Dressing up appropriately for any K-Pop fan meeting or concert is a crucial aspect for consideration.
One of the many factors to consider when choosing an outfit is the performing individual or group that you are attending the concert or fan meeting for. For instance, when attending EXO concerts, one should choose outfits from the EXO-inspired wardrobe. Compared to an individual K-Pop performer’s concert/fan meeting, attending the gig of a K-Pop group can be rather demanding regarding matters of choosing an outfit. It is easier to choose from a wardrobe inspired by an individual performer as one can try a complete look from the K-Pop idol’s numerous stage performances or public appearances. However, since most of the K-Pop groups have more than four members, imitating a single member’s complete look would work but making the decision would be “long. To ease the wardrobe’s decision-making processes regarding K-Pop group concerts or fan meetings, choosing a complete look from your most favorite group member would be advisable.
The transpiring season would be another factor to contemplate upon when choosing a K-Pop concert or fan meeting event. It would be absurd to choose a wool long or short coat during summer. Wearing according to respective seasons ensures your comfortability during the gig and portrays your sense of style. Talking of style, it would also be advisable to give thought to the latest K-Pop fashion trend in deciding on your outfit. Wearing an outfit that Rap Monster wore a year ago, just because it is his concert, portrays your lack of fashion sense. Being a K-Pop fan, a fan is expected to at least have an idea of the latest K-Pop fashion craze. If a fan can keep up with the latest K-Pop songs and videos, he or she should at the very least maintain the depicted levels of exquisiteness in fashion.
Here are some of the 5 fun styles that you can dress up for K-Pop concerts or fan meetings.
1. A classy and porsh for alltmes –Patchted jacket ( with shorts, pants, or a skirt and a top to one’s liking).
2. A layer of warmth for the chilly days – cardigans, pullovers.
3. Patterned shirts for summer days – stripped, flowered.
4. Cobain cargo pants – for that edgy look.
5. Leather pants – to smothen your curves.
What would you wear to your first K-Pop concert or fan meeting? Let us know.
—-Pe Arlkh
While You Were Sleeping is about a woman who sees through her dreams of terrible things that will happen to people in the future and a prosecutor who tries to prevent them from happening.
Nam Hong Joo
Has the ability to dream about the future. This is causing trouble in her life. It is tough knowing the future and being unable to prevent it. She can warn someone about an accident, for instance, but in the end, the accident still happens. She begins to change with the help of Jae Chan.
Jung Jae Chan
A rookie prosecutor who develops the same ability as Hong Joo. He is able to help change what Hong Joo sees in her dreams. A handsome young man who changed Nam Joo’s destiny. He is living with his younger brother and he is a neighbor of Nam Joo.
Han Woo Tak
A police officer. His life was saved by Jae Chan and he ends up helping Jae Chan and Hong Joo and develops such a lovely friendship with them. Woo Tak is such a sweet and selfless man who is always more than willing to jump in and help when needed.
Lee Yoo Bum
Our villainous lawyer, will do anything for money. He can get himself out of the trouble, a constant thorn in prosecutor’s Jung Jae Chan’s side. He was dating Hong Joo and then she breaks up with him.
What I Think?
The cast deserves applause from suiting up to their personas at their very best every time they are captured on screen. Every single character was developed and had a couple of different traits displayed, which transformed them into a believable person. I really adored Jae Chan and Hong Joo as a couple. They are super cute together and give us plenty of adorable couple moments. They are also both genuinely good people that put others before themselves, and they develop such a supportive relationship with each other. The drama shows how the choices people make impact those around them. Self-centered Yoo Beom never cares about how his decisions affect others, and ends up having to lie and fabricate, digging himself a hole that eventually becomes way too deep to climb out of. The Three Flying Dragons, on the other hand, choose to always diligently stick to what they know to be right, at times even putting their careers at risk, in their desire to do good.
—-Lotus Hagar
The story of Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho) who is the rich heir to the Empire Group. While living in the United States, Tan meets Go Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye) who came to the states to find her sister after not hearing from her for so long. But when things don’t work right with her sister, So, Eun Sang ends up with no where to go and is taken in by Tan. But no one would know that they both have a connection with each other back at Tan’s house.
Cha Eun Sung
Cha Eun Sang belongs to a middle class family and suffering a lot to earn money. Her mother works at Tan’s house as a maid. She has a nice, sweet and attractive personality.
Kim Tan
He is sweethearted, nice and good-looking. He is also a millionaire. He was made to stay in the U.S. by his brother because he didn’t like him since he was his father’s second mistress son.
Choi Young Do
The heir of Hotel Zeus Group and Kim Tan’s childhood friend. A lonely person but also a trouble maker. At first he wanted to make Kim Tan jealous but he ends up with falling for Eun Sang and also could not get her to feel the same.
Yoo Rachel
The heiress of RS International, a clothing company, and Kim Tan’s betrothed threatens Eun-sang the most at school. Her mother controls her since she is to be the “perfect” heiress, ignoring what Rachel actually wants. It obviously shapes up the person she is now.
Yoon Chan-young
A class representative of Jeguk High and Eun Sang’s oldest and best friend. As his father is merely a secretary, he is one of the few so-called “social care group” students in the school. He tops the whole school in every test ever. He is Eun Sang’s Childhood friend and Bo Na’s Boyfriend.
Lee Bo Na
Daughter of the CEO of the talent-searching Mega Entertainment and Chan-young’s girlfriend. She is a jealous girlfriend yet, actually a very kind person. Befriending Eun Sang (under the guise of protecting her boyfriend), she forgives people quickly.
What I think?
The Characters, are all so interesting, well developed, and well-acted that I’m going to take a chunk of just listing out all the best things about everyone. I think the time Eun Sang and Kim Tan spent getting to know each other, alone, in California is some of the strongest scenes in the show. The kids you know as high school students get a glimpse at adulthood, their chosen paths in life and a lot of relationships are still on the mend. It was not tear worthy or perfect, and it didn’t yank our characters apart and focused on the bigger picture. The two moms together were adorable; and so were Chan Young, Bo Na, Hyo-Shin, and Myung Soo. They bring wonderful humor into the story, and I kind of want to be best friends with Chan Young and Bo Na myself. The message expressed was actually pretty good and kind of interesting. It seemed to be based on the theme “be careful what you wish for.” If you put Fame and Fortune at the top of your list, you may not be happy when you get it.
—-Lotus Hagar
Our first K-Pop chart of the year! Are you ready to see what ranked in our K-Pop Top 30? Check out our list, and get ready to get your vote on for February! Once we find a voting platform that can handle more than eight selections, we’ll post the information. 🙂 #kpop #music_charts #cherry_bullet #Shaun #Chungha #Verivery #Lukus #rothy #yongguk #hikikomori #neonpunch #clc #apink #dreamcatcher #lee_sora #gfriend #luna #fx #nflying #favorite #hyomin #tara #oneus #seventeen #minseo #nature #roh_tae_hyun #astro #ryeowook #wjsn #huta #knk
Park Shin Hye Dramas OST
The boys of BIGSTAR – From left: Sunghak, Baram, Feeldog, Raehwan and Jude.
