K-Pop Top 30: July 2019

Your votes have been tallied! Here is what you voted as your K-Pop Top 30 for July 2019. Polls for August 2019 will be open soon!

Everyone has their favorite idol bias and we enjoy seeing them perform, staying well and enjoying free time, but there is a different idol that we are learning about that is all the rage and may even have their very own Instagram accounts.  We are speaking about the loveable pups that are always there to bring laughter, joy and peace to the idols that work hard for their careers.  Let’s find out a little more about some of those famous pups.

 

1. Taehyung & Yeontan

I’m sure most of you know of Kim Taehyung, member of BTS, but his pup is almost as famous. Taehyung’s Pomeranian has gained a lot of attention from fans for his adorable looks and cute interactions with the members. The puppy was first shown on Jin’s birthday vlive, but he was formally introduced to the public in December of 2017, with a tweet saying the pup’s name was Yeontan, which means coal in Korean. In the tweet Taehyung also said “우리집 새식구”, meaning “my family.” Fans speculate Yeontan’s birthday is the 6th or 7th of September 2017, which would make him 2 years old at the time of this article. Yeontan used to live with BTS, but had to move in with Taehyung’s parents due to BTS’ busy schedules.

  

 

2. Chungha & Bambi

This former I.O.I member has stolen millions of hearts, but so has her dog! Most people got to know Chungha’s dog, Bambi, through the special dog episode of weekly idol. Several idols brought their pet dogs in for a special episode of the show, one of those idols was Chungha. She has since shown and talked about Bambi several times, but the Weekly Idol episode was one of her first big public appearances. Bambi’s birthday has not been specified, but in the episode, which was filmed in late 2017 and released in early 2018, Chungha stated she was 4 years old. That would make the dog around 6 years old at the time of writing this article. In the weekly idol episode. Chungha also explained the dog was named Bambi because Chungha’s mum kept calling her that due to her long legs, which made her look like a deer. Bambi gave birth to 3 puppies in 2017, Dakgol, Bamtol and Dodo. Soon after, one of them, Bamtol, was adopted by Ryu Jina, Chungha’s manager.

 

 

3. Jooheon & Sanche

Most people know of Minhyuk’s dog because of the Weekly Idol dog special, but there’s another Monsta X member with a pet dog. Sanche is Jooheon’s 6-year-old family dog, who he’s brought to fansigns and vlives. When Sanche was first introduced, fans believed he was actually Kihyun’s dog, as the pup would follow Kihyun around more than his actual owner. Sanche lives with Jooheon’s parents and he has stated that, as his mum has no daughter, she loves to dress Sanche up in dresses and cute clothes.

 

 

4.  Jennie – Kai and Kuma

Blackpink are known for having many pets, as each member has at least one. Jennie’s dogs are two of the most known pets in the fandom though. Kai, a cocker spaniel, and Kuma, a Pomeranian, have appeared in numerous vlives and selcas, one of them even sparking a meme in the fandom. In one of the vlives featuring the pups, Lisa began singing their hit song ‘Boombayah’, but replaced the chorus with “Kumaya”, which made the fan’s hearts burst. None of their diets have been specified, but Jennie has stated that Kuma absolutely adores sweet potatoes. Kuma’s birthday is March 24th and he is currently 2 years old, while Kai’s birthday has not been specified, but fans guess he is around 6. Both dogs get along well, as they grew up playing together, and now live with Jennie’s family. They’re both also very close to Dalgom, Jisoo’s dog.

  

 

5. Amber & JackJack

Many of you may know of JackJack and Tuna, Amber’s dog and cat. They have their own Instagram (@jackjackandtuna) and Amber mentions them a lot. JackJack, the dog, has appeared on her youtube channel several times and fans are quite familiar with him. He’s a mixed dog, 50% Chihuahua 25% Pomeranian, 12.5% Pekingese and 12.5% breed groups (herding, Asian, companion and sporting.) His birthday is July 6th, though the year of birth is unknown and she has never stated his age. He is Amber’s second dog, Gongju, the first one, sadly passed away in 2015.

 

 

6. B.A.P 

Various B.A.P members have pet dogs, more specifically, Daehyun, Youngguk and Zelo. All their pups have personal Instagrams, Yongguk’s poodle, Tigger, (@bangteezy). Daehyun’s pup, Kanji, (@gan___ji) and Zelo’s pup, Mochii, (@bymochimato). Mochii is a Pomeranian, born December 1st 2015. Tigger was born on the 16th of April 2014, making him 5 years old at the time of writing this. Kanji’s birthday, but his posts go back to early 2018, making him at least 1 year old. Zelo talks a lot about his dog, so we know a lot of cute random facts about Mochii and Zelo’s journey with pets. Mochii loves to chew on things, he even destroyed Zelo’s bracelet and book. He may chew a lot, but he loves a Pikachu blanket he sleeps on whenever he can. We also know that when someone is speaking to him, Mochii will tilt his head, as if trying to understand. Not much information about the other pups is available, but they all update their Instagrams every few weeks. 

    

 

7. Ashley 

Ashley’s puppy, Kiwi, is another Instagram pup. Ashley updates pictures of her pup every few weeks, they’re mostly quirky and cute, making the dog somewhat of a meme. Kiwi is a half Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, half Shih Tzu female pup. Her birthday hasn’t been stated, but and speculate she’s a few years old. Just like Mochii, one of Kiwi’s favorite toys is Pikachu themed and just like Sanche, she’s constantly being dressed up by Ashley. On her Instagram (@kiwithepiggi), you can see various pictures of the pup in quirky hats and cute outfits. 

 

 

6. Harim – Toto & Momo

All the previous idols have been singers and rappers from world famous K-pop groups, but not many people know of Harim and his band. Harim is the lead singer of Movning, a trio under Sugar Records Ent. He’s also the proud owner of two dogs, named Toto and Momo. Toto is a playful Schnauzer, while Momo is a West Highland White Terrier. They both appear on his Instagram (@chicken_harim) a lot and they seem to have a great relationship with each other. Both pups were abandoned at a young age and Harim, wanting to give them a good home, adopted them both. When asked, he stated that their diet consist solely of fodder, which is dried hay or straw.

 

   

—-Valeria Movnings

Some of the most famous and Intagrammable places in the world are architectural designs. Those beautiful buildings have been designed by the extraordinary minds and hands of the architects around the world. One of those architects, that has left us back in May 2019 is I.M.Pei. Maybe unknown for many, this man most famous architectural legacy is nothing other but the glass pyramid standing in front of the Louvre museum in Paris. Impressive, right?

I.M.Pei, full name Ieoh Ming Pei (pronounced pay) was born on April 26, 1917, in Guangzhou, China. Not much is known about his early life until he decided to come to the USA when he was 17 years old and to study at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Although that was his first and original ides, he later transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which proved to be the right move and there earned his bachelor degree in architecture in 1940. After earning his degree, Pei continued his studies at the Harvard University’s Graduate School of design. It was the place and the opportunity he came across to meet and study with Walter Gropius. He was a German architect, the founder of the Bauhaus design movement – a moment in the modern architecture that defined the decorative elements in the way that “form follows function”, something that is present to this very day. Like many great minds, Pei took a break from studying too, and that was in the period of World War II when he worked for the National Defense Research Committee. Returning to school in 1944 was again the right move, and in 1946, Pei got his masters degree in architecture. This was the time when he also started working as an assistant professor at the university. With this impressive education background, and living in America, the doors to a Pei’s successful career were wide open.

Looking to broaden his horizons and dive deeper into the architecture, in 1948 Pei started working for an architectural company named Webb & Knapp, Inc. They were based in New York and his colorful resume brought him to the position of director of architecture. Pei was working there until 1955 when he decided it is time to leave and start something of his own. He founded the firm I.M. Pei & Associates that is today known as Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. With his new firm, came the first big projects that were major for the time – Mile High Center in Denver, Colorado. While working on this project, Pei was also doing consulting on several plans for urban renovations in Washington, Boston, and Philadelphia. His talent was soon heard in the higher levels of the society which brought the project of designing a presidential library for then, the late President John F. Kennedy, which was finished in 1979. Later came the projects of creating the east wing of the National Gallery of Art and the Dallas City Hall in 1978, Mesa Laboratory of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, the west wing of the Museum of Fine arts in Boston in 1980, Fragrant Hill Hotel in China in 1983.

