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March 2015 Releases

April 4, 2015 | 4589 Visits

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8WP9wFBGBg712YMNCdBdnIy6sYdgQ7ot

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 — Joelle Halon

Rookie girl group CLC (Crystal Clear) had a lot of buzz surrounding them, but not as much as Lovelyz, Sonamoo, Laboum, or GFriend. Their album, First Love, in exception of a few songs, hardly feels like a rookie album. The CLC ladies have a different level of maturity combined with the youthful hopes of a brand-new group. As each song unfurls, it’s crystal clear that CLC has potential to make an impact on the industry even though there are areas that need work.

First Love has a good mix of ballads, dance tracks, and pop music to effectively show off CLC’s flavors starting with the disco-esque “Café Mocha Please.” The rappy introduction does a nice job welcoming listeners to the song. It’s not annoying even though the voices aren’t typically ones I enjoy. The song quickly became an addiction because it has a good beat and the chorus is just a straight shot of enjoyable singing. The instrumentals at the beginning sound like a cross between Celtic Thunder’s version of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and CNBlue’s “Coffee Shop” before going in its own direction. I also caught some Prince vibes as the song moved forward, creating a pleasant experience.

“Pepe” was a good track for CLC to use as their debut and promoted track. While it’s not a daring track, it has a good amount of singing, rap, edginess, and cuteness to show CLC’s distinct facets. The piano backing the vocals along with the rest the instrumentals have a mix of 1950s Doo Wop with 1970s Motown and modern pop to make it an interesting, pleasing track. The rap breakdown in the middle of the song sounds only slightly grating because of the pitch, but after a few listens, it sounds fitting for the song. My favorite part is the “la la las” toward the end because it was cute and wrapped the song well.

“Sharala” shows another side of CLC to where they turn into more of a cute concept group. “Sharala” sounds like a song that was written for APINK or even one of CLC’s fellow rookie groups like Lovelyz or GFriend. The song is adorable and bright and feels like spring and all things pink and full of ruffles. However, the cute concept fits CLC well more than the slightly edgier turn in “Pepe.” With “Sharala,” the youthful exuberance in CLC’s voices shine through and through. The song is just sweet, and like “Café Mocha Please,” it’s one of the best songs on the mini-album.

While “Sharala” sounds like APINK, “First Love” feels a little like SNSD when it starts. The ballad does well featuring CLC’s softer side, but at the same time, it also calls out their weaknesses. At times, the solo moments feel too nasally and more like talk-singing than actual singing. Ballads are an area that needs improvement for CLC because their rookie-ness really shows.

The same issue presents itself in “Opening the Window.” Despite the decent lyrics, the song feels more like talk-singing than actual singing, and voices sound thin. In order to improve with ballads–which tend to really showcase if a group is strong vocally or not these days—their company needs to work on the actual singing elements such as breath control, melodies, and harmonies. Otherwise, CLC will continue to have a rookie-feel.
Overall, First Love is a strong debut album for CLC. While there are areas that need some work, CLC secured attention that will help them survive awhile. The album earns a score of 3/5.

— Joelle Halon

Nowadays, we can’t neglect the truth that the Asian music industry has been rapidly growing not only in Asia alone but also on an international stage. And clearly, K-Pop from South Korea and J-Pop from Japan has become so powerful and popular in the past years. There are loads of new girl/boy bands happening every single day! Even for the Thai teenagers, they crazily become loyal fans. However, did you know that Thai pop music has also been transformed to respond to this fast growing trend? Some might think Thai pop music or T-Pop has become less popular and been slowly fading away. This is wrong. The Thai Pop music industry has been working hard to adjust its image and style to be more interesting and to fit not only Thai fans but also the global fans and to be able to grow in the world market. One of the biggest markets that gave T-Pop a significant response is China and Thailand’s neighbor countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam etc. Today we proudly introduce you to the top 5 T-Pop groups. And if you are interested, you can also search for them and check out their music.

1. Girly Berry:One of the very first and famous girl groups in the 21 century. This band has been active since 2002. With their sexy looks, seductive dance moves and many hit songs make this T-Pop group a very popular girl band even now.

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2. GaiA: This girl group band consists of 5 stunning body girls named Janji-Janjira, Pleng-Thanissa, Pam-Sirapassara and Noon-Phanisa. It is the first band managed by Duet Dot production. The well-known songs includeAudition feat. Jay Park and? Love Potion.

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3. Faye Fang Keaw(FFK): This trio Thai Pop girl group consists of 3 teenagers: Faye, Fang and Keaw. The band was formed in 2007. It is the first band affiliated with Kamikaze music, Sublabel of RS music company. The band has released many songs that have topped on the Thai radio charts. It is not only famous in Thailand but also in the neighbor countries and in China.

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4. August Band:August Band is one of the T-Pop groups that introduced Thai pop music to China and became internationally famous. The band consists of 13 male members. It was formed in 2008 and still active today.

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5. Candy Mafia: The newly formed girl band which is becoming very famous rapidly. The members of this band range in age from 13-14 years old. The group is comprised of 4 Thai teenagers: Nett, Gam, Nune and BamBam. The first song introduced to the public was “Mafia” in 2009 and then many other songs also became very famous such as Alzheimer, Blink Blink, Low Sugar, Honey Honeyand the latest released “My Boy” which has transformed them from an innocent girl group to a very sexy one.

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– Tania Tan

DJ Espio: Bringing K-Pop to London

Here at Kcrush, not only do we like talking to the idols and singers who make the Asian music industry “pop,” but we love talking to the people who help share and spread Asian music to the rest of the world.

Andrew Lawrence, also known as DJ Espio, is one the musical pioneers helping to spread K-Pop in the Western world with remixes and show that are guaranteed to make you move! He took time for an interview with us and discussed haters, his shows, and plans for 2015. As a special treat, he also created a remix for your listening pleasure.

We hope you enjoy listening, and we thank Andrew for his time.

Espio Presents: K-Pop Remixed Video DJ Set Vol.1

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Ali, the singer known for her ‘voice’ and musical ability

Ali is a Korean singer-songwriter famous for her rich and soulful voice. Her stage name, ‘Ali’ was inspired from the world’s greatest boxer, Muhammad Ali.

Ali made her debut in 2003, by featuring in songs from Leessang’s third album, ‘I’m Not Laughing’ and ‘Never Never Say Goodbye’ and she collaborated in various other songs for other artists for several years.

During those years, Ali was praised by her senior artists for her unique voice and talent but she did not get much recognition from the public until she released her own debut album, ‘After the Love has Gone’ in 2009.

In 2009, Ali made an appearance as a contestant on the KBS program Immortal Songs 2. Because she could belt out extremely strong and high notes, she stood out from the other contestants, quickly gaining recognition and fame from just one episode of the show.

Two years after her debut in December of 2011, her first album SOULri was released. Following the release of her album, she held her first independent concert.

As well as being a great singer and entertainer, Ali also works as a professor in applied musical arts at the Seoul Technical Arts College.

She has had her share of ups and downs in her singing career, but she has held out strong like her trademark: Her voice and talent in performing.

One of my favorite performances by Ali is when she sang, “A Kilimanjaro’s Panther” – originally a song by the Korean legend, ‘Yong-pil Cho’ in the Immortal Song 2 and that performance garnered her a large fan base of all age groups.

We were honored to be able to attain an interview with Ali. I hope our readers enjoy reading about Ali from our interview. Plus, a special thank you goes to Ali for her precious time.

