Following months of speculation, JYP Entertainment and Label SJ finally confirmed what many fans suspected: TWICE’s Momo and Super Junior’s Heechul are dating!
Rumors surrounding the pairing started in August 2019 when Netizens started releasing “proof” and media shared insight that Momo and Heechul were seeing each other. However, both parties’ companies denied the dating rumors.
“The dating reports are false, and the two are just close friends with a senior-junior relationship,” JYP Entertainment said August 6, 2019.
On August 17, Heechul denied the rumors as well during an Ask Us Anything broadcast.
Early in December, the dating rumors heated once again, but Heechul, at the time, denied the allegations while stating he wishes to keep his relationship status private.
I just want to be careful because I don’t want to hurt my fans,” Heechul said on Where Are You Going, Ddaenchul? “[Fans] have supported me since I started my career, so I don’t want to disappoint them. I know I may break their hearts if I date or get married so I’m also thinking about that.”
However, on January 2, Market News reported the pair are dating again, and this time, the couple’s agencies confirmed the news by stating Momo and Heechul recently started dating after being good friends.
“Kim Heechul and Momo were always close celebrity senior-juniors, but recently they have begun to meet each other with good feelings,” Label SJ said.
JYP Entertainment added, “After looking into it, we can confirm that the two celebrities started as close senior-juniors, but recently developed feelings for each other and are meeting each other.”
Congratulations to the newly announced couple! Hopefully, fans will not give you grief.
—-Olivia Murray
Congratulations are in order to start off the New Year!
On December 31, 2019, former Super Junior member, Hangeng (2005-2009), married Hong Kong-American actress Celina Jade in New Zealand.
The pair met back in 2017 at the Golden Rooster and the Hundred Flowers Awards. The couple dated privately before making their relationship public in February 2018. They announced their relationship in similar “hello, my girlfriend,” “hello, my boyfriend” posts on Weibo. Similarly, they announced their marriage via “hello, my partner in life” messages on the same social media platform.
Wedding invitations for the nuptials circulated online in November, but representatives for the pair played coy when asked to confirm or deny the marriage news.
Hangeng is currently active in China as a singer and actor. Celina Jade (Celina Horan) is active in both the United States and China as an actress, singer, and model. In the US, she’s known best for her role as Shado in the CW television series Arrow.
Congratulations to the newlyweds! Finally, some good news to usher in the New Year!
—-Olivia Murray
After eight years with the agency, Lee Hi will be parting ways with YG Entertainment.
“With the end of Lee Hi’s contract coming and after considerable discussions with Lee Hi, we’ve decided to cheer on our different paths,” YG said in a statement. “We wish to express our gratitude to Lee Hi for making a name for herself for the past seven years as a YG artist, and we will always be sincerely supporting her. We ask for even greater cheers and support from fans as Lee Hi embarks on a new beginning and activities.”
On December 31, 2019, Lee Hi posted a message on her Instagram announcing her departure as well.
Hello, everyone. This is Lee Hi.
I’m here to greet you with news that is new and little unfamiliar on the last day of 2019. As of the end of this year, I will be leaving the nest of YG, a place I have been with for a long time.
As we have spent so much time together, I have so many memories when I look back. At 16 years old, I went to audition with a dream that was so big that it almost appeared reckless, I was able to join YG, an agency I’d looked up to when I was younger, and with the help of great people, I completed and released my first single “1.2.3.4” and album “First Love.” The memory of my first day in the recording studio and being amazed at hearing my own voice. That October, when I was monitoring the album I’d released with a racing heart. Everything is still fresh, like it happened yesterday.
Even when I was just starting as a singer, I thought time was going by so fast, and now I’ve gone from one album to three albums. I was 17 years old and I am now 24. It still feels like time is going by so fast, and though I feel a little sad on one hand, those times have also remained as precious memories I will never forget.
Of course, it wasn’t always easy, but I think I was actually quite lucky in a lot of ways. The staff, who always worked hard for me behind the scenes and who are like old friends and family to me, and the amazing things we built together will be something I will never forget.
As this is a decision I made after a long period of thinking it through, I want to sincerely thank the many people at YG who supported my decision and new start, and I will do my best to repay everyone with better music. As I am leaving the agency that I spent 8 years with, which is a long time, and was there for my growth, I will be even more prudent when choosing the next agency I will be with, and I hope to greet you soon with good news.
I hope the new year will be filled with even better things.
Lee Hi (Lee Hayi), who recently celebrated her seventh anniversary since debut, signed with YG Entertainment in 2011 after placing second on K-Pop Star’s first season. She was slated to debut in the girl group SuPearls, which also consisted of fellow K-Pop Star contestants including Lee Michelle, but YG disbanded the group to focus on Lee Hi’s solo career.
As we all head into new beginnings at the start of 2020, here’s to hoping Lee Hi will also find an agency that will adequately show off her talent!
—-Olivia Murray
Thank you for your time. Could you introduce yourself and your brand to our readers?
I am Ayoung Kim from Cahier. I want to state that Cahier is a brand that awakens feminine vibes for all females. We provide graceful silhouettes and intricate designs that fit well with modern people’s lifestyles, and the most feminine and luxurious style only Cahier can offer.
Ours is a suggestion of feminine and urban goods that are wearable, with variations of curvy cuts and soft, elegant silhouettes. And fine couture details using ruffles, trimmings and appliqués make up our designs, where glamorous but understated practicality and creativity coexist.
Please share with us how you became a fashion designer.
I majored in Fine Arts and moved to France for my studies after graduating university in Korea. Since I had studied Fine Arts for quite a long while, and because I had to select my major for my graduate studies, I really pondered about it, whether I could become a so-called “artist”.
As I took time to reflect on myself, I was in a world of my own and felt extremely lonely, then thought that I’d want to work on something that I could communicate with people with. Rather than be by myself away from the rest of the world, I wanted to be in touch in people through my work.
After figuring out what I can do the best, I transferred to Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la couture Parisienne and began to dream of becoming a fashion designer.
For 11 years, I studied and worked in Paris, and gained a broadened mind and sense through diverse experiences within the European culture.
How did the brand name Cahier come about?
Cahier refers to a “notebook” in French; also meaning “Exercise book”. Ever since I majored in painting, so I was habitually drawing in my exercise book – the brand indicates the passion and contemplation that are in the note book.
How were you inspired to create your most recent collection?
Each season, we pick a character for homage, according to the current social issues. For our first ever fashion show, we chose Cleopatra as our concept. Since Korea is so well-known for cosmetic surgery and the obsession on outer beauty is so competitive, appearance has become the thing to judge people on. The females only seem to have one image – one goal in mind, these days.
Cleopatra is known to symbolize beauty to all females. In reality, she was close to being homely in appearance but was considered very prolific in her speech and highly intelligent.
She was not in the way what we consider beautiful these days – so I wanted to use her to showcase a different form of beauty through this collection. I hoped that the people who were at the show to think that they want to wear the outfits.
Which designer do you respect the most?
Gabrielle Chanel. She had a definite philosophy and life embedded in her brand – had the courage to lead, rather than following the trend. I respect the fact that she has the power to draw in people and her confidence to claim that she herself is fashion – “I don’t do fashion, I AM fashion.”
Who would you want to collaborate with?
We’d like to collaborate with brands or styles that are different to our brand’s image and what we’ve never experienced before. We want to recreate a new image with the house we collaborate with.
Do you have a model that you want to work with?
We want to work with Korean actress Kim Min-hee, rather than with a fashion model. We consider her as our muse; her dreamy eyes and gestures to match. She fits in so well with the image of Cahier. Unfortunately, she’s currently not working.
When do you feel the most rewarded?
After launching my brand, by chance, I saw someone wearing Cahier… I think that was a very emotional moment for me. I feel the most rewarded each time our clients say that our outfits are lovely.
What kind of environment do you tend to work it?
We normally work during dawn when we have to prepare for a collection. I think the calm time at dawn gives out a lot of inspirations.
Could you lend a word of advice to aspiring designers?
