TOP 5 KOREAN DRAMA WRITERS:

5 – Lee Kyung-hee

Lee Kyung-hee is a famous South Korean TV screenwriter, known for her critically acclaimed dramas, such as ”I’m Sorry, I Love You”, ”Beating Heart”, ”A Love To Kill” and ”Thank You”. In 1997, she made her national TV debut with ”Model”, which didn’t reach the success she wanted. However, in 2003, Lee had gained some recognition with the comedy-drama ”Sang Doo! Let’s Go to School”, in which korean singer Rain made his acting debut. Her following dramas weren’t as famous as the previous one, but it gave her recognition. Even though, she was recognizable by some korean viewers, Lee still had not achieved high popularity yet. When her 2004 drama, ”I’m Sorry, I Love You”, debuted she finally hit that spot, earning commercial success. Lee Kyung-hee is also known for writing traditional urban melodramas.

Filmography:
Wonderful Days (KBS2, 2014)
The Innocent Man (KBS2, 2012)
Will It Snow for Christmas? (SBS, 2009-2010)
Thank You (MBC, 2007)
A Love to Kill (KBS2, 2005)
Beating Heart “Outing” (MBC, 2005)
I’m Sorry, I Love You (KBS2, 2004)
Drama City “My Older Brother” (KBS2, 2004)
Breathless (MBC, 2003)
Sang Doo! Let’s Go to School (KBS2, 2003)
Drama City “Days Filled with Sunlight” (KBS2, 2002)
Drama City “Happier Than Heaven” (KBS2, 2002)
Purity (KBS2, 2001)
Tough Guy’s Love (KBS2, 2000)
MBC Best Theater “So-young’s Mom? and Other Stories” (MBC, 1998)
I Only Know Love (MBC, 1998-2000)
Model (SBS, 1997)

 

4 – Kim Eun-sook

Kim Eun-sook is a famous South Korean screenwriter, known for her successful works, such as ”Lovers In Paris”, ”On Air”, ”Secret Garden” and ”The Heirs”, the last one featuring f(x)’s member Krystal Jung. In the summer of 2014, Kim gained a lot of popularity with the debut of the first drama of her Lovers Trilogy, with ”Lovers In Paris”. The following sequels were ”Lovers In Prague” (2005) and ”Lovers” (2006-2007), the last one being filmed in China. She also became very recognized for dramas dealing with social issues, such as the truth of the entertainment world and polictics. She even won several Baeksang Arts Awards, for her dramas ”On Air” and ”Secret Garden”. In 2012, Kim Eun-sook had the opportunity to work with superstar Jang Dong-gun, after his 12-year hiatus, in ”A great success.

Filmography:
Descendants of the Sun (KBS2, 2016)
The Heirs (SBS, 2013)
A Gentleman’s Dignity (SBS, 2012)
Secret Garden (SBS, 2010-2011)
City Hall (SBS, 2009)
On Air (SBS, 2008)
Lovers (SBS, 2006-2007)
Lovers in Prague (SBS, 2005)
Lovers in Paris (SBS, 2004)
South of the Sun (SBS, 2003)

 

3 – Noh Hee Kyung

Noh Hee Kyung is a famous South Korean screenwriter and essayist. Unfortunatly, her dramas aren’t the most successful, having a small amount of viewership however, she has been noticed for her realistic and cerebral style. Noh Hee Kyung is known for writing dramas with in-depth portrayals of the types of life and relationships ordinary people have. In the beginning of her career, she used the theme of motherhood a lot in her dramas due to her own mother’s death. Noh Hee saw it as a tribute to her. She is also known for her urban melodramas and single-one episode dramas. In 2008, Noh debuted as an essayist with the book, ”Everyone Not in Love Now Are Guilty”, a compilation of essays dealing with love, life, her mother and her work. Now, Noh has become a rating success with cable TV dramas, some of those dealing with mental illness, a theme that has became a trend on Korean TV.

Filmography:
Dear My Friends (tvN, 2016)
It’s Okay, That’s Love (SBS, 2014)
That Winter, the Wind Blows (SBS, 2013)
Padam Padam… The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats (jTBC, 2011-2012)
Drama Special “Red Candy” (KBS2, 2010)
Worlds Within (KBS2, 2008)
Several Questions That Make Us Happy (KBS2, 2007)
Miracle (MBC, 2006)
Goodbye Solo (KBS2, 2006)
Becoming a Popular Song (KBS2, 2005)
More Beautiful Than a Flower (KBS2, 2004)
Solitude (KBS2, 2002)
Wonderful Days (SBS, 2001-2002)
Like Rain (SBS, 2000)
Foolish Love (KBS2, 2000)
Sad Temptation (KBS2, 1999)
Did We Really Love? (MBC, 1999)
Lie (KBS2, 1998)
It’s Still Time to Love (KBS2, 1997)
The Reason I Live (MBC, 1997)
The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World (MBC, 1996)
MBC Best Theater “Sallie and Suzie” (MBC, 1996)
Mom’s Gardenias (1995)

 

2 – Park Ji-eun

Park Ji-eun is a famous South Korean TV screenwriter. She is known for the successful dramas, ‘’Queen of Housewives’’ (2009), ‘’My Husband Got a Family’’ (2012), ‘’My Love from the Star’’ (2013-2014) and the latest one, ‘’Producers’’, which aired last year. In 1997, Ji-eun started her career in entertainment, writing for variety shows, radio shows and sitcoms, until 2006. In 2007, she wrote her first television movie, ‘’Love Isn’t Stop’’, which aired on KBS. After that, she began her TV drama career, which led her to huge stardom. Park Ji-eun has also won various awards for ‘’My Husband Got a Family’’ and ‘’Queen of Housewives’’, including Best Writer awards and Commendations. She also wrote the script for korean male singer Tim’s ‘’I Was Thankful’’.

Filmography:

TV Dramas
The Producers (KBS2, 2015)
My Love from the Star (SBS, 2013-2014)
My Husband Got a Family (KBS2, 2012)
Queen of Reversals (MBC, 2010-2011)
Queen of Housewives (MBC, 2009)
Get Karl! Oh Soo-jung (SBS, 2007)
Love Isn’t Stop (KBS N, 2007)

Sitcom
Look Back with a Smile (KBS2, 2006)
Dal-rae’s House (KBS2, 2004)
Great Friends (KBS2, 2000)

Variety Show
I Want to Meet You (MBC, 2003-2007)
Story Land Surprise (SBS, 2002)
Love Story (KBS2, 2002-2003)
Weird Theater – The Story of Two Men (KBS2, 2002)
Comedy House (MBC, 2000-2005)
Touch Preview Comedy File (KBS2, 1999-2002)
The Clinic for Married Couples: Love and War (KBS2)

Radio Program
2 o’clock Date with Yoon Jong-shin (MBC Radio)
Good Morning FM with Kim Sung-joo (MBC Radio)
Golden Disk Music Essay with Kim Ki-duk (MBC Radio)

 

1 – The Hong Sisters

The Hong Sisters, better known as Hong Jamae, are two famous South Korean screenwriters. The team consists of two sisters named, Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran. Together they create romantic TV comedies, which always become very popular. Originally variety show writers, Hong Sisters made their drama writing debut with ‘’Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang’’, back in 2005. It was met with positive reviews and huge stardom not only in South Korea, but throughout Asia. The follow-up drama ‘’My Girl’’, released in the same year, was also an instant hit like its previous one. ‘’My Girl’’ turned the actors, Han Chae-young, Jae Hee, Lee Da-hae, Lee Joon-gi and Lee Dong-wook, into international stars of the Korean Wave. From 2006 to 2015, they wrote many TV dramas including, ‘’Couple or Trouble’’, ‘’Hong Gil-Dong’’, ‘’You’re Beautiful’’, which was a total success due to its story of a nun who cross-dressed as a k-pop male idol, ‘’Master’s Sun’’, among others ones. Some were very successful, others weren’t however, these two sisters never stopped viewers from watching their dramas. They have also won verious awards for dramas like ‘’The Greatest Love’’. The Hong Sisters are well known as reinventors of the image of several female actors such as, Han Chae-young, who was seen as a sexy barbie doll but now is seens as a hard-working model.

Filmography:
Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang (KBS2, 2005)
My Girl (SBS, 2005-2006)
Couple or Trouble (MBC, 2006)
Hong Gil-dong (KBS2, 2008)
You’re Beautiful (SBS, 2009)
My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox (SBS, 2010)
The Greatest Love (MBC, 2011)
Big (KBS2, 2012)
Master’s Sun (SBS, 2013)
Warm and Cozy (MBC, 2015)

A good foundation is always a must in a girl’s makeup bag. Bare Skin Nude Foundation (Bare Skin) is a great candidate for fulfilling that need. This foundation provides lightweight, even coverage that lasts barring sweat, extreme heat, and humidity (but what makeup really lasts under those conditions?).

Application, Look, and Feel

Bare Skin looks no different than other foundations consistency-wise. The pigmentation, however, does appear to be slightly more saturated than some other brands which helps with even coverage on the skin. What’s nice about Bare Skin is that it doesn’t settle into pores or fine lines, giving skin a smooth, polished finish.

As for wear, it feels velvety on skin without leaving behind an oily residue. The product spreads on skin well, so application methods shouldn’t be an issue. There are a few applications regarding application that are worth knowing:

• Applying the foundation using your fingertips makes the finished look appear lighter and more natural. Your natural skin glows through. Makeup doesn’t look cakey.
• Using a makeup brush provides a more airbrushed finish. Just remember to wash your brush regularly.
• A makeup sponge or foam blender does tend to make the foundation look streaky if not blended well. The product does seem to get absorbed quickly by the sponges, so applying makeup with this method feels like a waste of money.

Once applied, the makeup does hold up well throughout the day. On cooler days, its staying power is even stronger. Plus, it looks natural on skin. One likeable element is how the makeup seems to “know” or picks up skin tone so it blends to match well, enhancing the natural feel. It’s a solid go-to foundation for everyday use.

Ingredients

For people sensitive to smells, Bare Skin doesn’t have a strong scent. What scent it does have isn’t chemical-like, nor is it perfumey. When it dries, it does have more a talc and metallic scent to it, so if this is something you’re sensitive to, be warned.

For individuals with sensitive skin, be aware that the foundation contains octinoxate and octisalate which may cause mild skin irritation if applied to broken skin. For those who are body-conscious, there are studies that suggest these two ingredients—which are common sunscreen ingredients—may cause hormonal and thyroid issues. If these ingredients are of any concern to you, it is recommended that you stay away from this foundation.

With the above in mind, Bare Skin is an SPF30 PA++ product, so it is designed to help protect from the sun’s harmful rays. For those who don’t know, SPF protects against the sun’s UVB rays; PA protects against UVA rays, so you are getting double protection with this product. However, PA++ is moderate protection, so be advised you may need to reapply the foundation periodically throughout the day in order to maintain protection. It is advised to wear additional sun protection if you plan on staying outdoors.

The product boasts about its “perfect seed technology” which is supposed to aid in smoothing and brightening while helping to improve skin tone. The seeds in question are quinoa and rubus chamaemorus (cloudberry). Both seeds have many benefits that would help skin like vitamin C and citric acid (rubus chamaemorus) and vitamin B compounds (quinoa), so it is possible the foundation could improve skin over time.

Not for Everyone

Since The FaceShop caters to the Korean audience, shades range from light to medium. There isn’t a shade for richer skin tones at this time.

Overall

Bare Skin is a nice makeup with lasting wearability and a smooth finish depending on application method. It has rich pigmentation, yet it looks like the wearer’s natural skin shines through more. While it has many upsides, not all skin tones can use this foundation. With all things considered, Bare Skin earns a 3.5/5.

 

—-Joelle Halon

Gone are the chilly, snowy days of January. Even though it seemed like the month rushed by, we did get to experience some good music during one of the slowest period of the year. Let’s take a look at ten of January’s gems.

10. Stellar “Sting”

Stellar has been on a rocky road with fans since “Marionette” given what many deemed an inappropriately sexy concept. With “Sting,” they once again return with a sexy concept, but it’s toned down to enhance the attention on the song. “Sting” has some light retro theming with a strong chorus, but it’s not as strong as their sexier concept songs. While it’s good, it’s clear Stellar struggles to find their identity.

9. Cross Gene “Noona, You”

Cross Gene fans always believed they could become a more popular group if given a chance. The catchy, addictive “Noona, You” garnered plenty of attention and love from even international fans. The song shows a more fun side to Cross Gene that resonated with many during the doldrums of winter. Hopefully it’s a sign of more fun to come.

