Mystic Entertainment announced that Brown-Eyed Girls (BEG) will be making their first full-group comeback during the first half of 2019.
“It’s true that Brown Eyed Girls is preparing an album with the goal of making a comeback in the first half of the year,” Mystic Entertainment said to Sports Chosun.
Prior to the comeback confirmation, several media outlets and Netizens speculated that BEG would be disbanding, especially since Narsha left Mystic Entertainment in December 2018 following her contract expiration. However, Mystic was quick to squash any rumors suggesting that Narsha would be leaving the group and the BEG would disband.
“The other Brown Eyed Girls’ members except Narsha are still under Mystic Entertainment, and Narsha will also continue to participate in Brown Eyed Girls’ albums,” a Mystic representation said in December. “They’re currently in the process of working on a new album.”
The members have been hinting at their comeback since last 2018, further calming the tide of disbandment rumors.
BEG have been on hiatus as a group since 2015. During their hiatus, Narsha married her non-celebrity boyfriend in 2016.
In 2017, Ga-in was briefly embroiled in a marijuana scandal and quickly cleared. She admitted that she was once offered marijuana by a friend of Joo Ji-hoon, her ex. She’s also been in treatment for mental health issues.
Miryo and JeA have been active since the group’s break. Miryo appeared on Unpretty Rapstar 3 and has released several singles, while JeA has been active in the music scene, variety shows, and OSTs.
BEG became a viral group following 2006’s release of “Abracadabra” and its now iconic dance. For their comeback, Mystic says fans should expect something different from the quartet.
Are you excited for a BEG comeback? We know we are!
—-Joelle Halon
A photo of 2PM from their official twitter account @follow_2PM. From left: Taecyeon, Nichkun, Wooyoung, Junho, Chansung and Jun K.
Brainchild of JYP
2PM was the brainchild of Park Jin Young, the superstar and founder of JYP Entertainment, one of the biggest entertainment companies in South Korea. Originally an eleven-member band known as One Day, the band was split into two separate groups in their own right – 2PM and 2AM – with 2PM comprising seven members, Jay Park, Jun. K (formerly known as Junsu), Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho and Chansung.
Their first studio album was released in 2009, which included their first number one single ‘Again & Again’. In 2010, the group suffered a setback when their leader, Jay Park was embroiled in controversy involving posts from 2005 on his personal Myspace account expressing dislike of Korea which were taken out of context and grossly misinterpreted by the media. The public furor, allegedly led to his eventual departure from the group, resulting in the current lineup of six members.
Despite this initial setback, the group continued to make strides in the industry, working their way up from being opening acts in concerts of bigger groups such as Wonder Girls, to eventually headlining their own sold out concerts, releasing hit albums and debuting in Japan with Japanese albums and concerts.
From boys to men
Over the years, the group has grown from strength to strength, celebrating their 10th anniversary in September 2018. Their decade long presence in the industry has seen the boys grow into formidable artistes both as 2PM and as individuals and Hottests – the name their fans go by – are no doubt looking forward to more growth from the members in their respective endeavors.
2018 also saw the group beginning their hiatus with the members going off to serve their respective mandatory military enlistments one by one. As it stands, all the members with the exception of Taecyeon, have re-signed their contracts with JYP Entertainment and taken on the mantle of directors of the company signaling their importance as artistes and their determination to take charge of their artistic direction as individuals and as a group. Although Taecyeon has signed with another company, he remains committed to 2PM, continuing to promote as a group in addition to his individual activities.
Men of substance
Jay Park is second from right in this photo of the hosts and judges of Asia’s Got Talent shared on Jay’s Instagram account @jparkitrighthere.
Jay Park, the Korean American former leader of the group, returned to music in 2011 as a solo artiste, once the tide of public opinion turned in his favor after it was revealed how his post were misinterpreted. He is now a celebrated singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, model, dancer, choreographer, entrepreneur and actor. International fans also know him as one of the judges of AXN’s Asia’s Got Talent and the first Asian American to sign with the record label Roc Nation by Jay-z.
Jun K, seen on the promotional photos from his 4th solo album ‘No Time’ shared on his Instagram account @jun2dakay.
Jun K, is a successful solo artiste with four solo albums under his belt with his most recent Japanese album, ‘No Time’, released in April 2018. However, he has been keeping out of the public eye after getting caught driving drunk in February last year. He apologized to fans and the public for his error in judgment and is currently enlisted in the military for his mandatory service.
A recent photo of all six members shared on Taecyeon’s Twitter account @taeccool. From left to right: Jun K, Nichkhun, Junho, Wooyeong, Chansung and Taecyeon.
Taecyeon, who is also currently serving his mandatory military service after giving up his American residency, has been on the news for his outstanding performance in the military. He is now signed to 51K, an agency founded by actor So Ji-sub and is expected to resume his activities with 2PM as well his solo singing and acting career once he has completed his service. Luckily, fans can watch him in his multiple dramas and movies while waiting for this talented actor to make a comeback.
Nichkhun in a photo he shared on his Instagram account @Khunnie0624.
Nichkhun, also known as the Thai prince for his Thai nationality and wealthy background has been focusing on solo activities while the group is on hiatus. He held solo concerts in Osaka late last year and unveiled his first Japanese solo album ‘Me’ – contributing to the composition and lyrics of every song in the album. On the acting side, his movie ‘Brother of the Year’ became the second highest-grossing Thai movie in 2018 and ranked no. 1 in Thai box offices. He is also starring in Chinese drama ‘Shall We Fall In Love’ currently airing on Tencent.
Wooyoung seen here in his military uniform flanked by members Chansung and Junho in a photo shared on 2PM’s official Instagram account @real_2pmstagram.
Wooyoung, has been a solo artiste since 2012 with his most recent release – the E.P. ’Bye’ reaching no. 4 on Korean charts in January 2018. He is also interested in acting but was last seen years ago in the Kdramas ‘Dream High’ (2011) and ‘The Miracle’ (2013). No word yet on his plans after he completes his military service as he just enlisted in July 2018.
A promotional photo of Junho from his second solo album ‘Two’ shared on his Twitter account @dlwnsghek.
Junho, is easily recognizable these days due to the popularity of his recent Kdramas ‘Good Manager’ and ‘Wok of Love’ and will next be seen in Kdrama ‘Confession’ as well as two films in 2019. Despite his flourishing acting career, he continues to produce music as well, and will be releasing his second solo album ‘Two’ this month.
A photo of CHansung on the set of his latest drama ‘So I Married an Anti-fan” shared on 2PM’s official Instagram account @real_2pmstagram.
Chansung, is another member who has been focusing on acting recently, taking up small but memorable supporting roles in Kdramas such as the popular ‘Suspicious Partner’ and ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim’. This comes as no surprise to fans of the actor as he has been acting since 2006, even before 2PM was formed. The talented actor and martial artist also owns a fitness center which he opened in 2012 in partnership with his weight trainer. He will next be seen in the drama ‘So I Married an Anti-fan’ which is currently filming.
—-Fie Fed
Are you planning to spend your remaining Winter vacation enjoying what Korea has to offer? Korean theme parks would still be a choice even during this chilly weather. If you are torn between spending your time either in Lotte World or Everland theme park, here are some tips to help you decide which suits you best.
Similarities
1. Religious matters
Both Everland and Lotte World have prayer rooms ensuring that individuals do not have to exit the site for religious purposes, especially in the cold winter weather. The prayer room in Everland is located in the Mystery Mansion while that of Lotte World is situated in the Adventure indoor section, third floor, Jungle Adventure Boat’s exit door.
2. Photography matters
Both theme parks offer outstanding photography sceneries, even during Winter. The extensively outdoor scenery in Everland offers unique viewpoints of nature under the snowy and rainy conditions. Lotte World also offers great indoor photo-taking opportunities enhanced by the numerous photo zones accentuated with funny text signboards and cute characters. Lotte World’s outdoor section is also good for photos as it brings out the breathtaking seasonal nature.
Differences
1. Weather aspect
Given that it is cold during winter, most people prefer indoor outings. As such, compared to Everland; whose most activities are enjoyed out in the open, Lotte World has a greater number of indoor fun spots making it a better choice due to the cold. If you are not up for the cold dry Winter air, Lotto world would offer you more opportunities to enjoy your vacation, although the park’s thrilling outdoor activities would be fun to try. However, if you do not mind the harsh weather, you can opt for Everland and interact with the nature’s seasonal decoration themes. Nonetheless, although you are assured of sledding and skating, some of Everland’s attractions would be closed owing to the bad weather.
2. Crowding aspect
Compared to Everland, Lotte World is more crowded due to several reasons. First, with Everland substantially offering outdoor enjoyment opportunities, most individuals prefer Lotte World as it comprises mostly of indoor activities thus facilitating an escape from the harsh Winter weather. Secondly, compared to Everland which occupies 100 ha, Lotte World sits on a 13 ha piece of land thus making it more susceptible to crowding regarding its capacity. Hence, if crowded places are not a bother and you would prefer indoor activities then Lotte World would be the perfect match for you. However, if you disregard waiting in line for decades to enjoy your preferential park activities or constantly brushing against other people as you find your way through the park, Everland would be a better option. Although its activities are entirely outside, Everland offers an outstanding natural decoration of nature will owe you. Nonetheless, you might as well avoid either of the parks during weekends and public holidays as they are filled to capacity.
3. Accessibility aspect
Lotte World is located inside Seoul making it a better option compared to Everland, which is far from Seoul. To access Everland from Seoul, it takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Given that the weather is not as welcoming during winter, one might be burdened to travel over an hour to Everland not mentioning that most of the park’s activities are outdoor. Lotte World would then be a better option adding to the fact that it is surrounded by other visiting sites including Lotte Duty Free and Lotte Tower; one of the tallest buildings in Korea.
4. Child friendliness aspect
Both Lotte World and Everland uphold high standards of the expected child friendly matters. For instance, Everland offers animal-related attractions, adventures and rides meant for children. Lotte World also offers children various enjoyment joints including ball shooting areas, carousel, and bumper cars among others. Although the friendliness aspect is based on the preferences and age of the children, Lotte World offers better services in terms of costs. For instance, at Everland, one pays KRW 5000 (plus KRW 1000 deposit) for a single stroller and KRW 15000 (plus KRW 5000 deposit) for a double stroller (stroller rental). On the contrary, at Lotte World, one pays only KRW 3000 (plus KRW 10000 deposit) thus making it more cost effective (stroller rental).
Conclusively, Lotte World would be a better option compared to Everland during the Winter season. Although it is rather more crowded, Lotte World offers more indoor activities, is child friendly regarding cost effectiveness, and is more accessible from Seoul. Moreover, compared to Everland which is popular during nice weather days – from March to June and September to November-, Lotte World’s popularity increases during harsh weather days – December to February and July to August. Nonetheless, if you are an outdoor person who enjoys taking the Winter cold challenge; probably to ski or sled over snow, Everland would be a better alternative. Thus, with such information in mind, it should be easier for you to decide on which site; between Everland and Lotte, is worth spending your remaining winter vacation time.
—-Pe Arlkh
The rice cake has a long history in Korean cuisine, which goes back thousands of years.
We’ll be introducing a very simple and basic recipe for baking (actually, steaming) a Korean Pumpkin Rice Cake (호박떡: Hobaktteok) that is made of non-glutinous rice powder and pumpkin.
