The Indonesian island of Bali, often the favourite destination of backpackers, is packed with exquisite spots of nature and culture that attract millions of holidaymakers each year. With lush green forests, lava spewing active volcanos and a series of centuries old buddhist temples, Bali has just about everything a tourist could ask for. We take a look at the top 5 vacation spots in Bali below.’
5. Mount Batur
An active volcano hidden away on the Eastern side of Bali, Mount Batur towers over the plains surrounding it. Visitors often hike to the top of the volcano, a trek that is physically demanding and takes two hours minimum. The views from the top are breathtaking with Lake Batur on one side and a slew of forests on the other. Although lava last flowed from the volcano almost twenty years ago, the site nevertheless provides a breathtaking view of the crater from the top. With temperatures at midday too hot due to direct sunlight, the best time to undertake the hike is at pre-dawn. Following this schedule will enable one to catch the sunrise at the apex of the volcano, along with a sun drenched instagram perfect picture to remember the moment by.
4. Ubud Monkey Forest
Famous for naughty monkeys who will pounce at touristsâ belongings the first chance they get, Ubud Monkey Forest is a treat for tourists and photographers alike. Thousands of grey long tailed macaques make this forest their home, jumping through endless rows of towering trees as they eye the tourists below. An added treat when visiting this forest are ancient sculptures of animals that line the walkways, adding to the mystic and mysterious feel of the forest. This is not all as there are a couple of ancient temples hidden away in the forest as well. Each of these temples is more than 500 years old and showcases a specific period of Balinese history. With its rich flora and fauna along with stunning ancient relics, the Ubud Monkey Forest is one of the most visited vacation spots on the island.
3. Uluwatu
Perched away in the Southernmost corner of the peninsula, Uluwatu is a place of wonder and serenity. Most famous for the Uluwatu temple that is built right at the edge of a hundred meter high cliff, the area is dotted with white sandy beaches perfect for surfing. The Green Bowl and Balangan are the most famous in this regard, always filled to the brim with both professional and aspiring surfers as they master the waves with throngs of tourists chilling nearby. The jagged and elevated rock formations that make up the rest of the coast provide a perfect backdrop for some great photos as well. Paragliding is also available for tourists here enabling them to take in some stunning sights from above. In a nutshell, Uluwatu has everything for tourists; ancient temples to satisfy history buffs, great beaches for surf lovers to unwind on and plenty of hotels nearby to rest in.
2. Tegalalang Rice Terraces
One of the most visited tourist spots on the entire peninsula of Bali, the Tegalalang Rice Terraces have a level of awestruck beauty that is hard to describe. Consisting of rows upon rows of stepped rice terraces on hilly slopes as far as the eye can see, this vacation spot envelops all those who visit it with a sense of wonder and amazement that is unmatched. With clear blue skies providing the perfect backdrop to lush green rice paddies, tourists can walk on several of the walkways that snake across the landscape to discover the area properly. A slew of restaurants and cafes that dot the outer periphery of the area provide refreshments while long jungle swings are also available for the more daring tourists to test their fear of heights.
1. Kelingking Beach
Containing what is quite possibly the most instagrammable spot in the whole of Bali, Kelingking Beach provides a stunning combination of turquoise water surrounded by a white sand beach with extreme waves crashing in. However, the real attraction is the view from the limestone cliffs that look down at the beach as one is mesmerized by the stunning artistry of nature at display. A steep, winding path leads down from this cliff to the beach itself with bamboo railings on either side providing limited security. The perilous journey down does not deter hundreds of thousands from attempting to descend down to a serene beach that has been argued to have the most aggressive waves in all of the peninsula. Quite possibly the most famous landmark in all of Bali, Kelingking Beach encapsulates the essence of Bali itself; a daring yet stunningly serene piece of nature that has no equal anywhere on Earth.
—-Sami Yabbasi
Hello, thank you so much for taking your precious time for this interview. Kindly introduce yourselves to our readers.
Meena: Hello, this is Bae Meena. Iâm a vocalist and a bassist.
Myeong-jin: Iâm Kim Myeong-jin. I am a drummer and a vocalist.
Jung-hoon: I am Han Jung-hoo. Iâm a guitarist and a vocalist.
Tell us how you came up with the name âDrinking Boys and Girls Choir.â
Meena: We came up with the name in hope to always remain as boys and girls who love to drink. We also wanted to put âchoirâ in because we all sing together as a band.
We are curious on how you guys initially got into music.
Meena: When I was in high school, I got to listen to Marilyn Masonâs music through a friend, and thatâs how I got into rock music and made up my mind to join a band when I got into uni.
And after watching Daegu’s well-known indie band A-FRICA perform, I was so impressed by the drummer that I joined the school band a day after enrolling. I was the drummer there for around three to four years. A member of an indie band who was invited to play at a rock festival at my school, asked me to join the band, and thatâs how I got into the indie scene in Daegu from 2008.
Myeong-jin: When I was in grade 5 in elementary, I happened to see an idol girl band AIDA on TV, and got really into them.
When I later got into middle school, I naturally began learning how to play the drums and acoustic guitar. Around that time, the priest at the cathedral that I attended had started a band, and being in the band helped me a lot too. In high school, I never played in a band but I got to play different percussion instruments from being in an orchestra.
Jung-hoon: When I was in middle school, I heard Marry Me by Ellegarden play in the car. At the time, I had no dreams for myself, but when I heard the song play, I realized my path was music and being in a band. I began to play the guitar right after that incident and am still doing music till this day.
Pick just one of your songs that you love performing the most and the reason why.
Meena: If I had to choose, it would be Iâm A Fucking McDonaldâs. It was written based on real experience and it can help to relieve the anger that always exists in my mind.
Myeong-jin: National Police Shit is a really fast song with a section that goes by really quickly, so itâs enjoyable to play the drums to the music.
Jung-hoon: I feel that Red Shift has all the elements of our band. I think it best showcases a âcoolâ side of us.
Could you take turns to compliment your fellow band members?
Meena: Myeong-jin is not only a great drummer, but sheâs really skilled as a songwriter and lyricist. I gain much consolation and even get emotional from listening to songs written by her. My favorite track from our upcoming second album is, âMy Second Universeâ by Myeong-jin.
Jung-hoon is extremely passionate. He joined the band only recently but I feel that heâs doing his best to fit in with the bandâs atmosphere. I hope we can keep spending more time with him as a band.
Myeong-jin : Meena is an emotional and sensitive punk rocker. She really relates to the people who are in need and is doing her part to change the world. Jung-hoonâs best characteristics are the fact that heâs very faithful and zealous. He makes me look back on myself for always being lazy.
Jung-hoon: As the bandâs leader, Myeong-jin is always so supportive and her drumming is beyond powerful. I admire how Meena is so incredibly energetic on stage. Iâm always learning tons from the two members.
What kind of music are you immersed in nowadays?
Meena: Iâm listening to a lot of Billy Carter, Bosudong Cooler, Dead Buttons. I really like the fact that the three bands are all very interested in issues concerning gender, human rights, environmental issues. Billy Carterâs latest album Donât Push Me literally describes feminism so well, and I cried while listening to it. While working on our album last year, I listened to a lot of music by The Beths.
Myeong-jin : Iâve been listening to a lot of music by TENGGER members Itta and RAAI lately.
