Upcoming Artists from YG Entertainment

YG Entertainment has had a great year so far. It all started with 2NE1 in the beginning of the year that made a huge hit.   After that, Taeyang, AKMU, and Epik High all made it on the top charts. With having hits from all these artists, you can for sure say that YG has had one of the busiest and yet the most successful year. Many people are looking forward to who the next artist will be.

In January, 2015, YG has announced that a new boy group called IKON will debut. IKON has 7 members and out of the 7 members, 6 of them have been in a previous survival program called ‘WIN: Who Is Next’ as Team B along with Team A who is now known as Winner.

Team A and Team B had to win a certain amount of battles in order to debut. They competed against each other in singing and dancing and how the winning team was chosen was by 70% votes from the people (not only in South Korea but other countries like Japan, Singapore, United States, and etc., participated) and 30% of votes from the judges from YG Entertainment.  It was a very close battle where you had no clue as to who was going to win. Team B unfortunately lost the battle but another choice was given to them about a year later.

YG released another survival program and this time it was kind of different. The group name they will be debuting is IKON and there are only 7 spots. The show only had Team B who had 6 people, and 3 more members were added to make it more challenging. They all did their best to gain their spots and at the end, all 6 members of Team B made it into IKON and an additional member named Jung Chanwoo made it.  Most people are already familiar with the 6 members since they’ve already appeared on ‘WIN: Who Is Next’ but most don’t really know about Chanwoo because he’s new.  Even with the new member IKON is receiving so much attention already and they haven’t even officially debuted yet.  It’s crazy to see all the fans they gained just by being on the survival shows!  And to those of you who don’t know the members, I’ll introduce them to you.

B.I: Leader, known for his amazing rap skills, choreography, and making music.

Bobby: outstanding rapper who appeared on the show called ‘Show Me The Money’, which is a rapping contest show and he won against all his competitors.

Kim Jinhawn: has amazing vocal and dancing techniques, and he’s the oldest member.

Goo Junhoe: main vocal and is also a great dancer.

Song Yoonhyung: vocal, his singing improved a lot since the survival program against Team A.

Kim Donghyeok: vocal, has a very light toned voice and he also improved a lot since the survival program.

Jung Chanwoo: played as the actor’s Lee Minho’s younger version of character in the drama Boys Over Flowers.  Has a great voice and can dance well.

The next upcoming artist besides IKON is the new girl group. I don’t have too much information on this group yet because YG didn’t really make it clear.  They’ve been promoting the group for almost 2 years now saying they’ll be debuting soon but no one really knows when this will happen.  Two years ago, they were supposed to debut in the fall, but they kept moving the date, so who knows when.  I’m guessing sometime next year though since they don’t have any other girl groups besides 2NE1 and 2NE1 already released an album the beginning of this year.

—Juyeon Oh

Running Man

First aired on July 11, 2010. The show is considered as urban action variety and there hadn’t been a show like this before so the idea was very unique and it instantly became a hit. The members and guests have to complete missions to win the race and the winner is usually given a small amount of gold as a reward. It is mainly focused on playing games against each others teams. Yoo Jae Suk is the main MC of this program who is also one of the main members. This show is also popular in other parts of Asia and some European countries. It became so popular that the fans are making subtitles for a number of languages.

 We Got Married

This is a Sunday night program. It was first broadcasted in 2008 and the show is about pairing up celebrities to show what it would be like if they were married. Every week the couples are assigned to missions that they have to complete and it also shows interviews of the casts to reveal their feelings and thoughts.

This show is now at season 4 and the couples include: Nam Goong Min & Hong Jin Young, Hong Jong Hyun & Kim Yura, and Song Jae Rim & Kim So Eun.

Infinite Challenge

It was first aired back in 2005 and this is their 9^th year of broadcasting it. About 13% to 17% of people watch this program every Saturday night.  It’s the most viewed variety show in Korea.  This show was called the nation’s top variety and Korea’s fist variety show for being successful for over 9 years.  Just like other TV shows, they sometimes invite celebrity guests to join them.

Roommate Season 2

Roommate is back with Season 2.  Season 1 has received a lot of negative feedback due to the editing not being clean and showing content that was not necessary. Many thought Season 2 was going to be the same, but it turns out it wasn’t.  It actually became a huge hit with all the new members.  The new members are: Bae Jong Ok, Jackson from GOT7, Park Joon Hyung from g.o.d., Sunny from Girls Generation, Heo Young Ji from KARA, Otani Ryohei, and Lee Gook Joo.

One Night and Two Days

This show has some really good ratings and fans love the new season.  The new members are Kim Joo Hyuk, Defconn, Kim Jun Ho, and Jung Joon Young along with the old members Cha Tae Hyun, and Kim Jong Min. The members seem to be getting a long really well together and they’re a great combination. Each of their personalities is different so it’s very entertaining to watch them deal with each other sometimes.  And, watching their morning missions never gets old where they travel to the most random places.

Kpop Star Season 4

Along with their success with Seasons 1, 2, and 3, they are back with Season 4.  This year is supposed to be the biggest season they’ve had so far.  There are a lot more talented contestants and the viewers can’t wait to see it on TV.  This is the most popular audition program.  While other audition programs seem to be losing viewers and ratings, this one just keeps on going.  I guess more people are interested by the fact that the head of the companies are the judges.  Other programs just have good artists come in to be the judge, but this one is different.  If they show enough talent but end up getting eliminated, if one of the judges likes you, they will give you a contract after the show is over, which is why so many people audition for this show.  And “almost” all the people who were on this show and got into companies gain a lot of attention and are now living their dreams.

—- Juyeon Oh

With people’s thirst for K-Pop and K-Dramas comes a need to want to learn Korean. Besides recruiting the help of native Korean speakers, perhaps the best way to learn is through being forced to do it by living in Korea. Many of us Koreaboos may not have the time and money to travel to and spend time in Korea, so language learning has to be done using other means. Thankfully, with the rise of Hallyu, more sources have become available to help with Korean learning. Perhaps you may find some of these sources helpful!

Online Learning

If you prefer to learn language using the Web, there are several Korean learning websites available that can help build speaking and writing confidence through the use of videos, quizzes, and digital flashcards. Through online learning, you can learn some useful phrases and hear pronunciation, something a textbook cannot do unless it has a DVD.

Talk to Me in Korean

Launched in 2009, TTMIK provides many sources for Korean learning.

If you are an audio and visual learner, the site has many YouTube videos that can take you through vocabulary and word pronunciation to help with language development. The TTMIK team, Hyunwoo Sun, Stephanie Morris, Hyojin An, Kyeong-Eun Choi, Seokjin Jin, and Kyung-Hwa Sun, provide easy-to-understand videos with clear instruction that will help anyone from absolute beginners to advance learners.

The site has many other perks besides videos. TTMIK also has audio books for vocabulary, verbs, and basic sentences and character writing that can help get learners started. Some other special features include:

• Ask Hyojin:  A podcast where users can ask Hyojin language questions and she’ll respond with helpful responses.
• Learn Korean with K-Pop and Korean Drama Phrases: While these sections haven’t been updated since 2012, there are some valuable videos here for those who want to learn through the music and dramas that is spreading internationally. TTMIK picks simple, useful phrases from the songs, breaks them down, and explains how they’re used, adding an element of fun.
• Grammar: The grammar section is broken up into levels, so you can start anywhere you feel comfortable. You can start with easy phrases like “hello” and “excuse me” and work your way up to tougher idioms.
• Culture Ramblings:  The staff discusses Korean culture and Korea in a relaxed setting.

TTMIK also offers paid memberships to certain services. For example, Haru Korean provides daily exercises through your smartphone or tablet, and you can go here to see corrections for your writing via one-on-one sessions. You can also sign up for live one-on-one sessions with TTMIK staff to help you learn how to speak.

The benefits of TTMIK are plentiful, though one of the downfalls is the erratic updates. Some content hasn’t been updated in years while others haven’t been updated in weeks or months. Since it’s a learning site, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue, but with special sections like learning with dramas and music and culture, times and subjects do change, and the group is behind the eight-ball here.

Visit Korea

Visit Korea is the official site for Korean tourism. The section titled “Let’s Learn Korean” has links to KBS’ “Let’s Learn Korean” pages.

There are 30 chapters listed on the Visit Korea page that can help with basic phrases if you travel to Korea such as what to use when navigating the airport, subway, or taxi. There are also basic phrases about holidays, introductions, and making appointments. The lessons are simple, so anyone may find them helpful.

For beginners, one of the advantages “Let’s Learn Korean” has is that phrases are written in Hangeul with the Romanization underneath, a helpful tool for anyone learning characters and how they sound.

The page is pretty basic, but it’s effective. However, it does have some drawbacks. For some features to work, users would have to have Windows Media Player installed to hear “Dialogue on Demand.” Users will also need an updated version of Adobe Flash for interactive content.

LOECSEN

The free language lessons on LOECSEN provide some useful phrases and content that will get language learners heading in the right direction. Plus, the cute stick-figure images may make learners feel more at ease with learning since content feels more accessible.

Like Visit Korea’s content, LOECSEN focuses on simple phrases that can help you get by in Korea. There are different categories like “Essentials” that can help you speak politely to the people you meet to even learning color names.

As you go through and learn the basics provided, you can quiz yourself by listening to the words and clicking on the corresponding phrase. The quizzes are a nice touch in helping to reinforce what you learn.

There is an option to download the audio and learning tools, but these have a fee payable by PayPal or credit card. However, since the quizzes and audio are already available, this may not be necessary.

Apps

If your preferred mode of technology is a mobile device, there are some apps available to help you on your language-learning journey.

Hangeul 101

Ubik Technology’s free version of Hangeul 101 is a nice source for learning Korean characters and how they sound. The app provides Romanized forms of the characters so you can see what they say, and there is audio so you can hear how the characters sound. Users also have access to 28 quizzes that can help with memorization.

