On May 16, 2019, NH-EMG, U-KISS’ label, announced that Eli and Kiseop have decided to not renew their contracts.
“The exclusive contracts of U-KISS members Eli and Kiseop with NH-EMG have expired, and the exclusive contracts with the Japanese agency Avex have also expired,” the company said. “Eli and Kiseop, who have been promoting as U-KISS members for a long time, discussed with the agency for a long time and decided not to renew their contracts.”
“Of the U-KISS members who have time remaining in their contracts, Soohyun and Hoon enlisted in the Army and Marine Corps, respectively, and are fulfilling their military duties, while the youngest Jun will continue promoting with solo activities and as an actor through musicals and dramas,” the company continued.
“We express sincere gratitude to the many fans who have given love and support to U-KISS for a long time, and we are sincerely cheering on Eli and Kiseop for their days ahead.”
Following the announcement, Eli and Kiseop reached out to fans via social media.
Eli, who was an original member, left behind a simple message that states, “Thank you for supporting U-KISS’s Eli until now. I’ll show you a good appearance in the future. Thank you all for your support the past 11 years.”
View this post on Instagram
Kiseop, who joined the group in 2009 and is currently serving his mandatory military duties as a public service worker due to a herniated disk issue, provided a longer message:
Hello, Kiss Me, it’s Kiseop. I write this with an apologetic heart to fans who first found out through articles. Many things happened in 10 years, including joyful, sad, and happy things, right? Thank you for being with me during all of these moments. While receiving a lot of love until now, I realized, ‘I too, can laugh like this,’ and learned about happiness thanks to all of you. Thank you once again for loving and supporting me for a long time. I came to the decision to go on a new challenge after thinking and discussing with the agency for a long time. Instead of saying that this is the end, I’ll endlessly work hard for better days ahead. The agency employees, members, and Kiss Me… I thank you and I love you.
He also left messages in Japanese and English.
Currently, U-KISS is now a trio consisting of Jun, Hoon, and Soohyun. Hoon and Soohyun are currently serving in the military (Hoon is a Marine while Soohyun is in the army). Jun will carry out his solo promotions.
U-KISS debuted in 2008 with “Not Young.” Their last Korean single was in 2017 with “Ready for U.”
We wish Kiseop and Eli the best in their respective futures!
—-Olivia Murray
BG Entertainment’s male idol group, 14U, officially disbanded May 10, 2019 following reports that one group member was subject to favoritism. XSports News also reports that this member allegedly had sexual relations with a female official at the company which led to the member’s favoritism.
In April 2019, 13, of the group’s 14 members terminated their contracts with BG Entertainment citing the unnamed member’s favoritism as the reason.
“The members who left are apologetic to fans for the hurt this causes, so they have not been able to speak up. However, they’ll be sharing updates on social media while on vacation,” an unnamed source close to the group said.
In May, it was leaked that this unnamed member—who is in his late 20s—was having an inappropriate-relations with a female agency official who is in her 30s. When others in the company allegedly found out about the relationship, the duo stated they were in love. Families of the other members later requested contract terminations.
BG Entertainment addressed the contract terminations in an official statement.
Hello. This is BGent. First of all, we sincerely thank the fans who have cherished and loved 14U until now.
After long discussion between the agency and the 14U members, it was decided that the group will disband and go their separate ways.
Although they cannot continue with the name 14U, the members have a close relationship with each other and the agency, but the mutual agreement was made to respect each member’s dream and future.
We express our gratitude to the 14U members who have worked hard together in unity towards their dreams. We will support and cheer on the paths that the members want to go down, and we will do our best to help them.
Along with our apologetic feelings towards the many fans who have given unchanging love and support, we ask for warm interest and support for the members who are awaiting new beginnings. Thank you.
Sports Today also reported that the unnamed member also had relations with a Japanese fan while the group promoted in the country.
“The member, who has been having an inappropriate relationship with the head director, also had a relationship with a local fan in Japan… Other members found out he not only had a relationship with the head director but also a fan, and judged they can no longer maintain the team, ultimately leading to disbandment,” the Sports Today report said.
Despite the reports, BF Entertainment’s CEO denied the rumors.
“I was on a business trip to Japan, so I just came across the news and it’s just shocking,” the CEO stated. “It’s not true at all.”
While addressing the contract termination, the CEO said, “It was decided after considering each members’ opinions. I’ve clearly terminated [the contracts] without demanding penalty fees from the members… I told them they worked hard, and I even calculated their last payments and tried to deliver good vibes.”
Prior to the contract terminations, 14U were set to perform at KCON Japan but dropped out last minute due to “artist circumstances.”
While the group debuted in 2017, they were still considered rookies with only three singles released. On October 26, 2018, the group released the dynamic “나침반 (N.E.W.S)” which peaked third on the Gaon Music Charts. The release came thanks to a Makestar fundraiser.
—-Olivia Murray
BTS Warm Up Cold, Rainy Chicago: A Non-ARMY Experience
|
SETLIST |
| 1. “Dionysus” |
| 2. “Not Today” |
| 3. “Outro: Wings” |
| 4. Trivia: “Just Dance” (J-Hope Solo) |
| 5. “Euphoria” (Jungkook Solo) |
| 6. “Best of Me” |
| 7. “Serendipity” (Jimin Solo) |
| 8. “Trivia: Love” (RM Solo) |
| 9. “Boy with Luv” |
| 10. “Dope” |
| 11. “Baepsae” |
| 12. “Fire” |
| 13. “Idol” |
| 14. “Singularity” (V Solo) |
| 15. “Fake Love” |
| 16. “Trivia: Seesaw” (Suga Solo) |
| 17. “Epiphany” (Jin Solo) |
| 18. “The Truth Untold” |
| 19. “Outro: Tear” |
| 20. “Mic Drop” |
|
ENCORE |
| 21. “Anpanman” |
| 22. “So What” |
| 23. “Make It Right” |
| 24. “Mikrokosmos” |
On May 12, 2019, BTS performed their second show at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears football team, was a packed house despite the cold, raw, rainy weather (the temperature was in the upper 30s Fahrenheit when the show started at 7:30pm CST). Even with the rain—which fell heavy at times—spirits were high as BTS electrified the crowd.