 

A Kcrush Interview with Ali

*Could you briefly introduce yourself to our Kcrush readers?

Hello, it’s nice to meet you all. This is Ali, I am a singer who sings all genres of music.

 

*How old were you when you started singing?

I learned Pansori (which is a traditional Korean music) when I was in third year in elementary school.

I began to prepare myself to become a vocalist for popular music when I was in my last year of high school, at the age of 19. My major at University was related to Jazz music.

 

*Have you always dreamt of becoming a singer from an early age?

Since I was very young, I enjoyed singing in front of family members. There is a photo of me singing holding a red microphone when I was about three or four years old.

Growing up, I was very much interested in opera and musicals. Because I enrolled into the Jazz vocal department for my university major, I worked as a contributing Hip-Hop vocalist locally. I believe that I was destined to become a singer.

 

*Which artists/musicians do you admire the most?

There are so many artists who inspire me, so it’s hard to even count them all. All the artists who are older than myself inspire me. But if I had to choose, I would say Chet Baker for Jazz music. Stevie Wonder for R & B. James Brown, Alicia Keys for Soul, and Tupac for Hip Hop. Every one of them are such great artists.

 

*How do you cope with the busy schedule and how do you release stress and fatigue?

I usually like to nap and eat delicious foods. I also watch movies at home with two of my pet dogs.

 

*What do you do as a hobby?

I play Tennis. I play cookie jam game and collect bear bricks. I enjoy reading comic books and watching historical dramas.

 

*Which artists or songs do you listen to most these days?

I’m currently listening to “The Last Time” by Eric Benet and practicing on singing that song because I want to sound sweet.

 

*Do you do a lot of vocal practice and dance/choreography?

I don’t do much vocal practice in case I injure my vocal cords. So, I only do vocal training when I feel that I have to. Depending on how the song is produced, I do dance practice for about two days before I go on stage for Immortal Songs.

 

*Do you have any novels or films that you watched recently that you were inspired by?

‘Imitation Game’ because I want to make my own music that no one else has figured out, even if it gets forgotten after I die. The book that inspired me is ‘The Problem of Pain’ by C. S Lewis.

I am anticipating for the release of Avengers!

 

*What would you say are your favorite food or drink?

I drink a cup of Espresso double shot and cream from Starbucks every morning. I have low blood pressure, so I need the caffeine in order to get myself to wake up. But since it’s not particularly good for my throat, I can only drink 200ml of it per day. I enjoy eating all kinds of food as long as it’s not salty. I really like to eat all kinds of meat and fruit. I can’t eat raw onions since I have an allergy for them.

 

*Could you describe what kind of person is your ideal?

Someone who is very sociable with people, who is a hardworking person. A person who has a sexy voice. It would also be nice if he could play a good game of tennis.

 

*Can you play any other instruments other than the piano?

Other than the piano, I am able to play the violin.

 

*Could you let us know about your goals or wishes for this year?

I want to make exciting music. The kind of songs that everyone and anyone can sing along to.

I’d like to travel all over Europe with that music. In particularly, I wish to travel to England.

(Of course, I’d love to visit the States as well ^^).

 

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— J. Chung

SXSW was home to the 3rd annual Kpop Night Out featuring a variety of Korean performing artists. This year’s line up included the mysterious Hitchiker, Crayon Pop and legends Epik High.
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People began lining up for the show as early as 9:00 a.m. that morning. Before the show started at 8:00 p.m., the line had wrapped itself around the building and down the street. There was some excitement for those in line during the day; Crayon Pop, in full uniform, came out of the venue to film.

The first act to perform that was Asian Chairshot. I was only able to see one song from this group but they rocked the stage and the crowd loved it, despite that a majority of them were there for the pop performing later on. The lead vocalist hopped into the crowd and ended up back on stage wearing a cowboy hat to finish their final song.

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Next was Eastern Sidekick, another group that many people would not have expected have attended Kpop Night. With their long hair, many anticipated a more hair metal sound, instead of the more melodic sound they have. This was also when the venue filled to nearly capacity, a first for Kpop Night Out.

After Eastern Sidekick, the Barberettes took the stage. I had personally been anticipating seeing them and they did not disappoint. Dressed in flapper girl styled dresses, it seemed like they had stepped straight out of the 50’s. Vocally, I was blown away with how talented all three members were, along with their live band. They performed two of their newest songs for us, including their first fully English track, and finished with their cover of “Be My Baby”, their most popular upload to date.

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Self proclaimed ‘total art’ and electronic group, EE, were next to perform. I could understand where the idea of ‘total art’ comes from; two dancers, their faces completely covered with glitter paint, began twisting and contorting before either of the vocalists came on stage. EE has two vocalist, Big E and Little E, both of which are rappers. This group was also very interactive in with the audience, jumping into the crowd and dancing with people. Little E was also very animated on stage, swearing at the dancers and talking back and forth with the crowd.

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Next up was the mysterious Hitchiker, who came out in full body costume. He started out with his most popular song, Eleven, and the crowd went crazy. The bass was so unbelievable strong you could see the hair on your arms vibrating. Hitchiker, despite his large suit, was animated the entirety of his set.

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Crayon Pop was next, and once the preview music videos began playing the crowd went crazy, jumping and screaming fan chants. When they actually came on stage the screams were deafening and the girls looked surprised at the number of people that were excited to see them. They played a short 4 song set, including the first live performance of their next comeback song, FM. Crayon Pop also promised they would be back soon on a tour before performing “Bar, Bar, Bar”, with the entire crowd jumping along.

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Finally, Epik High’s set began, marking their first US performance in 6 years. They performed an extended set that included “Born Hater”, “Burj Khalifa”, “Happen Ending”, and Tablo’s version of “Eyes, Nose, Lips”. All the members expressed their excitement and how thankful they were for their American fans, promising to come back this summer with a multiple city tour. Despite the 1 AM start time, the crowd was as energetic as possible, screaming along to every song performed.
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Despite being called Kpop Night Out a majority of the acts that performed were not pop. This diversity is good for expanding these group’s audiences and showing those who wandered in that the Korean music scene contains much more than just Kpop. I am highly anticipating next year’s event and cannot wait to see what KOCCA, the sponsor behind KPNO, has in store for attendees.

 

-Ke’Anna Bullard

Every year thousands of people flock to the live music capital of the world, Austin, Texas, to experience what is arguably the best festival in the world, SXSW. This year’s festival had more variety than ever with hundreds of international acts taking the stage at various venues. Japan and Korea were particularly represented with several different showcases, all showing different genres of music.

Japan Nite’s preview show showcase many alternative Japanese artists. First act to perform was The fin., an alternative/indie band from Kobe. The fin. have a very soothing sound, and put on a very entertaining act.

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Next up was Chihiro Yamazaki and the Route 14 band. Chihiro is a very talented trumpet player, contributing to the jazzy sounds of the Route 14 band. Chihiro expressed her excitement of being in Austin, getting the growing crowd much more excited as their set progressed. Their performance finished with a song called “Japan”. An interesting feature of this group is that one of the songs performed had any spoken lyrics.

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Check out Chihiro Yamazaki and the Route 14 band’s “Japan”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWXMHhJGtTw

After that act, a group called Mothercoat took the stage. This group had a very synth driven sound, accompanied by unique vocals from the male and female vocalists. I have never heard anything quite like this group.