This healthy and nutritious dish is said to be especially good for people with weak digestive systems and can be served as dessert for festive occasions like birthdays, memorials and anniversaries.
The below recipe is for 8 servings and the total heating time will cover approximately 50 minutes, making the total cooking time of just an hour or so. This recipe was put together by Professor Yoon Sook-ja who is the head of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food.
The necessary ingredients:
Water,
26 cm steamer,
18 cm stainless cake mold,
500 g (5 cups) of non-glutinous rice powder,
1/2 teaspoon of salt,
100g of sugar,
250g of sweet pumpkin,
8g of jujubes,
16 pumpkin seeds.
*Earthenware steamers are traditionally used but bamboo dimsum steamers can also be used for convenience.
Preparation:
- Scrape the insides of the sweet pumpkin and remove all the seeds as well.
- Sprinkle salt on the rice powder and sieve.
- Wipe the jujube clean and cut into flower shapes.
- Wipe the pumpkin seeds clean with dry cotton cloths.
Recipe:
- Let the water boil for 9 min. When it gives off heat, add the sweet pumpkin and steam for 15 min on high heat.
- Take the pumpkin out and scrape the flesh with a large spoon.
- Add the pumpkin flesh and sugar into the rice powder and mix well, then put the content through the sieve.
- Pour water into the steaming pot, on high heat. When the water boils, lay cotton cloths on the bottom of the pot.
- Place the rice and pumpkin mixture carefully into the mold and smoothen the surface.
- Put X-shaped slits at intervals of 5 cm, and decorate the top it with jujube and pumpkin seeds.
- Steam the rice cake for another 15 min.
—-J.Chung
Throughout 2018, we have experienced a boom in nail art trends, most of which gained popularity upon being embraced by K-pop idols. The New Year has brought with it exquisite nail art and designs thus demanding a change in its trend. Below are some of the nail trends that ought to be left in 2018 to allow the flourishing of new designs.
1. Jelly nail trend
The jelly nail polish trend dominated the 2018 Korean fashion not only in spring but also in summer and early autumn. The polish is also usually referred to as ‘glass or see-through nails due to their slightly sheer appearance accompanied by the ‘lip gloss’ shininess. Moreover, they can be worn under various colors and are said to resemble fruity jam jellies. The polish looks stunning when worn with both short and long nails thus fostering its popularity.
2. Negative space nail art
The nail design whose idea popped up over three years ago saw tremendous popularity and customization in 2018. The playful yet sophisticated look of a negative space manicure involves the peeling on uncolored nail through bold lacquer colors. The art has been expressed through various designs including a thin outlining on nail tips and color blocks.
3. Denim blue nail art
The recent craze for a denim fashion comeback has creeped its way into nail trends. In 2018, the denim blue nail trend became the newest manicure desire, especially with the ‘unfinished/ tattered’ denim nail polish; under the denimology reign. Unlike other colors, which would look absurd upon matching with clothes, matching the denim blue nail polish with a set of denim attire accentuates its exquisiteness. The denim polish comes in various shades to compliment the various colors of denim.
4. Tartan nail art
Tartan nail art is usually a manicure design for festive seasons. The fact that the nail art can be worn under diverse design and according to one’s color preferences made its popularity rise in the 2018 manicure trends. The trend; owing to its design, presents a sophisticated yet playful appearance of the nails.
5. Half-moon nail art
The style; resembling a reversed French manicure, has been a trend not only in red carpet events but also in celebrity-packed runways to offices and schools. The half-moon comprises two contrasting polish shades with one being at the nail while the other at the tips. Moreover, individuals can also add reimbursements to accentuate the desired look. It is a simple yet bold manicure design depending on the used shades.
6. Pierced nail trend
However bizarre it seems, piercings on the nails tips substantially dominated in the 2018 manicure trends. The trend which initially associated with edgy rock stars has been embraced to present elegance and fashion.
7. Leopard nail art
The leopard nail art is one of the easiest DIY (do it yourself) nail design to undertake since the painting is freehand accompanied by uneven spots. Usually, this fun yet stylish art is accomplished by using three contrasting nail colors with one being the base coat; covering the whole nail, and the other two applied to represent the spots.
8. Framed nail art
The nail art involves a color that runs round the outer linings of the nail; from the base to the tip and back, and contrasts with other colors used to accentuate the nail’s inner parts.
Nonetheless, some nail trends such as cartoon nail art might also prevail through 2019 and beyond since the designs depend on individual preferences and festive seasons as well. In Korea, most of such nail art include pictures on kakao talk friends, Father Christmas and to some extend k-pop idols.
Overall, it does not mean that the discussed nail trends will not surface in 2019. For instance, the demonology fashion persistence might trigger the prevalence of the denim nail art; although in more creative presentations. The negative space nail art and nail piercings might also develop to more sophisticated designs. The manicure world has embraced diverse ideas and perspectives hence making it a booming niche for experimentation and exploitation.
—-Pe Arlkh
South Korea is one of the most dominate countries in the speed skating world. During the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, South Korea got to show their ice prowess by taking home seven speed skating medals, placing them fourth overall behind perennial champions Netherlands, Japan, and Norway. While South Korea’s speed skating wins should be celebrated, it has been brought to light that there may be a dark underbelly to Korea’s training methods, especially with female athletes.
Earlier in January 2019, Shim Suk-hee, 21, came forward with rape allegations against her former coach, Cho Jae-beom, 38. Shim, a member of South Korea’s national short-track speed skating team and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, alleges the abuse started when she 17-years-old. Prior to the Olympics, Shim said Cho “punched and kicked her until she felt she might die.” During the Olympics, Shim fell during competition; she attributes the fall to a concussion she received from Cho’s abuse.
Shim’s lawyer, Lim Sang-hyuck, pointed out other alleged instances of abuse including a time when Cho broke Shim’s finger with a hockey stick when she was a fourth grader.
Cho received a work ban in South Korea following the allegations and moved on to China to become the nationals team coach.
Cho, who’s currently serving a 10-month prison term for physically assaulting Shim and three other athletes between 2011 and 2018 when he was ultimately fired prior to the Olympic games, denied the rape allegations.
According to Korea Daily, Cho and Shim communicated through the secret instant messaging app Telegram. In a report, Shim alleges Cho told her to use the app. Telegram is a secure messenger that features encryption and a self-destruct feature.
Police confiscated Cho’s computer and cell phone to look for evidence.
Shim’s allegations are not the first claims of sexual and physical assault in the Korean speed skating arena.
“Miss A” Comes Forward
Following Shim’s allegations, another speed skater spoke to the press anonymously.
The young woman, dubbed “Miss A” by the press, claimed her abuse began when she was 11-years-old when coaches would beat her with skate blades. She stated her brother also experienced abuse.
“I used to get called into the coach’s room, where she would hit me with a skate blade sleeve 10 to 20 times,” she said. “I suffered muscle rupture, severe bruises and split skin. My older brother was beaten with a golf club,” the now-18-year-old told CNN.
When Miss A turned 15, she said a male coach began acting inappropriately with her. She claimed he kissed and touched her, and she has years of text messages that contain love confessions from the coach.
“I felt it was dirty, I was young back then,” Miss A said. “Had I known how wrong and serious it was, I would have told my mom instead of keeping it to myself. It makes me feel sad I couldn’t tell anyone about that.”
Miss A said Shim gave her the inspiration to come forward.
More Victims Speak Out
On January 20, 2019, more accusers across different sports stepped forward with abuse allegations. Former judo athlete Shin Yoo-young, former taekwondo athlete Lee Ji-hye, and a female wrestler alleged their male coaches sexually abused them. Additionally, in a news conference in front of South Korea’s parliament, five more skaters, under the guise of anonymity, came forward with abuse claims, indicating that there’s more to the strict training regimes than meets the eye.
A group representing the five athletes, the Solidarity for Young Skaters (SYS), spoke to parliament regarding the allegations. The group, headed up by Yeo Jun-hyung, speaks up for young skaters due to officials and sports associations sweeping allegations under the rug. Yeo, a former national short track coach, said his sister and other athletes were abused 14 years ago. The two coaches involved in his sister’s case did not receive punishment. One coach still works in the industry.
SYS said they are not revealing victims’ names because “the accusation could only result in secondary victimization and retaliation against the athletes.”
Parliament Representative Sohn Hye-won spoke about the victims during the news conference and discussed how one victim experienced repeated groping as a teen by a coach while training at the Korea National Sport University (KNSU). KNSU is one of Korea’s top speed skating training centers.
“During the training, the coach forcibly hugged and kissed the skater, saying he was correcting her posture,” Sohn said. “Also, the coach demanded her to watch a movie together and have a meal together outside [the ice rink]. When the skater rejected his demand, he lashed out at her.” Sohn said the skater has since left the sport.
During the news conference, Sohn also called for an investigation of KNSU professor Jeon Myeong-gyu. Jeon has consistent accusations of nepotism and favoritism of certain coaches and athletes. Sohn claims Jeon may have known of the abuse but willingly did nothing to alleviate the situation.
“Jeon is called a ‘godfather of ice skating’ and has a powerful presence in the field,” Sohn said. “[He] was fully aware of the situation, but he did not take any actions.”
Sohn continued, “There has been frequent sexual abuse in the skating scene, but the offenders in most cases did not receive punishment; that’s because the coaches were members of the KNSU circle led by Professor Jeon Myeong-gyu.”
Jeon Myeong-gyu Responds
Following the parliament news conference, Jeon held his own separate news conference responding to Representative Sohn’s allegations.
“There’s no way for me to know about every act of sexual violence that takes place. I am not in a position to know that much,” he said.
Jeon said he was unaware of Shim’s abuse and said he feels sorry for her plight. He denied covering up any alleged abuse.
In 2018, Jeon resigned as the vice chairman of the Korean Skating Union due to repeated controversies surrounding athlete mistreatment. It was his third resignation from the position.
“Whether the recent controversies are true or not, I apologize to the fans for the incidents. From now on, I will not accept any positions in relation to the KSU. Regardless of my resignation, I’ll cooperate with the ongoing investigation by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism,” Jeon said through his resignation letter.
A Hierarchy of Fear?
Miss A and Yeo stated victims coming forward with allegations could have damaging effects on their careers, educations, and personal lives. Fears of retaliation and that nothing will change to help victims cause victims to suffer silently.
“For these athletes, the most important thing is to continue their competitive careers,” Yeo said.
“If I criticize my coach, my career as a skater is over,” said Miss A. “If I accuse my coach of crimes, I won’t be accepted onto a university or professional team. That’s how it works.”
Yeo continued, “Victims and their parents tend to think that nothing will change even after they name names. So, they often suffer in silence. The top-down hierarchy across sports gives people at the top too much power and influence.”
Representative Sohn also shared how victims feared coming forward and how, when some victims do speak out, they are dismissed. In her discussion about coach Jeon, Sohn said, “The victims are afraid to come forward with their cases as Jeon tries to conceal misconduct by people close to him.”
“Skaters believe that Jeon is involved in whitewashing the sexual assault cases in which their colleagues were victimized,” she said. “Due to such circumstance, victimized athletes are reluctant about testifying. They are afraid.”
In a statement, SYS said, “We have learned through the investigation that other athletes had been suffering the sexual assault and harassment from the individuals in power in skating. Maybe what those in power in skating wanted was for us to cower at the thought of secondary victimization and retaliation and stay in silence.”