 

 

One of the most famous Pei works is the revitalization of the Paris’ Louvre museum. Although he did not accept the invitation at first, Pei decided to do something unique to revive its look and it proved to be a world-class move. The large glass pyramid that today stands in front of the entrance of the museum became Pei’s signature representation of the work.

 

 

Pei’s work did not stop here. Just on the contrary, his business was booming. He became the most sought-after architect attractive to real estate developers, corporate and art museum boards. During the 1990s and 2000s, Pei designed other impressive buildings like United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, the Nascar Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Museum of Islamic Art and many more.

 

 

From the moment Pei appeared on the architectural scene, he caught the eye of many cultural, governmental and commercial companies who wanted his input in their projects. This was all due to his talent and ability to interconnect the sharp geometrical lines with the current regional architectural traditions which always resulted in a magnificent design. Thinking outside the box at the time when Pei started working and designing a variety of buildings from skyscrapers to museums, represented the perfect balance in his creativity and open mind how to carefully work within the lines of the cutting edge and conservative.

His style can be best explained as modern. He loved designing projects with clean and sharp-edged lines, combining the simple geometry with the latest trends. Although many at that time might have taken his work and approach with the dose of reservation, Pei was strong and determined in his work. In the end, his creations did pass the test of time, today being considered as the best and most beautiful architectural designs in history.

On May 19^th, 2019, his son Sandi, also an architect working at his father’s company announced that the great mastermind and brilliant architect passed on the age of 102. He lived a great and fulfilled life. Born in China but living in America has made Pei appreciative of every culture and tradition which was only a plus in his creative work and building a rich architectural profile and profession.

 

—-Maja Krdzic

 

If you’ve by any chance clicked on this article without knowing who Ravi is, fear not and let me introduce you to this Kpop star!

Best known by his stage name Ravi, Kim Won-sik is the main rapper, lead dancer, lyrics writer and composer for a Kpop boy group named VIXX. Born (February 15, 1993) and raised in Seoul, Korea. Just because I know we love to have excessive info about idols: He is 6ft tall, Aquarius, blood type O, fitness enthusiast, and has publicly stated that he would date his fellow member N if he was a girl, just saying ;). Oh, also, his nickname was speculated to be LUCKY BOY. He has a younger sister.

Lucky Boy’s first appearances

This older brother was one of 10 trainees on the famous Mnet’s competition series named MyDOL. He debuted in the final line-up of VIXX, then called Super Hero, in May 2012.

Solo career

Besides being a member of VIXX, Ravi also debuted as a solo artist in January 2017 with his mini album R.EAL1ZE. He also dropped his first mixtape R.EBIRTH in March 2016, and this busy rapper also appeared on the fourth season of survival program Show Me The Money, alongside a bunch of underground rappers.

Supporting his colleagues

He sure supports the Korean rapper community, given that he collaborated with multiple fellow rappers, including SMTM4’s winner, Basick, on OX, the mixtape where he experimented with all kinds of music genres.

Keeping up the supporting other artist theme going, in June 2018 Ravi produced a song for the girl group ELRIS. The song is called TELL ME, so feel free to check it out, it surprised me that this song is not even close to what we are used to hearing from him.

EXO‘s Kai and SHINEE‘s Taemin are his best friends, and fans love this multi group friendship.

Controversy and split personality?

Despite being involved in controversy regarding him ‘objectifying women’ in his solo song BOMB and criticized for his scary rapper persona, fans say that he is being misunderstood and are standing by his side. One of the fans wrote: ‘Behind the fast raps and the amazing dances lies a human being. Take away Ravi and you get Kim Won-sik, a caring, passionate, hardworking, creative person.’ Ravi himself touched on the split-persona topic in his 2018 NIRVANA, finding a middle ground between his and others outlook on Kim Won-sik. Talking about controversy, he is the idol with the 3rd highest number of copyrighted songs.

Ravi takes on Europe

Won-sik had his first solo European tour in October 2018. He left London amazed by the passion of his fans, who were singing along to every song.

Variety show appearances

He appeared as an MC for the Korean beauty show, Style Follow. Though he was taken by surprise by the content of the show, he kept his professional cool.

‘I thought it was a fashion variety show at first, but when I started to film, it was about beauty but I said I’d continue. I’m just the MC, so it was ok.’ – Ravi said for METRO UK.

His variety show career didn’t end there. Ravi proved his physical skills on a show about rigorous military training, Real Men 300. The show raised his popularity as viewers were amazed with him getting into the last round, but unfortunately failing to complete the last challenge. Even so, his 10km march while lugging 20 kg took fans’ breath away. Is there anything he can’t do?

Butt the pup

Ravi did find time to indulge in fatherhood. In 2017 the Won-sik family got a new member, French bulldog named Butt. Butt is spending time with his parents whenever Ravi’s away, though he always gets to hear and see him through FaceTime.

GROOVL1N – changing entertainment industry norms

Ravi, who writes his own lines and music, decided to add another ‘own’ in his career and establish his own label. On May 24 this year, the Jellyfish Entertainment (agency he was signed to) announced that Ravi chose not to renew his contract with the company for the sake of creating his own. Fortunately, he didn’t abandon VIXX. The company also stated that, even though Ravi cut ties with the agency, he was to remain a part of the boy band. I swear you could hear all of STARLIGHT (VIXX’s fandom) sighing with relief.

Regarding his label, Ravi took no breaks after leaving JF Entertainment. Won-sik’s label was officially created on June 26,2019, under the name GROOVL1N. This new hip hop label welcomed its first two artists Cold Bay and Xydo. Ravi promised to keep making new music and moves, and called for fans to support his first steps in the industry. You can keep up with him and his label on his official social media pages:

@GROOVL1N_GTCK on Twitter

@groovl1nofficial on Instagram

He is no stranger to fighting for creator’s voices in the controlling Kpop entertainment industry, and has spoken about this issue in his songs and interviews various times.

This label is one of Ravi’s efforts to gain creative freedom and change the wrongs of Kpop.

What is he doing now?

Ravi enters 2019 working on new songs and creating music with no boundaries. Also, fans were relieved when he stated that sad feelings he talked about in his previous songs are no longer valid, though he did add that ‘There’s a happiness but there’s a sadness and they’re there together’, such a poetic soul.

After leaving the agency, Ravi published his new single VACAY on August 6, and fans seem to like this classic rapping Ravi style with a hint of your good old summer song.

GROOVL1N has also finally published the debut single for Xydo OUTFIT OF THE DAY feat. Coogie. He has his hands full for sure.

The star and starlight

Ravi’s relationship with his fans, he himself described best: ‘A star has no meaning without a starlight’, he stated.  In fact, VIXX’s first activity for 2019 was a fan meet and greet, those guys keep giving back to their fans.

Where will you be able to see him?

On August 12, the Jellyfish Entertainment announced that VIXX will  be holding the concert “VIXX LIVE FANTASIA [PARALLEL]” at Jamsil Indoor Stadium on September 28 and 29. Tickets of the concert will be opened for pre-order at 8 pm (KST) August 19 for fanclub as well as at 8 pm (KST) August 21 for general audiences through Melon Ticket Agency.

GROOVL1N is holding a release party for Ravi’s NIRVANA II on September 1, so keep an eye out for that. It will be held in Hongdae Rollinghall in Seoul, so us international fans will have to cling on fancams and official footage, though considering Ravi is no stranger to world tours, we may get a chance to see him live once again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJFjCgWcd54

 

—-Tina Mihajlovic

 

*Tibet is a country based in Himalayan mountains.

 

*Tibet is the 10th biggest nation in the world, in terms of land-mass.

 

*Tourists were first permitted to Tibet in the 1980s. Tibet only open to visitors as long as they’re on an organized tour with a guide.

 

*47% of the world’s population depends on the flow of fresh water from Tibet. 46% of the world’s population depends upon rivers originating in Tibet. Six of Asia’s biggest rivers originate from Tibet as well.

 

*Tibet is located on the Tibetan Plateau, which is the highest region on earth. The elevation is an average of 4,500m, which can cause some travelers to experience altitude sickness. Many tour companies offer tourists oxygen tanks to ease the transition process.

 

*Tibet invaded China to seize land in 1930, during a period of de facto Tibetan independence.

 

*In April 27, 1906, Great Britain and China signed a treaty approving China’s dominion of Tibet – this was negotiated without any Tibetan participation.

 

*Tibet was an independent country until 1959, but was forcefully occupied by China. China claims Tibetans are happy with them ruling, but they prohibit foreign journalists or politicians to visit and see for themselves. There’s evidently stuff that China doesn’t want the world to know.