Prior to the start of the concert, BTS video played on the big screens as crew wiped the rain off the stage. The concert was a few minutes late to begin, but once BTS appeared on the stage, the rain became overpowered by tears of joy and elation from emphatic ARMY fandom.
The show opened with “Dionysus” as the group appeared on-stage bookended by two large black panther statues the enhanced the feel of the power BTS was about to bring onto the stage. From the word “go,” it was clear BTS weren’t out here to play.
While there were times where some of the members sounded flat (J-Hope did at times), it was clear BTS performed live with minimal backtrack to help them out. Even in the rain, they danced with strength and showed off their prowess with ease even though the stage did appear slippery (the crew did have to clean it a few times). Their powerful tracks—especially “Not Today,” “Dope,” “Fire,” and “Mic Drop,” really showed BTS’ professionalism and adaptability as they maneuvered between the raindrops as the three-hour concert continued.
BTS provided a strong variety to their 24-song setlist. Listening to the crowd sing along in imperfect Korean showed how far BTS has come in a few short years thanks to their powerful songs that range from rallying cries to music about love, loss, and the struggles of youth.
The solo tracks shined brightly, especially. Jimin’s “Serendipity” and corresponding choreography wowed the fans, while V’s “Singularity” dripped with soul and sensuality. From the solo-standpoint, V’s was a favorite because it stood out and added a pause to an evening that took fans’ breaths away. The show had the right mix of bangers and soul, which accentuated the event. Following the concert, a nice little fireworks display sent the boys off with style.
For me, it was nice to experience a concert objectively; like other fans, I attend shows for groups I like (which comes with a certain level of bias), but FOMO caught up with me for BTS’ Chicago appearance, so I had to see what they were all about outside the CDs and music show appearances, which, frankly, did nothing for me as a K-Pop fan.
An experience is the best way to describe the “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself” tour. Fans from different age groups were in-attendance, and from reading post-concert notes on Twitter, even non-fans were in-attendance. Like me, those fans were even impressed with the experience.
As someone who is admittedly not a BTS fan, the concert was a great experience. The fandom, which often gets a bad rep from other K-Pop fandoms, was a welcoming group that passed out ponchos and helped others stay dry while supporting BTS with chants and cheers that even rivaled Korean fans’ supportive praise. It was nice that it wasn’t a relentless stream of screeching—an issue with other K-Pop concerts attended—but a respectful atmosphere that praised the songs more than faces and lyrics more than abs. The fan-experience was definitely one of the best experiences since the SHINee fanmeet in 2016.
Furthermore, as a non-ARMY, I will admit that I don’t know a lot of BTS’ songs beyond their main releases. However, after the show, I feel I may give the group more of a chance. For example, “Boy with Luv” became a bop after hearing it performed live. Before seeing it in concert, it was a track I loathed because it felt too commercial and basic (feelings I also had regarding “Idol”), but a track that has a different feel when experienced.
One of the songs that stood out and struck me right was “The Truth Untold.” I felt that song in my soul because of the yearning in the lyrics. I started sobbing and had to look up the lyrics during the intermission prior to the encore. The lines in the song connected to my current relationship situation (“I am afraid/I am shattered/I’m so afraid/That you will leave me again in the end/Once again I put on a mask and go to see you,” … “But I still want you…”), so I knew I felt that song for a reason. It hurt how much I felt it…
That one moment sums up my whole experience for the night: I felt things for BTS I didn’t previously feel. They are true artists out there on the stage, and their hard work and dedication to their fans was clearly visible with each number performed. On this rainy Chicago night, BTS earned my admiration and put forth a stellar, unforgettable performance.
—-Olivia Murray
Asian women are known to be more open about hair changes than women from the rest of the world. This may come as a surprise to many, but the Asian beauty and fashion department has become very influential and dominated by a large population. Asian women, defined by their extraordinary and unique skin and beauty routines are also pioneers in setting hair trends. Willing to experiment and try new things, some of the most popular Asian hair trends involve color.
Most of the Asian women are born with exceptional dark silky hair which is naturally beautiful. However, as they love to try new things, the different cuts and colors are not strange to them. Contrary to fashion trends where the Asian ones come following the world ones, the situation with the hair trends it’s quite different. It is safe to say that the hair trends are started just by the Asian women and then take over the rest of the world.
To see what we are talking about, take a look at the most popular Asian Hairstyles for 2019:
Purple short bob
Starting with color, Asian women are especially fond of pink and purple hair colors. This particular purple shade has cool undertones and it is toned with blue. It might suggest an ombre technique if the ends are bleached and blonde, but in every case, the color is unique and beautiful. The short bob cut and the straight hair make for a magnetizing hairstyle that suits the Asian face mark wonderfully. The purple color is great for the fair skin tone and it freshens it up.
Choppy cut with blunt bangs
There is nothing new or distinctive in this hairstyle other than the fact it is somehow common and for that matter popular too. Asian women who have long face shape and long hair opt for this hairstyle because it tones down the intensity of the face shape. The choppy layers on the long hair make the style more interesting, and the soft waves are just great for accenting the layering. For a greater effect, highlights or some other coloring technique will be a small change that will completely upgrade the look.
Silver blond long locks
The silver blonde shade is one of the most wanted hair colors among Asian women. The beauty of this specific hair color is in the mixture of ashy blonde and silver hues. The silver tone presents an icy and cold look that combined with the ashy blonde results in crisp and catchy hair color. The high shine and the lack of yellow undertone are a winning combination that Asian women adore. This hair color is mostly seen on long hair, where the locks make the color even more accented.
Pink A-line Bob
Just like purple, pink is an extremely popular color for Asian women. The warm undertones match the skin tone making it look fresher and accenting the eyes. The pink shade can come as a bleached option in ombre technique, or in a color combination with purple. A popular hairstyle that is seen the most with this hair color is the A-line bob. The asymmetry of the cut, side part, and loose waves create a nice balance that leaves enough space for both the cut and the color to stand out.