Jung-hoon: I usually like to listen to Nothingâs Carved in Stone – a team formed by the guitarist of Ellegarden that helped me choose the path of music. All the members are so talented and never fail to inspire me.
What is the first thing that you do when you get up in the morning?
Meena: I drink water. After staying numb for a while, I get up to brush my teeth. When I have the time, I always try to go for a jog in the morning or hike.
Myeong-jin: I yawn and then drink some water.
Jung-hoon: I think to myself that I want to sleep longer, then I consider sleeping for another 5 minutes or so. Then I spend more time zoned out.
Please name one possession that you cherish the most.
Meena: I canât say that I cherish this the most but I think Iâm the most attached to my phone. When smartphones first came out, I tried not to rely on it too much, but it now feels like itâs become a part of me. What else? Wireless cable..?
Myeong-jin: I try not to give too much attention to things and choose not to be greedy.
Jung-hoon: The songs on my playlist. Theyâre always with me wherever I go. I have some songs that are hard to find these days, so I consider them as my best friends.
Which country in the world would you most like to perform in and why?
Meena: Iâd really love to revisit Indonesia for a tour. I also wish we could perform at the Oktoberfest in Germany. And I would love to visit all the countries that I havenât been to yet.
Myeong-jin: I would love to perform in Japan, China, and other countries.
Jung-hoon: There are so many countries and cities that we havenât been able to go so far, but Iâve always wished to perform at the rock festival in Japan.
Can we wrap this interview by stating your plans and hopes for the bandâs future, and please add something nice to your fans as well.
Meena: Drinking Boys and Girls Choirâs second album is coming out in July. We hope that our new album will cheer you all up during the pandemic. We look forward to seeing you all soon.
Jung-hoon : Our second album is being released soon. I believe all the tracks on the album are really great. Stay safe and healthy. Please listen to our album and watch this space for our live performances!
–J.Chung.
#drinkingboysandgirlschoir #indie #rockandroll #bands #koreanindie #koreanhardrockbands #hardrock #sxsw2021
Singapore, often labelled as the jewel of South Asia, became an economic powerhouse in the late 20th century. The rapid urban development that resulted prompted Singapore to become a center for cultural and financial progress. As incomes rose, fields such as art and fashion found new patrons, prompting a revolution in the industry. Today, Singapore is one of the premier fashion hubs of the developed world, with plenty of talented designers and craftsmen contributing to a vibrant local industry. We take a look at the top 5 fashion designers of Singapore in the list below.
5. Max Tan
One of the younger fashion designers in the industry, Max Tan exploded onto the fashion scene after immense popularity launched his brand max.tan into the stratosphere. Most of Tanâs designs are his personal takes on minimalism. With duality featuring heavily into his clothing, Tanâs work plays on and challenges the well established notions of femininity and body size. With his primary focus on the younger demographic, Max Tanâs clothing lines can best be described as chic, playing on a combination of comfort and style. Max Tan has successfully infused his personal tastes into overarching themes to create fashion trends that speak to a wide variety of individuals.
4. Hayden Ng
Born in 1966, the story of how Hayden Ng stumbled onto the fashion scene is both inspirational and poignant. Completely self-taught, Hayden Ng spent his early years learning the basics of sewing himself. An opportunity arose in 1987, when Hayden was asked to dress Miss Universe Singapore. This once in a lifetime chance propelled Hayden to stardom and he opened his first store soon after. With his services consistently desired for both Singaporean Armed Forces and the National Day Parade, Hayden found himself turning into a celebrity at the onset of the 21st century. During this time, he consistently contributed to global beauty pageants as well, dressing Miss Universe Singapore in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Further success followed when Hayden founded the ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase that celebrated the diversity of the ASEAN region through haute couture and street fashion.
3. Keith Png
Self-professed style Guru and fashion designer Keith Png began his illustrious fashion journey with a diploma in apparel design and merchandise from one of Singaporeâs top polytechnique schools. Providing exclusive attires to models and actresses such as Sheila Sim, Fann Wong and Lin Chi Ling, Keith has found unparalleled success designing creations for the entertainment industry. Keith has also become the go-to guy for marriage solemnization gowns with some of the top talent in the local entertainment industry such as Fann Wong and Wendy Cheng selecting him for gowns for their respective intimate ceremonies. With frequent collaborations with some of the top brands in the world such as Samsung, Air Asia and Ray Ban, Keith has found himself quite busy during the last decade. Keith is currently focusing on his lifestyle boutique brand, Hide and Seek, which he had launched in 2008.
2. Priscilla Shunmugam
Originally a lawyer, Priscilla Shunmugam found herself drawn towards fashion design while working in England. Deciding to pursue her passion, Priscilla launched her brand titled Ong Shunmugam soon after, introducing hipster heritage clothing into the bustling fashion industry of Singapore. Primarily known for her reimaginings of traditional clothing such as the sari and the cheongsam, Shumnugam has found considerable success in her niche. The response has been so positive that Ong Shunmugam is considering opening stores in neighbouring South Asian countries as well. Her groundbreaking work in infusing traditional dresses with modern spins has shot Priscilla to fame, with several reputable magazines and Awards celebrating her success with full spread adverts and interviews.
1. Benny Ong
Perhaps the most recognizable face from Singaporeâs fashion industry to make it big on the global stage, Benny Ong has had an illustrious career in fashion. From designing workplace attires for some of the biggest corporations in the world, Ong has been approached by members of both British Royalty as well as Jordanian Royalty for creating attires for them, a testament to his talents as an artist. After decades of success in the industry, Ong decided to shift gears to textile art noting that fashion had become all about seasonal trends that waste the tremendous amount of work put into clothing. With his towering achievements and an unparalleled contribution to the industry, Benny Ong has rightfully been called the most influential fashion designer to ever come out of Singapore.
—-Sami Yabbasi
Summer is just around the corner! Soon everyone will be in tank tops and flip-flops heading to their favorite beaches or picnic sites. With fun times and travels ahead, I have you covered with ten feel-good summer bops to fuel your sunshine.
âWaveâ by ATEEZ
The title alone recalls the soft ocean breeze and cool salty waterâperfect for getting into beach vibes. ATEEZ brings an upbeat island sound with this tune. The lyrics also touch on some ocean imagery and good times as they sing “Hakuna Matata” (a reference to “no worries” from the Lion King). Youâll truly feel breezy and at ease with âWave.â
âOur Summerâ by TOMORROW X TOGETHER
No matter what season it is, when youâre with your personâitâs always summer. The last line in the chorus brings this thought to mind, âIf we’re together, feel like summer.â TXT also has an acoustic version of this song that invokes deeper emotion than the light-hearted vibes of the original. I love both versions!
âBoy With Luv (feat. Halsey)â by BTS
This is a personal choice. My entire summer of 2019 was fueled by this song! I was always drinking strawberry acai refreshers from Starbucks and jamming to âBoy With Luv.â Ironically, my pink drink matched the pink BTS album this song comes fromâŚcoincidence? Itâs such a feel-good jam and gets me dancing every time, which is exactly what you want on a summer playlist!
âMORE & MOREâ by TWICE
“MORE & MORE” has a unique sound that perfectly matches the theme of the song. These song lyrics are about being your authentic self and how others will just want more and more! Summer is all about being your best self and TWICE gave a fun song to encourage that!