The pay version of the app has ads removed, audio for 140-characters, syllable quizzes, and a Korean keyboard for further practice.

The app is really only good for practicing Korean characters, which is good if it’s an area of which help is needed. The app is easy to use, though audio sounds muddled at times. There are times when characters sound alike, so it’s hard to differentiate between different sounds depending on which character family you’re listening to at the time. But, it is worth a shot.

Books

If you’re a traditional learner who prefers workbooks and CDs over Internet sources and apps, there are plenty of workbooks available in bookstores and online retailers that may be worth your while.

Korean for Beginners: Mastering Conversational Korean

This workbook does well with making Korean accessible to learners. From teaching Hangeul writing and speaking and Korean phrases to the helpful CD-ROM featuring native Korean speakers, the workbook makes it simple for a learner to approach the language at their own pace.

The book does well explaining grammar rules and adapts these rules so they’re easy to understand by an English speaker. The content isn’t dry either, which makes the workbook engaging and fun to use. The cultural tips and tricks and humor sprinkled in make learning fun, so it can be engaging for many.

Living Language Korean, Complete Edition

Living Language packs a punch because it comes with a lot of tools to help with learning. The complete edition comes with three course books, a reading and writing guide, nine CDs, and access to the online classroom. Each provides learners with vocabulary-building exercises, flashcards, games, writing and speaking exercises that are designed for different stages of learning. If you’re a beginner, the whole series will be useful for building and reinforcing what you need to be a successful Korean speaker; for those in more advanced stages, Living Language can serve as a way to “brush up” on past learning.

For Living Language to work, you will need to dedicate a lot of time to studying because each lesson builds upon each other. If you don’t have time to keep practicing, this may not be the series for you, but an app or website learning system might be. It all depends on your time and patience levels!

Create Friendships

Workbooks and online content provide an opportunity to read on the subject and practice writing skills, but how characters sound may not translate well. CDs and online programs can only go so far in terms of usefulness, so it may be helpful to recruit the help of a friend or a native Korean speaker to help you through the content.

If you’re lucky, local universities may have students from Korea who are interested in learning English as you are in learning Korean! Setting up a language exchange can be beneficial for everyone involved as you learn about each other and your cultures while forging a new friendship!

With so many sources available, there’s no excuse to not learn Korean! Let’s learn together starting today! Hwaiting!

— Joelle Halon

If you’re ever planning to visit Korea – you’re likely to come through Incheon International Airport if you’re travelling from outside Asia.  In this article, I provide info on the best rated airport in the world, why and when the Incheon International Airport was constructed and what it can offer to its passengers and users.

Incheon International Airport is the largest of the eight International airports in South Korea and one of the largest airports in the world in terms of scale and its workforce.  Incheon International Airport ranks eighth as Asia’s busiest airport, the world’s fourth busiest airport by cargo traffic and the world’s ninth busiest airport in terms of international passengers according to a 2013 report.

The Seoul Olympics was held in 1988, which resulted in the rise of air traffic, so during the ‘90s the Gimpo Airport needed an alternative due to the fact it could not manage the increased number of passengers.   The construction of the Incheon airport began in November, in the year of 1992 and after nearly a decade of construction and preparation the airport was officially open in March of 2001.  Just in time before the 2002 World Cup was held in Korea.

Even though Incheon is not within Seoul, the airport is located and built so that travelling to Seoul and other cities in Korea can be done easily.  The Incheon International Airport Railroad, plus the Airport subway line connect to Seoul Station. The regular trains, which stops at all stations takes about 50 minutes to reach Seoul Station.

Other than the airport service, the airport provides a golf course, spa, private sleeping rooms, an ice skating rink, a casino and a Museum of Korean Culture.  (Some sources say that this airport is said to be quite comfortable and super safe to sleep in as well)

The Incheon International Airport is known for its efficiency since it holds record for being one of the fastest for custom processing.  The average departure and arrival takes only 19 minutes (The world-wide industry’s average is 60 mins) and 12 minutes (45 mins) respectively, which is considerably faster than the airports in other countries.  The airport is also proud to state; it has only a 0.0001% rate of baggage mishandling, making it great news for passengers making Incheon International Airport not only a highly efficient, but a trustworthy airport.

From the year of 2005 to present; Incheon International airport was voted as the best airport worldwide by Airports Council International.  Its duty-free stores have been rated the world’s top for the last three years consecutively rated by Business Traveller.

The secret of the airport’s success and good evaluation is probably due to the fact that the airport is very organized, clean and very proficiently managed and most of all, the International Airport is highly considerate of the passengers’ needs, offers many diverse experiences and services for them.

Find out for yourselves if the Incheon International Airport’s service deserves to have its title for the best ranking airport in the world.

 

 

— J. Chung

China and Hong Kong have a rich history of ghost stories that have been around for centuries. Even today, some of these stories live on and others have been added. Today, many in China have claimed to experience some paranormal occurrences while others thrive in traditional yarns. Here are some past-meets-present tales that are sure to make you want to explore China’s ghostly history.

Tuen Mun Road (Hong Kong)

Drivers on Tuen Mun Road have reported visions of ghosts wandering the highway. Unsuspecting drivers cruising along the road may find spirits appearing seemingly out of nowhere or running in front of other vehicles, causing drivers to swerve and get into accidents. The apparitions people see may be the spirits of accident victims who may be looking for others to join their party.

The Ghost Bride
Many Chinese ghost stories show that the spirits may have ill intentions toward the living. The story of the “Maiden in White” is one such example.

Dating back to the 9th Century A.D., follows a young scholar as he falls immediately in love with a young woman walking the halls of the temple he resided. She told him she came from a town near the mountains, and even though the scholar knew this wasn’t the case, he did not question her. The two talked all night, and he fell deeply in love. The pair married immediately.

Depending on which translation you read, there are different accounts of when the couple wed: Some suggest they married within a week, while others state they married the night they met. Either way, they really didn’t get to know each other that well.

Some after their marriage, the young woman wanted to return home and told her new husband not to follow as she worried her family would not approve of their marriage. Before she left, he gave her a white jade ring so she would not forget him. As she walked away, her husband watched as she disappeared from sight. He ran toward her location to see where she went only to find hundreds of white lilies basking in the moonlight.

Knowing he married a ghost, he picked the lilies and brought them back to room where he noticed his jade ring. Within a course of ten days, he fell ill and passed away.

The ending of the story has different translations as well with some suggesting he died of a broken heart and he joined his young lover in the afterlife. Other translations state his young bride was a toxic lover who wanted to kill the young man. It seems the interpretation depends on how much of a romantic the reader is and how they feel about ghosts.

All Aboard the Midnight Bus

In Beijing, the story of the Midnight Bus is fairly well-known. But are you a visitor willing to find out what bus is the bus of doom?

According to the urban legend, an older gentleman and a young man boarded a bus. The old man sat in the front while the young man rode in the back. The bus picked up two more passengers at another stop. As the bus continued its route, the old man grew angry and accused the young man of theft. As they argued, the old man told his younger counterpart to come with him to the police station to clear the matter up. As the two got off the bus and it sped away, the old man said he saved both their lives as he noticed the other two passengers had no feet and were floating; the two other passengers were ghosts.

After the bus’ journey, it turned up missing. When found several days later away from its route, the bus driver was dead and badly decomposed, and the bus ran on blood. How’s that for a creepy ride?

Tsung Tsai Yuen (Hong Kong)
In 1955, a picnic in Tsung Tsai Yuen turned deadly when a sudden downpour caused a mudslide that killed several children and teachers from St. James Primary School. Since then, passersby and drivers often see ash and mud-covered children wandering the Mang Gui Kiu Bridge. Some say they see white shadows darting around and the outlines of children playing in the fields.

Since the incident, a placard was erected to appease the spirits, but to this day, some may see the children play.

What are some of your favorite ghost stories and urban legends from China? Share with us because we love a good haunt!

 

— Joelle Halon

Like Japan, Korea also has its share of tales of things that go bump in the night.  Whether you’re studying for an exam or taking a soothing dip, you better always keep an eye out for some ghosts and spirits because some may intend to kill!

Mul Gwishin

 

 

If you’re swimming during the summer, maybe you should panic if you feel something grabbing at your ankles because a mul gwishin may be dragging you to your death!

Mul gwishin are the lonely souls of drowning victims who do not want to swim the cold waters alone and want someone to keep them company. Their actions have led to the phrase “mul gwishin tactics” in Korea which is a take on “misery loves company.” If you are burdened with something, you may pull a mul gwishin tactic to drag someone into your misery like suggesting someone is willing to help you on a project to your teacher or boss even though that person may not want to do so: “If you go down, you’re going down with me!”

 

 

Beware, the Gumiho
One of the most popular legends in Korea involves Gumiho or nine-tailed foxes. According to lore, Gumiho are foxes who have lived for 1,000 years. These foxes have shape-shifting abilities, but mostly they take the form of a beautiful young woman who then causes a young man to fall in love with her just so she can one day eat his liver to gain human form.

But, the aforementioned is just one of the many accounts of the Gumiho tale. Other narratives include:

• Gumiho disguising themselves as young brides. Their true fox form is revealed once their clothes are removed.
• Some accounts suggest that if a Gumiho can hide his identity, remains a helpful individual, and does not kill a human for 100 days, he can become human or risk being turned into an evil spirit. A take on this tale is the theme of Gu Family Book.
• If a Gumiho falls in love with a human, marries, and lives with that person for a 100 days without his or her true form discovered, he or she will become human.
• If Gumiho abstain from eating a human for 1,000 days, he or she can become human.
• If the man a Gumiho falls in love with knows her true identity and keeps it a secret for ten years, she can become human; otherwise, she will turn to foam.