Smokey grey ombre
As the current hair trends are limited to either bob length or long hair, the popularity of the ombre technique is more present on the long hair. Similar to the silver blonde trend, this great hairstyle comes in a more matte version. The smokey grey ombre presents a gradual and balanced transition of a darker grey base into a light blonde one. There is no shine here as the colors are all matte and ashy. The smokey ombre suggests adding some blond highlights just from the roots. The change of color is better seen on wavy or curly hair.
Rainbow hair
As mentioned above, experimenting with strong hair colors is no trouble at all for the Asian women, so the rainbow hair trend is somehow expected. Mixing and coloring the hair with almost all of the shades of the rainbow is an edgy and daring look that not many can pull off. The look starts from darker colors at the top, moving to the lighter ones to the lower parts. The shoulder length and longer hair are perfect for this style because it leaves enough space for showing off the colors and making the transitions. All the colors are balanced and the final look is rather interesting.
Pulling off marvelous hair looks and hair color combinations have made Asian women the top hair trendsetters in the world. 2019 is definitely a world of color so the coloring of hair is totally in.
—-Maja Krdzic
Mabanua is a multi-talented producer, singer and musician who has made his mark in the Japanese music industry and beyond. As a multi-instrumentalist, he has collaborated with the biggest artists in the J-pop music scene, as well as the Japanese underground during the last decade or so. He’s also well-known and acclaimed for creating music for various films, TV, and anime. His production catalogue boasts of over 100 songs, and has played at some of the main music festivals in Japan.
You can find more about his past works here: http://mabanua.com/works/playlist/
Mabanua is also the drummer of the Japanese band Ovall, which is a spiritual jazz/hip-hop band based in Tokyo. We were very lucky to get connected to origami PRODUCTIONS to make this interview happen, and we’d like to express a massive thanks to Mabanua and his team since we are fully aware how busy they all are.
We want to stress the fact that Mabanua is the first Japanese artist that we’ve interviewed at KCrush America, and we certainly hope he won’t be the last. We wholeheartedly wish that all our readers will enjoy reading the interview, as we delve deeper into Mabanua as an artist to find out why he is such an inspiration to so many artists today.
1. *Thank you very much for taking the time out for a KCrush interview. Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers please?
My name is Mabanua. I am a musician and producer. I am mainly a drummer but I play the guitar, keyboards and also sing. I release solo albums and produce for other artists, and I also make music for movies and Japanese animations. And I’m a member of Ovall, a band based in Tokyo.
2. *When and how did you realize you wanted to create music?
When I was a kid, I used to play the piano a little, but I started to playing the guitar seriously when I was 14 years old. Then, I decided to become a musician when I was 18.
3. *What is your favorite genre of music to listen to during your free time?
I love all genre of music. I particularly enjoy listening to black music.
4. *Who is your role model?
Drummer Steve Jordan and Songwriter Hans Florian Zimmer. They are both great producers too.
5. *If you had to choose one American artist to collaborate work with, who would it be?
6. *Do you watch a lot of Anime? Do you have a favorite Anime you would recommend?
Yes, I like to watch Anime. I recommend The Tale of Princess, which was directed by Isao Takahata, and “Megalo Box – which the music is composed by Me!
7. *Did you watch Megalo Box before writing the soundtrack? What inspired you to come up with the beats for the Anime?
I had to make the music before I could actually watch the Anime, so I read the scenario many times and got to see the still images. And I often referred to movies like Blade runner and Drive which gave me inspiration this time.
8. What do you like to do when you have free time? Tell us about your hobbies, interests and so on…
I like to go on walks and watch movies. I enjoy the storylines of movies, and I can enjoy the music and images at the same time. I like to go on walks, since I need to get some exercise for a change.
9. Which artists do you enjoy listening to and what would be your favorite song from your playlist?
I like Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Nick Hakim. For song, A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth – the song was in the film Drive, directed by Nicolas Winding.
10. What is your favorite food, beverage or dessert?
I like meat. Nothing but meat!
11. Have you enjoyed any books, musicals or films that you’ve seen recently which you’d like to recommend?
The movie Black Mirror on Netflix.
12. Which country would you like to visit outside of Japan?
I want to visit UK again. I have been there for home stay before.
13. Do you have any inspirational words for musicians, who want to produce their own music?
Ask yourself why you want to become a musician. If you can’t find the reason why, then that’s correct! Because, if you become addicted to making music, you have no time to find the reason why. That is the evidence that you have the right passion for music.
14. Let us know what your goals and wishes are for the future. And will you please add something nice to your fans?
My goal is to keep on making music until I die. I can accept death if I die during a gig, ha ha.
Please listen to my latest album Blurred – I am happy if my music can help someone. That is why I try to make music and I hope you enjoy listening too. Thanks.
— J.Chung.
Korean beauty and fashion market are taking over the world. Apart from the US and European scene, Korean fashion is currently the trendiest one. The difference in culture brings different fashion orientation and styles that have become very popular over the last years. Every new season in the Korean fashion trends is extremely unique, introducing styles and trends that are unexpected and new to the other fashion markets. Korean designers are creating pieces that are edgy, with new tailoring and interesting color choices.
The new Spring/Summer 2019 season brings new and fabulous trends in Korean fashion. The charm of Korean fashion can be seen in the subtle and creative modification of the current seasonal fashion trends on a world level, but in a dosed way by incorporating new fashion marks. The new Summer season is no exception to this. There are lots of Summer Korean trends that are driven by the world’s fashion trends. The Korean fashion bloggers and influencers are already diving into the new Summer fashion trends and presenting fabulous outfits.
Here are the biggest fashion trends in Korea for this Summer season:
Sneakers with ankle socks
When the so-called “ugly sneakers” appeared on the fashion scene like the one and only footwear, the fashion crowd was left wondering whether the trendiness of these sneakers would last. Not only that the trend of ugly sneakers lasted, but it is also still strong and it has an addition – ankle socks. This combo of high ankle socks and sneakers were first spotted by Korean fashion influencers and bloggers. The comfortability of the sneakers is well-known and now they come as fashionable footwear that is appropriate for all styles. Despite the regular sporty style, these Korean fashion trends promote the combo as a part of any outfit, even in the more elegant ones. During the Seoul Fashion Week, this combination was spotted on chic shorts and vest outfits and neon midi skirts and training pants.
