by others. They are also known to have split personalities. AB types are regarded as either prodigies or clowns; they are extremely complicated in terms of their personality and character.

Around five percent of the world’s population is known to be of this blood type, which makes AB the rarest out of all four blood types.

Soo-yeon Kang

Soo-yeon Kang is a Korean actress born in Seoul. She was one of the best known and internationally acclaimed stars during the 80s and the 90’s era.

Kang made her acting debut as a child actor in the 1977, acting in a number of low profile movies before making a breakthrough performance in Director, Im Kwon-taek’s movie, ‘The Surrogate Woman’ – she received the Volpi Cup Best Actress award at the 1987 Venice International Film Festival and Best Actress Award at the Nantes International Film Festival. She won the Best Actress award at the 16th Moscow International Film Festival for her role in the 1989’s movie, ‘Come, Come, Come Upward.’

In 2001, Kang starred in the TV Drama aired on SBS TV titled ‘Ladies Of The Palace‘ and this performance enabled her to win the Performance Award awarded by SBS TV.

 

 

Hyun-jung Kim

Kim is a Korean singer and musical actress; best known for her powerful voice and up-beat songs that has influence of foxtrot music.

Since her official debut in 1998, she is known to compose and produce most of her songs. Most of her singles hit the top of the music charts.

Kim also holds the title of being the third female solo artist to sell the most records in Korea, selling more than 500,000 copies for each of her released album and won as many as 30 music awards.

After having being involved in a car accident more than once, Kim has managed to get back on track to run a successful business for her own jeans brand, a company for pet supplies, as well as working on her new music.

 

Sora Lee

Lee So-ra is a Korean ballad and pop singer. Lee released her first album in 1995. Her sixth album, Nunsseopdal, won her the Korean Music Awards for Best Female Vocalist in 2005. Lee has in total eight studio albums.

Lee hosted her talk show on TV called, ‘Lee Sora’s Propose Show’ which show-cased live performances of artists active in those day. The first show aired in 1995 until 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

Ji-hoon Lee

Ji-hoon Lee is a Korean singer and actor. He made his debut on 15 October 1996, with the single “Why the Heaven” while he was still in High school.

In 2001, Lee and former H.O.T member and solo-artist, Kangta formed a project group called the “S” with close friend and group, Shinhwa’s lead-singer, Shin Hye-sung. In May 2004, Lee released a new album as a solo vocalist. The title song of the new album was “Trinity”. Lee Ji-hoon has been featured in numerous TV series and films for years as an actor.

 

 

 

 

Mirae Yoon

Natasha Shanta Reid is an American-born Korean rapper and singer. Mirae Yoon is her Korean name, she is also known as Tasha or T. Mirae was born in Texas to a Korean mother and a African-Scottish father.

In 1995, Mirae accompanied her friend to a World Records audition, a staff member heard her singing outside of the audition room; she got casted for an ‘Uptown’ member. Uptown debuted in 1997, when Mirae was about 15 years old.

In 1999, she formed a duo, Tashannie with a former member of Uptown, Annie Lee. Uptown disbanded later in 2000. A year later, Tasha debuted as a solo artist with the name T, releasing her 1.5 album, ‘Gemini.’ Her album was the first Korean hip-hop album to debut in Japanese. Mirae joined Jungle Entertainment, founded by Tiger JK whom she married in 2007. She is currently a member of ‘MFBTY’ with her husband, JK Tiger and Bizzy.

Mirae is an advocate against child abuse, she and her husband were commended by the Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare for promoting child abuse prevention.

Ji-tae Yoo

Ji-tae Yoo is a Korean actor and director. Yoo started as a fashion model since Yoo’s noticeable trademark was his tall height.

In 1998, he began acting in films like, ‘Attack the Gas Station’ (1999) and ‘Ditto’ (2000). Yoo garnered recognition and fame by working with top Directors like Hur Jin-ho ‘One Fine Spring Day’ (2001) and Park Chan-wook’s ‘Oldboy’ (2003). Yoo began directing his short films in 2003, which were well received by film critiques. His feature directorial debut, ‘Mai Ratima’ was released in 2013.

