Who Said What Wednesday

Cherry Coke

This Wednesday only series will provide English subtitles on select videos. We hope you will enjoy.

 

The spring has finally arrived in Korea, although the recent state of the chilly temperature might have indicated otherwise.

The weather has been overly fickle from last year’s winter until now; gracing us with ‘sunshine’ and ‘sudden snow’ in late January and February while it hardly even snowed during December – South Korea’s usual period for mass snow.

According to the lunar calendar, the spring season was supposed to have started from February 4th for this year. But regardless of how the weather has been, springtime in Korea doesn’t last very long (it’s actually the shortest season of the year…) so let’s just enjoy it while it lasts.

Perhaps nothing will represent the Korean spring season better than the cherry blossoms that usually bloom only ‘briefly’ during March until April.
The beautiful scenery of the colorful cherry blossoms will only stick around for a limited time; approximately ten days or three weeks at the most. And the date when the cherry blossoms will be in bloom will differ each year.

For 2016, it is predicted that the flowers will come in bloom from March 29th in the Gyeongju area (located in the Southern part of South Korea) and April 9th for the Seoul region. This is just an estimated prediction, which is similar to the weather forecast but it should give you a rough date when to expect the flowers in full bloom.

According to reliable sources, the best period to view and enjoy the cherry blossoms ‘in full bloom’ in Korea would be from April 7th until 17th this year.

Below, I have selected to list eight cherry blossom festivals that will take place in various cities in the peninsula. Other than the ones on this list, there are many other cherry blossom festivals that are held each year in Korea.

Most of the flower festivals are held annually; some festivals have been around longer and some are more famous and will attract more visitors than others. But each cherry blossom festival will be unique and enjoyable its own way and also the flowers and the buds all come in many different forms and colors.

Gwangyang International Maehwa Festival (March 18 – March 27, 2016)

Location: Seomjin Village, Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam-do

Gwangyang International Maehwa Festival takes place in Seomjin Village, home of the largest number of apricot blossom trees in Korea. At the Gwangyang International Maehwa festival, the visitors can take a stroll beneath the romantic apricot blossoms and try out some local delicacies at the village.

Gurye Sansuyu Festival (March 19 – March 27, 2016)

Location: Jirisan Mountain Hot Spring area, Sandong-myeon, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do

Gurye Sansuyu Festival is an annual spring flower festival that takes place in the near the Jirisan Mountain hot springs area. (Jirisan is a mountain in the southern region of South Korea.)

Events for this festival include sampling or producing the Korean traditional liquor, ‘Cornus fruit Makgeolli,’ and other programs will offer Korean folklore music, dance performances and fireworks displays during the evening.

Jinhae Gunhangje Festival (April 1 – April 10, 2016)

Location: Jungwon Rotary, Jinhae-gun, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

Jinhae Gunhanje Festival is Korea’s largest cherry blossom festival with a number of approximately 340,000 cherry trees, boasting of its largest number of cherry trees in the world,

This festival has a long tradition and has been celebrated since 1952 in memory of Admiral ‘Yi Sun-shin,’ who was in charge of defeating the numerous Japanese invasions during the Joseun dynasty. During the evening, the streets will be crowded with stalls, selling Korean traditional foods, souvenirs, snacks and etc.

Jeju King Cherry Blossom Festival (April 1 – April 10, 2016)

Location: Jeju Sports Complex area, Jeju Island

Jeju’s King cherry blossoms can be seen all over Seogwipo’s downtown area and the Jeju Sports Complex.

The size of the delicate petals of the King Cherry Tree blossoms is the largest among all types of cherry blossoms and they are considered highly for their splendor.

The King Cherry Trees fully blossom for only a couple of days in April but it’s needless to state that the cherry blossoms are worth seeing and very beautiful.

Hwagae Cherry Blossoms Festival (April 1 – April 3, 2016)

Location: Hwagae Market area, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

The beautiful snow white cherry blossom trees are definitely a lovely attraction for any visitors. One of the popular attractions of this festival is the ‘10-ri Cherry Blossom Road,’ which is nicknamed as the ‘marriage road’ – it is said that if lovers walk down the road holding hands, the couple would wed and stay together happily ‘til eternity.

Other attractions of the festival include the historic Hwagae Market and the restaurants that serve the province’s traditional seafood cuisines.

Icheon Baeksa Sansuyu Blossom Festival (April 1 – April 3, 2016)

Location: Dorip-ri, Gyeongsa-ri, Songmal-ri and Baeksa-myeon, Icheon, Gyeonggi-do

Icheon’s Baeksa Village is home to a number of Sansuyu trees which have been growing naturally in the area for over a century.

In early spring, the trees turn a striking bright yellow and during the Icheon Baeksa Sansuyu Blossom Festival, the visitors can participate in Korean traditional folk games and watch the Sansuyu flower parade.

Yeouido Spring Flower Festival (April 4 – April 10, 2016)

Location: Surrounding areas of Yunjungno & Yeouido, Seoul

Yeouido Spring Flower Festival is held in mid-April, during the time when spring flowers like azaleas, forsythia, royal azaleas and others are in full bloom.

The area is well-known for its number of about 1600 Cherry trees.
Vehicles are prohibited to access around the National Assembly area during the festival, which makes it super convenient for visitors to enjoy themselves. The festival becomes much more vibrant at night when the cherry blossoms are lit up in different colors.

Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival (Date not yet available)

Location: Seokchon Lake area, Waterside Stage, Seoul

Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual event held at Seokchon Lake, which is located close to the Magic Island of the Lotte World Amusement park in Jamsil, Seoul – which indicates that variety of performances, exhibitions will be showcased during this festival.
Occasionally, Korean pop acts may perform on the stage in Lotte World, making the area more vibrant and will offer a fun experience for its visitors.

—J. Chung

 

South Korea’s first ever female President, Park Geun-hye was the first-born to Korea’s third President, Park Chung-Hee, a.k.a the military dictator in Korean history. As the daughter of the Korean President, Park Geun-hye grew up with privileges but on the other hand, she didn’t get to experience what you’d consider a normal childhood.

Circumstances got extremely harsh for her when both of her parents got assassinated. (Her mother was shot by a North Korean sympathizer in 1974, while her father was killed by his intelligence chief in 1979) Thus, it is a widely known fact that the current President grew up with only few people to trust and call close friends.