Oversized blazers
Blazers are usually considered as tailored garments, that can be worn with almost all different bottoms. This Summer, the fashion trends in Korea present the blazer in a new, more loose fit. The blazers are moving away from the conventional look and fit and look more like jackets, oversized and baggy. Korean fashionistas are sporting this fashion garment in versatile outfit combinations. As an inspiration, the oversized blazer was seen paired with the popular biker shorts, chinos, and even with flowy skirts too.
Biker shorts
The world’s popularity of biker shorts has come as a Summer fashion trend in Korea. Without any major changes, the biker shorts come in different lengths and colors. The popular ‘80s fashion garment has made a comeback thanks to the reality star Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Yeezy collection. From the first moment, the biker short was spotted on Kim K, before the end of last year, the fashion world was hit with an instant overturn. Many fashion brands have promoted this retro piece as part of their collections. The Korean fashion scene waited a bit and presented the biker shorts as one of the top Summer trends for 2019.
All beige
Beige is a neutral, clean and universal color that is easily paired with other colors. Although beige and neutral tones have always been fashionable and never out of style, this Summer season Korean fashion leaves a special accent on the beige tones. Connecting this shade with the beauty of Korean women and their impeccable skin tone, along with the popularity of this color is seen as a trend that is worn head-to-toe. Going all beige is a safe and modern choice, and it can be done with the pairing of different clothing pieces. As the Korean fashionistas are known by their unique outfit choices, the beige trend was seen on dresses, shorts, and t-shirts and matching footwear.
Hair accessories
The biggest accessories trend on a world level was the comeback of the hair clips. All the wonderful and shiny hairpins and clips that were worn by the little girls are today’s top trend. They come in all shapes, colors, and embellishments and the bigger they are, the trendier the look is. What was especially popular among the Korean fashionistas were the pearly hair clips. These accessories are worn to the side, one next to the other. The popularity of the trend also allows pairing different styles, for example, statement logo hair clip, with pearly one and shiny metal one. The hair is usually parted to the side and all the hair clips are placed on the same side.
With the upcoming Summer season, the Korean fashion market is expected to introduce even more new styles and fashion suggestions that might later present as a fall trend. Whichever the case, the impact of Korean fashion is noticeable and the Korean IT-girls and fashion bloggers are becoming more and more popular both on social media and in fashion waters.
Which are your favorites for this Summer?
—-Maja Krdzic
Korea doesn’t receive as much attention as other Asian countries like Japan or even China when it comes to real estate investment.
With promising demographics and a GDP per capita that will surpass Japan’s in a couple of years, Korea has an interesting future ahead.
// Hyosung Corporation is one of the biggest industrial conglomerates in South Korea. It owns multiple subsidiaries working in IT, trade, chemical industry, industrial machinery, and real estate.
The company was founded in 1966 with a current annual revenue of around USD 17 billion. They have 25000+ employees, which is impressive.
Mr. Hyeon Jun Cho and Gyu Yeong Kim are the co-presidents.
“When a new change for the future aims at a better tomorrow everyone dreams and hopes for, the change can have true value. A change with value breathes inspiration into numerous industries and technologies, and a creative company that leads the change presents a better tomorrow faster than anyone. This is what Hyosung considers the most valuable kind of “Creativity.””
// ShinYoung Greensys Co Ltd. is a leading real estate development company based in Seoul. It was founded in 1984 as ShinYoung, but later changed name to ShinYoung Greensys Co. Ltd.
The chairman of the company is Mr. Choon Bo Jeong and they’ve won several awards for their projects in the past years.
Shinyoung Greensys Co Ltd operates domestic engineering and construction businesses. The Company specializes in public architectural projects. Dong Sung’s projects include construction of commercial and residential buildings, especially apartment complexes.
// Dongbu Corporation was established in 1969 and it is one of the oldest and most well recognized property developers in Korea.
It’s part of one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, the Dongbu Group.
The company has several subsidiaries working in real estate, manufacturing, shipping, insurance, chemical industry, and in finance. Some include: DB, DB Savings Bank, DB Capitale, and DB Hitek.
Mr. Jung-Gil Lee is currently the chairman of the company with 1000+ employees there.
Dongbu Corporation views itself as a ‘Total Construction Service Provider’ unmatched by competitors. To achieve this view, we are committed to further expanding our specialized business capabilities to create higher added-values through innovative project delivery methods. Dongbu Corporation, while securing and enhancing future growth potential that allows quantum advances in each of the corporation’s business markets, works with clients to provide quality services based on the latest technology.
// Korea Housing Corporation was founded in 1962 and was a government owned real estate developer. In the same year, the company developed the first ever apartment complex in Korea, called Mapo.
The company has 9 divisions, 1 research institute, and 47 departments. They own several subsidiaries and apartment brands that include A Thousand Trees, Jugong Green Vile, Tranchae, and Hummonsia.
The CEO of LH is Sang Woo Park. In 2009, it became the first real estate developer to complete construction of two million houses.
It aims to eliminate overlapping functions, such as the establishment of housing development projects carried out by the Korea Housing Corporation and Korea Land Corporation, and to contribute to the development of the national economy by providing new funds.
// Kangwon Land is a casino and resort developer in Korea. It was founded in 1998 as a casino and resort company, but now owns multiple subsidiaries that include High1 Entertainment Inc., High1 Sangdong Theme Park Inc., and High1 Chooco Park Inc.
The company has it’s headquarters in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon province.
The federal and provincial government has shares in the company and the current CEO is Hahm Sung-hee.
It operates two hotels with 674 rooms, two condominiums with 403 rooms, an 18-hole golf course, a ski resort with 18 slopes, and a casino with 132 table games and 960 slot machines on 2,800 acres of land. The effort to diversify sales continues today, as Kangwon Land is constructing a new convention hotel and 2 more condominiums. A new water park is scheduled to open in 2015 to complete the family-oriented year round comprehensive resort.
Kangwon Land offers a scholarship to students in abandoned mine areas and also spends 2 billion won each year to treat pneumoconiosis patients and support their livelihood.