Dreams of stardom
This five member all-male South Korean Kpop group signed under Brave Entertainment first debuted in 2012 comprising members Feeldog, Baram, Raehwan, Sunghak and Jude. Their first single album ‘Bigstart’ was released in July 2012 followed by three E.P.s and seven singles from 2012 to 2015.
They are well-known for their achievement as the first idol group to hold one hundred concerts in Japan.
Reality bites
Despite their ambitious start featuring slick music videos showcasing their powerful dance moves, catchy rap verses and smooth R&B influenced sound, the group fell short of mainstream success, falling behind in chart rankings and overall popularity compared to groups like EXO and BTOB that debuted around the same time.
Many fans believe in the group’s talent and have blamed their agency’s lack of promotional activities for their lacklustre success given that they have not released an album since 2015.
Nevertheless, the group remain signed to Brave Entertainment and have been participating in individual projects and collaborations with other artistes over the years.
In 2017, all the members except for Baram, appeared in the KBS show, Idol Rebooting Project: The Unit. Premised on giving idols and former idols a chance to ‘reboot’ their career, the show’s finalists got to debut in a new group, UNB in April 2018. Of the four members, only Feeldog made the cut, becoming an official member and leader of UNB.
Latest updates
A photo of Feeldog from his Instagram account @fxxldoggssy.
Feeldog, the multi-talented leader of the group has been making his name as an actor over the years, playing supporting roles in popular Kdramas such as ‘Jealousy Incarnate’ and ‘Radiant Office’.
In addition, after his successful stint on ‘The Unit’, he re-debuted in new group UNB in April 2018 and served as special guest judge on select episodes of ‘Dancing High’, a dance reality show.
He also released a new music video – ’Color’, a song composed in collaboration with fellow BIGSTAR member, Jude, a few months ago on his Youtube channel (Official Feeldog).
A new year wish from Baram shared on his Instagram account @han.ryang__.
Baram has been laying low in the entertainment scene ever since his enlistment into mandatory military service in February 2017. No news as yet on any upcoming plans for 2019 but meanwhile fans can check out his Instagram account @han.ryang__ for the latest updates as he regularly shares photos there.
New year greetings from Raehwan shared on his Instagram account @larrynbeatz.
Raehwan, also known as Larry, enlisted for mandatory military service a year ago in February 2018, right after he was terminated from the show – ‘The Unit’. Prior to enlisting, he left fans with his first mixtape ‘20/25’ available on Soundcloud featuring smooth R&B and Soul music. Fans can also check out his Youtube channel ‘OFFICIAL RAEHWAN’ where he regularly uploads covers of other artistes and his vlogs.
A photo of Sunghak celebrating his birthday last month from his Instagram account @xxhakx.
Sunghak is another member who we’ve not heard from in awhile since he was eliminated from ‘The Unit’. However, updates from his personal Instagram account show he’s been keeping himself busy with his other interest – fitness. Checkout his IG for photos and other uploads to keep up with his updates.
A still of his Jvde’s English track ‘No Time For Chill’ shared on his Instagram account @jvdemilez.
Jvde has been keeping busy musically and just dropped his first mix tape ‘No Time For Chill’ last October. The English language track is available on Soundcloud and Youtube channel (Jvde Milez). He’s also featured on the original sountrack for Kdrama ‘Revenge Note 2’.
Photos of BIGSTAR from Brave Entertainment’s official website – http://bigstar.bravesound.com.
—-Fe Fed
Since 2017, fans fear that Cube Entertainment girl group, CLC, have been in danger of disbandment for quite some time due to lacking domestic sales.
CLC, which is an acronym for CrystaL Clear, have released a steady stream of noteworthy songs since their 2015 debut with the infectious bop “Pepe,” but it wasn’t until 2017’s “Hobgoblin” that caused people to notice them. The girls—Sorn, Seunghee, Yujin, Seungyeon, Yeeun, Elkie, and Eunbin— have several award nominations and wins (they recently snagged the “Next Rising Star of Asia” Award at Thailand’s 2018 Daradaily The Great Awards). On February 12, 2019, they earned their first music show win on The Show. However, despite their recognitions, CLC have yet to gain footing in the country they represent.
However, CLC have gained traction in the U.S. market, specifically on the Billboard charts. In 2017, CLC landed on Billboard charts with their single “Hobgoblin” and their Crystyle EP. In February 2017, Crystyle peaked at number six on the World Albums chart. Later that year, Black Dress peaked at number seven. Free’sm was their lowest-peaking album at number 14 that August.
Fast-forward to 2019, and CLC have made their way back to the Billboard charts with their latest EP, No.1.
No.1 became CLC’s best-performing album to date on Billboard, peaking at number five on the World Albums chart. According to Nielsen Music, the album sold more than 1,000 copies, making it CLC’s best-selling album in the United States.
Additionally, CLC also debuted at number 19 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart. Their appearance on the chart makes them only the second K-Pop girl group to land on the chart since Red Velvet’s RBB album in 2018.
Meanwhile, “No” debuted at number four on Billboard‘s World Digital Song Sales chart. This is CLC’s second number four-ranked song; “Hobgoblin” ranked fourth on the same chart in 2017. Both tracks sold more than 1,000 copies during their first week.
Maybe fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Westerners enjoy CLC’s tracks. Perhaps they’ll be saved from alleged disbandment once again.
Congratulations to CLC for their Billboard entries!
—-Joelle Halon
EPIK HIGH will be making their long-awaited comeback March 11, 2019. Leader Tablo announced the comeback on his official Twitter.
The new album will be EPIK HIGH’s first album since leaving YG Entertainment in 2018 and their first album since We’ve Done Something Wonderful in 2017. They were with YG Entertainment for six years. During their tenure at YG, they released the 99, Shoebox, and We’ve Done Something Wonderful albums. Tablo also released his solo album, Fever’s End.
The album will be EPIK HIGH’s 10th album in the group’s 16-year history. While details have not been released yet, teasers are expected in the coming days.
Meanwhile, EPIK HIGH will be touring Europe and North America after the album’s release. The tour begins March 13 and ends March 20. Snag your tickets (click links below) to one of their following shows!
- Wednesday March 13, 2019– Kesselhaus in der Kulturbrauerei, Berlin, Germany
- Thursday March 14, 2019-The Circus, Helsinki, Finland
- Friday March 15, 2019– Q-Factory, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Saturday March 16, 2019– La Madeleine, Brussels, Belgium
- Sunday March 17, 2019-YOYO (Palais de Tokyo), Paris, France
- Tuesday March 19, 2019– Progresja, Warsaw, Poland
- Wednesday March 20, 2019– Electric Ballroom, London, UK
- April 1, 2019- First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
- April 3, 2019- House of Blues, Chicago, IL
- April 4, 2019- Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- April 7, 2019- Terminal 5, New York City, NY
- April 9, 2019-Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
- April 10, 2019- Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA
- April 12, 2019- The Fillmore Silver Spring, Washington, D.C.
