Chie Izuno works full time at an office Branch. Though she’s 30, she’s very young at heart and kind of innocent. She tries hard to go into the dating field but finds herself struggling due to her weight and self-esteem issues. She meets up with one of the company’s investors, Jin Harada, a super sucessful and young business man. However Jin has a severe lack of social skills. Chie strives to make a deal with Jin in order to aide her in her goal to lose weight and gain confidence, she tells Jin she can help him with his own flaws. Where will this agreement lead them to, and can two total opposites and flawed individuals overcome their personal demons?
Former TVXQ and JYJ member Park Yoochun received his sentence for buying and taking drugs.
On July 2, 2019, Park received a sentence of two years of probation and fined 1.4 million KRW (around $1200 USD) at the conclusion of his trial for buying and taking Philopon, a Japanese methamphetamine. If Park violates any of the terms of his probation, he will have to serve 10 months in prison.
The judge provided probation to Park due to this being his first offense and his cooperation during the investigation.
The 33-year-old former idol was charged with buying and using Philopon with his socialite ex fiancé, Hwang Hana, earlier this year. Initially, Park denied the charges but finally confessed after 19 days of denials. He has been detained since April 26, 2019. Upon his sentences, Park no longer needs to be detained.
“I would like to apologize once again for causing concern to many people. I will give back to the society and virtuously work hard. I promise to do so. I apologize,” Park told reporters outside the Gyeonggi District Court Office. “I’m sorry… I am just very sorry and sorry to my fans. I’m sorry. I will live a proper, honest life.”
Park is not expected to appeal his sentencing.
We hope Park gets his life back on track and gets any help he may need to stay sober.
—-Olivia Murray
Following their investigation, Jeonbuk Police confirmed that Jeon Mi-Seon, 48, committed suicide in her hotel room June 29, 2019. The police provided a statement regarding their findings following initial reports that the award-winning actress took her own life.
“Jeon Mi-Seon checked into the hotel at 1AM in the morning, where she stayed by herself,” the police said. “After checking the CCTV, Jeon Mi-Seon went into the room alone, and no one else came in after her. There was no evidence of homicide or invasion, and no final letter was discovered.”
The police continued, “A family member [of Jeon’s] recently passed away, and with her mother ill, it seems Jeon Mi-Seon was experiencing depression. She called her father at 1:40AM in the morning, and it’s estimated she died two hours later. We estimate that time because many people tried to call Jeon Mi-Seon. The bereaved have yet to arrive in Jeonju, so the details of her funeral have not been decided.”
Her agency, Boas Entertainment, also released a statement:
Hello, this is Jeon Mi Sun’s agency Boas Entertainment.
We come with unfortunate news. Actress Jeon Mi Sun has passed away at the age of 50 (Korean age).
She has been receiving treatment for depression. However, we are here with sad news today. We ask for your condolences, and we ask the media to refrain from reporting on unconfirmed rumors and speculations out of respect for her family, who are in shock and grief-stricken.
We will share more information once plans for her funeral parlor are set.
The actress, who was born December 7, 1970, was in Jeonbuk to perform in 2 Nights and 3 Days with Mother at Chobuk University.
We offer our condolences to Jeon’s family and friends.
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.
—-Olivia Murray
On June 29, 2019, actress Jeon Mi-Seon was found dead in a hotel room located in Jeonju, South Korea. According to police, the 48-year-old actress allegedly committed suicide by hanging.
There are conflicting reports regarding how her death was discovered. The award-winning actress—famous for her roles in the film Hide and Seek and the dramas The Return of Hwang Geun-Bok and Moon Embracing the Sun— was reportedly found by an acquaintance. However, The Korean Herald reports that her manager called police stating the actress was missing, but it’s not clear if police found Jeon or if the reported acquaintance did.
“It was around 11:43 a.m. KST when we received the call and were dispatched. She was not breathing, unconscious, had no pulse, and her heart was not beating when we arrived. The ECG (electrocardiogram) showed a state of asystole. She was not moved to the hospital and we have handed the case over to the police,” a spokesperson from the North Jeolla fire department said.
Her agency, Boas Entertainment, plans to make a statement later in the day.
Jeon, who was married, was in Jeonju for her play 2 Nights and 3 Days with Mother. The play was scheduled to be performed at 2pm at Chonbuk University. That performance has been canceled, but the 6pm performance will go on with Jeon’s understudy taking her place.
The late actress was recently in the drama He is Psychometric. In July, her film The King’s Letters is set to be released.
Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
We send our condolences to Jeon’s family and friends.
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.
—-Olivia Murray
We are happy to announce that fans of Korean band W24 can expect to cool off the heat this season with their addictive new single ‘Solfamiredo’ – and a Latin America tour is also on the horizon for the band this September.
W24 is due to make their comeback July 1st of 2019, with the official release of a brand-new digital single, ‘Solfamiredo’.
Since the band’s official debut in March of 2018, W24 has appeared in various music programs, TV shows, and festivals – and worked hard to garner worldwide popularity in many countries around the globe, in particularly the Latin part of the world.
Their new song ‘Solfamiredo – as in, So, fa, mi, re, do’ packages tingly and complicated feelings of love/romance through an upbeat, funky disco melody. The song is elaborated with a contagious chorus that we are sure to get everyone rocking to its beat in no time. ‘Solfamiredo’ is just a perfect tune to cool off the heat this summer, to put it simply.
However, ‘Solfamiredo’ is only a little taster of what is available for W24’s coming 2nd mini-album. With fans anxiously waiting for its release, levels of excitement are rising with news that W24 has included “two extra songs in Spanish” to their track list especially for their devoted Spanish-speaking fans.
For those who haven’t yet checkout our recent interview with W24, please take time to check it out via the link below.
https://www.kcrush.com/kcrush-interview-with-w24
— J.Chung.
On June 21, 2019, Monsta X released “Who Do U Love?” The track features French Montana, making Monsta X next in a line of K-Pop artists to collaborate with Westerners.
“Who Do U Love?” is a solid track. Monsta X’s English is clear and nearly flawless. There are a few places where some words feel a little muddled, but it’s hardly noticeable after a few listens. The lyrics Monsta X sing are simple, but the theming is relatable for many audiences, making the track a shoo-in for Western radio play.
What’s special about “Who Do U Love?” is that is shows Monsta X’s versatility. The song is simplistic, so looking at the lyrics without the track makes the song seem weak. Vocally, “Who Do U Love?” is one of Monsta X’s strongest. The harmonies on the track are robust and well-blended during the chorus. The song’s solid hook draws an audience in, so it’s a track that asks to be listened to on repeat. The song expertly shows off Monsta X’s singing abilities with good low notes, but the shiver-inducing falsettos are what make the song good.