It’s been already 5 years since the launch of Cahier. There are many brands that were launched around the same time as us that no longer exist currently. I think a lot of passion and courage are needed to run a fashion brand business. And a vast amount of endurance and mind control to overcome when you’re met with difficulties. Anyone can start a brand, but it’s important to have the strength to retain the brand’s unique style until the very end.
I currently teach classes at university, so I get to meet people who are planning to become fashion designers. But many of them tend to think that being a designer is a glamorous and graceful career. They think that way from just seeing things from the surface. However, fashion designers do more labor than an average laborer and have to spend endless time working each season.
I want to advise that you need conviction to give up on everything else to pursue this career, and only when you are fully convinced about yourself and gained trust, should you start working towards your goal.
What do you think you will be doing in 10 years-time? Please tell us your dreams and aspirations for the future.
A role of a designer is not to be swayed by or follow the consumers, but to offer a new kind of style to the people. With the latest trend in mind, I want to provide diverse moods of clothing and feminine luxury that only Cahier can express. Fast fashion is currently taking over the fashion world, but Cahier strives to become a brand that will gain more of its worth as time goes by, and something that people would want to leave behind for the next generation.
—J. Chung.
Christmas day is a holiday in Korea and an important one, not just for Christians (of all denominations) who make up approximately 30% of the country’s population but also for those without religion.
Although Christmas does not have the long history it has in Western countries, there is a convention of “Christmas cakes” established by the baking industries and a strong notion that Christmas is a time to be spent with your loved ones.
When it comes to Christmas carols, recordings of traditional carols have been frequently done since the 1960s in Korea. In surveys about favorites, it is found that Koreans prefer the more modern and secular carols. The most listened-to Christmas tunes in Korea according to a survey carried out from 2016 to 2018 were: Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas is you, Last Christmas sung by Ariana Grande, Straight No Chaser’s Text me Merry Christmas and Kelly Clarkson’s Underneath the tree.
These days, however, it is not hard to hear comments along the lines of “Christmases just don’t feel the same anymore.” One of the reasons it doesn’t feel as “Christmassy” as before is that Christmas carols are almost unheard in the streets and shops now, because of copyright issues.
It is not illegal to play music in public, as long as it is not done for free. This does not mean that shops can play music (including carols) without the fear of a fine.
Since August last year, shops must pay fees in order to play copyrighted music. This includes imported music, found on licensed files and discs.
The fees are not heavy. Shops are to pay 3 to 20 dollars every month, depending on their size. The same rule of shop size applies also to gyms. Gyms must pay larger sums, from 10 to 60 dollars, depending on their size.
There are exceptions to this law; shops of sizes under 50 square meters may play music without being charged. That would be about 40% of the cafes, coffee shops, pubs and bars, etc.
The freedom to play music without paying any fee is also given to shops of certain categories, including bakeries, convenience stores, restaurants and clothes stores. As long as these venues are “small”, that is. There is a blurred line and it is not clear how big a venue has to be in order to be imposed a fine or a regular fee for playing music.
There are several organizations in Korea, involved in work to do with copyrights. One aspect of their endeavors is to find any infringement of copyrighted material and taking legal measures.
Recently they have attempted to ban all copyrighted music from all venues, including the smaller shops. An appeal made to the Constitutional Court ended in their failure, with the Court ruling that the status quo is constitutional.
In short, smaller shops are relatively free to play music, while bigger cafes and bars should pay a small monthly fee to play music, including carols. It still stops a lot of them from playing music, so the streets of Korea are becoming quieter every year.
–J. Chung.
On December 27, 2019, singer-songwriter Raina (Oh Hye-Rin) opted to leave Pledis Entertainment following the expiration of her exclusive contract with the company. Pledis Entertainment confirmed the news via a statement.
Raina’s exclusive contract with Pledis has come to an end as of December 27, 2019. We discussed the matter of her contract with renewal in length with Raina, and ultimately came to a settlement not to renew.
After debuting as the main vocal of After School in 2009, Raina has always showcased her best side while also promoting in unit group Orange Caramel, as a solo artist, and more. We would like to relay our word of thanks for trusting in us and continuing on in her journey with us for the past 10 years.
Raina has had varying degrees of success in the K-Pop industry. As a member of After School and Orange Caramel and as a solo singer, Raina has shown she is a multi-dimensional performer capable of holding her own.
Upon her departure, Pledis Entertainment wished Raina luck.
In the meantime, you can catch Raina on her own YouTube channel, I’m Raina. Hopefully, she will find a new agency soon!
Photo credit: Kpopsurgery
—-Olivia Murray
Sadness has descended upon Bollywood this holiday season as actor Kushal Punjabi, 37*, passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. According to sources, Punjabi’s passing was suicide by hanging.
On Thursday December 26, 2019, Punjabi’s parents tried reaching out to their son, but he did not respond. His parents then reached out to others close to Punjabi in hopes of locating him.
The parents then informed Punjabi’s friends, when he did not respond to their calls. [His parents] entered the flat [in Pali Hill] using a duplicate key late night,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IX) Paramjit Singh Dahiya said.
According to the deputy commissioner, Punjabi’s parents found their son deceased.
“They then informed the police,” the deputy commissioner continued. “A suicide note was found in which the actor held no one responsible. A case of suicide has been registered.”
Punjabi’s passing shocked his friends and others in the Bollywood industry. Fellow actor and Punjabi’s close friend, Karanvir Bohra, took to Instagram to express his surprise.
“I know you are in a happier place, but this is unfathomable,” Bohra said.
Actor Karan Patel said, “never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that you will bid your final goodbye to life in a way that will send a chill down our spines every time we think of you.”
“Who would have thought that behind that bright, happy smile lay a troubled mind,” TV celebrity Rohit Roy said. “I am so, so sorry. We couldn’t be there when [you] probably needed us all the most. Rest in peace my brother. Like most, I’m still in shock… can’t begin to fathom the pain you must have been in to [choose] such a painful end for yourself.”
Earlier in the year, Punjabi expressed excitement about his life, as well as his love for being a stay-at-home dad after his son was born.
“I cut down on work to be with my son,” Punjabi said. “I realized that if it’s just work that we are living for, you won’t do anything else. I agree that the money is good, but your youth will never come back. I loved the stay-at-home dad phase when my son was born.”
While Punjabi is married, the couple were reportedly separated. In the note left at his death scene, he asked for his assets to be split between his sibling, parents, and son.
Punjabi was known for his roles in Lakshya (2004), Kaal (2005), and Ishq Mein Marjawan (2018). He is survived by his parents, a sibling, and his son, Kiaan. May he rest in peace.
*There are conflicting reports regarding Punjabi’s age. Some media report he is 37 while others state 42.
If you or someone you love is struggling with depression, there is help.
United States
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line: A 24/7 nationwide text-messaging hotline. Text 741741 to talk to a trained counselor.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255- Available 24 hours every day.
The Trevor Project: Call 1-866-488-7386. Crisis and suicide prevention services available to the LGBTQ+ community.
Trans Lifeline: Call (877) 565-8860. Crisis and suicide prevention services for trans and non-binary individuals.
Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 for help. Text 838255 for text-based services. This service aids veterans.
Canada
Kids Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868. A 24-hour service for youths 20 and under.
The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Assistance is available in French and English. However, they are not a crisis center, but they do have links to crisis centers in each Canadian province.
Trans Lifeline: Call (877) 330-6366
Youthspace: This service helps people aged 30 and under. Text them at 778-783-0177. The service is available from 6pm to midnight PST.
For a complete list of suicide and crisis lifelines available in many countries, please visit Wikipedia’s list of resources.
Photo credit: Hindustan Times
—-Olivia Murray
FTisland has lost another member.
Song Seung-Hyun, the group’s guitarist, opted to not renew his contract with FNC Entertainment. The entertainment company announced Song’s departure via a statement.
Hello, this is FNC Entertainment.
Our agency recently renewed our contracts with Lee Hong Ki, Lee Jae Jin, and Choi Min Hwan of FTISLAND.
Regarding the direction of the group, we will speak with the members after all of them complete their mandatory military service. We will do our best to support the FTISLAND members so that they can continue to make music and partake in a variety of fields that bring out their individual strengths.