Has your date been acting weird lately? Maybe that person is hiding a Gumiho identity.

The Cheonyeo and Chonggak Gwishin

 

 

The Cheonyeo gwishin is said to be a young woman from traditional Korea who did not completely fulfill her womanly duties of serving her father, husband, and sons. A woman who dies as a virgin ghost led a meaningless life.Because of this, her spirit is not allowed to depart this world. Since her spirit cannot leave, people often see the virgin ghost wandering in her traditional sobok, her long black hair flowing free.

Although rare in Korean lore, there is a male counterpart for the Cheonyeo gwishin called the Chonggak gwishin. Like the Cheonyeo, he did not fulfill his duties as a man and cannot depart this world.

In order to help the souls pass, shamans may hold soul weddings for a Cheonyeo-Chonggak couple so they may find peace. Other ways to appease their souls include phallic sculptures and annual food offerings to the souls.

Nighttime Study Periods are Killer!

 

 

Schools are not a safe place during exam time, especially when you have to stay for late night study sessions. There may be dark hallways and classrooms that creak and moan sending shivers down your spine while you diligently hit the books.

There are many stories about school hauntings from children sitting in the dark reading to high school girls who’ve committed suicide beckoning to the living to join them. Statues and paintings seemingly come alive as the night wears on adding to the fear factor.

One such story involves a painting of Ryu Gwansun, a student from Ewha Womans University. She is known as being a martyr during the 1919 March 1st Movement where she and her family actively protested the Japanese occupation of Korea.  She was arrested during the protests and sentenced to jail time where she was beaten and tortured, but she stood by Korea’s need for independence until she died in prison.

Students say that if you stare at her picture and say her name, her portrait will move. Some say her statue walks around every March 1 shouting for Korean independence. Others say that certain ways you look at her portrait, you can see the scars of her torture.

No matter where you go, schools have interesting stories of hauntings. Are any schools safe?

What Korean ghost stories have you heard? Share with us! We enjoy a good scare!

— Joelle Halon

Halloween is here again, and most countries have urban legends or ghost stories that may spook those who are weak at heart. Over the years, Japan has been known for their haunts and horrors, and the world knows them best for their spooktacular movies! Many of the films are based on stories that have been around for years. Here are some that may provide some chills!

The Lady in the Water
Originating in Kyudu but with sightings in Fukushima and Niigata, the nure-onna or “wet woman” haunts the shores thirsting for blood.

The serpent woman gets her name from her wet appearance, but her forked-tongue, serpent eyes, and snake-like body may distract you from her wetness as she uses her trickery to harness her prey.

As the legend goes, nure-onna appears to be in distress either by looking like she’s drowning or appealing for help with what appears to be a baby bundled in a blanket. Her distress attracts a passerby who agrees to assist her. As the person comes forward, she wraps him with her tail or hands him the “infant”; the infant becomes heavy, immobilizing the victim as nure-onna drains the blood from his body with her tongue.

When in Japan, stay away from the water because if you run into a young woman who wants to hand you her child, you might become nure-onna’s next victim!

 “Are you there, Hanako-san?”
According to this urban legend, if you’re in an elementary school washroom, you can summon the child Hanako.

If you’re courageous enough to call upon Hanako, step inside the school bathroom and go to the third stall, knock three times, and politely ask “Are you there, Hanako-san?” If she responds with “Yes, I am here,” you may push open the door to reveal a little girl sporting a bob cut and a red World War II-era school uniform. If you keep your fear in check, she’ll disappear and let you go, otherwise, you risk being pulled into the toilet to join her in death!

There are other stories involving toilets including the tale of Kashima Reiko where a female ghost without legs asks for her legs.

Another story involves Aoi Manto. He asks bathroom users if they want a red cup or a blue cup. If a person says “red cup,” he or she will be slashed in the neck and back. If someone says blue cup, they will be killed by hanging.

“Am I pretty?”
If you’re a child walking alone at night and you come across a young woman in a surgical mask, you better hope she’s not Kuchisake-onna, or the “slit-mouth woman.” If she approaches you and asks if she’s pretty, you better think of an escape plan… or can you escape?

As the story goes, Kuchisake approaches children to ask if they think she’s pretty. If the child says “no,” Kuchisake stabs him to death with scissors. If the child says “yes,” she removes her mask to reveal her slashed mouth and asks “am I pretty even now?” If the child says “no,” Kuchisake chops her in half. If the answer is “yes,” the child’s mouth is slashed from ear-to-ear before Kuchisake disappears into the night.

No matter what, you’re doomed.

And don’t bother running before you answer her questions because she will follow you!
However, some versions of the tale suggest if you ask her if she thinks you’re pretty or tell her she’s average-looking, it will confuse her, giving you an opportunity to flee.

Cut in Two
If you hear a distinct scratching sound while wandering around at night, run and don’t question why you are running!
The beautiful young ghost Teke Teke is named for the scratching sound that accompanies her as she uses her hands to drag herself toward an unsuspecting victim. If you cannot outrun her, prepare to be sliced in half and become a Teke

Teke ghost too!

Why is she so cranky? The young lady was walking home one night and fell on the railroad tracks. As she fell, a train came and cut her in half. Now she wanders around looking for revenge.

Keep Moo-ving

According to urban folklore, the cow head story is so scary, no one really knows what the story’s about! Anyone who tries to tell the story either dies or suffers from strange illnesses or loses their memory.

One story that’s been passed around involves a bus full of children listening to their teacher tell the cow head story.

As he continued, he became entranced and more emphatic. Then, the next thing anyone knew, the bus crashed and the children were lying around twitching and foaming at the mouth. Rescuers were able to snap them out of their trance, but no one remembers what happened or anything about the story.

Apparently, cow heads possess strange powers.

What other strange urban legends and ghost stories have you heard from Japan? Share with us in the comments!

 

— Joelle Halon

Tattoos, in many cases, are cool. On some idols, tattoos look great even if they’re fake.

Zelo (L) and Himchan’s (R) tattoos were a result of Henna art. In Himchan’s image, you can see it being applied/via TS Entertainment and Twicsy

 A while back, we provided some information on tattoos in Korea, and we looked at some idols and their tattoos to see what’s real or potentially fake. We continue that exploration in part two of our series with new idols and new tattoos!

Himchan and Zelo (B.A.P)

Although he’s known as Tatsmato, Himchan’s tats during B.A.P’s “No Mercy” era were definitely fake and sadly look like poor wet-and-stick ones from the 1990s.”Power” and “Warrior” era tats and body paint looked more appealing. There’s no indication he has any real ones unless he keeps them well-hidden.

Periodically, we’ll see Zelo with some convincing tattoos ranging from text to tribal tattoos on his arms, chest, and back. He pulls the look off well! Right now, the loveable giant maknae doesn’t have any tattoos, but if he did, fans may approve.

Chunji and C.A.P’s tattoos show off their different personalities/via MyLine-Kakao latter

Chunji and C.A.P (TEENTOP)

Both C.A.P and Chunji sport real tattoos. C.A.P has an angel on his left shoulder blade, what appears to be a large hand on the left side of his chest, and a small tattoo on the back of his neck.  Some pictures show he has more, but it’s unclear if these were for promotions, but confirmed tattoos stand at three.

Chunji’s tattoo is more elegant. Located on his right shoulder, Chunji has “this too shall pass away” written in script.

Yuchun’s tattoo collection/via Tatist

Yuchun and Jaejoong (JYJ)

Yuchun and Jaejoong have many tattoos they can brag about including matching tattoos they have in honor of TVXQ.

Yuchun’s tattoos include:

• Indian Feathers: The feathers are a symbol of strength, protection, and brotherhood. His brother has the same tattoo, showing their connection.
• “Always keep the faith”: He and Jaejoong both have this tattoo over their hearts. Both members got this one after filing a lawsuit against SM Entertainment.
• “My Jaejung Yuhwan Junsu” and a Phoenix Wing: Yoochun added these close by his “always keep the faith” tattoo. The tattoo is for his group mates and his brother.
• “TVFXQMYC”: The tattoo stands for “TVXQ Micky Yuchun.” It is located on his lower back.
• “?????” next to a picture of his mother: An image of his mom and the Thai word for “Micky” is located on his right shoulder blade.

Jaejoong’s tattoo collection/via fanficyunjae

Jaejoong has considerably more tattoos than Yuchun, including:

• “TVfXQ Soul”: The Old English text adorns his upper back just below his neck. He had this one done in 2008 while JYJ was still part of TVXQ.
• “Micky Junsu”: Located on his lower back, Jaejoong states this tattoo is a memorial for JYJ’s debut. Junsu’s and Yuchun’s names flank Jaejoong’s tattoo on his lower spine: Roman numerals for his date of birth.
•  “The pleasure of the mighty are the tears of the poor” and “A song will outlive all sermons in memory”: Probably two of Jaejoong’s most awesome tattoos, the text form two clefs and grace both his shoulder blades. Between these two are the words “hope to end.” When combined with the “TVfXQ Soul” tattoo, the look is inspiring and visibly pleasing.
• 
• Wings: In 2008, Jaejoong added lightly shaded wings to the tattoos on his upper back. The wings resemble sprite wings and make the text of his clef tattoos pop.
• “Deferto Neminem”: The tattoo means “accuse no man” and comes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He has this tattooed right above his “keep the faith tattoo” on the left side of his chest.
•  “Ohne Glauben Bist Du Tot”: Located on his spine, the tattoo , written in German, translates to “without faith, you are dead.”
• 

Girl’s Day’s Minah looks cute and confident with her fake tattoo/via Girls_Day_Minah

(Minah) Girl’s Day

In 2013, Minah took to Instagram to show off her pretty “carpe diem” tattoo on her hand. While it looked convincing, it was a henna tattoo for “Female President” promotions. On various programs, all the Girl’s Day ladies can be seen with them here and there.