The track’s beat and arrangement also help the song stand out. As an older K-Pop fan, the instrumentals sound like late-1990s, early-2000s Western pop with hints of R&B, so this blend and subtle nod to the past makes the song cheer-worthy. The pacing of the track, too, provides an easy-listening vibe that fits any mood. The fact this track does dabble in different genres while still having a K-Pop feel makes it special because sometimes it’s a formula that doesn’t always work.
Sadly, praise begins and ends with Monsta X. “Who Do U Love?” could have been the perfect track if it wasn’t for French Montana’s inclusion. His verse is a vibe-killer and doesn’t fit the song at all. While Monsta X is asking a lover to choose between them and another party, French Montana comes into the song like an overly drunk person crashing a conversation at a party!
In the middle of the nonsense, unnecessary French Montana verse, there are hints that he’s rapping about two women fighting over one man, which is a reversal from how the song begins with what we assume is a man asking his partner to choose between him and another. French Montana’s content makes the song confusing: What point-of-view is this song?
Additionally, French Montana’s verse makes a lot of references to past Western celebrities which some Monsta X audiences may not understand due to the fanbase being younger than the people French Montana reference. For example, “Brandy and Monica” refer to actress and singer Brandy Norwood (Moesha, “Have You Ever”) and R&B singer Monica (“Angel of Mine,” “The Boy is Mine” which is performed with Brandy), while “Tity Boi, 2Chainz” refers to 1990s and early 2000s rapper, 2 Chainz. The references make zero sense given the song’s theme and context, so it just feels like name-dropping for the sake of name-dropping. French Montana’s verse is useless and should have been left off. A better collaboration had to be available somewhere because this one just didn’t work.
If the song was just Monsta X, it would have earned a solid 4.5/5. However, French Montana’s verse ruined the whole vibe, dropping the rating down to 2/5. It’s a shame a good song got wrecked by poor collaboration choices.
—-Olivia Murray
Some tales don’t always end in happily ever after…
The celebrated and much-loved “Song-Song Couple,” Song Hye-Kyo and Song Joong-Ki, are headed toward divorce after two years of marriage.
The pair, who held leading roles in the nationally and internationally loved drama Descendants of the Sun, won audiences over due to their on-screen chemistry. At the time, the chemistry for the 32-year-old actor and 37-year-old actress carried on off-screen as well, leading to their feted October 31, 2017 wedding.
Song Joong-Ki filed the motion for divorce at the Seoul Family Court on Wednesday June 26, 2019.
In a statement, Song Joong-Ki acknowledged the filing.
Hello. This is Song Joong-Ki. First, I’d like to apologize for delivering this unfortunate news to the many fans who love and care for me.
I have begun the process of filing for divorce from Song Hye-Kyo. Rather than denouncing one another and arguing over who is to blame, I hope that the divorce process can be wrapped up amicably.
I ask for your understanding regarding the fact that it is difficult to discuss the details of my personal life, and I will recover from my current wounds and do my utmost as an actor to repay you through great productions in the future. Thank you.
United Artists Agency, Song Kye-Hyo’s agency, released a statement on the actress’ behalf.
We find it unfortunate that we are greeting you with unhappy news. After careful consideration, actress Song Hye-Kyo and her husband are taking the first steps toward a divorce.
The reason for the divorce is differences in personality, and because the two were unable to overcome their differences, they were forced to come to this decision.
We respectfully ask for your understanding regarding the fact that we cannot confirm any further details out of respect for the two actors’ personal lives. Additionally, we urge you to refrain from making scandalous posts and speculative comments.
Hopefully, the divorce will end amicably for both parties.
—-Olivia Murray
On June 24, 2019, Yonhap News reported that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office indicted B.A.P’s Kim Himchan on sexual assault charges that stemmed from a July 24, 2018 incident. The news of the incident initially broke in September 2018. His indictment, which does not have a detention order, occurred April 2019.
The indictment comes after witness testimonies that caused police to state there was enough evidence for indictment.
Last year, Kim, his accuser, and two other males, and two other females vacationed in Namyang-ju. During the trip, both Kim and his accuser were allegedly drinking. The alleged victim stated Kim sexually harassed her while Kim said the actions that night were “consensual.”
Following the incident, TS Entertainment, Kim’s former agency, stated the incident was due to a misunderstanding.
According to Yonhap News, Kim’s court hearings begin July 12, 2019.
All parties are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.
—-Olivia Murray
Being selected in the first round of any sports draft is a big deal but being selected in the top ten of any sports draft is an even bigger deal. For Gonzaga University student and basketball small-forward and power-forward Rui Hachimura, being the first Japanese-born player to be selected in the first round and in the top ten of the 2019 NBA draft is an even bigger deal.
“For Japan to qualify for the world championships, [Hachimura’s] the focal point. And when the (Tokyo) Olympics come in 2020, he’s going to be the focal point of that country on that basketball team,” Wizards interim general manager Tommy Sheppard said when asked about why he selected Hachimura. “To be able to shoulder that load at his age — the maturity he has — I think that’s going to bode well for him in the NBA.”
Born to a Japanese mother and Beninese father, Hachimura, 21, made history when the Washington Wizards selected him ninth overall during the NBA draft. It is the first time a Japanese player was selected in the first round in the draft. He is only the second Japanese player drafted in the NBA’s history, following in Yasutaka Okayama’s footsteps. Okayama was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the eighth round (171st overall) of the 1981 NBA draft.
While Okayama—who was the tallest player ever drafted in NBA history at 7’8”—didn’t sign a contract with the Warriors, Hachimura does intend to play for the NBA, which would make him the first drafted Japanese-born player to play in the NBA, and only the third player of Japanese descent to play in the regular season (Yuta Tabuse for the Phoenix Suns in 2004-2005, and Yuta Watanabe for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018-2019).
“I was drafted in the eighth round, he’s a first-rounder,” the 64-year-old Okayama said of Hachimura’s selection. “He’s genuinely the first Japanese.”
“First of all, I want to play in the playoffs. Of course, I want to help the team. I want a championship,” Hachimura said. “I think that’s the one thing I want to accomplish here.”
Hachimura has a bright career in front of him. The 2019 West Coast Conference Player of the Year and 2019 Julius Erving Award winner has several accolades to his name, and he is a current member of the Japanese national team. When he joined the Gonzaga University Bulldogs team in 2016, he became the fifth Japanese-born player NCAA Division I player and the first Japanese national in 2017 to play in the NCAA Division I men’s tournament. He was named a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year.