In reference to a victim trying to report an incident to Jeon, Sohn said, “The victim sent the professor a message, saying, ‘I want to tell you what happened that night,’ But Jeon replied, ‘I hope you get over it.’”
Because victims are afraid of the repercussions, it’s unclear how far back abuse goes or how often it occurred.
Chung Yong-chul, a professor of sport psychology at Seoul’s Sogang University, has spoken out about Korea’s culture of abuse over the years. He pointed to how the Korean government promises to punish abusers, but nothing changes. He stated the reason is due to South Korea’s Confucian traditions in which a teacher’s authority is just like a father’s: It must be obeyed and remain unchallenged.
“That’s part of the reason why this is so hard for the athlete to speak up because you’re actually accusing a father-like figure – accusing him as an aggressor,” Chung said. Chung stated that, while sports authorities have the power to punish abusers, they often shield them. Chung said while there are hotlines for athletes to call to report abuse, hotline operators side against the accusers.
Chung said, “…the numbers are low, and we all know why – because of all the threats they have. They’re afraid to talk about it.”
Miss A said, “Inside the sports world, people think violence and verbal abuse are natural, athletes too. Even if they get hurt and find it hard, people don’t speak up about it.”
The current allegations bring to light how corruption and abuse seep into Korean sports.
Not Korea’s First Sports-Related Scandal
In 2011, 55 South Korean soccer players were indicted for match-fixing, which later uncovered mistreatment of young athletes. During the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, a bullying scandal clouded South Korea’s women’s team speed skating event even though the team was later cleared of accusations.
Following 2018’s Olympics, the female curling team affectionately dubbed the “Garlic Girls” struggled with abuse following their viral fame. The team alleged coaches confiscated their cell phones and that they faced excessive control over their private lives. They also alleged team coaches made unreasonable demands and withheld money. Skip Kim Eun-jung claimed coaches and official Kim Kyong-doo tried to ostracize her following her July 2018 marriage.
“[The coaches] tried to rule Kim Eun-jung off the team after she got married in July,” the team said in a letter. “They separated the skip and the team captain’s role to minimize Kim Eun-jung’s status on the team. They also tried not to include Kim Eun-jung in team training.”
In November 2018, South Korea’s Sports Ministry launched an investigation into the team’s claims.
More to Come?
In regards to the sexual abuse scandal, Lee Kee-heung, head of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, apologized to Shim and other victims.
“We will root out the practice of coaches having absolute control over the future of their athletes and abusing that power,” Lee said.
South Korea’s President, top official,s and the IOC all state change will come as they launch a special investigation into the abuse scandal. The Korean government discussed stricter penalties for coaches found guilty of abuse and may instill lifetime bans imposed both domestically and internationally.
“The recent series of testimonies about violence and sexual assault in the sports industry represent our shame that has been hidden beneath the glorious appearance of Korea as a sports powerhouse,” South Korean president Moon Jae-in said at a senior advisers’ meeting.
With the #MeToo Movement helping women find their voices in South Korea, more women may come forward regardless of the repercussions.
“In the past, numerous sexual misconduct and assault claims were uncovered but they were swept under the carpet,” Miss A said. “But if other victims pluck up the courage to speak like I did, I think this time it may be solved.”
Whistleblower Shim says she hopes “no more people are victimized like me in the field of sports … whatever the reason, the violence must stop.”
Following Shim’s announcement, the public has shared its outrage toward abuse culture.
“Now society and people are paying a lot of attention to sexual problems,” Miss A said.
Chung shared that he felt this means hope the abuse culture may change. “I think this could be the last chance for the Korean sport to actually eradicate all the problems.”
Those accused are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.
—-Joelle Halon
On Wednesday January 9, 2019, the Seoul city government announced plans for a K-Pop mecca that will be complete in 2024.
“We plan to start the work to construct the concerts-only complex, Seoul Arena, in September next year on a 50,149-square-meter lot near Changdong Station for completion at the end of 2023,” said a city official.
Seoul Arena will be Korea’s first K-Pop concert venue. With K-Pop’s growing global popularity, the concert hall will provide a home for Korea’s pop culture sensation. Many large-scale K-Pop shows have been held at Jamsil Stadium and Olympic Gymnastics Arena along with various smaller-scale locations in the city and across the country.
“While K-pop is basking in the global spotlight, the nation is devoid of infrastructure to back up its popularity. We expect Seoul Arena to help K-pop further secure global competitiveness,” the Seoul Metropolitan Government official said.
Initially, plans for the K-Pop hub were announced in 2016. Then, the venue was expected to be completed by 2021 and included plans for various concert halls, a music school, museums, cultural and art studios, art streets (like those in Liverpool and London), and housing for the nation’s pop stars.
“A lot of Hallyu tourists [from foreign countries] are likely to visit Seoul Arena as it is expected to provide concerts 200 days a year,” a city official said in 2016.
The same year, Platform Changdong 61 opened ahead of the planned K-Pop revitalization project.
Platform Changdong 61 features facilities made from shipping containers. One of those facilities is Red Box, which hosts rock and hip-hop concerts.
Now with plans officially in-place, city officials expect Seoul Arena to hold 18,000 people; it will also include a 2,000-seat concert hall. The stage will be at the center of the arena so audiences can see the action regardless of seating.
With Wednesday’s announcement, there have been some changes in the plans. When the arena plans were announced in 2016, officials anticipated the arena will hold up to 200 concerts per year. This number shifted drastically.
“Seoul Arena will stage more than 90 large-scale performances annually along with K-pop festivals, concerts by foreign musicians, music award ceremonies and various other events,” a city government official said.
The construction project, which is estimated to cost up to 599.4 billion won, will also include a K-Pop Hall of Fame.
Construction is estimated to begin September 2020. Who do you want to see perform when the venue opens?
—-Joelle Halon
If traveling to Vietnam catches your fancy, one must-see attraction is also one of the country’s newest.
Opened in June 2018, Golden Bridge (Cầu Vàng), which is located in the Bà Nà Hills in Da Nang, is a bridge that is 1,400m above sea level and overlooks Da Nang’s countryside. If breathtaking views of the Trường Sơn Mountains, hills, and lush greenery don’t capture you, then the bridge’s stunning architecture will.
The eight-section golden-railed, 500-foot long bridge is unique in that it has two hands holding it up above the Thien Thai gardens at the Bà Nà Hills Resort. In addition to the bridge that has garnered international attention, the resort area has an alpine roller coaster and the longest nonstop, single-track cable car as indicated by the Guinness Book of World Records. The resort was initially built by French settlers in 1919, but parts of the resort are said to be in ruin. It does, however, have a Fantasy Park and a French-style village complete with cobbled streets.
The hands are designed to look like weathered stone, but they are made from steel meshes and fiber glass according to TA Landscape Architecture. Along the walkway, purple lobelia ties the bridge into the countryside.
The bridge’s designer, Vu Viet Anh, said the bridge should evoke the image of “giant hands of Gods, pulling a strip of gold out of the land.”
“It creates a walkway in the sky, among the foggy and fairy-like lands of Bà Nà mountain,” Anh continued.
Golden Bridge took about a year to build and is part of a $2 billion USD development project that is designed to bring millions to the area and further strengthen tourism.
“We’re proud that our product has been shared by people all over the world,” Anh said.
While Bà Nà Hills is not as well-known as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, it is one of Vietnam’s top tourist attractions. According to Reuters, 2.7 million tourists visited the locale in 2017.
—-Joelle Halon
As a Korean rapper, songwriter, and record producer, and former leader and main rapper of K-Pop group B.A.P, Bang Yong-guk has had a storied career, and he’s not even 30-years-old (born March 31, 1990)!
In 2008, Yong-guk made his debut in the underground Hip-Hop group Soul Connection using the pseudonym “Jepp Blackman,” and since then, he’s become a popular figure in the Korean music scene, especially for international fans who enjoy his artistic flair and meaningful songs.
On August 19, 2018, Yong-guk’s contract with TS Entertainment ended, so he is now free to pursue his own music and projects. 2019 marks Yong-guk’s new beginnings as a soloist without the K-Pop chains.
On January 20, 2019, he made his solo comeback with the single, “Hikikomori,” his first comeback since “Drunkeness” back in May 25, 2018.
We were lucky to be able to attain an interview from Bang Yong-guk, while awaiting his HIKIKOMORI single to be dropped on the 20th of January 2019.
*Thank you so much for taking time out for a KCrush Interview. Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers please?
– Hello, this is Bang Yong-guk. It’s nice to meet you all.
*You have a new single is out on the 20th of January, tell us why you chose “Hikikomori” as the title and the meaning behind the cover.
– Hikikomori is based on my own story which expresses the inner loneliness and confusion from my experience.
I tried to express the feelings I get when I look in the mirror and see my real self when I am off-stage, the fear I have towards the people in the outside world, and the disturbing feeling that I get from being confined in a room that seems like it is protecting me but, at times, it just feels like imprisonment. I put in the effort to put music, artwork, photography and video together. As to the artwork on the cover, I initially did the drawing and the design was developed on it.
*Your Instagram and MVs focus a lot on aesthetics and art, especially black and white images. Does art hold a lot of significance for you?
– I began using the black and white filter when uploading my photos and I continued using it.
At first, I selected the filter because I felt somewhat uncomfortable with the colorful photos seen on the social media. It really doesn’t hold any special meaning or significance, but I like the fact the black and white filter seemed to convey more colors for me personally. However, I think using black and white for other data other than my own photos may seem a bit too stubborn of me, so I am trying to use less these days. But I still like black and white.
*What kind of music are you into these days?
– Since I was working on my studio album, I didn’t get to listen much of other artists’ music other than my own. I usually enjoy listening to James Blake when I’m working. I tend to listen to the song, “Don’t Miss It” the most. James Blake is an artist who really inspires me and for that, I am very appreciative.
*It seems you’ve taken up tennis. Could we ask how good you are at playing the sport?
– I’m still a beginner. Tennis was a sport that I wanted to learn since I was young but I couldn’t make the time for it while I was active in the group.
When I left the company, tennis was the first thing I began learning. At the time, I thought to myself that I should do what I want to do when I first bought a tennis racket.
*You have a few noticeable tattoos; do they hold any particular meanings to you?
– I don’t necessarily enjoy getting myself tattooed but I have the tendency or just a weird habit of wanting to leave a trace on my body whenever I experience certain incidents.
I never got a tattoo thinking that they’d look cool on me or anything like that. When I made up my mind to get one done, I think that it was usually because I was out of control and they weren’t always done due to good memories.
*If you were a character of an anime or a video game, what would you be and why?
– That seems like a difficult one to answer. I’m just too ordinary to be like a character of any kind, and not a likely candidate to appear in an anime or a video game. If I ever thought of wanting to be one… Because I enjoy playing soccer video games, I’ve wanted to be one of the referees in a soccer video game, rather than the cool-looking soccer players.
*Which characteristics do you and your twin share and what are your differences?
– Well, I find it amusing that we have the same voice, height, and face but our personalities are completely the opposite. I like staying at home while my twin brother likes to go out and hang out with his friends.
*Will you be collaborating with any of your former group members in the future? And if you could collaborate with an American artist, who would it be?
– I always have in mind that I would be doing some great projects with the members in the future. The American artist I would like to collaborate with is Joji. Everything he has done is art.
*Do you have any movies, books or musicals that you’ve enjoyed recently?