8. Lucky J “No Love”

The instrumentals make “No Love” memorable as they’re a strong mix of traditional and modern. J-Yo sounds fantastic as he carries the song to new heights. Jessi, who is a much better vocalist than a rapper, shined during the chorus with her unique voice. Lucky J needs to not wait so long between comebacks.

7. TEENTOP “Warning Sign”

When “Warning Sign” starts, it almost sounds like it should have belonged to SHINee because there are hints of Taemin. TEENTOP need to change their name to MANTOP because the innocent image is definitely being shed. “Warning Sign” is a great song for them because it shows a more mature side. Their vocals sound more mature. The concept shift also isn’t bad as they step away from repetitive tracks like “Super Love” and “Rocking.”

6. Jinsil and MC Mong “Aftereffect”

Jinsil’s unusual, haunting vocals will win people over every time. “Aftereffect” is a solid song that’s made complete by a strong vocal performance. The Jinsil’s vocal distortions add some artistic interest, while MC Mong’s rap portions are subtle and calm. There’s a beauty to “Aftereffect” that serves as proof that Jinsil and MC Mong should be a bonded pair for other songs.

5. Yezi “Cider”

Yezi sheds her Fiestar image with her harder-sounding rap track “Cider.” Yezi has legit flow layered with the addictive track. The only issue with “Cider” is that 3:08 isn’t quite long enough. The song demands attention and could have easily been longer. If Fiestar disbands, we know Yezi will survive in the industry.

4. Suzy (miss A) and Baekhyun (EXO) “Dream”

Suzy and Baekhyun show off their jazzy sides in “Dream,” a song that achieved an all-kill and well over eight million views on YouTube. Soft and melodious, “Dream” has hints of hope and romance. Both Suzy and Baekhyun have decent vocal chops outside their groups which fans seem to have noticed. The attention the song received is definitely well-earned.

3. Zico “It Was Love” ft. Luna (f(x))

It’s amazing Luna hasn’t released a solo album yet because she has the abilities to do so. “It Was Love,” produced and written by Block B’s Zico, features Luna’s delicate, angelic voice. Luna’s vocals are soothing and heartbreaking in a song that points to Zico being more than an idol rapper, showing he is a multi-threat force.

2. GFriend “Rough”

GFriend finally earned the coveted music show wins with “Rough,” and those wins were well-deserved. GFriend’s cute vocals and hardworking attitudes shined in the song. The song is a hybrid of J-Pop and K-Pop elements with a strong early 2000s soul behind it. Listening to it will make a listener feel nostalgic.

1. Zico “I Am You, You Are Me”

Zico did an R&B ballad that turned out amazing. His vocals are surprisingly sweet and romantic, much different from his rap persona. “I Am You, You Are Me” like “It Was Love” shows that Zico is multi-faceted and should be considered a true artist.

What were your favorite songs for January 2016? Let us know!

—-Joelle Halon

Recently, Thailand has been in the news for a quirky doll that’s said to include a child’s soul inside.
Luk Thep dolls, or “child angels,” have been all the rage in Thailand; so much so that CNN reports some Thai airlines are allowing passengers to purchase seats for the dolls!

Luk Thep dolls are said to bring luck and fortune to their “parents” because of their child souls. Because of this belief, doll owners have taken to treating Luk Theps like real children by feeding, bathing, clothing, and talking to them. Many believe the dolls communicate back to their parents through dreams in order to bring luck.

The dolls don’t look any different from any other doll available at any retailer across the globe. Many look like American Girl, Our Generation, You & Me, Reborn, or So Truly Real dolls or just like any run-of-the-mill baby doll. Just looking at them doesn’t offer any hint they allegedly possess special powers or supernatural abilities.
According to Channel NewsAsia, the trend began in 2014 when Thailand became subject to a military government. This is part of why some experts in the country consider Luk Thep to be a fad. In 2006, a similar amulet fad occurred following a coup. In fact, some view the dolls as a type of trendy amulet, much like the fortune providing kuman thong, which were once widely made from roasted stillborn baby fetuses (some parts of Thailand still engage in this practice).

Blessing Ritual
Luk Thep parents have gotten their dolls blessed by monks. During a plook sek ceremony, monks write blessings on the doll’s forehead and back; then they add golden dots to the dolls eyes and over their “hearts.”

If a monk doesn’t perform a ceremony, some people may seek a shaman. These dolls, called Kuman Mahamontra by Master Ohm Mahamontra, are considered to be “holy dolls.” For these dolls, a special ceremony takes place to invite good spirits into the doll which are then sealed in with special prayers.

“My Kuman Mahamontra attracts money, success, luck, and love for those who own them,” Master Ohm said to the Bangkok Post. “All you have to do is follow the five precepts [codes of conduct]. Otherwise the spirit will leave the doll and come back to me.”

Once the ceremonies finish, this is when the true potential of the dolls become realized, and luck and good fortune spill forth for those who believe in the magical qualities.

Hope for the Middle Class
According to anthropologist Asama Mungkornchai from Pattani’s Prince of Songkla University, for patrons of Thailand’s middle class, Luk Thep have heightened popularity as they serve as an indicator that many feel uncomfortable with Thailand’s current economy. When CNN and BBC asked doll owners about their Luk Theps and their names, many of the dolls’ names focused on fortune or luck.

“Generally, Thai people’s lives revolve around spiritual stuff. When people feel bad or insecure about something, they go to pray for what they want, and offer bribes in return for it,” Chulalongkorn University lecturer Manasikarn Hengsuwan said in an interview with the Bangkok Post.

“Also the political situation since the coup has stoked anxiety. People feel financially and economically unstable. That’s where the dolls come in — they help ease that fear,” Thammasat University history lecturer Pipad Krajaejun said. “They are looking for something to hold on to in order to feel more secure about themselves.”
Cosmetologists, actresses, and shop owners praise the dolls and claim they have brought better fortune and more patrons. While there isn’t a correlation between the dolls and better business and profits, those who believe in the dolls cannot be convinced otherwise.

Thai radio host Bookkoh Thannatchayapan is one of the believers of the Luk Thep trend. He believes his doll, which he calls “Wansai,” is the reason for a recent lucky break.

According to Mashable, Thannatchayapan said, “The first day I got him [the doll], I took him out shopping for clothes in the baby section. Right after I paid for his clothes, I got a call that my canceled job was back on!”
In addition to these beliefs, Mungkornchai states the dolls help fulfill a person’s parenting instincts and provide company, especially for younger people who do treat the dolls like children via pampering, feeding, and chatter to help make the dolls feel safe and comfortable.

Businesses Cash In
For some businesses, Luk Theps provide an economic boost. Restaurants offer children’s plates for the dolls so their parents can feed them. Buffets, like Neta Grill, proudly advertise that they serve the dolls.

“Neta Grill is open to all worshipers and we’re glad to serve Luk Thep at children’s prices on the condition that all of the food ordered is consumed,” reads a recent Facebook post.

Thai Smile Airlines, too, looks to cash in on the trend. In January, the budget airlines began offering seats for Luk Thep dolls with restrictions. Like real children, they cannot sit near exits and must be secured at all times, but they do have an opportunity to enjoy in-flight food and drinks.

Upon the announcement, Thai Aviation Authorities swiftly stated the dolls shouldn’t be considered human and should be treated like luggage, thus needing to be stored in overhead compartments.

Street shops and online retailers, too, have even profited from selling special outfits and jewelry for holidays, every day wear, or just to enhance the dolls’ lucky qualities. For many, Luk Thep dolls are a true blessing.

With Luck Comes Warnings
The growing popularity of Luk Thep dolls has sparked controversy and worry among Thai officials. From fears of actual possession to issues of drug smuggling, the ministry and some businesses warn people against the dolls.
Due to their “child spirits,” The China Town Resort Phayao in Tambon Ban Tom, Muang District banned the dolls because guests may have trouble sleeping since the spirits are said to wander in people’s dreams. The hotel worries people may suffer from paranoia if they stay when one of the dolls may be present.

“If patrons have children staying with them, the kids may become frightened and they won’t check in,” Payom Thisri, the resort’s owner, said in an interview with ABC News Australia.

For others, the fear is that people are becoming too obsessed with the dolls and may believe in their alleged spiritual properties. Health authorities, especially, are afraid people are currently relying too much on superstition. Authorities advise people to believe in established beliefs over superstitions and black magic in fear of mass hysteria.

Author Veera Prateepchaikul wrote in an editorial for the Strait Times that “There must be many redundant angels wandering about this so-called Land of Smiles – to match the number of gullible people who have nothing better to do than raise these infant-like Angel Child dolls.” He continues by stating the dolls make “Thai people appear like they have only half their brain functioning. This may be just a trend, started and followed by celebrities. Celebrities, we all know, may be rich and look great physically, but, mentally, they are more often like infants themselves – like the permanently-infantile Luk Thep dolls.”

However, doll owners tell the media they are not mentally ill no matter how crazy the beliefs sound.
The worries regarding potential mental illness surrounding the dolls seems to come due to old and modern religious thinking butting heads. Those who believe in Luk Thep tend to believe in South Asian superstitions and old-school beliefs rather than modern Buddhist religion. Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, the director general of the mental health department under the Public Health Ministry, points out that old superstitions are currently enhanced by the social media era. In other words, social media helps to spread the word of these “lucky” dolls, thus encouraging orders to also believe. However, these beliefs go against modern Buddhist beliefs that state to not believe in superstitions.

However, Chulalongkorn University director of psychological wellness Nattasuda Taephant suggests the belief is harmless and doll lovers should be left alone.

“If it crosses the boundary of reality, and they believe they can talk to the Luk Thep doll, that would be something concerning in terms of mental health,” she said.

The biggest concern, though, lies in how the dolls could be used to transport drugs and other contraband.
On January 25, 2016, police intercepted a Luk Thep doll loaded with yaba tablets, or “madness drug,” at Chiang Mai Airport. Police warn that raids and other searches are planned to check the dolls for drugs, especially at airports or for anyone heading into and out of the country. At airports, the dolls will be screened and X-Rayed; anyone who refuses will have to leave their dolls behind.

“I have instructed all the immigration checkpoints to be strict – whether they are at airports or the borders. They must also strictly screen ‘luk thep’ dolls passing their checkpoints,” Police General Chakthip Chaijinda said.
Trends Come and Go

Despite potential dangers and mental health worries, Luk Theps are currently here to stay for many Thai people. Even though people outside of Thailand call them creepy and feel weirded out by adults carrying and caring for baby dolls as if they’re real children, some experts consider it a fad that will fade into obscurity in time.

Would you carry around a Luk Thep if it brought you good luck? Weigh in on Facebook or in the comments below!

—-Joelle Halon earned her MFA in English in 2010. While teaching a college humanities course, she woke up one morning realizing she was unhappy. She had a crazy plan: Leave teaching to become a writer. She’s now here at KCrush, so it seems to have all worked out since she writes about what she loves: K-Pop and Korea (although Indiana is far away from Korea).

K-Pop consumed her in the late 1990s, although she’ll tell you Baby V.O.X was the first group she truly loved. B.A.P is her ultimate bias, and she considers Bang Yongguk and Himchan her inspirations to do good. One day, she hopes to thank them for inspiring her. She once got to talk to Nu’est’s Aron and Lunafly’s Sam Carter through their Arirang radio programs, which caused a fan-girl explosion.
In her free time, Joelle loves to draw, write fiction, and engage in other crafty endeavors.

You may have seen ‘Rooftop rooms’ from Korean TV and some locations have been made into famous scenery and themes in various movies and TV dramas. Because of the way these Rooftop housings are often portrayed, many viewers seem to imagine it would be fun and comfortable to lodge in such environment.

The media features scenes of people enjoying barbeque on the rooftop, the excitement of fireworks and partying into the night with only the sky above your head.

In reality, the regular rooftop rooms are not very desirable but on the contrary considered as one of the worst places to live in Korea, along with semi-basement rooms; although the two housings are very different in nature. They have their own issues but I will only be discussing about rooftop rooming for this article.

It should also be noted that the accommodation will really depend on where the housing is located and how much the owner has spent on its furnishing and mandatory utilities. But generally, there are definite reasons why these Rooftop rooms are cheaper than an apartment or a villa for instance.

A Rooftop housing normally consists of one room, a toilet without a bath tub and a rooftop; providing a space usually enough for drying your laundry or a little gardening. Other than the low cost of the deposit and rent, the reality of living in a rooftop room can be quite inconvenient in most cases. Usually the rooms are rented by students, or people who live alone on a limited budget.