For his 2018-2019 college basketball season, Hachimura put up career numbers including averaging 19.7 points per game. For the Wizards, he’s expected to be able to play multiple positions as needed.
“With the way the league is going, you can just put him out there. It’s such a `position-less’ (league). I know that’s the cool thing to say, but it’s true. You have to be able to have playmakers on the floor,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said.
The new NBA season begins October 2019. Keep your eye on the court: Hachimura may be out there!
Photo Credits: NBA.com, Mainichi
—-Olivia Murray
Since the beginning of the year, the K-Pop World has experienced controversy after controversy starting with the Burning Sun scandal that rocked the entertainment world. Stemming from Burning Sun came the KakaoTalk controversy surrounding Jung Joon Young and several other celebrities, which lead back to Seungri and multiple allegations for prostitution, embezzlement, and gambling. Most recently, Yang Hyun Seuk, the founder of YG Entertainment has been dragged into a drug controversy along with now-former iKON member B.I. With these controversies dominating Korean entertainment news, at what point does controversy become too much controversy, especially when the media goes out of its way to form more drama?
Every time you turn around, there’s another story regarding any one of these cases. Often, the stories released—and they are released often—just provide speculation or rehash information that was already “out there,” so it isn’t like there’s fresh information published every hour.
The truth is, people love controversy. Reading about scandals equals clickbait for news agencies, and that, in turn, generates revenue. News outlets see clicks, and those clicks equal views, and those views generate ad revenue. The allure of online and TV traffic turns news agencies into insatiable monsters hungry for more attention that it often comes at a cost: The risk of over-saturation and a need to sensualize to stay relevant.
With the recent controversies, over-saturation has certainly happened. Every day, it’s another article about Burning Sun, Seungri, Yang Hyun Seuk, or anyone else recently tied-up in a problem of their own doing. However, how many of these articles provide facts? How many stories have speculation? This isn’t clear, but it seems the media latches onto these stories and cannot see past the potential revenue and views that they just publish stories without having all the facts, appropriate research, and investigations to truly have a story. The media is not doing themselves any favors with the excessive coverage.
At this point, the stories have grown stale. They’re repetitive. They’ve lost their impact, and some entertainment news consumers have admitted on social media that they now scroll past the stories and no longer care. Meanwhile, other consumers have stated they are now on the sides of the accused due to the media saturating and sensationalizing the news world with the scandal stories. When members of the general public start rooting for the people that the media wants consumers to root against, it’s safe to say that coverage has gone too far.
That’s not to say that the stories shouldn’t be reported. They should be because they are big stories deserving of coverage. However, there is a fine line Korean media—and in turn, sources that translate Korean media—need to walk. When stories are just breaking, cover them… but make sure not to embellish or pass information off as fact when it may not be fact.
This is a major issue with many of the stories breaking this year: It’s hard to delineate fact from fiction, especially since Korean media, translators of Korean media, and even every day fans writing as if they are part of the media (which is another issue entirely) tend to add opinion and dramatic flair which then adds oil to the already sullied waters of K-entertainment reporting. For impressionable minds or those who read without critically analyzing content and researching information further (as the saying goes, “there are three sides to a story: Yours, mine, and the truth”), those who share opinions or stretch information to fulfill a certain narrative are not doing a service for anyone consuming the news: They’re doing more harm than good. This is why it’s important to navigate the minefield of information and only report what has been proven or relayed from the appropriate authorities. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case when massive stories break and given the months of information and misinformation regarding Burning Sun, KakaoTalks, and YG scandals, it’s hard to tell what is truth and what isn’t truth anymore. The media, in turn, creates controversies of their own while damaging credibility.
There was a time when the media had credibility and a Code of Ethics, but the latter seems to be a thing of past given how the media acts like a bunch of gossipy children with not only Burning Sun and the fallout, but in other topics including politics and world affairs. We also live in a time where, in order to get people to watch the news, silly antics sell more than an accurate story. The days of serious, legitimate, truthful, actionable news seems to be lost in a circus-like atmosphere of bashing and hurling insults while trying to be first with a juicy story that may not be verified 100 percent.
With all of this taken into consideration, it’s easy to see why people are tired of hearing about Burning Sun, sexual assault cases tied to KakaoTalks, alleged prostitution, and purported drug-use allegations at a major company. It’s not that the stories don’t matter, it’s that the reporting has become a carnival ride of information abuse.
The stories need to be reported, but they need to be reported responsibly and without sensationalism. These are stories that involve crime and victims, so being sensitive and accurate should take precedence over being first and hyping information for views and drama. Why create more controversy over already steamy issues, and why push your audiences away at the same time?
—-Olivia Murray
Starting in October 2019, Tiffany Young (SNSD) will embark on her multi-city North American tour!
Young’s Magnetic Moon tour will bring her to 18 cities across the United States and Canada. Concert goers that register on the Tunespeak website have a chance to get tickets during a presale period, and they will be entered to win two tickets, soundcheck access, and autographed tour merchandise. The sweepstakes period is June 21, 2019 to June 25, 2019. Sweepstakes rules vary per city but offer multiple chances to win the grand prize.
Check out the tour dates, cities, and sweepstakes rules below! Will you attend one of the shows to see Tiffany Young live?
| October 25, 2019 | San Francisco, CA | The Regency Ballroom | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| October 27, 2019 | Vancouver, BC | Vogue Theatre | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| October 28, 2019 | Portland, OR | Wonder Ballroom | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| October 29, 2019 | Seattle, WA | Showbox at the Market | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 1, 2019 | Minneapolis, MN | First Avenue | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 2, 2019 | Chicago, IL | Vic Theatre | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 4, 2019 | Toronto, ON | The Danforth Music Hall | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 6, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA | Union Transfer | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 8, 2019 | Boston, MA | Paradise Rock Club | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 9, 2019 | Washington, DC | U Street Music Hall | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 10, 2019 | Brooklyn, NY | Brooklyn Steel | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 12, 2019 | Raleigh, NC | Lincoln Theatre | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 13, 2019 | Atlanta, GA | Buckhead Theatre | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 15, 2019 | Houston, TX | White Oak Music Hall | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 16, 2019 | Dallas, TX | Trees | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 18, 2019 | Denver, CO | Bluebird Theater | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 20, 2019 | Phoenix, AZ | Crescent Ballroom | Registration & Sweepstakes |
| November 21, 2019 | Los Angeles, CA | The Fonda Theatre | Registration & Sweepstakes |
—-Olivia Murray
Kan Sano is an inventive Japanese keyboardist and trackmaker, who studied jazz at Berkley Music College, and performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival with his band while he was enrolled there. He infuses jazz and classical into an original sound which can be enjoyed by any audience: from concert halls to underground night clubs.