 

*Tibet is currently governed by the Chinese Communist Party, and Tibetans frequent protest in order to resist China’s rule. Many have set themselves on fire.

 

*Dalai Lama fled to India during the Chinese invasion and is currently still based there.

 

*Dalai Lama’s government and around 80,000 Tibetans fled to India in March of 1959.

 

 

*There are no KFCs in Tibet thanks to Dalai Lama, who wrote a letter on the mass slaughter of chickens violated Tibet’s traditional values.

 

*Potala Palace in Tibet has been the official residence of the Dalai Lama’s since the 7th century until 1959. The palace is the highest in the world and visitors are asked to acclimatize themselves before entering; they are prohibited to take oxygen supplies into the palace for fear of fire.

 

*One of the “Silk Road” routes was through Tibet.

 

*Traveling in Tibet solo is currently illegal.

 

*In April 25 of 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal and killed over 8,000 people. In May 12 of the same year, another major earthquake shook Nepal and killed minimum of 94 people.

 

*There’s a railway connecting Tibet to China that reaches the highest point of 5,072 m. Due to the high elevation, an oxygen supply is given to all the passengers and a doctor must be accompanied.

 

 

*Pugs originated in Tibet and went by the name “Little Turks.”

 

*The Lhasa Apso dog was domesticated and bred as long ago as 800 BC in Tibet as an indoor monastery sentinel dogs. The first pair was brought to America in 1933 as a gift from the 13th Dalai Lama.

 

*Mt Kailash in Tibet has never been climbed!

 

*If there’s more than one candidate during the selection of the next Dalai Lama, the Minister of Tibet will pick a name out of an urn.

 

*Buttered tea is a Tibetan. Tibetans obviously knew the benefits of adding fat to tea since centuries ago.

 

*The main religion in Tibet has been Buddhism since its outspread in the 8th century AD.

 

*99% of the Buddhist monasteries in Tibet have been closed due to the Communist rule. The current Dalai Lama of Tibet was given Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, for his efforts for non-violent liberation of Tibet.

 

*March 23, 2018, US President Donald Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 into law, which approves continued and additional funding for Tibetan communities inside Tibet, and exiled Tibetans in India and Nepal.

 

J.Chung.

 

The kids are taking up the world. And that is something to applaud and welcome. In a time of great political change and various movements, the good news involving kids and their accomplishments are rare but also much needed. It is hard to be successful these days, but with lots of love, determination, and passion, anything is possible. Especially if you are a girl. It seems that women today have more to prove, so the young Sky Brown began just in time – to show the world that she is the best in what she does.

Maybe lots of you have never heard about this girl. That is quite all right. Just head to her Instagram profile @skybrown ( managed by her mother) and when you see the number of 409K followers you will know that she is something special. You will see an energetic, cute and professional girl, in love with skateboarding and achieving new accomplishments every new day. The longhaired British-Japanese skateboarder has become very popular early in her age. Her passion for skateboarding and recreational surfing has caught the eyes of the world. There has been nothing but outpouring support when the name of Sky Brown is heard. Even some of the biggest sporting brands like Nike have stood behind this talent, signing her as their youngest client and allowing her the needed support and encouragement in creating a successful career.

Born to Japanese mother and English father on July 12, 2008, in Miyazaki, Japan, Sky Brown is a Japanese nationality. She has a younger brother named Ocean who also loves skateboarding like his big sister. Alongside skateboarding, Sky loves to dance a lot, especially on the tunes of Sia and Nicky Minaj. That type of music is what drives her and boosts her self-confidence while practicing skateboarding. She has been known for a laid back personality and down-to-earth little girl considering the popularity she is enjoying on a world level. In a recent interview, her father Stuart talked about his daughter’s endeavors. He has seen her doing some tricks and trying out the skateboards and said that he never imagined that a little girl would love something like skateboarding. Yet, Sky has shown incredible talents as early as the age of 3 where it became clear to her parents that their daughter has a talent and a future career. That has been love at first sight, as since then, Sky and the skateboard have become inseparable companions. With lots of trying she has learned how to properly and adequately run the skateboard, and she only did get better and better in time. As her father explained, the only female inspiration skateboarders at that time for her have been Leticia Bufoni and Alana Smith. She has looked up to them, their style and tricks, and tried to incorporate their things with her things, creating a new, individual and personal style.

Her talent did not remain unrecognized for a long time. When she was only 8 years old, in 2016 she participated in the Vans US Open Pro Series where she became the youngest member ever. After that, came another event – Dancing With The Stars: Juniors in 2018. She was partnered with JT Church and became a champion.

Now, next in the line of her achievements are the Olympics 2020 in Tokyo. If she manages to qualify, and she will compete for Britain, she will be the youngest participant in the history with the age of 12 years and 15 days on the exact opening day of the skateboarding event. Her desire to attend the summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo is additionally driven by the will, as she explained, to go there as a young little girl and show everyone that even if you are young and a girl you can do everything.

It is safe to say that this 11-yeard-old skateboarder has become an influencer. Her high profile and almost a celebrity status were put to a good cause, by no other than her parents and herself. Their visit to Cambodia was an inspiration to do something to help the children there, especially those her age without access to clean water and education. This initiative was appreciated by Almost Skateboards board manufacturer and charity partner, with whom Sky has designed a skateboard. Almost Skateboards & Sky Brown x Skateistan is the collaboration that was announced back in February 2018 that is selling skateboards under the signature of Sky Brown. All the proceeds from the sales of these boards were being directed into empowering children and youth through skateboarding and education. 

And she does not stop here.  As surfboarding has become an Olympic sport during Tokyo 2020, she hopes that she will also qualify and add it to her resume of achievements.

Sky Brown is a wonderful example of how everyone can achieve what they want. As she has stated many times, you can do the boys job and excel at it.  We are living in modern times and the boundaries are pushed and moved every day. Her determination and achievements are an example and inspiration for many young females who are hesitant about a certain aspect of their life and career.

Sky Brown is not only her generation’s icon but to many more. She encourages girls to try themselves in every aspect they desire and not to mind the age. So little and so wise – there is a lot to be learned from Sky Brown.

 

—-Maja Krdzic

 

A.R.M.Y can breathe a sigh of relief! BigHit Entertainment recently announced that their global phenom group, BTS, will be taking an official break to rest following their last concert.

BigHit announced the upcoming hiatus on their official Twitter page.

 

[공지] 방탄소년단 공식 장기 휴가 알림 (+ENG) pic.twitter.com/fV4Aw5UNY4

— BigHit Entertainment (@BigHitEnt) August 11, 2019

 

Hello. This is Big Hit Entertainment. We would like to announce that for the first time since their debut, BTS will be going on an official and extended period of rest and relaxation. Today’s LOTTE DUTY FREE FAMILY CONCERT performance will make the last scheduled event before members prepare to take their vacations.

This period of rest will be an opportunity for the members of BTS, who have relentlessly driven themselves towards their goal since their debut, to recharge and prepare to present themselves anew as musicians and creators.  This will also provide them with a chance to enjoy the ordinary lives of young people in their 20s, albeit briefly. During this time, the members will rest and recharge in their own personal ways.

Should you have a chance encounter with a member of BTS while they are on vacation, we ask that you show consideration for their need to rest and enjoy their private time off. BTS will return refreshed and recharged to return all the love you have an continue to show them. Thank you.

 

This will be BTS’ first vacation since they debuted in 2013. As the statement suggests, anyone who sees any of the members out and about are encouraged to leave them alone.

The statement suggests that the break may be brief, however. BTS is scheduled to perform in Saudi Arabia October 11, 2019.

Some speculate that the break will also give BTS members a breather before members have to start enlisting for their mandatory military service. Jin is scheduled to enlist in 2020 while the others’ schedules are staggered at different points after his.

For now, here’s to hoping BTS enjoy their time off!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

Former M.I.B member and current soloist and television personality Kangnam (Yasuo Namekawa) announced that he will renounce his Japanese citizenship in order to become a Korean citizen.

Born to a Korean mother and a Japanese father, Kangnam, who announced earlier this year that he is dating Korean speedskater Lee Sang-Hwa, will begin the naturalization process later this year.

“It’s true that Kangnam is preparing to be naturalized,” his agency, DMost Entertainment, said. “He will be submitting his request this month. The process is expected to take about one year.”

To become a Korean citizen, Kangnam must submit paperwork and take exams during the process. He also must meet specific criteria in order to obtain full-Korean citizenship.