- April 13, 2019- Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC
- April 15, 2019- Center Stage, Atlanta, GA
- April 18, 2019- EMO’s, Austin, TX
- April 19, 2019- House of Blues, Houston, TX
- April 20, 2019- Canton Hall, Dallas, TX
- April 23, 2019- The Observatory, San Diego, CA
- April 26, 2019- The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
- April 28, 2019- The Warfield Theater, San Francisco, CA
- May 1, 2019- Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
- May 2 & 3, 2019- Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Tickets for the North American tour are available on EPIK HIGH’s official website.
—-Joelle Halon
BLACKPINK’s North American leg of their BLACKPINK 2019 World Tour in Your Area has been announced!
On February 12, 2019, Powerhouse and Goldenvoice announced they are bringing BLACKPINK to North America in an email sent to Powerhouse subscribers. In the email, it was announced that automaker Kia are sponsors for the tour set to start April 17 in Los Angeles.
The announcement comes on the heels of a week of exciting announcements for U.S. BLINKS (BLACKPINK fans). On February 12, the YG Entertainment girl group appeared on Good Morning America. The group also appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (their American TV debut) February 11 and Strahan and Sara February 15. Of course, the biggest news was their Coachella appearance announcement that earned them a historic spot as the first female K-Pop group to perform at the event in April.
Now with the tour officially announced, BLINKs have six chances to catch BLACKPINK in concert. If you’re near the following locations, BLACKPINK’s “in your area” soon!
|
April 17, 2019 |
Los Angeles, CA |
The Forum |
|
April 24, 2019 |
Chicago, IL |
Allstate Arena |
|
April 27, 2019 |
Hamilton, ON, Canada |
First Ontario Center |
|
May 1, 2019 |
Newark, NJ |
The Prudential Center |
|
May 5, 2019 |
Atlanta, GA |
Infinite Energy Arena |
|
May 8, 2019 |
Fort Worth, TX |
Ft. Worth Convention Center |
Ticket prices, tiers, or VIP package information have not been released yet but will be forthcoming on Powerhouse Live’s Facebook page and website.
Tickets go on-sale February 20 at 4pm local time.
—-Joelle Halon
Former Wonder Girls member and current solo artist Sunmi will embark on a world tour starting February 2019. The tour includes stops in Asia and North America.
Sunmi, who’s currently signed to MakeUS Entertainment, announced the dates to her Warning 2019 World Tour on her official Instagram page back in January, but tickets were recently made available.
The tour kicks off in Seoul, South Korea February 24, 2019 and is set to end May 23 in Tokyo, Japan. There is a possibility for more shows to be added.
Check out the tour dates and locations below. Will you be attending the show?
|
February 24, 2019 |
Seoul, South Korea |
Yes 24 Live Hall |
5:00pm local time |
|
|
March 6, 2019 |
San Francisco, CA |
Regency Ballroom |
7:00pm local time |
|
|
March 7, 2019 |
Los Angeles, CA |
The Fonda Theatre |
7:00pm local time |
|
|
March 10, 2019 |
Seattle, WA |
Showbox SoDo |
7:00pm local time |
|
|
March 11, 2019 |
Vancouver, BC, Canada |
Vogue Theatre |
7:00pm local time |
|
|
March 13, 2019 |
Calgary, AB, Canada |
The Palace Theatre |
7:00pm local time |
|
|
March 15, 2019 |
New York, NY |
The Town Hall |
7:00pm local time |
SOLD OUT (Available through third-party sellers. Purchase safely!) |
|
March 16, 2019 |
Toronto, ON, Canada |
Queen Elizabeth Theatre |
7:00pm local time |
SOLD OUT (Available through third-party sellers. Purchase safely!) |
|
March 18, 2019 |
Washington D.C |
The Lincoln Theatre |
7:00pm local time |
More information available at kpopme.
—-Joelle Halon
While they survived the seven-year curse, Star Empire Entertainment announced that after nine years together, 9Muses (sometimes stylized as Nine Muses) will disband following their fan-meet February 24 at Hansung University Nacsanguan.
On February 11, 2019, Star Empire released the following statement.
Hello, this is Star Empire.
We talked for a long time with the Nine Muses members because of various reasons such as their contract coming to an end, and we have ultimately decided to end their group promotions.
We apologize to MINE, who have been waiting for a while.
On February 14th, 2019 at noon KST, they will release their digital single ‘REMEMBER’. On the 24th, they will have their last fan-meeting and Nine Muses will end all official promotions.
We thank the Nine Muses members for being the best artist since August 12, 2010, and MINE, for always supporting and loving Nine Muses.
The Nine Muses members will promote as solo artists in various places. Please show the Nine Muses members support in their new start.
Thank you.
9Muses debuted August 12, 2010 with the single “No Playboy” and the single album Let’s Have a Party. Then, the group consisted of members Jaekyung, Bini, Rana, Eunji, LeeSem, Sera, Euaerin, Minha, and Hyemi. Since then, the group underwent several lineup changes with Hyemi being the only original member left.
Since 2011, Hyuna, Gyeongree, Sungah, Sojin, and Keumjo also served time as group members; the final lineup consisted of Hyemi, Gyeongree, Sojin, and Keumjo (who made up the sub-unit Nine Muses A) while Sungah remained on hiatus.
Former leader Sera now promotes as a soloist under self-founded agency OCTO; Gyeongree released a solo track, “Blue Moon,” in 2018. On February 12, 2019, it was announced Gyeongree signed on to appear on the History Channel’s web-variety show On-Site Reporting No Matter What. The show is an entertainment show that covers recent news while using fact-based analysis.
During their tenure, 9Muses failed to win first place across Korea’s music shows despite churning out hit songs like “Wild,” “Gun,” “Glue,” “Hurt Locker,” “Sleepless Night,” and “Remember.” They appeared on 2010’s Prosecutor Princess OST and had collaboration tracks with several artists including Seo In-Young, ZE:A, MBLAQ, 2PM, Miss A, Dal*Shabet, B1A4, and Sistar. In 2016, they were named “Best Female Group” at the Korean Entertainment Awards.
In 2013, 9Muses were subject to the viral documentary Nine Muses of Star Empire (나인뮤지스 오브 스타 엠파이어) which followed the members’ lives and training processes. The documentary also shined light on some of the abuses potential idols experience as the film showed Star Empire CEO Shin Juhak smacking the members and emotionally abusing them. The film created a stir and caused K-Pop fans to call for changes in the industry even though change has appeared to have not taken place as abuses still occur in the industry.
9Muses close out their career with 15 released singles, one studio album, two single albums, and six extended plays. On February 14, 2019, their final digital single, “REMEMBER” will be released.
We will certainly miss 9Muses and their contributions to the K-Pop scene. What was your favorite 9Muses song?
—-Joelle Halon
For this article, I chose to list 6 Korean businesswomen based on their specialty, level of expertise and success, who currently operate in diverse fields of businesses. Most of the females listed here are well-known in Korea, some more so than others, but each have a unique story to tell regarding their business ventures.
It’d be fair to claim that Republic of Korea is a small country with staggeringly number of both seasoned and budding entrepreneurs. However, in this modern time and age, it is very also unfortunate to learn that the male gender tends to lead, own or dominate the large majority of the top positions in any kind of businesses – due to reasons like, male gender preference, prejudice against women and the crude existence of the glass ceiling – the latter being so ironically visible.
