Perfect Imperfection: Happy Holidays!

Sometimes, winning medals aren’t the only indicator for what makes a champion. Often, all it takes is a little perseverance, a can-do spirit, and a love of a sport that makes someone a champion not only for themselves, but for a country and for any young woman who’s ever had a dream.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) figure skater, Zahra Lari, 23, is a champion in the purest sense of the word. Lari’s commitment to the sport helped the UAE become the first Arab nation to join the International Skating Union (ISU), but her dedication to her family and traditions make her an admirable figure. If there were pictures in the dictionary for “role model,” Lari would be in the top three to represent the term. Here are some reasons why Lari should be on your watch list if you love figure skating or just adore trailblazers.

 

Lari is the First Hijabi Figure Skater

For a sport that’s dress code is revealing outfits adorned with sequins, Lari stands out. In keeping with Muslim traditions, Lari hits the ice adorned in a hijab and attire that covers her arms and legs. As the first Hijabi skater, in 2012, judges once deducted points from her score for an outfit violation.

“Although I didn’t see that coming, I didn’t judge them because I knew they had never seen someone covered before,” Lari told Emirates Woman.  “They saw it as a prop and a health and safety issue, fearing it might fall off, but then I proved to them that it stays on and it wouldn’t be a liability. Everyone is the same, we are all equal and we should be judged on our talent, not based on where we come from or what we wear.”

According to The Independent, Lari campaigned to have the rules changed. Her hijab is not considered a violation currently, but there’s yet to be a permanent change to the skating attire rules that state headscarves are not a penalty. The ISU is performing an “assessment of the rule and whether it needs to be more specific for the future is ongoing.”

Skating in a hijab also takes courage in today’s society where an ultra-conservative Muslim community may condemn her for participating in a sport (on some YouTube comments, some comments state she is committing haram, or a sin), while some ultra-liberals may say she is oppressed due to her scarf. To choose to skate in a hijab takes courage in the face of these opposing views, making Lari’s position as the first Hijabi skater an important, historical role.

She Started the Sport Late

Many professional figure skaters usually begin skating from the time they’re toddlers, but Lari didn’t start skating until she was 11-years-old after watching the movie Ice Princess. While her family was initially against her taking up skating, she began skating at the only ice rink in Abu Dhabi within Zayed Sports City. Within three years, she was performing triples and spins like some of the pros. Her determination and consistent practice have led her to winning four UAE National Titles, a personal best combined score of 80.09 (Cup of Tyrol 2017), and her highest placement at an international competition: A fourth place finish at the FBMA Trophy during the 2014-2015 season.

 

She Marries Tradition into Her Skating Outfits

Initially, Lari’s parents weren’t keen on letting her skate.

“My father felt that it went too much against our normal traditions and culture for a girl to compete in sports,” Lari told CNN.

The UAE is a conservative Muslim country, so there is an expectation for Emirati women to wear abayas—wide fitting robes—and headscarves while out in public. In figure skating, covering the body is an oddity as many outfits feature short skirts, bare arms and backs, and thin material that allow for flowing looks that make female skaters look like dancing flowers. Lari’s outfits feature opaque fabrics, matching hijabs, and leggings to create striking looks while staying true to her Muslim roots, thus showing that young women can stay true to their chosen faiths while still chasing their dreams.

“People may think or tell you that you can’t do certain things, but I’m going to show them you absolutely can. I am covered, I am Muslim, I am from a desert country, and I’m doing a winter sport,” Lari told Vogue Arabia. 

 

She Comes from a Supportive Family

Lari’s Facebook page and Instagram show the true beauty of her soul, especially since she often speaks about the love she has for her family. Knowing her back story and how she almost wasn’t allowed to skate makes a figure skating fan root for her more.

“My dad actually stopped me from competing in the beginning, not because he didn’t accept me, but he was scared of what society would say about his daughter doing the sport” Lari told Vogue in 2018. She said that after watching her sadness while watching her friends compete, he relented and allowed her to skate.

“He was like, ‘You know what? Forget about what colleagues say at work,’” Lari told the Washington Post. “‘Forget about whoever tells him anything.’ And he was like, ‘I know it’s something that you love. You’re not doing anything wrong. Then why not? Just go and work hard.’ Because my Dad, at work, he’s got people telling him, ‘Why do you allow your daughter doing this?’ But I mean, he just ignores it. He’s like, ‘It doesn’t matter what they say. I’m your father. I want the best more than anyone. And if I knew this was something wrong, I wouldn’t let you do it.’”

Her mother, Roquiya Cochran, serves as Lari’s manager. As shown by their interactions on social media, Cochran serves as a strong supportive shoulder. Seeing the love and support her family gives is an inspiration, especially since women in international sport is a new concept in the Middle East that still has a long way to go before being entirely accepted.

 

She’s an Inspiration

“In my country women don’t do much sport and even less figure skating…” Lari said in Shelina Janmohamed’s Generation M: Young Muslims Changing the World.  “I want to encourage girls from the Emirates and the Gulf to achieve their dream too and not to let anyone tell them not to do sport, not only figure skating but all sports.”

While she’s making headlines by being UAE’s first female figure skater, behind the scenes, she’s an inspiration for children and women who aspire to chase their dreams.

“I tell Emirati women to follow their dreams and to try to find that thing that they are really passionate about and to give it 100 per cent,” Lari told The National. “There will be bad days and good days and on those bad days they have to think about why they love it and that will make them stronger in the future. Just follow your dreams and don’t let anyone stop you from doing what you love to do.”

“There’s a reason why girls don’t get into sport here – it’s a cultural thing,” Lari told Abu Dhabi World. “You get married, you cook, you stay at home and raise your children. These days, girls want more. They don’t want to stay at home, they want to get out there, get an education and do something they love.”

Lari hopes that her struggle to get started in the sport will make the path easier for future generations who want to skate or participate in other sports. By showing her conviction and proving that a hijab should not restrict what women do, she’s on her way to paving a good path for others.

“People should know that Emirati athletes are strong,” Lari said in her Vogue Arabia interview. “We’re confident women who know what we want to do, and we work very hard to accomplish what needs to be accomplished.”

 

Her Parents Founded UAE’s First Skating Club

Her love and practice of the sport led her father to found the Emirates Skating Club; her mother is the club’s CEO. The club currently has 100 members and six staff, but there’s hope the club will continue to grow. Besides skating, the Emirates Skating Club hopes to foster “an atmosphere of mutual respect and social interaction, while promoting positive role models, good sportsmanship and lasting friendships. We hope to inspire strong qualities of discipline, poise, and self confidence that will continue throughout the members life” while following and implementing “all standards, rules and regulations required by the United Arab Emirates Ice Sport Federation, UAE sport authorities, International Skating Union and International Skating Institute of Asia.”

 

She’s One of Nike’s Spokeswomen for the Pro Hijab

Recently, Nike announced the release of their Pro Hijab line. Nike has created a hijab that uses a breathable fabric perfect for sport but still follows Islamic rules for covering hair. The hijab has small, breathable holes, and it’s longer in the back so it does not fall off during competitions according the USA Today. However, it should be noted that Nike is not the first to create a sport hijab as Dutch company Capsters did so in 1999. Canadian company ResportOn also has a sport hijab that has been embraced by the International Taekwondo Federation.

Representing an international brand like Nike helps thrust Lari and her empowering mission to the forefront. She has been featured in ads in not only her country, but in other countries as well to help show that Muslim women do have a place in sports.

 

She’s Been Featured on ESPN and in an Upcoming Documentary

In 2017, ESPN featured Lari in an episode of Flying the Flag. In the episode, Lari talked about her journey and goals as well as how she wishes to inspire others.

Additionally, it has also been announced that a documentary about Lari is in the pre-production stages. The film, Zahra Lari: The Story of an Arabian Ice Princess and the Disney Film That Inspired Her, chronicles Lari and the film that inspired her. U.S Olympian and national figure skating champion Mirai Nagatsu is part of the production team as a presenter and an associate producer. So big things are still in-store for Zahra Lari!

 

She has Huge Dreams!

Lari has several goals she hopes to reach in the next few years. Currently, she is skating in the Challenger Series as well as other international competitions, but she hopes to reach the championship ranks like the World Figure ­Skating Championships, the next Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and the Asian Winter Games and ultimately the 2022 Olympics.

 

Lari’s story and beginnings are an inspiration for us, and we hope she inspires you too! We wish Zahra Lari the best as she pursues her goals and helps others along the way.

 

Kcrush America reached out to Zahra Lari’s camp for an interview, but she could not be reached at press time.

 

 

—-Joelle Halon

Tired of indoor Winter activities? Just because temperatures are hovering to single digits, fun can still be a part of your vocabulary. South Korea offers you various activities that inspire you to ensure your Winter is as busy and lively as other seasons. Here are the engagements that you can choose from.

 

1. Skiing

Did you miss the Pyeognchang Winter Olympics, probably due to the tickets being sold out or being engaged at work? Not to worry. You can make up for it and the better part is that you will not be just in the audience, but will ski where the Olympics’ stars treaded. Among other regions, Pyeongchang County offers a wide range of popular skiing resorts including Yongpyong, Phoenix Park, Jeongseon Alpine Center, and Alpensia.

 

Why ski? Getting out in the fresh mountain air will invigorate your well-being by recharging your energy system. Moreover, as you ski down the landscape, the breathtaking sceneries help reduce your daily life stress, especially through the exhilaration experienced upon a grid over fresh snow. Needless to say, skiing is an exercise that is beneficial to your health, particularly your mind. This is since it engages your body’s core muscle groups to help improve your posture and balance while increasing your body strength. Skiing also gives you a chance to connect with nature. When skiing, you experience the amazing sites from the mountain tops before sliding down with breakneck speed and maneuvering over the rough terrain as the crisp cold air brushes over your entire body. As if not enough, due to the overnight snow, early birds can afford to make fresh tracks on the mountain terrain. Leaving a trail in the smooth white field imprints wonderful memories of the twists and turns made during the skiing adventure.

 

2. Outdoor ice skating

Apart from the year round indoor skating arenas such as Bundang Olympic Sports Center, Korea University ice skating rink and Lotte World indoor ice skating rink, South Korea has other outdoor Winter arenas for ice skating including the Seoul Plaza ice skating rink, Olympic, and Grand Hyatt Seoul ice rink.

The Seoul Plaza ice skating rink; commonly known as City Hall’s rink, is the most popular among Korea’s outdoor skating arenas. The rink usually opens in mid-December and closes late in February. The open arena guarantees you fun as you mingle with people from diverse cultures given that the rink is located in the heart of South Korea, Seoul. The best part is that the experience costs you- as an individual- only a dollar inclusive of the skating gear plus an additional $0.5 dollars for gloves if necessary. Moreover, the offered passes allow you to switch between the small and big rinks throughout your allocated time. The many diverse levels of skaters ensures that everyone enjoys themselves based on their skating experience, including children. In case you tag along with a friend who has probably not skated since the year’s first snow and is taking a break from the activity, the library adjacent to the rink would be an option for him or her to enjoy the warmth and read a book while watching you guys enjoy your skating sessions.