Kan Sano’s work include a ton of collaborations, both in Japan and overseas and has worked with various artists including Madlib, Shing02, Eric Lau, Monday Michiru, Chara, Ohashi Trio, Twigy, Ryhmester… Kan states that he thinks about music all the time, and constantly adding music to his SoundCloud – his tracks have been played over 400,000 times. In 2011, he released his debut album Fantastic Farewell in 2011. The following year, under the name of Bennetrhodes, he released the album Sun Ya on the Wax Poetics Japan label which was a huge hit in the club scene.
On May 22 of 2019, Kan Sano released a new album – Ghost Notes – all the keyboard, drum, bass, guitar, trumpet, vocals, songwriting and mixing were all done by the artist. The album is currently available in limited edition and a regular edition; the limited edition contains a bonus CD featuring overs of music by Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo.
KCrush America would like to express “a massive thank you” to Kan Sano and his great team in Japan for this great interview. We very much hope that our readers will be able to learn more about the talented artist and musician through this interview.
*Please introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Kan Sano. I was born in Kanazawa city, Ishikawa. It has been 10 years since I began my music career in Tokyo.
I am a keyboardist and producer for many artists like Chara, Ua, Tavito Nanao, Asako Toki and more. I’m also a solo artist.
And I most recently released my album “Ghosts Notes” on 23th May.
*Share with us how you decided to become a musician.
I started listening to The Beatles when I was 12 years old, then I got interested in music. I wanted to sing with guitar and piano like them, so I started trying to record my original songs to my boombox. I wrote “My dream is to be a musician” on the year book (graduation album) of elementary school.
*How would you express your music and sound? Tell us about your most recent work/album.
For me, it’s hard to explain about my music. Sometimes, too much self-analysis hampers my creation. The music that I listened in my teenage years has influenced me.
Jazz, Soul, Neo Soul, Contemporary music, HIP HOP, J POP…
My latest album “Ghost Notes” is inspired by Soul music and Neo Soul. Recently, I make remix of Asako Toki, THREE1989, M-Flo, Mime, Sing Like Talking and I produced iri, Ayaka, MGF and more…
*Which artists or people inspired you musically?
The Beatles, Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, D’Angelo, Jazzanova, monolog, Gilles Peterson, Chara, Toru Takemitsu, Glenn Gould and more…
*What do you like to do in your free time?
To watch TV (comedy shows), movies and read comics. Also, I like to watch Japanese rice fish (Medaka) in my yard.
Sometimes, I go to a cafe which is a renovated old house.
*What is your favorite food or beverage? Please state the reasons as well…
- Casserole. Because It’s simple and good for health.
- Japanese Ramen (Noodle). Hakata Pork Ramenis No.1 in Japan!
- Udon(Noodle) in Kagawa.
- Soba(Noodle) in Nagano.
- Sushi in Kanazawa.
Drink
- Homemade Ginger Ale.
- Soda without sugar.
- Decafe.
*Can you recommend us any songs or albums that you like nowadays?
- Billie Eilishis awesome!
- Roberta Flack– Do What You Gotta Do. I like to listen it on my record player, because I can find many things when I listen that way.
- Nao Kodama– In Your Box. It’s awesome! Someday, I want to cover “Toki no origami” which is included in that album.
*What would you advise to anyone who wants to become a professional musician?
If you want to be a pianist, you must practice piano every day with a high ideal. When you are young, it is better to be overwhelmed by the reality.
If you feel “reality bites” – then it’s your start line. Then you’ll be a professional someday.
One more thing, you must get in touch with all the first-class art and entertainment. Film, cartoon, theater, painting, pottery… All roots of art are the same.
*Are you a workaholic? What do you do to deal with stress?
I’m thinking about music 24-7. I don’t consider creating music is work.
But I fear meeting deadlines and that causes stress for me… when I watch a comedy show, then stress is gone!
*Which American artist/musician would you want to work with in the future?
Meshell Ndegeocello! She is the no.1 bassist in the world.
*Which country would you like to travel the most?
U.K and France. I’m a member of Toshio Matsuura presents HEX. It was so fun when I went on tour to those countries. So, I really want to go there again.
*What are your hopes and goals in life? What do you like to tell your fans?
I want to keep on releasing albums until I’m 80 years old. (Like Hermeto Pascoal!) I could then release 40-50 albums if I will release albums every year.
I try to do everything that has no genre. Please listen to my music even if you got older!
— J.Chung.
Kcrush America K-Pop Top 30: May 2019
*Singapore is among the 20 of the smallest countries in the world, with a total land area of only 682.7 square kilometers. (The U.S is about 15,000 times bigger.)
*Singapore includes 63 additional islands, most of which are uninhabited.
*Sang Nila Utama, a prince from Palembang, saw a creature he thought was a lion and named the island “Singapura” which means “Lion City” in Sanskrit.
*Singapore’s Independence from Malaysia, in 1965 – was not through a war or military dispute – Malaysia democratically voted to throw Singapore out.
*Lee Kuan Yew was the first prime minister of Singapore who held the office for three decades. A deeply revered heartthrob of Singapore and an inspiration for the world, he turned Singapore into a first world country, in a single generation.
*Singapore became the 117th member of the U.N., on 21 September of 1965.
*The red of Singapore’s flag represents equality of man, while the white symbolizes purity and virtue. The crescent moon stands for a youthful nation on the rise, the five stars each signify democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
*Singapore’s national icon is the Merlion, which is of half fish and half lion.
*In 1819, Singapore was founded as a British trading colony.
*Singapore does not have a capital. It is one of three existing city-states in the world.
*The national language of Singapore is Malay. The four official languages of the country are English, Chinese, Tamil, and Malay. Singlish, which is an internationally known blend of English and elements of Chinese and Malay, is widely used too.
*In Singapore, chewing gum is banned except without medical prescription. You can get into serious trouble if a policeman sees you chewing a gum.
*Caning is still a legal form of punishment in Singapore. If you vandalize any property in Singapore, you’ll probably end up being caned.
*World Toilet day, November 19th, was created after the Singapore government scheduled a UN resolution to designate the day. On November 19th, the World Toilet Organization formed in Singapore.
*Elevators in Singapore have a urine detector, so if it detects the smell of kidney filtered water, it locks the doors until the police arrive. Singapore has passed a law which prohibits urinating in the elevators. It’s a crime to not flush the public toilet after use in Singapore.