Jung-hwan Ahn

Ahn Jung-hwan is a Korean former football/soccer player. Ahn played for teams in Japan, France, Germany and China. Ahn was selected for three World Cups, in 2002, 2006 and 2010. Starting his career with K League’s Busan Daewoo Royals, Ahn joined Serie A’s AC Perugia in 2000–01, on a loan.

During the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Ahn scored against Italy that sent Korea through to the quarter-finals. The next day, the Perugia owner cancelled Ahn’s contract, quoting, “I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian football.” The South Korean national coach, ‘Guus Hiddink’ critized the decision; Perugia took back the claims and offered to buy Ahn’s contract, but the Ahn rejected that he would no longer discuss a transfer to Perugia since they attacked his character instead of congratulating his win on the game. Ahn was chosen for South Korea’s 2006 FIFA World Cup team in Germany, he is also the Asian football player to have scored the most goals in the World Cup games.

Young-Ae Lee

Lee Young-ae is a Korean actress. Lee made her debut in a TV commercial in 1991. This later paved way for her to feature in TV dramas and movies.

She is internationally known for her leading role in the Korean historical drama ‘Dae Jang Geum’ (2003). In 2004, she was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador by UNICEF and has held several charity fundraisers for schools and hospitals in Harbin and an elementary school in China; renamed as Lee Young-Ae Elementary School.

Lee’s most notable role in film is, Director Park Chan-wook’s crime thriller, ‘Sympathy for Lady Vengeance’ which released in 2005 – Lee was awarded Best Actress in the 2005 Blue Dragon Film Awards and 2006 Baeksang Art Awards for her performance. In 2007, she received the Merit of Medal of Culture for her contribution to Korean Wave from the Korean government.

 

 

— J. Chung

SHINee is easily one of KPOP’s most recognizable boy groups. Their appearances outside of Asia are extremely rare so it was a real treat for Shawols(SHINee’s fanclub) in Dallas when it was announced that SHINee would be holding a fan meeting there, their 3^rd US appearance this year. SHINee previously performed in Chicago at another fan meeting and were the headlining act at day 1 of KCON LA 2016.

Attendees began lining up for the show hours before doors opened, with fans handing out banners and other support items despite the high temperatures.

Once inside, the excitement hit a fever pitch as fans sang along to the tracks playing over the sound system. A sea of Pearl Aqua Green was visible as the lights dropped and SHINee took the stage, starting off the fan meeting with ‘Everybody’. The crowd was deafening, screaming along to the song.

After this song, SHINee went off stage and the MC introduced himself and talked with the crowd while the group did a costume change. During this portion it was discovered that several fans travelled very long distances to attend, including several from Mexico, Japan, Norway, and Singapore. SHINee returned to the stage to applause and introduced themselves individually.

Before their performing their next song, they were shown a video made up of clips of fans from around the world. Minho could be seen dancing to a pair of girls imitating his iconic rap from ‘SHINee World’ while the others laughed at cute moments. After this, they performed ‘Hello’.

As this was a fan meeting, there was a portion of the show where a group of lucky fans got to play charades onstage with SHINee. Some of the highlights of this were Key imitating Golum from Lord of the Rings and watching Taemin struggle to act out some of the more difficult words. Onew’s team won the game and were given prizes.

The rest of the show went off without a hitch with the group performing ‘Replay’, ‘Lucifer’ and ‘Sherlock’ back to back. Fans of all ages sang along and danced to these older hits. There was a final costume change while a VCR for ‘View’ played. It was particularly impressive at how much stamina the group had to perform this song despite the previous block of choreography heavy songs.

SHINee are a highly animated group who obviously care about their fans worldwide. Key even mentioned that one of his favorite things to do is watch fan reaction videos. It is easy to see why SHINee have survived for the past 8 years and continue to rise to the top.

Thanks to Subkulture Entertainment and SM Entertainment for bringing SHINee to Dallas!

—-Ke’Anna Bullard

American KPOP fans were given a real treat when it was announced GOT7 would be bringing their Fly concert tour to the US after touring in Asia. GOT7 previously held a fan meeting tour in May of 2015, visiting 3 cities. For the Fly series 5 cities were announced, with 7 shows taking place. First on the list was Dallas, one of the cities included on the fan meeting tour last year.