 

3. Ice fishing

Ever thought of prancing on a river’s subsection with just a thin layer of ice separating you from the freezing water below? Then, ice fishing festivals will fascinate you. Although one might have to be patient enough to catch a fish or experience fear due to the possibility of sinking into the freezing waters, the involved thrill, intricate technique and effort is worthwhile. All you need is to follow the guide’s precautions given that the safety team constantly examines the ice to ensure its thickness can withhold the pressure before allowing people to fish.

 

Tired of day fishing? The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, Korea’s 7th Winter wonder, offers night fishing, including the ice, bare and rod fishing. The festival is coupled with snow experiences and cultural events making it a must-attend occasion.

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival is also another event that offers you a chance to walk along ice walls, and fish for trout fish from below the frozen waters while in the comfort zone of your chair. You can also fish from tents using fish rods, or be brave enough to indulge yourself in the Winter cold and fish using your bare hands from a pool of fish provided by the management. After fishing, you can enjoy available recreational activities such as ice sledding, riding four-wheel motorcycles and spinning rail cars on ice and snow.

4. Ice diving

If you have tried Summer diving, this activity should top your list since ice diving during the Winter is more thrilling compared to during the Summer. The South Korean diving experience is unique due to the mix of South China Sea’s warm Summer and colder Winter currents that make its waters rather refreshing. Sites where ice diving can be experienced include Jeju Island, Dong Hae & Gangneung, Nam Hae, and Uljin. Among these, Jeju Island is the most popular site due to its abundant marine life, and the diverse and extensive soft corals that would delight you. Moreover, when done with ice diving, you can enjoy the sun’s reflection on the partly frozen waterfalls. Some of the well-known ice diving sites in Korea include Bum-Sum, Iron Tower, Bongpo and Chuam.

 

5. Heated Spa

For hot spas, Korea offers them in diverse and unique designs including open air and traditional spas. For those looking to enjoy their free time while surrounded by an aesthetic view, open air spas would fit them best since they offer additional breathtaking views to the high water quality. Most of these spas are situated deep in the nature, mostly the mountains, and surrounded by a clean and clear water body to allow an interaction with the environment that soothes one’s body and mind. Some spas to visit are Resom ocean castle, Bugot hot springs and Spa Land Centum city. One could also opt for the traditional spas, which are beneficial to health matters. Such spas include Deokgu Spaworld and Hurshimchung hot springs spa. One can also enjoy health spas, including Seorak Waterpia, which are accredited by the government to provide scientifically-based benefits to the body. If you have a busy schedule you can try the urban such as the Marquis Thermal Spa and Dragon Hill spa, which also offer aroma oil massages.

 

In addition to these outdoor activities, you can enjoy the Korean extra spicy, winter street cuisine to keep your body warm. If you are the type to engage in challenges, I would recommend eating the spiciest toppoki (rice cakes) you find, just ensure you have milk at your side to quench the burning sensation in case you cannot hold it.

 

Make you winter outdoor engagements in South Korea as memorable as possible.

 

—-Pe Arlkh

A Tribute To Jonghyun – A Year Later

Are you trying to decide where to go skiing or snowboarding in South Korea this Winter? Hopefully, this article may aid you to make up your mind.

The ski resorts in Korea, open from November and close around early April, so we are currently in a good season to ski or snowboard. (During the seasons of Spring until early Autumn; most of the resorts will offer outdoor swimming pools, spas, golf courses and numerous other great facilities.)

There are 17 ski resorts that are currently operating in South Korea (plus, two are under development) but for this article, we will only focus and introduce 9 of the resorts that we’ve selected.

 

The following list is not in any order of ranking since we are aware that each resort has its own pros and cons – we’ve also added the website link under the brief description, if you should want to discover more about the resorts in detail.

 

YongPyong Ski Resort | Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do

YongPyong Ski Resort located in Pyeongchang, is the oldest and the largest ski and snowboard resort in Korea which also offers golf during the summer season.

It is also famous for hosting the technical alpine skiing events at the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.  

https://www.yongpyong.co.kr/eng/skiNboard/overview.do

 

Konjiam Ski Resort | Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do

Konjiam Ski Resort is conveniently situated less than an-hour-drive from Seoul and features a rather small-sized ski area but boasts of a massive hotel, condo buildings, top-notch facilities and a golf course for the summer season.

https://www.konjiamresort.co.kr/en/main/main.dev#none

 

High1 Ski Resort | Gohan-eup, Gangwon-do

High1 Ski Resort is one of the largest ski parks in Korea that covers three mountain peaks. It takes approximately 3 hours to get to from Seoul, not just by car but the train as well. The ski resort has the highest elevation in the country. A casino is also available with plenty of other accommodations for the whole family to enjoy.

http://www.high1.com/eng/mSkiHouse/html.high1

 

Deogyusan Ski Resort | Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do

Deogyusan Ski Resort offers the loveliest scenic view at the highest summit of any ski resort in Korea. Muju also has the only Nordic ski terrain – a 48 km jaunt from Muju to Chonju. It is rail-accessible and the only major ski resort located in south of Seoul.

http://www.mdysresort.com/english/ski/slope_01.asp

 

Oak Valley Ski Resort | Won-ju, Gangwon-do

Oak Valley Ski Resort is believed to be the most family-friendly resort in Korea, due to many reasons. Since some of the slopes are wide and inclined; beginners or infants can also enjoy practicing and there’s also a sled slope available for younger children. This ski resort is usually less crowded than you’d expect.  

http://www.oakvalleykorea.com/en/ski/slope.php

 

Alpensia Ski Resort | Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do

Alpensia Ski Resort was featured and also hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics. It offers six slopes for snowboarding with an advanced area, as well as a 1.4km slope for beginners. This resort owns a multi-functional facility that can be enjoyed all throughout the year. Alpensia is a 5-minute car ride to the Yongpyong Ski Resort.

https://www.alpensia.com/en/ski/introduction.do

 

Elysiun Gangcheon Ski Resort | Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do

Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort is one of the nearest ski resorts located from Seoul. The resort has a few steep runs, a unique location that offer great accommodation and is rail-accessible. Because the resort is located in a stunning valley, you can enjoy the view while gliding down the slopes.

http://www.elysian.co.kr/global/eng/gangchon/ski/ski.asp

 

Daemyung Vivaldi Ski Resort | Gangwon-do

Vivaldi Ski Resort which was named after the Baroque musical composer, Antonio Vivaldi, has been the most visited ski resort for nearly a decade and the largest ski resort in the Seoul metropolitan area. It features 12 slopes for all levels with new facilities being installed each year. This ski resort has 10 lifts and due to its operation hours from 8:30 am until 5 am, it is great for night ski lovers.

http://www.daemyungresort.com/web/dm_english/landing/landing/index.html

 

Phoenix Snow Park | Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

Phoenix Snow Park is probably the most snowboard-friendly resort in Korea. It is also environmentally-friendly, created with the minimum disruption to nature. With a 5-star hotel, a condo, ski slopes and a golf course; this resort provides various recreational and amusement facilities for everyone.

https://www.phoenixpark.co.kr/pyeongchang/global/en/ski/slope

— J. Chung.

 

Welcome to our December edition of “What’s in Our Beauty Bag?” December is the official start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, so it’s time to take extra care of our skin. In our November edition, we recommended skincare products for extra moisture, so this month, we’re all about protecting hair. Let’s keep static and dryness away with some our favorite products!*

Komenuka Bijin Natural Rice Bran Moisturizing Hair Shampoo and Conditioner

Bijin’s natural rice bran shampoo and conditioner is Ph-balanced, paraben-free, and safe for color-treated hair. The scent is clean with a hint of oatmeal, so it’s not overpowering or odorous. The oatmeal and rice also help with keeping dandruff at bay, so it is a powerful duo that can help almost anyone get through the winter months.

While it claims to work for all hair types (oily, dry, normal, and fine hair), for oily hair, the shampoo may not be the best as it may make hair too soft, thus negatively enhancing the look of oily strands. However, the conditioner does work well. The combo leaves hair feeling soft, smooth, and silky with a nice, clean shine. Since many ingredients are natural, hair’s natural oils are safe, and over time, fly-aways and split ends look less noticeable. While it is one of the pricier choices on this list ranging from $28-$32 depending on retailer, it’s worth the price for the multi-layer benefits it provides.  

The shampoo and conditioner are $28 a piece on the Komenuka Bijin website.

La’Dor Tea Tree Scalp Clinic Hair Pack

If dandruff is an issue all winter, the La’Dor tea tree scalp pack may be the product you need. After shampooing, massage the hair pack onto your scalp and hair for one minute. Then, let the product sit on your hair for one-to-two minutes. Then, thoroughly rinse the product out of your hair.

The tea tree will make your scalp tingle, but it feels good. Tea tree is a natural astringent that does help with dry, flaky skin because it assists in neutralizing bacteria and fungus. It may also help neutralize oil, but it can be drying if used too much, so this hair pack is a great once-a-week treatment.

While this hair pack assists in treating the scalp, it does improve the overall hair. The tea tree smooths hair and helps create a healthy shine.

The hair pack is available on Soko Glam for $19.

Kracie Ichikami Soft Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner (Orange)

 If your hair isn’t color-treated but is dry or damaged, Kracie Ichikami’s soft moisture line is a good bet. The shampoo and conditioner leaves hair soft, manageable, and easier to detangle thanks to its ingredients: Brown rice extract, cherry blossom extract, Camellia oil, blackberry extracts, and olive oil. Even though there are a lot of pros, if your hair is dyed (especially if it’s temporary or semi-permanent hair color), the shampoo does make color fade quickly.

The apricot scent s also a plus for this set. While the scent is strong, it isn’t perfumey or cloying. It’s a nice burst of summer in the middle of winter. The shampoo is silicon and sulfate-free, while the conditioner is only sulfate-free (the silicone in the conditioner helps lock in moisture).  With continued use, your hair will look visibly softer while improving the condition of your scalp.

Kracie Ichikami soft moisture shampoo and conditioner is available on Amazon for under $25.

British M Organics Hydrate Hair Butter

If you need a deep conditioning mask, this hair butter will moisturize while providing a luxurious spa experience for your locks. Shea butter and argan oil are the main ingredients in this deep conditioning cream, so hair follicles are wrapped in moisture following treatment.