*Singapore has two days dedicated to its children. While 1st October is celebrated for children below 12 years, the Youth Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of every July, for teenagers.
*It is mandatory for Singaporean men to join the army for 1 to 2 years once they reach the age of 18.
*Singapore prints the entire lyrics of its national anthem on 1000 Singapore dollar notes.
*The largest fountain in the world exists in Singapore at the center of Suntec City. It cost around US$6 million to build in 1997.
*At Rio 2016 Summer Olympics, 21-year-old Joseph Schooling won the gold medal in the 100m butterfly – this was the first Olympic gold medal won by Singapore. In the same year, Paralympic swimmer Yip Pin Xiu earned another gold medal, setting a new world record.
*According to a research by the British Council, Singaporeans have the fastest walking speed – on average, they walk a distance of 18m per 10.55 seconds.
*The Singaporean government seriously discourages it citizens from owning cars to reduce air pollution. If you want to own a car you have to additionally pay 1.5 times the car price to get the vehicle certified.
*Singapore contributes to 25% of the world market as the biggest exporter of ornamental fish.
*Dealing with drugs in Singapore can mostly likely lead to a death sentence.
*Singapore’s citizens do not need a VISA to go to the United States, China, South Korea, or North Korea.
— J. Chung.
Highschool is a 4-member Korean girl group, signed under Richworld Entertainment. The CEO is a singer who was also a member of the 90’s boy group, Eagle Five.
Highschool made their debut on April 30th, 2019, the original date was postponed due to minor member changes. For now, Highschool’s present concept involves the members to cover most of their faces by wearing masks – this was because their CEO wanted the audience to focus on the members’ music and talent, rather than their appearance – and the whole masked look has garnered much attention. The group’s ages, birth places, educational backgrounds and other personal information are not currently revealed to the public either. The group released two pre-release singles: High Class on March 20, 2019 and Baby You’re Mine on April 30.
We’d like to thank Highschool and their staff for this great interview, as we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
*Would you briefly describe yourselves please?
Yebin: Hi~, I’m Yebin ~ I am the youngest in Highschool.
Haebin: Hi~, I’m Haebin, I’m the rapper and the leader of the Highschool.
J: Hi, I’m J, and I’m the vocalist in this group.
Soeun: Hi. I’m Soeun.
*How did you join the group? Tell us what you wanted to be when you were growing up.
Yebin: I always wanted to be a singer since elementary and was able to join the team via an audition.
Haebin: My dream was to become a flight attendant. I had an opportunity to become a trainee, and fell in love with music and dancing! I worked so hard and was lucky to join the team.
J: I loved singing and dancing since I was very young. I wanted to experience working as a team instead of being a solo artist, so I joined the Highschool.
Soeun: I wanted to become a chef when I was younger. I’m not great cook, but always liked cooking and coming up with new things. By chance, I got to listen to K-pop and was very moved, and wanted to become a singer ~ that’s how I became a member of Highschool.
*How did the name of this group come about? Could you briefly explain the group’s image and concept?
Haebin: Our name, Highschool was born in memory of our High school years as innocent kids, sometimes reckless but uncompromising and enthusiastic. Our image represents unwearyingly infinite energy with powerful and individualistic characteristics (mysterious at times) to build our style and image. We tend to display a charming impression and charismatic on stage, but when we meet with our fans, we’re just unique and attractive High school girls. ^^
*Which musical artists do you respect the most and why?
Yebin: I respect Girl’s Generation, because they’re still remembered by the public for so long, and I love the fact that each singer strives to do the best in their own fields.
Haebin: I mention this person frequently when I do interviews ~ the artist that I respect the most is Lauryn Hill. She performs and maintains her professionalism as an awesome singer, songwriter and rapper. I really admire her.
J: I respect all kinds of musicians and artists, but recently I listen to Billie Eilish’s song a lot. Every time I listened to her unique style of the song trigger something different each time. I like it and listen to it a lot.
Soeun: My favorite musical artist is Hyori Lee. She was the most famous iconic singer of her generation, and even after her marriage she continues to make music until now. I really respect that.
*What is the first thing that you normally do when you get up in the morning?
Yebin: I check my phone for the time, turn off the alarm then head straight to wash.
Haebin: The first thing that I do in the morning is make coffee. I love coffee so much that my family or friends give me coffee-related presents on my birthdays or for travel souvenirs. I like to taste various types of coffee beans and look for new types of coffee as well.
J: I stretch myself~ then go straight to shower
Soeun: I take some vitamin supplements. My mom always gave me supplements the first thing in the morning since I was young, so taking vitamin supplements every morning with water has become a habit.
*Please recommend us a song/album that you enjoy listening to these days.
Yebin: I listened to N.Flying’s “Spring Memories” often
Haebin: Looks like I’ve been listening to lots of songs on the music chart site and currently Ella Mai’s Trip is number one. I like all the tracks from the Ella Mai’s album
J: Like I menationed earlier, I listened to Billie Eilish songs a lot, especially “Bad guy” and “Bury a friend.”
Soeun: I like Kriz and listened to Bad frequently. I’d like to recommend that song.
*Does your CEO affect the group in terms of the music? If so, how?
Yebin: Yes, he always gives us lots of information and support.
Haebin: We are always influenced by him because he takes care of us like a father. He guides us into right direction and helps us with our identities so that we won’t lose our color and be able to enhance musically.
J: Well, since he’s our boss and at the same time, our senior, he gives us lot of advice and suggestions. So, I think we are very influenced by him in that way.
Soeun: Because our CEO is a singer himself, naturally he lends us a lot of help musically.
*Which color best describes your personality and musical sound?
Yebin: My personality is usually very bright and cheerful, but sometimes curt, so I’d say “dark yellow.” But when it comes to music, I have a straight up and wide vocal range which is somewhat similar to “white” I think.
Haebin: Purple matches my character and musical sound. My mysterious, yet husky voice and high tone voice, along with my bright personality can all be expressed as purple. It’s my favorite color too, so I believe purple describes my personality very well.
J: I think “Cobalt Blue” describes my perky personality and character. Musically, calm and peaceful beige or ivory tones come in mind
Soeun: I think my positive character and slightly husky voice matches well with orange!
*Do you have any habits that you want to get rid of?
Yebin: I bite my lips time to time ~ and I really want to fix that.
Haebin: I have the tendency to become deeply immersed in things and find it hard to kick the habit. Once, I was really obsessed with Korean food Japchae, so I had the same food for a month. I really want to fix this kind of habit of getting too absorbed in things.
J: I have trouble memorizing things, and am very forgetful. I want to fix that habit fast.