Member Song Seung Hyun will be ending his activities with the group when his exclusive contract ends on December 31. Song Seung Hyun, who has also pursued an acting career through plays, musicals, short films, and web dramas on top of his activities as FTISLAND, has decided to focus primarily on his activities as an actor following the end of his contract.
This decision was made after long and deep discussions with not only our agency, but the other members as well. Our agency and the members respect the difficult choice made by Song Seung Hyun, and we ask that you give your warm support and encouragement to Song Seung Hyun, who has been with us for the past 11 years.
Thank you.
Following Song’s departure, Song posted a letter to fans on Instagram.
Hello, it’s Seung Hyun. Before anything else, I first want to sincerely apologize again to all of our fans Primadonna who must have been surprised.
I joined FTISLAND as a new member for the Japanese indie album “I BELIEVE MY SELF” and started Korean promotions in February 2009. Since then, I’ve been so happy for 10 years to receive your love and be able to share love with all of you. Somehow it’s already been over 10 years.. I spent a really long time worrying and painfully thinking about this before I made this decision and I made this difficult choice through conversations with my members and our respect for each other. To be honest, I’m not sure what to say next.. I wanted to tell my fans this while standing in front of you, but I wasn’t able to do that, and so I once again apologize sincerely.
I’ll never forget my memories from when I joined FTISLAND. They were such senior artists to me, and I think I started off feeling pressure over whether I’d be able to do a good job, as well as feeling a nervous excitement.
I think it was all possible because I met my members. I was very lacking and naive, but they took good care of me and embraced me with love.
I didn’t want to cause issues for the team and I worked very hard so that our team could shine even a little bit brighter, and I think that’s been my driving force that’s allowed me to be together as a band member up until now.
Recently, our team has gone through a lot. Sad things.. good things.. I think there have been a lot of moments in my life with mixed feelings. I’ve been able to gather courage and finish our performances successfully all this time,
and I’ve been able to wait, and all of that and the fact that I’ve been able to come this far are because of our fans who wait and give me strength through their unconditional love.
At some point, the pressure I felt turned into nervousness. By the time I realized that the nervousness and uneasiness were gnawing away at me bit by bit,
I saw how my mind and body had become as exhausted as they could be and I felt loneliness and uneasiness.
This is a very difficult decision that I made after talking for a long time with the members and agency staff, but I was so fearful over the thought that there will be definitely be fans who are disappointed by me because of my choice.. Also the biggest thing I feel is sorry.. I’ve had mixed feelings that I can’t express in words.
However, this time I’m trying to gather the strength and look back for myself, Song Seung Hyun. More so than a work-related ambition over wanting to achieve a personal dream, I want to look back on my original self and console the parts of me that are hurt while recharging. After much worrying about it, I’ve made this decision with the mindset that I want to put in an effort just for me.
I was so happy. I’ve been so grateful. I’ll miss it so much. And I’m really so sorry. I think that during my time in FTISLAND, I dreamt the most amazing dream that no one could even dream of.
I was happy to be able to dream that dream together with all of you.
Now I’m going to work hard at going forward for myself. I’m not able to be with the FTISLAND members until the end, but I’ll be with them in spirit and hoping that we shine brighter and do well. I hope that we’ll be healthy in both mind and body, and that we’ll all become mature artists.
Thank you for reading my long post. And once again, I was really happy as FTISLAND’s member and guitarist.
Finally, Hong Ki, Minhwan, Jaejin. We really worked hard and did well! I think we did a good job at prevailing. I believe that you’ll become an even greater team in the future, and thank you for making memories in each and every moment that I will never forget.
Also, I sincerely thank our CEO Han Sung Ho too for supporting me so that I could join the team and keep working hard at our promotions all that time. Also, thank you to all of our FNC staff, you’ve worked hard.
Thank you.
The remaining FTisland members—Lee Hong Ki (who is currently serving his mandatory military service), Choi Min-Hwan, and Lee Jae-Jin—also posted supportive messages to Song on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
사랑하는 승현이!! 앞으로 더 성장할 너의 꿈을 무조건 응원한다!!ㅎㅎ 너무 고생했고 많은 추억만들어줘서 고맙고 잊지말자!!ㅎㅎ 내일 보자 � 사랑한다 내새끼 ❤️
In his post, Hong Ki said, “Our beloved Seung Hyun!! I’m definitely going to support your dream as you continue to grow!! You’ve worked so hard, thank you for making many memories with me, and let’s not forget them!! See you tomorrow. I love you, my kid.”
Choi said, “Our Seung Hyun who I’ve spent over 10 years with as we cried and laughed.. when I look back now, I see so many things that have happened and so many memories. The thing I want to say more than anything else is that as a member and as a friend, you worked harder than anyone during that time, I’ve been so grateful, and I love you. We’ll always support Seung Hyun’s future, and we’ll keep protecting this spot and wait as we remember the days we stood on stage together! I’ve been so grateful for the times we’ve been together, and I love you a lot, Seung Hyun!!”
Finally, Lee Jae-Jin posted a hand-written message:
To Primadonna,
I’m worried about our fans who must be very surprised by the sudden news, and I’m very sorry. It seems we weren’t able to keep our promise to always be together or your request that we protect FTISLAND, and so I have a very heavy heart. I’m sorry to be expressing the feelings in my heart like this in a post.
Our Seung Hyun is leaving the team now to start a new journey. As someone who has been with him for a long time as a fellow member and brother, I’m upset and my heart aches over us going separate ways right now, but I am going to support Seung Hyun’s decision, which he made after a long time of worrying about it.
I want to use this letter as an opportunity to once again say thank you to Seung Hyun, who has always been cheerful and taken responsibility and has always worked hard.
We’re going through yet another farewell before our recent wound has healed, but I’m going to put off that pain for now.
We will protect our spot and firmly go forward for the sake of our Primadonna who will be having an even harder time than anyone else and for Seung Hyun.
We will continue to remain like this and wait together so that he can come back at any time.
I hope that on the new journey that Seung Hyun is taking, he will spend a meaningful time finding himself and be truly happy.
Everyone, please support him and wait for him together with us!
I believe that after getting through a cold winter, a warmer spring comes.
I love you and thank you.
– FTISLAND’s Lee Jae Jin.
Hong Ki, Min-Hwan, and Jae-Jin renewed their contracts with FNC Entertainment.
Song is the second member to leave this year. Choi Jonghun left the group and retired from the entertainment industry following the KakaoTalk scandal with Jung Joon-Young. Choi was sentenced to five years in prison; he is appealing his sentence.
Song joined FTisland in 2009 after Oh Woo-Bin departed the group.
We wish Song Seung-Hyun the best in his actor career!
—-Olivia Murray
FTisland’s Lee Jae-Jin will be enlisting in the New Year!
FNC Entertainment confirmed that Lee will enlist January 21, 2020. After completing basic training, Lee will serve as an active-duty soldier.
Lee will be the second FTisland member to enlist. Lee Hong-Ki enlisted September 30, 2019.
Fans will have an opportunity to see Lee prior to enlistment, however. On January 11, 2020, he will hold his first-ever solo fan-meeting. Lee’s “2020 Lee Jae-Jin’s Dinner Show without Dinner” will be held at Olympic Park K-Art Hall in Seoul. The show will feature his singing skills in addition to games and chats with fans.
Hopefully fans will have fun during his fan-meet. We wish Lee the best when he enlists!
—-Olivia Murray
Red Velvet’s Wendy has a long road to recovery ahead after sustaining severe injuries following a fall at the SBS Gayo Daejeon rehearsals.
“During rehearsals for her individual performance for 2019 SBS Gayo Daejeon, Wendy fell from the stage and sustained injuries,” an SM Entertainment representative said.
According to Dispatch, a staff member stated Wendy rehearsed at 11am KST. As scripted, she was supposed to go downstairs to a second-floor tunnel, but the stairs were not in place, causing her to fall down the stage.
“Wendy climbed the second-floor tunnel and prepared to walk down the stairs as prepared but the lift didn’t go up,” an SBS official said. “At that moment, she lost her balance and fell 2.5 meters down to the stage in a defenseless state.”