*Do you have a preference to a color and what colors don’t you like?
– My wardrobe is just filled with black and white. I don’t think I like any colors that stand out in the crowd.
*What do you do to maintain your health and to release stress?
– My way of managing my health is not to pay much attention or care into it, but I would not recommend that.
I don’t know how to releasing stress, so I always keep it inside, and that’s how I am able to produce songs in the studio.
*What did you like the most about touring? How are the Babyz overseas different from the Korean Babyz?
– The tours that we’ve done have always been a joy for me. Whether it was on or off stage, they were the only times when I felt I could really breathe. And those times are filled with great memories for me. I do not think the fans outside of Korea are particularly different from Korean fans. I’m just so grateful that they love me and support what I do. I can feel they truly care about me.
*Who do you respect and feel the most grateful towards?
– My grandfather is whom I respect the most and the one I am the most thankful for. Although he is in heaven now, I still think he’s guiding me. My grandfather is practically a religion to me, and I love him.
*Please tell us about your future plans, goals and hopes for this year and beyond.
– I wish to begin this year by showcasing everything that I have to offer. My studio album is almost complete, so please show support.
I will also be doing new projects with friends who are artists to produce music, pictures, photographs, videos, fashion, designs, writing…
If any of you would like to participate, please contact me.
Now that I’m free, I think I will be able to do anything. Thank you.
Kcrush would like to thank Bang Yong-guk for his time and wish him much success with his single “Hikikomori” plus his upcoming album.
Listen to this interview or article on your Alexa device or app: https://amzn.to/337kVXb
—- J. Chung.
Thanks to the Korean Wave crashing upon US shores, more people than ever are exposed to what Korean pop culture has to offer. From fashion to music, Hallyu has become more in-demand for Westerners, and not just for teens and 20-somethings. Now that there’s more exposure to Korean dramas, cable channels and streaming services have made Korean TV more accessible. This is despite the shutdown of DramaFever, which, for many, was the premiere streaming service for Korean, Thai, Chinese, and Japanese dramas for the past nine years.
While teens and 20-somethings make up an estimated 35 percent of the United States’ K-Drama viewing audience, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency, an estimated 18 million Americans indulge in Korean television. Of course, these numbers come from a 2014 survey, but in 2019, given the wider variety of options to view K-Dramas, perhaps more people have been engaging in watching what many consider a guilty pleasure.
Naturally, United States media has noticed the popularity and appeal of Korean TV, much like it did in the early 2000s when remaking Korean and Japanese films became a popular trend. In recent years, the US remade some Korean shows while others are still in discussion to be turned into US-adaptions (Descendants of the Sun being one of those dramas in the development phase but has been “in talks” since 2016).
Currently, the United States adapted five Korean shows for the US audience. Out of the five, one recently debuted, and two have been canceled. Additionally, two well-known, high-grossing films will also be adapted for American audiences.
Better Late Than Never (2016; 2018)
Better Late Than Never was based the variety show Grandpas Over Flowers. Like Grandpas Over Flowers, Better Late Than Never followed four veteran celebrities and a younger celebrity as they traveled through different countries without special privileges or amenities to experience new cultures.
While Grandpas Over Flowers starred veteran actors Lee Soon-Jae, Shin Goo, Park Geun-Hyung, and Baek Il-Seob along with the younger actor Lee Seo-Jin, the US version starred actors William Shatner (Star Trek) and Henry Winkler (Happy Days, Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation), entrepreneur and former boxer George Foreman, and former NFL-player Terry Bradshaw along with comedian Jeff Dye.
For Better Late Than Never, Season One focused on the cast’s trek through Asia, while Season Two focused on adventures through Europe. During the cast’s trip to Korea, the show featured a cameo by Girls’ Generation, and featured scenes from the demilitarized zone, Hwaseong Fortress, and Itaewon. Overall, the show was similar to the Korean version.
Better Late Than Never only lasted for 12 episodes and two seasons compared to Grandpas over Flowers’ 38 episodes over five seasons. The Korean version also had two spinoffs: Youth Over Flowers and Sisters Over Flowers.
While Better Late Than Never’s first season in 2016 was considered successful, the second season, which aired nearly two years after the first, was less successful with the show losing three million viewers. The show was ultimately canceled.
Bye Bye Bye (TBA)
The 2011 Korean film, Sunny, which was one of the year’s highest grossing films, will be remade as an HBO dramedy.
Bye Bye Bye is the working title of Sunny’s American redo. Like Sunny, Bye Bye Bye will follow a group of female friends as they reunite 20 years after high school. Comedian Kevin Hart’s production company, HartBeat Productions along with CJ Entertainment pitched the idea to Universal Studios who bought the rights to the idea. Amy Aniobi (Insecure) will write the script.
“Amy is an incredible writer who has put a fun spin on the classic mother-daughter story that will make you want to laugh and cry,” Hart said.
No further details were made available regarding Kevin Hart’s take on the film.
In 2016, talks existed that Sunny would be turned into an American film. Then, Brett Ratner’s company, RatPac Entertainment, and CJ Entertainment planned to greenlight production with writer Heather Hach (What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Freaky Friday) at the helm.
The Good Doctor (2017-Present)
ABC’s The Good Doctor is based on the Korean show with the same name. The acclaimed 20-episode Korean drama aired in 2013 and won several awards. The American version began airing September 25, 2017 and is now in it’s second season.
One of the show’s executive producers is Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, Hawaii Five-0), who also has a recurring role in season two as Dr. Jackson Han. Kim bought the rights to the show and he and his production company began adapting it for the US market. His company sold the rights to CBS; CBS declined the pilot, so he bought the rights back before Sony Pictures Television and ABC saw the show’s potential and brought David Shore (House) aboard to help make the show happen.
Both the US and Korean renditions follow a young doctor who is an autistic savant. Both shows follow how he uses his memory and spatial skills to help prove himself worthy in the medical setting.
In the original, the main character, Dr. Park Shi-On is played by Joo Won. In the American version, Freddie Highmore (Bates Motel, The Spiderwick Chronicles) plays Dr. Shaun Murphy. For the first season, the American rendition follows the Korean version well, but since American television spans several seasons (and sometimes beyond shows’ expiration dates), the American version will stray from the heart and soul of the original eventually.
So far, the US version of The Good Doctor has high acclaim as marked by its award nominations. However, viewership has started to fall since the first season. Season one averaged 15.61 million viewers with the pilot episode earning 19.21 million viewers. As of episode ten in the second season, 11 million have tuned in to watch the show.
The Masked Singer (January 2, 2019-Present)
If ratings are an indicator, Fox may have found a winner in their adaptation of The King of Mask Singer.
The show features celebrities—from singers, actors, and sports stars—decked out in costumes to hide their identities. The participants then show off their singing skills across two episodes and three rounds. Identities are revealed if a singer loses the competition. The point of the show is judge people solely on their voices and not their appearance and star power. The US version features 12 contestants, and each season, for now, will span ten episodes.
During the show’s first face-off, Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers was eliminated. He was “Hippo” during the show and performed Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative.” In the second face-off, comedian Tommy Chong was revealed to be “Pineapple.”
The US version features judges Robin Thicke, Nicole Scherzinger, Ken Jeong, and Jenny McCarthy. Nick Cannon hosts the show.
So far, the US version does try too hard to match the Korean show as judges tend to be over-the-top and borderline obnoxious with their judging and theorizing. Time will tell if the show starts to have its own flavor instead of being a direct copy.
Miss Granny (TBA)
In 2016, CJ Entertainment announced that the 2014 hit film, Miss Granny, would be adapted for American audiences.
Miss Granny has been remade in several countries including India, Vietnam, China, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The film tells the story of a 70-year-old woman who wakes up one morning to find herself 20-years-old again. In her younger body, the woman achieves her dream of being a singer by performing in her grandson’s band.
CJ Entertainment partnered with Tyler Perry’s 34th Street Films to produce the film that would target African American audiences.
“We could not find a partner more suitable for the English-language remake of ‘Granny,’ than Tyler Perry Studio,” CJ said in a statement. “We expect to see a great English remake, as the company is very strong at making comedies with family bonds at their core.”
The film was slated to be released in 2018, but it’s yet to materialize on the American market.
Somewhere Between (2017)
Based on God’s Gift: 14 Days, Somewhere Between is about a mother whose daughter is murdered. Blessed with a gift to go back in time, the mother has an opportunity to change the hands of fate to prevent the murder.
While it’s not an original concept, if done well, it’s a good story. Sadly, ABC’s adaptation failed to deliver as it couldn’t even reach two million viewers each episode. ABC canceled the show after its initial 10-episode run.
God’s Gift: 14 Days starred Lee Bo-young, Cho Seung-woo, Kim Tae-woo, Jung-Gyu-woon, Kim Yoo-bin, Baro (B1A4), and Han Sunhwa (formerly of Secret). Somewhere Between starred Paula Patton, Devon Sawa, JR Bourne, and Aria Birch.
Critics of Somewhere Between felt the show lacked the style and emotion God’s Gift: 14 Days had. Because of this, the depth and feeling of the story failed to translate for American audiences.
YooHoo & Friends (2012)
YooHoo & Friends is a children’s animated series based on 2009-2015 Korean show. Like the Korean version, YooHoo & Friends centers around environmental protection as Mother Nature convinces Father Time to turn five humans into animals so they can be aware of how humans negatively impacted nature. The animals then journey to find gemstones and make choices to save the environment in order to be turned back into humans if they wish to do so.
For the US version, the show featured Flavor Flav as the voice of Father Time. The short-lived American adaptation aired on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. There were 26 shows total (52 episodes given how each half-hour show featured two short cartoons).
In 2019, another adaptation of the show is set to premiere on Netflix. YooHoo to the Rescue will be in both Korean and English. The reboot will future computer animations instead of traditional animation.
What Korean shows would you like to see adapted into Western shows? Do you prefer Westerners not touch Korean TV? Let us know in the comments.
—-Joelle Halon
Korea’s Ministry of Education announced on January 14, 2019 that seven Korean celebrities will have their university degrees canceled due to preferential treatment.
Jang Hyunseung (formerly of BEAST), HIGHLIGHT’s (formerly BEAST) Gikwang, Junhyung, and Doojoon, BtoB’s Eunkwang and Sungjae, and singer Chu Ga Yeoul all were impacted by the Ministry of Education’s decision. All seven singers attended Dongshin University in Naju, South Jeolla.
In addition to the seven named celebrities, Dongshin University will be required to give additional severe penalties to one student, mild penalties to 9 students, and warnings to 6 students.
“The university gave grades and degrees according to school and department regulations, but we accept that there were loopholes for parts of the regulations. However, we will closely review measures to protect the graduates who received grades and degrees based on the above regulations so that they will not be harmed as much as possible. We will establish countermeasures including modification of regulations for more thorough academic operations in the future,” Dongshin University said in a statement.
In August 2018, the Education Trust Restoration Promotion Team (ETRPT) of the Ministry of Education began investigating claims celebrities received special treatment. The ETRPT found that the investigated universities counted performances and promotional activities as class attendance.
However, prior to 2015, regulations were not in place to manage student attendance. Dongshin University argued that internal regulations from the Department of Broadcasting Entertainment allowed its students to replace absences with their broadcast activities. However, the Ministry of Education denied the university’s argument by stating regulations were not stipulated at the time the singers were enrolled. As a result, student attendance for those counting broadcast activities cannot be acknowledged.