Kangnam has been a performer in Korea since 2011 when he debuted with the solo track “Say My Name.” He later re-debuted in the Hip-Hop group M.I.B, which disbanded January 4, 2017. Prior to his Korean debut, Kangnam, who went by the stage name Ya-Cha, was a member of the Japanese band Kick Chop Busters before leaving. Following the end of M.I.B, Kangnam has split time between Korea and Japan as a singer and television personality on several variety shows.

We wish Kangnam the best during his naturalization process.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

The LGBTQA+ community has another reason to celebrate as another Korean celebrity “came out,” a move that is considered controversial in an entertainment industry that’s designed to sell fantasies in a conservative country.

Som Hein (Som Hye-In), a former contestant on Mnet’s Idol School, has come out via Instagram posts featuring closeup shots of her and her girlfriend, Eunbin.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

나의 예쁜 그녀 My lovely girl

A post shared by Somhein (@somgodld) on Aug 10, 2019 at 1:33pm PDT

 

Som, who recently made her solo debut with the single album Mini Radio, also said during an Instagram Live Q&A that she is bisexual.

Som’s coming out and single release are also a sign of new beginnings for the rookie artist. In 2017, she dropped out of Idol School due to health reasons (later revealed as complications from anorexia). Around the same time, a girl named Choi Min-Kyung came forward with allegations that Som bullied her while they were students together.

Som apologized for the incident and apologized to Choi in leaked conversations.

Originally, Netizens felt that Som’s love interest was male, but Som debunked the chatter and confirmed she came out as bisexual.

“Yes, it’s true that I came out. I’m in a same-sex relationship,” Som said in an Instagram story.

Her announcement is a bold but welcome one. She joins a handful of singers who are members of the LGBTQA+ community including Harisu and Choi Hanbit (both are trans females), Holland and MRSHLL (both came out as gay), and Hansol (asexual). 

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

On Sunday August 11, 2019, the 2019 Teen Choice Awards were held at Hermosa Beach, California.

The Teen Choice Awards fetes musical acts, sports stars, and actors and actresses, and winners are chosen by American voters 13 and older. The target audience had opportunities to vote for their favorite acts in music, film, television, sports, fashion, Internet, and comedy using the Teen Choice site and social media platforms.

At this year’s festivities, Monsta X performed “Who Do U Love?” sans French Montana.

 

 

The group was a late addition to the performance list as they were notified on August 7 that they would be performing. However, while the group was without Kihyun due to injury, Monsta X did their best to perform for a crowd that did not have a lot of Monbebes in attendance due to the short performance notice. In addition to performing, Monsta X also had an opportunity to walk the red carpet and meet other celebrities.

 

[#MONSTA_X]
TEEN CHOICE 2019@TeenChoiceFOX

with #Charlie_Puth @charlieputh#MONSTAX #몬스타엑스#TEENCHOICE2019 pic.twitter.com/ocs5LHdp9C

— 몬스타엑스_MONSTA X (@OfficialMonstaX) August 12, 2019

 

Meanwhile, during the music awards portion of the show, BLACKPINK, Red Velvet, and BTS earned awards.

BLACKPINK took home one award for “Choice Song: Group” for “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du.” The girls beat out the Jonas Brothers (“Sucker”), Panic! At the Disco (“Hey Look Ma, I Made It”), Imagine Dragons (“Bad Liar”), Five Seconds of Summer (“Easier”), and Why Don’t We (“8 Letters”).

The Red Velvet remix of “Close to Me” (Ellie Goulding, Diplo, Red Velvet) took home the award for “Choice Electronic/Dance Song.” The track was voted the best over “365” (Zedd and Katy Perry), “Call You Mine” (The Chainsmokers featuring Bebe Rexha), “Find U Again” (Mark Ronson featuring Camila Cabello), “Happier” (Marshmello and Bastille), and “Who Do You Love” (The Chainsmokers featuring Five Seconds of Summer).

BTS, however, took home four awards.

 

 

For “Choice Collaboration,” BTS and Halsey’s “Boy With Luv” beat Sam Smith and Normani (“Dancing with a Stranger”), Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber (“I Don’t Care”), Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus (“Old Town Road”), Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (“Shallow”), and Julia Michaels and Niall Horan (“What a Time”).

BTS beat CNCO, EXO, BLACKPINK, NCT-127, and Little Mix for “Choice International Artist,” while A.R.M.Y defeated Arianators (Ariana Grande), BLINKS (BLACKPINK), CNCOwners (CNCO), Selenators (Selena Gomez), and Swifties (Taylor Swift) for “Choice Fandom.”

Finally, BTS also took home the award for “Choice Summer Tour” for their Love Yourself: Speak Yourself world tour. The group won the award over the Sweetener World Tour (Ariana Grande), When We All Fall Asleep Tour (Billie Eilish), BLACKPINK 2019 World Tour: BLACKPINK in Your Area (BLACKPINK), It’s My Party Tour (Jennifer Lopez), and Shawn Mendes: The Tour (Shawn Mendes).

Congratulations to Red Velvet, BLACKPINK, BTS, and Monsta X for their accomplishments, and congratulations to all the winners at this year’s Teen Choice Awards!

 

—-Olivia Murray

On August 9, 2019, actor Son Seung Won (Hello, My Twenties!) found out his year-and-a-half prison sentence for a hit-and-run DUI has been upheld. 

This was his second court appeal trial. He initially received his year-and-a-half sentence by the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District on April 11, 2019. On April 15, 2019, the defense filed an appeal, while the prosecution—which initially wanted a four-year sentence—also filed an appeal on April 18, 2019. 

The case stems from a December 26, 2018 DUI arrest where Son drove into another vehicle then fled the scene on foot. At the time of his arrest, his blood alcohol level was 0.206 percent. The DUI was Son’s fourth DUI arrest. On November 18, 2018, Son’s license was revoked as punishment from an August 3, 2018 DUI arrest. In addition for being charged with a DUI hit-and-run, he also received charges for driving without a license. 

For the December 26 incident, the passengers in the vehicle he hit sustained injuries. His passenger, actor Jung Hwi, was unhurt, but he released an apology letter and stepped down from his musical performances. 

During Son’s appeal, court officials overturned a decision to rule Son Seung Won as not guilty of danger caused by reckless driving, a decision rendered from the first trial. The court also looked at Son’s settlement with the victims, thus ruling that his initial year-and-a-half sentence was just. The punishment remains. While rendering his verdict, the judge also took Son’s prior arrests into consideration.

“The fact that Son Seung Won drove while drunk in August [2018] and then again in December shows that he disregarded the law. He must be punished with a strict sentence,” the judge said. 

“From the time after the first trial up until my appeal, I felt guilty and reflected on my wrongdoings. I feel as though I learned a lot about life during the past six months. I regretted living my life badly, and I came to learn how precious and valuable family is,” Son said during the appeals process. 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

On August 5, 2019, Dispatch reported that TWICE’s Jihyo and soloist Kang Daniel are dating and have been dating for months.

Dispatch initially reported the pair were seen together in Seoul Hannam neighborhood August 1, 2019. The news agency also said the two were spotted together before and after TWICE left the country for their world tour and that Jihyo visited Kang backstage after his debut showcase. Additionally, Dispatch reports that the other TWICE members consider the pair a couple.

Following the reports, JYP Entertainment and KONNECT Entertainment said the two are meeting, but they did not explicitly say the two are dating.

“They are currently meeting with interest in each other,” JYPE said in a statement.

KONNECT Entertainment’s statement reads,

 

Hello, this is KONNECT Entertainment.

First, we would like to apologize for our official position being late, due to us confirming the truth.

We can confirm Kang Daniel and Jihyo are currently meeting with good feelings.

Please watch over them well.

 

Earlier in the year, TWICE’s three-year dating ban was lifted, so the members are free to pursue relationships if they choose.

Congratulations to Jihyo and Kang Daniel. Hopefully Netizens will have mercy on you.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

On July 30, 2019, Mexican authorities announced they arrested a suspect in connection to the death of Jose Arredondo. Arredondo, a businessman from Bakersfield, California, is the father of K-Pop singer, Samuel Kim.

According to authorities, 50-year-old “Roberto N.” from Hildago, Mexico was taken into custody. The suspect was originally considered a missing person by his family. The Attorney General of the State of Baja California Sur confirmed the arrest along with the Arredondo family’s attorney.

According Baja California Sur authorities, Roberto, whose last name has not been released due to legal reasons, committed the murder in front of others, and those suspects are still at large.

According to family, Roberto was a friend of Arredondo.