The official continued, “The two-story tunnel was dark and cramped. The stair lift wasn’t ready when Wendy was rehearsing. We could’ve prevented the accident by just having marking tape at that location.”
“Wendy was immediately taken to the hospital for a thorough examination, and she sustained injuries to her face and fractures in her pelvis and wrist on the right side of her body,” the SM Entertainment representative said. “She has undergone emergency treatment and is currently awaiting additional examinations. As her health comes first, we will focus on her treatment.”
Following the fall, Red Velvet did not perform at the music festival.
SBS initially apologized to Wendy and Red Velvet fans on December 25, 2019, then they issued a second apology on December 26.
We wish to apologize once more regarding 2019 SBS Gayo Daejeon.
During the rehearsals for Gayo Daejeon on December 25, an unfortunate accident took place. SBS wishes to once more sincerely apologize to Red Velvet’s Wendy, who was injured, as well as her family, the members of Red Velvet, and fans.
As Wendy’s recovery comes before all else, the director of SBS’s entertainment division and the staff have been working closely with her agency SM Entertainment since the accident occurred, and we are doing our best to provide adequate treatment for her injuries.
Right after the accident took place on December 25, the staff blocked off the area and called for emergency services so that Wendy could be rushed to the hospital and undergo a thorough examination. We have begun an internal investigation into understanding the exact details of the accident, and once we fully understand the cause, we will take greater care to ensure that such an accident does not occur again.
Wendy is currently undergoing inpatient treatment and examination at a hospital in Seoul. SBS promises to do our best to work with Wendy’s family and the medical staff to ensure that Wendy has a quick and full recovery.
Once again, we wish to sincerely apologize to Red Velvet’s Wendy and her family.
Wendy suffered the most severe injuries at the music festival. However, she was not the only artist impacted by the problem-plagued music festival. Reportedly, TWICE brought up concerns regarding a shaky stage days before the concert took place, and Mamamoo’s Solar fell on some unmarked red-carpet stairs.
so this is when solar screamed bc she fell ??? please we need her to get treated immediately pic.twitter.com/e3RdrECJ4Z
— 늉 (@nyooongs) December 25, 2019
Hello this is RBW
This is a notice regards to the photowall @ 2019 SBS Gayo daejun
Solar have fell down when she was exiting the stage after the photowall.
Luckily, Solar is not hurt badly, to ensure the safety of pur artists we will be more cautious in the future.
Thank you pic.twitter.com/TCoWQTT8Vb
— [ㅌㅂ/TV] 월성앤터? (@lunaestrellados) December 25, 2019
Monsta X, BTS, ITZY, and NCT also had issues on stage as the performers slipped during performances.
Is it the stage that everyone has been talking about????
It’s kinda dangerous…
CHANGKYUN, I’M GLAD HE’S SAFE?
— Dee ? Jooheon’s bubble tea (@wonniebee) December 25, 2019
“With the exception of Wendy, the other four Red Velvet members will only participate individually such as for their planned collaboration stages and MC role at the KBS Song Festival and MBC Music Festival, and Red Velvet will not perform as a group,” SM Entertainment said.
Red Velvet recently made their comeback with “Psycho.”
We wish Wendy a speedy recovery, and we hope performance spaces will be safe for all artists moving forward.
—-Olivia Murray
Spooky season is long over, but that won’t stop us from giving you a list of frightening K-Dramas you should check out. Whether you want to have a spooky sleepover with your friends, feel an adrenalin rush just because, have a reason to cuddle up to your significant other, or if you are just one of those watching-horror-home-alone creeps, we got your back.
From ghost stories and takes on popular horror classics to psychological thrillers, the K-Drama industry has it all. Here is the list of a few of our top picks.
Ghost/Demon stories
A few dramas with those sweet sweet supernatural elements you should keep an eye on.
Hwayugi (2017-8)
Episodes: 20
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Zombies, Fantasy
For everyone who likes their ghosts and demons.
Jin Sun Mi is gifted, she is a Sam Jang. She can see ghosts and demons and has the ability to exorcise them. Having such power, she’s the target of many powerful demons who are trying to devour her, as the one who devours her gains even greater powers. Immortal Son Oh Gong’s duty is to protect her. Will she be able to survive?
The Master’s Sun (2013)
Episodes: 17
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Romance, Melodrama, Supernatural
A ghost story with a sprinkle, or few, of romance.
After an accident, Tae Gong Shil gained the ability to see ghosts. She meets Joo Joong Won, a greedy CEO of a big company owning several major stores and hotels. They unite their strengths to fight with terror brought into their lives by evil spirits.
Mysteries
Although many, if not all, horror themed dramas have some kind of mystery to them, here are a couple with a predominantly mystery based plot.
The Guest (2018)
Episodes: 16
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Horror, Supernatural, Detective, Investigation
One for the big boys and girls, a tone of frightening ahead.
A young psychic learns about “Son” (Guest). Son is a powerful demon who has the ability to control other demons and make them possess weak people. Possessed people go mad and kill their families. The psychic, a priest and a detective meet when their families get slaughtered by the demon. They join forces in order to avenge their families and stop Son once and for all.
The Ghost Detective (2018)
Episodes: 32
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Horror, Psychological, Romance, Melodrama, Supernatural, Detective, Investigation
A classic and interesting detective horror story.
Detective Lee Da II solves paranormal cases with the help of his assistant, Jung Yeo Wool. Together, they are also working on a case of Yeo Wool’s sister’s apparent suicide. During their investigations, a mysterious woman keeps appearing. Who is she and what will their cases reveal?
Save Me (2017)
Episodes: 16
Genre: Action, Suspense, Friendship, Thriller, Mystery, Psychological, Drama
A twisted cult story.
Sang Mi moves into a new town with her family. They face hardships and end up being sucked in a cult with a very powerful leader. After a few years, her whole family is brainwashed, but she still holds on to hope of being saved. Four young man from the town will desperately try to help her, but will they be able to get to her?
*This one got a season 2 in 2019 and is one of my personal favs.
For more mystery related dramas, try watching The Village: Achiara’s Secret (2015), revolving around a creepy village and mysterious corpses, and The Nightmare Teacher (2016), a horror story set in high school, where all sorts of spooky things started happening after the new teacher had arrived.
Psychological thrillers
If you are not into those classical jump-scare, bloody type of stuff, you should definitely try this genre. It keeps the spooky factor while diving deeper into human psyche.
White Christmas (2011)
Episodes: 8
Genre: Thriller, Psychological
Don’t let the “Christmas” part fool you.
During the Christmas break, a few students of Soo Sin High get stuck on campus, after a big snow storm. They began receiving threatening letters and getting murdered, one by one. They know the murderer is among them, but will they be able to find the culprit, before he or she kills them all…
*A warm recommendation for all psycho-thriller geeks.
Hello Monster (2015)
Episodes: 16
Genre: Action, Thriller, Mystery, Psychological, Comedy, Romance, Crime, Drama, Detective, Investigation
A drama exploring what makes a person become a psychopath.
A profiler and a detective team up to try to solve a number of murder cases involving their respective families. Unaware that they are being pulled into a game of cat and mouse by a master player, they’ll soon find the twisted truth they weren’t expecting.
A lighter pick
Bride of the Century (2014)
Episodes: 16
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Supernatural
One for all of you who are looking for a less scary option.
A Taeyong corporation is one of the biggest in Korea. The family that owns it is cursed, so that the first wife of the eldest son of the family always dies. When the wealthy heiress Jang Yi Kyung disappears right before her wedding to Choi Kang Joo, Na Doo Rim, a lookalike impostor, is brought in to take her place. But unlike the distant and cold Yi Kyung, Doo Rim is sweet and funny, and Kang Joo falls genuinely in love with her. But the mothers of the two families have their own plans.
Hope you liked our list, as always it’s based on personal opinion and ratings from fans. Be sure to let us know your favorite K-Dramas that send shivers down your spine.
—-Tina Miha
In October 2019, rookie group Ab6ix announced they would embark on their first world tour. On December 20, the dates and locations were finally revealed.