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The last group I was able to see was a female duo called Zarigani$. This hard hitting rock group sounded like something you would hear as the intro song to an action filled anime. If you enjoy punk-rock groups with loud vocals, you will enjoy this group. Both of these ladies had a lot of energy on stage, despite the humid weather.

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I really enjoyed the part of the Japan Nite preview I was able to attend. The crowds were not huge, but each artist seemed thankful people attended. You could really tell how much these performers enjoyed being on stage playing. Part of the appeal of SXSW is the eclectic mix of genres you can find in one line up and this show was an example of one of those.

Japan Nite is an annual US Tour that kicks off in Austin and tours all across the United States. You can head over to their website, japan-night.com, and see if the tour is coming to a city near you. I definitely suggest you check these groups out; you might just discover your new favorite band.

 

 – Ke’Anna Bullard

The weather is starting to warm up, cherry blossoms are blooming, and hope and romance seems to be popping up wherever you turn. This can only mean one thing: Spring is here!

As the winter chill begins to disappear, you may need something to warm you up. Kcrush created a playlist of cheerful songs to help you welcome warmer weather. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8WP9wFBGBg5Jwok2oHUVBfpt9WWShiXH

 

–Joelle Halon

Food has always played a crucial part in Korean culture. Bringing friends, families and communities together is one of the reasons that makes Korean food so special.

Peoples’ tastes and expectations for food are changing rapidly as the world’s culture and ethics become more globalized. Experiencing diversity in order to learn and accept things that we are not necessarily used to is vital for our generation.

For this month’s issue of Kcrush, I interviewed Joo Lee, the co-founder of Korean food brand, ‘Korrito’ to hear about how she is helping to bridge the cultural gap in London.

Joo was born in Korea then moved to the UK at the age of three. Her interest has always been in food. In 2003, she and her brother launched their own Korean food brand in London.

We hope our readers will enjoy reading this interview.

The full version of Joo Lee’s interview will be on the Kcrush printed magazine.

 

* Thank you for taking your time out for a Kcrush interview. Would you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your business?

Hello, my name is Joo Lee and I am the co-founder of Korrito. For years, my brother and I always wondered why Korean food had not yet made its mark in London.

Then, ‘Gangnam Style’ went global and suddenly people were becoming curious about K-Pop, Korean culture and its cuisine.

Korrito was launched in 2013, when the street-food scene in London was really taking off. Street-markets were suddenly becoming cool places to socialize and talented chefs were displaying food in very accessible ways.

 

*Since the launch of Korrito, are you surprised by the response Korean food is getting?

I am not surprised at all that Korean food is getting the positive reception that it is, as I have always believed it to be one of the most delicious cuisines in the world. However, I am pleasantly surprised at how quickly our brand Korrito has gained popularity.

We were recently hand-picked as one of the Top 10 must-try street-food stalls by ‘Conde-Nast Traveller Magazine.’ I hope that the knowledge about Korean food and culture begins to grow in the UK.

 

*Did you ever think that you would be running a food-related business when you were growing up?

I may not have known it at the time, but I think the signs were definitely there. As a teenager, I’d throw dinner parties for my friends and serve them Korean BBQ using the very recipes we have tweaked, that we are using today at Korrito. With the benefit of hindsight, it is fitting that we co-founded Korrito together.

 

*How did you come up with Korrito’s concept of combining Korean food with Mexican?

Around the time my brother and I were forming ideas around a Korean food business, we noticed that burritos were gaining a lot of popularity in London. Then we looked across the pond for inspiration and saw that ‘Korexican’ cuisine was one of the biggest food trends in Los Angeles. We got the validation we needed that it was the perfect combination and decided on the concept for Korrito.

But we wanted to make Korrito a unique proposition and we did this through keeping the core meat and recipes very traditional and authentic to our family, adding personal touches along the way.

 

*Could you introduce us to your favorite Korrito dish or menu?

My favorite Korrito dish is the spicy pork burrito. I mentioned the dinner parties I used to throw; the spicy pork was my signature dish and always the biggest hit from my friends. High quality cuts of pork are left to marinate in our Korrito barbecue sauce overnight to make sure the meat gets extra tender.

The barbecued pork on a bed of Kimchi-fried rice with melted cheese, salsa, garnishes, our Korrito sauce, all bundled up on a warm, soft tortilla is just so delicious. I will never grow bored of eating it.

 

*What kind of food do you normally enjoy and how do you obtain new ideas for a new menu?

Naturally, I eat a lot of Korean food and have very strong cravings for Kimchi.

I like to experiment with different ingredients and flavour profiles. I often hold food tasting events where we come up with new dishes and new ways of using Korean ingredients. I like getting inspiration and being creative from other cuisines from other cultures like Italian food.

 

*What has been the most rewarding for you since you started business?

The most rewarding aspect is being able to see tangible results and outcomes of what my brother and I dreamt of all those years ago.

It’s amazing when you can look back and see how much you’ve achieved in a short space of time. It is also rewarding to see positive feedback and comments from your customers, whether it’s on social media or in person.

 

*Do you have any role models you get inspiration from when it comes to food?

Roy Choi and his brand, ‘Kogi’ are hugely inspirational. I believe that he single-handedly raised the profile of Korean food in the US. Major kudos for that.

 

*What do you like to do in your free time?

Anything related to food. I love cooking food, I love eating food. Inevitably, I need to burn off all the calories so I like to spend my free time cycling and working out.

 

*Can we wrap this interview by asking you about your plans for yourself and Korrito in the coming future? Thank you again for the great interview, Joo. We really appreciate it.

For 2015, we are focusing on building our brand recognition further and beyond London.

We want to take our Korrito food truck to festivals around the UK and continue to spread our passion for Korean food.

(This link will connect you to the Korrito website: http://www.korrito.co.uk/)

(The ‘Savouring Korea’ documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb2LgBGSPbs)

 

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— J. Chung

On March 14, 2015, Crayon Pop released teasers for the new song “FM” featuring their disco-esque, dance-pop sound. Of course, we also have the typical gimmicky get-ups in which Chrome seems to be pigeon-holing the girls; this time we have super hero ninjas-meet-Avatar: The Last Airbender-meets-Power-Rangers. 

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At least we moved on from helmets?

For Crayon Pop, it’s starting to feel like Chrome only cares about the get-ups and the quirkiness over actually promoting them as singers and artists. When we asked some U.S K-Pop what they think of first with Crayon Pop, the answers were pretty much the same: Helmets, crazy outfits, and quirkiness. Singing rarely came up. But they can sing with strong live performances during concerts. They have some shakiness, but this is part of their charm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAK2ILnGYCY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnLov6S0YHo

 

The gimmicks fit their group name: Colorful and cheerful. The way society is these days, this is the type of frivolous entertainment we need to help make the world a not-so-bad place. For a few minutes, the horrors of the world seem to disappear because you’re lost in the joy. However, if this is all you’re known for, where is the artistic growth?

Crayon Pop seems stuck in neutral with the J-Pop-ish MVs that it’s hard to distinguish them as singers over cutesy, amateur performers. This shouldn’t be the case because they’ve been in the industry long enough to expand to new horizons. So far, new horizons include dressing up like milk cartons, ajummas, Christmas trees, and wearing red lights on their heads.

Chrome seems to have been blinded by “Bar Bar Bar’s” international attention and viral sensationalism. If PSY could earn international fans and attention, why can’t Crayon Pop? The girls got to open for Lady Gaga—a huge honor—and they got to go on the interview circuit along with earning themselves a graphic novel, attention, and international stardom. All eyes are on them: A blessing and a curse.