To use, wash your hair. When hair’s damp, smooth the product onto hair and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly. You can also use this butter as a leave-in conditioner by using a small amount on the ends of hair.

The one drawback of this product is that it has a musk scent. The product would be a “win” all the way around if the natural scents of the shea butter and argan oil were at the forefront. However, the scent does wear quickly, so it will be noticeably absent soon after your shower.

This product is safe on all hair types.

British M Organics hair butter is available on Soko Glam for $34.

Skinfood Argan Oil Repair+ Treatment Mask

If your hair is brittle, dry, and damaged from dyes and pollutants, the argan oil mask, which is infused with silk extracts, will help improve hair’s quality if used the recommended twice a week. This product deeply penetrates the hair during the 10-minute setting process, and once rinsed out, it leaves behind shiny, smooth hair.

To use, wash your hair like usual. Then, with hair still wet, apply the mask from the mid-length of your hair until you reach the ends. Secure your hair in a shower cap and let the product absorb for 10-15 minutes. Then, rinse it out of your hair. One recommendation is, while hair is secured in the shower cap, use the blow dryer on low heat to help hair absorb the product more. Doing this always yielded great results.

Skinfood products are always a favorite, and this is no exception.

This mask is available on Soko Glam for $15.

Do you have any favorite products you want us to review and try? Let us know! We love to try new products and share what we love! Tell us in the comments or on Facebook!

* Products that are reviewed and/or recommended are purchased by us. We do not receive kick-backs or samples from companies in exchange for reviews. All reviews are 100 percent based on our experiences and perceptions.

—-Joelle Halon

A still of Jonghyun from his solo MV – Shinin.

This December 18th, 2018, marks the one year anniversary of Kim Jonghyun’s passing. Best known as the former main vocalist of Kpop boy band SHINee, he was also a prolific singer-songwriter, solo artiste, record producer, radio host, and author.

Since his shocking death late last year, there have been numerous articles detailing the incident, his alleged depression, his achievements and accomplishments as a gifted performer and music creator and the impact he has had on highlighting the pressures of the Kpop industry and the importance of addressing mental health issues.

Even now, fans and audiences worldwide continue to mourn his loss, leaving comments on his MVs on YouTube expressing their sadness and sense of loss, underlining the void he left. To those of you who are thinking of him during this time and also to those who are just getting to know his past works, here are the things we loved and still love about Jonghyun.  

SHINee

Group pic of SHINee from their official Facebook page. From left: Onew, Taemin, Jonghyun, Minho and Key.

Known as one of the best live vocal and dance groups in Kpop, SHINee was where we were first introduced to Jonghyun and his soulful vocals. He was an integral part of the group from the beginning but later progressed further into composing and producing songs on the group’s hit albums like Lucifer and Sherlock before debuting his own solo works and working on songs by other notable Kpop stars like IU and his member Taemin’s solo album.

His songs and lyrics

Simple yet honest, heart-wrenching yet comforting, Jonghyun’s multi-faceted lyrics never shied away from his dealings with depression and views on relationships. He was not afraid to reveal emotions that would resonate with his fans who find solace and support in the beautiful melodies and impactful lyrics.

The Jonghyun game

A welcome guest on variety shows, he never spared himself when participating in games and sketches on the many variety shows he guest-starred in over the years, even cross-dressing as ‘Jong-mi’, his female alter ego on an episode of ‘Knowing Brothers’ – a popular Korean variety show.

He also introduced a game he created where players guess the song title from lyric snippets while he was on the show, which guests continued to play on subsequent episodes of the show.

Just him

Jonghyun once replied to a listener on his radio show when asked whether it’s too late to be in search of a dream – “Aren’t dreams to be searched for your entire life? I don’t think it’s too late, and having attained your dream isn’t everything either. It’s the process that’s more important.”

Similar to his insightful lyrics and writings, he often revealed sides of himself during interviews and radio and TV appearances which devoted fans have cherished and shared online over the years. His humility, sensitivity and caring nature often came through whenever he shared his thoughts on issues close to his heart. Here are some notable excerpts from his interviews and radio show throughout his career.

No matter what I say, honestly, people would only judge me the way they want to.

— Jonghyun, Mnet’s 4 Things Show 2015.

My love for music is one-sided. I don’t want anything back. I would be very grateful if someone would enjoy and love it when I show something. But then, I am not going to aim at the music others would like. I want the main thing in my life to be something I like and want to do.

— Jonghyun, Elle magazine 2015.

To me, as a songwriter, when I write with a certain intention which I don’t reveal, and let listeners figure it out and interpret it themselves – that’s also a guilty pleasure to me.
— Jonghyun on his song ‘Guilty Pleasure’, SBS Pop Asia 2016 interview.

I think when comforting someone, we should consider what might be happening that we can’t see with our eyes.

— Jonghyun on his radio show Blue Midnight 2017.

Tell us what you love about Jonghyun!

—-Fie Fed

On December 7, 2018, it was revealed that BTS won the Time Magazine’s Reader’s Poll vote for Person-of-the-Year.

BTS, who debuted in 2013 with “No More Dream” under Big Hit Entertainment, have earned worldwide fame and recognition steadily since 2015 when they released their Most Beautiful Moment in Life Part 1 EP. 2017 and 2018 marked the group’s most successful years so far as they’ve been recognized by the several award shows (Billboard; Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico; Radio Disney Music Awards; Shorty Awards; Teen Choice Awards; YouTube Awards; Yinyuetai V Chart Awards; iHeartRadio Music Awards; Japan Golden Disc; Kazz Awards; MTV Europe Music Awards; MTV Millennial Awards Brazil; MTV Video Music Awards Japan; MTV Millennial Awards; BreakTudo Awards; E! People’s Choice Awards; the American Music Awards; and the BBC Radio1 Teen Awards), charted high internationally, and held successful world tours. Leader RM (formerly known as Rap Monster) even gave a speech to the United Nations.



For the Time Magazine Reader Poll, BTS placed first with nine percent of the vote, beating out second place Planet Earth. The Thai cave divers—the divers who rescued 12 junior soccer team members and their 25-year-old coach from the Tham Luang cave in  Chiang Rai Province, Thailand —came in third.

The Reader’s Poll is not a final vote; the poll is to determine who readers believe had the greatest impact on the events of the past year. Given BTS’ large fanbase, voting was in their favor. However, Planet Earth was a close second with a .12 percent difference between them and BTS.

Time Magazine editors will choose the Person-of-the-Year December 11, 2018. While BTS won the Reader’s Poll, they may not win the editor’s vote. They, along with Planet Earth and the Thai cave divers, are in the running against South Korean president Moon Jae-in; undocumented children; former First Lady Michelle Obama; Mohammed Bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia; Brazil’s new president Jair Bolsonaro; Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Congratulations to BTS on the honor.

—-Joelle Halon

“A thriller” normally refers to a movie genre which involves elements of suspense, tension, black humor, mystery, crime, shocking twists and endings that capture, excite and perplex its audience.

For this article, I’ve introduced just 5 Korean movies that I’ve watched and enjoyed over the years that fall in the category of any or all of the elements just mentioned. The three of these listed movies are well-known and commercially successful mega-hits, while the other two failed to become as big. However, I would not hesitate to recommend any of these movies.

*All the listed movies are not suitable for viewers under 15 years of age due to the nature of the contents.

Lady Vengeance

Director: Park Chan-wook

(Release date: July 29, 2005 – South Korea)

 

If you enjoy black comedy, vengeance, crime mystery, satire and various genres that complete a great thriller movie – this would mostly probably be a good movie for you.

Lady Vengeance is the third movie from The Vengeance Trilogy by Korea’s favorite director and screenwriter, Park Chan-wook.

Since Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) and Oldboy (2003) from the trilogy did so well at the box office and received much praise from the critics domestically and internationally, Lady Vengeance garnered a lot of buzz from the public even before its release. Actors Choi Min-sik and Yoo Ji-tae who played the main characters in Oldboy also feature in this, although the role for Yoo is quite unnoticeable and limited.

Lee Young-ae plays the main character, Geum-ja, who has been released from prison after serving 13-year-sentence for kidnapping and murdering an infant. In the first scene, Geum-ja walks out of prison alone, in a pompous manner, wearing a summer frock with a pair of dark sunglasses when it is evidently snowy winter.

Geum-ja gets a job at a bakery since she mastered the art of baking in prison and prepares to avenge her ex-lover, who turns out to be the real culprit who should have been imprisoned in her place. The reason why she let herself become “the fall guy” is later revealed in the film and as Geum-ja carries out her long-awaited plan, much blood is shed and some of these scenes shown are very explicit and graphical.

The color, red is also seen throughout the whole movie: the eye shadow Geum-ja applies, the lanterns lit in her room and the cake she brings out to the parents of the murdered children are all bright red. Although Geum-ja succeeds in getting her well-planned vengeance to fruition, the ending scene shows her telling her young daughter to live a good life but she laments over her own words since she cannot seem to find atonement for herself.

Antique

Director: Min Kyu-dong

(Release date: November 13, 2008 – South Korea)

This Korean movie is based on Japanese manga artist Fumi Yoshinaga‘s manga, Antique Bakery.

Antique may not be conventionally categorized as a thriller but it does have elements of mystery, crime and suspense as the movie progresses due to the unsolved mystery that is intertwined with the characters’ trauma and tension from the past.

The main character, Jin-hyuk (Ju Ji-hoon) detests sweet pastry – due to a traumatic experience of being forced to consume so many sickly cakes when he was once kidnapped during childhood.

But this doesn’t deter him from opening his very own cake shop in his neighborhood in any way, because his goal is to attract female customers. He has all the funds that he needs, since he has affluent and supportive parents to rely on for investment but hiring a skilled chef who can produce the same type of delicacies that a top notch pâtissier can accomplish, is a difficult assignment.

With much difficulty and persuasion, he ends up hiring Sun-woo (Kim Jae-wook) a prodigy chef who seems to have all the tools necessary to run a very successful cake business.

It turns out that Sun-woo is also a homosexual who used to have a crush on Jin-hyuk when they were in high school. Sun-woo’s former lover named, Jean (Andy_Gillet) visits from France and the movie covers quite a lot of same-sex love scenes.

This film managed to attract one million viewers in Korea within the first two weeks of its release, making it one of the most commercially successful Korean movies ever.

Handphone

Director: Kim Han-min

(Release date: February 19, 2009 – South Korea)

Seung-min is a boisterous and hard-working celebrity manager who is in a lot of debt but trying hard to make ends meet; hoping to make a career breakthrough with the actress that he’s representing. Ji-na is on the verge of making a name for herself but fate abruptly turns for the worse when Seung-min receives a sex clip via his phone; sent from Ji-na’ ex-boyfriend as blackmail.