The 6ixense world tour kicked off November 9 in Seoul, South Korea. The European leg begins February 21, 2020 in Berlin, then moves to Paris, London, and Amsterdam before landing in Tokyo to begin the Asian portion. From April 15 to April 30, Ab6ix will visit the United States for a seven-city tour.
| February 21, 2020 | Berlin, Germany |
| February 23, 2020 | Paris, France |
| February 26, 2020 | London, England |
| February 28, 2020 | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| March 3, 2020 | Tokyo, Japan |
| March 4, 2020 | Tokyo, Japan |
| March 7, 2020 | Bangkok, Thailand |
| March 14, 2020 | Taipei, Taiwan |
| March 17, 2020 | Osaka, Japan |
| March 18, 2020 | Osaka, Japan |
| March 21, 2020 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| April 4, 2020 | Macau |
| April 11, 2020 | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| April 15, 2020 | Newark, New Jersey |
| April 18, 2020 | Atlanta, Georgia |
| April 21, 2020 | Chicago, Illinois |
| April 23, 2020 | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| April 25, 2020 | Dallas, Texas |
| April 28, 2020 | San Francisco, California |
| April 30, 2020 | Los Angeles, California |
Tickets and venues have not been announced yet. Powerhouse will provide notifications for venues and when tickets go on sale. Stay tuned!
—-Olivia Murray
*Thank you for your time. Please introduce yourself for our readers.
Hello, everyone. I’m Moon Hye-min, a racing driver.
*We’re aware that you’ve always liked cars, but how did you become a racing driver?
That’s right. I’ve always been a lover of cars and when the chance came, I took it up immediately.
*What was your parents’ reaction when you chose this career?
At first, they were worried because it seemed like a really dangerous job. But when they came to know that safety measures are always taken and everything is kept to ensure the drivers’ safety, they became my supporters.
*Before a car race, how many hours a day do you train for it? And what kind of training is it?
Physical strength is crucial. So I must keep working out and look after myself, though I’m taking it easy just at the moment.
*What advantage do you think a woman racing driver has over men?
I think women drivers are a little more attentive to details, although I’m sure many male racing drivers are that way as well. I would venture to say that generally speaking, it is an advantage women might have.
*What do you enjoy in your spare time?
I like travelling and dining out. So, I try to go on trips a lot and discover good cuisines. I rest and relieve stress that way.
*What’s your favorite food?
When it comes to food, I like a lot of different dishes of all types.
*Where do you think is the ideal place to travel, in Korea?
I think going to Yeongam or Inje, where we have racing circuits, is quite nice. When we had international races there, my friends from other countries enjoyed sightseeing in those locations. There’s good food to be found, and overall good regions for travelers.
*Do you have a memorable fan?
Yes, a fan from Malaysia who sent me a t-shirt printed with a photo of my racing car with my entry and all, all the way to Korea. Whenever there’s a race in Malaysia, this fan always remembers me. I’m so thankful, always.
*What do you think you’ll be doing in ten years? Where would you be?
I’ll be raising my child, and watching car races with her. It’ll be good to be able to race, if I can, even when I’m older.
*Please let us know your future hopes and plans.
I’m taking the time off racing for now, being a new mother, but I’d like to return to the circuits, maybe next year or so. I want to return and win – and be a cool mother for my daughter. I hope that it will be a more mature race for me.
—J. Chung.
Here is your K-Pop Top 30 for November 2019! Thank you for taking the time to vote for your November Top 30 tracks. You voted well this month, and we appreciate your efforts! Stay tuned for the winners of the K-Pop Awards coming soon! *All clips are well under 20 seconds and applicable under Fair Use. Kcrush does not profit off these videos.
#Hyuna #Leo #Ravi #GIdle #AOA #Suran #MCMONG #Got7 #Luri #Bol4 #Wh3n #BVNDT #Sungmin #SuperJunior #Up10tion #IU #RedVelvet #Zico #EXO #Nari #WA$$up #Jukjae #Kpop #KoreanPop
Everybody who loves K-Pop knows who Girls’ Generation are – they are called the Nation’s Girlgroup for a reason. Legendary hit singles such as, “Into The New World”, “Gee” – according to Melon, it’s considered as the “Song of The Decade” – “Genie”, “Oh!”, “Run Devil Run”, “Hoot”, “The Boys”, “I Got A Boy”, “Mr.Mr.”, “Party”, “Lion Heart”, among others. Highest-grossing tours with sold-out shows in almost every Asian country. In 2012, they were the biggest selling artist in South Korea, generating over 30 million digital singles and 4.4 million albums. By 2016, they were the first K-Pop act to have five music videos with 100 million views. Girls’ Generation is also the first girlgroup that ever won the Grand Prize at the Golden Disk Awards three times in a row. They’re also the only group that won a Disk Daesang so far. In 2018, Guiness World Records recognized GG as the K-Pop artist with the most awards at the Melon Music Awards. They paved the way for many K-Pop girlgroups that are hot right now. Girls’ Generation were always seen as a big reference in the K-Pop industry, the right path to follow.
However ever since their 10th anniversary comeback with the title-tracks “Holiday” and “All Night”, in August of 2017, listeners may be wondering where they are now and what activities they’re doing. Surely they must remember last year’s iconic debut of Oh!GG sub-unit, consisting of members Taeyeon, Sunny, Hyoyeon, Yuri and Yoona – who are still under a contract with SM Entertainment, while Sooyoung, Tiffany and Seohyun ended theirs way back in 2017, after the group’s anniversary. But all we got from that sub-unit was the single “Lil’ Touch” with its accompanying music video and the B-Side, “Fermata”. No promotions, no dance practice, no live-performances in concerts… Just a V-Live chat with all the girls and a Naver TV reality show, Girls For Rest, that didn’t have the same hype as their previous ones.
One year later and we all question ourselves… where is the Nation’s Girlgroup, after all?
Starting with leader Taeyeon, out of all the official nine members, she may be the most successful one. This last October she released her second studio album, Purpose, which included the previous singles “Four Seasons” and “Blue”, the fiery title-track “Spark” and nine other new tracks. The album debuted at number two in the Gaon charts, as well as its main single. In 2019, she also released her first Japanese album, Voice; she continued her Asian tour ‘s and went on her first Japanese tour, ~Signal~, as well; she participated in the tv show, Begin Again; she recorded the song “All About You” for the TV drama series Hotel De Luna; last but not least, she recorded the South Korea’s pop version of the song “Into The Unknown” from the movie Frozen II. She has also been nominated for various award shows such as, Mnet Asian Music Awards, Melon Music Awards, Gaon Chart Music Awards, Genie Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, among others.
From Sunny, we pretty much know that she’s been hosting the tv show Shall We Chicken? next to Kim Jun-hyun and Lee Kyu-han. While Tiffany has been quite busy with her North-American solo carreer! In 2019, the eye-smile queen released her newest EP Lips on Lips, featuring the single with the same name and also “Born Again” and “Runaway (feat. Babyface)” – the latter was later re-recorded with Korean lyrics and featured Chloe Flowers. Despite being a North-American release, the EP still debuted at number eight on the Gaon charts. This March, the singer won the Best Solo Breakout Award at the iHeart Radio Awards 2019. Tiffany also embarked on a few solo tours through North America and some Asian countries. Right now, she’s promoting the singles “Magnetic Moon” and “Run For Your Life”, the latter was released alongside a fashion book of the same name.
Hyoyeon had the most interesting twist out of all the Girls’ Generation girls, we must admit! As soon as group promotions were done, our dancing queen has challenged herself to become… a DJ! Since 2018, she has released the dancey singles “Sober”, “Punk Right Now” and the most recent one, “Badster”. DJ Hyo – as she calls herself now, artistically – has been promoting the songs through concerts in domestic night clubs and EDM Festivals. After a sucessful solo debut with the mini-album The First Scene and hit single “Into You”, Yuri dedicated her time in 2019 by doing theatre for the first time ever in her career. She was cast for the stage play Grandpa Henry and Me – which is the Korean version of the 2012 French play, “L’Étudiante et Monsieur Henri”, by Ivan Calbérac.