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The difference between Crayon Pop and PSY is PSY has years in the industry and already established himself as an artist prior to his viral hit. While “Gentleman” and “Hangover” may not have performed as well as “Gangnam Style” internally, he’s fine because of his already established Korean fan base based on who he is (of course, being signed with YG Entertainment may help with some international audiences). A misstep for PSY wouldn’t hurt him in the long-run because he has years of music and success backing his artistic credibility.

Crayon Pop is still “wet behind the ears” and haven’t found their footing yet. Chrome seems to be hindering their ability to find firm ground by not making singing and performance a priority. A lot of audiences, especially internationally, have short attention spans: If you keep tossing the same acts at them constantly without any indication of change, the audience could grow bored and leave, leaving the group and company with adorable girls in track suits floating in the middle of the K-Group Ocean. How fair is it to Crayon Pop to do that when all they want is a chance to earn fans and be successful?

This doesn’t mean they should head to the other extreme other female groups turned to with sexy concepts (they could if they want), but they could balance quirky concepts with mature ones to help show their abilities. There’s no doubt the girls have talent as Way was a member of the Indie group N.Dolphin, and Ellin was referred to Chrome by choreographers. When they debuted with “Bing Bing” (as Hurricane Pop with former member Serang) then “Saturday Night,” the girls’ cool retro vibe and fun personalities earned fans and promise. These eras’ concepts could have helped them grow and try new styles while maintaining their colorful spirit.

The hope for Crayon Pop is that Chrome will realize they have potential songstresses who could slay with vocals instead of weird theming with each concept. The fear is the acts could grow old and potentially cause Crayon Pop to lose fans. These fears could be unfounded, but it’s sad to see groups with potential who are still young in the industry be locked into one concept. While it works for the company, how fair is it for the artists?

 

-Joelle Halon

Why do Koreans want to live/study in the US?

If you have visited or lived in Korea, this is a pretty straightforward question. A lot of foreigners admire Koreans for their outstanding academic achievements. As much as I am proud to know that people look up to us, many don’t know what it takes to get on that level. Kids from a very young age, usually kindergarten age, will begin to work their way up toward success.

Most of you might be surprised by this, but being smart does not come naturally to us. Korean parents push their kids beyond what is expected of an average kid and have such high standards that they are willing to dedicate thousands of dollars just toward academics.

Back when I lived in Korea, I had to go take courses at academies, but it was nothing compared to how it is now. Kids these days are so competitive in their learning–and I’m talking about elementary school kids! A lot of times, the elementary school students will be taught courses through the 5-9 grade levels. This means that a 1st grader can learn all the materials up to those for an average student’s freshman year of high school. Of course, some kids even go beyond that.

The reason they are able to do this is because, right after school gets out, they rush to academies where they take courses to help them succeed further in school. An average elementary school student takes about 3-5 courses at academies, and the most popular classes are math, English, writing, and science. When I took courses in Korea, which was 10 years ago, I only took 4 classes, and I actually had a lot of fun during those classes, because not everything was about education when I lived there. Kids between the ages of 8 and 13 don’t even get home until 9pm, or sometimes past midnight, because they are “forced” to take so many classes.

Picture2

As you go up in grade levels, it gets more intense. In middle school and high school, those who don’t do so well bully students who get good grades. The stress level is so high once you reach middle school that many students commit suicide, which is one of the reasons why Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

Living in the United States, on the other hand, you have much more freedom in your feelings and expressions; basically, you’re opened to variety of options, whereas in Korea you are trapped in between your parents trying to make you successful and the academics. You never have any free time to hang out with your friends, regardless of age, except for very little kids, 7 and under.

So pretty much, anyone between 8 years old and adulthood is specified as a young adult. Crazy right? More than half of these kids aren’t even mature enough to handle things they are going through right now, and yet it seems to get stricter as the years go by.

I hear people talk about how smart Korean people are and how they wish they were smart just like them, but, in reality, none of them really knows what has been going on. Honestly, if you really knew all the things these poor students go through, you would not “admire” them; you would feel very ashamed for just assuming everything was going great.

Here’s a little ‘fun fact’: you know how everyone in Korea has pale, white skin? Well it wasn’t like that from the start. Although having pale skin is now known for beauty purposes, it first started to appear in students because they were always inside a building studying and never got the chance to stay out in the sun. They were not getting enough vitamin D, and it’s still one of the problems occurring today.

 

-Juyeon Oh

What’s in a Name?

In K-Pop, there are some groups that have sub-units with mysterious letters attached to the end of the group name? What do they mean? Here are some common ones to help you out!

super junor

 

infinite h

 

infinite h2.png

 

nu est

 

super j

 

tiny g

 

– Joelle Halon

One of the newest dramas to star an idol, Sweden Laundry, has developed a decent following online. It stars Song Ha-yoon as Bom, an adult tired of her mother’s favoritism towards her siblings and Teen Top’s Changjo as Soo Chul, a hard working artist with a soft spot for Bom.

Bom works hard to support herself and her family in various jobs, however, with little appreciation from them. She then decides to follow her dreams and the first step is opening a laundry mat. Bom receives a gift from her dearly departed grandmother to aid her in becoming successful: the ability to see what problems people are having in their lives from simply touching their clothing. Originally, Bom wants nothing to do with others, despite being assured that helping them would lead to her own success, and being warned bad things would happen if she did not. Eventually, a series of accidents convinces Bom to follow her grandmother’s words, starting with helping budding artist Soo Chul.

SPOILERS – From the first episode it seems this is a dramatic retelling of Cinderella, with Bom first being introduced washing laundry outside while her mother and sister, Eun Sol, ask to borrow money to prepare Eun Sol for another audition. Bom’s brother, Eun Chul, is a brainiac currently studying to become a judge and is also pampered by their mother.

Bom is able to buy the space for a laundry after recieving a loan from her friend, and suspected loan shark, Young Mi. After she sets up shop, Bom has an encounter with Soo Chul where she causes him to lose his art work. Soo Chul is the first person she said required to help, much to her disdain. However, she is able to recover his artwork and form an odd friendship with Soo Chul, who sets up a makeshift art studio in the laundry shop.

Bom and Soo Chul have many adventures in attempting to help others, eventually having to deal with personal issues through her gift. Many of which seem like fillers to segway into the bigger plot in later episodes. In between these adventures, Eun Sol deals with the issues of being a newbie actress, including having difficulties booking jobs. Eun Chul also has a bit of an identity crisis ultimately deciding to quit his schooling and earn money to prevent their mother from having to take extra odd jobs. Out of this Young Mi’s seemingly pointless crush on Eun Chul begins to change, with Eun Chul and Young Mi spending the night together at a hotel.

Bom goes through some personal growth as well; one of her tasks includes going to great lengths to help her first love, Ki Joon, and his fiancĂŠ find a lost couple ring. In the midst of everything, Soo Chul decides to confess his feelings for Bom, who has a vision of these events and tries to prevent them from happening. It seemed the more dramatic the drama became the more realistic the acting from HaYoon became.

The drama comes to a head when Bom has a vision involving herself. Out of this, it is discovered Young Mi is pregnant and ______ is injured, different than in Bom’s vision. Eun Chul and Young Mi decide to get married and this causes issues between their mothers. This conflict is highly entertaining at times, especially when they drink together and cry about their issues. A running gag is the un appealing appearance of Young Mi’s father, with people becoming physically ill seeing him.