âParadiseâ by Eric Nam
Summer is a time of freedom. School is out and vacation is in! During the year, it is easy to feel trapped and long for the moment of release. Eric Nam explores this feeling in his song, âParadise.â Feelings of wanting to get out of the cage, but being trapped at the same can be difficult, but this song is hopeful! You will taste the outside world because âyou were born to fly.â Jam out to Nam!
âBon Voyageâ by YooA
This song is what adventure sounds like. Every time I hear it, I envision myself somewhere else. Being on a cruise ship, snorkeling in the Bahamas, hiking next to mountain streams, jet setting across the globeâthis song invokes the feeling of travel. If you havenât heard it, do yourself a favor and take a journey with YooA!
âAnpanmanâ by BTS
Nothing but good vibes from âAnpanman.â âAnpanmanâ is a classic jam from BTS. Those who have been to their shows, or who have watched them virtually, know BTS have a blast performing this! Because of this, itâs the perfect summer song. No cloudy days here!
âDolphinâ by OH MY GIRL
The lyrics of this fun tune are about someone who pops in and out of your life like a dolphin. Check out these lines: âWhenever I’m off guard, you suddenly pop up and quickly swim away. I get splashed once again.â Hereâs to catching your dolphin this summer!
âMY TREASUREâ by TREASURE
A chill song, “MY TREASURE” is great for relaxing while getting your tan by the pool. The lines are encouraging: âItâs all good,â âItâs gonna be alright,â âWeâre gonna be okay,â âNever give up.â If you need a summer pick me up, this is the song for you!
âWhat You Waiting Forâ by SOMI
Summer is full of the spontaneous! SOMIâs asking, âWhat you waiting for!?â Her anthem is all about needing to seize the day on your crush. This bop is perfect for any moment you want to get hypeâfrom a party on the beach to a long drive with friends.
Summer 2021 is going to be amazing! Why not have an amazing playlist, too? These songs are perfect for fueling your adventures and sunshine-filled moments.
—-E. Boyd
AmPm, the Japanese masked production duo who debuted to global acclaim with their March 2017 single âBest Part of Us feat. Michael Kanekoâ, have released their latest track: âAfterglow (feat. Kimberley Chen)â is out today, May 12.
âAfterglow (feat. Kimberley Chen)â
https://ampm.lnk.to/ampm210512_digi
âAfterglowâ is a collaboration with Kimberley Chen, the Taiwan-based star singer who originally hails from Melbourne, Australia. It is a breezy summer tune with a refreshing dance-pop melody, bursting with love for that special someone.
A video was also released today â AmPmâs first ever full-length animated music video. The visuals match the songâs dreamy vibe, a bright and positive video that follows a young woman who enjoys fashion and dating as she spends time with her boo. Look out for hidden illustrations of AmPm that pop up from time to time.
âAmPm / Afterglow (feat. Kimberley Chen)â
Message from Kimberley Chen
âThis experience has been so special. I feel so honored to be invited to collaborate with AmPm. During tough times supporting each other through music is something that my soul needed. Thanks to everyone that help made this happen! And Iâm looking forward to finally meeting in person :)â
Message from AmPm
âThis project came to life after we approached Kimberley to collaborate with us, and itâs a song that truly conveys her personality. We also think this dance is perfect for the coming season, so we hope youâll put on headphones or earphones and turn up the volume.
âIf it wasnât for the current situation, we would have loved to have gone to Taiwan to work with Kimberley directly, but when life finally returns to normal, we hope to visit Taiwan to hang out and perform live together.
âThis was also our first time to make a full-length animated video, so we hope youâll check it out! Itâs always fun to have the opportunity to work with the most talented artists, and hopefully the video expresses this feeling too.â
Release information
âAfterglow (feat. Kimberley Chen)â
Release date: May 12
Listen here: https://ampm.lnk.to/ampm210512_digi
Kimberley Chen profile
Kimberley Chen was born May 23, 1994 in Melbourne, Australia. She started singing at age 4, and soon began a career as a child actor and model, appearing in a commercial for McDonaldâs that was aired in Asia. In 2005, she was cast as Young Nala in the musical production of Disneyâs âThe Lion Kingâ, which was staged at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne and the Shanghai Grand Theatre in Shanghai. In 2007, she was picked to sing the national anthem at the Australian Football League Grand Final. She moved to Taiwan in 2010 to participate in the popular music audition show âOne Million Starâ. Her debut album followed in 2012, and the music video for âAini (Love You)â was a huge hit on YouTube, with over 100 million views. In 2018, she entered the upper ranking among contestants on âProduce 101 Chinaâ, which generated some 4.3 billion views. Chen signed with Taiwanâs R&B/soul label ChynaHouse in 2020, where she released her first single as a newly rejuvenated self-produced singer and songwriter. In December 2020, she released âPrincess Tendenciesâ, a 31-song mixtape featuring hip-hop legends from Greater China and a new generation of Mandopop artists as guests. Chen has become one of Greater Chinaâs most impressive female Gen Z artists.
AmPm profile
AmPm are a masked production duo from Japan who made a major global impact with their March 2017 debut track, âBest Part of Us feat. Michael Kanekoâ. The same year, they were the only Japanese artist to perform at Spotify On Stage, a festival in Indonesia hosted by Spotify. In 2018, they dominated stages around the world, from Ultra Miami to shows in Korea and Japan, and even a headline concert in New York. In addition to releasing their own original music, AmPm have remixed tracks by popular overseas artists such as Afrojack, R3HAB and Nicky Romero, along with remixes for renowned Japanese artists like Gesu no Kiwami Otome (âBlack Paradeâ) and MONKEY MAJIK (âTokyo Lightsâ), and production for Ken Hiraiâs track âHolicâ. Collaborating with a plethora of dance-music vocalists, they have released more than 20 tracks to date. In March 2019, they were recognized at the Digital Contents of the Year 2018 / 24th AMD Award, winning the Special Jury Award. In June 2019, they produced V6âs âAll For Youâ. Today AmPm are one of Japanâs most in-demand music production exports, with fans among artists and music lovers alike.
Music: https://ampm.lnk.to/ampm
Website: http://ampm.tokyo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampm.tokyo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ampm_tokyo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ampm.tokyo/
—
Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wvl6e2f5gzx2g5n/AAD_tvLMPMIoY2C1y2wTGvn6a?dl=0
KPSN PODCASTFEST ’21 Official Announcement from KpopSocialNight on Vimeo.
The event returns July 10 – 11, 2021 with over 20 podcasts, activities, and special performances! Early access tickets are just $10.00 and available at http://tinyurl.com/kpsnfun21
As a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, weâre helping to kick off pre-sale tickets at the 2020 price of only $5.00!
Get yours now at https://tinyurl.com/kpsnfun21 and learn more about the event.
Let’s make a huge impact this summer with K-P-S-N Podcast Fest 2021.
MGM Worldwide Television Group is to partner with one of South Koreaâs top entertainment companies, SM Entertainment, to launch a competition show to recruit American males to produce a K-pop group – based in the U.S.
The talent competition will be open to males between the ages of 13 and 25. The selected contestants will be flown to Seoul train at the SM Entertainment campus, where they will be judged and mentored by SMâs founder Lee Soo-Man and the NCT members.