Lee Hyori

Hyori’s right arm is the canvas for two of her tats/via Oh Kpop

Aside from her healthy lifestyle, great sense of humor, and upbeat tracks, Lee Hyori is also known for her tattoos. On her left wrist, she has a sun, moon, and star. On the same arm, she has “Walk lightly in the spring, mother earth is pregnant” written. Lee is a known to love life and nature, so both tattoos pay homage to these interests.

Lee also has “LOVE” tattooed on the back of her neck.

Huh Gak

Located on his left shoulder, Huh Gak has a microphone wearing a crown with “Little Giant” beneath it. In February 2013, he explained the meaning behind the tattoo on “Interview Daily” as it has to do with his win on “Super Star K2.”

Huh Gak’s tattoo symbolizes his win on “Super Star K2,” his dream to be a singer, and his first album/via Soompi

“Back then I tried to think about how I keep those feelings,” he said. “I asked people around me how I could preserve what was happening to me, and I decided to get a tattoo. I considered a microphone with a crown on it. There are different types of microphones from karaoke mics to studio mics but I decided on this design.”

Wa$$up’s Nada shows off her collarbone tattoo/via One Hallyu

The “Little Giant” is a reference to his first album.

Nada (Wa$$up)

Wa$$up’s resident rapper Nada has a tattoo along her left collarbone that appears to say “Stay with me” with a star, but images of the tattoo often have something obstructing it, so complete text is often unseen. The cursive is pretty and ladylike, softening Nada’s often hard-edged appearance.

Kangin and Shindong (Super Junior)

Both Kangin and Shindong got their tattoos in 2008, but one is a little more well-done than the other.

Kangin (L) and Shindong’s (R) tattoos they received in 2008/via Tattooism

Shindong’s tattoo on his left arm is elaborate, featuring a crying female wearing ruffles and a crown. The shading and effort really catches the eye. The text states “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

Kangin’s is done in a similar writing style and color scheme as Bang Yongguk’s “Viva la revolucion” and “make art not war” tattoos, so style-wise, it looks cool. The tattoo should say “actions are more precious than words,” but it says “actions are more prection than words.” Sadly, an Engrish moment is permanently etched into his back although it is stylish!

Of course, there are many more idols with tattoos! We’ll be sure to bring you more in the future!

— Joelle Halon

In September, we posted some misheard K-Pop lyrics because it’s part of the fun of being a K-Pop fan. Of course, ears don’t just get better after one misheard song. So I’m back for some more shenanigans with more songs that you may never hear the same way again!

Laboum “Pit-a-Pat”

Looking at the actual lyrics, this just doesn’t make sense.

N-Sonic “Pop Beyond”

“Pop Beyond” sounds like “Papillon,” but no butterflies or cute, fluffy puppies make an appearance in the MV. But, it does offer casserole.

2ne1 “Gotta Be You”

Either way, this is a messy and potentially food-poisoning-inducing combination.

T-ara “Sexy Love”

Whatever catches your fancy, I guess.

B.A.P “Warrior”

It’s Daehyun’s line, and Daehyun loves food. Seems legit!

T.O.P “Doom Dada”

“Doom Dada” is fairly abstract, so why can’t grandma and grandpa be so too?

Teen Top “Supa Love”

Sometimes the need for chicken noodle soup trumps all other needs.

Secret “Madonna”

The song a lot of us sing on Pay Day, right?

There’s always more misheard lyrics in store! For our next installment, do you have any you want to share? Let us know below or share on our Facebook or new forums!

— Joelle Halon

Do you enjoy watching variety shows?   If so, there is a show called ‘Roommate’ I would like to recommend.   You might have already heard of this show because it’s been aired for a couple of months and Season 1 has just ended not too long ago.   Let me tell you this, Season 1 was not so great.   There have been too many issues between the members and the viewers complained that they didn’t even look like family (which they’re not obviously, but in the show they’re living together as a “family”).   Some members didn’t even get along with each other.

When this show first started, many people were excited to watch it, because the idea of this show was very unique and so different from other shows.   They never had a show where a bunch of celebrities are living in the same house together.   The fans were dying to watch their favorite celebrity live with other people.   It gave them a chance to show the audience who they really were, and how they acted when living with others.   Because, people were so thrilled to watch, made it a bigger disappointment.

The first episode was okay, but after that it just seemed like they were dragging it forever.   They would give a sneak peak of next week’s episode, but once it got to that week, they actually never showed what was on the sneak peak.   They only used it to gain more viewers, which didn’t work very well after the audience got tired of it.   People got excited when they saw the sneak peak, but they either broadcasted it a few weeks later, or not at all.

Overall, the show was very unorganized.   It showed some content that wasn’t necessary such as the members arguing, making love lines between the members when it clearly showed they had no interest, and other things.   When this show was getting ready for Season 2, six out of 11 members quit the show.   Park Bom was the first one to leave, because she was dealing with her drug problems, and Lee Sora left not so long after Bom.   People are saying that Lee Sora left because her only friend in the house was Bom, so when Bom left, Lee Sora decided to leave as well. Song Ga Yeon also quit to focus more into UFC, Shin Sung Woo, Hong Soo Hyun, and EXO’s Chanyeol left, so they can focus more on their careers. The format of this show was very messy.  Overall it was not pleasing to watch.   However, Season 2 is great.   They should have just done this with the first season, because surprisingly Season 2 is a hundred times better than Season 1.

Season 2 has seven new members to fill in the empty spots: Lee Guk Joo who is a popular comedian, SNSD’s Sunny, GOT7’s Jackson, Kara’s Young Ji, GOD’s Park Joon Hyung, actor Otani Ryohei, and Bae Jong Ok.

Season 2 has only aired two episodes, but its already getting compliments from the audience and you can really see the improvements from Season 1.   These seven new members have their own styles and this time all the members seem to be getting along especially now that they have 2 comedians living in the house, they’re always having a good time. I’m a fan of this show myself, and I’m glad that they’re finally looking like a real family.   There are still some awkward moments every now and then since they haven’t been with each other for long, but you can really see a special bond between them and it will grow even stronger as they get more comfortable with each other as the show continues.

I recommend watching Season 2 of Roommate.

—- Juyeon Oh

Things have not been going so smoothly for Girls Generation for the past few months. It was September 29th, when Jessica, the member of Girls Generation posted on Weibo that she is no longer part of the group and that she has been kicked out.  She wrote, “I was excited about our upcoming fan events only to shockingly be informed by my company and 8 others that as of today, I’m no longer a member.   I’m devastated – my priority and love is to serve as a member of GG, but for no justifiable reason, I am being forced out.”   This was very shocking news because there has been way too many problems with SM.   First we have JYJ’s lawsuit, Hangeng’s lawsuit, Kris’s lawsuit, and Sulli’s temporary leaving the group, and now this.   No one has been “forced” out of a group before.  But it turns out it wasn’t as big of a deal; she just made it sound that way.

A few months ago, Jessica talked with SM and the members about leaving the group because she was busy with her new fashion line ‘BLANC’, so it was very hard for her to participate in all their schedules.   They came to an agreement that she would leave the group after one more album, but SM decided to move the date up, a day before their fan meeting in China.   Apparently Jessica had no idea that the date for her to leave the group was moved closer and it was surprising that the 8 members agreed to this.   I was very surprised by the decision they made because they’ve known each other for 15 years, so it must have been very hard for them to decide.   I understand that Jessica is very confused and is hurt by the members and SM, but I feel like she’s only thinking about herself.   She needs to put herself in others’ shoes because so far, it’s just making her look selfish.

It turns out that she’s been telling the members about getting married to her boyfriend, Tyler Kwon and she told the members that if it’s okay with them, she would still like to be apart of the group.   What she said was very selfish because she’s not thinking about how the members are feeling.   I mean, no idol group member has been married while still working with the group, besides Sunyae from “Wonder Girls”, but this is different.   Her boyfriend has been with Jessica at most of her schedules and I can’t imagine how frustrated the members would be.   Being a celebrity is her job, and she won’t be able to focus on work if her boyfriend follows her everywhere she goes.   She was with her boyfriend in New York and they returned to Korea a day before the fan meeting that was held in China.  This just shows that she doesn’t even care anymore.   She’s just so into him that she can’t see what’s happening around her.

Idols always do something special for fan meetings such as a cute dance, or sing, etc. And, for her to return a day before is just unbelievable.   Right now, I can’t imagine what the members are going through.   I would love for Jessica to go back to the group, but with all the things that have happened in the last couple of months at SM, I doubt that will ever happen.   I’m not hating on her, I’m just stating that she could have handled things better.   She still loves and wants to be a part of the group.

With this all said, I just wish the best for Jessica and the 8 members. They still have a bright future facing them and I hope everything goes well.

—- Juyeon Oh

The emergence of Kpop stars in the recent years came with some interesting phenomenon.  Those who follow Kpop should know that there are four sacred duties, for every Korean national, of which one applies to all male citizens—that is the duty to defend one’s nation.  What it means is that each and every Korean male is drafted to the army, when they come of age, for the service that would ratify him as a “true-worthy” Korean.   This is not a problem if you were born in Korea and/or a Korean citizen, but what about those who are Korean by blood only?

Take the example of Yoo Seungjun.   He grew up in US from a young age with the green card, and naturalized to become a US citizen in 2002.   Promptly, it was viewed as an attempt to evade the draft by the Korean government, and he was banned from entering Korea.   The backlash by the fans were even harsher to the point that Yoo expressed no desire to return to Korea even if his ban were to be lifted.