Now, one of those friends whom Park foolishly relied to take care of excessive affairs has not only put the presidency in serious jeopardy but became the main factor for the President’s current downfall.

Since late October, South Korea has been booming and rocking with countless crowds of demonstrators demanding the President to resign.

The previous weekend, organizers said over one million people gathered in Seoul alone, (and various cities around the country) as the largest demonstration that South Korea has ever had since the pro-democracy movement in the ‘80s.

One event management claimed to have gathered over 1.9 million participants in favor of Park‘s ouster.

It was announced today on November of 29^th 2016, by President Park herself that she will relinquish her rights as South Korea’s President and let the Parliament decide on the time of her resignation and overall the rest of her political career.

For this article, I will cover some of the episodes that led to Korea’s biggest political scandal in modern history.

 

Who is Choi Soon-sil?

This woman aged 60, who goes by the name – Choi Soon-sil – and various other names, has been convicted to be the primary person (along with her siblings) responsible for making vital decisions during Park’s administration, masterminding governmental and foreign policy, extorting millions of dollars from corporations and conveniently bending the law to suit herself and her family members.

Choi, who has known the President for 40 something years, even had special access to over a hundred confidential policy documents and is also been reported to have her own set of advisers who had their hands on critical government decisions – which includes the appointment of cabinet ministers – and shutting down the Kaesong industrial park after North Korea took nuclear tests, earlier this year.

Mind you, Choi is an ordinary citizen. Not in any way a politician or someone who was hired to work at the governmental office. By normal standards, she should never have been allowed to interfere with any presidential decisions or responsibilities. As later revealed, who would have thought she would have gone as far as editing presidential speeches?

When local news media first reported allegations that Ms. Choi had edited the president’s speeches; the President’s office initial reaction was that it was “absurd” and “untrue.”

However, after the cable channel JTBC reported they had obtained a tablet computer that belonged to Choi Soon-sil that included drafts of 44 speeches and speeches that President had given as a presidential candidate and later as president. The computer’s log indicated that Choi had received the files hours or days before the President delivered the speeches to the public.

Overseeing some of the speeches was the only charge that Choi admitted to have done, she has so far denied the extortion of funds and etc.

In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, the President also acknowledged that she had let Ms. Choi edit some of her speeches.

So this is how this scandal shook the nation and became the main story in all the media outlets in Korea, in late October of 2016.

Choi Soon-sil was staying in Germany, where she had purchased three houses, in order to primarily let her daughter, who is a dressage rider to train and reside in. Her daughter, Soora Chung also caused a stir since it was revealed in the media that Choi bribed a university to alter their admission criteria especially for her daughter to enroll in, although she was not eligible to attend.

Earlier this month, her admission was cancelled because the media had caught on that Choi’s family was getting another free ride. This resulted in the president of Ewha Womans University resigning amid accusations that she had given Choi’s daughter, a favorable treatment.

On the October 30, Choi returned to Korea sooner than people expected, because she had prior told a journalist that she would not come home to face investigators. However, she was not arrested until 30 plus hours after her arrival.

For more than a whole day, she was free to visit banks and attend to her personal (or otherwise) businesses. Some sources claimed she couldn’t hide out in Germany any longer because she was already in trouble with the police for laundering money there.

On November 20, the prosecutors raided the offices linked to Choi, and she was charged for intervening with state affairs, charging conglomerates to donate millions of dollars to foundations and businesses she owned or linked to. (Choi’s niece has recently been arrested for similar illegal activities as her aunt.) Prosecutors stated the partial of the extorted sum was spent on the Choi clan’s extravagant lifestyles.

Cult Connection

Choi is the daughter of a Korean Shamanistic cult leader, Choi Tae-min, who was the founder of a cult sect called the Church of Eternal Life.

Mr. Choi was once a Buddhist monk; then later converted to Roman Catholicism and is said to declare himself a Maitreya, or a “Future Buddha.”

This situation gets more bizarre because Choi Tae-min is a religious cult figure;

Choi was a mentor for President Park Chung-Hee and remained close to him until he was assassinated in 1979. Kim Jae-gyu, the head of the Korean Central Intelligence Unit, claimed that his motive for the killing was Park’s inability to rid of Choi’s manipulation.

According to a report by the Korean intelligence agency from that era, and later published by a South Korean newsmagazine in 2007, Mr. Choi is said to have approached Park Geun-hye by telling her that he has been having dreams about her deceased mother, and that she had asked him to help her daughter.

The relationship from then onwards have been the subject of rumors that they were in an affair or had a child together. When Choi first befriended Park, he was at the time forty years her senior, right after her mother was assassinated in mid 70s. He soon acted out as a mentor for Park as he did to her father and aided her in organizing a pro-government volunteer group, Movement for a New Mind, in which Choi Soon-sil was also a youth leader.

In a 2007, through WikiLeaks, the American Embassy in Seoul reported that there is circulation of rumors that Choi Tae-min “had complete control over Park’s body and soul and that his children accumulated enormous wealth as a result.”

During his lifetime, Choi Tae-min is said to have used seven different names, married six times and used his connection to Park to his advantage until the time of his death, in 1994.

But the gossip about the relationship (although it was always denied by the Park) has not ceased even after Choi’s death.

 

Current state

As foreseen, Choi Sun-sil was charged with extortion and abuse of power this past weekend, while Park’s two former aides were indicted on charges of pressuring companies to donate to foundations controlled by Choi.

President Park has apologized more than twice on national TV for her ties to Choi but failed to directly address the allegations or answered any questions by the press. It seemed Park was denying all allegations she was accused of and that she was not fully aware of what Choi was up to all this time.

She even refused to be investigated after initially announcing publicly she will do everything that is asked of her, in terms of the investigation. This outraged the Korean citizens and when Park publicly acknowledged her close ties with Choi, her approval ratings dropped to the lowest ever 5%.

President Park raised controversy by dismissing the key members of her office and even went as far as dismissing the Prime minister of South Korea, Hwang Kyo-ahn via a text message

One of the questions, the President cannot or will not give answer till this very day is, what she was doing during the seven hours” in the aftermath of the Sewol ferry disaster that occurred on April 16, 2014.