// Founded in 1957, Hines is one of the oldest and most well-known real estate development and investment companies in the world. It’s based in Houston, Texas (the US) but operates in 24 countries and in 201 cities.
Although it’s an American company, their fame and success in Korea is something to be noticed.
The South Korean office was established in 2013 in Seoul and Yong C. Lim is the managing director and has been working with Hines since early 2009.
Lately it has acquired the Allianz Campus Berlin on behalf of a Korean real estate fund managed by Vestas Investment Management in a share deal forward funding transaction. Hines acted as investment manager for Vestas Investment Management and is taking on the long-term asset management of the property.
The property was sold by CORPUS SIREO Real Estate. CORPUS SIREO Real Estate and FOM Real Estate will retain responsibility for completing the construction of the building.
Hines has 128 developments currently underway around the world, and historically, has developed, redeveloped or acquired 1,348 properties, totaling over 444 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset management portfolio includes 512 properties, representing over 223 million square feet. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to sustainability, Hines is one of the largest and most respected real estate organizations in the world.
—-Ped Ruh
On Monday May 13, 2019, FNC Entertainment announced Mina will depart AOA and the company after her contract comes to an end. The company confirmed Mina’s departure while confirming that Jimin, Yuna, Hyejeong, Seolhyun, and Chanmi renewed their contracts in a statement.
Hello.
This is FNC Entertainment.
We recently renewed our contract with five AOA members Jimin, Yuna, Hyejeong, Seolhyun and Chanmi.
The five AOA members agreed to maintain their team and renew their contract with a unified support for their fans.
We have been working with AOA based on mutual trust, and we will provide full support for the five people who have renewed their contracts.
After seven years together and deep discussion with the members and the company, Mina decided to take a different path to make her new dream come true.
We decided to terminate the contract and leave the team because we respected Mina’s choice.
Please support and encourage Mina’s decision after a long time of thought.
Mina is the third member to depart AOA since the group’s debut in 2012. Youkyoung was the first to depart the group following the end of her contract October 15, 2016. Youkyoung only appeared during the group’s band promotions, so AOA was known as a group that had seven members plus one. However, for band promotions following the end of her contract, she has said she would appear as a guest member.
In June 2017, while many Knetizens thought her departure was due to her allegedly dating gaming company CEO Lee Suk Jin, ChoA departed the group and FNC Entertainment due to “depression and insomnia.”
The remaining AOA members will carry on as a five-piece as Mina departs to pursue her new career goals.
—-Olivia Murray
2PM’s Taecyeon will be discharged from his 20-month military service May 16, 2019.
Taecyeon, who enlisted September 2017, served his mandatory service as an active-duty soldier in 9th Armed Forces Division in Gyeonggi Province. Taecyeon gave up his United States citizenship and received surgery for a herniated disk so he could serve in the Korean army.
During his tenure, he was awarded for his exemplary service and promoted to sergeant this past February.
“I’m very honored and grateful to receive this award on behalf of the many people who serve in the military. I’ve learned so much during my time here. I’ll continue to work hard until my discharge, and I’ll do my best to be better,” Taecyeon said upon receiving the award.
Upon his discharge, Taecyeon plans to meet with fans and the press.
Taecyeon, who is no longer with JYP Entertainment and now signed with 51K, expressed desire to go into acting following his discharge. However, he still wants to promote with 2PM and his 51K contract will allow him to do so if 2PM promotes again.
Are you excited to see Taecyeon again? We know we are!
—-Olivia Murray
Giveaway: Mother’s Day Skincare Prize Pack!
Mother’s Day is May 12, 2019, so we’re giving away an amazing prize pack of Korean skincare for you AND your mom. How sweet will it be for you and your mom to share in the fun of being pampered and gorgeous through glowing skin? This giveaway is part of our amazing fifth anniversary celebration!
Prize Package:
- The winner will receive two cosmetic cases filled with skincare ranging from face cleansers to creams and masks. Each case will have identical items with only one difference between them.
- The prize package is worth $150 total, so you’re getting some exciting products to try and have fun with!
- Many of the items were previously reviewed by Kcrush staff, so what you’re receiving comes highly recommended by our writers.
- We’re not going to tell you what products you will receive, but we promise, the surprise will be worth it!
Entry Period:
- The entry period is 12:00am Friday May 10, 2019 to 11:59pm Wednesday May 15, 2019.
Entry
- To enter, use the hashtag #MothersDayGiveaway on this post or on the Facebook post. In the past, our hashtag giveaways have been successful, so we’re keeping the format.
- Comment why your mom’s the best.
- One entry per person on Kcrush.com and on Facebook for a total of two entries.
- Any comments before or after the allotted time will not be included in the giveaway.
- Winners will be selected Thursday May 16, 2019.
- Giveaway is open to all our fans globally! Hooray!
Good luck to all who enter!
ARMY has more reasons to be excited!
Netmarble, the company behind the mobile games Lineage 2: Revolution and Marvel Future Fight, announced on May 9, 2019 that pre-registration for their upcoming BTS World game opened.
Created in conjunction with BTS, BTS World is a mobile, story-based simulation game that will take players on an interactive journey with the group. Users will not only get to play using their favorite members, but they will also have access to 10,000 new photos and 100 exclusive video clips of BTS.
“BTS World was developed with the players in mind from the very beginning,” said Seungwon Lee, Chief Global Officer of Netmarble. “Not only do they get to experience something entirely different, but they’re also getting access to a tremendous amount of new and exciting content we created with BTS specifically for the game.”
Players who pre-register for the game will receive perks as they will get to see an introduction to the game, an exclusive BTS story, and a sneak-peek of the game’s mobile functions that will allow players to virtually interact with the group. A short quiz available on the site will also match players with a BTS-member.
The game will be released on iOS and Android. Information about the game can be found on Netmarble’s website and the game’s official Twitter account.
Khalid Collaboration Announced
In another piece of news, RM (Rap Monster) stated during an interview on 102.7 KiisFM that a collaboration with singer-songwriter Khalid.
“Actually, I have to mention Khalid, [our friend*] it’s really happening,” RM said. “So, please stay tuned for our Khalid collaboration.”