SM Entertainment founded in 1995, is one of K-popâs top 3 of the most successful entertainment agencies/labels, having led the K-pop phenomenon worldwide.
NTC is a South Korean boy group formed by the Korean entertainment company that is currently made up of 23 members of various sub-groups.
âI look forward to making an unconventional audition show that all music fans around the world can enjoy,â Lee said. âI hope the audience enjoys watching the journey of new stars being born in Hollywood, that will be promoted as NCT-Hollywood in the global market in the future.â
Back in February, HYBE, the label of BTS, revealed their strategic partnership with Universal Music Group to debut a global K-pop group in the U.S. The members will be chosen from a worldwide audition and be televised next year, in 2022.
âThis series is exactly the type of innovative programming that MGM is committed to creating on a global scale,â MGM Television chairman Mark Burnett stated. âK-pop is more than a genre of music; itâs a cultural phenomenon and weâre so excited to partner with the incredible Mr Lee Soo-Man and the team at SM to bring K-pop to the U.S.!â
— J.Chung.
The Multi-Platinum Artist Delivers Soulful Second & Third Singles From New Project
WATCH THE MANDARIN VERSION FOR âBLUEâ WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR âVEGASâ LISTEN TO THE MANDARIN VERSION FOR âBLUEâ LISTEN TO âVEGASâ
Global Asian pop superstar, Amber Liu, released two new singles âblueâ and âvegasâ today with accompanying music videos through all digital streaming platforms via EMPIRE. Joining Amber Liu in the Mandarin-language version features popular rapper MaSiWei of Chinese hip-hop group Higher Brothers. The tracks are the second and third off Liuâs upcoming album and follow the simultaneous music video releases of hit single âneonâ, which features Korean-American rapper Peniel of K-pop boy group BtoB in the English-language version, while the Mandarin-language version features Chinese-born rapper Blow Fever
The Mandarin version of the âblueâ music video showcases Liu playing with a lighter while sitting alone in a dark, graffiti covered room. With flickering lights in the background, Liu sings as she breaks objects and pours herself another glass of alcohol. The gritty atmosphere adds to the melancholic meaning behind the lyrics. Midway, Liu is joined by MaSiWei as they continue to sing along to the melody. The one-shot production of this video mimics the emotional spiral one feels after experiencing heartbreak. âvegasâ, a catchy love ballad infused with synth pop beats that keeps the music fresh and relevant, is a departure from Liuâs latest playful and colorful single âneonâ. Throughout the music video, Liu is captured driving through the desert, on the balcony of her hotel room, and prancing around the Las Vegas strip in a compilation of home video style sequences. An intimate look into Liuâs world, listeners are able to connect with the message of the song. Despite the differences in style, âvegasâ still stays true to Liu’s rhythmic, pop sound and showcases her ability to appeal to perfectly execute an array of music styles.
MaSiWei is a Chinese-born rapper who rose to fame in 2016 with the debut of Chinese hip-hop group Higher Brothers. Since their debut, the group has received international success, appearing in commercials for Beats by Dre and toured multiple continents. At the start of 2020, MaSiWei released his first solo project âPrince Charmingâ and most recently released his second solo studio album âDark Horse.â
After cementing her star power in South Korea as a member of the record-breaking electro- pop-based K-pop girl group f(x), Amber returned to her native California for much of 2018. The move signaled a crossover into new audiences and solo success with fans and critics alike raving about her solo body of work. She soon signed with US management company Steel Wool Entertainment and United Talent Agency for US booking before leaving Korea-based SM Entertainment. Just last year, her EP âXâ was released and she went on to perform on two back-to-back North American national tours; with the most recent being a 24-city tour in early 2020 with rising artists Justin Park, Meg & Dia and Justice Carradine. The megastar kept busy last year outside of music with visual language learning app, Drops, tapping her to teach Korean to K-pop fans and hosted her own show, âIâll Ask The Stupid Questionsâ as an original program with international mobile streaming service, Ficto. Earlier this year, Liu was not slowing down with her international projects when she joined the fourth season of popular national Chinese TV survival reality series, âCHUANG 2021.â As a mentor, she offers her knowledge of what it takes to be an internationally-acclaimed pop idol as the show forms their new Chinese 11-member boy group from 90 contestants who compete to debut into the global market. As a singer-songwriter, she has multiple credits on f(x) hits such as âGoodbye Summerâ and her own solo hit âShake That Brass,â which she performed on the âCHUANG 2021â most recently to rave reviews.
ABOUT AMBER LIU
A California native, Amber Liu was discovered at the age of 15 at SM Entertainmentâs global auditions in Los Angeles. Following a move to South Korea, she debuted in 2009 as a member of the female group f(x). The record-breaking electro-pop-based K-pop group quickly became one of the industryâs most popular and award-winning. In 2013, the group became the first K-pop act to perform at SXSW, with the New York Timesâ Jon Pareles calling their performance âimpeccable.â f(x)âs 2013 album âPink Tapeâ was called âone of the best Asian pop albums of all-time,â by Pitchfork and charted #1 on Billboards K-Pop Hot 100 and World Album charts. In 2015, Amberâs first solo release, the critically acclaimed album âBeautifulâ, debuted at #2 on Billboardâs World Albums chart, with the title trackâs music video, released the same day, garnering more than 1 million YouTube views in its first day of release. She has also made a career on television and film hosting travel and variety shows in South Korea and starring in the American indie film The Eagle and the Albatross.
ABOUT MASIWEI
Praised by the New York Times as the leader of the Higher Brothers, China’s breakthrough hip-hop group, and one of China’s leading rap figures, MaSiWei has released four high-caliber solo mixtapes since his debut at the age of 21, “P.E.I VOL.1”, “P.E.I VOL.2”, “P.E.I VOL.3″ and âAFewGoodKids”, one Higher Brothers mixtape “Higher Brothers”, two full albums with the Higher Brothers “Black Cab” and “Five Stars”. With “Made in China”, “WeChat” and several other singles, MaSiWei has repeatedly created a global craze with more than 250 million music streams in total. Starting from the release of their first official album “Black Cab” with the Higher Brothers in 2017, they have had sold-out tours at home and abroad. Their single “Lover Boy 88” with Phum Viphurit and KnowKnow became a summer love song phenomenon. After, their “Five Stars” album with outstanding hip-hop artists including ScHoolboy Q, Denzel Curry, Soulja Boy, J.I.D, became a global hit.
In 2019, the Higher Brothers released the single “Friends and Foes” with Snoop Dogg, and it made them the first Chinese rapper to create the theme song for an American drama with western rappers. With the release of Higher Brothers hit album “Prince Charming” in 2020 and his second solo album “Dark Horse” in 2021, MaSiWei has traveled the world with his music and as part of the Higher Brothers, he is one of the few representatives of Chinese rap in the Western music scene.
South Korean veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung is now the first Korean to win an Oscar in an acting category at the 93rd Academy Awards, for a supporting role in playing an eccentric grandmother in the hit movie âMinariâ this Monday.
The film was written and directed by Korean American Lee Isaac Chung, loosely based on his childhood past. The family film features the relationship between Soon-ja (played by Youn Yu-jung) and her grandson David (played by Alan Kim) in a farm in Arkansas.