In Chu Ga Yeoul’s case, he was teaching an undergraduate course despite not having the credentials to do so, and he was teaching courses during the times he was allegedly supposed to be in class as a student.
According to Soompi, “It was confirmed that he could not attend class since the time he was supposed to attend lecture as a student overlapped with the time he acted as an adjunct professor.” His status as an instructor will also be nullified.
Regarding HIGHLIGHT members’ cases, this is not the first time claims of preferential treatment surfaced. In August 2018, SBS reported that Doojoon, Junhyung, Gikwang, and former BEAST member Hyunseung not only received preferential treatment with attendance, but with scholarships and graduation credits as well. At the time, HIGHLIGHT’s agency, Around Us Entertainment, denied the claims.
“As notified through the news, the former BEAST and current Highlight members Doojoon, Junhyung and Gikwang enrolled in Dongshin University at the same time in 2010. However, it is not true that they were enrolled illegally or that they did not attend school.”
So.. this is the news.
“On August 12th, SBS’ news program ran a story revealing they(DJ,JH,HS and GK)may have also received a type of class attendance leniency that is only usually reserved for students working in civil service.”#하이라이트 #HIGHLIGHT
pic.twitter.com/W4V7IjyglN— MrsJoker891219 (@YongPDnim) August 12, 2018
Cube Entertainment also announced they were looking into the situation at the time of the initial claims.
“We are doing our best to confirm the facts in relation to BEAST. We have notified that it may take some time to make any confirmations as all the employees involved in the incident have left our company. We are doing our best to get a better understanding of the situation through the past employees who managed BEAST and will announce an official statement as soon as possible. Thank you,” Cube said through a statement back in August.
Busan Kyungsang University was also investigated for providing special treatment to idols and other celebrity attendees; degree cancelations have yet to be announced.
In addition to stripping degrees from the idols, the Ministry of Education also announced that professors will also face discipline and the universities’ financial support will be cut.
What do you think of this news and the Ministry of Education stripping the singers’ degrees?
—-Joelle Halon
First, it should be noted that an egg-white mask is not Vegan-friendly. As suggested, the mask does involve using egg whites, so if you’re Vegan, stop reading the article. We promise to cover more Vegan-friendly options in the future.
Full disclosure: I have PCOS, which means I’m cursed with hair in unwanted places. I’m also Italian, so that means I’m blessed with coarse, dark hair. Unfortunately, this also means shaving and waxing are a part of my daily and weekly routines in order to prevent myself from becoming Chewbacca.
However, waxing and shaving is irritating, and using an epilator just brings unnecessary pain. I am a big baby after all, so why cause myself physical pain beyond the emotional pain I battle every day?
As a lover of Asian beauty and an admirer of homemade remedies, friends who hail from South Asia recommended an egg-white mask. Not only do my friends swear by egg-white masks for hair removal, they swear the masks help with removing sebum and blackheads and can even help refresh skin and tighten pores. Intrigued, I investigated egg-white masks to see how they can help with removing unwanted hair while benefitting my skin.
Do Egg-Whites Benefit Skin?
Now, egg whites have a lot of protein, and protein, supposedly, is good for skin. Egg whites also contain collagen and vitamins, which is considered essential for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. There are also claims that egg whites can also help prevent acne, but for each of these claims, we could not find any strong medical proof that egg whites can do this beyond beauty blogs and magazines. So, while these claims are nice, we can’t say if they’re true.* However, studies have shown that eating eggs have benefits, so it is plausible that the benefits could stretch to skin.
How Does an Egg Mask Work?
According to lovers of the egg mask method, as the mask dries on the face, the egg whites adhere to the hair. Then, as the mask gets peeled away, the hair, blackheads, and whiteheads are allegedly lifted, leaving behind smooth skin with tighter pores.
Let’s put the theory to the test!
Let’s Make a Mask!
There are several tutorials on YouTube on how to make the egg white mask, but our favorite is by Arshia Moorjani.
As she shows in the video, crack open your egg and place it in a small dish. Use a water bottle to remove the yolk. Then, mix the egg white. That’s it! Your mask is ready.
Use a brush to apply the mask to clean, dry skin while making sure to avoid the hairline, eyes, eyebrows, and lips. Do not add a lot of the egg to the face. You don’t want to be a gloopy mess. Once you apply a thin layer, use pieces of clean toilet paper, Kleenex, or tissue paper (I found that tissue paper had the right amount of sturdiness) and place it on your face. Then, add more egg, more tissue, another layer of egg, and another layer of tissue paper. With each layer, do not over-saturate your face as the egg whites need to dry. As Moorjani states in the video, three layers should be plenty. Then, let the mask dry for a half hour. If time exceeds 30 minutes, the mask will be cement and you will be in a world of pain during the next step (trust me on this!).
Once the mask has hardened, start from the bottom and pull it off in an upward motion. Then, rinse off the remainder and apply moisturizers as usual.
Results?
Okay, this method came highly recommended by several South Asian friends. While they have great results, I did not. I had some peach fuzz removed, but as far as other hair (besides some stray eyebrows and stray pieces from my hairline that got stuck between some mask layers), blackheads, and whiteheads, no dice. This was a failed experiment. Additionally, the egg dried my skin out! I had dry, red patches in different places, especially close to my mouth. Moisture could not be found, and it took several days of heavy-duty moisturizing in order to restore balance to my skin. This was not a good experience for me. There is, however, an egg mask with honey and lemon that assists with better moisturizing, but lemon brightens, and that wasn’t a concern area for this trial. Lemon also should not be used on broken skin.
Reading other reviews, there are users who tried this method who also failed to see results. Perhaps it’s our hair and skin types? Maybe, but it’s clear this method is not for everyone.
Based on my experiences, the egg white mask is a no-go. However, given how it is a popular beauty treatment in South Asia, there must be merit to the claims that it removes hair and unclogs pores. So, give it a shot. You may have better results!
*We do not make medical claims. We research information extensively to ensure we can back claims. If we can’t, we’ll say! Rest assured we’ll never make any claims and say they’re gospel.
Picture: @smashpop Source: Instagram
—-Joelle Halon
A photo of the M.I.B. quartet from 2014 from their Facebook page @officialMIB . From left: Kangnam, Young Cream, 5Zic and Sims.
Kpop’s Men of Hip Hop
Most Incredible Busters (M.I.B) first met audiences in 2011 debuting as a group with their single ‘G.D.M. – Girls, Dream, Money’. As a lead up to their debut as a group, the quartet members released solo singles showcasing their music abilities under the premise that they were strong individual artistes on their own, combining their talents to provide audiences with powerful new music.
The group comprising Kangnam, 5Zic, Young Cream and Sims, was active from 2011 until 2014, releasing two studio albums, two EPs, and seven singles as a group. Despite interest from fans and their unique brand of catchy yet edgy tunes, they didn’t quite manage to garner the support needed to sustain their existence as a group, attaining their best chart position at only no. 14 with their E.P. ‘Money In The Building’.
Marred by tragedy
The group suffered a setback in April 2012, when a fire broke out in their dorm, taking the lives of three stylists and delaying their comeback activities and the release of their E.P. ‘Illusion’. Eventually, the group recovered their momentum and began their first tour in Japan, in 2013, successfully selling out concerts in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo.Their last music release as a group came out in March 2014, comprising their second studio album, ‘The Maginot Line’ and the music video for the title track, ‘Chisa Bounce’. Three years later, their management agency, Signal Entertainment officially announced their disbandment in January 2017.
Latest endeavours
Although the group were still together from 2014 – 2017, the members were more active in individual efforts such as releasing solo music and participating in tv variety shows during that time. Since then, there’s hardly been any news of the members in the media with the exception of Kangnam as detailed below.
5Zic’s latest photo from his Instagram account @zick_jasper.
5Zic, now known as Zic-Jasper, still lists rapper and producer on his Instagram bio and regularly updates his account with photos of himself indicating he is still active in the music scene. However, it doesn’t seem like there has been any new music releases since his 2016 single ‘Primetime’ which is available on iTunes.
A recent photo of Young Cream and promotional poster of a recent live performance from his Instagram account @042cream.
Young Cream, now a solo rapper and producer, continues to make Hip Hop music and last released several singles and music videos in 2017. His music is available on iTunes and Soundcloud and he actively updates his social media accounts on new developments such as live performances and music collaborations.
Sims’ photo from his days with M.I.B.available from the group’s official Facebook page..
Sims, whose real name is Sim Jong-Su has dropped off the radar since we last heard from him in 2015. After releasing a solo song titled ‘Reset’ in 2014 and sharing personal news of being in a relationship with a non-celebrity in 2015, there were no longer any updates from this rapper and lyricist. His last known Instagram and twitter accounts @sims9102 are also currently no longer active.
Kangnam’s recent photo shared on his Instagram account @kangkangnam.
Kangnam, easily the most recognizable member of the group due to his many tv appearances, remains active in tv and music. A talented comedic presence on variety shows, he has also dabbled in acting and hosting. His Japanese and Korean heritage has also been an asset to this multi-faceted talent as the multilingual performer is active in Japan and has previously taken up the mantle of honorary ambassador for the fourth KCON music festival when it was held in Japan for the first time in 2015.
Musically, he is currently active in the trot genre, teaming up for collaborations with trot legend Tae Jin Ah. He has previously stated in a 2018 interview that although he has won awards for his work on tv variety shows, he wishes to win for his music too. He also shared his thoughts on M.I.B.’s lackluster success being a result of the group’s unclear identity as they were past the age of idols nor were they really idol-like.
—-Fie Fed
Park Jin-young (a.k.a JYP, J. Y. Park or The Asiansoul) is a Korean singer-songwriter, producer and record executive.
In 1992, Park was discovered(?) by Korean singer and musician Kim Soo-chul and formed into a group called, Park Jin-young and the New Generation but it was short-lived and disbanded before making any name for themselves. Despite being an incredible dancer, a great vocalist with an innate ability to succeed in the ever-changing show business, Park initially struggled to find a management company; mostly due to his appearance or demeanor because he wasn’t considered attractive to the majority of people’s standards. Park took numerous auditions in hope to be signed but was unsuccessful in landing a contract. It’s widely known that he took an audition at SM Entertainment and the CEO and songwriter, Lee Soo-man reluctantly turned him down but asked if he’d be willing to sell the song Park had performed. He refused the offer and when he finally found a company that signed him (Cheil Communications), the song later became his first single and a hit in 1994.
“Don’t leave me” was originally written as a ballad but producer Kim Hyeong-seok suggested it should be turned into a dance track instead. This single catapulted Park into a star and his debut album, Blue City, was released in the same year which also managed to become commercially successful.
In May of 1996, Park founded his own label and management company, Tae-Hong Planning Corporation which later rebranded as JYP Entertainment and it has developed into one of the most profitable entertainment agencies in Korea today. As the CEO, Park formed and managed numerous K-pop acts like g.o.d, Rain, Wonder Girls, 2PM, Twice, Stray Kids and the list goes on.
In the first half of 2018, JYP Entertainment became the second largest Korean entertainment company, as their market capitalization surpassed that of YG Entertainment. It was the first time JYP Entertainment was placed second to SM Entertainment and later in the year, JYP even surpassed SM Entertainment to hold the position of being the largest entertainment company in Korea.