Suspicions linked to Choi with the unknown whereabouts of Park, some rumors even claim that the accident was related to a sacrificial ritual and the victims were actually “offerings.”

Because Choi Tae-min died in 1994 on the 21st day of the third month, according to the lunar calendar, the 20th anniversary of his death was April 14, 2014, on the solar calendar. Family members had to perform a rite marking the 20th anniversary of Choi’s death, but Sunday was not appropriate, so the rite was performed on April 16^th.

Some claim Park was in the hospital getting skin or plastic surgery even though it might not be easy to get that proof from the hospital.

Because the President was clearly absent during the first seven hours of the ferry’s sinking, (which ended up as a disaster of killing more than 300 passengers on board) people have been demanding answers.

Her spokesperson just kept repeating that the President was in her office working. This prompted public outrage for the truth. If she was working, then why couldn’t she have been giving out orders during the seven hours like any presidents would do?

The family members of the ferry disaster victims and civic group members held a press conference, demanding the President’s resignation since she is seen as responsible for the government’s belated response during the hours of the accident. They urged the government to unveil the truth about the President’s whereabouts during the first seven hours of the accident.

As the citizens gathered in front of Seoul’s City Hall and protested into the night every week, with candles lit in their hands since the very week scandal broke out, it was getting to the point where nobody could deny or ignore this outcry.

And the people have every right to be there to demonstrate because this scandal was not just a simple incident about a woman called Choi acting greedy and abusing her power in the name of politics.

Due to the outcome of this outrageous scandal, the Korean stock prices have hit a low, the nation’s financial state has vastly deteriorated, and not to mention the negative effect this had on national security.

Even the officials who supported the President through and through feel betrayed and no longer support her, while many of them sincerely advised the President it’s best to step down when she can.

 

The Speech

This very day on Tuesday 29^th November, the President made a public speech addressed to the nation. She began by saying that it has been an honor to serve the country for the past four years and that she will let the National Assembly decide the fate of her presidency.

This was her third speech since the Choi scandal.

She stated, “I will lay my course of action and the rest of my presidential term to the decision of the National Assembly. If the political circles suggest a way I may hand over authority in order to minimize chaos in state affairs, I shall step down from the presidency according to the given timeline through legal procedure. “

Park apologized for the inconveniences the recent scandal has caused but seemed to imply that she was not the sole person responsible for the scandalous events. She continued on to stress the fact that she did not take any personal advantage for herself during her presidential administration. But that she was at fault for not “properly managing” the people around her.

This President’s speech took place just days before the plans ahead of the parliament’s vote on a presidential impeachment bill and it must have pressured her since the chances of her getting impeached is very likely at this stage.

The President continued to state, “I have now laid down everything. All I hope is for Korea to get free from this state of chaos and back on track. Since I started politics in 1998 and until now as president; I made utmost effort to work for the nation and the people. I did not work for my personal interests but only worked for what I believed to be for the country.”

President Park concluded by saying, since she has announced something that was bearing heavy on her heart, she will be withdrawing without taking additional questions from the press.

 

We cannot predict at this point how the ending of the last month of 2016 will be, in terms of politics along with the various chaotic incidences that has been occurring in Korea. But I hope we are all in the same mind and desire when it comes to wishing the best for everybody, as citizens of this world.

Here is a note to wish everyone a very merry “Season’s Greetings” and hope that we can all get through the end of this year the best way we can. And we really look forward to the year of 2017 which is just a month away…

Thank you very much for reading.

 

1. Chung.

 

 

If you are a big fan of Korean food but you don’t have time to go to restaurants all the time, try making some easy, healthy homemade Bibimbap.  Bibimbap was my first introduction to Korean food. Meaning, “mixed rice,” a Bibimbap recipe is comprised of warm rice topped with different seasoned vegetables, sauce like gochujang (korean red pepper paste), and often meat and/or an egg. It’s all mixed up, and usually just eaten with a spoon (no chopsticks needed)

It always seemed wonderfully colorful and complex when a bowl of Bibimbap would be placed in front of me, and I’d get hit with the different colors of all the ingredients and sometimes the sizzling sound of the rice if it were served in the hot stone pot. Never did I imagine that it was something I’d try to make at home.

Here are the ingredients that we needed and a quick instruction for you to follow.

Serves: 4

Total time: 45 mins

 

Ingredients

• 3 cups medium grain white rice
• 1½ cups mung bean sprouts
• 1 bunch watercress or spinach
• 1 large carrot
• 2 cloves garlic
• Salt
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil (divided)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or dark soy sauce)
• 4 eggs
• ½ cup napa cabbage kimchi
• 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
• Toasted sesame seeds

Start by preparing your rice in a rice cooker and getting that going. If you don’t have a rice cooker then you might have to look it up for ” How to cook rice without a rice cooker”. I am sure you will find there are different ways to make it.

You also need to use a pot to boil about 4 cups of water on the stove.

While the rice is going and your water is heating up, prepare your vegetables. Wash the bean sprouts and watercress carefully, and then slice the carrot into small stripes. After you’re done with the carrot, mince the garlic and set aside.

 

By now, your water should be boiling . Blanch the bean sprouts for about 1 minute, take them out then add the watercress in for another 1 minute then drain the watercress. Put them in separate bowls. Season each bowl (the bean sprouts and the greens) with salt to taste and a teaspoon of sesame oil. Divide the minced garlic between the two bowls, and toss to combine. Set aside.

In a skillet over medium high heat, add a tablespoon of canola oil along with the julienned carrots. Stir-fry the carrots until tender but still a little crunchy, about 1 minute. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Turn up the heat to high. Add the ground beef to the pan, and brown, breaking up the beef into smaller pieces. Stir i n the soy sauce.

Meanwhile, in a separate skillet, cook the eggs sunny side up, leaving the yolks runny.

To serve your Beef Bibimbap, divide the cooked rice among the bowls, and top with the beef, seasoned watercress, seasoned bean sprouts, cooked carrots, kimchi, and egg. Serve this Bibimbap recipe with a good dollop of gochujang, and a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds. Mix well then now you are ready to enjoy the easiest and healthy homemade Bibimbap!

Enjoy!