Since its premiere, “Minari” attained top star reviews and Youn’s acting drew a vast amount of attention from the public and critics, even though she speaks mostly in Korean in this movie.
Youn began her acceptance speech at the Oscars by âforgivingâ people for mispronouncing her name, and praised the Minari family and the director of the movie. She even added that she âusually just watches the show on televisionâ and that she couldnât believe she was there in person. She finished her speech by saying that she didnât believe in competition. She thanked her âtwo boys who make me go out and work.â And added, âThis is the result because mummy worked so hard!â
Youn has lived in the States for over a decade in the past, so she doesnât have trouble communicating and making witty acceptance speeches.
For âMinariâ, Youn received numerous best supporting actress trophies and nominations from film festivals and critics’ awards, including the Critics Choice Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the BAFTA Awards, and now at the Academy Awards.
Youn became the second Asian actress to win an Oscar for a supporting role after Japanese actress Miyoshi Umeki won the supporting actress award at the awards more than 60 years prior, in 1957.
–J.Chung.
BTS is known for their honest lyricism, hauntingly beautiful melodies, and on-fire tracks. BE is an album that shows a different side to the group. This album was meant to be reflective of the time in which it was written, mid-pandemic 2020. These songs are personal, heartfelt, and journal-entry-esc. Hereâs how they rank.
Life Goes On: 7/10
âLife Goes Onâ is a chill song that fits in perfectly with the 2020 vibes. Each of the members had a chance to shine in this encouraging ballad. At first, when the single dropped, I was a bit surprised. This sound is different than what BTS normally delivers. But this song normalized them to the world. BTS were affected by the pandemic, just like the rest of us. Sure, they could have produced an upbeat, synth-driven song. Instead, they gave ARMY a melody that hugged them and told them it would be okay. Take a peek at some of these lyrics:
âOne day the world stopped without any warning.â
âTime goes on its own without a single apology.â
âThereâs no end in sight, is there a way out?â
âClose your eyes for a moment, hold my hand â to that future letâs run away.â
Fly To My Room: 6/10
Jimin and Taehyungâs voice on this is excellent, as well as the smooth rap breaks from J-Hope and Suga. This song has a nice laid-back vibe to it. Overall, it gets this score from me because this song is not one I would seek out, but I wouldnât skip it on a playlist either. The lyrics touch on moments that capture the emotion of quarantine. Check these out:
âThis room is too small to fill my dreams.â
âThis room may be my emotional trash can but it will hug me.â
âThe delivery food is three stars.â
Blue & Grey: 8/10
This ballad is beautiful and full of depth. The soft vocals, mellow rap, and melancholy instrumentals made this a fan favorite. It explores depression and feelings of hopelessness, reflected in the colors blue and grey. This song had been worked on by Kim Taehyung and solo artist NIve. Originally, it was going to go on Vâs upcoming solo mixtape, but it was decided to make it a part of BE. Iâm so happy it made an appearance here first because the song meshes so well with the others and was my favorite track on the album.
Skit: –/–
Do I understand what theyâre saying? No. Does it matter? No. I love this throwback tradition having a comeback in this collection. Just listening to the members interacting, recognizing their voices, and hearing them laugh is a real treat.
Telepathy: 6/10
âTelepathyâ has some great vibes and a retro groove to it. I enjoy the upbeat atmosphere it creates. Like âFly To My Room,â this isnât a song I would intentionally look up to listen to, but Iâd bop along to it if it came on. âTelepathyâ appears to be written to ARMY. It talks about being close even when far apart. Check out some of these lines:
âEven though right now weâre far away our hearts are still the same, arenât they?â
âEven if youâre not by my side, even if Iâm not by your side, we all know weâre still together.â
âWhen the days all feel the same, Iâm the happiest when I meet you.â
Dis-ease: 6/10
An aptly named track for the pandemic, âDis-ease.â The best part of this song has to be when it goes off in the bridge. I remember the first time I heard it, I was shook by how good it was! This classic hip-hop vibe was interesting to hear from BTS. It reminded me of some of their earlier sounds and I enjoyed that they incorporated this feel again. âDis-easeâ explores the hardships of the pandemic, but also encourages listeners to keep moving forward.
Stay: 5/10
âStayâ was a bit too electro-pop for me, personally. However, I do appreciate the message the song is giving off. It seems like BTS is again singing to ARMY. They remember the times we had with them and replay it in their minds. They affirm that they know âI know you always stay.â Donât worry, BTS, ARMY is going nowhere!
Dynamite: 9/10
Sure, for the most part, itâs a word salad. To be fair, BTS didnât compose the track. Despite some of the goobelly-goop word pairings, itâs a song the world needed. âDynamiteâ is upbeat, full of joy and hope, and has a stellar key change at the end. Thereâs a reason why it has stayed at the top of the charts in many countries. “Dynamite” is the gift BTS gave the world to jam out to at a time when many needed a happy song that made them dance.
Final: 6/10
This is not my favorite BTS album. However, it is a BTS album that we needed! These tracks help capture 2020 through the lens of one of the worldâs most beloved music groups. It was intentional, smart, and hit all the right emotions of our COVID year. Itâs an ARMY time capsule and one I will go back to.
—-E. Boyd
Plot:
Something in the Rain is about a woman in her mid-30s, Jin-ah, who lives with her parents and manages a coffee franchise. She has a terrible boyfriend, who is both boring and abusive. She comes in contact with her best friendâs little brother, Jun-hi, who is now in his 20s. They end up working in the same building and forming a close friendship, which buds into a relationship. This is an against-the-odds love story, with their age difference and the fact they knew each other through childhood. How will they tell their friends and family? This premise was one I absolutely adored and it had so much promise. Warning: spoilers ahead!
Something in the Rain started so well. I’ve never seen a show portray new love this accurately and detailed. The little expressions as you stare over at your crush. The rush of excitement when you receive a text message. The butterflies were tangible from these characters. It was incredible to watch and I found myself happy crying at their new love. I would rewatch the first five episodes just for that fantastic portrayal. But it all goes downhill from there.
And the problem is, itâs not the usual K-drama downhill. Obstacles were bound to come up; thatâs what makes a good drama. This was an abyss of crushed hopes and inflamed hatred for the character of Jin-ah. This womanâs choices were infuriating and made me want Jun-hi to dump her ASAP. She didn’t seem to care about his feelings and defied the boundaries that Jun-hi explicitly stated. She was selfish and prideful and would manipulate Jun-hi when he called her out. This made me want to scrap the show because it was incredibly frustrating. She didnât deserve this man in the slightest. Jun-hi was the only saving value in this show, but I hated watching him get trashed on by the woman he loved. To be honest, I also ended up fast-forwarding through a lot of the second half of the show. Plot: 4/10
The setting didn’t promote any feeling of excitement, and perhaps that was the point. This drama was meant to be in an everyday setting. You have the offices, the coffee shop, and their homes. However, I didn’t feel connected to any certain space. Other dramas have been set in the everyday and have still managed to pull this off well. An example would be Because This is My First Life or Itaewon Class. I didn’t hate the environment to the point where I felt it ruined the show. It was just âmehâ overall. Setting: 4/10
Characters:
Jun-hi was an incredible character, despite his flaw of being Jin-ah’s walking mat. I wish he stood up for himself sooner. He excused so many of her poor behaviors. Not that he wouldnât speak up about them every now and again, but she had no consequence from him for her errors. It took him to the last few episodes to finally draw the line in the sand. Jun-hi was selfless to a fault. He always put her above himself. Heâs funny and sweet and brave. Who wouldnât love him? Characters: 5/10
Jin-ah’s character on the other hand only plummeted. She started sweet and so incredibly relatable. She needed to be broken out of her insecurity and Jun-hi helped that. Unfortunately, Jin-ah swung the pendulum in the opposite direction. She made one selfish choice after another, not looking out for anyone elseâs interestsâincluding her best friend and Jun-hi. Her pride, trusting herself above all else, made me dislike her in the highest degree by the end of the show because of how she treated the characters I grew to love.