Later in May of 2018, JYP became the only entertainment company in Korea to rank in Financial Time’s High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific list, charting at No. 177 out of 1000 companies and No. 12 out of 104 listed Korean companies.
Park is no longer the CEO of JYP Entertainment but remains the company’s largest shareholder and influencer.
Earlier Life
Park Jin-young was born on January 12, 1972 in Seoul, Korea and was raised in a comfortable home, as the only son with an older sister.
Park’s mother (an artist and former teacher) has revealed in past interviews that her son showed early signs of musical talent and that he was exposed to a lot of classical and pop music from the time he was in the womb. She has also stated that Park even enjoyed dancing to the sound of her rinsing rice in the kitchen when he was just barely able to walk. His parents did not see any reason to enroll Park into pre-school because he was very sociable, capable of making friends, learning and doing things freely for himself. He taught himself how to read at the age of four, after watching his older sister learning. When his sister started learning the piano, he taught himself to play and was performing on a grand piano by the time he was in elementary, in front to the whole school.
Park and his family spent around two years in the States while he was in elementary, where he was exposed to a lot of Soul and R & B music. He is also a professed fan of Michael Jackson and claims that his journey in music began when he first heard Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album.
Park always had excellent grades but he was also very absorbed in dancing and sports, especially basketball. His father never discouraged his son to do what he wanted to do in life but urged him never to stop educating himself. In 1990, Park went to major in Geology at Yonsei University, where he is said to have been a great student, earning top grades.
New Ventures
In 2004, Park is credited for being the first Asian producer to cross over to the United States; he produced songs for American artists like Will Smith, Mase and Cassie. The Love you Need was the 8th track on Welcome Back album by Mase that debuted at No. 4 in the charts and the record went gold. Park was later contacted by people representing Will Smith who had heard Mase’s track and offered to work with him. Park produced the track I wish I had made that for Will Smith’s Lost and Found album which charted No. 6 on the Billboard 200 Chart. He also produced Cassie’s When your Body is Talking which was on a bonus track of her album. Since this was around the time when social networking (and having an international online presence) wasn’t so active or as prominent as it is now, Park failed to make a further impact as a producer in the States but he did definitely pave a way for a number of Korean artists.
In May of 2008, Park collaborated with Hong Kong’s star Jackie Chan to form the “I Love Asia” Project to raise funds for the disastrous earthquake tragedy in China and produced the song Smile Again with Chan (along with many other celebrities) and Korean film director, Kang Je-gyu.
In 2009, Park became the first Korean songwriter, together with RAINSTONE to enter the Billboard Hot 100 Chart with the Wonder Girls’ single Nobody which debuted at No. 76 – without assistance from any major label – making them the first Korean group to enter the chart. Park continued to invest into the group but Wonder Girls failed to meet further recognition commercially during their two-year stay in the States, and they went on to target the Chinese market in 2010.
In 2011, JYP made his acting debut in TV series Dream High, which he received a nomination for New Actor of the Year at the Baeksang Arts Awards and later in the same year, Park made his film debut in Five Million Dollar Man.
In 2015, Park released Who’s Your Mama?, featuring Korean-American singer Jessi, which topped the Korean charts and attracted much buzz and attention via YouTube due to its lyrics and concept. In 2016, Park released Still Alive which expressed that he has survived in the industry since cassette tapes were around and even before most of the current idols were born, but craves for more because he aspires to become legendary.
In the same year, Park recorded Fire with American comedian and show host, Conan O’Brien, Korean-American actor Steven Yeun and singer Park Ji-min, with Wonder Girls and TWICE in the music video. He also appeared in the hit reality show, Sister’s Slam Dunk, and produced the Unnies single Shut Up (with a very limited amount of budget) which also topped the Korean charts. Park also produced the title track for project girl-group I.O.I for their last album before disbandment, Very Very Very was released a month later which became a chart-topper.
Plagiarism claims
The fundamental reasons how Park managed to stay constantly relevant (and continually active) in the Korean pop music industry for all these years, would very likely be due to his intelligence, work ethic, savvy business mind and a lot more.
On a negative note, plagiarism issues regarding many of his songs has tainted his reputation as a songwriter and artist for most of his career.
Music plagiarism refers to usage or imitation of another artists’ work and presenting or releasing it as one’s own. Plagiarism occurs either with the melody (or motif) or sampling – which is taking a recorded sound and reusing it. Sampling without permission can infringe copyright and attaining permission for a sample is known as clearance – which can be intricate and expensive.
There are claims/accusations that approximately 50 of the songs (out of the 500 or so of the songs he has written) that Park wrote for himself and other artists, have been either been confirmed as plagiarism or accused of sounding similar to songs by various artists; mostly R & B artists and Hip Hop music.
In this article, we will briefly look into just a few cases.
Since the 90’s era, the songs that Park composed and wrote lyrics for himself like Honey, Elevator, Why Why, Your house and many others have been accused of plagiarism. Honey, which is probably regarded as Park’s signature song, has been accused of being a mashup of Tom Jones’ version of Kiss, Ai No Corrida by Quincy Jones and Play that Funky Music by Wild Cherry. As far as we know, no legal claims have been made regarding the song.
Released in 1995, his hit single Elevator aroused plagiarism issues – some sources and critics claimed it plagiarized Salt ‘N’ Pepper’s Whatta Man, while Why Why, released from Park’s sixth studio album in 1998, was allegedly plagiarized Aaliyah’s Grammy nominated single, ‘Are You That Somebody.’ The latter is undeniably influenced by the original but I personally would not consider it is fair to tag it as a plagiarism. The song was released just two months before Aaliyah’s untimely death.
In the same year, Park released a single Kiss Me which was a cover with the same instrumentals by Stevie Wonder’s Superstition. Park again, claimed it was a remake/sampling and the credits printed on his album that he was the composer, was flawed. Since then, all the royalties generated from the track goes to Stevie Wonder through the Korea Music Copyright Association.
Your House was released in 2007, and has been accused of plagiarizing the lyrics to American R&B artist Babyface’s What if and Park has claimed during an interview that he has no idea how the lyrics referred in What If is almost identical to his own lyrics and called it merely a coincidence. The single’s melody and the tempo has also been accused of sounding too similar to Sentimental by Canadian singer Deborah Cox from her first album and its chorus resembles Addicted to You by Japanese singer-songwriter Utada Hikaru.
The first boyband that Park produced for was called, g.o.d (Hangul: 지오디) and when their debut single, To my mother was released in 1999, Park was credited as its sole composer and lyricist on their album. However, Park was met with claims that he had plagiarized the late American rapper Tupac Shakur’s two songs, Life goes on and Dear Mama. He later expressed that the song was actually supposed to be a sampling and it was a shame the legal negotiations hadn’t gone through to attain the permit and the fact that he was stated as the sole songwriter on the album leaflet was just a blunder made in the printing process.
Plagiarism was confirmed in this case, so all the royalties drawn from to the hit went to BGM and the credits were also been edified. Park was only able to get credited as the producer. Other hits released by g.o.d including Observation, Road, Return to me and Letter that were written by Park, were accused of coping or plagiarizing various artists’ work, and in some cases, just for sounding or having vibes that seem too similar overall. Road was also accused of plagiarizing Tha Crossroad and Day of Our Lives by American Hip Hop group Thug Bones-n-Harmony and Usher’s U Got It Bad.
Like previously, song credits were edified (from initially crediting Park Jin-young as the writer) to stating the real artist behind the original music – only when accusations were raised. Numerous Kpop acts that Park had trained, formed, produced and wrote songs for experienced plagiarism issues at one time or another and it is also interesting that the songs were mostly commercially successful in Korea.
From 2000 until 2003, model and actress Park Ji-yoon was the first female solo to be signed to JYP. Her concept/image and ensemble showcased in her single, Coming of Age Ceremony mirrored the style of the late American singer Aaliyah. Park’s previous album before joining JYP Entertainment was also called The Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number like Aaliyah’s debut album and single. Park Ji-yoon gained a cult following after her first performance and the song received R rating because the lyrics and the choreography was considered provocative and unfit for younger viewers,
None of the mentioned points would be considered plagiarism or lead to any legal disputes but Ji-yoon’s single released in 2003, Do You Know How? was confirmed of plagiarizing Beyonce’s Work it Out which was released a year prior. Not only was the song like a sing-along version of Beyoncé single (the lead single from the soundtrack to the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember), it also went as far as ripping off her hairstyle, stage presence and so on.
Sony Records made a statement and concluded that Park Ji-yoon’s Do You Know How? (which was supposedly composed and written by JYP) went beyond the point of plagiarism to sounding like a copycat version – they also revealed that they hadn’t received any inquiries about copyright beforehand. It is believed that they’ve claimed the full credit but even if the issues get resolved, plagiarism represents artists in a negative way and can tarnish their image for good, which is unfair for them, to say the least.
Music plagiarism can be extremely ambiguous to define and indeed a sensitive topic to make claims or accusations about, and may require years of settling in or out-of-court with a lot of monetary funds involved. Whether the accusations were legally issued and dealt with, cannot always be entirely known to the public but it is probable that they’ve settled the monetary issues in their terms.
JYP’s View on Plagiarism
Park has never owned up to any plagiarism accusations/claims and has always been adamant that it’s either a shocking coincidence or just the fact that he enjoys certain genres that result in him composing songs that unintentionally end up sounding similar or even identical to other artists’ work. He said he does not regard any of those as plagiarism.
He has also added that because he’s been accused of plagiarism on numerous occasions, he now carefully monitors that nothing sounds like his music before releasing but sounding similar to an existing music is inevitable and that he wouldn’t be that foolish enough to copy a well-known song like he was accused of for many years.
Park has stated his frustration on interviews that back during the 90s, there were no requirements by the Korea Music Copyright Association to label “sampling” like it is currently done and it was the record executives who emitted the correct credits and statements on the sampled works in the past. He went on to add that attaining the copyright for sampling was supposed to be done by the record company but they failed to do so, in the past. By the time Park lost the copyrights to his sampled or remade songs, he stated that he was compensated by the company because he was also a victim in a way.
Park says that it wasn’t until around year 2000, when the distributors starting sending out all the paperwork to the writers when sampling songs. And because he was not aware of the mentioned procedures in earlier stages, he lost 100% of his copyrights on many songs. If legal procedures were properly sorted, only a percentage would’ve been given out.
The most recent plagiarism issue in court that Park had to deal with was regarding IU‘s Someday from the Dream High 1 soundtrack.
The track was accused of having a similar chorus to To My Man by a Korean VJ and singer Ash, so the latter song’s composer Kim Shin-il sued Park and each previous rulings sided in favor of Kim but the final decision was revoked and a retrial took place. The legal dispute ignited since 2011, and the court had ruled against Park, ordering him to compensate composer Kim for plagiarism.
However, in the final appeal, the Supreme Court sided with Park because Hosanna by an American Gospel singer Kirk Franklin released in 2002, also had the similar tune that Kim was accusing Park of plagiarizing.
In 2015, I’m So Sexy single that Park wrote for Comedian Yoo Jae-suk, was also accused of ripping off Putting’ on the Ritz and My Name is Not Susan by Whitney Houston.
Personal Life
Park married his long-time girlfriend whom he had met and dated since 1993. His in-laws made it known that they didn’t like a celebrity/entertainer as a son-in-law so Park announced his retirement from music and enlisted as a social service agent but was able to unexpectantly tie the knot in 1999. He went on with his career after being discharged after a few months of training.