—-Lucy Le

In a shocking turn of events, TS Entertainment founder and CEO, Kim Tae-Song, passed away April 27, 2018 according to company officials.

In a statement, the agency said, “TS Entertainment CEO Kim Tae Song passed away on April 27. In accordance with the wishes of his family, we politely decline any inquiries from the press. We ask for your understanding. Please pray that he can rest in peace.”

Kim founded TS Entertainment in October 2008. Shortly after the company’s founding, Hip-Hop duo Untouchable signed and released their debut track, “It’s Okay.” Between 2009 and 2017, TS Entertainment gifted the K-Pop world with SECRET, B.A.P, Sonamoo, and TRCNG. In 2011, TS Entertainment expanded into Japan with the formation of TS Japan.

While Kim and TS Entertainment had its share of success with SECRET and B.A.P, the company has been plagued with high-profile issues due to “slave contracts,” not paying idols, and not putting their artists’ health first. In 2014, B.A.P filed a lawsuit with TS Entertainment due to contract issues; in 2017, SECRET’s Song Ji Eun and Jung Hyoseong filed for contract nullification. With all three cases, TS Entertainment denied the artists’ claims as false.

Prior to founding TS Entertainment, Kim was the manager for SoBangCha, the group known as “Korea’s first boy group.” They debuted in 1987. In 2017, IU released a cover of SoBangCha’s “Last Night Story,” reviving interest in the group and introducing international fans to them.

Kim’s cause of death has not been revealed. We send our condolences to his family during this sad time.

 

—-Joelle Halon

 

Monogram

This Wednesday only series will provide English subtitles on select videos. We hope you will enjoy.

Korean Celebrities who are Biracial or of mixed Korean Heritage

 

 

We’re living in the 21^st century, but it’s still quite rare to find biracial or mixed celebrities of Korean heritage, active in the Korean entertainment industry.

You’ll often see models for commercials, extras in dramas and movies who are biracial or partially Korean – but in order to attain leading roles and become a recognizable in Korea, being a native-level speaker of Korean is a necessity and one of the biggest obstacles for those who want to break into the industry.  

If the entertainers do not have the language ability or adequate communicational skills in Korean, the roles and opportunities he or she would be given, will be very much limited.

The chances of them becoming well-known and successful talents in the Korean entertainment industry will depend on their Korean skills among other conditions.

I’ve selected a short list of biracial or mixed celebrities of Korean heritage who are active in Korea and also added a couple of international big names who are partially of Korean heritage.

 

 

Lee Joon-Kyung, who is known by his stage name Dok2 (pronounced Dokki), is a Korean rapper, producer and co-founder of the Illionaire Records.

Lee’s mother is Korean, while his father is Spanish and Filipino.

 

Daniel Henney is an American actor and model.

Henney was born to a Korean American mother and an American father.

 

Michelle Lee is a Korean singer. Lee was born and raised in Korea by her mother.  She was born to a Korean mother and African-American father.

 

 

Kolleen Park is an American-born musical director, conductor and actress.

Park was born in the U.S. to a Korean father and an American mother of Lithuanian descent.

 

 

Ha Hee-ra is a Korean actress and former child actor, who was born in Korea to a Taiwanese immigrant father and a Korean mother.

 

Natasha Shanta Reid who is best known by her Korean name Yoon Mi-rae, is an American-born Korean rapper and singer.

She was born in Texas to a Korean mother and an African-American father, but was mostly raised by her mother in Korea.

 

 

Kim Su-jung is a Korean child model and actress.

She was born to a Korean father and a mother who is half Korean and Uzbek.

 

 

Jeon So-mi is a Canadian-Korean singer based in Korea. She was born to a Dutch-Canadian father and a Korean mother.

 

Sean Richard Dulake is an American actor and director, born to a British father and a Korean mother but was brought up in Los Angeles. He’s known to be first cousins with Korean actor, Lee Byung-hun. 

 

 

Ameriie Mi Marie Rogers, who is known as “Ameriie” is an American singer, songwriter, author and record producer.

She was born to a Korean mother and African-American father. When she was a few months old, the family lived in Korea for three years.

 

Hansol Choi, better known as Vernon, is one of the rappers from the Korean boy group SEVENTEEN. His mother is American and his father, Korean.

 

 

Lee Dong-jun (born Daniel Sandrin) is an American-born Korean basketball player. His elder brother, Eric followed him to Korea and in 2009 also naturalized as a Korean citizen. The brothers were born to an American father and a Korean mother.

 

Insooni is a Korean singer who was born to an African-American father and a South Korean mother. She was born and raised in Korea by her mother.

 

 

Chanel Iman is an American fashion model was born in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in California. Her mother is Korean and her father is African-American.

 

 

Pascal Dior is a fashion model, bodybuilder and actor who was born to a French-German father and a Korean mother.

 

 

Joo Hyun Mi is a Korean foxtrot singer, whose father is Taiwanese and her mother, Korean.

 

 

 —– J. Chung.

블랙식스 BLACK6IX 쓸쓸해 Alone MV

This Wednesday only series will provide English subtitles on select videos. We hope you will enjoy.

 

A new female K-Pop trio, Honey Popcorn, debuted March 21, 2018 with their mini album Bibidi Babidi Boo. The all-Japanese member group, comprised of members Yua Mikami, Miko Matsuda, and Moko Sakura already have Netizens and international K-Pop fans talking, but not in a good way. The trio, who are under the Kyun Create label, are Japanese Adult Video (JAV) stars, which is what people focus on more than the members’ other career notes.

While it should be noted that Yua Mikami (Momona Kitō) is an award-winning porn actress (she has two DMM Adult Awards and one Adult Broadcasting Award), she is also a former member of SKE48 (a sister group of AKB48) and a current second-generation member of the AV idol group Ebisu Muscats. Miko Matsuda (Okada Risako) is a former member of NMB48 Kenkyuusei (another AKB48 sister group), while Moko Sakura (Ito Yuu) is a former member of Bakusute Sotokanda Icchome. Porn isn’t the only industry the girls were involved in as they do have singing and idol backgrounds. However, the porn aspect is problematic in Korea where porn is illegal. However, this doesn’t stop the sexualization of idols in an attempt to attract young women and uncle fans willing to spend the money, but this, apparently, is okay.