I initially wanted to discover very successful Korean female CEOs who are self-made – meaning, the ones who didn’t have financial aid or help handed to them by their family members – but it wasn’t easy to find many business tycoons who started off from basically nothing with no connections who made a huge success; male or female.
The reality is that most powerful contemporary business people in Korea are born with a silver spoon in their mouths or better still, born into conglomerate families – so quite a number of owners of top businesses and companies are blood-related, related through marriages or close acquaintances, even the actual percentage of the super-rich is extremely low. I must stress that running a reliable and prosperous business is not what anyone can do solely by themselves, since one of the key secrets in a profitable business/company lies in being strongly-connected with the right network of people, with the right business acumen and expertise for critical advice; not just monetary funding.
Although scientifically unproven – some believe that having a knack for business runs genetically – even if this was factual, the truth remains that running a hugely well-to-do business as a female in a society dominated by males, is incredibly difficult – but if great success is achieved, it is definitely worthy of commendation.
Luxury Fashion Brand Magnate – Kim Sung-joo
Kim Sung-joo (born 1956, in Daegu, Korea) is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Sungjoo Group and MCM Holding AG.
Her late father was the Founder and owner of Daesung Industrial but since Kim was the youngest child, her older brothers received most of the inheritance. It is said that Kim borrowed the funds to start her own company from her family and Sungjoo Group was founded in 1990.
It has since developed into a reputable high-end fashion company, having launched brands like Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Sonia Rykiel, Marks & Spencer and more in Korea. In 2005, Sungjoo Group acquired MCM Holding AG, a German luxury brand founded in Munich, Germany in 1976.
In 2012, Kim was listed in Forbes’ Top 50 Asian Business Women, as one of Asia’s 25 Top CEOs by Fortune and was invited by the United Nations to be part of “Innovation 101” at the Decide Now Act summit. From 2013 until 2017, Kim became the first Korean female to become the member of the APEC Business Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Economy Council. In 2014, Kim became the president of the Korean Red Cross, as the first female to hold the post.
In 2015, she was awarded an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for her contribution to the ties of U.K and the Republic of Korea. In 2017, she was appointed as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Fashion Council, Germany.
Department Store Franchise CEO – Chung Yoo-kyung
Chung Yoo-kyung (October 5, 1972) is the CEO and General Manager of Shinsegae is a South Korean department store franchise and the only daughter of Shinsegae Group’s business magnates, Lee Myung-hee and Chung Jae-eun. Chung is the granddaughter of Samsung’s Founder Lee Byung-chul and the niece of the company’s Chairman Lee Kun-hee. In 1999, Chung was made an executive of Korea’s largest retailing group at the age of 24.
Shinsegae was part of the Korea’s largest conglomerate, Samsung Group, before going independent in 1997. Shinsegae’s fashion unit Shinsegae International boasts of owning the largest number of global fashion brands, including Armani, Marni, Dries Van Noten, Moncler and Givenchy. In 2009, Chung was made the Vice President and since 2001, the retail group invested in real estate to secure the rights to import luxury fashion and beauty brands.
Chung’s current stake in the company is 21.44 percent, after receiving 1.5 million shares from her father, the Honorary Chairman of Shinsegae Group; making her the biggest shareholder. She and her older brother Chung Yong-jin, the Vice Chairman operate the family’s company, with their mother as its Chairwoman.
Korean-American Businesswoman – Toni Ko
Toni Ko (born ?? 1973) is a successful Korean-American Entrepreneur and Founder of NYX Cosmetics.
Ko was born and raised in Daegu, South Korea until the age of 13, when her family immigrated to the United States. She spent most of her teenage years working for her parents, who worked in the cosmetics industry. She briefly attended college but decided to drop out to pursue work full time for her parents.
In 1999, Ko founded her own cosmetics company – NYX Cosmetics – after being given $250,000 in seed money from her mother. She was 26 at the time and the company managed to make a turnover of $4 million in its first year and later sold the company to L’Oréal for $500 million in 2014.
After taking some time off for herself; Ko created Perverse Sunglasses company in 2016. She has won various awards including, the Entrepreneur of the Year from the Asian Business Association and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Beauty Bus Foundation. She is currently the founder and CEO of Butter Ventures, a venture firm in California that invests in start-ups, especially for women.
Billionaire Philanthropist – Hong Ra-hee
Hong Ra-hee (born July 15, 1945) is a Korean billionaire businesswoman, philanthropist and the former director of the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. Hong grew up in a wealthy family; her father served as the first Chairman of Joongang Ilbo, one of the top-selling newspaper companies in Korea.
She graduated from the top high school for girls in Seoul and later majored in Applied Arts at Seoul National University. Her late father-in-law is said to have spotted her and made her his daughter-in-law – later giving her a job as an Art Director.
Hong is credited for her contribution to the museum and various humanitarian works, but she’s probably the best known for being the wife of Samsung’s Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who is the wealthiest citizen in Korea, as of yet. The couple currently have a son and two daughters. Her eldest child, Lee Jae-yong is the Vice Chairman of Samsung Group. Her eldest daughter, Lee Boo-jin is the president and CEO of Hotel Shilla, one of Seoul’s leading hotels and conference centers owned by Samsung, while her younger sister, Lee Seo-hyun was formerly the head of Samsung’s fashion division, and will be in charge of Samsung’s Welfare Foundation and Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in the future.
The three siblings also had a youngest sister, the late Lee Yoon-hyung who tragically took her own life at age 26.
Model turned Businesswoman – Hong Jin-kyung
Hong made her first TV appearance on Korea’s Supermodel Contest in 1993, while still in high school and was awarded a minor prize and this wasn’t enough to further her modelling career. Due to her unique appearance, she was faced with setbacks in landing modelling jobs, so she spent a couple of years struggling to make ends meet.
Luckily, she was approached by Korean comedian Lee Young-ja, who offered her to play a comical character for variety shows with her, and this paved a way for Hong’s acting career in the showbiz.
With the sum that she earned from the TV gigs over the years, Hong launched her own premium kimchi business on shopping channel on TV, in 2005. She initially came up with this idea because she had a great kimchi recipe from her mother. Hong’s THE KIMCHI business took off in no time and sold out an outstanding amount.
Most celebrities who claim to own businesses are rarely hands on when it comes to doing the actual business side of things but Hong is said to be the complete opposite. Hong’s dumplings also became extremely popular and her bustling business is now known as Hong Jin-kyung Corporation; operated by herself along with her mother.
Hong is also a cancer survivor, after getting surgery back in 2014; she is said to be recovering well. She has also been very active in humanitarian work for over 12 charities since 2005.
Make-up Director & Businesswoman – Jung Saemmool
Jung Saem-mool (born January 19, 1970) is a Korean Makeup Artist/Director and businesswoman. She’s the one who is credited for setting the trend for “Transparent Make-up Look and Bright Lip gloss” over the “Dark-toned thick make-up and dark lip color” which were prominent in the mid ‘90s.