The concert started off on a bit of a sad note, as it was announced that due to illness Youngjae would not be performing in Dallas. However, the remaining 6 started off the show without a hitch, performing their Intro, ‘Put Them Up’, ‘Turn Up The Music’, and ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’.

The boys kept the energy up most of the show, slowing it down for ‘This.Star’, ‘Playground’, and a few other ballad type songs. Near the middle of the show GOT7 featured 3 special stages: First, ‘1:31 A.M’, JB and Youngjae’s duet, ‘Higher’, Mark and Junior’s upbeat feature, and ‘WOLO’, Jackson, Bambam and Yugyeom’s performance.

The group also performed many fan favorites like ‘I Like You’, ‘Follow Me’ and their most recent releases, ‘Fly’ and ‘Home Run’. Fans were also excited when they went into the crowd to perform ‘Confession Song’, hi-fiving and shaking hands with fans.

Each member expressed how happy they were to be back in Dallas, with Mark displaying his excitement over selling out the entire venue. Bambam also took the time to talk about ignoring those who have negative things about him.

The amount of stamina GOT7 have to keep the crowd hyped up is seriously impressive. Even JB, who is still recovering from a back injury, had an incredible amount of energy, exploding with charisma during their performance of ‘If You Do’.

One of the most memorable portions of the show was the encore when the group performed a remixed version of Fly. There was no set choreography and it was very cool to see Yugyeom freestyling. It felt more like a party than a concert and it ended sooner than anyone would have liked.

GOT7’s Fly tour will continue in Asia after the US set of dates. If you are able to go to a show anywhere it will definitely be worth your while. GOT7 have grown exponentially as a group in the year since their last US appearances and will leave you in anticipation for their future concerts.

Thanks to JYP Entertainment and Subkulture Entertainment for bringing GOT7 back to America!

 

—-Ke’Anna Bullard

There are roughly thirty amusement parks that are currently listed throughout South Korea. Since we are going through the hottest season of the year where people like to spend more time out-of-doors, an amusement park is a great place to be, to knock off some heat.

It’s the holiday season for many of us, so there will be big crowds visiting these parks and it is true that queuing up to get on the rides would be longer but the good part is that these places are more exciting when it’s packed with many other people. I’ve been inside a practically empty theme park a few times and it’s definitely less fun.

Some of these theme parks may be more known to the public and because there are quite a few of them in Korea, I will be covering just the three of the most popular amusement/theme parks, Seoul Land, Lotte World and Everland for this article.

Each theme park has their own definite characteristics and philosophy when it comes to bringing entertainment to people of all ages from all across the globe. You’ll soon see why these theme parks have been loved by the public for many years.

(I’ve also linked up the English websites, for those who might be interested in looking into the places.)

 

Seoul Land

Seoul Land (a.k.a SeoulLand) is one of the most visited amusement parks in Korea, located in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi province at the Seoul Grand Park Complex. This theme park first opened its doors in 1987.

Despite the name of the theme park, “Seoul Land” is technically located outside of Seoul but it is moderately close to downtown Seoul, making it very convenient to visit by subway or car.

It is estimated that over 3 million people visit Seoul Land annually. The natural environment of Seoul Land is green compared to other parks of this nature; the theme park attracts many visitors during the cherry blossom season.

I personally have fond childhood memories of Seoul Land. My mother used to often drop me and my sister to spend the day by ourselves at the theme park when she had business to attend.

I was still in pre-school so I wasn’t old enough to get on most of the rides; however I recall that it was still very entertaining to walk around the park and view the surroundings and enjoy the less intense rides for children. It’s a good thing I didn’t consider the merry-go-around boring back then. The park got crowded during the afternoon until it got dark, but we had the place to ourselves and didn’t have to queue up for long to get on the rides we could during the mornings. We would stay there for hours until my mother came to pick us up.

When visiting Seoul Land, you need to look up the schedule from their website calendar and check on the time of opening and the closing time. The park would close around 9pm but on some days at 5pm. The opening hours are usually from 9.30 am.