The clip shows a content that would ruin Ji-na’s career and reputation if it ever got leaked. Seung-min is livid but succeeds in tracking the culprit – only to end up losing his own mobile phone.

(The term, Handphone is refers to a cell phone in Konglish.)

The moment Seung-min loses his phone, everything from his job to his relationship with his wife head south and he’s faced with so many other issues.

A certain man calls and claims to have found Seung-min’s cell phone. He tells Seung-min’s wife meet him to collect it but fails to show up despite being contacted numerous times, which leaves Seung-min very frustrated. He tries everything in his power to get his phone back (since it contains stuff that shouldn’t get exposed) but the only information he has about the mysterious man, is his voice. After being manipulated and blackmailed for some time and having to sort out other complicated problems, Seung-min is nearly out of his mind.

The setting of the movie is around 2009, and locating the mobile phone was not as easy as it is today. The moral of this movie is evident as it is written on its poster – Never lose your phone. However, once it is lost; retrieving it isn’t easy in this particularly movie.

 

A Million

Director: Jo Min-ho

(Release date August 6, 2009 – South Korea)

Eight random people are personally invited to enter a reality TV show, for a chance to win a prize of a sum equivalent to about a million U.S dollars.

None of the contenders know each other and they also have no idea why they were chosen to participate in such a show.

They are informed by the TV director that if one of them can succeed in surviving one week in the Australia, one winner can claim the cash. This seems like a fair offer so the contenders are eager to win and become competitive, until they find out one person gets ruthlessly killed during every task.

They are made to believe the first few killings were accidents at first, however, this cruel routine continues, so the surviving contenders attempt escape to save their lives but this proves to be a near-to-impossible task since the scene takes place at an outback in Australia.

They had no idea that this reality show is a life-threatening trap planned by the crazy TV director who wished them all dead for one reason, which is not revealed until the very end.

 

Mother

Director: Bong Joon-ho

(Release date: May 28, 2009 – South Korea)

If you wish to find a thriller that is well-scripted, funny and heartbreaking at the same time, this should be a good watch for you.

A widow, played by veteran actress Kim Hye-ja, resides in a rural town with her only son, a mentally challenged(?) young man named, Do-jun (Won Bin).

She makes a living by selling herbs and secretly practicing acupuncture without a license to treat people who are sick or infertile. The overall scenery of the neighborhood is very bleak and outdated and it could’ve easily been a convincible setting in the 60s.

Do-jun is probably in his 20s but can just about hold a conversation of a 5-year-old, or possibly younger. He and his best pal, Jin-tae who is a neighborhood thug, hang out regularly to end up usually at the police station. Their actions grieve Do-jun’s mother but she’s always right there to rescue her son. Because Do-jun can’t effectively stand-up for himself, he is often manipulated and teased by the people around him.

One late night, Do-jun tails a high-schooler named, Ah-jung, bothering her if she wants to spend time with him. The next day, the whole neighborhood sees her corpse hanging over the balcony of an abandoned home. People immediately point the blame on Do-jun because a golf ball he was carrying around (with his name on) is found at the location where the girl had been killed.

Certain neighbors witnessed Do-jun stalking(?) Ah-jung that very night, so the detectives are convinced they’ve caught the right man. Do-jun quickly becomes the prime, or possibly the only suspect of the crime. But a rumor goes around that a lunatic (?) has escaped the priory, but the police don’t pay much attention since they think they have the killer.

Due to the inattentive policeman’s driving, the police car carrying Do-jun, gets into an accident. No one is hurt, but I reckon that this was the point where Do-jun recovered some of his forgotten, childhood memories. Do-jun gets locked up but this all seems like a game for him because he clearly fails to realize what trouble he got himself into – or he was just acting?

Do-jun’s mother goes out to attempt everything (and anything) so she can do to clear his name. I mean, anything.

Since she is convinced of her son’s innocence, she crashes the dead girl’s funeral to defiantly inform her relatives that her son didn’t kill anyone and with much persistence, manages to hire a snobby lawyer (whom she couldn’t afford) only to hear him say that they should let Do-jun serve minimum of 4 years in prison since there is no way out for him. Desperate but not let down by the circumstances, Do-jun’s mother sets out to find anything concerning Ah-jung and obtains information that she was reluctantly prostituting herself to support her senile grandmother. She also learns from a high-schooler (whom she and Jin-tae tortured) that Ah-jung kept all the photos of the boys on her flip phone.

I’d hate to ruin the movie by divulging the overall plot for those who haven’t seen this movie, however do check the few vague but vital points below.

*Do-jun had never any displayed physical violence or cruelty, except when someone called him, “stupid” – he’d lash out and do the unthinkable if anyone did.

*Do-jun’s mother carried a tin of acupuncture needles wherever she went, and would say that by inserting a needle into an area of the thigh, unwanted memory can be forgotten.

*While Do-jun’s mother visited her son frequently at the prison, his best-friend, Jin-tae never once came to visit him.

*Do-jun’s charges are later dropped and he’s released from prison because someone else confessed to the murder. The question is, who?

*Towards the end, Do-jun doesn’t act as “dim” as he was at the start of the movie and claimed to remember something that happened to him when he was 5 years of age.

 

—– J.Chung.

Stills of HISTORY from their 2016 Queen MV. From Left to right: Sihyoung, Yijeong, Dokyun, Kyungil and Jaeho.

 

HISTORY – Their story

This five member group featuring Kim Sihyoung, Jang Yijeong, Na Dokyun, Song Kyungil and Kim Jaeho, was the first male idol group formed under Loen Entertainment (now known as Fave Entertainment), the same agency which brought us IU. They debuted in April 2013 with a teaser featuring IU followed by singles ‘Dreamer’ and ‘Tell Me Love’ in the same year.

After eight singles and four EP albums, their final album ‘Him’ released in 2016, represented the peak of their success – reaching number 3 on the Korean Gaon Music Chart. However, right at the cusp of this success, the band officially disbanded in May 2017 due at the time, to the coming mandatory military enlistment of Kyungil and in view of the other members’ upcoming enlistments as well.

 

Writing the next chapter

Storias – the name of History’s fandom, believe the group is simply on hiatus and will return once the members complete their enlistments – relying on the fact that the members remain with the agency as individuals as a reason to keep their hopes alive.

Meanwhile, we searched the internet to bring you the latest updates on the members’ activities below.

A photo of Kyungil from his time as a policeman shared on his Instagram account @_ilstagram and a poster for his upcoming fan meeting in Japan..

Song Kyung Il recently completed his military duty as a conscripted policeman last September and is now embarking on solo activities. Fans can next see him in person in Japan this 16th December in a fan meeting held in Tokyo.

 

Dokyun  in a pic from his Instagram account @na__dokyun.

Na Dokyun enlisted in November 2017 and is now serving in the army. No news yet on what he’ll be up to once he’s discharged but he continues to update his Instagram account regularly so fans can check out his latest activities and pics there.

 

A recent photo of Sihyoung on his Instagram account @rlatlgud.

Kim Sihyoung is another member who’s been quiet in the entertainment scene though he does update his Instagram from time to time, posting photos of himself and places he’s been. He was also seen in streams on AfreecaTV,  at http://afreecatv.com/midnight24 but the site shows his last stream was in May this year. The Korean site which mainly re-transmits TV channels, also allows users to upload their own videos and shows.

 

A poster of Jaeho’s mini album and his recent pic shared on his Instagram account @nnano92.

Kim Jaeho has debuted as a solo artiste under the name of Nano with the song “Forever You and I” on the 20th of February, 2018. He is currently working on a new mini album project as the producer and singer-songwriter. Fans can also check out his Youtube channel Nano for his latest works and covers.

 

A photo of Yijeong and screenshots of his tweets showing his latest work with BTS credited under his pseudonyms J.Pearl and El Capitan.

Jang Yijeong, the maknae (youngest member) of the group has been active in producing music for other acts under his pseudonyms J.Pearl and now El Capitan. He updates his twitter (@_jangyijeong) and Instagram (@elxcapitxn) with his latest pics and body of work frequently and has even worked with Kpop mega act BTS and producing team Devine Channel.

 

Would you like to see HISTORY return as a group sometime in the near future?   We wish each one success in their current endeavors.

 

 

—-Fie Fed

The K-Pop industry will be bidding farewell to yet another artiste set to fulfill his military duty for a short period. On 4^th December, Jaehyo’s agency Seven Seasons confirmed to the public regarding his decision of going into public service, which will run for two years. This will be after Jaehyo completes his basic training scheduled to start the 20^th December at the new soldier recruit training center.

Jaehyo was evaluated for alternative military duty owing it to health issues. In its statement, Block B’s agency asserted that since the artist opted to enlist without raising much attention, he would engage in no official events regarding his duty. The agency further asked for the fans’ support towards Jaehyo’s wishes and assured that he would earnestly fulfill his duty.

Meanwhile, the Block B member has been up and about, as he is hosting “Momento” –a charity photo exhibition-, which started from 28^th November and ends on 19^th December. The exhibition comprises one of Jaehyo’s personal diary entries that details his past depression struggles and suicide contemplations.

We wish him well and will be awaiting his return after his mandatory two years.

 

Source

https://web.facebook.com/190951800954033/posts/1966605713388624/?_rdc=1&_rdr

 

 

—-Pe Arlkh

(From left to right, Jeonggyu, Taeyoung, Hangyeom, 2Soul, Hyun)

Seven O’Clock (Hangul: 세븐어클락) is a K-pop boy group formed by Staro Entertainment and KDH Entertainment in 2017. The group made their debut in March of the same year with their first single, Echo (시계바늘) from their first album, Butterfly Effect. (The band also goes by the name, SOC as their abbreviation.)

In September 2018, it was officially announced that former member, Vaan departed from the group and that the remaining Seven O’Clock members will be managed by a new management company, Forest Network.

Forest Network was founded in 2018 by Oh Joon-sung, who was the director and composer of various K-drama’s original soundtracks including, “Boys Over Flowers,” “Hwarang,” “Master’s Sun,” and etc.

The group now consists of five members, Hangyeom (Formerly known as, A-day), Hyun, 2Soul (Pronounced Yi-Soul, and formerly, Young-hoon), Jeonggyu and Taeyoung.

On October 8, 2018, Seven O’Clock members had a showcase with their second mini album, #7.

We wish to thank the Seven O’Clock members for taking their time out for a great interview and hope that our readers will enjoy getting to know more about the group.

 

*Hello, would you introduce yourselves to our readers please?

Hangyeom: Hello, everyone. This is Han-gyeom, the sexy one of Seven O’Clock.

Hyun: Hi, I’m HYUN, the attractive one of Seven O’Clock.

2Soul: Hello, I am 2Soul, the happy virus of Seven O’Clock.

Jeonggyu: How are you all? This is Jeonggyu, the energetic one of Seven O’Clock.