A decade later in 2009, Park announced their divorce and the proceedings soon turned into a messy court case because his ex-wife filed compensation for mental stress. The legal representative stated, “Park’s action caused a lot of pain for his former wife and they are unable to come to an agreement for the compensation amount. Park spends most of his time in the USA because of his work and this affected the progress of the negotiations which caused further strain on their relationship. He also caused great pain by making the divorce announcement first on his website and said that he felt that he had more freedom after his divorce during his concerts. This was all a shock for his former wife.” Park is currently on the top listed Korean celebrity for paying the most alimony.
In October of 2013, Park announced his second marriage to a woman whose identity is not made known to the public; only the fact that she is nine years junior to him was revealed. Later, it was reported that Park’s new wife is the niece of the now deceased businessman Yoo Byung-eun, who was notorious for being the founder of a religious cult that was responsible for the Sewol ferry disaster.
Park has since strongly denied that he has anything to do with the organization but many sources strongly state otherwise because in May of 2018, he made the headlines for gathering an audience to preach about his new-found faith in God that mirrored the Salvation Sect in terms of the bible interpretation.
Park has commented that he has a belief in God but doesn’t see himself as a member to any religion and would even take legal matters if there are further claims otherwise.
He and his wife are expecting their first child in early 2019.
Park Jin-young is a true artist and entertainer who has lived a colorful life in the eyes of the public, both on and off stage for well-over two decades.
He is a born entertainer and Korea’s music icon, and it is undeniable how hard he works to perfect his craft – but he never hesitates to speak his mind about what he thinks and feels, regardless of how sensitive a topic may be.
Park is one of the few artists that continues to evolve and experiment with new types of sounds, choreography, concepts and fashion; there is currently no other artist in the Korean industry who can level with his passion and energy that he is able to deliver to the audience on stage.
— J.Chung.
With 2018 officially over, we look back on 100 notable K-Pop songs. Numbers one and two are what you, our readers, selected as the songs of the year. Enjoy the countdown! Here’s to hoping 2019 brings us more great music.
—-Joelle Halon
On Sunday January 6, 2019, toy maker Mattel announced on Twitter that they will be collaborating with Big Hit Entertainment and BTS to create a line of collector dolls.
Naturally, Twitter reacted as expected and shared in some of our excitement over the surprise announcement.
However, dolls are not the only merchandise Mattel plans to create in honor of the group that’s become a global phenom since their debut in 2013.
“We have signed a multi-category license contract with BTS’s agency Big Hit Entertainment, and we plan to create a variety of items such as dolls, collectible figurines, toys, games, and roleplaying items,” Mattel announced during the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair. “The collaboration collection is set to be released this summer, and it will be the first collection to include dolls created around the likeness of BTS’s members. The outfits of the dolls will be based on those that BTS wore in their ‘Idol’ music video.”
Via a press release, Mattel vice president Sejal Shah Miller said, “BTS is a cultural phenomenon who transcends age, culture, and language, and through this partnership, we hope to create a new way for people around to world to connect with BTS. The cornerstone of our strategy is to partner with established franchises that have global appeal, and we believe that Mattel’s creative expertise will create a product that properly celebrates BTS.”
Mattel also confirmed that the BTS line will be a new line of dolls, so fans should not expect them to look like Barbie or any dolls in her line. Hopefully they’ll look better than recent “celebrity dolls” released by various toy companies over the years.
Congratulations to Big Hit and BTS for the honor!
—-Joelle Halon
It’s a sad day in the Korean entertainment world as it has been revealed that two celebrities, Trot singer Jinhyung and singer-songwriter Maeng Yuna, have passed away. Both singers allegedly passed away due to heart attacks.
Jinhyung (Lee Kunhyung), 33, passed at home January 7, 2019. Reports indicate the singer did not suffer from any illnesses.
Jinhyung debuted in 2006 with his single album Farewell Notice. He is known for his songs “Bus Stop of Tears,” “Beauty Alert,” “Good Good,” and “Who Cares If She’s a Noona.”
Sadly, Jinhyung is a newlywed. He and his wife married in 2018. His wife wrote an Instagram post that read, “My loving husband. I miss you so much. Why did you have to be in such a rush, leaving behind Yul, Kun, Momo, who you love so much, and me. I miss you so much.”
Jinhyung’s funeral and burial will take place January 9, 2019.
Maeng Yuna, 29, passed away December 26, 2018. Her agency, JH Entertainment revealed her passing January 8, 2019.
“On December 26, Maeng Yuna has passed away at her home from a heart attack,” and explained, “We were unable to share the news sooner because it was year-end time and things were overwhelming. A funeral took place with close peers,” an agency rep said. “She was preparing the 3rd album to be released in June and showed motivation after being invited as the music department professor for a university. Besides from stress from music producing, she did not have any specific illness. It’s unbelievable.”
Maeng debuted in 2007 with her single “Waltz of Spring.” She promoted actively as a singer and songwriter in both Korea and Japan since her debut. She released eight singles including “Vanilla BonBon,” “(Memory) Luv,” and “Cherry Pie.” She also released two full albums.
Maeng was the daughter of Maeng Jung-ho, Cho Yong-Pil’s former manager.
We send our condolences to Maeng Yuna and Jinhyung’s families during this difficult time.
—-Joelle Halon
레이디스코드LADIES’ CODE ‘THE LAST HOLIDAY’ OFFICIAL MV [ENG SUB]
This Wednesday only series will provide English subtitles on select videos. We hope you will enjoy.
Happy New Year, to our readers and may all your new year’s dreams and wishes come true!
We know from deep inside our hearts that the new year of 2019 is going to be a fabulous year for us all…
The first K-pop act that we at KCrush America interviewed for the year of 2019, is the K-pop girl group sensation, Ladies’ Code. (Applause…)
Ladies’ Code is a South Korean girl group formed by Polaris Entertainment in the year of 2013. The group made their debut with the mini-album, Code#01 and their debut single “Bad Girl”, released on March 7, 2013.
I was lucky to attend their fan meeting in December of 2018, and was left with a great impression of the trio who were so warm and loving towards their fans. The meet and greet was very intimate and exclusive only to their fan club members; the live performance and the overall interaction with the audience was incredible.
We’d like to give special thanks to the members of Ladies’ Code; Ashley, Sojung and Zuny (their manager too!) for a great interview and wish them all the success that they deserve and much more! We hope the interview will provide deeper insight into Ladies’ Code, especially to their fan base the “Lavelys.”
*Thank you for taking time out for this interview. Could you briefly introduce yourselves to our readers?
Ashley: Hi, my name is Ashley and I’m the leader of Ladies’ Code!
Sojung: Hello, this is Sojung from Ladies’ Code. Nice to meet you all!
Zuny: Hello, I am Zuny, the youngest member of Ladies’ Code at age 25 – Bboom Bboom.
*How did you become members of Ladies’ Code? And did you want to be in this industry when you were younger?
Ashley: Someone I knew found out about the Cube Entertainment audition in New York and encouraged me to audition for it. I never thought being a k-pop star was realistic so even though I loved to sing and dance, they were just hobbies for me. I didn’t think I was going to get into the company but I did and a few months later, they told me to pack my bags and fly over to Korea! My dreams always changed: ballerina, teacher, actress…
Sojung: While growing up, I had a lot of things that I wanted to be like a ballerina, cheerleader, scientist and etc… But it was when I became a high schooler that I really started wanting to become a professional singer. At age 19, I was on an audition program, <The Voice of Korea> which solidified my dream as a singer and it became a real turning point for me.
Zuny: I took an audition at Polaris Entertainment, thinking to myself that this would be my last time for any auditions. Then luckily, I got in and was able to become a member of Ladies’ Code. When I was younger, my dream was to become a soldier.
*Which Ladies Code’s song, are you the most attached to and why?
Ashley: I really love all of them so much and it’s hard to pick just one, but I’d have to say “Bad Girl“ because it’s the song that we spent the most time preparing for and we just have a bunch of good memories from that time.
Sojung: I would say that “Bad Girl” is the one song that I am very attached to because we worked and practiced for the longest time on it, and it reminds me of fun memories of the past.
Zuny: Chaconne was the first song that I sang the first chorus to and because it’s a ballad, I think that I am the most attached to the track.
*Please tell us about your interests, specialty or any hobbies.
Ashley: I love discovering new places, whether they be cafes, brunch spots, museums, exhibitions, so I’m always on the go out and about. I also love taking pictures with my two film cameras, one digital camera, and of course my iPhone. I started a YouTube channel as well so I’ve been working on my vlogs in my free time! https://www.youtube.com/user/ashleych0i/featured
Sojung: I love cooking, watching movies, singing and drinking. I’m the happiest when I go home after a long day and cook something nice, then put on a good movie to watch over a glass of wine.
Zuny: I normally like crafting things using my hands, so I go to workshops to make my own candles and air fresheners. I practice on my calligraphy as well.
*Who do you respect the most?
Ashley: My mom because she is such a strong, independent, wise woman and I want to grow up to be like her.
Sojung: My father, since he’s always so dedicated to his family. He’s so sincere and hard-working and ever so witty as well. My father is also my ideal kind of guy, lol. He’s very handsome too. ><
Zuny: I respect my mom and dad.
*When do you feel the most rewarded?
Ashley: After we work hard on a song or a comeback, finally release it and see how much our fans love it.
Sojung: I feel the most rewarded when I look at the faces of the audience after a song or when feeling that I’ve managed to communicate something that I was trying to convey.
Zuny: When I prepare for a song, when the song gets completed, when we shoot for the last take on the web drama and when I’ve finished with the cleaning.
*Recommend us any artists or music that you enjoy listening to.
Ashley: I love Anderson Paak, Sabrina Claudio, The Internet, Aminé, ADOY, just a few off the top of my head!
Sojung: I am extremely fond of Amy Winehouse and it is so sad that we can’t get to hear any of her new songs anymore. Every one of her songs is so great but I think I listen to You know I’m No Good and Stronger Than Me the most often.
Zuny: Just Let Me Go by Yoon Gun and 180 Degrees by BEN. I usually enjoy listening to ballads.
*Do you have your own special dress code? Are there any colors that you like or dislike?
Ashley: I’ve been obsessed with yellow since this past summer. I don’t really dislike any colors but my least favorite is orange.
Sojung: I suddenly started liking red. I like things to be elaborate and like leopard prints, leather with accessories.
Zuny: Because I like black, most of my outfits including hats, bags are all black. I like to dress in all-black the most.
*What would be your fav food or beverage?
Ashley: I eat sweet potatoes and eggs every single day and never get sick of them. Besides those two, I love pad thai, spicy tuna rolls,
Sojung: I love Sundae soup. In my opinion, Sundae soup is the tastiest food in the world.
Zuny: I like to eat noodle dishes, so I enjoy ramen, rice noodles and naengmyeon a lot. And I prefer tea over water so I drink green tea or some other sort of tea usually.
*Tell us about any movies, musicals or books you’ve enjoyed lately that you’d like to share with us.
Ashley: Since it has been Christmas, my favorite Christmas time movies are Love Actually and Serendipity!
Sojung: I watched Bohemian Rhapsody and another movie that was similar in terms of being music-related, Born To Be Blue sticks to my mind a lot. The movies left quite an impression on me. Hope you check them out.