As usual with dramas there is a big secret involving Bom’s family and Bom mistakenly thinks she is adopted. In reality, Bom’s mother is step mother to Eun Chul and Eun Sol, having taken them in after the death of her husband. In relation to a deal (raising Eun Chul into a fine adult)their mother had with Eun Chul and Eun Sol’s biological aunt, she must pay her back for various expenses spent on Eun Chul through out his life. Addditionally, Eun Sol is angry at her mother for not revealing the truth and runs away from home. The family manages to pull back together in time for Eun Chul and Young Mi’s wedding. Bom and Soo Chul also end on a hopeful note before his departure for a job in America.

Despite the goofy premise of the show, it is well worth watching. Both fans and non-fans of Teen Top will enjoy this show, including a single-episode cameo from Teen Top’s Niel. Also for those who will watch for Changjo, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you like the series as a whole. Changjo and Ha Yoon have very good chemistry together and make episodes more enjoyable. Many people voiced complaints about the ending of this drama however, the possibilities it holds makes it almost better than a romantic kissing scene. Almost.
Photo Credit: DramaFever

—- Ke’Anna Bullard

EXO’s new album is supposed to drop sometime in March, but fangirl-anticipation continues to grow minutely. After hearing previews from the new album during EXO’s EXO’luXion Concert, and while I’m not the biggest EXO fan, even I have to admit the music sounds good based on first impressions. If the previews are any indication, EXO-Ls are in for a treat!

The new album will have a good mix of R&B, dance-pop, and ballad tracks, so there will be something for everyone. The first sample, “Playboy,” for example, is an R&B song with light instrumentals and guitars. It’s equal amounts sexy and sensual, especially during the chorus. EXO’s voices during the “play, play, play” portion just blend together beautifully.

“Exodus” is my favorite. “Exodus” is a dance track with a good beat and some early 90s sound. It does sound repetitive during the chorus, but that’s how the song sneaks into your brain to become a good listen. While it is a dance track, it has a more mature sound showing some growth since the “Overdose” era.

On the opposite end of the scale, “El Dorado” may be the weakest, albeit still listenable, song. “El Dorado” is a throwback to EXO’s debut days as it has a similar beat and structure to debut-era songs. The song is memorable, but it doesn’t have much substance due to its repetitive content. There’s a great song in there, but it’s too much like old tracks. “El Dorado” doesn’t exactly scream artistic growth, but fans will love it anyway. However, it feels like EXO is being pigeonholed into doing one type of genre to appease fans.

Another favorite is D.O, Suho, and Baekhyun’s “My Answer.” The high notes make the song. “My Answer” has emotion, softness, and delicacy: A triple-threat of awesome wrapped up with a nice little bow. If the song is arranged like it was for EXO’luXion, the piano and instrumentals help to make it lovely. Part of the reason I love EXO ballads is because they unveil the talent underneath EXO’s lip-synched performances many in the K-Pop world negatively point out. EXO ballads are underrated. “My Answer” is a must-listen!

Another winner is “Hurt.” The song is deceiving because it starts with a waltz making you think it’s going to be a ballad before erupting into an angry-sounding dance track. “Hurt” has power, darkness, and a surprisingly strong rap portion. Normally, I am critical of EXO’s rapping abilities because they’re not as strong-sounding as other groups. The flow usually isn’t the best, but this time around, EXO improved. The rap does not feel out of place; in fact, it’s right at home here and actually helps make the song. It has a low growl and deep senses of ire, and when layered with some of the higher notes other EXO members have, it’s a standout!

Besides these songs, the 8-track album will also include the title song “Call Me Baby” along with “Drop That” and “Full Moon.” As soon as the rest of the album comes out, we’ll be sure to share our final verdict! The album will be out soon!

—- Joelle Halon

 

When many think of Asian pop culture, music, manga, movies, anime, and dramas often come to mind. Since the early 2000s, this is what Asian pop culture fans became accustomed to, but a forgotten entity is books. Over the years, authors of Asian descent and from Asia have quietly released some of the world’s most interesting stories. Some of these authors developed a nice following for their work, while others have seen movies stem from their tales. Of course, some names are more recognized than others, but they’re all authors you should get to know starting with these recommendations!

Amy Tan

img1Amy Tan, who is Chinese-American, became well-known with her first novel, The Joy Luck Club in 1989. Her writing focuses on the relationships between Chinese mothers and their American-born daughters in beautiful, realistic detail. Tan has an authentic voice that can span the familial generations presented in her stories to the point where characters sound like different writers take over to bring them to life.

The theme of mother-daughter relationships can connect with many readers. As you read, perhaps you’ll see yourself in some of the stories despite the nationality covered. This is probably why The Joy Luck Club resonated with so many readers to where it became one of the most beloved novels of the 1990s. The Joy Luck Club was turned into a movie in 1993. Another one of Tan’s novels, 2000’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter, was adapted into an opera in 2008.

Not only is Tan a successful writer with adult fiction, she has also written non-fiction books and children’s stories. One of her children’s stories, Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat was adapted into an animated show on PBS! Additionally, she is also part of the writers band The Rock Bottom Remainders. How’s that for a colorful life?

Recommendations: 100 Secret Senses, Saving Fish from Drowning, and The Kitchen God’s Wife

Banana Yoshimoto

img3Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto, whose real name is Yoshimoto Mahako, created her pen name based on her love for banana flowers and because it was androgynous, so what’s not to love? Yoshimoto’s writing is as unique as her name.

Yoshimoto’s stories have a dreamlike, easy-goingness to them without being dumbed down, so readers will have to think about the content. Yoshimoto’s esoteric style could come from her admiration of Stephen King, Truman Capote, and Isaac Bashevis Singer. Her writing often covers family, friends, love, and loss in an engaging way to where anyone can read and be absorbed into the words.

Her novels Kitchen and Goodbye Tsugumi have received some star treatment with film adaptations in the early 1990s. In addition to films, she’s also been awarded literary awards in Japan and Italy.

Recommendations: NP, Asleep, Hard Boiled and Hard Luck

Haruki Murakami

img4At 66, Haruki Murakami is the face of contemporary Japanese literature even though Japan’s literary establishments consider his works “un-Japanese.” Loved abroad, Murakami surreal, fatalistic writing is heartbreaking and Kafkaesque all while being engaging and endearing. His writing relates to many due to coverage of loneliness and social alienation, and even though he covers such hard subjects, his unique sense of humor helps him connect to his audiences.

Murakami has many accomplishments including several novels, short stories, nonfiction pieces, and essays. He has also translated Western fiction into Japanese, competed in a megamarathon (he’s an avid runner and triathlete), owned a coffeehouse and jazz bar, and has won several awards for his writing. When you read his stories, you will see pieces of his life as he relates to many of his characters.

Western media loves Murakami, too. Sites and magazines like Buzzfeed, Vogue, The Paris Review, The Guardian, New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal will often have stories dedicated to his work and themes within his novels. Recently, many of these sources have covered how music plays a part in his novels, uncovering more layers to the man who brought Japanese literature to the forefront.