Taeyoung: Hello, I am the Maknae (the youngest) vocalist, Taeyoung.

 

*Tell us how you became the members of the group. And was it your childhood dream to be in the show biz?

Hangyeom: I actually wanted to be a badminton player when I was younger. By chance, I got to watch Lee Gi-kwang sunbaenim dance and I began thinking to myself that I wanted to learn and become a singer as well. That’s how I stared going to auditions and because I wanted to make my debut as soon as possible, I chose to sign with this company and joined Seven O’Clock.

Hyun: My dream was to become a computer programmer when I was growing up; I was very interested in handling devices and programs. But I loved to sing as a kid as well and that is how I got to take an audition which made me Seven O’Clock’s last member.

2Soul: I had many dreams and aspirations while growing up. I’ve wanted to become a singer, a figure skater, a chef… Then I found out that I was the best at singing, so I started attending an academy. A teacher there recommended that I take an audition which enabled me to become a member of Seven O’Clock.

Jeonggyu: I wanted to be a teacher when I was younger… Then I wanted to become a singer and went around doing auditions and was recommended by a person who was also training to become a singer, to take an audition at the company and that’s how I got into this group.

Taeyoung: While growing up, I wanted to be a police officer like my father. Later on, I also wanted to become a pilot, anatomist and the various. I’ve always enjoyed listening to music while I was at school and it suddenly occurred to me that I wanted to be like Park Hyo-shin sunbaenim while I was listening to one of his songs. I started attending an academy to learn how to sing and that’s how I met 2Soul. He advised to me to take the audition to become a member of 7 O’Clock and the rest is history, I guess.

 

*Tell us how you came up with your group’s name, 7 O’Clock. And when is your favorite time of the day?

Hangyeom: We initially had many options to choose from, when it came to the name of our group but we ended up with 7 O’Clock (SOC). We could’ve been named “Mazinger” to reference that we’re zealously trained at the region of Mapo but we after numerous meetings we decided on our group’s name, 7 O’Clock. My favorite time of the day is when I go home when all the day’s work is done.

Hyun: The name of our group was formed because people normally start their day from 7 am until 7 pm ~ So we wanted to make you guys happy during those hours. I think I am the happiest when I lie down to spend my own free time after the long day is over.

2Soul: My favorite time of the day is when I sleep because it’s a time when one can truly rest, isn’t it?

Jeonggyu: I enjoy meal times the most because I can talk to the other members about things all sorts of things while we eat, plus I get to relax.

Taeyoung: I’m probably the happiest when I’m lying in bed, just before I fall asleep.

 

 

*How did the fandom get its name, Rose? Do you have any favorite flowers or plants?

Hangyeom: Our fandom is called, Rose which basically means the Romance of SOC. My favorite plants are the Boxwood trees because we had lot of those planted in our apartment complex where I used to live growing up, so I feel like going back to my childhood whenever I see those plants.

Hyun: We had other names to choose from when we were naming our fans but we came up with that name because the fans voted for that one. My favorite flowers are Evening Primrose.

The reason behind it is that my birthday is in August and Evening Primrose is my Birth flower.

2Soul: I like Cherry Blossoms because I find them so pretty and they bloom only for a little while before they fall – I think that’s what makes them more precious.

Jeonggyu: The Rose of Sharon because I love its scent.

Taeyoung: Roses for me. Because I get reminded of our fans when I look at the flowers.

 

 

*Which 7 O’CLOCK song, are you the most attached to and why.

Hangyeom: Time machine is a song that I wrote the lyrics to, which was based on my story. I love the song because this kind of takes me back to my childhood.

Hyun: I like Halley from the album. Hangyeom was the one to do the choreography and it turned out really beautiful. When I first came for the audition, I got to hear the demo as the guide and I really loved it back then as well.

2Soul: Echo (시계바늘) is the song for me. I think I feel attached to it the most since it was our debut single.

Jeonggyu: I like the track called, Eyes on You from our Butterfly Effect album. I listen to it often because I enjoy the rap part by Hangyeom.

Taeyoung: I’m very attached to Nothing better since we were given the song after a long hiatus and it has a special sentiment because we performed the song all throughout our recent activities.

 

*Do you have any specialty, interests or hobbies that you’d like to share with us?

Hangyeom: My dancing is my specialty, in my opinion. And I’ve always had an interest in writing lyrics and composing since I got into doing music. These days, I am absorbed in writing and composing songs.

Hyun: I recently got very interested in skincare. Due to the humid weather and the fact that we have to apply make-up often when we have our schedules, got me naturally interested.

2Soul: I’m interested in singing for obvious reasons. I consider myself to be a good singer so I am searching and trying to find what kind of songs suit me well.

Jeonggyu: I am always into sports. Especially, baseball. So I’m always looking up things related to the sport.

Taeyoung: Like 2Soul, I like to watch other senior artists perform and listen to songs.

 

 

*Who do you respect the most in the music industry?

Hangyeom: BTS sunbaenims and Jay Park sunbaenim.

Hyun: Jungkook sunbaenim from BTS and Dean sunbaenim.

2Soul:  BTS sunbaenims, Taeyeon sunbaenim and Baek Yerin sunbaenim.

Jeonggyu: BTS sunbaenims.

Taeyoung: BTS sunbaenims and Park Hyo-shin sunbaenim.

*Sunbaenim or sunbae literally means “senior” in Korean. In Korean society, when someone is older than yourself at the school, hometown or workplace, you call them “선배” (senior).

“님” (nim) is a suffix to any name or title as a form of respect.

 

*Introduce us to a song or an artist that you’d like to recommend to our readers.

Hangyeom: X by Chris Brown and Turn off your phone by Jay Park.

Hyun: Euphoria by Jungkook of BTS.

2Soul: Taeyeon’s Fine, and Park Yerin’s Lay me Down.

Jeonggyu: All the songs by Roy Kim.

Taeyoung: Gift by Park Hyo-shin.

 

*Do you have any color preference? Do you have a certain fashion style you crave?

Hangyeom: I like black and I enjoy wearing Hip-Hop style streetwear.

Hyun: I like black as well and I like to dress in Amekaji style. (*Which translates as ‘American Casual.)

2Soul: I like pastel tones and because I’m quite small in stature, I like loose clothing and attire.

Jeonggyu: Red is the color that I like and I enjoy wearing comfortable training suits and hoodies.

Tae-young: I like pink and any style of clothing, as long as it suits me.

 

 

*Name your favorite food and beverage.

Hangyeom: I like burgers and as a beverage, iced coffee.

Hyun: I don’t eat rice very much and the cuisine/dishes that I like are usually made of flour. My favorite drink is Milkis.

2Soul: I like Korean foods and don’t like to drink beverages particularly but I drink a lot of water frequently.

Jeonggyu: I enjoy foods that have red beans as ingredients and I enjoy drinking milk.

Taeyoung: I love meat and like drinking chocolate milk.

 

*Please share any films, books, musicals that you’ve enjoyed recently.

Hangyeom: I very much enjoyed watching Avengers: Infinity War.

Hyun: I read a book called, “Lesson on Self-esteem” (자존감 수업) which I’d like to recommend.

2Soul: I enjoyed The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion a lot.

Jeonggyu: Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

Taeyoung: I’ve watched On Your Wedding Day recently that I would like to recommend to you.

 

*Are there any game characters that best describe your personality or traits?

Hangyeom: Battlecruiser – StarCraft.

Hyun: Junkrat – Overwatch.

2Soul: Patamon – Digimon Adventure.

Jeonggyu: Garen – League of Legends champion.

Taeyoung: FRIENDS POP for Kakao – Apeach.

 

*Do you have any bad habits that you want to get rid of?

Hangyeom: I have a bad habit of impulsive shopping.

Hyun: I have a bad habit of shaking my legs.

2Soul: I want to stop trying to gobble down food so fast during meals.

Jeonggyu: I habitually wet my lips often.

Taeyoung: I keep touching the back of my head.

 

*How do you maintain your health and deal with stress?

Hangyeom: These days, I take Noni that my mother sends me. I’m told that it’s effective for the blood pressure.

Hyun: I don’t do much in particular but put in an effect to always eat well.

2Soul: I take multivitamin supplements and also Lactobacillus. 

Jeonggyu: I am trying to manage my health from now onwards.

Taeyoung: I make sure I take dietary supplements.

 

*Where would you want to perform the most in the world?

Hangyeom: All the big and small venues in Korea and Time Square in the States.

Hyun: Citi Field in the U.S.

2Soul: All the main and large arenas and domes in each country.

Jeonggyu: I want to perform in South America.

Taeyoung: Anywhere in the world where we can find our fans.

 

 

*Please let us know your hopes, dreams and or goals for next year, 2019. And add something nice to your fans too.

Hangyeom: We want to meet more “Roses” in the year of 2019 than we did this year. Roses, we’ve missed you so much lately…

Hyun: We hope that 2019 will become a busier year for us so we can meet more Roses – we love and are always grateful to you all!

2Soul: In 2019, I wish that all our members and the Roses could always be healthy without any of us getting sick. 

Jeonggyu: We want to meet all the Roses all around the world and would like to thank you for making a way for us.

Taeyoung: Roses, we should meet up often and next year in 2019… Seven O’Clock’s will work extra hard to become more mature in order to enhance ourselves. Thank you!

 

Thank you for the great interview, we wish you all the best in your endeavors!

J.Chung.

While figure skating has declined in popularity over the years due to corrupt judging, changes in scoring, focus on jumps over artistry, and an overall lack of liveliness (how many times do we have to listen to “Swan Lake” or selections from Carmen?), there are skaters that do manage to save the sport from completely slipping into oblivion thanks to their skill and likeable personalities. Recent-era skaters like Yuzuru Hanyu, Nathan Chen, Evgenia Medvedeva, Shoma Uno, Javier Fernandez, and Alina Zagitova are household names in the Figure Skating world with good reason. Now, another name is looking to join the list: South Korean teenager, Cha Jun-Hwan!

Cha, 17, is the first South Korean male skater to earn a spot in the Figure Skating Grand Prix Final. He joins fellow countrywoman and Olympic medalist, Kim Yuna, as the only Korean to earn this distinction.

Cha, who trains in Canada at the Toronto Cricket, Skating, and Curling Club, is coached by former Canadian figure skater, Brian Orser. Orser is an eight-time Canadian national champion, the 1987 figure skating world champion, and a two-time silver medalist at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic games. He is also Kim Yuna and Adam Rippon’s former coach, and he currently coaches Hanyu, Fernandez, Medvedeva, Jason Brown, and Gabrielle Daleman. With that pedigree and roster, Cha is in good hands.