Jung’s career as a make-up artist began in 1991, and for the next three decades, she worked closely with top celebs like Lee Seung-yeon, Kim Tae-hee, Kim Hee-sun, Jeon Ji-hyun, Lee Hyo-ri, Tang Wei, BoA and countless others, and became the most sought-after make-up artist in the Korean entertainment industry.
Her philosophy when it comes to applying make-up is to consider the person’s skin type, bone structure, facial line and complexion, while maintaining the person’s natural look and unique qualities. She cites her mother as her inspiration, who is an artist.
In 1997, Jung opened her first studio: Jung Saem-mool Inspiration in Chungdam in Gangnam and opened her art academy in her name in 2005.
In 2015, she launched her own skincare products and make-up brand named after herself: JUNG SAEM MOOL which is continuously expanding into various department store chains and duty-free stores in Korea.
—- J.Chung.
The trend of preferring fur babies over human ones is taking root fast in the South Korean peninsula. More Korean singles are said to go for pets, especially dogs, rather than engaging in relationships for the sole purpose of fulfilling the supreme human role; filling the earth. In the previous decades, bearing children not just a role but a show of vitality for the couple, which was also associated with status within the society. For the millennials, the pet-caring aspect that started out as a hobby has turned into a pet-parenting fad, perceived as a vital element in family creation and sustenance. However absurd it seems, studies have proven that the trend is indeed taking root not only in the city, but also in the suburbs and upcountry regions despite the prevailing traditional beliefs in such areas. The pet industry’s boom in South Korea has resulted in the country’s birth rate of about 1.05 children per woman, which is among the lowest ranks globally. What could have triggered the uptake such a bizarre custom? Are individuals losing their humane sense? Is this trend just a craze that will fade away soon or is it here to stay? Is raising pets a distraction for being single and an escape route from parental responsibilities?
Possible factors of preference for fur babies
1. Cost of raising children
With the economy rising by the day, the cost of living seems to skyrocket beyond most individuals’ daily gross earnings. This would be a considerable excuse for the millennials – a politically opinionated generation dependent on technology and aware of recession consequences- to give up or delay having children. The idea might be an arguable sense since raising children costs a fortune compared to keeping animals as pets. Korean parents are expected by the government to provide children with schooling resources, including the expensive tuition and private tutoring, which is a costly expense. This is regardless of the long working hours needed for sponsoring such activities as well as household budgets, which are a burden given the cruel economy. However this might be true, the opportunity forgone to raise children is an incomparable enduring bundle of joy; of curse coupled up with some inevitable yet manageable inconveniences.
2. Relationship issues
The typical Korean relationships are facilitated not by only love; as seen on K-dramas. Other matters such as getting along and money are also crucial factors as well. For the fear of dealing with daily heartbreaking issues with partners, a number of Korean singles are opting for pets, especially dogs, for their unwavering loyalty. Every day in Korea is a love day where partners go out in couple clothes; mostly celebrating their 100 or 200 days together. Such occasions are also accompanied by gifts, which are rather costly as they are perceived to represent various degrees of commitment and love. The relationship can thus become a financial burden, especially if one undertakes part-time jobs rather than just the normal job. Relationship matters such as not getting along can also be strenuous and result in un-productivity; by causing distraction, in various aspects of one’s life. At this point, the belief that raising pets is a distraction for being single and an escape route from parental responsibilities becomes valid. Consequently, relationship matters can spark the pet-raising desire since if it comprises complications during the dating stage, individuals consider it might prove overbearing when children are involved.
3. Mommy issues
Compared to the outdated generation X, the millennials are opting for more gender equality in all aspects of life, including child rearing. Raising a pet can facilitate the agenda since it can be undertaken by both the man and woman. Moreover, raising pets allows the woman to work on her career compared to having children that are far more demanding. As such, the struggle of balancing home life and a career is made easier, particularly with work-life balance being outdone by work-life integration over the years. Although delaying child bearing so as to stabilize one’s financial foundation and status is worthwhile, the complete refusal to ever have children and replacing them with pets is rather preposterous, but yet, a persons choice. Moreover, preferring pets over children could affect the overall economy in later years, including when the fewer working population would have to support the larger aging one.
Overall, the mommy issues, relationship matters and cost of raising children are some of the contributing factors to the spurring preference for raising fur babies over human ones. Although the matter that started as a hobby has arguable grounds to exist – referring to its supporters’ backup reasons, it is threatening the survival of families and sparking long-term effects to the economy. The definite uncertainty lies in whether the act is just a millennial fad that will fade with time or if it will set up itself as another social construct in the human life. The “distraction for being single and an escape route from parental responsibilities” concept is becoming a part of reality that needs to be addressed. Regarding its humane status, raising pets is human but replacing them with children does not conquer with the generally accepted social beliefs. However, with the evolving generations –from generation X to millennials- where freedom of choice and disregard of societal values reigns, preferring fur children over human ones might be considered as normalcy. The choice narrows down from what the society wants to what an individual desires and considers as happiness. Welcome to the new modern millennial world.
—-Pe Arlkh
Dasik (which refers to tea and food) is a Korean traditional pressed dessert – a bite-size version of Hangwa that is consumed with tea. The sweet Korean confection boasts of a very unique and distinguished flavor that blends extremely well with honey and other often-used ingredients like pine pollen, fruit, black sesame, chestnut and soybean. The dough which is completed by being pressed into Dasik molds usually display various decorations of symbols, birds, flowers or writings carved on them, consisting of diverse colors.
Dasik was first introduced to Korea, roughly 1,600 years ago from India when Buddhism was introduced. So, the tea culture hugely influenced the culinary culture for the Korean royalty and the elites. In those days, it was not possible to cultivate tea because of the Korean climate, thus only the privileged could properly enjoy their tea.
In time, the tea culture in Korea eventually became the norm and got widely spread during the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) and during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), the trend gradually declined when Confucian doctrine was adopted in the country.
The Korean government designated certain holidays where delicacies would be prepared, as a way to encourage a healthy family culture and to release hard-working citizens from heavy duties and burden. The monthly holidays set include Seollal, the New Year’s Day, the first day of the first lunar month and Chuseok, Harvest Moon Festival, the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month…
During these national holidays, Koreans would participate in a traditional ceremony called Charye or Jesa, where tea and Korean confections, along with other kinds of offerings which were served, in memory of their ancestors. The offerings of special delicacies were elaborately decorated with various designs and patterns – the colors of the Dasik were also selected carefully. The colors and textures of the delicacies were taken seriously into account during the process of selecting the ingredients and the arrangements were served by color on a serving plate, setting the tone of the celebration.
Below is a simple recipe for Dashik which you can easily follow. This recipe was put together by Professor Yoon Sook-ja who is the head of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food.
Ingredients & Quantity
*20g of Green bean flour, 13g of Honey
*20g of Yellow bean flour, 13g of Honey
*25g of Black sesame powder, 9g of Honey
*10g of Pine pollen, 13g of Honey
*25g of Mung bean starch, 13g of Honey.
*25g Mung bean starch, 11g of Honey
*Strawberry Liquid: 7.5g (Half a tbsp) water, 3g of Strawberry powder
*13g (1 tbsp) of Edible oil
Preparation
Dissolve the Strawberry powder in water to liquidize it.