Age is just a number. I loved this theme because it really is true. Itâs a bit taboo to have a large age difference between couples and it comes with its challenges. However, with the right mindset, anything is possible. I think some of this show displayed how not to go about this (i.e. don’t hide it from your BFF and don’t treat the younger person in the relationship like a less mature individual). Yet it did display that Jun-hiâs maturity outgrew Jin-ha. Donât judge someone just on a number! Theme: 7/10
This OST included almost all English tracks. The track âStand by Your Manâ by Carla Bruni was a bop! I sang along to it every time it came on. Another one that was often played in this drama was “Save The Last Dance for Meâ by The Cats. A rendition of âIâll Stand by Youâ by Jake Wesley Rogers was also a highlight. Besides that, nothing stood out. OST: 5/10
FINAL:
This show took me through the wringer. So many emotional lows and a few highs from the beginning. It is a drama I would re-watch the first few episodes of and turn it off before it’s ruined. I would recommend it to a friend who has already watched the better ones out there and needs a bit of a twist. I still watched Something in the Rain to the end but did so painfully. There are better romances out there, but few first episodes that are so good in displaying new love. Watch the first five or so episodes and then stopâthatâs my advice! FINAL: 5/10
—-E. Boyd
K-Popâs next generation stars, D1CE, are coming through on May 1st to meet their beloved fans in D1CE2nd ONLINE FANMEETING [Dear. MyDon1y]. The online fanmeeting will take place on the MyMusicTaste platform, greeting fans from all over the world.
After honing their skills on several survival reality TV programs, the five members have displayed their outstanding talent as a group and as individuals with covers and original songs. Every release leaves fans in awe of the talent and stage presence from the group.
Each member of D1CE has left an impression on fan seven prior to debut with their pre-debut track releases as units. They continued to impress with their debut song in August of 2019, âWake Upâ that pushed forth with a strong concept.
Songs like âGood Dayâ and âYouâre My Destinyâ have captured the attention of the public, with beautiful smooth vocals that comfort listeners like a soft hug. Their June 2020 release in particular, âDraw You,â garnered over 3.5 million views on YouTube.
With the announcement of member Jo Yong Geunâs enlistment into the military on May 6th, fans are even more eager to meet with all the members ofD1CE one more time.
This fanmeeting will bring D1CE and their fans, Don1y, together online. Ticket holders can also purchase a 1:1 Zoom Video Call voucher to chat with the members. These are limited in number, but promises fans the chance to talk to the members.
For this concert, D1CE is collaborating with MyMusicTaste, a technology forward platform that breaks the barriers set by the pandemic and brings fans and artists together to create a new way of connection.
Tickets for D1CE 2nd ONLINE FANMEETING [Dear. My Don1y] are available on MyMusicTaste, for all Korean and global fans. D1CEâs five members: Jo Yong Geun, Kim Hyun Soo, JungYoo Jun, Park Woo Dam, Woo JinYoung. Further information regarding ticketing and the show itself can be found throughhttps://mmt.fans/MwIjor through MyMusicTasteâs other social media channels.
D1CE [D1CE 2nd ONLINE FANMEETING [Dear. My Don1y]] May 1, 2021, 9:00PM KST â MyMusicTaste
About MyMusicTaste:
MyMusicTaste is a fan initiated live event making service that brings fans, artists and promoters from all over the world together in one place to create a valuable and meaningful concert experience for everyone involved. MyMusicTaste puts the power in the fans’ hands, allowing fans to request their favorite artist’s concert in their city. With the mission to connect and amplify the voices of fans all over the world, MyMusicTaste successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, GOT7, MONSTA X, The xx, Machine Gun Kelly, and more in over 57 different cities. With the simple idea–empowering fans to bring their favorite artistâs concert in the city of their choice based on fan demand–MyMusicTaste is challenging the $27 billion concert market through cutting-edge technology and sophisticated, user-friendly service. Currently, www.mymusictaste.com supports more than 30 countries and offers 15 different languages.
About DREAMCATCHER COMPANY (D1CE Entertainment):
Established in 2008, DREAMCATCHER COMPANY is a South Korean record label and entertainment agency founded by the prominent production duo E-tribe. Since the debut of its first artist Nassun, the company has grown in size over the years, producing artists and idol groups under its own name. V.O.S, Dalshabet, DREAMCATCHER, and D1CE are the major artists that are currently associated with the label. With the debut of D1CE, the sub-label D1CEEntertainment was established in 2019
Japanese-Chinese boysâ collective WARPs UP released their new single âPleasureâ on global download and streaming services today (April 23), along with new mini-album âPrep.20/21SS -Chapter RLSM-â. Up until now, these releases had been limited to China only, so this marks the first opportunity for fans to hear these long-awaited songs on music services around the world.
https://warpsup.lnk.to/Pleasure
The single âPleasureâ is the opening theme song to the popular TV anime series âFruits Basketâ, whose latest season âThe Finalâ began broadcasting in April. This is the first ballad from WARPs UP, and carries the inspiring message that no matter our fate or circumstances, we all have the power to shape our own future.
The âPleasure -Anime ver.-â music video was released recently, featuring scenes from the opening of the movie, but today another music video that includes the group members has also been released. While the song itself is a ballad, the video includes an unmissable dance routine that showcases WARPs UPâs trademark skills.
âPleasureâ music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j98v9k9_0I0
âPleasureâ is also one of five songs on the new mini-album âPrep.20/21SS -Chapter RLSM-â. The release also includes âSUPERNOVAâ, which recently topped the weekly J-pop chart on Chinaâs major streaming service NetEase Cloud Music. The collection preserves this important formative period in the groupâs history.
WARPs is an abbreviation of Wave Assemble Radical People-syndicate, based on the concept of creating waves of innovation. It is a project that produces a variety of unique artistic works and transcends national borders. WARPs UP are one of the groups within the WARPs project.
The group includes two members from Japan and two from China. The Japan side features RIKIMARU, a dancer and choreographer for many famous artists, and SANTA, a top-level dancer who has earned the title of World Champion at a world-renowned dance battle. Meanwhile, Chinese members MINGJUN and LANBYI gained performing experience as trained idols in China.
RIKIMARU and SANTA are currently appearing on âCHUANG2021â, the immensely successful Chinese TV audition show, and their incredible performances on the series have sent them soaring to stratospheric heights in China and throughout Asia. Now is the perfect time to catch up with WARPs UP and their history, as they reach all-new horizons for the future.