The 2018-2019 figure skating season is Cha’s second season on the senior-level. During the 2017-2018 season, Cha experienced injuries and boot problems, but it didn’t stop him from winning his second consecutive Korean national title and representing South Korea in the men’s event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics where he placed 15^th. Cha was also the youngest competitor in the men’s event and had the highest finish for a Korean male at any Olympic event.

While the new figure skating season is still young, Cha has proven that he is a worthy contender in the rink. So far, Cha’s won a silver medal at the 2018 Autumn Classic, silver at the 2018 Finlandia Trophy, and bronze medals at his two assigned Grand Prix events at Skate Canada and the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki. During the 2018 Autumn Classic, Cha even earned a higher score than his training mate Hanyu, a feat that should not be taken lightly since Hanyu is the best in the world and an insurmountable wall due to his skating prowess and work ethic.

While skating his way to the podium, Cha has earned some notable distinctions:

• He is the first South Korean man to qualify for the Grand Prix Final after earning 22 points with his two bronze medals at Skate Canadaand the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki
• He is the first South Korean man to earn medals at two consecutive Grand Prix events
• He is the first male South Korean medalist at an ISU-sanctioned Grand Prix series.

Cha’s achievements aren’t just for the senior-level. While he skated at the junior-level, Cha became the youngest man to land a quad salchow when he was 14-years-old. In 2016, he set the record for the highest combined score at the junior-level with 239.47 points. Unfortunately, those records no longer stand as Canada’s Stephen Gogolov (age 13) and Russia’s Dmitri Aliev (a score of 240.07) broke those respective records.  During the 2016-2017 figure skating season, Cha also became the first Korean male to earn a medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final. Not bad for a skater who was a former child actor, model, and ballet dancer!

Now, Cha looks to make history again at the 2018-2019 Grand Prix Final, which will be held December 6-9, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Cha seems poised to be the first South Korean man to make the podium at the elite event, but he has stiff competitive in training partner Hanyu—who is injured—Nathan Chen, Shoma Uno, Russia’s Sergei Voronov and the Czech Republic’s Michal Březina. Hanyu, Uno, and Chen are predicted to medal as they are currently the powerhouses of men’s figure skating with several records to their names. Cha and Voronov could be dark horses at the competition, while Březina may play spoiler. The men’s event is set to be an impressive, exciting competition!

Other Notes

Team Asia is represented well at the upcoming Grand Prix Final. For the Ladies’ event, it’s Russia versus Japan as each country holds three spots. For Pairs, China’s Peng Cheng and Jin Yang will have to battle it out against France’s Vanessa James and Morgan Ciprès as well as Italians Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise and several Russian pairs, including favorites Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov. Asian athletes and athletes of Asian-descent did not qualify in the ice dance event.

 

—-Joelle Halon

Life’s tough, and in today’s overly political and problematic society, it’s easy to feel burdened by all the negativity society has to offer. Let’s take a load off and spend five minutes together looking at cute animals just because we need something to distract us sometimes. While we’re here, let’s take some time to learn about these adorable critters.

Asiatic Black Bear

Known as the Himalayan Black Bear, the Asiatic Black Bear can be found in Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Himalayas, and parts of South Korea, North Korea, Japan, and China. The bear’s most recognizable feature is the white “V” on its chest which is said to resemble a sliver of moonlight, thus its nickname of “Moon Bear.”

In the wild, the bears are diurnal (out during the day), but near villages and cities, they’ve taken on nocturnal characteristics. They are herbivores, but they have been known to attack humans to protect themselves and their young.

Unfortunately, populations of the Asiatic Black Bear are dwindling due to poaching as different body parts are used for traditional medicines. Deforestation is also contributing to their plummeting numbers.  China, Japan, parts of India, Taiwan, Russia, Korea, and Vietnam consider it a protected species.

 

Asian Small-Clawed Otter

Out of the 13 native otter species in Asia, the Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest. Located in Southern China, Southern India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, they share their habitats– small streams, rivers, marshes, rice paddies, seacoasts, mangroves—with three other otter species: The hairy-nosed, Eurasian, and smooth-coat otters. The otters live in “families” of 10-15, although they are solitary hunters.

The otters are listed as a “vulnerable species” due to habitat loss, hunting, and water pollution.

 

Bamboo Bat

While cute in the creepy sense, the bamboo bat has three sub-species: The pygmy bamboo bat, the lesser bamboo bat, and the greater bamboo bat. One of the species was discovered in China in 2007.

The bamboo bat’s indigenous to Borneo, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam. South China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. The marking characteristic of this bat is its flat head and fleshy foot pads, the latter of which helps it cling to bamboo stalks. Luckily, this little cutie has abundant populations, so it’s not listed as a vulnerable species yet. However, deforestation could soon threaten the critter.

 

Calamian Deer

Located in Palawan, the Calamian deer is an endangered deer species that’s also known as the hog deer. Unlike other deer, this species runs and hides in brush instead of jumping to get away. Like other deer species, they are active at dusk and dawn. While other deer species have long legs, Calamian deer have short legs that make it easier for them to run through brushy regions.

Calamian deer are considered endangered due to the increase of housing and urban structures, deforestation, and hunting and trapping. The deer are used as food, specimen collections, and even jewelry and other trades. Even with conservation in-place, the population still continues to dwindle.

 

Clouded Leopard

Many encounters with the clouded leopard mostly come from viewing them at the zoo. Since it was discovered in 1821, the clouded leopard still eludes people in the wild, so it is unclear what numbers exist in the leopard’s natural habitats. However, there are an estimated 10,000 clouded leopards in Southeast Asia, specifically in Malaysia, Vietnam, South China, and the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo. This big cat—which is among the smallest of the big cats—is considered a vulnerable species. As far as researchers can tell, they also live solitary lives.

In China, the clouded leopard is known as the “mint leopard” because its spots look like mint leaves. In Malaysia, they’re known as tree tigers. In 2006, a new species of clouded leopard was discovered in Borneo and Sumatra. The neofelis diardi variety is darker and has longer canine teeth than its mainland cousin, the neofelis nebulosa.

 

Dhole

Native to central, South, and Southeast Asia, the dhole—which is also known as the Asiatic wild dog, the whistling dog, Indian wild dog, red dog, and the mountain wolf—is an endangered species in the canidae family. Sadly, diseases from domesticated animals, loss of prey and habitat, species competition, and being killed off by farmers contributes to their population decline. It’s estimated only 2,500 are left in the wild, making them more endangered than tigers. Unfortunately, conservation efforts aren’t strongly in-place for the whistling dog of Asia.

Dholes are about the size of a small German Shepherd, but they have features and markings that resemble a fox. This wild dog has a wide-range of vocalizations that range from clucking like a chicken, meowing, screaming, and whistling.

 

Ezo Fukuro

Considered a sub-species of the Ural Owl, the Ezo fukuro is an owl that is unique to the Japanese island of Hokkaido. This cute, fluffy owl is visible year-round and is recognized by its “hoh-hoh, guruk-hoh-hoh” call. When asleep, the little fluff looks like he’s blissfully smiling. The name Ezo fukuro translates to “Hokkaido owl.” Ezo is the old name for the Hokkaido prefecture, while fukuro means “owl.”

 

Ezo Momonga

Also known as the Siberian flying squirrel, the Ezo momonga is another cute critter that’s unique to Hokkaido. Recognized by his round, chubby appearance and large eyes, the Ezo momonga been chief among the adorable animal residents in Hokkaido.

This little flying squirrel can glide silently for up to 100 meters (328 feet). They are primarily nocturnal as to avoid natural predators. During the day, groups of them nest in trees.

The Ezo momonga is considered to be Hokkaido’s unofficial mascot and appears on the island’s regional railroad tickets. 

 

Ezo Naki Usagi (Hokkaido Crying Rabbit)

Hailing from Hokkaido, the Ezo naki usagi, or Hokkaido crying rabbit, is a sub-species of the Northern pika. This little herbivore, like its pika cousins, loves to dwell in mountainous regions. He’s the most active during dusk and dawn.

There is a belief that the crying rabbit is the inspiration behind the popular Pokémon character Pikachu. The resemblance is there!

 

Fishing Cat

Listed as vulnerable by the International Society of Endangered Cats, the fishing cat’s numbers have sharply declined due to the destruction of its wetland prowling grounds. Commercial fishing and hunting also contribute to the decline, and they are believed to be extinct in Kerala, India.

The fishing cat has population “pockets” through South and Southeast Asia including Nepal, the Himalayas, India, Cambodia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and parts of Thailand. Pakistan also has some records of the cat. However, in some places, namely Thailand, the cats are rarely seen. While they are believed to be found there, there are no confirmed sightings in Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

In Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, hunting the fishing cat is prohibited; in Bhutan and Vietnam, people can hunt the cat outside of the protection zones.

Like the name implies, fish are the fishing cat’s main diet, even though it has been observed to eat rodents, insects, reptiles, snakes, and some cattle.

 

Giant Panda

One of the world’s most-known and most-loved animals, the giant panda is a well-known symbol of friendship and often recognized as one of China’s most famous symbols. The panda was once considered endangered, but wild panda populations have increased. In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature upgraded the panda’s status from endangered to vulnerable (conservation reliant).

Pandas are found in the mountains of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces in China. They are omnivores. In China, they are known as 大熊猫 (dà xióng māo), which translates to “big bear cat.”

In captivity, pandas struggle to mate as it is believed they have lost interest in mating. In order to breed more pandas, scientists use artificial insemination, sildenafil (Viagra), and even “panda porn” to try to encourage mating. Successful births have been recorded. 

 

Malabar Giant Squirrels

Also known as the Indian giant squirrel, the Malabar giant squirrel is a large, colorful tree squirrel found in India. The squirrels are double the size of its American squirrel cousins, and it’s only active in the forests, making them a rare sight for those in cities and towns.

This omnivorous squirrel is a showy creature known for its brightly-colored coat. His fur ranges in color from cream to black to even orange and purple, the latter of which being a rare coat color for any mammal. Their colorful coats serve as an effective camouflage, helping them to hide from predators. Unlike other squirrels that run off when a predator is near, these giant squirrels freeze on trees to avoid detection.

Out of the animals listed here, the Malabar giant squirrel isn’t in danger yet. While numbers are dwindling due to habitat loss, the squirrels are not considered a vulnerable species.

We have other cute critters still to come! Stay tuned for our next installment!

—-Joelle Halon

A group pic of LEDApple from their 2011 AllKpop interview. The lineup at the time comprised (standing from left to right): Hanbyul, Kwangyeon, Kyumin, (sitting from left to right): Jun, Hyoseok and KeonU.

 

From LEDApple to LEDT

LEDApple was a five member music group formed in 2010 by StarKim Entertainment. The group sought to capture audiences and differentiate themselves from other idol groups with members that were able to play instruments as an idol rock band.