“That particular person was a friend of his for 20 years,” Arredondo’s sister, Laura, told Bakersfield news outlet, KGET-TV. “They have one of them, but it wasn’t just one [person involved], it was more. But at least they have one of them, and I know that person is going to talk.”

“He really reached out and helped the community,” Samuel Kim told KGET-TV. “I really hope one day I can be the man he was.”

Meanwhile, Arredondo’s funeral was held on what would have been his 61st birthday.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

On July 31, 2019, former 9Muses member and current soloist, Kyungri, has left Star Empire after seven years with the agency. Via a statement, he company confirmed that Kyungri has opted not to renew her exclusive contract.

 

Hello. This is Star Empire.

We are informing you that our exclusive contract with our artist Kyungri has ended as of July 31, 2019.

We recently spent a long time engaged in serious conversation ahead of the expiration of our exclusive contract, and after careful discussion, we have decided not to move forward with contract renewal.

After joining 9MUSES as a member in 2012, Kyungri has been peerless in working hard and doing her utmost in her activities. She had a precious and meaningful relationship with our agency, in which we went through both good and bad times together.

We sincerely thank Kyungri for spending the past seven years together with us, from 2012 up until now.

We also want to thank the fans who have always given their love and support to Kyungri and who were with her for the entire time during which she was with our agency.

Although our time together has ended, we will be sincerely cheering Kyungri on as she walks her own path in the future.

Thank you.

 

Kyungri seemingly left the company and allegedly threw shade at them using a meme featuring Inuyasha characters Kagome and Inuyasha. Fans captured the now-deleted post and shared it on Twitter.

NOT KYUNGRI POSTING THIS ON HER INSTAGRAM STORY TO SHOW HER LEAVING STAR.. pic.twitter.com/1FCbQohCyy

— connor #ThankYou9Muses (@kyungrismaid) July 31, 2019

THE DUB IS SO SHADY… i love her so muchhh pic.twitter.com/nMRqfrpC3b

— connor #ThankYou9Muses (@kyungrismaid) July 31, 2019

 

The clip, which comes from Inuyasha season 6, episode 128, has become a popular meme over the years and is often used as a joke for people leaving work. However, it has taken on a whole new spin since Kyungri’s use.

Kyungri joined the agency in 2012 as a new member of 9Muses. The underrated girl group disbanded earlier this year.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

YouTube is a great place to find videos on several different interests. With the rise of the Korean Wave also came the rise of channels that focus on Korean beauty, racism, Asian culture, and a variety of other topics including former idols who discuss their time in Korea. Many of these channels are worth checking out if you haven’t checked them out already! Here are some of our favorite channels you should watch right now.

 

みかんMikan

Mikan is a 20-something female living in Japan. On her channel, she documents her life and experiences in Japan in her often fun, light-hearted videos. Her demeanor makes watching her videos enjoyable. Before you know it, you’ve wasted a few hours watching her content.

Mikan’s videos cover a lot of different topics from fashion college, tips helping fellow foreigners, and shopping. What works with Mikan’s videos is how relatable she is, and her first-hand experiences and tales provide a unique perspective into Japanese life.

 

Abroad in Japan

One of the perks of the channel is how Abroad in Japan’s videos are Travel Channel quality. While Mikan’s videos are more lighthearted, Abroad in Japan is more informative and have a travelogue feel.

Chris Broad dubs himself as the “British Guy in Japan,” and he takes people on a journey through the country using his sharp wit, some sarcasm, and informative storytelling skills. The videos are educational and provide interesting insights on the different aspects of Japanese culture and the country as a whole.

 

Dain Yoon

Dain Yoon is in a class all her own!

The artist behind the popular Instagram page DesignDain also shares videos on YouTube. On her page, she shares videos featuring her art and makeup skills. Her illusionist work tricks the eye and makes for great conversation, and watching the process unfold is even more mesmerizing!

While her page doesn’t have a lot of videos, those that are present provide some interesting views into the mind of this artist!

 

Grazy Grace/Grace TV

Grace, who is a former Unpretty Rapster 3 contestant and a former girl group trainee, has an insightful YouTube channel that explores different aspects of idol life, the “dark side of K-Pop,” K-Pop culture, and different elements of Korea. She candidly discusses topics such as harassment, plastic surgery, K-Pop diets, Korean nightlife, and even how other groups act backstage and off-camera.

Grace delivers her content in a no-nonsense way and tends to “keep it real” while not revealing too much as not to reveal any identities about people, companies, and managers she’s worked with in her career. Her unique, first-hand perspectives do show the pros and cons of idol life, and her videos are eye-opening for anyone who thinks K-Pop is all glamour.

 

MissDarcei

MissDarcei’s channel is full of quality content, and we love her for a variety of reasons: Her videos are fun and funny, she’s down-to-Earth, and she’s a Melanin Girl who tries Asian makeup trends as well as makeup and wigs from Asian brands, thus making her channel one of the most inclusive ones on this list.

Through her videos, Darcei does a fantastic job explaining the makeup t.rends she’s trying for a video, and her impressions are genuine. For example, even if makeup and looks don’t suit her, she still has fun with it and tries to find ways to make looks work. Her spunky, sunny personality enhances the videos as well

In addition to trying Asian beauty trends, Darcei also talks about other topics including her views on how Koreans view black people, dating, and cultural appropriation. Her channel is definitely one of the most well-rounded ones out there and worth checking out!

What YouTube channels do you enjoy for learning more about Asian makeup trends, fashion trends, and travel? Let us know! We’d love to review them.

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

 

On July 29, 2019, Big Hit Entertainment, the company behind global phenoms BTS, announced that they acquired Source Music.

Source Music, which is the home of Gfriend, will be an independent subsidiary under Big Hit.

In a statement, Big Hit stated, “We recently completed a contract to acquire Source Music and it will be incorporated as a subsidiary of Big Hit Entertainment. Source Music will retain its existing management and maintain their label’s color and independence in music.”

Billboard reports that, according to Big Hit, the company is looking to “quickly expand the spectrum of its artists by securing a group of artists with an already-established fandom” and also is looking to Source to provide a “pool of trainees with high growth potential in the girl group category.”   

Big Hit’s acquisition of Source Music is not surprising as the two companies have worked together in the past on two now-disbanded groups 8Eight and GLAM.

 

 

 

Bang Si-hyuk, co-CEO and founder of Bit Hit Entertainment, said, “A shared philosophy behind artist promotion and management was the main driver that brought Big Hit and Source Music together. Since we know each other so well, we expect the acquisition to be a success. I’m pleased that both companies can now begin painting an even bigger picture.”

“I am thrilled that Source Music has joined Big Hit,” said Source Music’s CEO So Sung Jin.  “I believe this to be a prime opportunity for achieving the next level of excellence for the artists, trainees and members of the label. Big Hit’s track record of creating global artists quickly and expertly sets a solid foundation for Source Music. We will strive to provide even more amazing content to our fans through this organic relationship with Big Hit.”

The acquisition is the first in Big Hit’s plan to follow a multi-label structure. Currently, the company is worth around $1 billion USD, and with the success of their artists and global branding, their worth is expected to increase.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

Even though he is currently serving his required military service as a public service worker since March 21, 2019, former U-KISS member Kiseop announced that he will be getting married August 24, 2019!

Kiseop announced his upcoming nuptials to rookie model and actress Jung Yoo-Na via a letter posted on Instagram.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ 안녕하세요. 기섭입니다. 먼저 여러분들께 전해드릴 말씀이 있어서 글을 쓰게 되었습니다. 갑작스러우시겠지만 이렇게 글을 쓰게 된 이유는 제가 평생 함께하고 싶은 사람을 만나게 되었기 때문입니다. 그녀는 제 인생에 있어서 두 번 다시없을 소중한 사람입니다. 오랜 시간 동안 늘 한결같이 저만을 바라봐 준 그녀를 위해 지금부터는 제가 그녀의 행복을 책임지고 싶습니다. 그래서, 저는 그녀와 아름다운 나날들을 걸어가기 위해 결혼을 약속하게 되었습니다. 같은 곳을 바라보기로 맹세한 만큼 더 겸손하고 책임감 있는 사람이 되겠습니다. 항상 저를 사랑해주시고 믿어주신 팬 여러분의 감사한 마음… 절대 잊지 않고, 행복하게 살겠습니다. 앞으로 새로운 도전과, 여러분들 앞에 좋은 모습으로 보답하겠습니다. 저희 두 사람이 함께하는 아름다운 나날에 많은 축복과 응원을 보내 주시면 감사하겠습니다. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀-기섭 올림-

A post shared by ⠀KISEOP (@ki_seop91) on Jul 31, 2019 at 8:02pm PDT

 

The message reads:

Hello. This is Kiseop. I am writing because I have news to deliver to you all. This may be sudden, but the reason I am writing this is because I’ve met someone whom I want to spend the rest of my life with. She is a precious person like no other in my life.