 

 

K-Pop fans have protested the group’s debut, even causing Kyun Create to cancel Honey Popcorn’s debut showcase on March 14, 2018. Fans’ protests include reasons like K-Pop’s direct influences on youth such as encouraging donations and visiting friends and family, so having “former AV stars” debuting may encourage young Koreans to join the porn industry. In one remark, Netizens hypocritically pointed out how Honey Popcorn’s debut will lead to virtual harassment. Regardless of if the girls are porn stars or not, K-Netz are no strangers to harassing idols, even over something as minor as an idol reading a feminist novel or constantly criticizing someone’s weight. JAV careers aside, even if Honey Popcorn were former nuns or bunny trainers, they would still be picked apart by K-Netz because it’s an unfortunate part of idol culture. 

The fact that the girls are JAV actresses shouldn’t even be news. While the porn industry is often frowned upon, those in the industry have a career just like anyone else. The career choice should only be scrutinized if actors or actresses or forced into it.

Overall, it’s hypocritical to criticize Honey Popcorn for their backgrounds, especially since the overall Asian idol machine is based upon sexualizing idols. Then, there’s the behind-the-scenes actions that take place in the music industry that no one wants to talk about, and that is a bigger issue than someone’s willing choice to act in adult videos or become a nude model.

However, does anyone realize how many members of AKB48 and its sister groups graduate to the adult film scene (Tokyo Kinky covers this on their site; source is not linked due to nudity)? While it’s not clear if this is a willing choice, and while there’s possibly no direct correlation between AKB48 and its related groups, how many former idols end up in the porn industry due graduation or because groups failed, prior sexual abuse within the industry, or former idols and/or trainees need to pay back training costs to the companies that signed them? Depending on the type of porn or nude modeling, the career turn can be lucrative, but starring in AV roles isn’t more problematic than the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry.

 

Missing the Bigger Issue

Netizens criticizing Honey Popcorn are picking the wrong battle, especially those who say their debut spits in the face of the #MeToo Movement. These are the people who are missing the bigger picture by focusing on a Red Herring, and thus missing the point of #MeToo and #TimesUp.

In the Asian entertainment industry, like with Hollywood, sex is rampant. In an industry where young girls are fetishized to attract male fans, AV stars re-debuting as a K-Pop group is relatively sane compared to what many go through in the Asian entertainment world.

The Asian entertainment industry has had a long history of sexual abuse. In recent years, ex-trainees and former idols have began to discuss the issues in the industry but under the guise of anonymity. In 2013, an ex-trainee talked to JTBC about the sexual abuses in the K-Pop industry.

“When I belonged to an agency, even though I was a minor, I was often asked to be present at a bar. In truth, there are agencies that function more like brokers that trade female trainees to different sponsors,” the ex-trainee said.

In the same interview, a broker who helped set up meetings between trainees and sponsors said, “To meet a female trainee, a sponsor would be charged on average approximately 220.00 USD per meeting. If they want to meet a very young female or someone from a prominent agency, they may be charged 700 to 900.00 USD. A sponsor must make a reservation at least a day ahead, and only those that are already on broker’s customer list can get a meeting.”

 

Like Korea, Japan, too, has a history of brokers who negotiate prices for their idols in exchange for sexual favors. After the singers graduate or retire from their idol groups, some speak out about the abuses they face, some even describing forceful rape by older men. Young trainees and stars are expected to perform sexual favors in order to “kickstart” their careers, pay training fees, and have educations paid for during their pre-debut years. According to Shohei Sakakura, the author of AKB48 and the Black Companies, sexual abuse and exploitation are “an open secret” in the Japanese idol and entertainment industry: Everyone knows about it, but no one wants to talk about it, but they certainly want to engage in it. Female idols, often clad in cute “Lolita” outfits, sing and dance for the masses—especially older men—who fawn over their every move. In some cases, young idols even perform in Tokyo’s Red Light District of Kabukicho, adding another seedy layer to an already problematic industry.

Sexual favors and the mistreatment of minors is not exclusive to Japan and Korea, as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China also have former idols—both male and female—who’ve come forward to tell their stories, albeit, anonymously.

Over the years, scandals have come out pointing to the larger issue in the Asian idol machine. One of the biggest and most known is the Open World Entertainment scandal involving CEO Jang Seok-woo and the charges he repeatedly sexually abused six female trainees (he admitted to the charges) since 2008. In the court documents, police state the young women were also drugged and abused by members of a male idol group.

Another case involves the 2009 suicide of Boys Over Flowers actress Jang Ja-Yeon. Jang, who was 29 at the time of her death, wrote letters documenting years of abuse caused by her agent Kim Sung-hoon (Kim has also been accused of molesting a male model in Japan). According to Chosun, in her letters, Jang wrote that she was forced into performing sexual services for 31 high profile men on over 100 occasions. In her writings, Jang also revealed the names of those men, a list that includes producers, financial executives, and journalists, and that if she did not comply to these acts, her agency threatened to sue for breach of contract.

Out of the 31 people named, only six were prosecuted.

In 2018, Variety reports Jang’s suicide case* may be reopened for investigation and is pending a ministry ruling. The #MeToo movement and a petition may be responsible for the motion for another investigation.

Along with Jang, others have been tied to sexual harassment cases and prostitution within the industry.

 

In 2010, Taiwanese singer and former 3EPBeauties (3EP美少女) member, Estrella Lin, made accusations that her agency, AntzStar and CEO Phillip Choi attempted to pimp her out to investors while she attempted to have a career in South Korea. Lin ‘s accusations include false imprisonment and that male and female entertainers are equally pimped out to potential investors. In a book she wrote about her experiences, Lin states that sexual favors and “sponsorship” are a rule, not an exception.

Lin’s accusations have been met with some dissonance. A fellow trainee, Cherry, pushed back in a Gossip Queen interview stating Lin was the one actively seeking sponsors and that was not pimped out. Lin has responded by not backing down from her claims.

In 2015, male idol group 5tion (pronounced “Ocean”) filed a lawsuit against their then-Japanese agency’s, Yewon Entertainment, CEO “Mrs. Hong” for sexual harassment and dissemination of pornographic material. In their claim, 5tion stated that Hong shared pornographic videos and images via instant messenger, touched the members inappropriately without permission, and told sexually explicit jokes.