Soeun: Zoning out often and at times, I think up words in my head, and then later think I said it out loud but in reality, I didn’t.
*Tell us about any movie, novel or musical that you’ve enjoyed recently.
Yebin: It’s not a very recent movie but I like the movie Maze Runner.
Haebin: I liked reading the Winnie-the-Pooh Essay, and enjoyed reading its quotes. All the meaningful and helpful quotes put into a book, which I really enjoyed.
J: I’m a big fan of the Marvel series, and Avengers: Endgame was my favorite. For those of you who like Marvel movies, you must watch! You won’t regret it.
Soeun: I recently watched Avengers: Endgame and it was fun. Thanks to the movie, I’ve been catching up with old Avengers series
*Which location is the best place to tour or travel in Korea in your opinion?
Yebin: I went to Gapyeong with my family when I was young. The place was pretty and I remember it being really fun.
Haebin: I want to recommend DMZ. They have DMZ tour where you can see North Korea from far away and enter into the 3rd Underground Tunnel. You can see restricted Unification Bridge if go by tour, so I think the tour will be meaningful.
J: I know many foreigners visit Seoul when they come to Korea, but if you’re really looking for traditional Korea, go to Jeonju (Korean-Style House) Hanok village. You can try Korean traditional clothes and taste various types of traditional food.
Soeun: I would like to recommend the five palaces of Seoul. I think it’s beautiful to preserve the tradition in current modern culture.
*What are your hobbies or interests outside of music?
Yebin: I like to repeatedly read “webtoons” or watch entertainment programs on TV.
Haebin: Other than music, I’d say traveling. I’ve been to almost all famous tourist attractions and small cities in Korea, and have done a bit of traveling abroad. If I’m given free time, I would probably be traveling. And of course, I’m always into coffee. ^^ I drink more than three cups per day and want to try more diverse types of coffee.
J: Other than music, my interest is knitting, coffee and dessert. I’m not necessarily interested in making dessert, but in eating them. LOL
Soeun: A few days ago, I purchased a Nanoblock and it was so fun ~ it’s become my hobby since.
*Which country in the world would you like to perform at?
Yebin: Since our fans from so many different counties want us to visit them, I would like to perform in all the countries where our fans are.
Haebin: All around the world ~ the question itself is making me happy. I think that our stage is wherever are fans. I want to go all the places, where we can connect with our fans and not miss out any places.
J: I want to travel to any countries where our fans want us to meet
Soeun: I would like to perform anywhere where our fans who like us want us to be. But if I have to choose one country, I would like to go to U.S.
*Let us know of your future plans and hopes, and add something nice to the fans too!
Yebin: I appreciate all the warm, thoughtful cheers and praise. I’ll strive to do my best to perform on the stage in appreciation. Love ya!
Haebin: I’m very grateful for all your love and interest from the beginning of the Highschool, and happy to push myself to improve. I’ll do my best to become better and return all the love. I love you all ~
J: Thank you for being there for us. As much as you like and cheer for us, we’ll also work harder to show you guys a better and more wholesome performances, so please continue to love us. Thank you always.
Soeun: We’ll do my best and work hard to meet with all the fans in the world. Thank you so much for waiting and loving us from the beginning! Until we meet you again, please be patient. Thank you.
— J.Chung.
Following yet another scandal involving YG Entertainment artists, Yang Hyun-Suk resigned from the company June 14, 2019. Yang Hyun-Suk announced his resignation through a statement.
This is Yang Hyun-Suk.
I am so sorry to the fans who love YG and our agency celebrities.
I am also sincerely apologetic to all of our employees who are silently continuing to do their work throughout the downpour of criticism.
I have been patiently tolerating words about the current situation that are too disgraceful and humiliating to mention as they have been told indiscriminately as though they are the truth. However, I think it’s too difficult now.
I think that there can no longer be a situation where YG, our agency celebrities, and fans are experiencing harm due to me.
For 23 years, I have dedicated half my life and everything to growing YG.
The work of supporting the best music and the best artists was the greatest happiness for me. I have thought that this is the only ability I can contribute to fans and society.
However, I will step down from all of my positions and work at YG starting today.
I sincerely hope that there is no further harm to the YG agency celebrities I love, and to the fans who love them, because of me.
Currently, there are many experts at YG who have more capabilities and sense than me. I think that my stepping down will be a good opportunity for them to exhibit their abilities better. It is my sincere wish that YG can stabilize as soon as possible.
Lastly, I believe that the truth of the current media reports and malicious gossip will be revealed through investigations. Thank you.
Following Yang Hyun-Suk’s announcement, his brother, Yang Min-Suk, also resigned from YG Entertainment. Yang Min-Suk served as the company’s CEO. He, too, released a statement regarding his resignation.
To YG Family:
To all those who have all been putting in effort in this recent environment, I would like to express my apologies as well as my thanks.
I am deeply ashamed of myself [when I think of] everyone feeling uneasy and worried due to the continuous and provocative issues that have been happening from the beginning of the year.
Yang Hyun Suk and I have immersed ourselves in music activities and management and have silently endured all the speculations because we believe that the truth will surely come to light. However, as I’ve watched different situations continuously give the celebrities, who are unrelated to the recent issues, in our agency a hard time, I’ve realized that it is hard to overcome by just enduring.
In order for [the company] to solve these current difficulties, grow, and prepare for a new breakthrough, I believe a big change is needed. And in order for there to be no misunderstandings regarding Yang Hyun Suk’s decision to step down, I think there needs to be a clarification on my part. After careful consideration in the midst of these situations, I have decided to resign from my long-held position of CEO at YG Entertainment.
A while ago, during the commemoration for the 23rd anniversary of establishing [YG Entertainment], I shared with you that above all, we ourselves must first change in order to overcome the current difficulties. I sincerely hope that my decision will be the start of a big, new, and positive change for YG.
Thank you.
The resignations come after a series of scandals that have rocked the company since the beginning of the year. While YG Entertainment has had several scandals (either directly or through its artists) over the years, 2019 has been particularly brutal due to Seungri and Burning Sun and Seungri’s dismissal from the company, allegations of procuring prostitutes for businessmen, tax evasion, embezzlement, and drug use and obtainment. Scandals in past years include marijuana usage involving different YG artists including G-Dragon and T.O.P, Park Bom’s prescription medication issues, Daesung’s car accident, embezzling concert fees, embezzling fan club donations, and Seungri’s alleged drunk driving cases among other issues.
The recent issues with now-former iKON member B.I. seems to be tipping point as allegations of Yang Hyun-Suk threatening an informant (later revealed as embattled ex-YG trainee, Han Seo Hee) came about soon after B.I’s scandal broke. Han, through her lawyer, stated there are more YG artists that use drugs beyond those named in the media already.