The group’s unusual name was inspired by Led Zeppelin and their aspiration to provide performances that shine like the brightness of LED lights and produce refreshing music reminiscent of apples.

Over the years, their fandom – called LEDAs – stood by the group as it went through multiple lineup changes due to some members leaving for health reasons, changes in career goals or music direction, etc., with thirteen members – Junyeong, I-OH, Sunghyun, Minyong, Chihoon, Jaehoon, Keon U, Hanbyul, Kwangyeon, Kyosung, JUN, AKi and Kei – forming parts of the group at different times throughout their years in music.

Their career highs include reaching number six on the Gaon Chart (Korean music chart) with their album CODA and winning the Rookie Award at the 2012 Korean Culture Entertainment Awards. The group’s body of work includes six singles, three mini albums and multiple Japanese and European concert tours.

In 2015, the band finally became a trio under the new name LEDT with only Jun, Kei and Aki remaining as members but disbanded shortly after in 2016. Hence, the group remains more well-known as LEDApple with fans still referring to them as such rather than the short-lived LEDT.

A picture of the final lineup of LEDT before disbandment shared on their Facebook page www.facebook.com/TopLedT. From left: Jun, Kei and Aki.

 

Staying true and finding new passions

Scouring the internet for info on the various LEDApple members over the years, it’s evident that many no longer have much of an internet presence other than old postings from their time with the group.

Fortunately for LEDAs and those yearning for any tid bit of info on their beloved group members, there are some members who are active in their chosen fields and regularly update their social media accounts so read on below to find out more.

 

Left: Jun’s Instagram profile photo @windboy511. Right: Screenshot of Jun’s Youtube channel and uploaded guitar cover.

Seo Youngjun (Jun), the only member that was with the group from its formation to eventual disbandment, remains true to his roots as a guitarist and has a YouTube channel Guitar JUN where he regularly uploads videos of his guitar playing. He also keeps his Instagram account updated with personal photos but has not elaborated on any commercial activities.

 

Kei in a pic from his Facebook account Kei Kyumin Lee.

Lee Kyumin (Kei), the group’s former vocalist once cited wanting to pursue hip hop as the reason for intending to leave the group before deciding otherwise and remaining in the final lineup in LEDT. However, there’s been no update on his endeavors in that genre since the group broke up. Fans can check out his Facebook page under Kei Kyumin Lee for future developments.

 

A recent photo of Aki on his Instagram account @kimhyoseoks.

Kim Hyoseok (AKi) is another member who does not appear to have commercial endeavors in the media. Nevertheless, he is active on Instagram and lists ‘Drummer’ in his profile so presumably he is still working in music.

 

A poster of Hanbyul’s solo concert tour shared on his Instagram account @onestarbyul.

Hanbyul, the Australian former leader and vocalist of the band who left to pursue a solo career continues to grow his music with a European solo concert tour in 2018. He has stated before in an interview that he gave up a career in dentistry for his passion for singing so fans must be delighted to see him make his dreams come true.

 

A photo of Sunghyun on the stage at World Club Dome – and EDM music festival. Inset: A profile  photo of Sunghyun from his Instagram account @roberkix.official.

Sunghyun, one of the group’s former members who left the group earlier in 2011 due to personal reasons is now known as EDM DJ Roberkix. He performs at EDM music festivals and other music venues.

 

A photo of Jaehoon on his Instagram account @zeze_hi.

Jaehoon, a former vocalist of the group, has branched out into the entirely different field of professional special effects makeup. While other former members have stayed within the music industry, Jaehoon – now known as Zeze, formed a makeup studio called Seoulite Studio specializing in sfx makeup. His instagram account is full of pictures of his works and he also has a YouTube account Seoulitestudio showcasing the results of his makeup skills – you’ll be surprised at his very talented portfolio especially his horror and Halloween series.

 

 

—-Fie Fed

Fashion trends are changing from season to season. Each and every season is different and those who are following fashion trends even just a little bit, know what we are talking about. Every new season brings something new. It may be some new color that will be trending that year, some piece of clothing, or special type of footwear. Although there are so many things that were fashionable and trending this year, one, in particular, dominated the accessories fashion department. Different from all the previous seasons, the hat has returned in the fashion eye on a big door. All year round, we have seen many versions of various hats and pieces that resemble hats – both on the runways and on the streets. Following the trend of fabulous and impeccable style of the girls in the fashion capitals, the Asian fashionistas have turned all the fashion trends in their own unique way, giving an example that there are so many different ways that you can pull off certain look or wear an accessory. As many might be just in doubt whether a hat should be a part of their day or evening look, the Asians have upgraded the hat trend into a fashion hat game and delivered some of the most fabulous looks and outfit inspirations. To see what we are talking about, take a look at the biggest hat trends for the fall season and how the Asian fashionistas do it:

Driver Cap

The revival of the driver caps came as a replacement to the baker boy hats. These caps are easily recognizable by the brim at the top section. They were very popular in the late 1800s’ and early 1920s’ and they were worn mostly by the working class. Since then, their purpose turned into a more fashionable one and they returned on the Dior runway, worn by the Asian models and launching the trend as one of the most popular hat trends in the world.

 

Knit beanies

This classic cold-weather accessory was seen as a new fashion option on many runways thoughout the world. Maintaining its purpose of keeping your head warm and being a fashonable garment, beanies have become one of the biggest headwear trends for Fall 2018. They are a must have fall and winter piece, and they come in lots of different options. Their functionality is undeniable when the cold season comes. Some of the inpirations on the trendiest beanies can be seen on the Dolce & Gabbana runway – lots of versions with ears, eyes and a nose. There were some with a logo across the band at Emporio Armani’s and many more. Asia has taken up this trend seriosly and delivered some extraordinary fashion inspiration.

Baseball caps

Baseball caps have made a comeback into the fashion world. They are not considered only as a part of sports gear, but, as a fashionable and stylish accessory piece. As they are lightweight, they can easily be worn with almost every outfit. Many fashion brands changed their position and view on the caps so they decided to include them more in their lines. Gabriela Hearst decided to go with classy caps that can be worn with more elegant outfits, while the House of Holland focused on baseball caps with prints and black leather. This trend hugely impacted the Asian fashionistas and caps can be seen in many outfits and more frequently than ever before.

 

Bucket Hats

Another big hat trend this Fall 2018 are the bucket hats. And it seems that Asia has the perfect way for wearing them. Since they were first spotted at Dolce & Gabbana’s and Prada’s they instantly appeared everywhere in various colors, designs and materials. The bright colors seem to be the perfect choice for the colder weather. This unexpected trend hugely dominated the Asian fashion scene.

 

Fedora hats

Those who are hat lovers, and have at least one hat as an accessory, will find that fedoras this season are the most fashionable as they’ll ever be. This season, wearing a fedora speaks for improved fashion style and sense. From the embellished versions at Dolce & Gabanna’s to the patterned ones at Michael Kors’s, fedoras have reached its peak in popularity. Asian bloggers and models were among the first to promote the fedora trend – in all different colors and sizes.

 

French Beret

Berets may have never been out of style, but somehow it was very limited to see them in the streets and out in the fashion world. They are considered as a favorite winter accessory of many, and certainly favored by many celebrities. This year, the beret trend goes around the classic French beret in number of styles and interesting designs. The variety of colors, materials, prints and textures offers for all the fashion lovers to find their choice. Versace and Armani were just some of the brands that accented the revival of the French beret. This was enough for the Asian trendsetters to deliver some unique looks and beret game.

 

 

 

—-Maja Krdzic

Shila Amzah (born NurShahila binti Amir Amzah) will be releasing her first Malaysian album since 2013 before the end of the year, and instead of rejoicing, fans of the 28-year-old songstress are criticizing her over the title of her lead single.

The track, titled “Bodoh,” is about a couple that breaks up after one of them cheats.

“The song is dedicated to those who are cheated and those who cheated on their partners. We are stupid for trusting the person who cheated on us, and he or she is stupid for leaving us,” Amzah said.

Even with the explanation, it didn’t stop people from criticizing the title (“Bodoh” means “fool”). Commenters consider the song title distasteful and disrespectful, but Amzah isn’t worried.

“Honestly, the title is just a normal title, like ‘I’m such a fool’ or I’m such an idiot’. But I just use one word to describe it because it’s easier to remember,” she said. “I don’t care if people are going to criticise me. After listening to this song, they will understand [why] it is called ‘Bodoh.’”

Instead of criticizing the song title, Shilalas (Amzah’s fanbase) should listen to the song. “Bodoh” is a catchy, soulful track that highlights Amzah’s vocal strength and steadiness. Amzah has a strong ability to emote in her music, and this is especially evident in the track. Amzah’s husky vocals are smooth, strong, and ear-pleasing from beginning to end, and the track is surprisingly soothing despite its subject matter.

Amzah’s return to the Malaysian scene should be something to celebrate given her success in other Asian markets and abroad. She is the first Malaysian singer to find success in Chinese-speaking countries, specifically China and Hong Kong where appearances on the singing competitions One in a Million (2000, runner-up), Asian New Singer Competition (2008, winner), Asian Wave (2012- winner), and I Am a Singer Season 2 (2014, second runner-up). For Asia, she was also named as one of Forbes “Top 30 Under 30” in 2018, and she’s also been recognized by American fans and nominated for Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards.  In addition to her Kids’ Choice nomination, Amzah has been nominated for—and won many—awards in her own country and abroad, making her one of Malaysia’s bright, shining stars.

Plus, she is one of the few Hijabi singers who has earned global recognition thanks to her albums, music show appearances, world tours, and cover songs she performs on YouTube. She also sings in nine different languages (English, Malay, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Tamil, Spanish, and Italian).

Instead of nit-picking a single’s title, Amzah’s success should be praised.

Fans are also upset that Amzah’s sound is heading in a new direction. Amzah, who usually sings ballads, will be trying different genres with her new album release. Part of the change is due her shifting songwriting duties to a new team of writers; Amzah usually writes her own content.

“As a writer, you tend to write the same types of song after a while. There’s a need to take a break so you come to realize what songs suit you best,” Amzah told Star2. “I will never be able to write such happy songs because it’ll come off very cheesy. I’m better at writing songs about heartbreak. So, when somebody else writes it, it feels right. Other people’s perception of yourself is totally different from what you feel about yourself and sometimes that’s what you need.”

One of her recent songs, “If We Are Getting Old,” was written by a Beijing-based songwriter. Amzah performed the track at her wedding in April 2018.

2018 also ushered in Amzah’s “Loving You” tour. The tour celebrates Amzah’s love of music, her friends, family, friends, and husband, but it extends to fans loving themselves and those around them.