There are some, however, such as Andy Lee of Shinhwa or Tony An of H.O.T. who denounced their US citizenships and voluntarily enlisted to the Korean Army.   Before them, there were also others in the past: notably Cha In-pyo, Yoo Gun, Yiruma a.k.a. Lee Ru-ma, as well as Yoo Seung-chan.   They all were greeted by the fans with the utmost heroic chant for their bravery to become “fully” Korean.   Conversely, it is a disheartening irony that Koreans themselves do not necessarily enjoy being drafted. There are plenty of people who beat the system to avoid their service duty using excuses such as physical fitness, studying abroad, emigrating out of the country, or in some cases bribery.   So why the duplicity in expecting Kpop stars to perform this duty that they themselves do not highly regard?

It is the price that Kpop celebrities abroad must pay in order to garnish the fame in Korea.   It is like paying tariff on their success just because they somehow retained a portion of Korean blood in their veins.   Any which way you put it, it is not a good trend for the long run.   Kpop is globally ascending to take charge in advancing beyond Asia to other parts of the world.   In doing so, Koreans must keep open minded on Kpop stars.   Imagine that the American public expecting John Lennon or Paul McCartney to be enlisted in the U.S. Army to continue performing when the Beatles landed on American soil.

It is no longer the case that Kpop stars are coming out of the U.S. alone.   They are now coming from everywhere.   Tablo who was involved in academic scandal is from Canada.   Marco who unsuccessfully tried to naturalize is from Argentina.   Kevin who is the member of Children of Empire grew up in Australia.   Alexander of the boy band U-KISS crossed the ocean from Hong Kong.

The standard for Kpop celebrities is indeed high as it should be.   Nevertheless, there is a sentiment that there might exist some double-standards deep down in the minds of the Korean public.   Some carefully speculate that Tablo’s scandal would not have been such a tantalizing issue had he enlisted in the Korean Army.   Tablo was indeed haunted by the cyber lynch continually long after he was exonerated. Marco was even denied of his request for naturalization that he filed before he became famous, which should be almost automatic for a foreign national with the natural Korean heritage.   Even so, he will be expected to join the Army to continue his career in Korea.

The bottom-line is that Korea must open up on such things as what they expect of Kpop celebrities in order to usher the global Kpop Era.   Without flexibility, the fire may burn out before it reaches its peak. Worse yet, Kpop will flourish elsewhere in the world while Korea is alienated by their own Kpop stars for the good times.   The Kpop celebrities do not need to be patronized.   They just need to be who they are for better or worse.   They are not heroes.   They are very hard working celebrities.

—- Jonathan You

 A few days ago, the leader of an idol group Lee Hoo decided to stick up for his team members. He wrote on his SNS that his company, Star Empire Entertainment wasn’t paying them what they deserve. He said that out of 10, the company takes seven and the nine members are left with three. They have to split the money from the remaining three, so if they were to make $100, the company would take $70 and the members are only left with $30, but they have to split the $30 nine ways, which will only leave them with $3.30 per person. When more and more people started to read what he wrote on his SNS, they bashed the company saying they deserve better and that they’re not treating their artists’ right. This issue spread instantly and became public on every Korean site.

The fans cheered him on wishing the best for the group and they became very angry with the company for treating their artist this way.   Everything was fine, but in less than 12 hours, Lee Hoo updated his SNS and wrote that everything worked out fine and he wrote about his love for the members and the company. This is when it got serious. People who have been cheering him on felt like they were used. If this problem was to be solved this quickly, from the beginning, it wasn’t necessary for him to post it online where everyone could see it. He should have thought about this issue more carefully and it should’ve been solved between the members and the company. But, because he made it public, it involved everyone, which is why people are now bashing him.

The foreigner fans do not understand this issue as much as Koreans, because they don’t understand everything he said, which is why they’re sticking up for him. Koreans think that he only brought up the issue to get people to support him, which would give him the power to possibly win against the company. His sentence structures were also very messy. At first he made the company and the CEO the bad guys, but less than 12 hours later, he posted another comment saying that everything has worked out and that he loves ZE:A and the company. It makes no sense that the problems were solved so quickly and if it was going to be this simple, why did he made it public? He could have just talked with the CEO and the problem could have been fixed just between them. And, if you haven’t noticed, none of the members have said anything about this, and they probably would have if this were such a big issue like the way Lee Hoo made it sound like, but it wasn’t.

He also talked about other companies and TV producers, which wasn’t necessary to get them involved, because they had nothing to do with this problem. Even though this issue is over now, because he mentioned other companies and TV producers, it might be hard for him to get future jobs in the entertainment industry because they will be afraid he will say things about them. I do give him credit for sticking up for the team, but this whole thing could have been easily solved if he’d talked with the company first before he made it into a big deal. I can’t imagine how the company felt hearing such news from the Internet.  They probably felt backstabbed or something. What people don’t understand about this issue is that it takes up to $3 to $10 million to produce a group and if you think about it, Star Empire isn’t that big of an entertainment company. So, for them to provide the groups with traveling, food, home, tour, etc., that would literally equal to 7 out of 10.

My point is that instead of complaining about it online, why not just go talk with the company and try to get the problem fixed?

—- Juyeon Oh

Korean people are known for their casual, but unique fashion styles.   Many have great style and when I was looking through some Korean fashion magazines, I was amazed by the concepts and how much effort is put into every little detail.   Have the craziest ideas and somehow managing to pull them off.   It may be hard for the students to wear what they want during the week ,because it’s school code to wear uniforms throughout the week, but on the weekends, they fully dress up.   Most people dress like people living in New York, and they love wearing designer clothes.   In fact, a lot of them only wear brand named clothes even if it’s hard for them to afford it.   Clothes that are name brand are expensive in the United States, but it’s even more expensive in Korea.   The price usually doubles or even triples, so if you’re living in the United States and you think that clothes are expensive, you’re wrong!   You should be very thankful to be able to buy it at lower prices, because when these products are shipped overseas, they will become really expensive.

Because fashion is so important in Korea, there are a lot of Internet shopping sites those teenagers own.   Yes, I said teenagers.   These teenagers from age 17~25 usually, are the CEOs of these clothing websites and if it becomes popular, they can make a lot of money from them.   There are also many models used to advertise clothes on these sites and it’s very common for the CEO to participate as a model.  To give you an idea of how Koreans’ dress, a great example would be G-Dragon of Big Bang.   If you’re not familiar with him then you should look him up because this guy has some of the best/craziest ideas when it comes to fashion.   He is very well known to many designers, so popular that these designers/companies send him free products to try on and if he ever wears them out in the public, it will instantly become popular.

Models are also a great example.   If you look into fashion blogs, magazines, etc., there are a lot of models with great styles.   Even though they kind of have to look their best since it’s their job, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore how great they look.   Normal people might not go as full out as these people, but they still dress really nicely.   They are highly interested in brand named clothes, shoes, and accessories.

Like I said before, brand named items are very expensive in Korea, so for people to keep liking them and buying them, you can really see their love for fashion.

There have been numerous movies that were released in 2014 and I would like to introduce you to a couple of my favorites!

Hot Young Bloods

This movie is set in 1980’s background in Heongseong, South Korea.   Young-Sook is the leader of a gang at her high school.   She is known for being tough and mean, but she secretly has a crush on Joong-Gil.  Joong-Gil is a player.   He tries to get with all the girls at school except for Young-Sook, because Gwang-Sik, a leader of another gang group has feelings for Young-Sook.   One day, a new female student transfers to their school who is very pretty and was different from the rest of girls at school.  Joong-Gil likes the new girl and Young-Sook gets jealous and tries to keep the girl away from her crush.  Trouble starts to occur as Gwang-Sik finds out Young-Sook is trying to get in between Joong-Gil and the new student.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents

In 1597, it has been six years that Joseon Dynasty has been attacked by the Japanese. As things started falling apart, in order to defend the country, Admiral YI is once again chosen as the Chief of Naval Operations.   Japanese Chief Commander Kurushima is known for his cruel and clever strategies.  He destroyed the Turtle Ship, which was Joseon’s last hope to win against Japan.   With only 12 battleships and an army of soldiers, Admiral YI faces Japan in the battle known as The Battle of Myeong Nyang.

Man in Love

Tae-Il is a criminal who goes around the town in Gunsan collecting debts and harassing people for money that he owes to a small gang he works for.   Tae-Il is 42 years old and he lives with his brother Young-Il.   Tae-Il has never been in love and wasn’t very interested in it until he meets Ho-Jung who is a bank clerk that is busy taking care of her debt, which was spent  on taking care of her ill father.   When they first meet, Tae-Il forced her to sign an agreement that required her to sell her organs if she wasn’t able to pay back the debt on time.   After getting her to sign the agreement, Tae-IL cannot stop thinking about Ho-Jung.   He wrote her a new contract that said he will free her from her debt if she went on dates with him.   The more she goes on the dates, the less debt she has to pay back.   At first Ho-Jung declines it but when she realizes she’s not able to pay back the debt , she agrees to the new contract.   As they start going on dates, the two start to have more and more feelings toward each other.   As a serious relationship begins, Tae-Il tries to leave the gang but it doesn’t work out too well and unfortunately, he is diagnosed with cancer, which leaves his relationship with Ho-Jung in limbo.

Another Promise

When Yoon-Mi graduated from high school, she looks for a job to support her family. What she wanted the most was to be able to pay for her younger brother Yoon-Seok’s college tuition.  Sang-Gu, Yoon-Mi’s father, was very happy and proud of Yoon-Mi when she go hired as a worker at the Jinsung semiconductor factory.   Two years later, Sang-Gu finds out that his daughter is diagnosed with leukemia.   After four years of having leukemia, Yoon-Mi dies.   Her father later learns that Yoon-Mi’s coworkers at the factory are also suffering from diseases and he is convinced that the disease was from the factory.   Sang-Gu visits a labor attorney and filed a claim against the company.   The company used many different methods to keep Sang-Gu’s and other families’ claims from becoming public.   Jinsung workers would spy on and approached the families and offered them money to keep the problem from being exposed to the public.   Despite what the company is doing, Sang-Gu is determined to get the truth out for his daughter.