With Yang Hyun-Suk and Yang Min-Suk, more information may be forthcoming including whether the pair still have stock in YG Entertainment. Currently, police plan to investigate Yang Hyun-Suk regarding the alleged drug use as well as police connections.
SBS 8 News shared a report suggesting Yang Hyun-Suk may be charged with concealment.
SBS 8 News said, “A police source has said if [Han Seo Hee’s] allegations are true, former agency head Yang Hyun Suk’s demands for her to reverse her testimony could be seen as a crime of intimidation. If it’s true that he helped remove drugs from a person’s system, he could possibly be charged with concealment of crimes.”
—-Olivia Murray
On June 12, 2019, Dispatch reported that iKON’s leader, B.I, allegedly attempted to purchase drugs back in 2016. The report showed text messages and information that purportedly show B.I. tried to purchase LSD and that the police didn’t investigate the matter.
The Dispatch report showed the texts between B.I. and “A” (later revealed to be former-trainee Han Seo Hee) discussing marijuana usage and the purchase of LSD.
B.I: I want to use that [LSD] forever. Is it strong?
A: L (LSD) is a top-grade drug in Korea.
B.I: No, not that, haha. The strength of the drug.
A: I’m saying the drug itself is strong too.
B.I: Can I get as many as I want?
A: Yeah.
B.I: Should I get three? I have to save money. Can’t I get a discount if you buy it?
A: No, but once you try L, weed will seem like a joke to you. That’s how you get to cocaine. Then you’ll really get in trouble.
B.I: Haha, I won’t. I’m doing it because I want to be become a genius.
A: You’ll end up like OOO, haha.
B.I: I’m going to stick to one my whole life. To be honest, I XXXXing want to use it everyday, but XXXX, it’s expensive.
B.I: But when you take L does it do that? Seeing things like graphics and seeing illusions and everything?
***
B.I: Should I just buy in bulk? Haha, should I buy like 10?
A: Is it because you’re too lazy to buy it again?
B.I: Yeah, haha. That too, and also I just want to possess [LSD] worth about 1 million won (approximately $850).
A: You’re possessive about strange things.
B.I: XXXX. I’m debating if I should buy 10 or 1 million won’s worth.
A: 1 million won’s worth is only six. 10 would be 150 million won (approximately $1,270).
B.I: That’s expensive. Haha. No discounts for bulk purchases?
A: I’ll try asking. That’s why I’m telling you to buy a little bit because it’s your first time.
B.I: Haha, hey, that’s not me. I have to go all out from the beginning. That’s how men should be.
B.I: But try asking if I can get a discount for buying in bulk..
A: I’ll try asking.
***
A: Hey, don’t talk about drugs with anyone else.
B.I: Haha, I’m asking you since I’ve taken some with you.
A: If you keep doing that, I’ll be the one to get hit by Yang [Hyun Suk]. Be careful.
B.I: Can you get it immediately?
A: But you really have to watch your mouth.
B.I: For [LSD], I won’t get caught if I just watch my mouth. You have to do a spine examination [to detect LSD].
A: You think they won’t look at your phone? They look at all of your KakaoTalk messages.
B.I: Yeah, I know. I’m in XXXXing danger right now. Delete this for now.
A: Lol.
B.I: I’m a coward so delete it, XXXX. I’m in Macau.
B.I: I’m flying to Korea on Saturday, and I’ll have to buy some from you.
According to Soompi, Dispatch also obtained testimony from drug dealer “C” who revealed B.I and Han were clients, leading to Han’s arrest. Upon Han’s arrest, the KakaoTalk messages between her and B.I were revealed which lead to a police investigation. Initially, Han revealed she delivered drugs to B.I in front of iKON’s dorm in August 2016, but she later changed her testimony to state she did not deliver drugs to him.
Dispatch later revealed that Yang Hyun-Suk, YG Entertainment’s founder, may have threatened Han to get her to change her story.
Initially, YG Entertainment denied the Dispatch report accusing B.I of drug use.
YG strictly manages its artists for drug use. B.I has nothing to do with the alleged 2016 drug case. Every two months, YG purchases a drug diagnostic kit from the US and performs drug tests on all artists. All members of iKON including B.I submitted to the urine test ahead all of their activities. Not one member tested positive for drug use.
After news broke regarding the allegations against B.I, the idol posted on Instagram that he has decided to leave iKON. In the message, he seemingly admits that he did think about purchasing drugs in the past.
This is Kim Han Bin.
First, I would like to sincerely apologize for stirring up trouble due to my tremendously inappropriate actions.
It is true that I wanted to rely on something that I shouldn’t have had any interest in due to going through a hard and painful time. However, I was too scared and fearful to do it.
Even so, I am so ashamed and apologetic to fans who were greatly disappointed and hurt because of my wrong words and actions.
I intend to humbly self-reflect on my mistake and leave the team.
Once again, I bow my head down and sincerely apologize to fans and the members. I apologize.
View this post on Instagram
YG Entertainment then confirmed B.I’s departure through a statement.
This is YG Entertainment.
We bow our heads and apologize for disappointing everyone with our artist Kim Han Bin’s problem.
Kim Han Bin is feeling heavy responsibility due to the impact of this matter. Taking the matter seriously, he has decided to leave the team and terminate his exclusive contract.
YG has become keenly aware of our responsibility for managing our agency artists.
Once again, we sincerely apologize for causing concern.
Following the announcement, iKONICs (iKON’s fanbase) petitioned to have B.I stay with iKON. Some fans took to social media to share how they feel about the situation and state that YG needed to take better care of their artists. However, the overwhelming response is that B.I learns from the incident and that he will bounce back after a period of reflection.
On June 14, 2019, police announced they will be investigating B.I’s alleged drug use. Similarly, they announced they will also investigate Yang Hyun-Suk for connections to the police.
“We’ve formed an exclusive team to investigate suspicions raised from B.I’s attempt to purchase and allegedly use drugs. It will include 16 members from the drug investigation unit and the legal support team,” director Na Won Oh of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Station said.
The police also announced Han Seo Hee will also be questioned.
Director Na said, “We believe Han Seo Hee will do her best to cooperate with the investigation as she’s shown her determination as the informant. If the situation changes and we need to investigate more people, more people will be added to the team. We’ll do our best to resolve all the suspicions.” As for YG’s alleged ties to police. When looking at the investigation report and the informant’s testimony, we’re unable to determine if the truth was hidden. We regret that B.I wasn’t called in for questioning and investigated thoroughly. We’ll carry out the investigation with the possibility of the suspicions regarding B.I’s drug purchase and use, the possible destruction of evidence, and the willful refusal of duty by the police officer who was in charge.”