From now on, I want to take responsibility for the happiness of this woman who has protected her place by my side for such a long time. As a result, I’ve promised marriage with her, so that we can walk toward beautiful days in the future together.

As I pledge to look toward one future with this person, I promise to become a humbler and more responsible person. I will never forget the thankfulness I feel for my fans, who always loved me and believed in me… I will live happily.

From here on, I will do my best to repay you with new challenges and new sides. I would be thankful if you send your abundant cheers and congratulations for our future together.

 

During a TV Report phone interview, Kiseop stated he and Yoo-Na met while they were both under NH EMG. She was training to be a in a girl group before switching to modeling and acting. Yoo-Na appeared in U-KISS’ MV for their fifth Japanese release, “Distance,” in 2012.

 

“Jung Yoo-Na and I were both born in 1991,” Kiseop said, “so we were friends at first but naturally became a couple.”

When asked about getting married while in the military, Kiseop added, “It’s not easy deciding to get married as a public service worker. I’m nervous, but I’m more excited for the days that we will have together in the future.”

For their wedding, Comedian Kim Yong Myung will host while Huh Gak will perform the congratulatory song.

Congratulations to Kiseop and Yoo-Na on their big day!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, better known by his stage name Badshah, is an Indian rap-music composer rapper and singer known for his Hindi, Haryanvi, and Punjabi songs. Badshah used to rap really well so that people began to wiggle out of nowhere. He is ridiculously popular, not only in India but worldwide.

How a Civil Engineer, Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia become a famed rapper music composer, i.e. BADSHAH? Let’s find out.

His story starts from 19 November 1985, when in the Capital of India, New Delhi, Badshah was born as Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia in Delhi, to a father from Haryana and mother from Punjab. He also has a sister, named Aparajita.

Badshah was fond of music from the early stage of his childhood, he also used to participate in variour scool, inter-school music competition. He completed his schooling from Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura, Delhi where he used to perform in his school choir. Prior to becoming a full-time musician, he had enrolled as a math student at the prestigious St. Stephens College in Delhi before moving to civil engineering at PEC University of Technology, Chandigarh during which he was exposed to new Punjabi music which promoted him to take on rap writing. He has stated that if he had not become a rapper, he may “have been an IAS officer”, according to one of his interview Badshah has also done an engineering job in the corporate.  He started his career in the music industry with his new name ” Cool Equal”. But after some time, he changed his name to Badshah. Just after college he started rap-writing and rapping was just a hobby for him, as he just wanted to become an IAS officer. But at the end he could not ignore his passion for music.

In 2006, he started his music career with Mafia Mundeer Band along with another Indian Superstar, Yo Yo Honey Singh. The band became very popular, and as expected Badshah too became quite popular among people. However, till now his name was Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodiya, but just to shorten his name he acquired his Stage Name as Badshah. Pre 2012, Badshah and Honey Singh were said to be the best of friends. What happened between them after that, what led the group to disband and why the two acclaimed rappers seem to be at warheads with one another still is a mystery today.

After working with Mafia Mundeer for 12 years, in 2012, Badshah split out himself and started his own Independent Rapping. His first independent song was in Haryanvi, named “Kar Gayi Chull”. This particular song went viral among people so much so that it was adopted in to a Bollywood movie ”Kapoor And Sons”. He has also performed with various famous singers like Diljit Dosanjh, Gippy Grewal and Astha Gill, and given various BIGHITS songs. Likewise in 2013, Badshah made his bollywood debut with ”Dhup Chick” song for the movie ”Fugly” in collaboration with Raftaar and Astha Gill. In 2014, his song ”Saturday Saturday” was adopted in the bollywood movie ”Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya”, after the release of this movie ”Saturday Saturday” bagged very good response from audiences, and we can call this song as being his Career’s turning point. Now an amazing rapper has entered into Bollywood, he was achieving spectacular success day-by-day, with his increasing fan-following he has now become the 1st choice for Music Directors in a very short span. After this he has worked with Big Bollywood Players and Sprinkled his rap’s magic in big blockbusters movies like BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN, SULTAN, BAAR BAAR DEKHO, AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL, SHIVAAY and BADRINATH KI DULHANIYA. Besides these filmy songs, his SINGLE TRACKS were also very popular, those includes- ”DJ WALEY BABU (2015)” with Astha Gill. One of his song “Kaala Chashma” from the movie BAAR BAAR DEKHO his rythm was widely admired and this particular song got 440+ millions views on YouTube.

Recently, Badshah, being the first Indian artist to do so, hit another milestone when surpassing the number of views ever achieved within a 24 -hour period with his song “Paagal” by crossing 75 million views, which is stated to have surpassed BTS’s “Boy With Luv” and Taylor Swifts “Me!”  Currently as of this writing, his single “Paagal” has received over 117 millions views.

 

https://www.india.com/buzz/badshah-reveals-google-tool-helped-him-break-world-record-with-song-paagal-3729682/

 

https://www.complex.com/music/2019/07/youtube-reportedly-reevaluating-after-indian-rapper-badshah-breaks-views-record

 

Let’s talk a little about Badshah’s Personal Life.

He is married to Jasmine. They also given birth to a cute daughter.

This was the story of one India’s leading Superstar , Badshah, whose raps are learned by heart among kids, teenagers and adults.

 

 

 

 

—-Prak Hartiwar

 

It’d be safe to claim that K-Beauty has become a force to be reckoned; successfully solidifying its existence in the mainstream world of cosmetics and skincare industry. According to Wikipedia, K-Beauty is an umbrella term referring to Korean cosmetics and skin care from South Korea (that’s obvious…) and the wave has reached far and wide to many parts of the world in a short pace of time.

For a while now, Korean cosmetics and skin care products have topped the shopping list of tourists who visit Korea. The main characteristics of K-Beauty products are that they’re mild, high-in-moisture, natural, dewy with less pigmentation than the standard western cosmetic products. In this article, we’ll cover the basics on what K-Beauty can offer you.

 

1. K-Beauty is Unique & Diverse…

Whether you’re in need for an excellent anti-aging factor or just looking to try out something new, you may want to try out K-Beauty for a change. Simultaneously, I really do advise you to choose wisely when selecting K-Beauty products, especially when (or you’re a newbie) you decide to settle with a new item. There are countless Korean brands and products that are reliable, certified, top-class quality manufactured by established businesses

but I personally would not advise anyone to just grab an item, just because it has “MADE IN KOREA” on its packaging or website description. Don’t let that fool you.

Do your research and watch/read a lot of unbiased reviews before making the wise purchase. If something is ridiculously cheap, then there’s probably a good reason why that may be so. A great product consisting a lot of natural ingredients, ability to preserve the skin and not cause any irritations or problematic issues, is basically what I look for. Read the description and ingredients. Some might have dodgy English translations but they will more or less convey their meaning to the reader.

As with selecting any other skin products, the trick is to find the right K-Beauty product that matches and suits your skin type – which is not easy as it sounds– I also recommend that you find separate skin and cosmetic products for each season, as your skin condition shifts. If something works well for you all days of the year, that’s really great but the intensity of the heat, humidity, the exposure to the sun should all be taken into consideration when picking the right K-Beauty products that truly benefit and elevate the well-being of your skin.

 

2. Innovative

Koreans are very sensitive to trend and love coming up with new and innovative ideas for products. The same goes for K-Beauty.

You can find wide range of unique skin products of all kinds of ingredients like fruit, veggies, stem cells, mugwort, gold, nano, honey, pearl, ginseng, green tea and other things that you probably never even imagined being used for skincare. It’s also fun to pick out different mask sheets and other basic skin care products that are mild and soothing to the skin tone and provides moisture… It’s hard to keep up with all the new products emerging all the time, but with K-Beauty, it definitely adds more fun to your daily skin routine. It’s a no brainer why certain K-Beauty products have a cult following.