Seoul Land has obviously gone through many rapid changes and improvements since it first opened its doors to the public in the late 80s and is still evolving and changing today.

It currently boasts of 40 amusement rides and it has increased the number of restaurants and stores to let the visitors dine and take rests between the rides, plus holding different events and festivals throughout the year.

Visitors can get general admission tickets or a one-day unlimited pass. The general admission allows free entry to most of the rides. The unlimited passes allow almost all rides for free except for performances and other attractions may charge additional fees. There is also an annual free pass that can be used for a year. Children under the age of 2 are allowed to enter the amusement park free of charge.

I visited the Seoul Grand Park Complex sometime last year, not to get on the rides in Seoul Land but I went to visit the main branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which is also located in the Seoul Grand Park complex next to Seoul Land.

For those who don’t like to go on rides at the amusement park, this could be a great of spending quality time at the museum with your loved ones.

http://eng.seoulland.co.kr/eng/index.asp

 

Lotte World Adventure & Magic Island

My favorite theme park in Korea would be without a shadow of a doubt, Lotte World mostly because of all the diverse entertainment it offers. This amusement park opened its doors in the year of 1989, after being under construction for four years.

It is reported to receive approximately 7.6 million visitors each year, which makes Lotte World Adventure and Magic Island the most visited or the second most visited theme park in Korea, the numbers really depend on the year.

Lotte World is split into mainly two theme parks, “Lotte World Adventure” and “Magic Island.”

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, “Lotte World Adventure” is the largest indoor amusement park in the world.

And the outdoor amusement park “Magic Island” is also unique for being built on a man-made island on a lake.

Lotte World is located in Songpa-gu, Seoul. My family moved to the area when I was about five years old, so I frequently visited the Lotte world Adventure and the Magic Island which was built a couple of years after the indoor amusement park was built.

My favorite ride on the Lotte Magic Island is the Gyro Drop. There is something very addicting about this ride and it’s amazing how you get a mixed feeling of both excitement and fear during the few minutes as you experience the massive drop after a height of 70 meters (230 ft.), in a speed of 100km (62 miles) an hour. The ride doesn’t take up more than five minutes but it’s probably the most fun ride there for me, personally.

Like all the intense rides in theme parks generally, there are restrictions – if you are over 190cm (6.2 feet) tall or over 65 years old, according to their protocol, you would not be admitted to get on certain rides for safety reasons.

Overall, Lotte World has more to offer to its visitors compared to other amusement parks; it also gives access to shopping malls, Korean folk museum, aquarium, ice skating rink and much besides.

The Lotte World ice rink is said to be the largest rink in Korea; situated indoors on basement level 3, open all throughout the year. People can also sign up to get skating lessons. The ice rink facilities include restaurants, snack bars, a skate rental service and etc.

Lotte World opens every single day of the year – there won’t be any days that this amusement park is not open for the public. You’d need more than a day to really experience it all.

Lotte World’s amusement park’s opening hours from Monday to Thursday is 9:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. From Friday to Sunday, the hours of operation are from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Lotte World Folk Museum is one of the most popular museums in Korea among tourists who want to get a glimpse into the Korean culture and history. The displayed items date back 5,000 years of Korean history.

http://global.lotteworld.com

 

Everland

Everland is a theme park located at the Everland Resort in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do province, Korea. Even though the location is further out in the outskirts of Seoul, this theme park has been extremely successful, especially since after its renovation and expansion.

Everland is known for being the largest theme park in South Korea in terms of the scale. And it currently ranks 16^th most visited theme park in the world.

Along with its main attractions, Everland includes a large zoo and an outdoor water park named, Caribbean Bay.

This year of 2016, marks Everland’s 40^th anniversary since it opened in 1976 and it also celebrates its 20^th anniversary since changing the name from Jayeon Nongwon (Meaning ‘Farm land’ in English) to Everland, after a lot of controversy in the year of 1996. The name change was primarily sought out to reach the foreign market and to gain global recognition.

When this amusement park was first constructed, its theme was more of an animal zoo/safari park with only a few rides. In order to keep up and compete with the rival theme parks, Everland went under a new construction and many intricate amusement rides, golf course and Everland Resort began dominating the theme park.