However, like I stated earlier, the state for each room will be different. I’ve been and visited friends who live in a Rooftop room and they were more than content to stay and live there.

 

 

Originally, the rooftop rooms were constructed for storages and not intended for residential purposes. They were later remodeled and constructed for housing. Most Rooftop rooms are not built solidly, therefore may not be the safest part of a building and easy for burglars and other criminals to break into, and there has been numerous reports of incidences.

Other well acknowledged inconveniences of living in the rooftop would be that during the winter, the rooms are extremely cold; unbearably hot in the summer.

If you’re looking to rent a rooftop room in Korea, it’s probably wise to check if the rooms are equipped with proper heating system and air-conditioning for the summer since most rooms do not. Some places might not even facilitate enough space for a normal sized air conditioner. To make situations more inconvenient, I’ve even heard of house owners who don’t allow excessive use of heaters or air conditioning to avoid getting higher bills.

Outdoor fans for the air-conditioners placed on the rooftop can cause a lot of noise and increase the temperature of room. And because Rooftop rooms are exposed directly to sun, the heat will be very intense especially during the Summer.

Most Rooftop rooms will usually be about a size equal to an attic but the size and other qualities will really depend on how the owner maintained the state of the property and each rooftop will be different.

Seoul and other cities in Korea are very populated and because bigger housing is expensive, efficient lodgings at lower cost are vital for many.

It is also a great thing that it is rapidly becoming a kind of ‘trend’ to remodel the Rooftop rooms and transform them into a more spacious and convenient places to lodge in.

 

–J.Chung

5 – Ji Suk-jin

Born in South Korea, Jin Suk-jin is a famous comedian, TV host, actor and broadcaster. Initially, he debuted as a singer and released his first album, titled ”I Know”, in 1992. Even though, he wanted to be a singer, he gained a lot of success as a MC and comedian. He was the main MC in Star Golden Bell, from 2004 to 2010. He is also well known for his work in Running Man, with Yoo Jae-suk, Kim Jong-kook, Gary, Haha, Song Ji-hyo, and Lee Kwang-soo.

Variety Shows:
2004 – 2006: KBS2 Heroine 6
2007 – 2008: KBS2 Hi Five
2004 – 2010: KBS2 Star Golden Bell
2007: SBS Truth Game
2008: KBS2 Cider
2010 – present: SBS Running Man
2011 – 2012: MBC Death Camp 24 Hours
2012: MBC Survival King
2015: SBS Same Bed Different Dreams

 

4 – Kang Ho-dong

Born in 1970, Kang Ho-dong is a South Korean comedian and TV host. He became famous as the top traditional wrestler in South Korea, before becoming a comedian. However, after a successful career as a wrestler, he retired and began comedy on MBC, in 1999. His influence was Lee Kyung-kyu, a famous korean comedian. Kang Ho-dong also became later a MC host in many variety shows like, X-Man, Love Letter and Ya Shim Man Man, among others very popular. Unfortunatly, in September, 2011, Kang announced that he would retire from entertainment because of his back taxes. However, in August, 2012, he signed a contract with MC Shin Dong-yup for a collaboration with SM C&C, a subsidiary of SM Entertainment, to make a comeback.

Popular Shows:
Happy Sunday – 1 Night 2 Days
Golden Fishery
Star King
Strong Heart
Barefooted Friends
Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education

 

3 – Lee Soo-geun

Born in 1975, Lee Soo-geun is a South Korean comedian. He is known for his works in various korean comedy shows. In 2000, he debuted in KBS’ Gag Concert. Even though he is famous for his entertaining career, he started as a singer, competing on a singing contest, on MBC River Music Festival. Since Lee Soo-geun began his road in the entertainment industry, he has appeared on various variety shows, making a breakthrough after KBS’ Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days, where he was seen as the member who did all of the hardwork. After that, he gained recognition and was invited to host as MC in a lot of shows. Even his marriage was broadcasted on TV, during the show 1 Night 2 Days. Along with Kim Byung-man, in 2012, they signed a contract with SM C&C.

Shows:
2000 – 2013: KBS2 Gag Concert
2007: KBS2 Are You Ready
2007 – 2013: KBS2 Happy Sunday’s 1 Night 2 Days
2008 – 2009: KBS2 Shin Dong-yup and Shin Bong-sun’s Champagne
2008 – 2010: KBS2 Sang Sang Plus Season 2
2008 – 2009: KBS2 No. 1
2008 – 2009: MBC every1 God of Cookery Expedition
2009: KBS2 Wellcome
2009: MBC every1 Monarch of the Rings
2010: MBC every1 Hakuna matata
2010: EBS Avatar
2010: KBS N Sports Par★Star
2010 – 2013: TrendE Lee Seung-yeon & Lee Soo-geun’s Kitchen Road
2010: KBS2 Happy Birthday
2010: SBS Delicious
2010: SBS 스토리쇼부탁해요
2010: SBS Sweet Potato
2010: SBS Cameo on My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox
2010 – 2011: KBS2 On Your Command Sir!
2011 – 2012: KBS2 Invincible Youth 2
2011 – 2013: KBS2 Win Win
2013: KBS2 Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education

 

2 – Jeong Jun-ha

Jeong Jun-ha is a famous South Korean comedian and entertainer. He is known for his life motto ”정주나 안정주나 늘정주는 정준하”, which means, “(Whether) gives love or not, (he) always gives love, Jeong Jun-ha”. After graduating, he went immediatly into the Korean Entertainment to manage comedian Lee Hwi-jae. He later debuted in MBC’s ”Theme Theatre”, back in 1995, making cameos in a lot of episodes. Jeong Jun-ha suffered from depression, making him dissappear from the entertainment industry. However, he cameback with a new comedy program called “Comedy House – No-brain Survival”, which aired in MBC from 2003 to 2005. In this show, he was recognized for his fad words, such as, ”이건 나를 두 번 죽이는 거예요”, which means “This is like, killing me twice”. Now, he’s the top korean comedian, appearing in a lot of variety shows, korean sitcoms and movies, including Marrying the Mafia II. Joeng Jun-ha is also the captain of a baseball team called ”Han”. Until now, his most famous variety show is Infinity Challenge, where he portrayed a lot of characters and earned multiple nicknames. Jeong also made a cameo in PSY’s music video for ”Gentleman”.

Shows:
2004: SBS’s Good Sunday – Banjun Drama
MBC’s High Kick!
2006 – present: MBC’s Infinite Challenge
2008 – 2010: MBC Drama’s God of Eating Expedition
2010 – present: Y-Star’s God of Eating’s Road
2012: MBC’s Sunday Night – Gender Communication: Project Exploration of Genders
2012 – 2013: MBC’s Sunday Night – Magic Concert

 

1 – Jeong Hyeong-don

Born in 1978, Jeong Hyeong-don is a famous South Korean comedian and entertainer. He is managed under the company, FNC Entertainment, which is known for musical acts such as, AOA, FTIsland, CNBlue, N.Flying, among others. After graduating, in 1996, he worked as an engineer for Samsung. He was one of the members from the comedy team at Samsung, formed with his fellow colleagues. In 2002, he debuted on national TV on KBS’ Gag Concert, in a segment called “Doremi Trio”. Then, he started to appear in various variety shows such as, MBC’s Sunday Sunday Night and Exclamation!, KBS2’s Imagination Plus, among others. Jeong also later became a TV host and performer. In 2005, he hosted MBC’s Infinite Challenge, becoming a regular host. In 2009, Jeong Hyeong-don spwaned controversy by pairing with Girls’ Generation Taeyeon in the marriage simulation show We Got Married. The controversy was due to the 11-year age difference. Now, he and rapper Defconn (who later formed a rapping unit), they co-host the MBC Every1 show, Weekly Idol, which has a lot of success. He was also featured as a rapper in After School’s Lizzy single, ”Not An Easy Girl”, which was a korean trot inspired track.

Shows:
2002: KBS2’s Gag Concert
2005 – 2007: KBS2’s Imagination Plus
2005 – present: MBC’s Infinite Challenge
2008: SBS’s Mystery Commandos
2009: tvN’s Rollercoaster
2010 – present: MBC’s Sunday Sunday Night
2011 – present: MBC Every1’s Weekly Idol
2012: SBS’s GO Show
2013: KBS2’s “Ba-ra-dun Bada”
2013: QTV’s “Uh-rap Show!”
2013: tvN’s “Noon-Ssul-Mi”
2014 – 2015: MBC Every1’s Hitmaker
2014 – 2015: JTBC’s Please Take Care of My Refrigerator
2014 – present: KBS2’s Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education
KBS2’s Explore TV-Cool Guys

 

Face it: No matter how good our face care regimens, blackheads are an issue. We can wash and scrub and use whatever catches our fancy to try to eliminate the issue; but for many of us, blackheads still remain. Enter Nesura Pore Deep Charcoal Strips, a product that promises to remove those pesky blackheads, sebum, and other pore-clogging impurities. Does the product deliver? Let’s find out!

Description

Nesura Pore Strips, available as a single, eight, or ten-pack, promise to help reduce or eliminate impurities on the nose, a problem area for many people. The instructions suggest the charcoal will attach to the blackheads and lift them out of pores, leaving a clean nose behind. This sounds easy enough!

Directions

Prior to using the strips, make sure to wash and dry your face.

To use the pore strips, remove the strip from the package and off the clear plastic backing. Dampen your nose with water. Place the strip on your nose. In order to make the strip stick, rub it down to eliminate air pockets. Then, let the strip harden for 10-15 minutes. After the strip hardens, remove it. Theoretically, the impurities should be completely gone or greatly reduced.

Impressions

While the strip looks easy to use, it’s not exactly that way. As it seems, the pore strip appears to be made for individuals with broader noses because it is much too large for small-nosed people. If you’re the latter, this strip may not work for you. In addition to the length, even though the strips are thin, they feel heavy.

When it comes to sticking and hardening, the strip does not want to cooperate. The wet charcoal causes the strip to slip and never got hard as promised and expected. So this was one the many downfalls. Out of ten strips, maybe two actually hardened like the instructions suggest.

Another issue involves the messy residue left behind after removing the product. Don’t expect clean removal! There is a lot of charcoal left behind, so you may need to wash your face again after use. Part of the messiness comes thanks to the strip ripping.

Some may not like the smell of the strips either. If you have a sensitive sense of smell, stay away! The strips have a chemical scent which could be due to the mix of the charcoal and Witch Hazel (the Witch Hazel scent is the more dominant scent). This is ironic because charcoal is usually used to eliminate odors in closets and other small spaces. The scent just makes wearing the strip even more uncomfortable.

Further issues included how the charcoal dried skin out and even caused some breakouts. At first, I thought it was due to the ingredients, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, winter dryness appears to be the culprit. In any case, this was definitely annoying, especially since the strip seemed to enhance the dryness.

Overall

After three weeks of using the product, there wasn’t a noticeable difference in my skin. While Nesura Pore Strips promise to help remove impurities, they failed to do the trick. The messiness and poor fit are also turn-offs. There are better charcoal products out there like Daiso Japan Charcoal Peel-Off Masks, Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask, or Etude House Nose Packs, so try these over Nesura if you want results.

Nesura Charcoal Nose Strips earn a score of 1/5.

 

—-Joelle Halon

I must state that the year, 2015 was an extremely good one for the Korean film industry and for movie lovers in general.

The first month of 2016 is nearly over but it’s still relevant to look back on the movies that made last year’s film entertainment shine so much. My opinion is that good movies are always considered good and enjoyable, regardless of when they were produced or released. And the couple of listed movies that were released in winter last year are still being shown in the cinemas currently.

The listed five movies here all became massive hits in Korea, ranking high in the box office charts, some made its way up as the all-time most viewed Korean movies.

Another common thing these movies share is that they all feature top Korean actors with outstanding acting ability, charisma and overall star quality to reckon with.

I’ve also included the YouTube link for the English trailer for each movie, for those interested.

Assassination – 암살

*Assassin – 암살

The scene of the movie is set in the 1930s, during Japan’s colonial rule in Korea. Korean resistance activists were based in China to train and plot against the Japanese authorities since doing such activities in Korea was impossible.

As a secret mission, the assassins are to take down the governor of the Japanese garrison and a pro-Japanese Korean business guru. Seok-jin, an agent of the Korean government is to rescue three certain profiles and bring them to Shanghai. A sniper named Ok-yun who is sentenced to death in a Manchurian jail, Sang-ok the last graduate of the Independence Military School (in prison for stealing and selling weaponry); along with his cellmate Deok-sam who is an explosives specialist. The squad arrives in Korea with no idea that one of them is a double agent working for the Japanese.