Recipe
- Add Honey to the Green bean flour, Yellow bean flour, Black sesame powder, Pine pollen, Mung bean starch respectively.
- Add 1.7g of Strawberry liquid to the Mung bean starch, rubbing by hand and then sieve finely. Add Honey.
- Knead each content well and thoroughly – neither too hard or watery.
- Oil the press mold, then put small amount of the dough in the mold and press down.
*Traditionally, Omija (also known as, Magnolia berry) was used instead of strawberry.
J.Chung.
Former Infinite member Hoya (real name Lee Howon), who is currently a solo artist and actor under Glorious Entertainment, began his mandatory military service February 7, 2019.
On February 5, Hoya shared a handwritten letter on his fan café addressed to HOLY (his fan club) with the announcement. The letter reads:
To HOLY
Hello, this is Hoya.
It’s already been a month since 2019 began, and the Lunar New Year is just around the corner.
Are you having a good holiday? It’s been nine years since I debuted. Time flies, doesn’t it? I think my 20s were so full of fans’ love that I couldn’t explain [my time] without them. I was truly happy because of HOLY. Thank you for giving me memories that I’ll never forget for a long time.
Actually, I am writing this letter to tell you some sudden news today. I’m going to join the army after this holiday. I’m sorry to all my fans who are surprised by the sudden news. However, since this is my duty as a citizen, I will spend my time becoming more mature than I am now. I hope you all will be happy while waiting for me. I’ll be back healthy. When we meet again, I’ll greet you as a better person. Thank you always, and I love you.
From,
Lee Howon (Trans. Cr. Soompi)
Hoya is the second person associated with Infinite to enlist. Kim Sungkyu enlisted May 2018. Hoya left Infinite in 2017 when his contract ended. He decided not to renew.
We wish Hoya the best during his service!
—-Joelle Halon
Fans of BLACKPINK and iKON will have their chances to see their bias groups perform state-side.
BLACKPINK to Perform on GMA, The Late Show, Coachella
BLACKPINK, who are in the middle of the first leg of their BLACKPINK 2019 World Tour in Your Area, will be in New York City February 12, 2019 to appear on Good Morning America (GMA). In a tweet, GMA confirmed the appearance.
GMA airs from 7am-9am across all time zones.
Following the news that BLACKPINK would appear on GMA, news circulated that the quartet will also appear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert February 11. Headline Planet leaked the information stating that, according to CBS, the group will be on the show along with comedian, actor, and political commentator John Oliver.
BLACKPINK will become the second female K-Pop act to appear on the show. In 2012, Girls’ Generation appeared and performed “The Boys.” At that time, David Letterman was still at the helm.
If BLACKPINK are confirmed, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs at 11:35pm EST.
The girls will also appear on ABC’s Strahan and Sara on February 15. The segment will be pre-recorded as the group does perform in Singapore the same day. The Strahan and Sara segment filmed the same day as BLACKPINK’s GMA appearance.
BLACKPINK will also be the first K-Pop girl group to perform at Coachella. In January, the group was announced as part of the lineup joining fellow Korean act Hyukoh as the only two acts from South Korea.
BLACKPINK will perform at the event Friday April 12 and Friday April 19, 2019 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. Coachella tickets are available here.
iKON to Appear at SXSW
Down in Austin, Texas, SXSW and YG Entertainment announced that iKON will perform at this year’s event.
SXSW is an annual festival and conference that celebrates interactive arts, film, and music. The event helps artists from across different mediums to gain exposure and network.
After iKON’s breakout 2018, their SXSW honors are well-earned. The group will come prepared with an impressive discography that includes “Love Scenario,” “Killing Me,” “Goodbye Road,” “I’m OK,” and “Rhythm Ta.” Their album The New Kids achieved the longest 1st place spot on a Korean music chart and landed fifth in Billboard charts.
According to their SXSW profile, iKON will be attending the show to create professional publishing connections. Perhaps a US debut is in the making?
iKON will perform at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater March 13, 2019. Chung-ha, XXX, Hitchhiker, Jambinai, and Kirira will also perform the same night.
Ticketing information for SXSW is available here.
—-Joelle Halon
Woollim Entertainment and Infinite announce that the group will be making a comeback in February. It will be the group’s first comeback since January 2018.
Woollim confirmed the comeback January 31, 2019.
“INFINITE will make a comeback as a full group in February. Their comeback title track ‘Clock’ was previously revealed during the group’s year-end fan meeting. However, we have not determined specific promotion plans or an official release date. We ask for your anticipation.”
On February 6, 2019, Woollim released a teaser image for “Clock” that states the digital single will be released February 13, 2019.
Infinite said the single contains the meaning of “Let’s spend forever together with all of you.” The song sounds like it will be meaningful for their fans.
While the comeback is touted as a “group comeback,” it will only feature L, Dongwoo, Woohyun, Sungyeol, and Sunjong. Sungkyu will not be part of this comeback due to his military service. He enlisted May 14, 2018.
Hoya left Infinite and Woollim Entertainment in 2017. On June 28, 2017, it was reported that only six of the seven Infinite members re-signed with Woollim. On August 30, 2017, it was revealed Hoya was the only member not to sign. He is currently under contract with Glorious Entertainment. He enlisted February 7, 2019.
Are you excited for an Infinite comeback? Let us know in the comments!
—-Joelle Halon
As a fan of bubble foam hair color, I’m always excited when someone recommends a brand to try, especially since I’m constantly changing my hair color. I prefer bubble foam because it’s gentle, and it often doesn’t have that awful hair dye scent. My usual go-to is the Kao Prettia brand, but it’s getting harder to find stateside, and when I do find it, I have to wait forever for shipping, and the price third-party sellers charge has gotten ridiculous, so I had to wave goodbye to my favorite brand.
Upon a friend’s recommendation, the *Chang-Po bubble foam hair color came into my atmosphere. Like Kao Prettia, the product is a foam, and it involves mixing different ingredients to create the foam. It’s fast, easy, and pretty much fool-proof. I tried three different colors: #6 Dark Brown (which is my natural color), #5 Natural Brown (what my hair is in the summer), and 5V Wine Claret (because I always have to have purple or blue in my hair). Here are my experiences with each.
Ingredients
The ingredients are the same across each of the dyes.
Use
Mixing and using the dye is easy and done in a few steps:
- Place solutions one and two in the provided shaker bottle.
- Screw on the top, then shake the bottle.
- Comb through your hair and eliminate any knots.
- Add a towel around your shoulders to protect your clothes. Swipe Vaseline along your hair line and forehead to protect skin from the dye (this is important. You’ll find out why shortly!)
- Wear the provided rubber gloves (again, this is important), squeeze the bottle to dispense the foam, then massage it into your hair. I prefer tips to roots, but you can do it roots to tips.
- Follow the directions and wait the recommended time period (10-15 minutes).
- Rinse your hair until the water is clear. Then, use the provided shampoo and rinse again.
- Dry and style as usual.