Despite releasing the ballad “Winter Breath” last winter, Sooyoung focused more on her acting this year. She participated in the films: “Memories of a Dead End”, “Girl Cops” and “A Little Princess”. She also launched her first YouTube channel called sootory, in which she publishes videos showcasing her daily life, her travels and there’s even one about Girls’ Generation’s 12th anniversary celebration. On the contrary, Yoona focused a lot on music and released her first mini-album A Walk To Remember on her birthday, May 30, 2019. The album featured the title-track “Summer Night”. She also starred in the movie Exit, which became one of the highest-grossing films in South Korea. Now signed with the acting company Namoo Actors, Seohyun also dedicated 2018 and 2019 by playing the lead role in the MBC’s drama series, Time. It has also been confirmed that in 2020, Seohyun will play the role of Anna in the JTBC’s drama series, Hello Dracula.
Jessica may be out of the group since September 2014, however she is still a very important figure in Girls’ Generation. Therefore it makes sense for us to also mention her in this article. This year, our beloved Ice Queen got busy with various activities, such as, filming a brand new reality TV show with ther own sister, Krystal; she held her first fanmeeting in Japan, with the rookies GWSN as her opening act; she also released a new single called “Call Me Before You Sleep”, in collaboration with rapper Giriboy. It was also announced that Jessica will release in 2020 her first autobiographical novel, “Shine” – which is also being adapted into a film, by Matthew Kaplan of ACE.
Our nine angels may seem very distant from each other, but we are sure they will always try to get together for a small celebration or, maybe, a new comeback. All we gotta do is wait and support their solo endeavours! Forever, Girls’ Generation!
—-Ped Ruh
Hello? Thank you for your time. Please introduce yourselves to our readers.
Jeongseok Moon: Hi, I am Jeongseok Moon. I am a trickster at Gruejarm Production’s SNAP performances.
C.S Choi: Hello, I am C.S Choi, and I am trickster at SNAP.
Yeongmin Lee: My name is Yeongmin Lee and I am a trickster at SNAP’s performances.
Ted Kim: I’m Ted Kim (Taewon Kim), a magician with a role of a dreamer in SNAP.
Tell us how you all chose your current jobs?
Jeongseok Moon: I watched a magician perform on TV when I was little, so that’s how started learning magic tricks and I’m still at it to this day.
C.S Choi: I used to love playing online games when I was in middle school, and there was a day when I couldn’t get connected to play. So, I surfed online to search for something to do, then came across a magic show by pure chance.
Through the video, I learned a trick to make a coin disappear and showed it off to my friends. Of course, I was in no way a professional but the reaction I got from them was quite sensational. From then onwards, I was called a magician at school and soon got really immersed in doing magic. And as you can see, I’m now a magician.
Yeongmin Lee: I am not really the type of person to stick to just one thing, but magic is the one thing I’ve stuck to this day. I think I chose this as my profession, because I love magic tricks and making other people happy.
Ted Kim: I first got interested in magic tricks from my junior at the military, and when I was discharged, I felt the craving to try it for myself after watching a community magic show, and that’s how I got to have this job. I even postponed going back to school, and was so immersed with magic, that I didn’t even get to go back.
Share with us what your daily schedule normally looks like. What is the first thing that you do when you get up?
Jeongseok Moon: The first thing that I do is, check the list of things to do that day. I normally spend the day by setting up performances and practicing.
C.S Choi: I usually start the day off by stretching. Then I have a light breakfast. I’ve learned to look after my body when I have to perform. As the first schedule, we have a meeting at the company and I do the work for the day.
Yeongmin Lee: Because I am handling work related to events, as well as the performances, I’m in charge of the preparations according to schedule. The first thing that I do when I wake up, is stretching.
Ted Kim: I take a shower first. I think up ideas about magic tricks when I’m showering.
What makes you feel the most content and rewarded?
Jeongseok Moon: I feel the most content when I see the audience looking happy while we’re performing.
C.S Choi: We have a photoshoot with our audience when the show is over, and I feel the most rewarded when they come up and say that they’ve really enjoyed themselves.
Yeongmin Lee: I feel so rewarded when the audience seem truly happy and cheer us on when the show’s over, as we’re taking photos with them.
Ted Kim: When we implement a new idea on stage and the audience react positively to it. Then I feel complete bliss and joy through that experience. I think because of that kind of ecstatic feeling keeps me performing on stage.
How do you deal with the nervousness or anxiety before or during performances?
Jeongseok Moon: I feel incredibly nervous when I am about to hit the stage. The way to resolve the issue is to let the time pass by and the performance to start, then naturally, the nervousness will go away, lol.
C.S Choi: To tell the truth, there is no reason to become nervous before stage. You just don’t have the strength to be nervous. If you set your focus, then you won’t be nervous during the performance. I do something called an image training, which is I what I do before going on stage, and it’s really great to relieve nervousness. I feel people get nervous when the feeling overcomes you. Then you can imagine yourself much bigger than the feeling and it won’t make you feel nervous anymore.
Yeongmin Lee: I listen to song that I like or joke around with my co-workers to release any nervousness.
Ted Kim: I keep reminding myself that I get on stage to make people happy. That kind of helps me to calm myself, I think. I think of my families and friends too.
What are your interests or specialty?
Jeongseok Moon: I’m great at random dancing.
C.S Choi: I’m good at concentrating and focusing on one thing.
Yeongmin Lee: I like to mimic people’s unique characteristics or behaviors a lot.
Ted Kim: I love photography and editing, so I like to retouch and photoshop photos. I think it’s like producing new images related to magic tricks that never existed before.
What do you like to do for leisure?
Jeongseok Moon: I don’t have a specific hobby, but I’m thinking of starting my own YouTube channel.
C.S Choi: I recently got interested in recording videos and producing, so that’s what I’ve continuously been doing.
Yeongmin Lee: I love taking photos of great scenery or just great images in general.
Ted Kim: I watch movies, or draw pictures on my tablet PC that someone gifted me.
Tell us about any books, musicals or films that you’ve enjoyed recently.
Jeongseok Moon: I recently watched Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio . Because it has a twist at the end, I can’t tell you the details of the film but it was really well-made. If you haven’t already, please watch it!
C.S Choi: I went to watch the Harry Potter musical while we were in Broadway for our performance. I thought the show had a good mix of both theatre and magic.
Yeongmin Lee: When I was in Las Vegas, not too long ago, I enjoyed Le Rêve – The Dream. It was a circus performance that told the story of both acrobatic fantasy world and our world.
Ted Kim: I watched Parasite and Joker recently, and for a while, was not able to forget it. I would repeatedly play the scenes in my head and discuss the films with acquaintances.
Who would be your favorite musician or artist?
Jeongseok Moon: Michael Jackson. He’s phenomenal.
Yeongmin Lee: I really love Park Hyoshin.
Ted Kim: I like Noel and TWICE. I love the tender and emotional vocals from Noel, and the energetic power of TWICE. I think I get kind of emotional healing when I listen to the band’s music. I also like Michael Bublé. Whenever I am restless from performing overseas, I listen to a lot of his songs like HOME, and it has been quite consoling to me.
Where do you think is the best location to travel in Korea?
Jeongseok: I like Jeju Island the most, which is also my hometown. It’s truly beautiful and peaceful; the food there is fab too.
C.S Choi: I wouldn’t know that since I’ve never actually travelled around Korea before.
Yeongmin Lee: I personally feel that it’s Busan.
Ted Kim: I recommend Daegu, which is my hometown. If you’re a foodie, it’d be great if you visit the meokja alleys for various eateries. But try avoid visiting during the summer, haha.
What do you think you’ll be doing in 15 years-time?
Jeongseok Moon: If things continue to be great as it is now for SNAP, we’ll be touring the world in 15 years.
C.S Choi: I think that I would have my own family and enjoying myself doing the work I love with the people I love.
Yeongmin Lee: I think I would be on stage and performing to the audience, like I am doing currently.
Ted Kim: I am not certain if we would be capable of performing as energetically as we’re doing now, but the best future for us would be on stage. We would probably be doing something very creative, which is what I enjoy the most. That’s the reason why I am doing magic. I want to do creative activities until the day I die – whether it’s related to making videos or photography, who knows?