Inside men – 내부자들

Lee works as an editor of an influential press company based in Korea. By manipulating his authority and position he makes Jang, who is a congressman, a candidate for the next presidential election. This is supposed to be a confidential deal between Lee and Sang-goo Ahn, a political henchman hired by Jang. However, Ahn makes a blunder and gets caught pocketing the record on the Jang’s slush fund.

The prosecutor assigned to this case sees this as the right opportunity that will give him a leg-up. And Ahn falls hard into a deeper hole, as Jang not only fires him but tries to murder him to keep things shushed up. But when Ahn is able to get away, the real trouble begins.

The Throne – 사도

This historically based movie is about the life of Prince Sado during the reign of King Yeongjo’s era in Korea. The prince is the heir to the throne but in the eyes of his father the king, he seemed unqualified since they never agreed and had different political views and issues.

At the age of 27, the prince was put to death by his own father by being locked in a rice chest for days until he suffocated and starved within a week.

‘The Throne’ won three awards at the 35th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.

Himalayas – 히말라야

This inspiring and heartwarming movie which was released in the last month of 2015, is based on true events and real-life characters.

Hong-gil and Mu-taek are close friends and skilled mountain climbers – they become a part of the 14th team to scale the Himalayas and during the trip, both end up with injuries; Hong-gil gets retired and moves onto a new career.

Many years pass by and Hong-gil is now a well-known lecturer and Mu-taek is still an active hiker about to take a trip up to the Everest; the peak of the Himalayas.

But later, Hong-gil is devastated when he hears that Mu-taek died in the mountains. He starts to blame himself for encouraging the younger man to go on the trip. Mu-taek’s dead body is trapped somewhere in the mountains, so Hong-gil is determined to put together a rescue team to retrieve the corpse. Despite given severe warnings not to go, Hong-gil leads the expedition to the Everest, risking his own life for his friend.

 

The Priests – 검은 사제들

This Korean movie released in November of 2015 is an intriguing supernatural mystery thriller, written and directed by Jae-hyun Jang.

A girl who is a member of Father Kim’s parish is put into a coma after a hit-and-run accident. Father Kim finds a talented but rebellious young seminarian, Choi and the pair share the same theory that the girl in the coma is possessed by an evil spirit. They try to free her from the possession of the demon by using their method and plans into action before they realize that this got them into far more dangerous situations than they imagined.

 

—-J. Chung

 

TOP Asian-American NBA Player

Jeremy Lin is an American professional basketball player, he currently plays with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. The fact that he’s Asian American, makes him one of the few in NBA history, and also the first American with Chinese/Taiwanese offspring playing in the league. Lin is known for his Christianity due to expressing it in public. Jeremy became famous after a winning turnaround in 2012, with the New York Knicks, which generated his global nickname, ”Linsanity”. Even though he wasn’t offered any athletic scholarships and not being drafted out of college, Harvard University, Lin managed to sign a contract deal with Golden State Warriors, from his hometown, back in 2010. Jeremy is a capable passer but, whenever he attacks to the basket and excels, at the pick-and-roll, he is described as a ”strong, fast-paced offensive player”. From his early career until now, Lin managed to improve his outside shooting, becoming a threat from 3 point range. His ability to reach the free-throw line, makes him a difficult player to defend. However, even though his skills are good, he is also criticized for his constant turnovers and his mediocre defense.

CAREER:
2010–2011: Golden State Warriors
2010–2011: Reno Bighorns (D-League)
2011: Dongguan Leopards (China)
2011–2012: New York Knicks
2012: Erie BayHawks (D-League)
2012–2014: Houston Rockets
2014–2015: Los Angeles Lakers
2015–present: Charlotte Hornets

ENDORSEMENTS:
Volvo
Nike (2010–2014)
Steiner Sports
Adidas (2014-)

 

TOP 5 ASIAN BASKETBALL PLAYERS, IN THE U.S.

5 – Raymond Townsend

A Filipino-American basketball player, who played for the Warriors, from 1978 to 1980, and for the Pacers, from 1981-1982. Raymond was the first and only Filipino descent player in the NBA. Born in San Jose, California, Raymond was a member of John Wooden’s 1975 title-winning UCLA Bruins. He stayed close to his home until he was drafted by the Warriors. After his Warriors’ era, he became an assistant coach for the Kansas men’s basketball program. Townsend was also a staff member for the team’s 2008 National Championship.

4 – Yao Ming

A Chinese basketball player, who played for the Rockets, from 2002 to 2011. Yao Ming, 7’6″ tall, is the third-tallest player in the NBA, and the fourth tallest Chinese man ever. His legacy will remain to all Asian basketball players since China has more NBA fans than the whole USA. His impact in both the Far East and NBA is undeniable. Yao is considered the best center of the mid-2000s. Despite only playing 75 games in his remaining five seasons, he was a fully healthy player in his first three years. Yao Ming will be remembered as a dominant center and the tipping point for the NBA’s massive global expansion. Out of five, he is one of the most important NBA players post-Jordan era.

3 – Wataru Misaka

A Japanese-American basketball player, who played for the Knicks. Wataru stopped the racial barrier in basketball, becoming the first non-Caucasian playing in the NBA. During World War II, he was discriminated against for his ethnicity while being a staff sergeant. When he was discharged, he ended his college era at the University of Utah, being selected after by the Knicks, in 1947. After playing for one year, Misaka was cut after scoring, in three games, seven points. Until this day, we never knew why he was dismissed, but speculations inform that may be it was due to his race. However, Misaka thinks it’s because he wasn’t as physical as the other players on the team. After his debut, the first black players started being drafted and signed to play in the NBA. It took 40 years for another Asian to play in the NBA, again.

2 – Rex Walters

A Japanese-American basketball player, who was active between 1993 to 2000. He played for the teams Nets, 76ers and Heat. Even though his mother was Japanese, Rex Walters grew up in San Jose, California, within the Asian community. His friends used to joke with him about his ”wide eyes”, an opposite to Asians, which made him not look like his heritage at all. Rex was the first Asian-American to play in the Final Four, being rewarded after with the 1993 NBA Draft. Before moving to college, his 36 percent three-point shooter career helped Rex to carve out seven NBA seasons. Despite having Japanese ethnicity, Walters never received racial abuse, due to not looking Asian. However, in an interview, he claimed that there was a lot of pressure for him about whether or not he was “really making it for the Japanese community”. But Walters knows his true identity, stating, “I am a Japanese-American. I take great pride in that.”

1 – Wang Zhizhi

A Chinese basketball player, who was active from 2001 to 2005. He used to play on the teams: Mavericks, Clippers and Heat. Wang Zhizhi was the first Chinese player to be drafted in the NBA. Even though, his play was unremarkable, his diplomatic moves were as puzzling as they were controversial, during his career in the NBA. Wang was picked by the Mavericks in the 1999 NBA Draft, after he received his Chinese citizenship papers. In a game against the Hawks, he scored six point in just eight minutes, this was his NBA debut. When his contract was over, Zhizhi didn’t want to go back to his homeland, so he fired his agent and moved to LA. Neither Mavericks or the Chinese officials knew about this, when they discovered where he was, they sent two military men to try to persuade him into changing his mind. Zhizhi refused and signed a contract with the Clippers. He stayed in the U.S. until his career was over. Later, he ended up making up with the Chinese authorities and went back competing with his national team.

Cute and quirky games are just one of the reasons people love Japan. Their latest game import by Hitpoint, Neko Atsume, available on iTunes and Google Play, recently became an obsession for many even though it was released October 20, 2014. In 2015 and 2016, Facebook groups, Reddit, and Twitter feeds dedicated to the adorably addictive game emerged, and the app became one of the top-rated games by GameSpot despite the game’s simplicity.

The creator, Yutaka Takasaki, even admitted he doesn’t understand the game’s popularity, but that he created it with children in mind so they could operate the game without a lot of “investment and time” (CNN Japan, 2015). Whatever the intentions, it turned into a winning formula that yielded over 10 million downloads as of December 2015.

For fans of the popular 1990s toys Tomogotchi or Gigapets, Neko Atsume would be right up your alley. The kittens need fed, and they need toys in order to be coaxed into your yard, so this is similar to how both of the aforementioned work: You need to care for the cats. Unlike the aforementioned games, you don’t have to clean up messes and the cats don’t die. The game doesn’t end.

Neko Atsume’s objective is simple: Buy toys and food, set it out, attract cats. The more toys you put out, the more kittens you collect. Users purchase toys with gold and silver niboshi, which can be purchased as an in-app purchase (.99- $3.99 USD), or the kittens give them to you after they interact with the toys. The latter makes the game child-friendly because real money doesn’t have to be involved.

What’s nice about Neko Atsume is how it doesn’t require a lot of thought or time. For a minute or two periodically throughout the day, all you have to do is open the app, check in, then go about your day. One thing to keep in mind is the more you take care of your cats, the more they stop by and the higher chance you have of getting gifts early on from them.

In all, there are 49 cats users can lure to their yard, with some of those cats being rare. Different objects lure different cats, so it takes some playing around to figure out which toys and food attract what. For example, the cat metropolis will attract elusive cats like Peaches and Bob the Cat, but other rare cats may stay away from it. This is part of the fun!

While the cats visit, make sure to capture images of them, especially the rare cats. Each kitty has a “catbook” that needs filled, adding another layer of cute. Each Catbook can store 18 images, while the free album holds 72 photos.

As you continue to gain more cats in your yard, you’ll have options to upgrade your garden or expand in order to house more cats.

While Neko Atsume is fun for all ages, young kids and some older audiences may enjoy it the most because of it’s simple-to-use platform. Users don’t have to learn a lot of complex methods to complete the game. Neko Atsume is just a cute, time-waster that has a lot of charm.

Now, if we can just get a Nintendo 3DS version that involves playing with the cats, building a kitty city, and unlocking more cats and toys…

Neko Atsume is available for free on the iTunes app store and Google Play.

—-Joelle Halon

 

 

2015 gifted the K-Pop world with well over 100 group debuts. Of course, it’s safe to assume many of these groups will fade into obscurity if their names aren’t GFriend, OMG, iKON, Day6, or Seventeen among others. However, there were some under-promoted gems that also debuted this year that need attention. Here are a handful of the best rookie debuts you may have missed!

A-Daily | “If You Don’t Tell Me” (January), “Spotlight” (October) | DK Entertainment

Even though they’ve already had member changes between “If You Don’t Tell Me” and “Spotlight,” A-Daily are a strong group with impressive vocals. Despite their rookie status, they don’t look and sound like rookies at all, giving them an advantage over other 2015 freshman. Their MV for “If You Don’t Tell Me” features similar styling to Chi-Chi’s “Longer,” so it harkens back to a group many international fans miss. “Spotlight” demands attention, and it does a great job pleasing the ears while grasping to the hope of earning fans.

ATT | “Temptation” (October) | Broad Entertainment

ZZBest debuted earlier in 2015 with “Temptation,” but the song was all wrong for them given their youthful sound and appearance. The now-disbanded ZZBest’s company sold the rights to “Temptation” to Broad Entertainment, and the song landed with a group with the vocal capabilities to make it work. The styling and sound fit ATT well. Their huskier vocals assist the song in sounding mysterious, sexy, and tempting. What worked here is that ATT looked more classy with the sexy concept than some of the groups that debuted before them. If this is a concept they stick with and the vocal line doesn’t change, then there’s a winning combination.

Awe5ome Baby | “Why Should I?” (July) | TN Entertainment

This five-member group, visually, may remind fans of f(x), especially the beatboxing leader, Jun, who looks similar to Amber. Then there’s Da Hee who looks vaguely reminiscent to ex-KARA member, Goo Hara. Even though they look like other groups, Awe5ome Baby definitely stands out with impressive vocals layered over beatboxing and glorious harmonies. Awe5ome Baby have a smooth aura that make them a top-notch group.

Dawg’loo | “Oh” (January) | Dawg’loo Music

A mature group with mature, smooth, sexy vocals, Dawg’loo is a group for those on the more mature end of the K-Pop fandom. Fans of 1990s Western groups like Boyz II Men and All 4 One will love Dawg’loo because of the sound and makeup of the group. The beauty and sensual nature of “Oh” is a perfect introduction to their music and will leave you begging for more.