Everland is largely made up of five zones, Global Fair, Zoo-Topia, European Adventure, Magic Land and American Adventure.

Everland has come a long way since they launched themselves as “Farm Land” and the fact that a theme park of this scale offers more than just fun rides, it’s also packed with zoos, safaris, water parks where people can be entertained in both man-made and natural environment which is quite fabulous.

 

http://www.everland.com/web/multi/english/everland/main.html

 

– J. Chung

May 2016 presented a much better month song-wise, so much so that it’s impossible to rank a top ten. Instead, we present you a list of the best songs that should find their way onto your K-Pop playlists as soon as possible! Let’s take a look.

ICIA “Time Bomb” | May 10 | DAM Entertainment

https://youtu.be/RP1hMjmxFnc

ICIA debuted in 2015 as the unfortunately named SIDA (French and Spanish for AIDS). In 2016, the SIDA name has been dropped (as well as a few members who have been replaced) in favor of ICIA. With the change comes an upgraded sound with personality.

“Time Bomb” is, in no way, an in-your-face, runaway hit, but it’s a catchy bop that ushers in the summer nicely. While the MV is low-quality, it shows off ICIA’s cute, fun sides just as much as the song does. The song’s catchy, addictive chorus gets better with each listen to make a song that is much like a time bomb. The song is not a top-tier one, but it’s enough to earn some notice.

 

AGirls “Uhoo” | May 16 | Star Bay

https://youtu.be/fAKbyj3I5h4

Like with “Time Bomb,” “Uhoo” isn’t a top-tier song, nor is it a runaway hit. However, it’s a sunny song that has a summery feel to it that makes it a fun, listenable song. The likeable AGirls ladies show off their cute and charming vibes. If you watch the MV and YouTube and comment, the members—specifically Jane—do take the time to reply. What’s not to love?

The winning portions of the song exist in the beat and chorus. For some, the “AGirls” chant and the “Uhoo” shouts may come across as obnoxious, but these portions are quirks that make the song fun.

 

Fiestar “Apple Pie” | May 31 | LOEN Entertainment

Fiestar did a 180 and went back to their cute sexiness that wasn’t exhibited in their severely underrated song “Mirror.” With hints of SNSD’s “Run Devil Run” mixed in with Fiestar’s effortless cuteness and sexiness makes the song stronger than it actually is. The chorus has a great beat with strong melodies, and the instrumentals make the song appealing.

 

CLC “No Oh Oh” | May 30 | Cube Entertainment

https://youtu.be/GoV7B9K23ts

CLC’s new members seem to working out just fine as “No Oh Oh” is a return to the potential CLC showed in “Pepe.” The song is strong from beginning to end in its arrangement and composition. The chorus has a good beat and catchy lyrics that make it a playlist-worthy tune. While it’s cute and a step up from their previous songs and one of the strongest releases for the month, it does lack an overall memorable quality that will help “No Oh Oh” stand out for years to come.

 

Tiffany “I Just Wanna Dance” | May 11 | SM Entertainment

Tiffany’s “I Just Wanna Dance” is a nice, nostalgic song that is reminiscent of music from the late 1980s to early 1990s. The song has hints of repetition that captures the era as well as vocal strength and a high dance-ability factor. Through the release, Tiffany showed she is a capable soloist just as much as fellow SNSD-member Taeyeon, but she really needs to work on her lip-syncing in order to put forth a stronger stage presence and prove she is capable of live performance.

 

AOA “Good Luck” | May 16 | FNC Entertainment

While it has a similar sound to BoA’s “Addiction,” “Good Luck” is a strong comeback for AOA even though promotions were short-lived. The song is lively and summery with suitable sexiness and brightness for the AOA girls. While it’s not a wholly memorable song, it’s a great song to usher in the summer season.

 

Baek A-Yeon “So So” | May 23 | JYP Entertainment

“So So” is a different take on the standard love song as it covers being lovelorn and wondering why everyone is just so-so.  Baek does a great job carrying the emotion presented in the song while making it wistful, charming, and tenderly sweet. It’s no wonder the song was popular on the charts!