On Saturday 13th September, I headed off to Kintex in Ilsan to attend a fashion show, plus to see some of the big names in K-pop perform live. ((Kintex stands for Korean International Exhibition Center and Ilsan is in Northern Province of Gyeonggi-do, located an hour from Central Seoul)

This three-hour show starting at 5 pm that day was to be a combination of fashion runway shows and K-pop performances of pop acts including DJ DOC, 2PM, Teen top, 100%, B.A.P, After School, BOYFRIEND, Girl’s Day, Stellar, Dynamic Duo. And other and solo acts like Kyebum Zu and a Japanese group called Sweet Bullet and others were to highlight the concert with fashion shows by various designers. 2PM’s Taecyeon and girl group Stellar’s member Hyoeun were the main hosts for the events.

Since I’ve been to KINTEX many times previously for concerts or various events, so of course I expected to have a seat especially since I had a ticket with a seat number, but surprisingly enough the seats were not really visible except for some seats for the camera crew and their staff.

Inside the concert hall, before the actual concert took off, I saw that there were half a dozen tents where people were queuing up to receive free lollipop sticks and yogurt drinks from companies who were promoting them.

There was also a tent that was getting people to sign up to bring awareness towards treatment for people with burns and scars. I learned that this whole concert was held to raise funds for the victims who suffer from accidents resulting in skin damage, rash, scars and etc.

Later, in-between the concert performances, Taecyeon and Hyoeun informed the audience about the cause the importance of the charity.

Overall, the atmosphere inside the hall was very vibrant and diverse to the usual concert experience.

Kintex consists of multiple halls; the one this event was held in was hall number 5, busy with people from different parts of the world who came to watch their stars on stage. The audience got super hyper and excited, cheering and dancing when DJ DOC appeared on stage singing ‘Run To You’, their hit song, which was released in the year 2000. And the Noraebang’s favorite tune was enough to keep people singing along and happy.

DJ DOC’s vocal sounded very much like playing a record, the main vocal Changryul’s voice was not in the least shaky and it came out very loud and clear. DJ DOC has existed as a band since the 90’s and have produced dance and hip hop music, with the ‘Run To You’ probably being their biggest hit. After three of their songs were performed, runways for everyday outfits began – the clothes shown were targeted for both women and men for the coming fall season. The outfits the models displayed were themed very differently, but they were all very casual wearables.

After one designer’s show was through, a K-pop act came on stage and sang two or three of their songs live. Then another fashion show by a different designer would begin. Boyfriend, Stellar, 100% and After School sang their newreleased singles and their debut singles, which were well-received and cheered on by the fans in the audience.

Boyfriend sang their most current single called, ‘Startup!‘ As well as their 2011debut single ‘Boyfriend.’ Stellar is a four-member girl group formed in 2011 and they performed their song, ‘Marionette’ along with a couple other of their
songs.

For those who are not aware of who 100% is, 100% is a seven-member boy band who debuted in 2012, created by the Shinhwa’s member, Andy Lee. Their performance was very energetic with up-beat music.

After School sang their hit singles, ‘Because Of You,’ ‘Bang’ and ’Diva’. And, because it had been quite a while since people were able to see a performance by the girls together, the crowd was particularly excited to see them.

The most popular acts were saved until last that night, since it was obvious the most anticipated artists for this audience was notably B. A. P. and 2PM. The crowd got louder and the air got more intense when B. A. P. appeared. Fans sang along to the lyrics to ‘One Shot,‘ ‘Angel’ and ‘No Mercy.‘ Many hands were raised to take pictures of the group. The name B. A. P stands for ‘Best, Absolute, Perfect’ and their performances were nearly fitting to their name and they displayed a lot of professionalism in their live vocals and choreography.

One Shot – B.A.P Live @ SGC Super Live In Seoul (???????)
David Lee ???
http://youtu.be/6juoPODq9jU
Recorded Live @ Kintex Hall, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Jinyoung Park.

??????? ?? ???. ??? ???. (2014.09.13)
www.newskorea.info

As the very last performers of the night, 2PM wrapped up the concert with their hits, ‘Ten Out Of Ten,’ ‘Put Your Hands Up,’ ‘Go Crazy,’ and ‘Hot.’ 2PM’s main vocalist, Jun. K put in a few words that he wrote the lyrics and music to the latter two songs mentioned above, and the crowd was heated upby the fast track of the songs, very diverse from their previous singles, which were written by J. Y. P’s head, Jinyoung Park.

Hands Up – 2PM Live @ SGC Super Live In Seoul (?? ?? ???)
David Lee ???
http://youtu.be/x6AXStxme0A?list=UUXMJRQXLUMz4G3-eO9WBk_Q
Recorded Live @ Kintex Hall, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
??????? ?? ???. ??? ???. (2014.09.13)
www.newskorea.info

The whole concert with the fashions shows were executed brilliantly and very entertaining, and the crowd – even though they were all standing for 3 hours were all civil and very much organized.

The entire show offered fashion, music and entertainment in one night. It was well-planned out and definitely a win-win situation for a lot of people; for the fashion designers, the performers and the fans within the crowd. It’s always agreat cultural experience to be among so many people who gather to see live performances and watching different bands and artists in one show made the concert even more elaborate and fun.

Kcrush wants to thank Stephanie from “HallyuBack” for attending the event as our special guest. What a treat it was to have her there. Thank you Stephanie! Watch Stephanie’s great and sometimes hilarious shows on her channel.

—- J. Chung

Photo credits: Ye Ryu. Thank you for allowing us to share your great photographs with our Kcrush fans.

Dear K-Pop Industry and Fans,

Let me start by stating the obvious: It hasn’t been a good year for you.

2014 is going to go down as one of your darkest years. To be honest, it’s for good reason.

I’ve been a fan of your artists since the late 1990s.  Over a decade of my life has been dedicated to you. I’ve seen the rise of H.O.T and Sechskies; I’ve seen their ends.   I will forever stan Baby V.O.X as my favorite female group despite their scandals and unfortunate demise.   Relatively quickly, I fell in love with B.A.P and became a dedicated fan with my undying love for Yongguk and Himchan.  I’m still waiting for a Big Bang comeback and remain hopeful Wonder Girls will dominate once more despite Sohee leaving and Sun living in Haiti with her family.

Notice how I never mentioned stanning a company.

2014 has been a shocking year for you, Companies.   I always suspected that, once the perfect makeup, sequins, aegyo, and glamour of the stage are stripped away, all that remains is a dark entity.   With scandals exploding forth, you continue to show how cruel of a world and how shady of a business you are at the expense of the artists you signed.

The week of September 15 brought accusations of rape and sexual harassment by former trainees, reminding me of 2012’s Open World Entertainment scandal; the reemergence of the Nine Muses documentary showing the possible abuses against the then-trainees; and now the Star Empire Entertainment issue with ZE:A’s Junyoung (Lee Hoo) threatening to expose company issues. I hope somewhere along the line he does so everyone can see the issues that exist.

Let’s not forget Wu Yi Fan versus SM; how Korean fans feel YG Entertainment is covering up for Park Bom’s issues; actress Jang Jayeon’s 2009 suicide; and how many feel companies don’t do enough to protect artists following the accident that killed Ladies’ Code’s EunB and RiSe.

These massive scandals aside, let’s talk about what everyone knows about you:

• Idols may be forced to have plastic surgery before they debut in order to fulfill an ideal, often looking like fragile, mass-produced porcelain dolls.  This even extends to your pageant contestants who many point out look too much alike.
• Many companies have food and weight restrictions for idols which often verge on unhealthy territory. Sarah Wolfgang, formerly of Tahiti, Ladies’ Code’s Sojung, and IU are among a few of the idols who’ve admitted to eating disorders (Writer’s Note: K-Crush’s September issue covers this topic more in-depth).   How many more are there who haven’t come forward?
• Performance schedules are unrealistic.   Thankfully, there are now some rules in place for minors. But overall, performers are often overworked running from show-to-show and doing everything you ask.   Yes, this is their jobs, but artists shouldn’t be worked to illness like in the case of EXO’s Luhan and B2st’s Dongwoon recently.
• Artists do not get to see the money they make on album sales, concerts, and merchandise. There are times when artists see a small amount of money and have to split it among the  members.   The performers should be able to see more of their proceeds so they can support themselves and their families.

And these are the stories we know.   What isn’t known about you is what’s the most frightening.
This is where I have an issue with you, K-Pop.   I despise the treatment of many of your idols.  They’re not robots. They’re not people who deserve to be abused.  They’re people who should be free to pursue their dreams while you help promote them and provide the tools needed to succeed.

As an international bystander and supporter of your artists, it seems like you take advantage of the dreams of young people. These people will do anything to achieve their dreams even if it is wrong like the trainee who discussed rape allegations to eNews:

“I have to do what I’m told by my company, because if I don’t, they’ll release me.”
You take advantage of kids and young adults who want to succeed, who don’t want to be failures in the eyes of their families and society, then they are threatened to keep quiet or lose their dreams.   Where is your shame, your humanity? What did these people do to earn the abuse?

Of course, this is not all companies… at least I hope it’s not.

And, there will be those who will defend your actions saying it “builds character” or “prepares the artists for the pressures of celebrity life.   ”For that, I have to ask where these people’s hearts are and ask why the “glitz on stage” is better than the artists’ mental, emotional, and physical well-being.   The artists endure company mistreatment and demands for their dreams and fans.   Fans need to realize this and stand up for their artists.
My wish is for all fans to come together to stand against you, K-Pop companies, and for fans to realize their favorite artists deserve better.   I hope fans will put aside their fandom-alliances, stop the fanwars for a while, and unite as one.

eNews World 24 conducted an interview with two former K-Pop trainees about abuse in the industry./ via Naver

While the artists perform for our happiness, we need to stand for them and their happiness to show we care about them as people.   Please, fans, let your voices be heard for the fair and uncruel treatment of idols.   Extend this cry for fair treatment to the actors and actresses in the industry, too. Let the companies know you will not stand for sexual, physical, or mental abuse.