 

3. Moisture, Dewy skin, Glass Skin…

If you have intensely dry/sensitive skin, you’d need to get the inner skin hydrated, moisturized and revitalized first. The quicker you start the better. Don’t wait until you get wrinkles, because dryness of the skin can hasten wrinkles and make one look older than they are. I’m quite convinced that Korean skin care and cosmetics will assist you in this department, since they are designed to promote the soft moisture and dewiness that keep you from getting chapped lips or itchy forehead for instance. What you apply before you go to bed is super crucial, as you all know. Vast change rarely happens overnight, but in some cases, it could.

The majority of Korean cosmetic brands are created to produce what we call ~ glass skin (flawless, translucent skin) because clean, bright shine bring out the best in your skin tone and boost your appearance in many forms and ways. Some say, beauty is only skin deep – and they may be right about that, ha-ha.

 

4. Advanced Science Technology 

K-Beauty skin brands are very competitive and they drive hard to produce the most effective skin item that becomes the next big thing and recognized for their uniqueness and level of performance. These might be one of the factors that makes Korean skin products reliable, safe and effective to the skin. Skin experts and professional marketers work to tackle and resolve skin troubles via vast amounts of scientific research and experiments.

Korean labs for cosmetics aim to develop new and innovative skin products with natural, organic, healthy ingredients and contents to bring the best to their clients with the help of modern technology. Many of these labs oppose testing on animals too, and we predict to find more vegan products to emerge.

 

5. Korean Herbal Medicine…

Korean herbal medicine – a.k.a Oriental medicine – skin products are known to be antioxidant, effective in calming inflammation, with amazing anti-aging effects that are full of nutrients and organic ingredients. Anything that protects the skin from air pollution should be immensely praised, and Korean herbal medicine is trusted to protect your skin from harmful substances, germs and all types of pollution. 

Korean medicine brand cosmetics are usually pricey, compared to the rest, especially the oldest Korean herbal medicine brand (yes, that brand that starts with a “S”) created in the mid 60’s, but it definitely has reasons for being steep in terms of the cost.

The primary ingredient, which is ginseng, is extremely rare and takes many years to cultivate. It took a lot of time in the laboratory and years of research to come up with the first ever Korean herbal medicine brand that the world has ever seen. Korean Herbal Medicine skin products are highly recommended to people who want to remove wrinkles and maintain a youthful look, and those with various skin complications. There are a few other Korean Herbal brands of a considerably lower range price available too.

 

6. The cost

Most of you’ll agree that K-Beauty products are overall ~ affordable. Most legit items actually perform beyond their cost. Just because something is moderately priced, it doesn’t necessarily mean the effects are less than mediocre, and vice-versa.

Since there are so many K-Beauty brands competing with one another, many tend to price their products at the minimum price range. The price would not only vary depending on the content, but other aspects like packaging, the promotion, the endorsement and more would be taken into consideration.

Established cosmetic companies do tend to have higher range of products available but one company will own few to several brands targeting different age groups… I’ve witnessed middle-aged youtubers reviewing “K-Beauty makeup products” that’s usually targeted for teenagers and I found that somewhat strange. You don’t want to purchase something just because it looked cute and on a bargain. Look into the ingredients before making a purchase; anything full of chemicals and artificial which is harmful for your skin shouldn’t really be on your radar.

If you search the brand or the manufacture online and it’s not available, even in Korean, then you could assume the company isn’t established (or reliable), for that matter. A reputable cosmetics company would never do business without a website in the 21^st century.

 

7. K-Beauty for Men

It’s no secret that a lot of young millennial men in Korea choose to wear concealers, BB cream, foundation and whatnot… Due to that reason, K-Beauty products for men were able to strive to develop products suitable for the male consumers. These days, skin management requires more than just dabbing aftershave and sunblock cream. Grooming is now considered as mandatory and no one of any gender would want to accelerate skin-aging… Of course, you can find skin products for men elsewhere as well ~ but quite a number of K-Beauty brands create their products exclusively to suit the male skin and tone, by using natural, organic and beneficial-to-the-skin formulas for men.

As the days are growing hotter and more humid this season, more people are looking to protect their skin from sun damage, and through this article, I’m suggesting that this might be a good opportunity to search for what could become your next must-have K-Beauty item.

 

— J. Chung.

 

We are very aware that there are many animal lovers out there, so we’ve sat down with Ms. Park So-youn, the activist and founder of CARE Animal Rights Organization based in Korea.

Ms Park has dedicated most of her life by rescuing animals from horrific environments, and has built up the first and largest animal rights organization in Korea in 2002. The organization is going through a lot of difficulties lately due to several allegations, there’s so much misunderstanding and biased opinions that need to be rectified. Ms. Park has been cleared of most of the charges and legal procedures are still on-going.

We wanted to delve deeper to learn more about the animal organization, how we can co-exist with the animals in this world, and how we can prevent cruelty to animals and so much more. We’d like to send out a big thank you to Ms. Park and the organization for the interview. We wish them all the best!

 

Thank you for taking the time out for an interview with us. Please introduce yourself to our readers, and let us know more about what you do.

I am the representative of CARE, an organization for animal rights; I’m also a vegan and an animal activist.

 

Tell us how the name CARE initially came into being.

CARE was organized in 2002, and its name in English has always been the same. The initials standing for Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth, this means that animal rights should be respected just as much as human rights. By 2015, we’d begun using the same name in Korean also, with the epithet Animal Rights Group, so that we would be known as the Animal Rights Group CARE. Since 2015, we’ve been only using our English version of the name.

 

Tell us how you became an animal activist.

I think my life basically changed from the age of 8. Since I was so into animals, my mother had to wake me up in the morning just to tell me every time animals appeared on TV. I was fascinated with all kinds of animals, as beings that looked so different from us and still had such amazing, spectacular and lovable qualities.

Grown-ups tend to buy their kids soft, cuddly toys in the shape of animals, and show them picture books featuring animal characters. Most kids love animals, at times equating them with human-like characters. I was no different, just more into such things than most. But contrary to all that, when my mother asked me what I wanted to eat, and I would always say “meat!”; I loved eating meat from an early age. I never thought the animals I loved and the meat were one and the same.

Things then changed when I entered elementary school and my mother began taking me to school for about a week, until I got used to carrying a heavy satchel. In the mornings we would past a market, and one of the shops I had to pass by was a butcher’s, where we used to shop for meat. And what I saw there was totally new, because in the evenings, when we usually went there, I had never been able to come across such scenes! What I saw were some men, with their van in front of the butcher’s shop, from which they unloaded and carried in large chunks of something, hanging them on the ceiling of the shop. With a closer look, I could see legs still attached to them. I was so shocked at the sight of it all, and when I asked my mother what they were, she said “they’re pieces of the meat that you like so much!” I just collapsed to the ground and cried my eyes out.

It was as if I had killed my own friends and ate them: that was an awakening. I could never forget that shock, and at that moment I made a promise in my heart to help my animal friends, once I grew up. From that day on I could not consume meat. I would get sick at the very smell. I told my older sister about what I found out about meat, and we both became vegetarians. We were told off at the table because we refused to eat meat, then we would cry and sometimes eat just rice; this repeated day after day. My mother finally came to give up on us, and began cooking two separate meals- one with and the other without meat. Even dumplings were made in two types, one with and another without meat. It was the same with soup and potted food. My mother took all that trouble, all those years, because her two daughters would have to go without food otherwise. 

Painful experience awaited in the holidays, when we visited relatives. In the rural countryside, we saw cattle with their noses pierced, and during winter, there would be icicles under their bellies, wild birds would be caught and raised… all that was so painful to see. Things were not much different in Seoul, where we lived. In the summer they would leave their dogs for days until their return, and those dogs would often starve. I would sometimes secretly take rice from home to feed neighbors’ dogs.

I have a lot of compassion in me. It was the same with people, not just animals. I couldn’t ignore people in need. But in my early twenties, I realized that human welfare was better taken care of by the government and social activist groups. For animals, however, hardly anyone cared. So I became involved in animal rights movement. At first I volunteered to work at various places, and this led to the organization of a group.

 

 

Enlighten us on what your activities and work consist of.

CARE is foremost an organization when it comes to revisions in animal protection laws in this country. Since the first revision in 2006, CARE has been behind most of the laws that have been revised. If you look at how we have achieved that, we have investigated incidences of animal abuse, rescued the animals involved, created an issue over it and campaigned; then finally, the creation or revision of law and system. This procedure is in itself typical and characteristic of CARE’s activities.

At the same time, one thing we can gather from this is that it takes a huge unfortunate incident in order for the laws to change in Korea. CARE’s activities include the revision of laws, campaigns, education, investigation, abuse reports, rescue, and running shelters and adoption centers. Although we work for laws and systems to change, with every cruelty and abuse issue, we never neglect the animals involved.