Individual Impressions
5V Claret Wine
On the box, claret wine is a gorgeous shade of purple! The box promises a nice, rich purple. Unfortunately, this color was the most disappointing out of the three tried.
I followed the directions for this shade to a T only to have the color not take in my hair at all. I tried it again and left it on an additional ten minutes with the same result: The color did not show up in my hair (My hair, at the time of trial, was a light ash brown). This was a shame because Claret Wine was the color I wanted the most. Perhaps it was a bad lot across the two boxes I tried. Unfortunately, this shade failed to meet expectations.
#5 Natural Brown
The natural brown is a nice, medium shade brown that looks almost like a dark ash on blonde hair and a smooth, almost-caramel shade with some red highlights on darker shades. This color was perfect for the summer because it did have the most natural look to it, and it didn’t detract from highlights and lowlights like the dark brown shade did directly after hair was dyed.
Unfortunately, this shade fades quickly. In under a month, my hair’s shine and luster faded, and since my hair is naturally dark, the lighter, now-splotchy shade looked bad with dark brown roots. This one did require a lot more touching up then other shades of brown I used from other bubble foam makers, so this was disappointing.
While the color lasted, this shade was the prettiest of the three trialed, but the maintenance was too much of a hassle.
#6 Dark Brown
This color literally put the “dark” in dark brown. Full disclosure: I accidentally left this color in longer than 10 minutes because I started doing laundry, so it ended up staying in my hair for 30 minutes. I do not recommend leaving this dye in your hair for longer than the recommended time!
While I hoped for dark brown, the additional time caused the dye to turn my hair just a shade below black. When I saw the completed results, I was mortified over how dark my hair turned out. The box shows an almost soft, chocolate brown. My hair was two shades darker than this. This may be my fault due to leaving the dye in my hair too long, but it is a shock.
The dark brown shade lasted the longest out of the three shades tried. With each wash, the color barely faded, but it did shift from black to dark brown in five washes. What I liked about the dark brown color is that, as it faded, it looked the most natural out of the colors. It picked up my highlights well and had a good, natural shine. While it was initially the most shocking color when the dye was rinsed out, it turned out to be the best overall shade.
However, this shade also stains the most. I had split seams in my gloves and didn’t realize it until it was too late. Unfortunately, my hands were the same shade as the dye for a week. No amount of scrubbing removed it from my hands, so check the gloves prior to use!
Overall
The Chang-Po bubble foam colors are a good answer to some of the other Korean and Japanese bubble foam dyes that are becoming increasingly difficult to fine in the US. The colors are good, especially the darker shades, even though the more “unusual” colors may not take. Overall, the experience was a positive one, so the Chang-Po bubble foam hair dye does earn a 3.5/5.
Do you have any products you want us to try? Let us know! We’d love to try your recommendations for future reviews.
*Kcrush writers are not affiliated with the companies or brands mentioned. We are also not compensated for promoting the products listed. We spend our own money on these products by choice, so recommendations and reviews are bias-free! Hooray!
—-Joelle Halon
Miss A in a promo photo from their official Facebook page @saymissa. From Left to right: Jia, Fei, Suzy and Min.
Birth of a sizzling quartet
The four-member female Kpop group Miss A, was formed in 2010 under JYP Entertainment and comprised two Chinese members – Fei and Jia as well as two South Korean members, Suzy and Min.
The quartet’s sexy dance choreography and catchy debut song ‘Bad Girl Good Girl’ from their debut single album ‘Bad but Good’ quickly drew the attention of audiences, catapulting them to the top spot on the well known music show KBS Music Bank.
The group continued their winning streak with their subsequent singles and full album in 2011, culminating in their entry into China with a special edition album featuring chinese versions of their hit songs, which ultimately reached number three on Taiwan’s G-Music Chart.
Killer songs with visuals to match
Their up-tempo songs with empowering lyrics complimented by their striking looks ensured the group’s popularity locally and overseas particularly in China. The group remained active up till 2015 when they released their final EP, ‘Colors’ which featured the hit single ‘Only You’. To date, the music video for ‘Only You’ has over 79 million views on YouTube, a testament to the group’s popularity.
In addition to their success as a group, the members also had individual projects with Suzy becoming the most well-known particularly for her works in dramas. With Jia leaving the group in 2016 and Min also departing in 2017 upon reaching the end of her contract with JYP Entertainment, the group came to a natural end with the official disbandment announced in December 2017.
Breaking out and making waves
A photo of Jia from her Instagram account @mjbaby0203.
Jia, now known as Meng Jia is a solo artiste focusing mainly in China. She was the first to leave the group to begin her solo efforts and released the single ‘Mood’ featuring former label mate Jackson Wang from 2PM in December 2017. She has since released more solo singles and has her own YouTube channel JiaVevo featuring solo works including her English single ‘Weapon’.
A still of Fei from the currently airing Chinese drama ‘Shall We Fall In Love’.
Fei, is also currently active back home in China as a solo artiste and actress. She just released the single ‘Hello’ featuring Jackson Wang last December and is currently starring in Chinese drama ‘Shall We Fall in Love’ with another 2PM member, Nichkhun.
A still of Min from her stint on the 2017 musical ‘Boys Over Flowers’.
Min, appears to be the most quiet of the all the members in terms of work and social media activity ever since she deleted her Instagram posts in 2017. However, she appears to be making a comeback, featuring on the single ‘Marathon’ by Deepshower late last year and playing a supporting role in Korean mystery thriller film ‘Sooni: The Executioner’s Daughter’ to be aired in May 2019.
A recent photo of Suzy from a photo shoot shared on her Instagram account @skuukzky.
Suzy has long commanded the most attention for her acting, starring in popular KDramas such as ‘While You Were Sleeping’ and ‘Uncontrollably Fond’ in recent years. In addition to her successful acting career, she’s also active as a solo artiste and is known as one of the CF (commercial advertisements) queens of South Korea representing top brands such as Lancome cosmetics. She last released an EP in 2018 titled ‘Faces of Love’ and also sang the song ‘I Love You Boy’ on the OST (original soundtrack) for her drama ‘While You Were Sleeping’.
—-Fie Fed
It appears that the pressure of being a first-year Yale student isn’t affecting 19-year-old Nathan Chen’s skating prowess.
Chen won his third U.S National figure skating title Sunday January 27, 2019 following a stunning free program set to Woodkid’s “Land of All.” Chen is the first skater since Johnny Weir in 2006 to win Nationals three consecutive years.
Earlier in the day, Chen opted to change his costuming for the program following a wardrobe issue. Clad in black, Chen landed four quad jumps, three of which earned him 47 points before he even reached the halfway point in his program.
Combined with his thrilling short skate to Fanfare Ciocărlia’s “Caravan” that, like his long program, brought the crowd Little Cesar’s Arena in Detroit, Michigan to its feet, Chen earned a jaw-dropping total score of 342.22.
“The score definitely took me by surprise,” Chen said. “It was a lot bigger than I was expecting, but ultimately, scores are scores. I’m happy with what I did, and hopefully I can continue to do that in other competitions.”
Often criticized for not having enough artistry, Chen’s rousing performance proved that he is more than just a jumper and can handle technical components along with artistry. Chen’s footwork is one of his strong suits, but he still has room for growth.