In 2016, several actresses and singers were wrapped up in a prostitution scandal. Among those speculated, Korean-Canadian singer G.NA was confirmed to be involved in the sponsorship scandal. During the investigation, G.NA stated she was fooled into prostitution by her broker, who arranged meetings between her and a Korean-American businessman. Besides G.NA, three others were identified as being female prostitutes. According to Seoul Central District Court’s public documents, the others accused include Lee Harin of the former girl group Sugar, beauty pageant contestant Choi Eun Young, and up-and-coming celebrity Lee Min Ji. In addition to the four women, an entertainment label director identified as Kang and a staffer identified as Park were charged with illegal prostitution of female celebrities, and two “Johns” by the names of Choi and Park were also charged.

Despite G.NA’s claims, and despite overwhelming evidence and claims by other celebrities who’ve had similar experiences, fired-up Netizens called for G.NA’s deportation and skewered her online, showing the typical hypocritical nature toward idols while blatantly ignoring the larger issue in the industry: Idols, actors, and actresses are being sold for sex, and everyone continues to look the other way.

 

In Defense of Honey Popcorn

To say Honey Popcorn goes against #MeToo is wrong, especially if the members willingly chose the AV career. If no one forced the members into it, then they made a career choice they felt was right for them. With this, their career choices—even if controversial—shouldn’t prevent them from pursuing singing careers if it is something they want to do. If they sing and have AV careers at the same time, so what? It’s not a big deal.

Honey Popcorn’s debut is not a problem, and they should be allowed to sing and perform. Their activities in Japan are separate from their Korean activities. Yes, they show up in searches for porn when researched, but in a country where porn is banned, the results would be filtered anyway. Honey Popcorn won’t bring about civil disobedience or cause people to enter the porn industry in droves. If anything, especially on the international side, they should bring about conversations about sexuality, what should be considered sexually healthy, and maybe even why it’s wrong to objectify men and women in potentially harmful ways. People should be able to separate Honey Popcorn Korean music group from Yua, Miko, and Moko the Japanese porn stars. The girls can separate the two career objectives, so regular audiences should be able to do so too.

Focusing on Honey Popcorn and trying to stop them is a form of control many K-Pop fans feel they have and should have. Fans feel they own the air idols breathe, but instead of trying to assert control over people, they should try to channel that energy into changing the overall Entertainment Machine for the better.

K-Pop fans, if they want to get in a twist about someone’s non-kosher career choice, should really look into the K-Pop industry and the Asian music industry as a whole because there are many problems that people willingly ignore that need to be changed. Young people go into the industry hoping to become stars, but the dark underbelly exists that suggests their bodies should be sold and manipulated to get anywhere in life.

Where are the cries for banning the industry in order to get laws changed to prevent sexual abuse and prostitution of male and female trainees and stars?

There are none.

If there are some, the cries are too quiet.

Focus needs to shift on the true issues in the industry so the idolized stars can pursue their dreams in safe environments and so aspiring entertainers can avoid the perils those before them face or have faced. Honey Popcorn’s debut is a false issue masking the darker issues no one wants to address.

Shift your focus, people. Honey Popcorn is not the real issue.

*In 2019, Jang Ja-Yeon’s case has been reopened.

 

—-Joelle Halon

As it has been announced that a new Kdrama with Hyun-Bin and potentially Park Shin Hye, in the lead female role, will begin filming sometime in the second half of 2018 in Granada, Spain, we thought it would be nice to provide a bit of history about the literal title of the drama, “Memories of the Alhambra.” In the northwest direction of Spain’s highest peak, Sierra Nevada, there lies a pearl, the Alhambra Palace. In 899, this World Wonder was first built as a fortress, after being abandoned for hundreds of years, the Moors from North Africa rebuilt it and turned it into a royal palace. Alhambra represents the perfect combination of Arabian architecture and garden art. It is an Islamic footprint in this Catholic country, a mark of the Moors’ history.

Much history about the Moors has been lost and some say purposely destroyed, thus who were the Moors? It is stated that they lived all over the world before/after Christ’s time and descendants still live today, designed great structures and much more. In 1984, the UNESCO listed Alhambra as a World Heritage Site. Many movies, songs and poems were born from there.

Behind the filigree walls, the history of Alhambra started in the late 8th century, when the Moors came into power in the Iberian Peninsula, and most specifically in Granada. Although the fortress they built wasn’t in use for long, it became the foundation of the future palace. From 1002 to 1031, due to the infighting of Caliphate of Córdoba, the state fell into a number of small Muslim kingdoms. The Emirate of Granada was one of them. The Nasrid Dynasty took over this little kingdom in 1236, and two years later, the Alhambra project was on.

(Court of the Myrtles)

Among all the palaces, gardens and bathhouses, there are two main areas that stand out: Court of the Myrtles and Court of the Lions. In 1333, Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada built Court of the Myrtles and its surrounding palaces, opening a new chapter to Alhambra as a royal palace. However, Yusuf I was murdered at the age of 36. His 16-year-old son, Muhammed V, became the new Sultan in 1353. During his 39 years in charge, there were 3 years he was forced into exile. He learned different architecture styles from different places and built Court of the Lions upon return. Generalife, the summer palace of Sultan, was later connected to Alhambra, providing it with flowing water. Until this point, Alhambra has been successfully transformed from a fortress into a living complex.

(Court of the Lions)

Unlike many other historical sites, Alhambra was not a product of a kingdom’s prosperity, but a witness of the endless Islamic royal murder, the decline of a dynasty, and the end of a history. It is said that 36 most brave warriors were killed here because the king doubted about their loyalty. In 1492, the last Sultan of Granada surrendered to the Catholic kingdom, putting an end to the ruling of Muslim in Spain.

The most fortunate thing is that the new king did not destroy this art treasure. Instead, it became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella. It was from here that Christopher Columbus received financial support for his expedition; it was this expedition that revealed the Age of Discovery and made Spain the first world colonial empire. In the hands of Catholicism, Alhambra has seen some partial changes and new Renaissance buildings around it, such as the Palace of Charles V. However, no matter how different it may look from the past to today, the history it has seen, the stories it could tell, would be ever-lasting.