The collaboration news also comes after the announcement that Map the Soul: Persona has been certified gold by the Radio Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). The album has now sold more than 100,000 copies.
BTS continues to score many honors. The future still looks bright for the monster idols!
—-Olivia Murray
On May 10, 2019, Jung Joon Young and his legal representation appeared at the Seoul’s Central District Court to plead guilty to 11 charges of filming and distributing illegal, sexually explicit videos via social platforms.
“We admit to all indicted charges and agree with all of the evidence presented by police,” Jung’s attorney said.
Jung’s court appearance was for his first preparatory hearing for violating Korea’s Special Act on Punishment of Sexual Crimes. A preparatory hearing allows courts to decide how to proceed with a case after hearing arguments from the prosecution and the defense.
While he was not required to appear, Jung was present for the hearing. With him was “Mr. Kim,” a former Burning Sun employee was indicated for “quasi-rape.” Four defense attorneys as well as a lawyer representing the victims were also present.
In addition to admitting to all charges, Jung’s attorney’s commented on other aspects of the investigation, including the case against former FTIsland member Choi Jonghun.
“The police investigation for Choi Jonghun, who is said to have been an accomplice, is in its final stage. It won’t take much longer [to wrap up]. We wish to hold a combined trial,” one of the lawyers said.
“We suspect that there are two victims [of illegally filmed footage],” Jung’s representation said. “We see the need for the Ministry of Justice to appoint public defenders for the victims so that we can reach settlement.”
Attorneys have requested that Jung and Choi’s trials be held at the same time.
“When these charges are pressed, please adjust [Jung’s] court schedules so that both cases can receive trial at the same time,” an attorney said.
Additionally, the defense stated they wish to reach a settlement with the victims.
“Please appoint a government lawyer to represent that victims, as we hope to come to settlements,” a legal representative said.
The Ministry of Justice took the lawyers’ requests to hold a joint trial for all charges into consideration and set the next hearing to take place on June 14, 2019. Stay tuned for updates.
—-Olivia Murray
We are proud to inform you that the dates for the 23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN or PIFAN) is out, along with the reveal of this year’s official posters.
The unicorn in Ridley Scott’s movie Blade Runner – the movie was based on a novel by Philip K. Dick – is said to be the main inspiration for the two posters for the 2019’s International Film Festival held in Bucheon, South Korea. As many of you know, Blade Runner is an acclaimed sci-fi movie, released in 1982; set in the year 2019.
The two unveiled posters promote the science fiction genre, which is also the Korean Film Festival’s theme and concept for this year. Even for those who have watched the film (or its sequel Blade Runner 2049) may find it ambiguous on what the origami unicorn actually represents.
The first poster displays an image of an origami unicorn and Cells of Fantasy descending from a BIFAN spaceship, filling up the Bucheon’s sunsetting sky. Mountainous scenery with masses of buildings can also be seen below.
The second poster shows the majestic unicorn-shaped piece of origami that has now landed on a complex building of Bucheon, and a couple of spaceships, like the one featured in the first poster, invading the territory. And what looks like a streak of lightning lights up the night sky. The imposing unicorn doesn’t have eyes, but its stance makes one wonder whether it has the ability to see, dominate, or control the surrounding scene.
Through the two official posters of this year, BIFAN is evidently promoting the sci-fi genre, which is the primary concept for the 23rd BIFAN, as mentioned.
The 23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival is to be held over the course of 11 days, from June 27 until July 7, 2019, in the city of Bucheon. Bucheon is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, known as a satellite city of Seoul, 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the country’s capital.
▶ Dates for the 23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival: From June 27 (Thurs) until July 7 (Sun) 2019.
▶ Dates for B.I.G 2019: June 30 (Sun) to July 4 (Thurs) 2019.
[INFORMATION & CONTACT]
Foreign Press Manager┃Jennifer EARWOOD
23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (Jun 27 ~ July 7, 2019)
Fantastic Office Bldg. @Bucheon City Hall, 210 Gilju-ro, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, 14547, South Korea
M. +82 (0)10 5036 7019 F. +82 (0)32 322 9629
E-mail. bifan.intlpress@gmail.com, foreignpress@bifan.kr
—-J. Chung
In a sad piece of news, actress Han Ji Sung, 28, was killed in a three-car crash early May 8, 2019. Initially, Han’s name was not released.
According to reports, Han and her husband pulled over on the right lane of the Incheon International Airport Expressway, so her husband could use the bathroom. While he was away, Han exited the vehicle and was then struck by two cars in succession. According to the police, the vehicle’s warning lights were on.
According to Allkpop, Han was struck by a 56-year-old taxi driver and a 73-year-old male driver. Both may face charges in Han’s death.
Police are investigating why Han didn’t pull over on the shoulder and why she may have stepped out of the vehicle. However, since Han was killed on-impact, that answer may never be known.
“When I returned to the car after using the restroom in the vicinity’s bushes, the accident had already happened,” Han’s husband told the police.
Han’s acting resume included roles in the dramas Happy Sisters, Moonlit Gymnastics, Second to Last Love, and the film Sori: Voice from the Heart. She also had a role in the upcoming film, One Punch.
Prior to acting, Han got her start in Harvest Entertainment’s 2010 idol group B.Dolls where she went by the name Seo I. She appeared in the MV for “Winter Story,” the group’s second release. B.Dolls has been inactive since 2011 and is considered disbanded even though an official announcement was never made.
“Han Ji Sung left us in a tragic accident. She was a wonderful actress who had a great passion for acting. She had so much ahead of her in the future. It’s such a shame she passed away so suddenly,” one of Han’s acquaintances said.
We send our condolences to her friends and family.
—-Olivia Murray
On May 6, 2019, Big Hit Entertainment announced plans to change TXT’s fan club name after the name, Young One, stirred controversy.
Fans weren’t happy that Big Hit’s male rookie group announced Young One was their chosen fan club name as it is the same name as Tiffany Young’s fan club. Young, who is still considered a member of Girls’ Generation despite leaving SM Entertainment in 2017, announced Young Ones as her fan club name in 2018 and expressed the significance of the name. Her fan club and SONE reached out to Bit Hit asking them to reconsider TXT’s fandom name.