If the success of her tour, her new sound, new upcoming album, and new tracks are any indicator, Amzah’s prepped to have an amazing 2019. Naysayers shouldn’t keep this up-and-comer down!

 

 

—-Joelle Halon

On November 22, 2018, Block-B’s leader, Zico, announced he left Block-B. He also departed Seven Seasons after five years with the agency. In September, Ilgan Sports reported that Zico intended to leave the group and company when his contract ended, a rumor that Seven Seasons neither confirmed nor denied.

The remaining Block-B members—P.O, Taeil, B-Bomb, Jaehyo, U-Kwon, and Park Kyung—resigned with the agency.

Seven Seasons addressed Zico’s departure in a statement shared on their website.

Hello, this is Seven Seasons.

We and Zico have ultimately agreed to the end of his exclusive contract of the past five years. The other six Block B members aside from Zico have decided to renew their contracts with us, with all signing completed.

As the time for the members to enlist is approaching, individual and unit activities will take precedence since their enlistment periods differ.

As for Block B’s future activities, we are currently discussing it from many angles with all seven members.

We express our gratitude towards Zico who gave it his all not only as Block B’s leader, but also as a producer, and we wish him the best of luck on his new start. We will continue to cheer him on from here on out.

Zico, who just wrapped up his “King of the Zungle” world tour in October, will focus on his solo career. Currently, it’s not clear if Zico will sign with another agency, but there are rumors he intends to start a one-man agency and releasing new music in the New Year.

“I’m always producing and making music, and right now I’m trying to figure out what direction I’m moving in next,” Zico told Billboard on November 20, 2018. “I’ve worked with a couple of artists and featured on some songs, but I don’t know when it’ll be released yet. So, people should be on the lookout.”

Zico is poised to have a successful solo career due to his background as an underground rapper, an idol, and his chameleon-persona that can easily adapt to different music genres, which is something he’s known to do. From Rap, R&B, pop, dance, and anything in-between, Zico has tapped into each of the genres at various points in his career, so it’s a given that whatever the award-winning artist releases, it’s almost guaranteed to be a pleasing hit to whichever fanbase he is trying to reach.

Following news of his departure, P.O and Park Kyung posted on social media trying to make light of the situation while pointing out Zico’s newly-solo status. Park Kyung said, “Why are you here alone” while hashtagging “It tastes especially bitter today, ha It’s just a drink.” Meanwhile, P.O said, “Hyung why are you here alone” while hashtagging “I especially feel like drinking today. It’s just a beer.”

 

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Seven Seasons plans to continue Block-B as a six-member group. However, solo activities appear to be a priority with military service looming for Taeil, B-Bomb, and Jaehyo.

Currently, Zico features on Sam Kim’s new release, “It’s You.”

We wish Zico and the rest of Block-B luck with their future endeavors!

 

 

—-Joelle Halon

The fashion game is a big thing. As a department of art, fashion has always been an industry that has seen many changes, influences and is the easiest one to show your creativity. From street fashion to high fashion, the world is obsessed about nice garments and accessories. With the rise of the social media platforms, now each and every piece of clothing is closer to you than ever. Following fashion trends, finding inspiration and creativity has never been easier. People want to be nicely dressed, depending on their budget of course. Every day there is some new blogger or IT girl who is taking over the fashion world and social media. The best and the most popular brands might come from Europe and the US, but the most fashionable girls in the past year are certainly the Asian ones. With their unique beauty and impeccable style, they have taken the fashion world by storm, and leave impressions like no other. Asia is a big market so there is enough space for everyone to leave their own mark. However, this 2018 is nearly at the end, and what is for certain is that all the world’s biggest fashion trends were definitely seen in Asia and the Asian girls were rocking them. Here is a list of the most popular fashion trends for this 2018 and how it was done big in Asia:

 

Lavender

Pastels are always trendy when the Spring season comes. However, this year, one particular hue that stood out from all the pastels set was lavender. The color lavender was firstly presented at Victoria Beckham’s Spring 2018 Fashion Show, at Erdem’s Spring 2018 Fashion Show and at Peter Pilotto’s Spring/Summer 2018 Fashion Show. Although lavender in particular may suggest a color that is most appropriate for Spring, the Asian fashion trendsetters were rocking it on jackets and sweaters.

 

All Red

Said to be the coolest, boldest and sexiest color of them all, red made a great comeback this year. This daring color was accepted widely and the fashion world took it to the fullest. There were lots of monochromatic looks that we saw this year – all red- from top to bottom. The first all red looks were spotted on the runways of Dior, Calvin Klein, Valentino and Saint Laurent. The lacquer red trench coats and all red suits were some of the choices of the Asian fashionistas.

 

Hats as the main accessory

At the beginning of 2018, the hats were announced as the main accessories in the fashion world. Starting from the French berets seen at Dior’s to military caps, hats became the latest obsession of many. Moschino, Chanel and Versace were some of the brands that included variety of this accessory in their collections. The world went crazy for it, and Asia found this trend as a great base for sporting some serious hat game.

 

Yellow-on-yellow

It looks like yellow is the hottest color for the Fall/Winter 2018 season. Although commonly considered a Summer shade, yellow is trending as a warm color for outwear. Michael Kors chose yellow for its tartan jackets, Balenciaga for its sculpted coats and Balmain for its fur coats. Besides outwear, many brands offered all-yellow looks like cool dresses, biker suits and jumpsuits.

 

Marjolica Prints

Prints have always been fashionable and part of fashion garments. This year, prints are dominating the runways and the street fashion. The print patterns are very unique and interesting, as well as stylish for combining. This trend has seen a significant growth and was worn by many fashionistas in the Asian countries. The fashion weeks may have introduced the print trend, but it is a fashion that Asia seems to have worn the best.

 

Sequins

Whether on full display on not, the ’70 fashion trend made a comeback this year. It was accepted momentarily as it allowed the sequins and everything glittery to be worn not only at night. Juicy Couture, Alice +Olivia, French Connection and Creatures of Comfort were among the first who incorporated the sequins as a part of their day wear collections. This trend is still very strong and it is expected to continue in 2019, too. For those in need of inspiration, just take a look at the best dresses Asian bloggers and IT girls showed interest.

 

Puffers

This year, one of the trendiest models of outwear were the puffers. The unexpected appearance they made on the runways instantly grew into a trend. These jackets were not the usual ones – they have been upgraded to include various colors, forms and lengths. The first appearance they had was on the Fall/Winter fashion shows as a dramatic and eye-catching version of the regular puffer. Christian Cowen and Kim Shui presented something different, while Prabal Gurung decided to go with an oversize bomber version. The Asian trendsetters opted for more classic version of the puffers.

 

Which “trend” is your favorite?  Let us know in the comment section below!

 

 

—-Maja Krdzic

Kim Gun-mo is a Korean singer-songwriter and pop icon, born in 1968 in Busan and raised in Seoul, Korea. For many years, due to his soulful voice, he was often been dubbed as Korea’s Stevie Wonder. Kim is highly regarded as one of Korea’s most successful pop artists of the 1990s and early 2000s. He covers many genres of music like, Jazz, Soul, R & B, Reggae, and House among other genres. He is a prolific singer-songwriter, as well as being a gifted piano player and TV personality. Since his debut in 1992, he has released 13 albums and won multiple awards including “Album of the Year at the Golden Disc Awards” for three consecutive years between 1994 and 1996. Since his debut, his albums consistently rank high on the music charts.

Kim is said to have shown incredible talent for singing and playing musical instruments since the age of four. He attended elementary school, middle school, high school in Seoul and attained a Bachelor’s degree at Seoul Institute of the Arts, where he was known for being a musical genius. He then served in the South Korean Navy in the late 1980s.

Kim worked briefly at a café and would sing Elton John songs to kill off the time before he got into the music industry. He was later put into a rock group as a keyboardist for a short while. In 1991, he was put in charge of producing the first album for a K-pop dance group called, “Noise.”

In 1992, Kim made his debut by releasing his first album, which was then followed by his second album, “Excuse” a year later. By this time, Kim had already become a big star in the Korean music scene with a large, age-diverse fan-base. He fascinated crowds with his candid humor and unique characteristics. During this time, Korean singer and CEO Park Jin-young, also known as JYP, was one of Kim’s back-up dancers before he debuted as a singer.

In 1995, Kim released his third album, “Mis-Encounter.” Kim holds the record for having the biggest selling album in Korea with the album, which holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling album of all time in Korea for selling 3.3 million copies in the first year of its release. The album includes his most famous single, “Mis-Encounter, a.k.a. Wrongful Meeting.”

 

 

For his first three albums, Producer and songwriter, Kim Chang-hwan, who was recognized as one of the best producers in Korea at the time, worked on most of Kim’s album production as the lyricist and composer along with other songwriters. However, the two fell out after several altercations (over heavy schedules and other issues), and Kim moved on to work with other up-and-coming producers like, Choi Jun-young, Joo Young-hoon, and Yoon Il-sang. He recalls in interviews that he was told by various people that he was only able to succeed due to producer Kim Chang-hwan, which made him doubt whether he should continue making music; however, he put all his effort into his next album.

In 1996, his fourth studio album, “Exchange” was released and many were proven wrong when it became commercially successful, although it didn’t sell as many as Kim’s previous albums.

His 8th album, ‘He-story,’ was the best-selling album of the year in 2003.

In 2004, he released his 9th album, “Kimgunmo. 9” and in the following year, he came up with “BE Like…” which also met with a huge success and critically acclaimed. In 2008, his 12^th album, “Soul Groove” was released which consisted of songs written by Producer Kim Chang-hwan, whom Kim had worked with over a decade prior.

In 2011, Kim released his latest and most recent album, “Autobiography.” In the same year, Kim received a presidential commendation from the government for his contribution to popular music culture.

In recent years, the singer has been in the public eye by featuring with his mother on a hit reality TV show/talk show, “My Little Old Boy” which portrays the lives of single men residing alone. Despite being in his 50s and having the desire to wed, Kim has never been married and through the reality show, the public was shown a side of him that was never seen before.

It was a common knowledge that Kim loves to drink – especially Korea’s favorite drink, Soju. When viewers saw his way of doing “obscure” and unconventional things like decorating his Christmas tree with 300 bottles of stacked Soju, installing a Soju fountain and a refrigerator for storing only alcohol and frequently drinking the alcohol from what should be the water purifier; his obsession with the alcohol definitely raised many eyebrows.

Kim is also an avid gamer and is frequently seen with his tablet with him even when he is on air.

During his long career as a singer, composer, producer, Kim hasn’t failed to offer great music and entertainment for his fans and is considered as one of the most admired artists in the K-pop industry. He has also expressed that his is happier now than he ever was at the prime of his popularity, since he can now take the time to reflect back on his career and appreciate and enjoy what he has in life.

 

—J.Chung.