Recommendations: After Dark, Norwegian Wood, Kafka on the Shore

Jhumpa Lahiri

img5Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri is another author who faced a long road to authordom after experiencing many rejections before Interpreter of Maladies came out in 1999. The book, which covers the hardships and lives of Indians along with the generation disconnect between immigrants and their children. In the West, her book was praised, but in India, it was panned because it didn’t make Indians look more positive. However, Interpreter of Maladies launched Lahiri into the spotlight, earning her a Pulitzer Prize. President Obama even appointed her to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

Lahiri has a voice all her own as she covers the Indian experience and post-colonialism. Her most well-known novel, The Namesake, spans 30 years of a family’s life in a heartwarming, at times heartbreaking, way. The novel was turned into a movie in 2007 that near-accurately covers everything in the story.

Lahiri’s writing is engaging and eye-opening. Not only can you see plenty from the eyes of others, you can learn something too!

Recommendations: The Namesake, The Lowland, Interpreter of Maladies

Kazuo Ishiguro

img6Japanese-born British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, like Murakami, has quite the following. In Western society, he has been named one of the best contemporary fiction writers. He has the accolades to prove it: Four Man Booker Prize nominations with one win for The Remains of the Day; ranked 32 on The Times’ “50 Greatest British Writers Since 1945” list in 2008; the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize; and he was named to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998, and this is only a brief summary of his awards!

As of 2015, Ishiguro has written seven novels, four screenplays, and four pieces of short fiction. To date, two of his books and an original screenplay, Never Let Me Go (2010), Remains of the Day (1993), and The White Countess (2005), have gone to film.

Recommendations: Nocturnes, The Remains of the Day, Never Let Me Go

Krys Lee

img7Although she only has one novel under her belt, Krys Lee knows how to make an impression. Born in Seoul, raised in the US, and now living in Seoul again, her book Drifting House covers brokenness and loneliness, political turmoil, and tragedy. Her characters find themselves lost and adrift between worlds in often unsentimental, unforgiving prose that strips readers away from their comfort zones. Her writing is full of fractured beauty that is well beyond a first-time novelist. She is one to watch in the future.

Mingmei Yip

img8Mingmei Yip is a Chinese-born author who’s written six novels and a collection of Chinese children’s stories. Her worlds transport readers to different worlds by engaging their senses to help make the characters’ experiences come alive.

Yip’s writing focuses on women, courage, and adapting to change. As Yip states, “the Chinese say that water, the softest element, is the most powerful. My heroines use their flexible, waterlike yin nature to overcome whatever perils they face.” This is especially true in her novel Skeleton Women about three femme fatales surviving the 1930s Shanghai gang wars.

Recommendations: Peach Blossom Pavilion, Petals from the Sky, Song of the Silk Road

 

 

Natsuo Kirino

img9Mystery and thriller writer Natsuo Kirino (real name Mariko Hashioka) didn’t become a popular writer until she reached her 40s. Beforehand, she earned a law degree from Seiki University in 1974, worked at Iwanami Hall, and took scriptwriting courses before becoming a writer in her 30s. When she began, she started as a romance novelist, a genre she didn’t like and the Japanese public didn’t accept as much, before settling into the mystery and psychological thriller realm. Sometimes it takes a little bit longer than others to find true passion!

Kirino’s journey proves that success can come at any life stage. She’s won several awards including the Edogawa Rampo Award, the Mystery Writers of Japan Award, Best Japanese Crime Fiction of the Year, the Tanizaki Prize, and the Murasaki Shikibu Prize for Literature among many others.

Kirino is known most for her ability to relate to her readers. There often isn’t one narrator in her stories because it is up to the reader to decide who to believe. Loneliness, crime, prostitution, and corruption are dominate themes in her work, and critics often claim she shows the “less sanitized” version of Japan people outside the country don’t get to see. Reader beware: Some of her writing can verge on the macabre.

Recommendations: Out, Grotesque, Real World

Of course, there are many other authors and books waiting to be discovered by you. Hopefully these recommendations will open you up to other Asian authors!

—- Joelle Halon

February brought about the emergence of a hopeful spring with the returns of 4Minute and Shinhwa and Niel and Amber’s solo activities. The K-Pop scene may be shaping up to be amazing this spring! Sadly, with bigger names dominating, some good songs are lost in the shuffle. February had artists who quietly released some ear-pleasing tunes. Here are seven you should listen to right now.

Azin “Delete” (2/9/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr43obFCeFg

Experimental, dreamlike Azin returns with “Delete,” a song with ‘80s flair and an MV with hints of Sia. Her soft vocals and powerful instrumentals pair well without one overpowering the other. If you enjoy “Delete,” her Developpe album shouldn’t be missed.

Poot Poot (Fresh Girls) “I Want to Tell You Something” (2/10/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFm4Fj5W7Ls

Poot Poot debuted in 2014 with “Freshman Song,” which was cute, but didn’t show off their vocals well enough to make them memorable. The duo made their return with the refreshing “I Want to Tell You Something,” and if promoted right, it could be enough to get them noticed. Poot Poot are cute and charming, so we’ll see how the song catches on.

Kris Leone “The End” (2/15/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTku4tq7ahw

Sure Kris has some famous blood in her, but that shouldn’t undermine her talent. “The End” brings forth the raw emotion. Kris Leone has some J-Pop vibes, so there’s a potential for growth into the Japanese market. Check her out and see what you think!

Hong Dan-A “Tat Tat Tat” (2/1/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2umrJs8Ppac

Luminant Entertainment’s rookie singer Hong Dan-A may not be everyone’s cup-of-tea, but the girl has soul. She’s young, but she sounds like an era gone by, helping her to stand out. In our March issue, we did a feature on her, so be sure to check Hong Dan-A out!

Zion T. and Crush “Just” (2/1/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skhwqq-iGQM

“Just” did win a trophy on a music program, so Zion T. and Crush did earn some recognition with this R&B jam. Crush is smooth and soothing, and Zion T. is as suave as ever. The song’s beat and tone make it perfect for the weather, warming even the coldest of February days even though the subject matter and MV are sad.

GB9 “Joa” (2/3/15)

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

GB9 gets no love whatsoever, and it’s shameful. “Joa” has soul and romance, a perfect song for the person you love. With slightly husky tones and soothing melodies, it’s a song a listener can really get lost in if they allow it to happen.

Linus’ Blanket “Kangaroo” (2/9/15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Kovpx4QSY

“Kangaroo,” quite simply, is one of the cutest songs this month. The beat makes it impossible not to dance to this; in fact, it begs you to bop along to the music. The song is different without being sickeningly adorable. If you don’t feel even slightly happier after listening to it, you’re soulless.

What are some of your unsung-hero songs for February? Share below and let us know!

—-Joelle Halon

1Punch is a South Korean K-Pop duo, who was signed under the record labels, Brave Entertainment and D-Business Entertainment. The groups consists of one male rapper, Jung Jae Won (”1”) and a male vocalist, Samuel (”Punch”). One fact about Samuel – who is the maknae (the younger one) of the group – is that he was, previously, a former trainee in Pledis Entertainment but left due to personal reasons. Another curiosity about him is that he is actually half-Hispanic half-Korean, even though he was born in Los Angeles, California. He also names Chris Brown as his big musical influence. Even more interesting, he can speak four languages fluently. Meanwhile, Jung Jae Won is the leader, main rapper and the older one (Samuel’s hyung, which can be translated as ”older brother” from a male perspective) of 1Punch. ”Punch” writes his own raps and has an affection for fashion and different styles of music. He is known for using three microphones on stage aswell, although two of them aren’t on.