We work for various animal issues, but one we are very deeply engaged in is the attempt to ban dog slaughter in this country. Recently we have shut down dog slaughterhouses and rescuing the remaining dogs raised for meat. CARE is the group that rescues the most animals in Korea, and that includes the animals that are never rescued even by the government, the animals existing in the blind spots uncovered by rescue laws. This means that sometimes unhealthy animals with no hope for adoption, or animals with violence issues are rescued by us. We wish all of these animals may be given chances of life also, but it is simply impossible to do, on our resources. This is why CARE had euthanized these animals, according to the standard procedures. It should be noted, however, that Korea’s laws do not allow euthanasia carried out by private organizations.

CARE did not go out of its way to publicize these tragic realities, but early January this year, the person in charge of the recently euthanized animals talked to the press about it; this drove CARE into dire circumstances, where CARE came very close to becoming abolished. For two months every newspaper in Korea reported on the issue, and CARE is still suffering from various distorted presentations of the true facts.

The animal protection laws of Korea do not restrict the ownership of animals by their abuser; dogs in slaughterhouses are neglected, and indeed, slaughter itself is not punished by law. In these circumstances CARE has shut down dog farms and slaughterhouses, rescuing all the dogs from those places and 20% of those dogs, with no better choice left, had been euthanized. And this is what has been, for the last months, disparaged and misrepresented as if we have slaughtered those animals.

I am facing police investigation regarding this issue, and must meet various rumors and wild suppositions. But I am willing to turn this around so that we could throw a light upon these animals, so cruelly abused under the realities of this country, and make things better for animals in a realistic and rational way, by making a change in the system.

The animal rights groups of Korea and the many people acting for animals are often engrossed in moralistic idealism, and unwilling to voice the reality that is so harsh for these animals. Unconditional opposition against euthanasia is the result of simply ignoring the reality, and in turn ignoring the animals dying even at this moment. CARE sees the need for proper awareness of animal rights and continuing education. So that is another of our objective at this point.

 

What is the most crucial goal for CARE?

CARE must become recognized as the group that stands out among all animal rights organizations. CARE has never been afraid to voice its agenda against the government’s wrongful policies, and so has led to many successful results. We are adamant and proud in stating that we have always acted for the lessening of pain for animals, instead of working to enrich ourselves. But after the malicious press reports on the recent euthanasia issue, and because of the lack of sufficient understanding on euthanasia itself, we have lost two thirds of our sponsors. We are planning a project to make our sponsors understand and be educated. We must publicize the integrity of our activities, and work at multiplying our sponsors again.

We must also stabilize our shelter facilities. In Korea, there is no legal foundation for private animal shelters, so that most such facilities are run illegally. We are worried about the shelter grounds of CARE; we are demanding the revision of laws, to allow legal management of shelters by private organizations, and striving to secure real estate for CARE animal shelters. CARE is an organization that must exist in Korea. It is the only group with a voice for animals’ interest. The objective of CARE is to advocate animals. Sometimes we come to a crossroads of decisions. There are compromising points for the stability of the organization. But we always find our answer by putting animals first. The integrity of CARE is in its determination to champion for animals, and we strive not to lose that determination, in the face of all kinds of adversity.

 

What are the main reasons for opposing dog meat consumption? And tell us more about your future plans for this issue.

There are 10 million pets in Korea. The pet culture is becoming more and more sophisticated. However, it is also the only country with dog farms, and the only dog meat consuming democracy. It is also the only country with animal protection laws as well as dog slaughtering realities. The actions of dog farms and slaughterers, though illegal, are protected in the name of livelihood, and the enormous pain of the slaughtered dogs is neglected.

We don’t hope for an overnight change of the national awareness of these issues, but with the right pressure on the government, it will have to face decisions. This is why an international, global action is required. We have ideas for all the world citizens to create sensation; that will be carried out this year. We are against dog meat because pain is the same for all animals. The pain of animals are directly linked to us humans, and we are obligated to lighten the pain of animals, even if we begin by relieving the pain of one kind of animal. If we look upon dogs, universal pets, as meat, how could we relieve the pain of other animals?

 

Are there any special episodes you recall the most, regarding rescued animals?

I can think of a lot of animals with the deepest pain, but a dog rescued last year, called Gang-gun, is especially weighing on my mind. Fire had spread to a dog farm in the country, and all the dogs were burned to death except this guy, who survived burnt wounds to the whole of his body. He was found, dying from burns and hunger for a whole month, and taken to the local shelter and left there. When CARE heard about him, he was rescued as an emergency case, received veterinary treatment, and is now protected in our adoption center. He needed plastic surgery among other measures, because his ears had shriveled and eyelids had melted down. He has slowly opened up to people and is happy now, but still waiting for adoption. We are hoping for an overseas adoption for him.

I also remember Tori well, a dog adopted by the president Moon Jae-in. Tori had been an abandoned dog facing death for meat consumption, but after being rescued and treated by CARE he had been waiting to be adopted for 2 years. Due to prejudices against black dogs, Tori had not been given a chance sooner. After we told the story of Tori, president Moon adopted him, with a message that everyone, human or animal, must be freed from prejudice and discrimination.

 

Tell us about the procedures for animal adoption to overseas. Is your adoption work active these days?

The animals rescued by CARE are hurt by cruelty and abuse, and found in hoarders’ homes, farms and slaughterhouses. We rescue dogs, cats, horses, oxen and cows, goats, deer, chickens, rabbits, and other animals abused in zoos. Adoption of these animals takes time, but the hardest problem is faced by dogs. It is hard to find more adopters in this country. Korea still cares a lot about purebreds, and the outward appearance of each breed is thought of as very important. A lot of the dogs rescued by CARE are large and mixed breed dogs; there are very few people willing to adopt them. And, as the main form of residence in Korea is the apartment, there are not enough houses with gardens that require bigger dogs. As hard as it is to find adopters, we cannot send them to people who would tie the dogs down to give leftover food.

So recently, we have been working hard at overseas adoption. We send profiles of dogs with their stories, pictures, movies along with their state of health, and when dogs are adopted we send them after domestic quarantine procedures. Before those procedures we often provide general and rabies vaccines and spaying. We also gather volunteering travellers to take the dogs on their trips abroad, to save transport fees. We feel so rewarded when healthy and loving dogs find good homes abroad, after having found it so hard to become adopted here. Disabled dogs with no hope of adoption in Korea are often chosen by people in other countries. We are saddened at the realities of this country – that these dogs will likely never find homes here – but that’s where education comes in. We must work at that too.

 

When do you feel the most rewarded?

I do feel the most rewarded when CARE’s activities lead to changes in laws, and bans against certain actions. We have illegalized dog meat festivals such as what we see in China. That was in 2003. There were plans to hold a dog meat festival in Seocheon, expanding it gradually nationwide. However, on the day before, all the equipment and publicizing banners were got rid of, so that the whole thing was called off. We held protestations so that there is no dog meat festival in the country. Also, we have prevented the live burial of cattle and pigs, which was the convention when viruses struck. We did this by filming and exposing the atrocities.

The year of 2006 saw the deadliest incident of Incheon, Jangsu-dong, where dogs were rescued despite facing theft charges. That led to the first revision in animal protection laws in 15 years. That was also when we got our first and only legal precedent of illegalizing and imposing a fine on dog slaughter for the purpose of meat consumption.

 

Share with us your plans and future hopes for animal rights organizations.

As I’ve stated before, there must be a change of awareness about animal rights. Before the recent hardship we’re going through, and what needed to change first was the awareness of the government, the legislators and executors of the law in my opinion. But now, I think education must come first for animal rights activists. The biggest problem is the idealistically moral attitude that ignores the realities faced by animals. There are also groups working for their own private interests and gain by using animals; we need to educate activists and sponsors to prevent such behavior.

Now that a bill to ban dog slaughter has been introduced, CARE will work to make it pass. We will definitely resolve this problem in Korea, the only democracy where dog meat is consumed. We have various plans for better awareness of the public and the passing of laws, within the year. 

 

 

Thank you for your time. We wish you and CARE all the best!

***

 

To help the animals in need, please consider making a small donation: https://careanimalrights.org/donate/

 

Or volunteer your precious time: https://careanimalrights.org/volunteer/

 

Please visit the website, if you wish to adopt an animal: https://careanimalrights.org/

 

 

J. Chung.