Zuny: Recently, I watched the Korean movies Default and Intimate Strangers and I even got goose bumps from the acting; they are the two movies that I’d want to watch again.
I enjoy calligraphy on a daily basis, so I like to read books that have great quotes in them. I would like to recommend a book called, “The Precious You” by Writer Kim Ji-hoon. I watched musical Chicago which featured Singer Ivy twice, and was still fun and entertaining.
*Are there any countries or venues that you’d like to perform?
Ashley: It’d be awesome to perform in the States, at the Madison Square Garden in New York (hey, dream big right?) Also, Mexico and all of the South American countries!
Sojung: We’d love to go anywhere in the world, where there are Lavelys, to be honest. According to social networking service, it looks like we have people in America, Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico who take interest in us the most, in that order. Hahaha.
Zuny: I’d love to perform in South America; we seem to have a lot of fans out there. We would love to perform for them.
(Sojung, Zuny and Ashley)
*Where do you see yourself in 15 years’ time?
Ashley: I think I’m going to be married with children and a few dogs – living the life.
Sojung: I think that I would still be singing! Performing at concerts and doing the music that I want to be doing at that age, right?? I still want to be singing Pretty Pretty at that age too.
Zuny: I think I would be living a happier life than I am right this moment.
*Let us know what your plans and hopes are for 2019, and please add something nice to your fans.
Ashley: I say this every year but I want to meet more of our Lavelys around the world and have more opportunities to interact with them. I want to thank Lavelys for showing us support and love since day 1. I can’t believe it’s almost been 6 years since we’ve been together. I hope we can spend many, many more together and that we can give you back all the love that you guys have shown us. We appreciate and love you so much<3
Sojung: First, I wish we’d be able to do a lot for our future comeback and that everyone would stay fit and be in great health! Lavelys, because of you, we are so happy each and every day, thank you so much for always being there for us. See you again soon, love you all.
Zuny: In 2019, I want to go on a trip abroad with the Ladies’ Code members twice, during the summer and winter. I also want to go on a trip abroad with my family members. I’ve never been on a trip with my friends before, so I’d also like to do that too next year and visit Jeju Island. I want to cut my hair in a bob again, in 2019.
We wish all the Lavelys would be happier in 2019 and that the year would be full of only the good stuff. We want to be closer to them and spend more quality time to make more worthwhile memories with them. Please always stay happy and healthy, we love and cherish you a lot!
(Left to right: Zuny, Ashley, Sojung)
Thank you very much, we wish Ladies’ Code all the best in their future endeavors!
—- J. Chung.
Lee Boo-jin (born in 1969 or 1970, the exact birthdate is not available) is a South Korean businesswoman, the president of Hotel Shilla – one of Korea’s top duty-free operator, hotels and conference centers and the most likely successor to Lee Kun-hee, the billionaire chairman of Samsung Group and also the wealthiest conglomerate in Korea.
Her mother Hong Ra-hee is also a billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist who is the director of the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. The Lee family currently rank among the Forbes richest people in the world with an estimated net worth of $70.2 billion.
Not much is known about the Samsung’s heiress, Lee Boo-jin’s personal life other than what is considered basic or generally important businesswise.
When Lee Boo-jin was born, she was initially given the name Yoo-jin but at the tender age of 3, she fell ill and it was advised that she should get a name change in order to survive. “Boo-jin” is an uncommon name, so some speculate what the meaning is – the character “Boo” refers to wealth.
She currently has one older brother, Lee Jae-yong and a younger sister, Lee Seo-hyun by three years. (Their youngest sister Yun-hyung took her own life at the age of 26, in 2005 while studying in Manhattan, New York.)
Lee majored in French at Daewon Foreign Language High School and majored in Child Development and Education at Yonsei University, and earned an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston in later years. After working at her father’s company, Samsung for 15 years, Lee was quickly promoted to be the company’s first ever CEO.
In November 2017, her net worth was estimated at approximately $2.1 billion and was listed as the 93rd most powerful/influential woman in the world by Forbes. Out of her siblings, Lee is said to take after her father’s appearance and way for handling business the most, which got her the nickname, “Little Lee Kun-hee.”
Back in 1999, Boo-jin met her future husband Im Woo-jae, while doing volunteer work and the two quickly became romantically involved. Im was quickly dubbed as “Mr. Cinderella” by the press due to his ordinary background as an “employee of a security service affiliate of Samsung Group.”
Most conglomerate families prefer (to this day) to undergo arranged marriages within their clique, so when it was announced that Lee Kun-hee’s oldest daughter was going to marry an average salaryman with no particular assets to showcase, it obviously drew a lot of media attention.
The couple eventually got married and Im was later enrolled into MIT and gained an MBA, and worked as the advisor and then was promoted as the vice-head of Samsung Electro-Mechanics in 2011. The couple has one son together.
From the outside, it seemed that the couple was happily married with no sign of any trouble in paradise. However, in 2012, Boo-jin filed for divorce over the custody of their only son, and this trial was to continue for quite a few years. The reason for filing for divorce was not known to the public, but there have been claims that the two have had disagreements due to personality differences for a while.
Im initially insisted that he’d never agree to a divorce in order to protect the family and that he was all at sea with what was going on. He came forward for the first time to rectify that the story of him being an average employee at Samsung prior meeting his ex-wife was a fabricated tale made up by the PR team, and that he was actually a private security guard for Samsung’s Chairman, Lee Kun-hee. Because Boo-jin suffered with health issues, (Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease is said to run in Lee’s family) she began relying on him that naturally got them to start dating and that it was she – who had been the one to ask him to marry her. He expressed that he had no intention to take the relationship further but was encouraged (or ordered) by Lee Kun-hee to marry his daughter. Im also exposed the fact that his parents were never even able to meet their grandson until recently.
We all know how the news and the media can report on untruthful accounts, so we don’t know whose side of the story to believe. Due to Lee Kun-hee’s sickness since 2014, it disenabled him to speak publicly on the matter, although he’d never discuss private family affairs to be shared out with the media, even if he was well and able.
In a court ruling in July 2017, Lee Boo-jin was ordered to pay her ex-husband, $7.6 million, as part of the divorce settlement with Lee owning the full custody of their son. Im counter-sued by demanding $1.1 billion as a division of assets, claiming that he deserved half of his ex-wife’s wealth since he contributed to a lot since he married into the Samsung family. The court approved the divorce and ordered Lee Boo-jin to pay her ex-husband the initially-stated sum of $7.6 million in alimony and granted sole custody of their child to Lee and visitation rights once a month to Im.
It’s a nearly impossible task to gain reliable resource about what Korean conglomerates get up to, since they keep things extra discreet – they are very aware that their actions can either make or break their business careers, affect stock prices, and in worse scenarios, get them into legal issues. (Recently, Lee Kun-hee made headlines again for tax evasion which is not something new in his case.)
In a conservative country like Korea, business moguls and their family members appearing on reality programs, YouTube channels or other types of social media open to the public that some millionaires in other countries engage in, will never happen any time soon. If not, ever. Since they are not considered celebrities, they do not seek to be treated as such to the public.
We know it takes years to build a good reputation for a stable or successful company but it also takes a short amount of time to lose all that reputation.
Samsung started off as a humble trading company in 1938, and over the last 30 years, it has turned into an international magnate not just for dealing with electronics and appliances, but almost any businesses that money can be made out of – including, real state, shipbuilding, construction, vehicles, food processing, textiles, insurance, securities, publication, hospitals, department store chains, amusement parks and the list goes on.
Until the 70s, Samsung was not the top dog in the race, in comparison to the bigger companies in South Korea, but they’ve used their opportunities wisely and its revenue is equal to 17% of South Korea’s $1,082 billion GDP. When many of their rivaling companies went to ruins or failed to flourish during the Korea’s financial crisis in 1997, Samsung was one of the few that held up and managed to actually expand. The company hires so many individuals and affiliated companies, so some say that the well-being of the company, is actually the financial status of South Korea in a nutshell.
It is needless to empathize that hard work and along with sound leadership has brought Samsung where it stands today and I’ll wrap this article here in hope that the company would make wise calls and continue the good works.
— J.Chung.
The original four-member lineup of Tiny-G in a still from their self-titled MV. From Left to right: Myungji, Dohee, Mint and J.Min
Tiny but mighty
A four-member all female Kpop group formed in 2012 under GNG Production, Tiny-G were made up of petite girls J.Min, Dohee, Mint and Myungji. Their combined average height of 153 centimeters were the inspiration behind the group’s name Tiny-G a.k.a. tiny giants, signifying their concept of being strong and fierce like giants despite their small stature.
The group first became known to audiences through a South Korean television show “Her Lyrics His Music” on MBC TV, where they were able to showcase their vocal skills on the song “Polaris” which was created by established singer Jay Park and actress Lee Si-Young on the show.
They next captured audiences’ attention when they released their self-titled single and MV expressing their courage and individuality in being different amongst the flood of typically tall and thin girl groups. The song’s message of admitting their differences and having fun expressing themselves just as they were, was a breath of fresh air to their fans who are known as Mini-Mes.
From four to three and finally, two
In June 2014, Myungji left the group to pursue acting amid rumors that her growth spurt was the actual cause of her departure since she no longer fit into the group’s ‘tiny’ concept, thereby reducing the group to three members.
Later that same year, the group formed a sub-unit of two members, comprising J.Min and Thai member Mint. The duo’s activities were focused in Thailand and even featured Thai artist Natthew on their first single “The Only One”.
The group unofficially disbanded in 2015 when their agency announced the group would be on indefinite hiatus while the members focused on individual activities.
Tracing their footsteps
A still of Myungji from 2017 Korean reality show ‘Idol School’ where she sports longer hair and a slimmer look.
Kim Myungji was last seen in 2017 South Korean reality TV show Idol School competing for a place in Fromis 9 – the female Kpop group formed from the winners of the show. Unfortunately, she was eliminated after ranking 27th on the show and has yet to make another debut.
A profile photo of J.Min from her twitter account @good8025.
J.Min, whose real name is Shin Min Jung, was part of the final lineup of Tiny-G together with Dohee and remained off the grid ever since. Her twitter account remains static with no new updates and web searches have not yielded any results on her current status or activities either.
Left: A poster featuring a blonde Mintty from the short promotional drama for Korea’s Grand Sale currently airing across Asia. Right: A recent photo of Mintty on her Instagram account @mintmswag.
Mint, now known as Mintty, switched to another agency in 2016, and released her solo single ‘Already Go Lady (Ulleri Ggolleri, Already Go Lady)’. She later went on to join the cast of web drama THE iDOLM@STER.KR as well as the attached girl group “Real Girls Project” in 2017 and participated in idol-career rebooting reality tv show The Uni+ where she was eliminated at the 38th place.
She remains active as a dancer, singer and actress, participating in the currently airing promotional drama for 2019 Korea’s Grand Sale and is also an active vlogger with her own YouTube channel.
A recent photo of Dohee shared on her Instagram account @mdh0925_.
Min Dohee has successfully worked as an actress since her breakout role in 2013 K-drama – “Reply 1994” for which she even won the Best New Actress and Best Couple awards at the 7th Korea Drama Awards in 2014. She has been in multiple dramas and films since then, including three in 2018, i.e., “My ID Is Gangnam Beauty” and can be seen in the currently airing JTBC network drama “Clean with Passion for Now”.
—-Fie Fed