On TXT’s fan café, an admin posted a message addressing the controversy.
Hello,
This is TXT’s official fan community manager.
After TXT’s official fan club name was announced on April 25, it has come to our attention that the name is currently being used by the fandom and fan club of other artists.
In the process of deciding on the official fan club name, similarities to pre-existing fan club or fandom names were not fully cross-checked.
We apologize to all the patient fans and anyone that might’ve been offended by the announcement.
At this time, we have decided to revise TXT’s official fan club name.
We plan to carefully and thoughtfully check the fan-submitted ideas before the official announcement.
Please check the announcement regarding the revision for more information.
Thank you.
When a new fandom name will be released has not been announced, but TXT fans may not have to wait too long, especially since Big Hit seems willing to appease fans and other fandoms. Stay tuned for a new fandom name!
—-Olivia Murray
On May 7, 2019, Girls’ Generation member and actress Sooyoung signed with Saram Entertainment!
“Choi Sooyoung has showed stable performances through various characters, regardless of genre, including movies and dramas,” Saram Entertainment said. “She has proved infinite potential by continuing her global career based on a positive mindset and confident attitude. We will fully support her efforts to continue her activities in more diverse areas based on trust and communication.”
Sooyoung’s transition into acting has been met with much success. In 2014, she won the Excellence Award for the miniseries My Spring Days (MBC Drama Awards), and in 2015, she won the Actress Excellence Award for the same series at the 8th Korea Drama Awards.
Since 2008, Sooyoung has appeared in 18 television, film, and variety roles.
While under Saram Entertainment, Sooyoung joins fellow celebrities Honey Lee, Uhm Jung Hwa, Kwon Yul, Go Sung Hee, Han Ye Ri, Lee Je Hoon, Jo Jin Woong, and Yoon Kye Sang.
You can check out Sooyoung’s acting chops in 2019’s TV series So I Married an Anti-Fan and the films Memories of Dead End and Girl Cops.
Congratulations to Sooyoung on her new agency!
—-Olivia Murray
Congratulations are in order again for BTS, as they just snagged two awards at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards!
During the May 1, 2019, BTS scored the “Top Social Artist” award for the third consecutive year. This year, they were nominated alongside EXO, GOT7, Ariana Grande, and former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson.
You voted and the results are in! Congrats @BTS_twt, our #BBMAs Top Social Artist! pic.twitter.com/javTPx2ces
— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 1, 2019
Additionally, the group also snagged the “Top Duo/Group” award. BTS won over Dan + Shay, Maroon5, Imagine Dragons, and Panic! at the Disco.
During their award speech, BTS thanked ARMY for helping them achieve the award.
In addition to winning their two awards, BTS performed “Boy with Luv” with Halsey.
Congratulations again to BTS on their wins!
—-Olivia Murray
May 2019 is shaping up to be a hot month for comebacks as Ladies’ Code have also thrown their hats into the comeback ring!
On May 3, Polaris Entertainment released a teaser photo featuring Ashley, Sojung, and Zuny with the comeback date as May 16, 2019.
This will be Ladies’ Code first comeback since “The Rain” and the mini album Strang3r in October 2016; they released the digital single “The Last Holiday” in December 2018.
Between group activities, Ashley and Sojung both released solo tracks. Sojung released “Better Than Me” and “Stay Here” and May 2017 and March 2018, respectively. Ashley released “Here We Are” in July 2018. Recently, Zuny was cast in her first drama role in the KBS2 drama Justice. The drama, which is set to air in July of this year, is about a lawyer who signs a contract with the devil in order to seek revenge on another man. Zuny will play a young woman who’s going blind named Shim Sun Hee.
Ladies’ Code’s contracts are also expected to be up this year as most K-Pop contracts last seven years, so there are fans that feel this may be Ladies’ Code’s last comeback before their contracts end.
We hope Ladies’ Code’s comeback will be successful. No matter what the future holds, we hope it’s bright for them!
Related: Check out our interview with Ladies’ Code that we held earlier this year!
—-Olivia Murray
On May 3, 2019, Banana Republic provided an update on the contract talks with EXID. In a statement, the company announced the LE, Solji, and Hyerin have renewed their contracts, while Hani and Junghwa have decided to look for new agencies.
Upon the announcement, Banana Republic released the following statement:
Hello, this is Banana Culture Entertainment. This is our official statement about EXID’s contracts.
Solji, LE, and Hyelin expressed their wishes to remain with the agency and re-signed with us. Hani and Junghwa have, after a long discussion with the agency, reached an agreement with us and decided to go their separate ways after their contracts expire at the end of May 2019.
The three EXID members who have renewed their contracts with us will be focusing on their individual promotions for the time being. Solji and LE are preparing to promote as solo artists, highlighting their singing, rapping, and producing talents, and Hyerin is planning on tackling a variety of broadcast and music activities with her various talents and appealing image.
EXID is an important group to Banana Culture as well as the fans, and as such, we are not thinking of this as the group disbanding. The members are also thinking of it more as a turning point from which they can take on new challenges. We are deliberating on ways in which EXID can promote together in the future.
We will do our best so that Solji, LE, and Hyerin can carry out stable and active solo promotions.
We also express our deep gratitude to Hani and Junghwa. Though their contracts are officially expiring, we sincerely wish them the best in their future endeavors.
We ask for your encouragement and support for the five members of EXID, who have new roads ahead. Thank you.
On May 3, Banana Culture also stated the group will make their final full-group comeback on May 15, 2019. In a statement, Banana Culture said the girls will carry out promotions overseas and domestically.
“EXID will be making a group comeback with a new mini album on May 15,” Banana Culture said. “After this mini album release, EXID will carry out various broadcast promotions both in Korea and overseas throughout May, before taking a temporary hiatus as a group. We have come to an agreement with Hani and Junghwa, who will not be renewing their contracts with us, that they will still carry out all of EXID’s comeback promotions to the fullest before they seek out new agencies.”