Release information
Single: âPleasureâ
Release date: April 23, 2021
1. Pleasure
2. Pleasure -Anime ver.-
Mini-album: âPrep.20/21SS -Chapter RLSM-â
Release date: April 23, 2021
1. Hali Gali
2. Cloud 9
3. One Hundred degrees
4. SUPERNOVA
5. Pleasure
âFruits Basketâ information
You can watch âFruits Basketâ on the following streaming platforms:
â Funimation (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand)
â Wakanim (France, Germany, Russia, Nordics)
â AnimeLab (Australia, New Zealand)
â ADN (France, Belgium, Switzerland)
â Animax (Southeast Asia)
â Tooniverse (South Korea)
â STARZPLAY (Middle East)
â iQIYI (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Southeast Asia)
â KKTV (Taiwan)
â CHT MOD (Taiwan)
â friDay (Taiwan)
â Ani-Gamer (Taiwan)
â myVideo (Taiwan)
TV anime âFruits Basketâ official global website:
https://www.fruitsbasketofficial.com/
Official Twitter account:
Official Instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/fruba_pr
Images: Š NATSUKI TAKAYA.HAKUSENSHA/FRUITS BASKET PROJECT
WARPs UP links
WARPs UP official website: https://avex.jp/warps/
WARPs UP YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/WARPsFACTORYTV/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warpsup_official/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WARPsUP
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warpsofficial
Weibo: https://www.weibo.com/7028502927
Korean space western film, “Space Sweepers (Korean: ěšëŚŹí¸),” drew over 26 million household viewers during the first month of its worldwide release (From Feb. 5) via Netflix.
âSpace Sweepersâ which stars Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri and Yoo Hae-jin, dominated the streaming serviceâs daily top 10 rankings in 80 countries since its premiere.
The film is the first Korean sci-fi movie that is set in space in the year of 2092. It follows a crew of a junk-collecting spaceship who collect to make profit from selling debris. But they suddenly find themselves stuck in a risky situation when a humanoid called Dorothy is discovered.
Song Joong-ki plays the shuttle’s pilot called Taeho, Kim Tae-riâs role is Captain Jang, Actors Jin Sun-kyu and Yoo Hai-jin play the role of Tiger Park and a former military robot respectively. Director Jo Sung-hee had worked together with Song Joong-ki back in 2012, in the box office hit “A Werewolf Boyâ.
About the success of the film, Song commented, âI donât really know where the data that Space Sweepers ranked first on Netflix charts comes from, but Iâm sort of dazed that itâs really our film that people are talking about. Last night I talked with director Jo Sung-hee and we both wondered if it was really our film.â
Director Jo Sung-hee came up with the filmâs storyline about 10 years before the film’s release, after hearing about the dangers of space junk from a friend.
He said, “It started with the idea of space travelers collecting space junk. I heard about how these fast-moving fragments of space debris are growing and leading to in-space collisions. I realized that this subject has already been dealt with in animations and games, but never in a film. I started writing the script wondering how Koreans, who possess a tenacious mentality, would approach this problem.”
Netflix plans to invest up to $490 million to produce original Korean content in the future. In 2020, Netflix had approximately 3.8 million viewers in South Korea, but its revenue more than doubled as the viewership quickly grew amid the pandemic. Netflix is presently the most popular streaming service in South Korea, with over 10 million users and growing.
— J.Chung.
#SpaceSweepers #Netflix #Streaming #moviestreaming #SongJoongki #KimTaeri #YooHaejin #KoreanseriesonNetflix #JoSunghee #Scifi #spacewestern #Koreandrama #kfans #koreanactor #koreanactress #asiandramas #kdramafever #kpopfans #koreantop
Kpop artist and SHINeeâs member, Taemin (27), recently announced the date of his military enlistment during a V Live Broadcast, titled âThank you for 13 years.â
Taemin announced to his fans that he will be enlisting on May 31st, but will be hosting a solo live concert prior, to express his thanks to his fans.
He is the last remaining member of the band, SHINee, to complete his military service.
In South Korea, it is mandatory for all able-bodied males to serve in the military from the age of over 18 for around 20 months – unless he is eligible for an exemption.
Exemptions from military service have been given to award-winning athletes, classical musicians, and dancers, but not to Korean pop acts.
However, at the end of 2020, South Koreaâs parliament passed a bill (at times referred to as the BTS law) allowing selected Korean pop artists to defer military service until the age of 30.
Under the revised Military Service Act, the ones who are allowed to postpone their service until the age of 30 must be a pop culture artist recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and have greatly enhanced the image of South Korea both within the nation and internationally.
Lee Tae-min (born July 18, 1993), also known as just Taemin, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, actor and dancer. He made his debut at age 14 as a member of the group ShINee in 2008.
Taemin began his solo career in 2014 with his first extended play, Ace, which peaked at the top on Gaon Album Chart. His first studio album, Press It (2016) charted at No.1 on the Gaon Album Chart.
In 2016, he made his solo debut in Japan with the release of Sayonara Hitori.
In 2018, he released his first Japanese album, Taemin. In 2019, Lee released his second Korean mini album, Want, with a title track of the same name. That year, he was made a member of SM Entertainment’s supergroup SuperM.
J.Chung.
MacDonaldâs has announced its plans to collaborate with K-pop megastars – BTS.
BTS fans around the world will soon be able to grab their McDonaldâs orders in almost 50 different countries. This will be the first time that MacDonaldâs will provide a celebrityâs favorite order in more than one market.
The “BTS Meal” will launch on May 26 in America, Canada and Brazil and soon after in nearly six continents and consists of the “superstar band’s signature orderâ, with 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium World Famous fries and a Coke.
There will also be a debut of two dipping sauces – Sweet Chilli and Cajun, inspired by McDonalds in South Korea. The meal goes on sale in the band’s home country of South Korea, a day later on May 27.
“We’re excited to bring customers even closer to their beloved band in a way only McDonald’s can – through our delicious food – when we introduce the BTS signature order on our menu next month,” Morgan Flatley, the chief marketing officer of McDonald’s said in a statement.
McDonaldâs team-up with the South Korean icons follows the success of its meals with artists J Balvin and Travis Scott.
The Travis Scott meal last year was so popular that some locations ran out of ingredients. Scott netted around $20 million from the deal, according to Forbes. The chain also sold a J Balvin meal with a Big Mac, fries, and an Oreo McFlurry, though the accompanying merch collection was later canceled.
However, McDonaldâs could probably surpass its prior success with the upcoming BTS collaboration. The band is well-known for its millions of supporters – the Army, who made the K-pop group reach beyond just Asia.
J.Chung.
An interesting feature that you will find in many historical, and some current, homes in Korea is a heated flooring system. The Korean hot water flooring, or Ondol (Hangul: ě¨ë), is a type of underfloor heating system that uses circulating smoke (previously) or currently water to transfer heat. Experts say that it ondol was already used in dwellings during the Neolithic Age around 7000 years ago. The first recorded use of ondol was from the Goryeo Dynasty in the 13th century. Ondol became prevalent during the Joseon Dynasty in 15th and 16th century. In historical Korean homes, gorae is an important component of ondol, which allows smoke from the kitchen to pass under the house. There are also gudeul (wide stones) and a red mud clay layer that prevents the smoke from seeping into the house. Gudeul absorbs the heat from smoke and radiates it throughout the house. This keeps the house warm all night, after the kitchen fire is extinguished before the occupants go to sleep.