The average age for them was 17 (”1” is 20 years old, while ”Punch” is only 13 years old) and they both trained singing, rapping and dance for a long time before debuting. The duo is supposed to represent a homage/tribute to the famous Hip/Hop South Korean boygroups, Seo Taji & Boys and Deux. As explained by their producers, the aim of 1Punch is to please not only South Korea but other overseas countries.

The duo debuted in January 23, 2015, with the songs, ”Nightmare” and ”Turn Me Back”, respectively. The first one is an old-school Hip/Hop, which contains lyrics expressing their personality. The song is also an introduction of the duo in the music industry. The video is simple and contains scenes from streets to parking lots. The other title-track is an R&B-inspired song with an addictive beat, easy lyrics and a fun choreography to match. The boys are singing/rapping about wanting to go back in time to when they didn’t feel pain about love and relationships. The video is very influenced by New York in the 90’s with skyscrappers, yellow taxi cabs and graffiti all around. Both songs plus ”Ice Ice” were all released digitally on a single album titled, ”The Anthem”.

They are currently promoting their song, ”Turn Me Back”, on various music shows such as, KBS’ Music Bank and Mnet’s MCountdown, among others.

In 2013, more than 287 thousand college students chose to study abroad with a small fraction of those picking South Korea as a destination. For those interested, Seoul is a prime choice for a variety of reasons. Many want to experience Korean culture firsthand or experience KPOP at the source. No matter the reason planning for you trip can ensure you get the best experience possible.

One of the first worries students have is not being able to understand the language of instructions. A majority of Universities with international programs offer many classes spoken in English, with some universities offering up to 40% of their classes in English. Many schools also offer Korean language classes in English as well for those who wish to learn the language.

Another issue you may encounter is the risk of your earned credits not transferring or the school not offering classes in your selected major. Consulting with an advisor from your home school is almost necessary to ensure you’re getting the best and most useful study abroad experience. They offer tools to help you not only decide what school would be best for you to attend but provide assurance that you won’t encounter issues returning home. Many advisors suggest adding a minor for those pursuing their bachelor’s degree, usually in International Studies or Korean language.

What could be considered the biggest issue is the cost of the trip. Finding the cheapest program is not always easy and for some the price may still be too hefty. Checking with your home school’s financial aid program could save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Many programs also offer need based aid for students using them. Programs will also help make sure you reach all requirements to be allowed into the country.

To study in Korea, and many other places, you will first have to have an up to date passport. From there, depending on how long your stay is, you will need some sort of visa, usually a student visa. Most study abroad programs will handle these things for you, however, be sure to check as each program is different.

Some smaller, yet important, details some forget:

No matter the place you study, be it South Korea or Alaska, using the resources you have to prepare for your stay will ensure you have the best time possible. Don’t lose sight of the reason you wanted to travel, and make sure you enjoy your time abroad!

—-Ke’Anna Bullard

Seoul is the perfect city for tourists and travelers because the place is so efficient, easy and safe to travel in. Seoul offers a variety of sights and experiences, the trip can be completed within a week or couple of days; the least possible time can be spent on transportation. You could be strolling along the garden paths within the walls of an ancient palace, then have a cup of coffee at the cafĂŠ before getting on the subway to reach the other side of Seoul.

With that in mind, here are some of the places you might like to visit during your time in Seoul.

seoul

If you are looking for some genuine traditional sights, you could not possibly miss out on the Gyeongbok-gung, or the Gyeongbok Palace. It is situated within an extensive garden including a small lake, some nice walk; it is also equipped with a large car park.

seoul2

A museum and gallery can be found inside the gardens of the palace, both of which exhibit traditional or folk culture artifacts which boasts of both tradition and for being popular locations for tourists. If Korean tradition and history is what you are looking to experience, then this visit to the palace and its surroundings may be worth spending time on.

If you want to take in a whole view of Seoul, Namsan is the place to be. The Namsan Tower, which refers to the meaning South mountain is also known as the Seoul N Tower and it offers the most attractive view of the city. If the weather allows, the night view is recommended. The night scenery of Seoul is what you can’t afford to miss.

seoul3

A good hiking road for pedestrians and take the elevator over the slope of the hill. There are also cable cars and buses.

Traditional housing can be found in the Bukchon Hanok village and many of these old-fashioned Korean houses will offer you a room for the night. You will have to make a reservation beforehand, especially in the summer; they are furnished to offer you comfortable and cost-efficient accommodation, without changing much of their pre-modern exterior. The streets on which these houses stand are also preserved in a similar fashion, so that you can basically feel what the city would have been like in the old days.

Around this area, numerous workshops and museums, most of which are dedicated to traditional types of artifacts can be found. If you like hiking, you will also find the old Korean fortress on your way to the mountains in this area, with a nice park called Waryong; unlike the Namsan tower, it won’t provide the view of the whole city, but you will be able to enjoy a nice breeze while you’re there.

If you need to shop; Myeongdong is the place to find some cheap, good quality and affordable clothes, cosmetics and all kinds of other commodities.

One of the biggest Department stores chains in the world like Shinsaege and Lotte are located in Euljiro, nearby the Myeongdong station; the stores close around 8pm but the street stores will be open until around midnight. Many restaurants will also close late at night, some will be open for 24 hours. The night time is the best time to browse and shop in Seoul; the streets would still be crowded with people in the streets. Compared to other major cities, Seoul is considered safe to get around late at night, there aren’t many pick pockets or thieves who target foreigners and tourists, but like anywhere in the world, you should always be wary of your luggage and wallet wherever you go.

If you are purchasing products from stalls and vendors that accept only cash; then make sure you have basic knowledge about the Korean currency so you would not be ripped off. And always ask for a receipt when you purchase anything, the majority of the stores in the streets, will accept credit cards. It has also become illegal for taxi drivers to decline credit cards for payments.

That being said, it does not really matter which direction you take to find a good place for shopping or to dine out. Several spots including Samcheongdong, Hongdae, Shinchon, Gwanghwamun, Jong-ro, Dongdaemun, Insadong can all offer you almost any traditional souvenirs you might need.

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These places are within short distances of each other. If you go further down South of the city, to Gangnam (the South of the River Han), you will likely find more designer shops and department stores, as well as fancier restaurants on the whole.

Chungyecheon is a long road alongside a narrow river that runs through many of these places and more. You can relax, and maybe take out a bottle of wine to enjoy the evening scenery on the lighted road. Here, you will be able to get the feel of the city and the calmer side of its nightlife.

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—J. Chung

There are a lot of beautiful and interesting places I love to visit in Vietnam. Let’s start from the South, go up to the Central and then the North.

1. Can Tho City. It’s in the down South of Vietnam. Can Tho City lies on one of the biggest rivers in Mekong Dalta, Hau River. The most interesting thing that you can’t miss when you come to Can Tho is experiencing floating market, “Cho noi”. Basically, the floating market is a market that takes place above the water. All vendors and customers sell and buy things on the boats. There are all kinds of items and products sold on the floating market just like at a real market. There are fruits, vegetables, meat, fishes, and spices and so on. Floating market starts pretty early in the morning, around 4 or 5 a.m and ends around 9 or 10 a.m. You can hear all kinds of noises here, such as the announcement of vendors’ products, the bargain between buyers and sellers, and the noise of the boat engines when people move around, the jokes and greetings when people see someone they know. They are very random but they are the part that makes floating market an interesting place to visit.