Banana Culture added, “As the members are preparing for a new chapter of their careers, they also said, ‘Let’s do our very best this time for our fans,’ and are currently practicing diligently. We ask for your anticipation and support toward the new album.”
The company and group are not using the word “disbanded,” so there is some hope they may work together in the future. We wish EXID the best with their future endeavors.
—-Olivia Murray
*Japan is made up of 6,852 islands. The four largest are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu – over 400 of these islands are inhabited.
*Japan’s capital city, Tokyo hosts over 36 million people. The name was originally “Edo” but got changed to “Tokyo” in 1890, in light of the Meiji Restoration. Tokyo is believed to be the second most expensive city in the world to reside in.
*The highest point in Japan is the Mount Fuji, at 3,776m (12,388ft). Over one million people climb the volcanic mountain each year, during the climbing season of July and August.
*Japan hosted the 1964 Summer Olympic games in Tokyo and will hold it again in the coming year of 2020. Japan also hosted the 1972 and 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Sapporo and Nagano.
*The birth rate in Japan, is categorized as one of the lowest in the world. There are more seniors than children, 21% of the Japanese population is elderly, which is the highest proportion in the world. (There are also more pets than children.)
*Japan has the second most McDonald’s in the world (after the U.S).
*Japan has more than 1500 occurrences of earthquakes per year, on average.
*Japan boasts of a public bathhouse culture which originated centuries ago.
*Japanese consumes more fish than any other nation in the world – around 17 million tons per year. It’s also common knowledge that Japan is famous for raw fish – sushi, but Horse meat is also considered a healthy delicacy, eaten sliced thinly and eaten raw.
*Geisha means “person of the arts” and the first geisha were men dressed as women.
*There are 19 Nobel Prize winners from Japan, which is highly impressive, considering that there are many nations that don’t have winners.
*The Japanese citizens do not elect their political leaders directly, and have a parliamentary system of government, which was adopted from England.
*Baseball is hugely popular in Japan. It was first introduced by American Horace Wilson, who was an English professor at the Kaisei Academy in Tokyo. The first game ever held there was in 1873, in Tokyo.
*In Japan, the roads don’t have names and only displays numbers. Apart from in Kyoto and some Hokkaido cities, most Japanese streets are nameless.
*The Japanese typically eat KFC on Christmas Eve, ever since the 70s. Sales soars during this festive season.
*The Japanese enjoy fiesta; some companies allow employees to take 30-minute naps between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. This practice is called inemuri, and valued as a sign of dedication and hard work.
*Hikikomori refers to half a million young Japanese citizens, who seclude themselves from all social ties to spend most of their time on the internet, playing video games, pointlessly killing time alone, at home. This is considered a social issue which stemmed from a downturn of economy.
*Japan is known for Hello Kitty, Nintendo and Harajuku – and anything that is considered cute. The word “kawaii” is derived from a phrase that means “a radiant face” of someone who is embarrassed. This later mutated to the modern “cute” and means “able to be loved.”
*There is no tipping in Japan – it may be taken as an insult, so don’t consider doing it.
*In Japan, the “go” lights are more of a turquoise or aqua color, and in some areas they’re just plain blue.
*For Russia and Japan, World War II isn’t over yet. Moscow and Tokyo never signed the peace treaty that would’ve ended the war. The animosity continued due to the territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands, an island located between the two nations, which Russia invaded in 1945 and continues to occupy. Presently, 30,000 Russians live on the island with missiles pointed to Japan.
*Godzilla was given Japanese citizenship and appointed as the ward’s tourism ambassador.
*Japan is the only country in the world with a reigning emperor. The first time that the Japanese citizens heard their emperor’s voice was when he announced the country’s surrender in World War II, via radio.
*Japan owns more than a dozen UNESCO World Heritage sites.
*Scientists in Japan invented ice cream bars that do not melt. While they experimented to help farmers affected by the aftermath of the tsunami in 2011, they accidentally discovered a chemical that solidifies cream almost instantly, in a wholly organic way that will maintain its shape and not melt for hours.
— J.Chung.
After 19 days of denials, the now-former singer and actor, Park Yoochun (TVXQ, JYJ), has admitted to taking drugs. His admission comes days after he tested positive for drugs following a hair sample analysis and days following his arrest.
On April 29, 2019, Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency stated that Yoochun confessed to the drug allegations after he began meeting with his former fiancée, Hwang Hana, again. The confession came after his April 27 questioning.
During his admittance, Yoochun said, “I was afraid to let go of myself. I feel like I need to accept what needs to be accepted and ask for forgiveness on the things that need an apology.”
Initially, Yoochun, who will be 33 in June, was charged with buying 1.5g of Philopon, a Japanese methamphetamine, and using it five times, but he also admitted to a sixth time where he used meth.
Meanwhile, Hwang Hana was arrested, but apparently has been released despite admitting her own drug use. She’s currently active on Instagram. As previously reported, articles and information pertaining to her confession and any mention to her connection to the Yoochun case have been removed from Korean media outlets. Hwang is the granddaughter of Namyang Dairy’s founder and allegedly has several chaebol connections.
Following Yoochun’s confession, his lawyer, Mr. Kwon, resigned from the case on April 30.
“I would like to notify that all of my activities regarding Park Yoochun will halt starting this day. Yesterday on April 29, Park Yoochun admitted to all of his charges, and is receiving his investigation in honesty this time, as reported by the media,” Mr. Kwon said. “Please understand that I was unable to respond to each reporter’s questions until now due to preparations for the police investigation and the arrest warrant decision.”The concession comes to the shock of his fans who stood by him and vehemently tried to refute the drug charges by stating the story was to cover the Burning Sun scandal. Those same fans tried to dispute questionable photos of Yoochun, while others tried to explain how meth could appear in one’s system even if a person never took it.
In Incheon, Yoochun’s name has been removed from Park Yoochun Cherry Blossom Road, a 5,500,000 won donation project from Blessings Yoochun, a fan club for the now-disgraced star. His name has been removed or painted over in each place where it appeared including nameplates attached to various contents from his interviews, dramas, and social media.
Yoochun was last active as a celebrity in February 2019 when he released “Slow Dance.”
—-Olivia Murray