The plot of “Memories of the Alhambra” sounds like fun, so we say much success to the cast and crew and we are looking forward to watching!

—-Lizzy Ren
*pictures from online sources

Seonozzi WAY Feat Lee Michelle 이미쉘

This Wednesday only series will provide English subtitles on select videos. We hope you will enjoy.

Over the years, South East Asia has become one of the most popular travel destinations for visitors from all over the world. Popular due to the amazing diversity of things to do, South East Asia is a fun and affordable destination to travel to.

Within South East Asia, you will be amazed by the variety of activities on offer. Whatever you are looking for, you’re bound to find it in South East Asia! Because of this, it is a destination that you can return to many times and never see the same thing twice.

The biggest difficulty can be narrowing down what you want to see! To help, here are our top picks for things to do:

1.  See the sunrise at Angkor Wat (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

Built over 1,000 years ago, the magnificent Angkor Wat temple is the largest religious structure in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of many temples near Siem Reap, it is best viewed at dawn when the sunset is beautiful as it rises majestically above the temple complex. Spend the rest of the day exploring the other temples in the area, such as the Bayon and Ta Prohm.

2. Island hop in Thailand

Thailand is one of the most diverse and interesting countries in the world! Every year, travellers flock to its beautiful islands, where you can relax and swim at the beautiful beaches, as well as enjoy the many shops, restaurants and bars. Some of the most popular islands include Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi and Koh Phi Phi.

3. See the Giving of the Alms in Laos (Luang Prabang, Laos)

A beautiful and moving experience to watch, every morning the Laotian people offer food to the thousands of Buddhist monks who live in the beautiful town of Luang Prabang. It’s amazing to see the long line of orange-clad Monks collect the alms. Just remember to be respectful, such as by remaining silent and not using flash photography.

4. Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)

Another truly spectacular sight is the enticing Ha Long Bay, which you can visit via a relaxing and picturesque boat ride through the striking landscape. Make sure you bring your camera!

5. Komodo National Park (Indonesia)

South East Asia has many amazing animals, but one of the most incredible are the ancient-looking Komodo Dragons. Get up close and personal with them at this National Park in Indonesia, recently voted as one of the 7 Wildlife Wonders of the World. There is also great hiking and diving in the Park.

6. Eat as much as you can in Penang, Malaysia

One of the many amazing places to eat delicious and traditional food in South East Asia is Penang. Enjoy traditional dishes at the many fabulous restaurants, and also have a tasty snack from one of the many street food stalls. Make sure you try an Asam Laksa and Mee Goreng!

7. Jump into Kuang Si Falls (Luang Prabang, Laos)

One of the most beautiful natural sites in South East Asia is the spectacularly blue Kuang Si Falls, an incredible waterfall complex. Nearby is the Free the Bears sanctuary, where you can admire some adorable bears who were rescued from the bile trade.

8. Do a yoga class in Ubud, Bali

Famous after receiving a mention in the popular book Eat, Pray, Love, Ubud, Bali is a great place to recharge the soul, with many vegetarian cafes and classes, as well as beautiful temples and spectacularly rice fields to explore. It also has many yoga classes, where you can just drop in for one or two classes.

9. Visit a floating market (Bangkok, Thailand)

Enjoy the amazing colours, sounds and smells of the popular floating market in Bangkok. You’ll be amazed at the variety of produce that is available, and how well the locals navigate aboard a boat. It’s a wonderful and fascinating experience.

10. See the Batu Caves (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Take a break from the hectic pace of Malaysia’s fabulous capital Kuala Lumpur, and head out to the beautiful Batu Caves. Here, you can get some exercise as you hike up to admire the limestone clif faces which are dotted with caves. Many of these have been converted into temples, so this is a place of great cultural and environmental beauty.

There are many wonders in South East Asia, but this is our pick for the best of them all. South East Asia is a wonderful, safe and enchanting place that offers so much to travellers of all ages and interests. Whether you want a relaxing beach break where you can forget all your worries, or alternatively prefer an adventurous holiday with lost of adrenaline activities, South East Asia is the perfect destination.

 

—Georgie Eileen

A visit to Cambodia’s World Heritage Temples of Angkor complex is understandably high on the list for many travellers. Get to know a little about the history, meaning and features of its most renowned and iconic temple, Angkor Wat, then start planning that once-in-a-lifetime trip with some very useful tips will make your trip even better.

General knowledge about Angkor Wat

Stretching over some 400 square kilometres, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire of the 9th to the 15th centuries, including the largest pre-industrial city in the world. The most famous are the Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations .
Angkor Archaeological Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. At the same time, it was also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to looting, a declining water table, and unsustainable tourism. UNESCO has now set up a wide-ranging programme to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings.

How to get around?
Angkor is located about 20 minutes to the north, by car or motorbike, from central Siem Reap.

– Tour buses feature guided, air-conditioned comfort but also are subject to large crowds and lack of options. Be sure you know which temples are being visited as some of the larger buses only go to the 2 or 3 main tourist attractions, and leave out important “secondary” sights. The cost is about USD25-70/day including driver and guide.

– Cars with drivers can be hired for single or multiple days. While all drivers are familiar with the area and happy to suggest good routes, most speak little English and are not tour guides. For a licensed tour guide, the charge varies from US$45 per day to USD$50 for a driver and English speaking guide. It is customary for the drivers to ask for USD$5-$10 extra for trips to further temples such as the those of the Big Circuit, Banteay Srey and more for remote sites like Beng Mealea.

Taxis booked from the airport booth to central Siem Reap charged a fixed price of USD$7 and included fliers advertising cars and drivers for Angkor Wat at USD$30/day.

– Motorbikes (with drivers) can be arranged through any guesthouse for about USD$6-$8/day. Again, drivers might ask for more to visit remote ruins. Some drivers can speak a bit of English, and can give you information about Angkor and Cambodian life. Drivers are required to be licensed and must wear their grey numbered vest while travelling within the confines of the Angkor park. Motorbikes can be rented by foreigners (cost: USD$10-$15 / day). It is recommended to carry a map with you in case of renting a motorbike.