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2. This is a place that you have to visit when you come to Vietnam, Hochiminh City. It was called Saigon before. It is the heart of the South and the biggest city of Vietnam. It is the most modern. It clearly represents urban lifestyle. Restaurants and stores stay open pretty late. It’s not hard to find something to eat or do after midnight. Plus, the weather is hot during the day but cool at night, so people usually go out to the city in the evening or night. There are a lot of big companies, domestic and international, so the job market attracted a lot of people from other places to move here. Therefore, its population is huge, 7.396 million people in 2010. Hochiminh City attracted a big amount of foreign tourists. Some of the highlighted places that tourists usually visit are the Unification Palace, Hochiminh Museum, Revolutionary Museum, Vietnam History Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame church. It’s also fun to walk around some of the main streets, such as Bui Vien, Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Ham Nghi, Pastuer.

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3. Another popular tourist destination is Da Lat. The city is located 4,900 feet above sea level on Lang Biang Highland, part of the Central Highland region of Vietnam. When you come to Da Lat, you can’t miss seeing the fascinated beauty of natural sites such as Xuan Huong Lake, Lake of Sorrow, Valley of Love, Lang Biang Mountain. Da Lat also has some of the largest and widest waterfalls of Vietnam, such as Prenn Falls and Pongour Falls. Da Lat is a special city with the architecture crossing between Vietnam and French Alps. You can clearly see that by looking at the design of churches, houses, schools and villas. One of the reasons that Da Lat is a good destination is because of its unique climate features. The temperature is cool, fresh and less humidity all day long. You will also have a chance to experience Highland Region culture by visiting small villages, joining local festivals, enjoying dance performances. Don’t forget to visit some beautiful rose and orchid gardens.

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4. Move up to the Central of Vietnam, Hue is the city that you should visit. It is a place that closely connected to Vietnam’s history. Hue is renowned as the most royal city in Vietnam. Hue used to be the national capital, the political, cultural and religious center of the country under the control of Nguyen Dynasty. Hue Citadel is a “must” to visit. It was where the whole Nguyen Royal family lived and worked. The architecture of Hue Citadel is exclusively ancient, very large and very interesting. You can also visit Vietnam ancient Emperors Tombs, Minh Mang, Tu Duc, Khai Dinh, Dong Khanh. They are still there and open for tourist to explore. Most well known for its historical values, Hue had been recognized as one of the World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. Besides all the historical spots, don’t forget to enjoy the peaceful beauty of Perfume River, Trang Tien Bridge, and Thien Mu pagoda.

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5. . Lastly, there is another World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Ha Long Bay. It is a magnificent scenic place, famous for its mountains, water, clouds, caves and grottoes. Ha Long Bay was also listed in the New 7 Wonders in 2012. The weather here is quite pleasant. You can enjoy beautiful beaches. Moreover, you can hire a boat from Bai Chay to go out on the bay and begin exploring some of Southeast Asia’s most fascinating limestone islands, such as Heavenly Palace Cave, Wooden Stakes Cave, Pelican Cave, Virgin Cave. The best way to experience the whole wonderful beauty of Ha Long Bay is to take a cruise trip.

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—-Titi Chan

Valentine’s Day is a day of love for many people, but for singles, it’s a painful reminder of how forever alone we are. All the candy, flowers, and romantic plans can get pretty annoying, but we shouldn’t let that get to us. Valentine’s Day should be a day of celebrating singledom! For Hallyu fans, think of the K-Drama and MV marathons we can have without having to be swallowed up by Axe spray fumes (the mating musk of high school hallways) and lovey-dovey proclamations of everlasting love. Let’s celebrate ourselves and enjoy Valentine’s Day, starting with a playlist.

2ne1 “Hate You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB5jyYD2WEw

So, you fell in love with a bad boy and it didn’t work out? “Hate You” has you covered. 2ne1 knows what it’s like to be in this type of relationship where love was a foreign concept, but they said good riddance to bad rubbish.

Ailee “I Will Show You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCEcWcIww5k

Sometimes the ones who leave us may not have appreciated us as much as they should have. Ailee provides the empowering “I Will Show You” that is less about changing oneself than it is about showing people the sassy, strong soul you already were. Flaunt what you have, ladies, and be proud!

B1A4 “This Time is Over”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF-96ORRfwk

Breakups may lead to some conflicting feelings. On one hand, you’re like “yep, it’s over. I can move on and be awesome. On the other hand, there may be some inklings of sadness that may make you question why the breakup happened and if it was worth it. Don’t worry, sometimes the feelings are okay. B1A4 feels your conundrum.

B2st “Good Luck”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs8QGv2VqJA

Females can be players too as we see in “Good Luck”: Girl plays the field, dates an inexperienced guy, and dumps him, leaving him to feel like he will never love again since he gave his all to her. With people like this, you’re probably better off alone.

Big Bang “Love Song”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKZEmLvYVF0

Some relationships are harmonious while others destructive. “Love Song” covers the latter as the woman seems bent on destroying a relationship due to her self-destructive tendencies. Even so, there’s someone who loves her, but for how long? To quote Elsa, sometimes you just have to “let it go.”

Billion “Dancing Alone”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxQG5aj44_8

The message behind “Dancing Alone” is that you can be fine by yourself. Sometimes people need reminded of this, especially if you’re used to being in a relationship.

BTS ft. Thanh “Danger” (Mo-Blu-Mix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxdYg57EJ2A

“Danger” points to all the red flags in a relationship. Once you start questioning yourself and who you are to your significant other, perhaps it’s time to hit the pause button.

JYJ “Empty”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf0WxarG-xs

The perfect song for after a bitter breakup or general relationship sourness, “Empty” perfectly sums up the feelings of bitterness with an eloquent dose of “flipping the bird” toward chilly exes.

Ladies’ Code “Hate You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLjUBC4HpVQ

Nothing hurts more than sticking to a relationship that’s past its prime, though it seems too hard to let go despite your general dislike for the person you’re dating. It may be hard to move on, but a time comes where you just have to cut the cord and move on.

Miss A “Goodbye Baby”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYKO1za5mX0

People cheat. Not all people, but some do. Don’t let that person keep you down! Call them a snake, set them free, or you can do like Miss A and try to drown him in a large test tube. Whatever makes you feel good. (Note: K-Crush does not condone murder.)

Miss A “I Don’t Need a Man”

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

This was Miss A’s “Single Ladies” moment, and they executed it in a cheeky way. Breakups and singledom doesn’t have to be a lonely, heart-breaking experience: It can be fun with the right attitude!

Nu’est “Good Bye Bye”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G5TuESCdLw

Sometimes it takes determination to move on; Nu’est knows this. You can hold onto the memories, but don’t let those memories consume you. You can overcome.

Sistar19 “Gone Not Around Any Longer”

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

Memories, items, photos: Memories of the past may surround you, and the negative feelings may consume you. You may question why it hurts and why you’re reacting, but it’s a human reaction as Sistar19 shows in their anguished tune.

VIXX “Error”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF8kySIcWNw

VIXX’s “Error” understands the pain of deciding if it’s right to let go of love or not. “If I hold on to you it hurts, but if I let go of you it hurts”: Truth. Why are these decisions so difficult to make?

Wings “Hair Short”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0_1odmqmCM

It’s okay to make a fresh start when you’re in pain. Short hair is an euphemism for fresh starts and new beginnings, so listen to Wings and know it’s okay to move on as a new you, but remember it’s what’s on the inside that matters more.

What are some of your anti-love or anti-Valentine’s Day K-Pop songs? Share below! Happy Valentine’s Day!

— Joelle Halon

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