Hexe | “Maybe Baby” (April) “I Might Be Crazy” (October) | tv 포액터스

Hexe feel like a sister group to Apink or Lovelyz with their cute vocals. In “Maybe Baby,” their cuteness shines, while “I Might Be Crazy” takes on an R&B vibe, showing some versatility. Each of their releases were quiet and didn’t earn a lot of YouTube vibes. Hopefully this sweet group will find their fans.

I.C.E | “Over U” (November) | HS Entertainment

What’s pleasing about I.C.E is how they sound like a throwback to 2009. “Over U” may be a weaker song compared to others in today’s market, but for those who remember past K-Pop hits, the song is right up their alley. The MV is low-budget and nothing impressive to look at, but it does a great job introducing the girls (literally) and highlighting their vocals. With more songs like this and stronger, I.C.E could gain steam if given a chance.

Rebro | “I Do, I Do” | C2K Entertainment

Rebro initially debuted as a five-member group. Now as a trio, they found themselves a nice niche. Their Encourage album shows a range of their abilities, but “I Do, I Do,” the lead single, has plenty of layers to it. From rich low notes and captivating high notes, Rebro has an ability to cover different genres from Rock to R&B well if given the chance to do so. Like with Dawg’loo, Rebro are made up of 30-somethings, so they’re great for older audiences.

The Starz | “I Like You” (November) | SHIN Entertainment

The Starz are a cute concept group that exude joy with their cheery performance. While their debut MV has a sad quality to it, their cute personalities still shine. “I Like You” is good debut song that helps show off their personalities and positive attitude, and that is something to pay attention to moving forward.

TWEETY | “Mr” & “Hug Me” (May); “Casual Boy” (December) | Danal Entertainment

TWEETY spent 2015 promoting via street performances, so there are plenty of fancams available on YouTube. Their singles, however, are hard to track down unless you purchase MP3s on Bugs. TWEETY had a few member changes too, but vocals remain strong and consistent. While they appear awkward during performances, they do have an effortless, subtle sexiness to them. “Hug Me” is the strongest of the three songs and has a unique sound. While they’re not the most refined, there’s something about them that makes them an interesting group.

 

What were some of your favorite underdogs this year? Share in the comments below!

—-Joelle Halon

 

 

 

 

 

5. Ducky

One of the first successful International B-Boys from Korea. He was a former member of the dance crew, Expressions, and won the international Battle of the Year in 2002. In 2003, he earned the second spot of that same competition. Now, he has become the leader of Drifterz crew, where he stayed as an active member. With Drifterz, he won a lot of international titles. The last battle they won was the 2013 Red Bull BC One World Final, South Korea.

4. WING

Heon Woo Kim aka Wing, saw b-boying, for the first time, in his junior high school and on korean TV as well. He was just 12 years old when he started break dancing with his older brother, Skim, his biggest influence in the world. Wing used to watch Skim practice and tried to learn every step his brother made. Together, they won the 2008 Circle Kingz battle, in Switzerland, and the 2008 RED BULL BC ONE, in Paris. Now, they are both in the same crew, Jinjo Crew, which they consider their second family. Jinjo Crew signed a contract with LG Mobiles so they could perform around the world. Wing is a complexed b-boy dancer, he likes to create patterns of movements with a lot of details and even incorporates difficult choreographies and their flow to his dance moves, while featuring elements from B-Boying, such as footwork. The name WING comes from his mentors, it was inspired by the lightness of his hardcore moves. Even though Wing is a very well known B-Boy, he has concerns about B-Boying in Korea, he sees it as a hardworking job, where you have to work every single day to make it perfect. His goal is proving to adults and elders that B-Boying isn’t a bad thing. He wants to be a proper rolemodel because he believes that his message of mutual love and respect for each other would be well given. Wing also won, as a solo, RED BULL BC ONE Championship.

3. Physicx

Physicx or HyoKeun Kim is considered one of the best b-boys in the whole world. He is a member of Rivers Crew, one of the best Korean crews, and a former member of Project Soul. He found a passion for b-boying in 1998, after looking up to other legend b-boys. Even though his parents disapproved b-boying, he never stopped trying to make his dream come true. After his graduation, he moved to Seoul, South Korea, to pursue his dream to become a professional b-boy. He became viral after winning the UK B-Boy Championship, as a solo, in 2004. He even started judging at some competitions after becoming famous and winning many awards. His signature moves include: Elbow spin, Spinning flag/’60s, Flag 2000/River’s 2000, Air Walk/Kicks, Airflare 1.5/Air windmills into Darkhammers, Waistbreakers, Unkeyed handhops into Hollowback swing, Gainer into Icy-ice, Hanging Airbaby, among others.

AWARDS:
R-16 Korea
Bboy Unit Korea (2011)
UK B-Boy Championship (2002, 2004, 2005) [with Rivers Crew]
UK B-Boy Championship (2004)
Red Bull BC One (2005)

2. Hong10

His nickname is a pun of his own real name, Hong-Yeol, as the second syllable is pronounced as 10, in Korean. In 2002, he became famous after his dance crew, Jinjo Crew, won two of the biggest dance competitions in the world: Battle of the Year International and the UK B-Boy Championships. In 2006, he started competing as a solo b-boy, won some awards and even was a judge in some competitions as well. His signature moves are: spinning airchair, switching halos, handcuff mills to headspin drills, chair flares, and his signature freeze “the Hong 10 Freeze”.

AWARDS:
Red Bull BC One (2006, 2013)
Battle of the Year (2002, 2010)
UK B-Boy Championships (2002, 2004, 2005)
R-16 Korea (2011)
Freestyle Session (2015)
Silverback Open Championship (2015)

1. Born

Hyun Yoo aka BORN is a member of Rivers Crew, a famous Korean B-Boy crew and participated in the 2005 RED BULL BC ONE, in Berlin, Germany. He has been b-boying for twelve years. The first time he witnessed B-Boying was in 1998, when the kids from his neighbourhood were break dancing on the street. He was blown away by their crazy and powerful moves, since then he knew he wanted to become a B-Boy. Due to his great dance skills, someone started calling him ‘’Natural Born Dancer’’. When he joined Rivers Crew, he changed it to ‘’Newborn’’ however, as he got better and developed his own style, he finally ended up being officially called BORN. His biggest inspirations are: his family, YuKu, Rivers, MZK, Floorgangz, and especially, B-Boy Goguma.

AWARDS:
– 2007, 1st place
Korea R-16 World Finals (Crew)
– 2008, 1st place
Evolution Korea (Crew)
– 2009, 1st place
Hawaii Freestyle Session (Crew)
Evolution Korea (Crew)
Urban Konnection, Reuinon Island (2 on 2)
2010, 1st place
OutBreak, Korea (Crew)

 

Mokbang is an abbreviation of Muk (from Mok-Dah, which means, ”to eat”) and Bang (from ”Bang-Song”, which means, TV broadcast). If you add Bang to Mok, you get Mokbang, which literally means, eating broadcast. It’s as simple as that, celebrities that show themselves eating large amounts of food, on-screen, for an hour or more. Not only celebrities but regular people started doing it, on Youtube, becoming stars themselves. The start of this trend is unknown but it’s noticiable that the korean pop culture has a big influence on it. The speculation is that Mokbang started to become famous after reality TV became big in Korea. Reality TV shows sometimes broadcasted people eating and the viewers thought some celebrities looked cute or funny while eating. That became entertainment and started to sell.

It started to sell simply because Korean viewers felt very entertained by Mokbang and sent money to these performers. An example of a famous Mokbang performer is Park Seo-yeon, a beautiful lady who quit her day job after her online success. Monthly, she earned an average of $9,400, broadcasting for three hours a day. In 2014, it was reported that around 3,500 people live-streamed themselves eating (many used AfreecaTV, others Youtube). This phenomenon went global when the Youtube duo, The Fine Brothers, from the US, uploaded a video of Westerners reacting to Mokbang. Many explain that Mokbang is very popular due to the fact that South Korea has a big percentage of families with only one child. So it’s usual for them, when they get older, to live alone. When they watch the live-streams, they feel like they’re not alone anymore. So it’s like a mutual company. Many families also get together to watch Mokbang performers to give them some company.

Another Mokbang well known star is Benzz, who live-streams his eating time to be with his ‘’dinner mates’’. It’s a companionship, after all. He got into Mokbang when he went to college. He wanted to improve his presentation skills, so he started filming himself doing what he likes: eating. His audience is anywhere between 3,000 to 10,000. They feel connected with Benzz and even leave messages while seeing him eat. Comments go from ‘’that looks delicious!’’ or ‘’I envy you!’’. Benzz always communicates with his audience as well, introducing what food he’s going to eat. A lot of Mokbang stars are exaggerated, they eat in a fast pace, gobbling down all of the food. However, Benzz is known for his relaxed and calm eating. He eats at a normal pace with no funny gestures whatsover. Some Mokbang stars move a lot and do a lot of gestures, just for the sake of comedy. Benzz keeps his natural behaviour because he wants his viewers to feel natural too. He wants them to feel like they are really eating with a friend. But doesn’t Benzz have real friends? Well, people in Korea are always busy, they work until late at night. Benzz only sleeps three to four hours every night, after spending the day eating, exercising and attending classes.

The audience of Mokbang is hungry for something real, it’s their desire. At least that’s what the professor of East Asian studies, Kyung Kim, from University of California, Irvine, says. He states that “eating is something one activity that is strongly identified as being natural, and spontaneous”. So, when people watch Mukbang, they feel confortable seeing something natural happening. Westeners may think it’s strange to watch people eating a lot of food. However, Koreans find it very entertaining and interesting!

Only one question is left: how is it that most of these Mokbang hosts stay so slim and fit? Well, according to Gabie Kook, food vlogging star and finalist in MasterChef Korea, “the secret is to eat once, and not eat the next day or eat really little. Some exercise as much as they have eaten”.

What do you think about the new Mokbang craze?

Yujin Chang is a Korean artist who is beginning to flourish as one of the most innovative and inspirational young craft artists in South Korea.

Chang is a recent graduate from Hongik University, which is one of the most prestigious schools for art in Korea; she completed her master’s degree in Textile Art.

She has been known for winning art awards in Korea and Japan during the past several years, as well as participating in numerous team exhibitions and private exhibitions successfully each year.

She emanates her love for art by producing work influenced by Korean traditions as well as creating up-to-date and modern hand-crafted ornaments, accessories and tools vital for everyday use.  

We interviewed Yujin Chang to get a glimpse of her art and life as an artist and we’d like to express our gratitude for the precious time she has offered for this interview; we are aware of how busy she is working on new projects. We wish Ms. Chang all the best in the future.

 

 

 

Thank you very much for taking the time out for a KCRUSH interview. Have you always wanted to be an artist? Tell us what made you want to start your career path in art please.

At school, I had a teacher who was always fond of me since I was very young.

One time, I happened to see a ring my teacher was wearing on her fourth finger; it didn’t look like a typical ring you see normally but it was hand-crafted. My teacher then told me her husband had hand-made the wedding ring especially for her. At that moment, I felt a strong respect for the act of producing something for others and that left a massive impact on me.

From then onwards, I began wanting to produce hand-crafted art that eventually got me to take the path of becoming a craft artist.

 

What kind of work is required for a craft artist?

I don’t think the process of the work is something that can be easily defined into words exactly. Art for me is about producing tools that are useful in our daily lives and to express them in the most beautiful way possible.

Anything related to the concept of designing could be defined as recreating not merely from traditional resources, but by connecting the work with digital science, humanities, industrial art and all different areas altogether to create a new kind of art. This would mean that a craft artist is a person who creates original art combined with different types of fields.

 

Please introduce us to the work you’ve produced that you feel particularly attached to.

I’ve currently worked on two different types of work; the first is a display of traditional Korean flowered shoes using the method of bleaching.

The second is a 3D work involving crystals. I have a liking for creating prunus vases and decanters when it comes to using crystals.

The pale white porcelain, prunus vases and decanters give out a traditional Korean sentiment. Back in the day, they were considered attractive without having to show off many intricate decorations.

The work involved attaching the crystals onto the monofilament to reform as one sculpture. When you look at just one side of the crystals, they’d seem hard, sharp and delicately cut in form but when you take a closer look, so many of those stones are set in order to show a voluminous cubic effect of the work.

I wanted to show that the aligned crystals in a beautiful curved form is delivering the message that they are kind of equivalent to the society we live in, since we are living in a society where we should depend and help one another, rather than being isolated and alone.

 

A shot from Chang’s recent exhibition

 

In what kind of environment do you usually do your art?

Most of the work I do is done at my house; I don’t have a special environment created exclusively for the work process. But the place has to be extra clean for me when I’m undertaking tasks of handling crystals and bleaching. I don’t have a separate workshop since I prefer to work at my home.