Do you have any advice for people who wish to take up the same careers as yourselves?
Jeongseok Moon: It’s actually much harder than it seems. I hope only the people who are capable of enduring the weight of it all, would take up this career.
C.S Choi: I think it’d be great to keep enjoying what you do and keep evolving.
Yeongmin Lee: If you love myself, love your work and the audience, I think that you would become a better person, as well as a great performer.
Ted Kim: It’s definitely not a simple task, to be on stage, I mean. The stress and stuff will get to you to on some days. Sometimes, you don’t earn enough. However, I chose to take this route because too much thoughts would actually cause more confusion. Since I took up this job, I wondered to myself, what my uniqueness is from other people. If you get the answer to that question, that will find you the key for you to perform on the stage. Let’s all keep it up!
What are your hopes and plans for the future?
Jeongseok Moon: I am still learning new things every day and gradually developing myself. I will do my utmost to continue on that way, and wish to teach others what I’ve learned myself.
C.S Choi: I will do my best to become a better person and performer in the future.
Yeongmin Lee: I wish that I would be able to do the things that I love with the people that are precious to me, and not fall ill or faint.
Ted Kim: I want to be able to do more productions than I’ve done before. It’s my dream to be a performer that can capture the audiences’ minds in a positive way. It’s such a bliss to be a performer that can touch and move people’s emotions, and I will do my utmost to be a performer like that.
–J. Chung.
Grace Sooyoon Lee is the Founder and CEO of The Dallant – an online store curated for females seeking a fresh alternative to the mainstream fast-fashion retailers. The Dallant brings you pieces from local independent designers in South Korea, who provide trend conscious and affordable clothing with high quality.
We would like to express a big thank you to Ms. Lee for providing us with a great interview!
Hello, please introduce yourself to our readers please.
Hello! I’m Grace Sooyoon Lee and I’m the Founder & CEO of The Dallant, an online store for Korean Fashion trends. I’m a true city girl – was born in LA, grew up in Seoul, and now live in NYC. I graduated from New York University and worked at major fashion companies like Yoox Net-a-Porter Group and Macy’s before I founded The Dallant.
I’m a lover of all noodles, spicy food, & quirky jokes, and almost always wear black.
Enlighten us more on The Dallant, when was it founded and where did it get its name?
The Dallant was founded in NYC in 2019. “Dallant” is the phonetic spelling of the word “talent” in Korean and it comes from The Parable of the Talents in the Bible (Matthew 25:14-30). It refers to the “gifts or skills” that God has given us to use – like artistic abilities, personality traits, resources & more.
I came up with this name to remind myself to be thankful for the talents and opportunities that I’ve been given and to work hard at putting those to good use. I also wanted to connect with other like-minded creatives and to build a community of talented women.
How did you initially get interested in fashion?
Ever since I was little, I loved going shopping in Korea with my mom and was always interested in clothes. But my first internships at Esquire Magazine (after watching Devil Wears Prada) and Fendi really got me excited about working in the fashion industry.
Please describe The Dallant in 5 words.
Trendy, Affordable, Wearable, Quality & Inspirational.
What do you like most about fashion?
What I like about fashion is that it’s constantly changing and evolving. Some people don’t like that trends come and go, but I like that there is always something new to try and to get you excited about dressing up every morning.
This is the whole idea behind The Dallant – providing contemporary women a way to update their closet with the latest fashion trends without having to break the bank. I see Korean Fashion as the perfect alternative and a middle ground between expensive luxury brands & low quality fast-fashion.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to try new restaurants, go to Pilates class, watch crime shows, read psychology books, & online shop.
What kind of environment do you like to work in?
I like going to local coffee shops to work, like every other startup entrepreneur or freelancer in NYC. I seem to focus better there – seeing other people hard at work inspires me and it’s always nice to be able to get up to grab a snack or coffee whenever I want!
Tell us about your fav attire right now.
My favorite outfit right now is a black oversized blazer or an oversized coat with jeans. All my friends know that this is my go-to uniform!
Do you have a fav color or a fashion trend?
My favorite color to wear is definitely black because it just goes well with everything. But if I had to choose a real color out of the rainbow, it’d be yellow – I don’t know why but it just makes me happy, hence The Dallant’s yellow packaging!
My favorite fashion trend right now is oversized clothes. I’m all about comfort – oversized everything, from blazers & hoodies to wide leg, baggy pants are super comfortable! I really don’t know what I would wear when the “oversized” trend is over.
What do you think you’ll be doing in 15 years-time?
I honestly have no idea what I’ll be doing or where I will be living in 15 years, but I have faith that God will lead me in the right direction. Hopefully, I’ll still be working on The Dallant!
Please follow my journey on Instagram! @thedallant
—-J. Chung
On December 13, 2019, FNC Entertainment announced that rookie girl group Cherry Bullet will now promote as a seven-member group as Kokoro, LinLin, and Mirae have departed the group and company. FNC Entertainment released a statement with the news.
Hello, this is FNC Entertainment.
Our artists Cherry Bullet will henceforth be continuing on as a seven-member group. After speaking with Mirae, Kokoro, and LinLin, we have come to the decision to end their activities as Cherry Bullet and terminate their exclusive contracts.
It is with a heavy heart that we bring this sudden news to all fans who have cared for Cherry Bullet. The three members came to this decision after speaking with us.
We will do our best to ensure that Cherry Bullet can return with good music in the near future after reorganizing as a seven-member group. We ask for your warm encouragement and support of Cherry Bullet, Mirae, Kokoro, and LinLin.
Thank you.
For fans of the group, while the announcement is sad, many felt it wasn’t a shock as Kokoro, LinLin, and Mirae have disappeared from promotions one-by-one since August 2019.
Starting in August, Cherry Bullet promoted as an eight-member group when they attended the Chuseok special Idol Star Athletics Championship. Kokoro and LinLin were not in attendance, nor have they been part of any of Cherry Bullet’s schedules since that time. The only acknowledgement FNC Entertainment provided was that their absence was “education-related.”
Fans started to notice that perhaps the two members were already dropped from the Cherry Bullet lineup when FNC Entertainment didn’t acknowledge Kokoro’s birthday in November. Fans attempted to find out answers from FNC for why they did not acknowledge her birthday, but the company remained mum.
Then, in late November, LinLin opened a personal Instagram account under her real name. In her profile, she does not mention Cherry Bullet or her stage name.
Also in November, Mirae was noticeably absent from group activities without an explanation from FNC Entertainment.
All three of the now-former members had their contracts terminated with FNC Entertainment. Whatever the reasons for their departure, hopefully their futures are bright!
—-Olivia Murray
If you’re a fan of BewhY, then you’re in for a treat starting January 2020!
The rising rap star will embark on his second North American tour following the release of his The Movie Star album. He previously toured the U.S in 2017 during his The Blind Star Tour.
BewhY, who is known for his appearances on Show Me the Money 4 and Show me the Money 5—where he was eventually crowned the winner—is an award-winning rapper. In 2016, he won a “Top Ten Artist” award at the Melon Music Awards, and he earned the “Best Rap Performance” award at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). In 2017, he scored awards at the Korean Music Awards (“Best Rap and Hip-Hop Song” for his track “Forever”), Gaon Music Chart Awards (“Hip-Hop Discovery of the Year”), and Korean Hip-Hop Awards (“Hip-Hop Song of the Year” for the song “Forever”).
2020’s The Movie Star Tour will take BewhY to nine cities across the U.S and Canada. Tickets for the tour go on sale December 13, 2019 at noon local time. The tour kicks off January 24, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Will you be going to see BewhY perform at a city near you?
| Friday January 24, 2020 | Atlanta, Georgia | Center Stage | Tickets |
| Sunday January 26, 2020 | Dallas, Texas | Canton Hall | Tickets |
| Tuesday January 28, 2020 | Houston, Texas | White Oak Indoors | Tickets |
| Wednesday January 29, 2020 | Berkeley, California | The UC Theatre | Tickets |
| Thursday January 30, 2020 | Los Angeles, California | Ace Theatre | Tickets |
| Tuesday February 4, 2020 | Vancouver, Canada | Vogue Theatre | Tickets |
| Wednesday February 5, 2020 | Calgary, Canada | Macewan Ballroom | Tickets |
| Thursday February 6, 2020 | Toronto, Canada | QET | Tickets |
| Saturday February 8, 2020 | New York City, New York | Mission NYC | Tickets |
—-Olivia Murray
With 2019 coming to its end, we are leaving behind all of the great dramas of the year, in light of welcoming everything 2020 has to offer. And in case of K-dramas, it sure does offer a lot. Read along for a few of the 2020 projects you should definitely look forward to.