I also hope the Korean National Assembly will look deeper into the issues plaguing you, K-Pop industry. They passed laws this year for minors and their schedules, but I hope an internal investigation occurs to put a stop to the shadiness.   With this, I hope anyone who was and is abused by you will show their courage the way Junyoung and the anonymous trainees have to help shine a light and what goes on behind the scenes.   I hope companies who show signs of wrongdoing will be taken down for the sake of the people behind the acts we fans love.

K-Pop industry, you need to see your artists as people.   You need to help them, not hurt them. If you don’t change your ways, I will have to walk away from your world because I cannot support unfair treatment of idols or anyone else in the entertainment industry.   I love the people our idols are, and I stand by them.   Why won’t you?

Fans, will you stand beside your idols and show solidarity toward them and fair treatment?   Do you love them enough to help them?

Sincerely,

J. H.

 

Introducing a newcomer singer-songwriter, Dabit

Dabit  is a Korean-American  who was born and raised in the State of Ohio.   Dabit’s real name is David Kim and his Korean name is Jungwook Kim.    Dabit’s name was an innovative change from David and has no set meaning.   Since his friends started calling him Dabit to differentiate him from a friend who was also called David, he thought it would be fun to name himself Dabit, switching a couple letters around resulted in this unique stage  name.

Dabit has always been passionate about music and has been singing since an early age as a hobby.   He used to record himself singing when he was in elementary school and that was his way to release stress and be at ease with himself.   He states that because his older brothers all excelled in studies and sports, the one thing he could outdo them in was singing.    He decided to take the path to music, what he was best in, so despite his parents going against the idea, he enrolled into Berklee College of Music in Boston when he received a renewable scholarship.

After  two years of attending the school, he decided to visit his motherland to pursue his dream of becoming a singer-songwriter.   He has now been living in Korea for over three  years and due to the fact  he spent most of his vacation every year in Korea, he feels  most comfortable living in Korea.

When he first arrived in Korea, Dabit auditioned at different entertainment companies where he became a trainee at Choeun Entertainment and later became a member of the boy group called 24K.   Not long before the debut of 24k Dabit began to realize that idol music was not suitable for his voice and he knew he had to make a different type of music for himself.

Soon afterwards, he joined his current management company, KoffeeDream Entertainment to help him to launch his career as a solo singer-songwriter.   He maintains a still close relationship with the former band members.

Dabit released his first digital single “Whoo Whoo Whoo” on his birthday on December 5, 2013, and the digital single is written and composed by Dabit himself.  The song introduced Dabit’s style of music, which could be described as pop with a light swing and  overall very breezy and easy to listen to, compliments Dabit’s voice well.

On December 21st of 2013, Dabit held his first meeting with his fans in Apgujeong, in the Gangnam area of Seoul.  The following year on June 27th, Dabit had his first international fan meeting in Tunisia – tickets were sold out in less than 6 hours.

Currently, every Wednesday at noon, Dabit gets on the air on Arirang Radio’s “Hot Beat” where Dabit and the main host, Kevin Kim (From the boy band, ZE:A) co-host.  Together they discuss their personal lives and give advice for those who request.  The radio show has loyal listeners and has shown great response from international fans.

Dabit is, also taking lessons to pursue a career in acting and he has already made his first cameo appearance on the TV drama called “Endless Love”.   Dabit is a young and indeed a  talented artist who wants to take charge of his own music and is moving forward to evolve his sound.

We have Dabit’s interview for our Kcrush readers, we hope that you’ll enjoy reading and show much interest to his upcoming album which is on its way very very soon.

 

Interview with the new starlet singer-songwriter, Dabit

Hello Dabit…Thank you very much for taking the time to do our Kcrush America interview.
Could you say hi and put in a few words of introduction about yourself to our Kcrush readers?

Hello my name is Dabit!  I am a singer-songwriter who debuted last winter!

 

How would you describe the music you write and who has been your biggest musical influence?

I love music with a swing beat.   My music ‘is” a lot of k-pop, mainstream jazz with a little influence of R&B.   When I was younger, my biggest musical influences were artists like Wheesung and Jason Mraz.

 

Could you briefly describe what your personality is like and what do you usually like to do in your free time?

I think I spend a lot of time laying low by myself.   I like to stay home and watch movies or go outside and find a new place to chill out at.

 

What is your favorite song or record that you listen to often?   And when and how did you decide to become a singer?

My favorite song would  depend on my mood.   Currently, I’m hooked on Sam Smith’s , “I’m Not The Only One.”     And, I have always loved singing ever since I was young.   Although the dream was always there, I always felt scared to come forward with it.   I took my first step in high school when I decided to apply to the Berklee College of Music.

 

Who do you miss the most back home in America?

My family.

 

You stated eating as one of your hobbies, what kind of food do you like to eat?

Foods from different countries!   I recently had Tunisian food when I went there for a performance. It was delicious!

 

What do you like most about singing and writing songs?

I am a very independent and sensitive person.   I am not good at expressing in words what I’m feeling to my friends or even to my family members.   I feel like music gives me that outlet to release and express those emotions in a controlled manner.

 

Do you get stressed or put under pressure when you are writing your own songs?

Only when I have a deadline!   Otherwise, it’s a very fun and natural process that I love doing.

 

Name three things that matter to you mostly in your life.

Purpose, Companionship, and Food

 

What kind of person are you attracted to?

I am attracted to people who I can be comfortable around.   It usually tends to be people who are a bit quirky.

 

Where do you want to hold a concert in the future?

Wherever I have fans.

 

As an artist, who do you set as your role model?

When I was younger, I used to have some very serious role models.   I would become inspired by them and try everything that they did.   I still admire and take inspiration from so many artists and it would be unfair to only name one.   Since I am an artist myself, I am humbly trying to take more inspiration and influence out of my own daily life.

 

Do you have any hidden talent that you’d like to tell us about?

I completely forgot about this talent until my friend reminded me yesterday.   I have monkey ears that allow me to fold them multiple times… haha…

 

What are your plans and goals for your career?

Nothing fancy.   I just want to keep performing and making music for a long long time.   In the long run I would also like to discover other art forms to express myself through!   Eventually I shall master the art of expression!   Muhahah!

Dabit, thank you so much for your time and please, say a few words to your fans reading this interview.   We wish you all the bes t in your career and hope to hear more new music from you soon!

Thank you Kcrush America and all my fans for your support and interest!   I will be coming out with my digital single this late fall, so be on the look out for that!   See you guys very soon 🙂

 

— J. Chung

On September 13, 2014, Muzik MuzikAzia is a new Spotify-type site that focuses solely on Asian music./via MuzikAzia’s Facebook.

Azia, a new music streaming service specifically for Asian music, officially opened.  Described as Spotify for Asian music, users can stream Korean, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese music, and users can stream music from their favorite artists if they choose to do so.

MuzikAzia sounds like a promising concept right now, and a lot of users may find it helpful once a few kinks get worked out for long-term enjoyment.

First Impressions

Entering the website may be off-putting for many users as the initial language is in French. There is a language option on the upper right of the page to change the text to other languages, so you can do that, or you can simply add /en to the end of the URL.   Since I read and understand French, I didn’t bother to change the language settings.

The homepage promises listeners many choices for their music experience.  Each time I entered the page, I got a menu of different artists though CNBLUE was the most common,  but content does change daily it seems.  There are images of Korean, Japanese, and Thai artists, so it’s clear the site will cater to different listeners.  It seems that no matter what a person wants, it may be available.  This was especially true when using the “Library” tab, but it leads to some pros and cons of the site.

Pros and Cons

Pro and Con- The Library

Right of the bat, I noticed the site has some older artists listed like 1Tym, and a good mix of artists people will be familiar with overall like T-ara, TVXQ, Miyavi, Koda Kumi, and AKB48, as well as some obscure artists fans may have forgotten about like A.cian.  Seeing some of these artists, I felt a bit hopeful I would see some other older, defunct, or obscure groups like Baby V.O.X, S.E.S, Seo Taiji and the Boys, SpringS, Sound Horizon, or Do As Infinity, but they’re not included.  Maybe in the future?   One could hope!

Con- Misleading Content

There are some confusing elements for some of the menus though.  For example, “Find Out” suggests users can get news on different artists.  Instead, there is a list of artists and users can play different songs from them.  So don’t click on the link expecting news.  Perhaps this is something the developers are working on to fix.

Pro- Navigation

Most of the menus and links are easy to navigate, another plus for MuzikAzia.  Many of the tabs and menus work well and load quickly when clicked, especially the “search” and “library” options.  Searching for music is relatively easy, so users will not struggle with scanning the menus and entering the artist or song names users want.

The only downside is the links located at the bottom of the page.  If users try to open them in a new tab, they’ll open the homepage instead, which isn’t intuitive.  But, if you click on the links without opening in a new tab, they’ll work just fine.

Con- Not All Language Converts

Another tab, “Listen That,” has promise, too.  It shows a biography for a recommended artist, and it’s a nice way to discover a new artist.  But, regardless of language settings, the biography defaults to French, so users will have to use Google translate on Chrome to figure out what it says if French isn’t the understood language.  If you don’t mind the awkward Google translation, it will suffice, but again, this is an element that may need work.

Pro- Sound Quality

MuzikAzia boasts some good sound quality.  There are other Asian radio stations that have poor sound and bad connections which really impact the listening experience, but this isn’t an issue.  Even when jumping to different pages on the site, sound isn’t interrupted.  The only time the radio player stops is when I navigated to the home page, then I get a red warning across the top of my screen.