More news is expected to break with the investigation. Stay tuned for updates!
—-Olivia Murray
On June 11, 2019, 2PM’s Chansung entered the recruit base camp for the 5th Infantry Division at Yeoncheon of Gyeonggi Province. He is the last member to enlist; Junho enlisted in May. In late May, JYP and Chansung both confirmed his imminent service.
On his enlistment day, fellow 2PM members Jun.K, Taecyeon, and Nichkhun sent him off as shown on 2PM’s official Twitter account:
2PM’s eternal maknae Chansung was cheerful until the end! Come back safely! Hottest, let’s wait without crying! featuring all of the old boys who’ve gathered to send off the maknae.
The oldest hyung took a leave from the army to see him off, the second oldest hyung woke up in the middle of the night due to the thought that the maknae is leaving, and the third oldest hyung has returned to the army to see the maknae‘s face less than one month since his own military discharge.
Nichkhun also shared a message on his personal Instagram page that reads, “Maknae, return safely~~~ I can’t give you the energy of the military like the other members, but instead I’ll cheer you on~ Fighting!!!”
Chansung will be release from the military in January 2021. We hope he does well in the military!
—-Olivia Murray
South Korea currently boasts of having the fourth largest mobile game market in the world, and what we find unique is that over half of the gaming population play via their smartphones. (The country will rank higher than fourth place, if internet connections were also counted.)
South Korea is also credited as the first country to host esports events 20 something years ago, when the rest of the world had no idea what esports was. Korea’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism sponsored the World Cyber Olympics alongside Samsung and Microsoft. This obviously aided in making the country into a mobile gaming giant.
In 2018, South Korea is said to have 34.6 million smartphone users, and this is predicted to reach 39 million by year 2021, and currently has the highest number of smartphone users in Asia. It is also reported that 53% of South Koreans play mobile games, at least once a month – while console is at 19% and PC games at 37%. South Korea spent $5.6 billion on mobile titles in 2018 alone; making it one of the most thriving game industries in the world.
If you wish to know how the South Korea’s gaming culture began, you’d need to start with the local LAN game rooms – known in Korean as PC bang – where gamers of all ages sit in front of rows of computers to the world’s fastest internet, playing games until dawn, while dining or even smoking.
A large majority of South Korea’s professional esports stars (who make a fortune now) began their careers this way. The average South Korean mobile gamers are often middle-aged: mobile gamers are aged 21-35, followed by 36-50-year-olds. The figures prove that the high penetration rates and acceptance rates of mobile gaming culture in Korea are across all ages. The revenue per paying gamer in South Korea is among the highest in the world – second only to Japan.
In South Korea, around 40% of smartphone users spend money on mobile games, on power-ups (41%), playable characters (38%) and cosmetics/skins (35%). When it comes to which companies stand out in South Korea, local publishers lead the market. However, international gaming companies have been able to fulfill that need for players, which implies that foreign companies can enter the sector successfully.
It’s also interesting to note that none of the Korean companies rank among the top producers. China’s Tencent was ranked first, Japan’s Sony followed next with Apple of the U.S ranked third with $4.39 billion and Microsoft fourth with $4.19 billion.
Does this mean there’s more room for foreign gaming companies in the Korean gaming market? Most definitely. However, it’s important to note that the South Korean market does have a number of regulations which aim to protect younger players from excessive gaming time. Thus, it is important to design your game to ensure it is right for the Korean market, and complies with the country’s regulations. It would be safe to say that South Korea is currently a mobile gaming haven, and there’s more space for growth from its integrated games culture, for western studios as well.
— J.Chung.
Former ZE:A member and award-winning actor Hyungsik (High Society, Strong Girl Bong-Soon, Suits) has reported to boot camp for his mandatory military service.
Hyungsik reported to his command post for four weeks of basic training June 10, 2019. From there, he will serve in the Capital Defense Command.
“I wanted to serve the position that I’m interested and good at,” Hyungsik told Hankook Ilbo in May.
Hyungsik had an opportunity to decide what post he may be the best for thanks to his appearance on Real Men, a show that gives celebrities a chance to experience life at different military bases. While on the show, he earned a unique nickname while he did tasks for the capital defense command post.
“I was even called ‘Sniper Park’ for my shooting skills at capital defense command force,” he said.
Hyungsik is tentatively scheduled to be discharged in January 2021. We wish him the best during his service.
—-Olivia Murray
Heize will be coming to North America starting June 26 for her first-ever U.S-Canada tour!
The songstress and Unpretty Rapstar 2 alumna, who is the voice behind the hit songs “Jenga,” “Shut Up and Groove,” “And July,” “Didn’t Know Me,” and “She’s Fine,” will begin her tour in Los Angeles, California and wrap-up the tour in Brooklyn, New York July 12.
Tickets for the tour have been on sale since June 5, 2019 on the Proper Form Events website. Tickets for the all-ages show (except for Toronto and Brooklyn that are 19+ and 16+, respectively) are available in three tiers:
- General Admission: $50 USD ($68 CAD)
- Hi-Touch(includes poster, early entrance, hi-five, and a “hello” with Heize): $125 USD ($170 CAD). Spots are limited!
- Meet & Greet(includes poster, lanyard, first entry, and a photo with Heize in a group of four): $180 USD ($245 CAD- Limited)
Proper Form also notes that all sales are final; tickets are not refundable. Cell phone photos are allowed at the venues.
Check out the dates and locations for your chance to see Heize!
| June 26, 2019 | Los Angeles, CA | The Belasco Theater
(Tickets) |
7:00pm Local Time |
| June 28, 2019 | Seattle, WA | Neumos
(Tickets) |
6:30pm Local Time |
| June 30, 2019 | Berkeley, CA | Cornerstone
(Tickets) |
7:00pm Local Time |
| July 3, 2019 | Houston, TX | Warehouse Live: The Studio
(Tickets) |
7:00pm Local Time |
| July 5, 2019 | Atlanta, GA | The Loft
(Tickets) |
7:00pm Local Time |
| July 7, 2019 | Boston, MA | Middle East Downstairs
(Tickets) |
7:00pm Local Time |
| July 10, 2019 | Toronto, Ontario | Lee’s Palace (19+)
(Tickets) |
7:00pm Local Time |
| July 12, 2019 | Brooklyn, NY | Music Hall of Williamsburg (16+)
(Tickets) |
7:00pm Local Time |
—-Olivia Murray