From new blood to Webtoon adaptations and sequels, this list has something for everyone.
New Dramas
The game: Towards Midnight
Genre: Mystery, Melodrama, Investigation
Air date: First half of 2020
This upcoming MBS drama will have all of us mystery geeks excited.
2PM’s Taecyeon is making a comeback after his military discharge by playing a young man with a special power. Tae Pyeong, Taecyeon, is a prophet. He can see the moment just before the person dies when he looks at that person’s eyes. This rich, handsome and smart man with a strange ability joins his strengths with a detective, played by Lee Yeon Hee, who works on a mysterious serial murder case. How will the duo take on this mystery and how will it change their lives?
The king: The Eternal Monarch
Genre: Historical, Romance, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Air date: First half of 2020
The most anticipated drama of 2020, featuring an interesting parallel universe plot.
This is a story about two parallel universes. A universe of democracy, resembling the modern day Korea as we know it, and a universe of monarchy, where Korea is an empire ruled by a single monarch. In order to bring peace to their two worlds, both leads, playing different characters in each of the two worlds, will have to join forces. How will the ruler of the Korean Empire and a 21st century detective unite?
Find out on SBS.
Touch
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama
Air date: January 2020
MOMOLAND’s Yeonwoo is confirmed to participate in this Channel A’s 2020 drama.
The story follows a popular perfectionist makeup artist who fell into unemployment due to his debt, and a failed K-pop idol trainee. She starts working as his assistant on a project. How will their relationship develop and will they be able to achieve their dreams?
Oh, my Men
Genre: Romance, School, Youth, Drama
Air date: January 2020
As a teen who fell in love with the Sweet Revenge series, I’m especially excited about this one.
“Oh My Men” is a story about seventeen-year-old girl who goes through the process of becoming an adult. What difficulties will she endure and what feelings will she develop?
While waiting and praying for the Sweet Revenge 3, let’s together enjoy this relatable teen drama, starring Ahn Seo Hyun.
Honorable mentions:
Here are a few more interesting-looking dramas premiering in 2020:
- The Temperature of Talk: Our Nineteen
- Did We Love?
- Half of half
- Here
Webtoon adaptations
Memorist
Genre: Action, Thriller, Mystery, Drama, Supernatural, Detective
Air date: December 2020
Based on a webtoon with the same name, “Memorist” (In Korean “메모리스트”) by JaeHoo is a fantasy thriller action. It tells the story of detective DongBaek who has the supernatural power of reading memories. Follow him as he faces mysterious serial murder cases.
Ssang Gap Pocha
Genre: Mystery, Drama, Fantasy
Air date: January 2020
Ssanggab Cart Bar opens only at night on the rooftop of a building. This mysterious food cart serves a lot of costumers, both dead and alive. While sharing drinks and food they share their stories and try to heal their internal wounds.
Based on the webtoon who won the Excellence Award at the 2017 Korea Comic awards, this drama will surely be a blast for fantasy lovers.
True Beauty
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama
Air date: Start of 2020
A worldwide favorite, the “True Beauty” webtoon was announced to be produced into a drama in 2019.
The story, that gained an enormous amount of international attention, follows a teen girl, rising to fame in school after she learns how to apply makeup and do her hair via YouTube.
This seemingly superficial drama has won the hearts of many with its humor, humanness and the story of true love.
Sequels
Romantic Doctor Kim 2
Genre: Drama, Medical
Air date: Start of 2020
This extremely popular medical drama is confirmed to be getting a sequel in 2020.
The drama tells a story about the real life of the doctors in a small local hospital. In season 2, Han SukKyu will be joined by two new actors. A second year student in the cardio-surgery department who’s been walking the path of an elite student for most of her life, and a cynical but extra talented second year fellow who lost his faith in happiness after childhood traumas. How will this trio take on the challenges of their profession?
Stranger and Kingdom are also getting a season 2 next year, so keep an eye out for those dramas as well.
Hope you liked our list. What dramas are you looking forward the most in 2020?
*Air dates may vary
—-Tina Miha
The YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute talked with another alleged victim claiming 51-year-old singer, Kim Gun-Mo, assaulted her while she was a bar manager.
Previously on the show, a woman came forward and stated Kim Gun-Mo sexually assaulted her.
On December 10, 2019, Garo Sero Institute hosts, lawyer Kang Yong-Suk and former reporter Kim Yong-Ho, sat down with the second alleged victim as she discussed what happened with Kim Gun-Mo.
According to the second woman, her assault took place on January 10, 2007. At that time, the woman stated she was a manager at an adult entertainment establishment. With her incident, the alleged victim said Kim Gun-Mo visited the establishment with a woman.
The second alleged victim said, “Kim Gun-Mo’s partner was a year older than me, and she said to me, ‘Why are you speaking informally to me?’ and we got into an argument. We went into an empty room and were arguing, but Kim Gun Mo opened the door and came in swearing at me and saying, ‘You’re too loud. Didn’t I say that you’re too loud?’ He grabbed my hair, knocked me down, and punched me.”
“I tried to avoid getting hit, but because he was strong, I couldn’t fight back,” the woman continued. “When I was getting hit, I thought he didn’t seem like he was someone in their right mind, since people don’t hit others like that just because they’re being loud.”
The woman said her eye swelled and her nose was bleeding. In addition to punching her in the nose and eyes, she alleges that Kim Gun-Mo also punched her in the stomach. Kim, Kang, and the woman presented medical records backing her statements.
When asked why she didn’t report the incident to the police, the woman stated Ki Gun-Mo and the business owner threatened her. She said the incident and rumors about her impacted her ability to find work.
The alleged victim said, “Because someone opened the door, I was able to escape and take a taxi to the hospital. The rumors spread so I couldn’t find a place to work… Still, I had to eat so I worked at a bakery and a comic bookstore.”
According to the show hosts, MBC tried to investigate the incident when it occurred, but due to Kim Gun-Mo’s intimidation, the woman did not speak to reporters. Kim and Kang were unable to obtain reports about the investigation.
“I gathered the courage to come forward after hearing the story of the first victim who experienced sexual assault at the hands of Kim Gun-Mo,” the woman said when asked why she came forward. “I don’t know who she is, but I want to stand by her side. I don’t want Kim Gun Mo to appear on TV anymore.”
Meanwhile, on December 9, 2019, the first accuser appeared on Garo Sero Institute and talked about her experience. She explained why she came forward now.
“My family didn’t even know about the incident,” the woman said. “Without knowledge of my feelings, they enjoyed watching My Ugly Duckling. But he kept appearing while wearing the T-shirt he wore when he raped me, and it was painful because he kept appearing on TV.”
She addressed what she wants from Kim Gun-Mo.
“I’ve never wanted money. I want a sincere public apology,” the first alleged victim stated. “I never want to see him on TV again.”
I didn’t have the time to think at the time and personally tried to forget about it. I’m still young, so I could meet a good person in the future and get married. To be honest, I didn’t have courage,” she added regarding why she didn’t report the incident.
Kim Gun-Mo and his representatives continue to deny the allegations.
“Regarding the suspicions of sexual assault, our statement that they are false has not changed,” a representative said. “We will discuss with our lawyer and take legal action. His image has been greatly tarnished.”
Kang filed formal charges under his law firm, Next Law, for rape to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on behalf of the first alleged victim on December 9, 2019. Meanwhile, Kim Gun-Mo plans to continue his activities as scheduled.
On December 9, Kim Gun-Mo held his 25th anniversary concert.
Photo credits: Soompi, Allkpop
—-Olivia Murray