Modern Ondol Floor Heating Systems
The old ondol system that used fire and smoke, had a higher risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, especially if the mud layer dried up and cracked after prolonged use. The current Korean ondol system uses electricity and circulating hot water under the floor. Because itâs a closed system, modern ondol is highly efficient, while a typical fireplace transfers only 20% into the inside of the house. Heat is stored longer under the floor after you turn off the system. Recently, many architects and home builders around the world have recognised the efficiency of the modern ondol system. From South Korea, the system has been implemented in Japan, China, Europe, and North America. Itâs being recognized as a new alternative in home heating system.
Ondol System Controls
When staying in a modern Korean house during winter, you will likely find an ondol thermostat on the wall. When you turn it on, hot water will flow under the floor within a network of small pipes. There are dozens of ondol manufacturers in South Korea and the basic usage of the system is generally similar. The ondol thermostat has a power button to turn on and off the system. Thereâs a display to show the current temperature and to indicate whether the system is turned on or off. There are usually temperature pre-sets, such as low, mid, and high. You may also find buttons to manually adjust the temperature in Celsius (not Fahrenheit). The system will turn on and off automatically to meet your preferred temperature level.
Contact KCrush America
To learn more, contact KCrush America today and become a part of one of the largest online K-Pop communities.
If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to share it on your favorite social media sites.
—-Julie Luong
#Ondol #hotwaterflooring #Korea #woodenflooring #historicalhousing #Asia
#ondolmanufacturers #kpopcommunities #kfans #kpop #kmagazine #rooftopliving #Koreanhousing #kcrush #Koreanrealestate #buykoreanbuildings
Start-Up is one of the few dramas Iâve seen some of my friends buy merchandise for and now I totally understand why. This drama was such a blast to watch! There are very few downer moments in this show, despite some heavier themes. I highly recommend this after a more weepy K-Drama or if you need some extra sunshine in your life! Warning: Spoilers Ahead.
Plot:
This show centers around Dal-mi, a young entrepreneur who wants to walk in her late fatherâs footsteps. As a child, she wrote letters to a boy named Nam Do-San. Turns out, they were actually written by a young man her grandmother knew, using the name of a boy in a newspaper so that she wouldnât find out. Dal-mi years later goes in search of Do-San and finds him! But the now successful business man, Ji-pyeong, who actually penned the letters finds him first and convinces Do-San to pretend to have been writing the letters all along.
I loved the tension in this drama. Who would Dal-mi choose!? Her first love or the new Do-San? The lies create unrest in the characters of Ji-pyeong and Do-San as well. Ji-pyeong knows he is Dal-miâs first love and starts to fall for her, but is blocked by her affection for Do-San. Do-San on the other hand is always trying to live up to the man in her letters. What a whirlwind.
The reveal of Ji-pyeong as the letter writer was done very well. I like that Dal-mi was starting to sense something wrong as well. I originally thought she would find out by comparing the handwriting of her letters to the handwriting of Ji-pyeongâs notes in their counterfeit handwriting system. I still think that could have been cool, but this reveal made it more impactful. She was able to talk to Do-San on the phone whilst being with Ji-pyeong holding her letter. It was a good shock!
The one moment I hated was when Do-San asks Dal-mi why she likes him after he returns from America. He looks at her with pleading eyes. She tells him she doesnât know. And that was so disappointing for me! Even though she says that she just likes himâand he feels comforted by thatâit didnât feel satisfying at all. Why not say because he came to her rescue with the hackers, told off the CEO who insulted her, or how he was always supportive of her dreams? There are so many amazing qualities about Nam Do-San and just saying âI donât know, I just like youâ felt lame to me.
I liked how Ji-pyeong tells Dal-mi that he had 15 years to reach out to her and he never acted. Whereas the first day Do-San met her, his feelings propelled him to act. In the end, Do-San was the one who was meant to be with Dal-mi. Although, it was also fruitful that Ji-pyeong fell for Dal-mi. He started smiling and being more sincere after his affection grew for Dal-mi, and this led him to fund that youth organization at the end of the series. It was a great way to wrap up the show for him. Plot: 9/10
Setting:
The Sandbox is a pretty cool place. The cafĂŠ, modern offices, and casual lounge areaâit gives entrepreneurs a creative space to experiment. I like that they spent so much time here.
The layout of the house Dal-mi shares with her grandmother is homey! Its cozy vibes show the family warmth that Ji-pyeong is so attracted to. On the flip side, Do-Sanâs family home is darker and more serious. This helps us to experience the heaviness that he feels as a son who carries weighty expectations.
I also loved the old office that housed Samsan Tech in its beginner days. Itâs a sweet scene when the team goes back one last time, with tears in their eyes at their humble beginnings. Setting: 7/10
Characters:
I like that we saw Dal-mi as a child because it set the scene for us to understand her as an adult. She is sweet, happy-go-lucky, and carefree. Her personality was perfectly crafted for this role as she navigates her sharp sister and falls for the dream of Do-San.
Do-San has a great character arc in this series. He starts insecure but becomes strong after living on his own in America. This shows how impactful being around othersâ expectations can be. Although his personality doesnât change, he becomes sure of himself and his value. He doesnât need words of affirmation from Dal-mi or his parents. This was a beautiful thing to see and it made his relationships better in the end. I also love that he married Dal-mi, too!
Ji-pyeong was an interesting character. He was closed off, well-to-do, and confident. Despite his firm appearance, he is soft inside. His love for Dal-mi’s grandmother, the way he chooses to tell Do-San the truth (that he should shoot his shot with Dal-mi), how he chooses to put professionalism above his emotionsâthis all displays his strength of character. Due to the difference in age and status, he made for an interesting and compelling rival to Do-San, even despite his backstory with Dal-mi.
I found the side characters to be fun, but a little less compelling. Characters: 7/10
Theme:
“She likes my hands”âthe main theme in this show is authenticity. Nam Do-San continually questions why Dal-mi likes him. He knows he is living a lie, but still hopes that this misunderstanding can become reality. He wants to be loved for who he is and likewise, he deserves to be! He holds onto the one thing that Dal-mi actually likes about him, not the Nam Do-San from the letters.
This theme shows us that we need to be ourselves. If we project someone other than who we are, we will forever be questioning our self-worth. Do others like me for me, or just what I project? This gave me some good self-reflection during the show. Theme: 8/10
OST:
When I hear this OST, I get excited! Thereâs a sense of hope, adventure, and fun love. My favorite upbeat tracks from this soundtrack are âFutureâ by Red Velvet and âRunningâ by Gaho. For emotional songs, check out âDay & Nightâ by Jung Seung Hwan, âOne Dayâ by Kim Feel, and âMy Loveâ by Davichi. OST: 9/10
FINAL:
I totally binged Start-Up. Itâs such a rush of good feels, interesting plot lines, and humorous moments. Thereâs a reason so many people were talking about this show! I only teared up three times, and two of those were happy criesâperhaps a record for the K-dramas I have seen. If you need a pick-me-up, donât hesitate to watch Start-Up! FINAL: 8/10
—-E. Boyd