 

Luna “Free Somebody” | May 31 | SM Entertainment

“Free Somebody” is the 1980s hit we didn’t know we needed. The vibe suits Luna’s vocals well and highlights her personality. While it does come across as repetitive at times, the setup and framing works for the song to make it a standout.

 

BTS “Save Me” | May 15 | Big Hit Entertainment

BTS’s “Save Me” is a stronger song than their other May release, “Fire.” “Save Me” highlights more of their talents while “Fire” shows off their fun, in-your-face personalities. However, “Fire” is over-hyped and not that impressive, while “Save Me” has stronger staying power due to how it focuses on talent over gimmicks. It had to be said.

 

AKMU “How People Move” |May 3 | YG Entertainment

“How People Move” is the perfect song for the brother-sister duo as it’s cute, fun, and full of energy. This song is suited better for their vocal range than “Re-Bye,” which is registered higher than their vocal capabilities. The fun-factor is what helped this song become a strong hit for AKMU even though promotions were short.

 

What were some of your favorite songs from May? Let us know!

 

—Joelle Halon

In May, Buzzfeed published an article of “18 Korean Beauty Products You Need in Your Life.” One of the products, Benton Snail Bee High Content Serum, caught our attention. The product promises to help alleviate breakouts and acne scars as well as brighten skin. Since it was considered a must-have, we tried the Snail Bee Serum to see if it lives up to the hype.

 

Ingredients

With any beauty product, perform a spot-test on an inconspicuous spot to perform an allergy test. Individuals with bee allergies are advised to do this to make sure there are no reactions.

Paraben Free, Mineral Oil Free, Alcohol Free, Benzophenone Free, Steroid Free, Synthetic Perfume Free, Artificial Dyes Free, and Artificial Preservatives Free.

Ingredients: Snail Secretion Filtrate (90%), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Arbutin, Bee Venom, Plantago Asiatica Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Ulmus Campestris Extract, Bacillus Ferment, Azelaic Acid, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Human Oligopeptide-1, Beta-Glucan, Betaine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Adenosine,Panthenol, Allantoin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Arginine.

 

Use

After cleansing skin, squirt two-to-three drops of the serum and spread evenly onto your fingertips. Then, tap the serum into skin, taking extra care around the eyes, T-zone, and jawline. Tap more product into skin if needed. Layer another snail or Snail Bee moisturizer on top to help enhance the benefits. The serum can be used under makeup or as part of a nightly routine with a water pack.

 

Impressions

One of the pros of the Snail Bee Serum is that it isn’t messy and it absorbs quickly into skin. The product leaves skin feeling soft and supple when it’s initially applied, but the softness does wear as the day goes on, which is why it’s preferred as part of a nightly moisturizing routine. When used during the day, it does help makeup glide on easily for a smoother appearance.

Within the first week of use, there wasn’t a lot of noticeable improvement. There are plenty of reviews online that suggest the product works within the first day to reduce redness and blemishes, but I did not find this to be the case. However, the product did seem to work with continued use, so within two-to-three weeks, there were slight improvements to my skin.

Among the noticeable improvements include how my skin appeared smoother. There were improvements to redness, so this is a plus. However, the redness reduction was really visible following a sunburn because the product did help alleviate the negative effects. With normal skin redness and irritation, this product didn’t seem like it worked quickly, but it is one I would keep on-tap for sunburn relief.

The serum promises to brighten skin also. During the trial period, there was some brightening, but it wasn’t drastic. I did feel like I looked more refreshed and awake. I will point out, at least in my experience, that if you skip a few days, skin will begin to breakout and look rundown once more. Apparently, it gets better with each use and does enhance skin more than anticipated. Results may not be typical.

For a small bottle, a little does go a long way. After a month, there is still over half a bottle left, so you can go the distance with this serum.

 

The Verdict

The Benton Snail Bee High Content Serum is a nice addition to a skincare routine. It’s easy-to-use, and a little goes a long way. Some consider it to be a miracle product. It’s a good serum, but it’s not a miracle.

The Verdict: It’s a keeper, but don’t expect miracles.

 

—-Joelle Halon