 

Would you like to tell us about your most recent art exhibition?

The word pronounced in Korean as Yeoja (Hangul: 여자 and in Oriental characters: 麗姿) indicates a tender and pretty poise, the homophone to the word is more widely used which also means ‘Woman’ so the topic of the most recent exhibition covered both of the two meanings.

Because the standard of beauty has changed completely from what it used to be in the past, before the modern technology of aesthetics and plastic surgery came onto the scene. This made me think about how the Korean women expressed themselves in the past, during the generation when they had less fabricated ways to show their beauty than today. I assumed the most basic traditional ornamental accessories would include various kinds of colourful Hanbok and binyeo – which is a traditional Korean hair pin, rings and the various.

The reason I decided to work on the flowered shoes (꽃신) was intended to express the beauty of the shoes when they barely show under the long skirts of the Hanbok when the wearer walks by. I wanted to express the beauty and emotions of a woman through the fabric, color and the way the shoes are placed.

 

 

The black shoes with red linings represent a desolate woman who is waiting for her man she misses deeply in sorrow, and the pair of shows in pink and green belongs to an owner who is a lovely and high-spirited female.

But I should expect that the viewers’ point would depend on how they are feeling at the time they’re looking at the pieces.

 

 

You’ve produced a lot of art that has a traditional Korean influence, how do you think Korean traditional art is evolving compared to the art work from other Asian countries?  

I feel as though the overall traditional Korean art is somewhat underrated compared to the work of art from other Asian countries.

The current situation is that there have been a large increase of recreations of traditional art but the overall art still needs a lot of improvement in terms of the financial and cultural aspects.

 

If you were to express your art work in a few words, how would you like to state it?

I would like to express my work as “Shining art of Korea.”

 

What do you like to do for leisure and in your free time?

The hobbies I had for leisure used to be sports, working out or going on trips but the most recent hobby I got myself into is making new fragrances.

Having read the novel Perfume by Patrick Suskind a while ago, I have always wanted to create my own perfume.

These days, people can easily find the necessary ingredients to produce their own perfumes, diffusers, candles and such – I regard making my own perfume a very good way to spend free time.

Because I am used to spending time on art projects, I also wanted to own a one of a kind perfume that I created, which is unique to any other fragrances that currently exist.

 

What is the most positive aspect you should have to become a good artist?

You need to have a solid determination and patience to be able to work on tasks for a long period; also need the right kind of emotion and personality to communicate with other people effectively.

 

Thank you very much for a great interview. May we ask what your plans and wishes are for the future?

I would like to be an artist that creates art that I can share with other people, by communicating with them, instead of regarding the process of work is done alone. Because art really is a big part of cultural living generally, I’d like to be a part of that in a healthy and positive way.

 

—-J. Chung

Cosmic Girls/WJSN (Korean: 우주소녀, Chinese: 宇宙少女) is the first binational girlgroup, which means they will be managed under two agencies: the Korean company, Starship Entertainment (Sistar, Monsta X, K.Will, among others), and the Chinese company, Yuehua Entertainment (Hangeng, Zhou Bichang, Zhang Yao, and others). This collaboration represents a symbol of cooperation between these two countries. The name WJSN stands for Wu Ju So Nyeo (Cosmic Girls translated to Korean). The girls are going to debut “early” this year. Some teaser pictures are already out.

Cosmic Girls will have twelve members and they will also be divided in four units: Wonder Unit, Joy Unit, Sweet Unit and Natural Unit. No other information whether they will promote together or separately was given. There are two members already recognized: Exy, the rapper, who participated in the second season of the Korean reality-show, Unpretty Rapstar, while she was still a trainee; Dayoung, one of the main vocalists, who auditioned, in 2011, at SBS’s audition program, K-Pop Star.

This wasn’t the first time that Yuehua Entertainment partnered with Starship or with other companies. They have partnered with Starship Entertainment before, to debut the Chinese-Korean boygroup, UNIQ, and with Pledis Entertainment to promote K-Pop groups, like After School and NU’EST, in China.

The Members:
Xuan Yi (dancer/vocalist, Joy Unit);
EXY (leader/main rapper, Sweet Unit);
Seol A (main vocalist, Sweet Unit);
Bona (vocalist/visual, Wonder Unit);
Luda (main vocalist, Natural Unit);
Eunseo (vocalist, Joy Unit);
Cheng Xiao (dancer, Wonder Unit);
Yeoreum (vocalist, Joy Unit);
Soobin (main vocalist, Sweet Unit);
Dawon (main vocalist, Natural Unit);
Mei Qi (main vocalist/dancer, Natural Unit);
Dayoung (main vocalist/maknae, Wonder Unit).

Here are their nationalities:
Korean – EXY; Seol A; Bona; Luda; Eunseo; Yeoreum; Soobin; Dawon; Dayoung
Chinese – Cheng Xiao; Mei Qi

 

Great news for Day6 US fans!

The 6-member rock group will be holding 3 fan meetings in America this April, organized by Jazzy Group.

Day6 debuted September 7^th, 2015 under JYP Entertainment. Their first release, a mini album called The Day, was well received peaking at number 2 on the Billboard World Music chart. Their single “Congratulations” sold over 38,000 times.

Day6 began their first solo concerts November 20^th and 21^st, less than 3 months after their debut, selling out the venue where they took place. Since then the group has traveled to Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan.

Dates and ticketing information has been released as following:

Date: 13th April 2016
Time: 8pm
Venue: Club Nokia, Los Angeles

Date: 15th April 2016
Time: 8pm
Venue: The Warfield, San Francisco

Date: 17th April 2016
Time: 7 pm
Venue: House of Blue, Orlando

Ticket Prices:

VVIP: 200USD (group photograph included)
VIP: 180USD (hi-touch included)
ZONE A: 130USD
ZONE B: 80USD

Tickets go on sale January 16^th at 10 A.M. local time for Jazzy Group cardholders and January 17^th for public ticket purchases. Check out Jazzy Group’s official Facebook page for more information!

It seems North American EXO-Ls wishes are finally being granted: EXO will be embarking on a 5 date tour, visting Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Vancouver and New York.

EXO has been on their ‘The EXO’luxion’ tour series since January of last year, visiting China, Taiwan, Thailand and Japan.

The dates and venues are as follows:

February 10^th: Dallas (Verizon Theater)
February 12^th: Vancouver (Thunderbird Arena)
February 14^th : Los Angeles (Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena)
February 19th: Chicago (Rosemont Theater)
February 21^st : New York (Prudential Center)

Unfortunately, it was also announced that LAY would not be attending these dates due to scheduling conflicts. The remaining 8 members will be attending all these dates so far as planned.

EXO are also scheduled for concerts in China and Philippines in March.

MyMusicTaste, the event organizer, has announced that ticketing information will be released very soon. For more updates, check out MyMusicTaste’s official Facebook page.

2015 was a strong year with many considering it one of the best since 2009. There were many great songs this year, so it was hard to narrow down this list to just 50 songs. Some may be surprising additions, but with any list, it comes down to opinion. Our top 50 may be different from your top 50, and that’s okay! Let’s take a look at we have as the best of 2015!

50. Ladies’ Code “I Smile Even Though It Hurts” | September 7, 2015

The remaining members of Ladies’ Code released “I Smile Even Though It Hurts” in tribute to EunB and RiSe. Every note has sadness laced in them. It’s difficult hearing the song knowing two voices are forever silenced. It’s beautifully written and performed despite the reason for the song to exist.

49. Berry Good “My First Love” | September 23, 2015

Another song with a tragic backstory, “My First Love” is imperfect but beautifully performed. Berry Good make up for where they lack with impeccable emotions and delivery, helping “My First Love” to quietly become an underrated tune.

48. U-Know “Champagne” | July 20, 2015

Released prior to his military enlistment, “Champagne” shows TVXQ’s U-Know’s fun side. The chorus is a misheard-lyric-landmine, however; so for unrefined ears, there’s sophomoric humor. It’s a catchy song that some may have missed.

47. iKON “Rhythm Ta” | October 1, 2015

“Rhythm Ta” is one of those songs that easily gets stuck in the listener’s head. The deeper vocals help add strong dynamics. iKON need to work on their nasally vocals because they’re not for every listener despite how well-designed a song may be.

46. Girl’s Day “Ring My Bell” | July 7, 2015

Girl’s Day have their fair share of lovers and haters. That’s the case with this song as well. While it’s not their strongest song, it provided a different look at them as they continue to shed their innocence and head into sexier tracks. They still maintain their fun-factor as they continue to blossom.

45. Royal Pirates “Run Away” | December 1, 2015

Royal Pirates have a small but loyal fan base that always rallies behind them through thick and thin. Royal Pirates haven’t had an easy road toward “making it” in the industry. Recently, James got injured, so he currently can’t play the bass, but it hasn’t stopped him or Royal Pirates. “Run Away” is one of their strongest, if not the strongest, comeback. On-point vocals and instrumentals draw the listener into the song over and over again. Live performances are even better!

44. Block B Bastarz “Zero for Conduct” | April 14, 2015

Block B and its members have grown a lot since debut. Even when members do solo or subunit activities, they have a distinct sound that is uniquely Block B. “Zero of Conduct” has that hard-hitting, in-your-face quality many love from Block B, but it’s nice hear something not as Zico-focused. It’s clear every member has talent.

43. SNSD “Lion Heart” | August 18, 2015

Many would agree SNSD have lost steam in recent years, but they’re still the top girl group. The loss of steam isn’t because they lack talent, but it’s due to song choices not being as on-point as they were before. However, “Lion Heart” is a great song for them as it highlights vocals well. The retro styling makes “Lion Heart” memorable while reminding fans of why SNSD is a beloved group.

42. Lim Kim “Love Game” | April 27, 2015

Kim’s vocals are among the most recognizable in the industry; her songs always sound refreshing. “Love Game” can be considered repetitive and nonsensical if listened to once due to its sing-songy nature. Kim proves she can take a song and make it work no matter what.

41. VIXX “Chained Up” | November 10, 2015

“Chained Up’s” instrumentals sound like something straight out of Magic Mike, and that’s part of the charm. VIXX’s vocals continue to improve with each song as they continue to manage to walk the line between sexy and dark.

40. CNBLUE “Cinderella” | September 14, 2015

“Cinderella’s” “somebody help me” hook has great execution for a song that isn’t among CNBLUE’s best. Yonghwa and company make the song rock with strong beats and harmonies that make “Cinderella” stand out.

39. Huh Gak “Snow of April” | March 17, 2015

As far as recent ballads go, Huh Gak is one of the best for creating emotional, beautiful songs. With every waver of his voice, he has an ability to make someone pause and listen. Fans consider “Snow of April” a favorite, and it’s easy to see why.

38. Jinusean “Tell Me One More Time” | April 15, 2015

Jinusean made their long-anticipated comeback this year with a song that’s both modern and distinctly 1990s-to-early-2000s. “Tell Me One More Time” is a good indication they haven’t lost their touch. Plus, the song is just as addictive as their previous hits.

37. Click-B “Reborn” | October 21, 2015

Another first generations idol group made their return with the under-promoted “Reborn.” The mature vocals make the song enjoyable easy-listening. It’s a shame it went virtually unnoticed.

36. Shinhwa “Sniper” | February 26, 2015

The whistling portions in “Sniper” verge on iconic. “Sniper” contains Shinhwa’s smoothness and maturity while being unique enough to compete with today’s musical artists. Previous years were better for Shinhwa (think “Venus” and “This Love” eras), but they’re still among the best.

35. Oh My Girl “Closer” | October 8, 2015

OMG had one of the strongest debuts in 2015, but their second single, “Closer,” made them a group worth cheering. “Closer” sports dreamy, ethereal vocals that are haunting and pure. The angelic theming showed OMG’s strengths and made fans excited for what’s to come.

34. EXO “Call Me Baby” | March 28, 2015

EXODUS was a high-quality album that yielded several songs that could have easily been promoted. “Call Me Baby” was the chosen song, and while good, it wasn’t the best representation of EXO’s strengths as it sounds like their previous releases. It is a strong dance track that represents SM Entertainment’s makeup and culture, and EXO-L’s loved it.

33. Rainbow “Black Swan” | February 23, 2015

“Black Swan” divided fans with people either loving it and considering it one of Rainbow’s best, or people hating it so much they gave up on Rainbow altogether. Well, boo to the latter because “Black Swan” is a work of art that plays upon the ballet Swan Lake and the film Black Swan in gorgeous detail. “Black Swan” has strong but simple lyrics, but what stands out is the song’s arrangement.