While the scores show Chen skated to near-perfection, his coach, Rafael Arutyunyan, believes Chen can do more.
“I am not completely satisfied,” Arutyunyan said following the competition. “There is so much more he can do. He didn’t do a quad Salchow. I still want him to try a quad loop. This was a program he has executed before. You always like to improve.”
“Raf is always the overachiever,” Chen said. “That’s why I am with him. Of course, there are things I can improve on.”
Second to Chen was Vincent Zhou. Zhou fell on one of his quads and under-rotated two of his jumps during his “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”/”Rising Sun” free program, but his components score propelled him above third place winner, Jason Brown who was second after the short program.
“Obviously, I’m happy with the results, but there’s still so much room for improvement, and that gives me hope for the future,” Zhou said. “To achieve what I did here this week and still have … opportunity for growth is a really great thing. Looking ahead to, hopefully, Four Continents and worlds, I know that I can do even better.”
Juggling Yale and World Figure Skating Domination
Chen’s season hasn’t been all awe-inspiring smooth sailing. While he’s won four (Grand Prix France, Skate America, the Grand Prix Final, and U.S. Nationals, ) of his five international competitions (he placed fourth at the Japan Open), his programs weren’t as sharp as they could be as there were stumbles and falls along the way.
Chen currently trains via Facetime while he calls Connecticut home while attending Yale. His coach is based in California.
“We’re still trying to figure it out as we go along,” Chen said in November. “I’m definitely fully committed to Rafael until the end of my career, really, so we’ll just have to play around with that and try to make the best scenario.
“I have a really good support team already at school, advisors and counselors that can help me arrange classes and my schedule and all of that. I think it should work pretty well, but I’ll figure it out as I get there.”
While it’s not an easy task, Chen seems to be finding a balance between ice time and his studies.
“I’m just so thankful that Yale has given me the ice time for me to continue pursuing my dreams outside of school,” he said. “I definitely learned a lot more about how to handle my schedule last semester. … It’s just reassuring, knowing that I can handle the two.”
Another World Title in Sight?
Next up for Chen is the World Championships March 4-10, 2019. He was also supposed to skate at Four Continents February 7-10, 2019, but he has withdrawn from that competition to focus on Worlds. Taking Chen’s place at Four Continents will be U.S Nationals’ fourth place winner, Tomoki Hiwatashi. Hiwatashi will represent the United States along with Jason Brown and Vincent Zhou.
Chen, who is the current world figure skating champion, may face stiff competition at this year’s Worlds, which will be held in Saitama, Japan. At Worlds, Chen will face South Korea’s Cha Jun-hwan, who has been a surprise up-and-comer this season, and he will have to face Japan’s Shoma Uno and two-time Olympic champion and favorite to win, Yuzuru Hanyu. Hanyu, who has been plagued with injuries, is expected to skate.
Worlds marks the end of the senior figure skating season, so it will be exciting to see how the final showdown will play out for Nathan Chen.
—-Joelle Halon
Claims
Six male idol trainees who participated in season two of Mnet’s Produce 101 have come forward with allegations that a female entertainment company CEO and her younger sister sexually assaulted them.
The unnamed trainees claim the 53-year-old CEO and her sister, a company investor, touched them inappropriately and made sexual advances while they and four other trainees, two of which who are minors, were at a Tokyo Restaurant September 28, 2018. The trainees, CEO, and her sister-in-law were in Japan for promotional activities.
One of the trainees stated, “At the restaurant, the CEO and her younger sibling touched, molested, and sexually assaulted some of the trainees’ bodies. We felt both sexually and personally humiliated from this.”
The trainees’ lawyer elaborated on the alleged victims’ feelings by stating, “The trainees, including the victims and the minors, are receiving psychiatric treatment. They were afraid of any secondary damages coming their way, so they sent their evidence to their company CEO and President and requested the Seoul Central District Court to suspend their contracts.”
The trainees and one of the witnesses’ fathers requested an interview with YTN Star. During the interview, the father, who represents the parents and acted as a guardian for the trainees, said, “We’re ashamed and it’s something we want to hide, but the reason why we’re revealing what happened is because we don’t want this to happen again to those who are pursuing the same dream.”
The father also said, “The 10 boys performed in [Japan] for about a month, and at around the time they were finished, they had a dinner at a restaurant in Tokyo on September 28, 2018. [The CEO] and [her relative] molested six trainees.”
The trainees also spoke during the interview and discussed what they experienced with the CEO and her in-law, who the interviewees identified as “A” and “B” during the discussion.
“At the dinner party, ‘A’ and ‘B’ sexually harassed six people, including me. It was very hard, but I was worried that if I brought it up, it would bring me down and that I would not be able to make my debut, so I let it fester. I’ve been receiving treatment for panic disorder since I was 17. I was getting better, but my hospital visits became more frequent after this. I’ve had thoughts of wanting to give up my dream of becoming a singer altogether,” Trainee One said.
“I have too much mental stress. I used to always be positive and hard-working, but now I see a psychologist, and I’m also on medication.” He added, “Sometimes I feel anxious, my hands tremble, and shame creeps up on me. I’m sensitive to everything, and I’m living in pain,” Trainee Two added.
Trainee Four said, “I’ve been dreaming of becoming an idol for 10 years. After being sexually harassed, I thought I should quit. This is what I’ve seen and experienced in the entertainment industry, and it makes me skeptical.”
Trainee five, who is a minor, stated, “This was my dream since I was a middle school student, and I thought this must be the reality of the entertainment industry. I’m having such a painful time.”
The trainees claim the CEO’s daughter tried to get her mother and her sister-in-law to stop harassing the trainees, but the sexual activities continued.
During the YTN Star appearance, the trainees allege that the abuse went beyond sexual assault. One of the trainees claims their devices were taken from them, so they were not allowed to contact family and friends. Another trainee said he was denied medical care when he fell ill, while another said contracts suddenly needed to be revised in order to debut.
The CEO, who has not been named, denies all allegations and states her and her in-law’s innocence will be proven in court.
Season Two of Produce 101, which aired April 7, 2017 to June 16, 2017 and produced the group Wanna One, has been shrouded in controversy since airing.
Ilgan Sports reported that several trainees on the show were subject to discrimination. They also claim bullying between members ran rampant.
During the show, Maroo Entertainment’s Han Jong-youn resigned from the competition following severe bullying and sexual harassment claims against him by a former classmate. Images also emerged online that showed Han engaging in underaged drinking and smoking. Regarding the bullying claims, Maroo Entertainment confirmed the allegations were true and personally apologized to the victim.
The Vibe Label’s Ha Min-ho left the show and his label after screenshots of Instagram and Facebook posts by Ha showed him trying to engage with minors in a sexual manner. There were also accusations that he sexually harassed and bullied his former middle school girlfriend.
The trainees’ claims come at a time where Koreans and Korean celebrities and sports stars have started to come forward with their #MeToo stories, thus calling attention to the abuses in the entertainment and sports industries.
As with all cases, those accused are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law. Stay tuned for updates.
—-Joelle Halon