Con- Radio Player Doesn’t Say Who’s Playing

I’ve been around K-Pop and J-Pop a LONG time, but there are times I don’t recognize what artist is playing, and that happened a few times while listening to the radio player.  There are other music sites that will tell you who’s playing at the time, which is an edge these sites have.  MuzikAzia tells listeners what songs are playing if they choose a specific artist.  If artists and songs are shown to users using the radio, it would be awesome and helpful.

Pro- The Potential Blog

While there are still many sections that have the default text, the blog has potential if the post focusing on photographer Aki Yukigawa is any indication.  The content is informational, easy-to-digest, and a learning experience.  Once this section expands, it feels like it will become a go-to source for readers to learn about the arts, culture, and even news.  I know I already have the blog bookmarked!

Pro- Subscription Costs

Users won’t have to break the bank in order to enjoy a subscription.  The launching offer is one euro (about $1.30 USD) per month.  That small amount goes a long way for access on mobile devices, tablets, and computers, access to “thousands” of songs, and an ability to create playlists ad-free.   However, when I went to click on the subscription link, the link doesn’t work, which is a shame for anyone wanting to support their site right now.

Overall

MuzikAzia has potential to be a great site for Asian music lovers of all kinds.  There are a few kinks that need ironed out, but with growth, these may be eliminated.  For a new site, it has a lot going on and enough to keep users happy.  Over time, the site could assist the spread of Asian music to the world.

—- Joelle Halon

The queens are back!

After some time away, T-ara has made their triumphant return to the K-Pop scene with And & End, an album that shows some signature tunes and musical growth.

But, the album is not without controversy as it seems T-ara is nothing more than a target for hullabaloo anymore.   Sadly, in this case, decisions made by composers and their company overshadow the efforts of otherwise good performance abilities on the six-song mini album that is sure to please T-ara stans.

“Sugar Free”

There are two versions of “Sugar Free” included: The original and Big House version.  The differences between both can be heard starting around the 30-second mark (and it’s really cool to play the two songs together at the same time!).   The original version with the female voices around the 30-seconds in sounds more interesting while the Big Room version just sounds like a club standard.   The remix of the girls’ voices in the original give “Sugar Free” more depth too, so Big Room is definitely less interesting in comparison.

“Sugar Free”  gives fans the T-ara they all know and love.   It connects to 2013’s “Number 9” with exuberant sound and vocals, but the music does give the song more life.  The chorus is enough to hook listeners and draw them in for multiple listens.

One aspect that may surprise some listeners is the addition of LE’s (EXID) vocals.   LE is proving to be a jack-of-all trades in the K-Pop industry lately, having been featured on HyunA’s “Blacklist” and Jewelry’s “Look at Me” (2013), which she also composed.   LE’s voice adds something a little extra the song may have been missing otherwise, so it was the sugar on top of the “Sugar Free” cake.

“Sugar Free” earns an A, while the Big House version earns a B.

“남주긴 아까워”(“I Don’t Want You”)

“I Don’t Want You” doesn’t sound much different from other female idol groups’ songs, especially those who are more apt at the style presented.   The song sounds like it should be sung by Girl’s Day or Dal*Shabet.   Because it sounds so much like other songs available, it’s not really memorable.

The French influences in the instrumentals add oomph, giving it a cute, worldly feel.   While the “cute” feel doesn’t exactly fit T-ara, their voices sound pretty and show a different layer that might be refreshing for some fans.   Even the rapping portions are softer, which is exciting!   Sometimes having rapping that isn’t “in your face” can improve the appeal of a song.   That was the case here.

“I Don’t Want You” earns a B-.

“지난 달력”/”Last Calendar”

“Last Calendar” is a ballad that feels dreamlike.   While short, the song captivates and paints an image of pretty ballerinas swirling around a canvas, telling a story rich in artistry and emotion.

The song provides T-ara an opportunity to show off their delicate sides.   They’ve done ballads before like “Holiday” and “Cry Cry,” but “last Calendar” takes their gracefulness to a new level.   Hyomin sounds wonderful.   The song does wonders for her vocal range and shows how talented she is, something her solo song, “Nice Body” did not do.

If it wasn’t for how addicting “Sugar Free” is, “Last Calendar” is definitely the best song on the album.   It earns a solid A+.

“ORGR”

With a mix of dance music and slow bridges, “ORGR” is a multi-faceted song although it sounds familiar in some regards, especially the “na, na, na” portions.

Normally, songs with too many components—prominent rap, slow bridges, and quick verse pacing—crammed in sound sloppy, but the composing with “ORGR” didn’t make it feel that way.   However, it does get too repetitive to where it feels like no creativity went into creating a song with so much potential.   Lyrically, there could have been some improvements, but instrumentally and execution-wise, it just works.

“ORGR” receives a C+.

“그녀를 보면” (“When I See Her”)

“When I See Her” has shades of Jiyeon’s “Never Ever,” but it works since it has T-ara’s full backing.   The harmonies paint a pretty picture, once again showing T-ara is more than a dance-machine.

While the vocals are lovely, the piano in the background gets obnoxious because it’s one note being pounded out throughout the song.   This one note detracts from the song because, after a while, that’s all that can be heard.   Variety with the piano would help, or maybe just toning it a down would make a difference.   The focus should be on the vocals, not the background.

“When I See Her” grade: B.

Overall

And & End is a decent T-ara comeback with many strong songs that show their improvements as a group.   While there are a few weak songs, the songs that stand out will make the album worth listening to over-and-over again.   For once, the ballads stand out more than the dance tracks, and this could indicate T-ara’s march to maturity.
And & End earns a solid C+ for an overall grade.

—- Joelle Halon

 TEEN TOP’s EXITO Worth it Even for a Non-Fan

I need to get this out of the way: I am not a fan of TEEN TOP.

Save for “Supa Luv,” “To You,” and “Rocking,” their music isn’t my style.  However, teasers for EXITO caught my attention since they sounded more mature.

I am pleasantly surprised by the growth Changjo, Niel, C.A.P, L.Joe, Chunji, and Ricky underwent coming into the album. The music improved making this album smooth and enjoyable.

“Cry” and “Love U”

The best songs on EXITO are, by far, the ones composed by the members.

“Cry,” composed by L.Joe and C.A.P, and “Love U,” composed by L.Joe, have outstanding emotion.  The music arrangement helps with the vocals to help carry a listener away.

“Cry” has a haunting quality with the echoing vocals. The falsettos truly touch the heart. The piano at the beginning of the song matches the mood perfectly before other instrumentals join to make the song feel a little more upbeat.
As “Cry” builds, vocals also become more powerful adding additional layers. Even the rap felt necessary. The rap didn’t take away from the emotional impact and served as perfect closure.

“Love U,” like “Cry,” opens with a piano before adding more instrumentals. Like “Cry,” the buildup to the chorus touches the soul with a beautiful use of falsetto to add to the emotional appeal.

The best part of “Love U” is the chorus.  At times, I found myself wiping away a tear at the gorgeous vocals. Voices blend seamlessly and didn’t overpower the music’s message. This song is one that needs a live stage performance because it shows off how talented they are, and the raw emotion can win them some new fans.

“Cry” earns an A while “Love U” earns an A+!

“Missing”

The album’s title track, “Missing,” is not to be overlooked.  The song’s beat makes it memorable and suits TEEN TOP’s style well. High and low notes mix well to generate excitement. The rap blends well with each verse, avoiding the clichéd, pronounced rap K-Pop songs possess.

Stripping the vocals, the music has a nice groove that makes “Missing” a decent dance track.  This element also helps make the song memorable since the bouncy-feel makes the lyrics stand out and even easy to learn so listeners can sing along to it. Plus, it helps the TEEN TOP pronunciate lyrics well and are clear to understand, so the song is useful for fans even learning how to say Korean words!

 “Missing” has a nice arrangement and setup to make the song among one of TEEN TOP’s best title song releases.

“Missing” earns an A.

“Love Is”

The lounge and Bossa Nova beat for “Love Is” creates a coffee shop feel. The water drop sounds in the instrumentals make the song peaceful. The sell-point is definitely the high notes in the chorus.

The rap is a bit more pronounced, at times overwhelming the softness of the vocals that make the song enjoyable.  Because the rap is louder than the vocals, it feels like something was off with the sound mixing that made the quality feel a bit off-balanced. This may have been a song where fewer rap portions could benefit the final product. But, the chorus is well done and sounds good paired with the instrumentals.

“Love Is” receives a B-.

“Alone”

 “Alone” continues with “Missing’s” more upbeat sound, but the song lacks finesse. It begins with a child’s laughter which is a bit jarring with headphones. Other random sound effects feel distracting, ruining the mood.

“Alone” also feels messy. Others provide nice arrangement and harmonies. Here, it felt like TEEN TOP members weren’t on the same page, so I wonder what happened during the composing and arranging process. It is nice hearing each member’s individual solos, so no complaints here, but the quality just isn’t here.

“Alone” earns a C+.

“Remote Control”  

Almost every album has a weakness, and “Remote Control” is the weak link The first verse showed the song had promise, but the chorus and subsequent verses fell apart. Mostly, the song sounds whiney and forced.

The issue is the vocals lack the soul the instrumentals suggest for the song. Like “Alone,” vocals feel all-over-the-place. With some better direction, it is possible a good song is hiding. Right now, sloppy execution has me reaching for the remote control to turn this song down.

“Remote Control” earns a D.

Overall

Despite the misses with “Remote Control” and “Alone,” EXITO is a nice album with some spectacular elements. It is an album that could earn TEEN TOP some more fans, and it’s great to see L.Joe and C.A.P composing! Hopefully they will compose a whole album in the future!

EXITO earns an overall B-grade.

– Joelle Halon