32. GFriend “Me Gustas Tu” | July 23, 2015

GFriend caught the ire of some K-Pop fans due to many thinking they were clones of APINK and SNSD rolled into one package with the release of “Glass Bead.” Since then, they’ve endeared themselves to fans with hard work, dedication, and catchy, cute, addictive music like “Me Gustas Tu.” The song has plenty of charm and some J-Pop elements, but it’s different enough to help set GFriend apart in their current rookie class.

31. VIXX LR “Beautiful Liar” | August 17, 2015

Ravi and Leo pairing here is nothing short of pure poetry. Ravi’s, at times, harsh rap and Leo’s smooth high notes make “Beautiful Liar” a lyrical portrait of heartbreak.

30. 4Minute “Crazy” | February 9, 2015

“Crazy” had 4Minute revisiting their roots, but with more Western flair. 4Minute went a little more hard-edged to show their growth as a group, which is why “Crazy” was more popular with Western audiences than the Korean audience.

29. EXID “Ah Yeah” | April 13, 2015

Fresh off their surprising run with “Up & Down,” EXID returned with the equally addictive “Ah Yeah.” One of the best aspects of EXID is that each member gets a chance to shine in the song. It seems EXID finally found their path to success.

28. Elsie “I’m Good” | May 1, 2015

T-ara’s Eunjung is quite the vocalist! Her duet with K.Will is equal parts sadness and artistry to show her strength and power. While some people in the Korean market still hate T-ara, in China, “I’m Good” helped solidify Eunjung’s and T-ara’s growth and popularity.

27. Hong Ki “Insensible” | November 18, 2015

For his solo debut, Hong Ki proved he’s a solid storyteller. “Insensible” has a lot of life breathed into it due to Hong Ki’s grasp on emotional content and vocal scale.

26. 9Muses “Hurt Locker” | July 2, 2015

While it didn’t win any music shows, “Hurt Locker” was the surprise sleeper hit of the summer. 9Muses keeps proving they deserve attention for their vocals and music. “Hurt Locker” allowed them to throw down the gauntlet, but will people notice?

25. Junsu “Flower” | March 3, 2015

Junsu has a flair for the dramatic! “Flower” sounds theatrical and epic despite its uber-simplistic lyrics. What makes “Flower” bloom is Tablo’s feature, which helps add depth to a song that is already magnificently arranged and composed.

24. Red Velvet “Ice Cream Cake” | March 18, 2015

At times, “Ice Cream Cake” verges on the creepy side with the monotone la, la, las; other times, it’s a cute dance track that is age-appropriate and bright. While it’s a weird track and oddly arranged, it’s a memorable one.

23. EXO “Love Me Right” | June 3, 2015

“Love Me Right” is the strongest EXO release this year. Its catchy chorus and beat make the song enjoyable and worth a listen.

22. Mamamoo “Um Oh Ah Yeh” | June 19, 2015

2015 was the year Mamamoo emerged as a next generation top-tier contender. “Um Oh Ah Yeh” isn’t that special of a song, but Mamamoo managed to make it work with great vocals and genuine personalities and quirkiness. They know how to have fun, which is why they continue to win over fans.

21. B.A.P “Young, Wild, & Free” | November 16, 2015

After nearly two years, B.A.P are back, and they came prepared with an anthem track. Daehyun’s high notes and Yongguk and Zelo’s recognizable raps top the song nicely, but the song’s real bread and butter are how Jongup, Himchan, and Youngjae add depth.

20. Ailee “Mind Your Own Business” | September 30, 2015

Ailee always has the ability to bring the house down. “Mind Your Own Business” has strength and power in more ways than one. Like “Don’t Touch Me” before it, “Mind Your Own Business” screams female empowerment.

19. FTISLAND “Pray” | March 23, 2015

“Pray” brought the return to FTISLAND’s rock roots. “Pray” is dark and edgy with strong guitar riffs and superb musicality. It’s the FTISLAND many love and an amazing comeback that had soul.

18. TWICE “Like Ooh Ahh” | October 20, 2015

TWICE already have been dubbed a super-rookie due to their reality elimination program. “Like Ooh Ahh” is a bit of a mess, but TWICE have fun with it and surprisingly make it work. It’s quirky with instrumentals that sound like they come from a 1990s-era teen comedy, furthering its charm.

17. SHINee “View” | May 18, 2015

“View” was one of the songs of the summer with its warm tone and easy-going beat. The chorus is an earworm and easy to recall, so it’s fun to sing along to and get absorbed by the music. SHINee are emerging as SM’s most versatile male group, and “View” is one of the reasons why.

16. PSY “Daddy” | December 1, 2015

People worldwide waited for PSY to return. He didn’t disappoint. His humor is still intact in “Daddy,” and it has viral hit written all over it. Sadly, that’s one of the downfalls: Everything PSY does now will be compared to “Gangnam Style.” It would be nice for newer fans to get acquainted with PSY from his pre-Gangnam era. We need another song like “Right Now.”

15. Day6 “Congratulations” | September 7, 2015

Day6 had a solid album and debut song, but non-traditional promotions may have hindered them slightly since they didn’t get music show exposure. Their light rock sound, friendly appeal, and down-to-earth vibe make “Congratulations” a quiet force in the 2015 scene.

14. BTS “Run” | November 30, 2015

The second part to “I Need U” packs a wallop. The lyrics and instrumentals pair nicely while helping to solidify 2015 as BTS’ year despite going up against EXO and BIGBANG.

13. f(x) “4 Walls” | October 27, 2015

Like SHINee, f(x) take risks and do different sounds with their music. Fans worried if they could maintain momentum without Sulli, but it seems they only got stronger in order to help compensate for her loss. The EDM, experimental sound makes “4 Walls” a standout song because of how different it is compared to other releases this year.

12. Wonder Girls “I Feel You” | August 3, 2015

Another long-awaited comeback, the Wonder Girls impressed with their heavily 1980s-influenced tune that makes listeners nostalgic for past music. Lim’s breathy vocals add a layer of sweetness to an otherwise sexy song.

11. GOT7 “If You Do” | September 29, 2015

In 2014, GOT7 had the displeasure of being gifted some weak songs like “Girls, Girls, Girls.” They had fans, but not as many as they could have. Fast forward to 2015, and GOT7 emerge as a legitimate group thanks to “If You Do.” The song is smooth and ripe with great vocal performances. This is the GOT7 we knew could exist!

10. BIGBANG “Bae Bae” | May 1, 2015

Sexy, humorous, and oozing with personality, “Bae Bae” shows that sexual themes don’t have to be all serious! The song is sinful and delectable, so much so a listener can feel the greasiness dripping from the speakers.

9. BTS “Dope” | June 23, 2015

A few people didn’t like that BTS stated they are among the best in “Dope,” but actually earned the right to do so this year. “Dope” is in-your-face and has been used in promotions on American TV. Even advertisers know a “dope” song when they hear it.

8. BIGBANG “Let’s Not Fall in Love” | August 5, 2015

“Let’s Not Fall in Love” doesn’t get as much love as other BIGBANG songs this year, but it should. It’s a glorious song that has pieces of each member’s soul in it. T.O.P sings; G-Dragon tones it down… it’s just soft, raw perfection.

7. Taeyeon “I” | October 7, 2015

While it may be an unpopular opinion, but if Taeyeon ever decided to permanently become a solo artist (gasp!), she would be really successful. Of course, many want her to be an SNSD member until the end of time. “I” is a piece of her heart and beautifully written and performed. It has an Indie quality to it that helps separate Taeyeon the singer from Taeyeon the SNSD performer.

6. Hyukoh “Comes and Goes” | May 28, 2015

Hyukoh put K-Indie on the map this year with “Comes and Goes.” The song found itself on the international stage with Billboard and other Western media singing its praises. Of course, when a song becomes popular, the plagiarism claims start to fly. They were unfounded, so “Comes and Goes” was safe to become a member of K-Pop lore.

5. Turbo “Again” | December 21, 2015

Another 1990s group made an impressive comeback this year. “Again” sounds very 2015 while the group stayed connected to their early-years roots. Turbo definitely proved they can still rock!

4. SHINee “Married to the Music” | August 3, 2015

Wonderfully weird and addictive, “Married to the Music” embraces SHINee’s vocals and individuality. “Married to the Music” is distinctly SHINee with recognizable versus and chorus. The song is joyful and high in fun and may remind listeners of something Michael Jackson and similar artists may have had at some point in their careers.

3. Super Junior D&E “Growing Pains” | March 6, 2015

“Growing Pains” came out early in 2015, but it quietly had staying power. Its memorable chorus, solid lyrics, and heart combine to form a timeless, everlasting song.

2. BIGBANG “Bang, Bang, Bang” | June 1, 2015

“Bang, Bang, Bang” quickly emerged as a party anthem and a companion to “Fantastic Baby.” “Bang, Bang, Bang” has elements fans love from BIGBANG including T.O.P and G-Dragon’s familiar raps and Taeyang’s recognizable vocals, to high replay ability. This is one of the songs that cements BIGBANG as a global group.

1. BTS “I Need U” | April 29, 2015

2015 was BTS’ year, and it all began with “I Need U.” Strong rap, solid vocals, and emotion link together to form this memorable, beautiful track that unleashed BTS’ full potential. “I Need U” was the song they needed to cement their emergence as an up-and-coming top group for their generation. Congratulations!

 

What were your favorite songs for the year? Let us know!

 

2015 has come and gone, so that means it’s time to start looking back on the events, stories, and media that made 2015 worthwhile. To kick off our look back, here are some of our favorite MVs from the year (of course, in no particular order).

Xia Junsu “Flower” | March 2, 2015

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, “Flower” tells the story of Kronos in artistic fashion. The beauty of the MV shows stark contrasts between destruction and luxury complete with references to The Terminator and the Four Horseman as well as the beginning of humanity. Junsu’s ability to tell a story is the most eye-catching element of “Flower,” but it’s a shame it didn’t get enough recognition.

GOT7 “Just Right” | July 12, 2015

For fans who grew up with N*SYNC and their song “It’s Gonna Be Me,” “Just Right” is right up your alley! The GOT7 boys are miniature versions of themselves and telling a young girl she’s perfect as is. “Just Right” is equal parts cute and charming, but it’s full of nostalgia. It doesn’t focus on power and in-your-face action, so it’s subtleties are much appreciated. The MV is just sweet and, well, “Just Right.”

Gain “Paradise Lost” | March 11, 2015

“Paradise Lost” exudes artistry as it paints a tapestry of lustful sin. Interpretive dance and beautiful scenery juxtaposed against light and dark sets help create the contrasts between innocence and embracing sin to tell a story. “Paradise Lost” capitalizes and Gain’s effortless sexiness to generate an interesting video worth watching on repeat to catch all the subtleties you may have missed the first time.

Jihoon Owl’s Project “Fly to Your Dream” | July 2, 2015

Straight from a storybook, “Fly to Your Dream” utilizes animation and whimsy to create an MV that’s different and magical despite some of its bleakness. The animation doesn’t have a lot of movement, but the detail it includes makes it heartwarming and hopeful.

BIGBANG “Bae Bae” | April 30, 2015

As our sister-blog states, “Bae Bae” should be an acronym for BIGBANG’s Acidic Euphoria, Big Arousal Experience. Pretty much everything in “Bae Bae” references sex in a fun, colorful way. It’s like erotic art come to life. There are so many wild references and scenery that “Bae Bae,” although contemporary, has a timeless quality to it.

Red Velvet “Dumb Dumb” |September 8, 2015

Colorful, cheerful, and trippy, “Dumb Dumb” is a visual treat although headache-inducing at times due to scenery shifts and the duplicity effects. “Dumb Dumb” shows off Red Velvet’s youth and maturity factors flawlessly with bright pops of color, storybook charm, and adult takes on life. However, why does SM insist on making Red Velvet verge on the creepy-side with same-y appearances and expressionless faces?

F(x) “4 Walls” | October 26, 2015

While it may be difficult to follow at first, “4 Walls” is an adventure of an MV as Amber, Krystal, Luna, and Victoria seemingly exist on a different plane to experience a Butterfly Effect. In simplified terms, they experience an event as it happens and see the chain reaction it causes, but the event hasn’t happened. They do, however, get an opportunity to fix the occurrence before it happens. Set to muted colors and gorgeous shots of nature, “4 Walls” has an ethereal feel to match it’s mystical, EDM beat.

Wonder Girls “I Feel You” | August 2, 2015

Wonder Girls, while currently a four-member group, made their long-awaited comeback with “I Feel You.” The MV is perfectly 1980s thanks to the stylists and directors, matching the strong synth the song presents. While it’s not the most exciting MV, its nostalgia-factor makes a difference.

SHINee “Married to the Music” |August 2, 2015

Many agree that SHINee is one of the true SM Entertainment gems, and for good reason: They’re not boxed into one concept. When SHINee makes a comeback, it’s almost guaranteed it’s going to be different. “Married to the Music” takes a bizarre turn and is unusually dark for a SHINee MV with beheadings and body parts randomly disappearing. Its dreamlike eeriness set to one of the year’s most addicting tracks makes it a memorable MV.

Lizzy “I’m Not an Easy Girl” | January 22, 2015

“I’m Not an Easy Girl” gets creativity points for the almost seamless additions of Lizzy into the 1961 film Seong Chunhyang. When paired with the movie’s story, the song’s spot-on theme feels oh-so-right. The MV gets credit for (hopefully) introducing new fans to the film, and that cannot be ignored.

Rainbow “Black Swan” | February 22, 2015

The black and white aesthetics and theming from the film Black Swan make Rainbow’s “Black Swan” a beautiful and severely underrated MV. The girls’ acting in the MV is spot-on with subtle facial expressions that express insanity and inner turmoil, while the artistry add more depth and soul to what seems like a simplistic MV on the surface.

Anda “Touch” | June 3, 2015

While unintentional, “Touch” is progressive as it’s LGBTQ-friendly due to its portrayal of seemingly female-female relations. “Touch” has a guerrilla-style quality that adds more authenticity to the MV. The dark scenes, muted colors, redundancies, and dance help enhance an MV that could have been boring, but it has plenty of layers to it.

Mamamoo “Um Oh Ah Yeh” | June 18, 2015

The gender-bending MV for “Um Oh Ah Yeh” has spunk and shows off why Mamamoo is a girl group on the rise with many devoted fans. Mamamoo is not afraid to smash expectations and play it safe like other new female groups. They’re far from boring

VIXX LR “Beautiful Liar” | August 16, 2015

In this dark and lovely MV, Ravi and Leo have more chemistry then many other couple in a K-Pop MV. There are two ways to view this MV with one interpretation focusing on Ravi being Leo’s lie and the other where Leo represents the lie. The passion and electricity that power this MV should be of particular focus because it makes for great storytelling.

TWICE “Like Ooh Ah” | October 19, 2015

Often overdone, the zombie motif still crops up a few times a year in the K-Pop world. For “Like Ooh Ah,” the visuals are campy as he MV plays tribute to teen horror flicks while the TWICE ladies play different character stereotypes. It’s a cute introduction to the group that combines elements from Warm Bodies and many other zombie and teen films to give it 1990s flare with modern touches.

EXID “Ah Yeah” | April 12, 2015

“Ah Yeah’s” appeal is due in part thanks to EXID poking fun at beauty-obsessed culture in a time when censorship strongly runs rampant. The contrasts make “Ah Yeah” a social commentary piece in addition to showing off how multi-faceted and quirky EXID are. We’re happy they’re finally getting attention.

PSY “Daddy” | November 30, 2015

While it’s downright disturbing at times (PSY’s head on a child’s body anyone?), “Daddy” is 100 percent PSY complete with iconic dancing. Even though it still feels like he’s stuck in a loop since “Gangnam Style” took off (we seriously recommend checking out “Right Now” era and anything prior to get a sense of PSY’s layers), “Daddy” is all at once humorous and terrifying.

 

Joelle Halon earned her MFA in English in 2010. While teaching a college humanities course, she woke up one morning realizing she was unhappy. She had a crazy plan: Leave teaching to become a writer. She’s now here at KCrush, so it seems to have all worked out since she writes about what she loves: K-Pop and Korea (although Indiana is far away from Korea).

K-Pop consumed her in the late 1990s, although she’ll tell you Baby V.O.X was the first group she truly loved. B.A.P is her ultimate bias, and she considers Bang Yongguk and Himchan her inspirations to do good. One day, she hopes to thank them for inspiring her. She once got to talk to Nu’est’s Aron and Lunafly’s Sam Carter through their Arirang radio programs, which caused a fan-girl explosion.

In her free time, Joelle loves to draw, write fiction, and engage in other crafty endeavors.

—-Joelle Halon

 

 

Skincare is important. A good skincare regimen and plenty of water can keep your skin glowing, healthy, and youthful for years to come. As we age, sometimes we need to add or eliminate different products to keep skin dewy and fresh. We tried different products over a period of a few weeks to months in order to come up with fair, honest recommendations to share with you. If you’re looking for some new products to add to your skincare regime, here are some suggestions!

Goodal Waterest Lasting Water Oil

For ridiculously soft, glowing skin, the Waterest serum does the trick. This fresh-smelling oil absorbs into skin quickly and does not leave a residue. In fact, skin is left so soft, you may have to resist the urge to touch it!

We found this oil works on a freshly-washed face that’s been rinsed with cool water. Place the serum in the palms of your hand and pat–don’t rub–it into skin. Patting or pressing helps it absorb better.

The serum’s beneficial oils help improve skin’s overall appearance. One ingredient, fermented red rice yeast oil, helps calm skin and supposedly improves elasticity. Licorice root helps ease inflammation. We found that it helps reduce monthly skin issues while reducing overall redness. While this may not be the case for everyone, it does deserve mention.

What we liked about the serum was how the moisturizing effects can be felt for several hours. While the effects don’t last for the full 24-hours as the product promises, we’ll say it’s good for a good 8-12 hours. Furthermore, while it’s a good serum to wear under makeup (makeup literally glides on!), it works best as a nighttime oil because skin looks more refreshed and well-rested come morning.

$26 on Amazon.com.

Skinfood Black Sugar Perfect First Serum

The first thing you may notice about this serum is how it smells like warm sugar cookies with a hint of liquor. The scent helps with soothing qualities of this Skinfood product, making it enjoyable.

One of the things that jump out about the black sugar serum is the ingredients: Black sugar extract, cheongju (a Korean wine) and several fruit extracts like apple and papaya. There is also some salicylic acid which is supposed to aid in redness and pimple reduction, but it’s in a small quantity. While the serum eliminates redness pretty well, breakouts weren’t lessened, especially in the T-zone. So do not look for this product to be a cure-all for all skin issues because it is not that.

This serum has a special application method. If you order from some online retailers, you will receive special pads that are rough on one side and smooth on the other. Apply the serum with the rough side so skin gets exfoliated, then use the smooth side to finish the application. For those who don’t get the pads, you can pat it into the skin like you would the Waterest oil (above).

With both application methods, skin may feel slightly sticky, but layering a moisturizer after application eliminates this feeling.

Skin will feel better after multiple uses, so don’t expect instant results. While it can be used alone, we found its effects are enhanced when paired with a moisturizer or an essence. We recommend Etude House’s Collagen Moistfull live.

$21.51 on kpoptown.com

 

Mizon Collagen 100

Probably one of our favorites we’ve tried, the Mizon Collagen 100 oil delivered some nice results during our trial period.

The oil has an eyedropper lid, which helps with getting the perfect amount every time, even though you can easily get away with using half the amount it measures out. To apply, use the eyedropper to place the oil on your fingertips, the tap or massage the product into your skin while working in an upward motion. Around the eye area, lightly dab the oil using your pinky finger.

Mizon Collagen 100 promises to improve skin elasticity and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Within a month of using the product, skin did appear firmer and fine lines did appear more filled in, so we’re excited to see what further use may do. Of course, results may vary.

The oil is refreshing and lightweight, and feels best when applied after the face is rinsed with cold water. Doing this, we found the oil seems to absorb into skin better, but it could just be our imaginations. However, skin felt softer and suppler for a longer period of time over using warm water.

We recommend the collagen oil specifically for dry winter skin because it does seem more moisturizing. The tester found the usual dry skin issues around the nose, eyes, and cheek area she experiences during the winter seems to be less of an issue. However, we do recommend using this as a night oil on days where it’s predicted to be sunny or during the summer since the ingredients are more concentrated, so it is easy– especially for sensitive skin– to get sunburned if used alone and used right before heading out for the day. If you want to use this during these times, we recommend layering it with an SPF moisturizer.

$13 on Amazon.com

Skinfood Egg White Foam Cleanser and Mask

The egg white foam cleanser replaced the Innisfree volcanic ash cleanser as the tester’s favorite face wash. While it has a weird scent (which almost smells like real egg whites), the cleansing properties are pretty solid, especially when used with a cleansing brush.

The lather with the cleanser is rich and creamy. While cleansing, the foam turns a bright white, and it almost tingles. For the most part, it feels like using a cleansing lotion, which is one of the reasons why it’s recommended. When it’s rinsed off, skin feels soft and tight.

The softness and tightness are enhanced with the mask. Like the instructions indicate, apply the mask onto clean, dry skin and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. The mask hardens, but not as much as traditional clay masks, so you will still have use of your face. Once time is up, rinse off with warm water. The mask may leave behind a chalky feeling, but rinse with cold water if this is the case since the cold water tends to get rid of this feeling. The instructions suggest using cold water turns the mask into an astringent, so it’s a win-win.

One recommendation is to NOT smile while wearing it because the whiteness of the mask only enhances the look of stained teeth. It’s not pretty. This is one of the few downfalls. Additionally, if you’re allergic to eggs, this product should be avoided.

$24.20 for the set on Amazon.com

 

—-Joelle Halon

Holiday season 2015 is upon us, and that means it’s time to think about gifts for those who celebrate. If you need a little help looking for gifts for the Japanese culture and pop culture enthusiast, here are some of Kcrush’s suggestions to get you started!

Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX for the Nintendo 3DS

For fans of the famous vocaloid, Project Mirai DX is a fun edition to the Nintendo 3DS lineup. The game is set to Hatsune Miku’s music as players tap their way through in order to match the beats and rhythm. Players can play as different characters and decorate their rooms and outfits. Users can also make their own videos. From beginner to novice, this game is fun for everyone! $29.99, Amazon

 

Tokyo Adorned by Thomas C. Card & Simon Doonan

Japanese street fashion has always been nothing more than mesmerizing. Card looks at different street fashions through his camera lens to given viewers an inside look at the vibrant Japanese fashion scene. Even though photos are somewhat repetitive, it’s a nice coffee table book that will be an interesting conversation starter. $12, Amazon

Sunfelt Doll Kits

For the crafty Otaku, Sunfelt kits come in a variety of simple-to-make, super-cute animals and dolls to keep her busy. From macaroon coin purses to Disney dolls, there are many kits to choose from at an affordable price. Even for children, these are perfect gifts! $9.99, Etsy

 

Tokidoki 10^th Anniversary Barbie Doll

Tokidoki is a Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand filled with cute characters, pop art, and images of Japanese geisha, samurai, and sumo wrestlers. This brand has collaborated with Skull Candy, Hello Kitty, and Fujitsu among others during its ten-year run. The anniversary Barbie is covered in many of Tokidoki’s well-known images which will fascinate any lover of this iconic brand. The doll comes in pink or purple. $45, Amazon; $75, Mattel

Japanese Snack Sample Pack

Most people like snacks, so why not stock up? For under $25, Amazon has a decent selection of different Japanese snack packs ranging from the sweet to the savory to appease any taste. From Pocky to macha green tea Kit Kats to squid chips, you can definitely impress with a variety of treats.

Cosplay House Gift Certificate

Do you have a friend who likes to cosplay? Than a gift certificate for Cosplay House may do the trick! A gift certificate in any amount can be sent to a cosplaying friend or family member so they can purchase outfits, wigs, shoes, or accessories to help make their costumes complete.

Tatcha Indigo Essentials Discovery Kit

For the beauty-minded, give Tatcha’s Indigo Essentials a go. The discovery kit comes with a hand cream, body butter, and a hydrating face cream formulated indigo extract and anti-aging agents. The blue cream absorbs into skin beautifully and shows positive results within a few weeks. It’s the perfect addition to a beauty regime or to get someone started on higher quality products. $39, QVC.com

Tokyo Otaku Mode e-Giftcard

Tokyo Otaku Mode has so many gift options it’s difficult to choose what to gift someone! Adorable plushies; anime, manga, cosplay, and gaming items can be found here. Instead of choosing one item, gift a certificate so the receiver can choose whatever he or she wants (hopefully it’s a llama plushie!).

With the holiday season upon us, what are some gifts you’re hoping for this year? Let us know!

—-Joelle Halon