– Tuk tuks can be arranged through guesthouses, offering space for one or two travelers. Figure on USD$12 for the main Angkor temples, and more for outlying temples. Like the motorbike drivers, they must be licensed, may speak some English, and must wear grey numbered vests while travelling within the park. Add USD$3 extra fee if you would like to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Extra fee is for the tuk tuk driver to start the tour at 05:00 instead of 08:00.

It is strongly advised to use a tuk tuk recommended by the hotel, otherwise you can be scammed badly.
– Bicycles are a very convenient option to visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, the little circuit or even the big circuit – depending on time you have and how big fan of Khmer temples you are. Renting a bike in Siem Reap is easy and cheap (USD$1 per day, in most of places you don’t even have to leave passport, locks for bikes are provided, check the bike before and ask for some amendments if needed, eg, pumping air, oiling the chain). It is about 6km from the city to Angkor Wat (if you go first time, make sure you go by the Visitors Centre which is the only place where you can buy passes). In the little circuit most places are at most 15 minutes away from each other by bike, so it is actually not a problem for a regular tourist (without much biking experience) to visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and spots on the little circuit in one day.

What are real tips when visiting Angkor Wat?

– Be ready to walk
There were no elevators in the 12th century, and there certainly are none there now. The full experience requires a good deal of walking and stair climbing. Don’t whine — this is one of the most incredible experiences anywhere in the world. Going a bit deeper might just put you beyond the reaches of that busload of tourists that just pulled up and make the experience that much more memorable. You’ll encounter staircases, long paths to enter and exit temples, plus all of the walking around inside each one.

Additionally, many of the popular temples are far apart and require driving in between. This often leads to a number of impulse stops to check out other temples on the way, maybe buy a refreshment or hit the restroom. Be ready for a full day.

– Make sure you start early, and pack for multiple days of adventure.
Literally you could spend a month exploring Angkor and still not feel like you’ve seen it all. At about 400 square kilometers, Angkor is impossible to experience in one day. Tickets are available in 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day options, and I encourage you to spend at least three days there.

Arriving early morning puts you ahead of the crowds and offers an opportunity to snap photos without having to spend five minutes figuring out how to frame out that line of tourists causing a traffic jam on the staircase. It also makes it much easier to plot out what you want to see over the course of your visit, as you’ll get a feel for how spread out the temples are and which ones are must-dos and which ones are maybes.
On a side note, you may feel “templed out” afterward. If other temple sites are part of your Southeast Asia travel plans, it’s best to space them out a bit (unless you’re a fanatic, in which case the 7-day pass is right up your alley).

– Skip sunrise at the main temple

I know.. It’s beautiful but For real. It’s crowded! While breathtakingly beautiful, it’s hardly the only perfect sunrise spot in the complex. We shared our desire to view the sunrise at Angkor Wat with our driver, and he insisted that we instead take a twenty-minute hike up a path he knew about to an often-overlooked temple. We nearly had the place to ourselves, and it ended up being the most memorable sunrise experience of my life.

– Bringing your own food and water
The temples are removed from central Siem Reap. It’s possible to buy food and water from local vendors on site, but much easier to bring your own.

-Bring a guidebook, even if traveling with a guide.

There’s simply so much knowledge to take in that it’s overwhelming without having a reference at your fingertips. Each temple has a story.

There are plenty of hawkers selling guidebooks onsite if you forget to plan ahead. Just be ready for a long chat if you’re feeling indecisive, as they aren’t keen on taking “no” for an answer.

– Best time to go
It is possible to visit Angkor Wat at any time of year, but peak season is from November to February, when the weather is dry and cooler, although it’s still hot for most. The best time of day is sunrise when it is cooler but crowded, or lunchtime when most of the tour groups are in town.

—Lucy Le

On Saturday, March 24 South Korea’s catwalks and trendsetters converged at Dongdaemun Design Plaza for the last day of Hera Seoul Fashion Week 2018. The global fashion event is held twice a year in March and October, providing designers of all caliber with the opportunity to compete with the likes of London, Milan, New York and Paris. Our V.I.P. access was for the kiok (키옥) fall/winter 2018 collection and it did not disappoint.

Kiok is curated by Kiok Kang and her daughters Crayon Lee and Coco Lee. Creative Director Crayon and Head Designer Coco infuse New York style with the sleek looks of Seoul effortlessly in their collections. Upon entering the runway show, classic American jazz played boldly over the speakers. The setting was serene with soft lighting yet cosmopolitan. We were transported to New York City. And whether the sisters realized it or not, having buyers, trendsetters and everyone in between sprinkled around the u-shaped catwalk was as if their official kiok Instagram account had come to life — black, grey, denim and, if absolutely warranted, a splash of color. Checking their social media account could do nothing to prepare spectators for what would happen once the lights when down.

The stark white catwalk carpet had its plastic covering gently, yet swiftly, snatched off and all went black. The jazz music faded out. Suddenly, Quay Dash’s “Queen of this S**t” thumps through the speakers, pumping and New York-underground raw. The tempo and NSFW lyrics sets the tone for the first model’s fierce-as-hell stride from backstage. The show’s begun! Arrogant, edgy pieces stride the runway. American urban style meets classic fashion cuts head on in muted browns, unpretentious plaids and denim combinations that made onlookers eyes wide. Sweatshirt textures smashed together with open, obvious stitching that was refreshing. What presented as a straight cut would be synced with ruffles or tight pleats. Shoulder pads were prominent but not in that 1980s stereotypical “revitalized” fashion. The styles look like what you could make but can’t pull off.

Music from LeiKeli47 takes us into the middle and final portion of the show, shouting to the rafters, “So what I got an attitude,” and “Baby, it’s a look” over simple kit drums. The young women on the runway (with one natural haired black woman, to boot!) sashayed off and returned for their final walk in full body clear plastic garment bags over their outfit. The audible gasp from the audience was an unforgettable moment when they stormed out! kiok does ready-to-wear that demands confidence from its wearer. No wonder stars like Heize love it!

Learn more about kiok

Website | Instagram

 

Contributing Writer – Ashley Griffin

Ashley is a diverse writer, blogger, and YouTube Personality. Find “Multifacetedacg” on YouTube and shoot her a message on Twitter

 

Image credit: Sydney P. Davis
https://www.instagram.com/sydthekid7675/

Sihanoukville (Krong Preah Seihanu), formerly Kompong Som is a seaside town featuring Cambodia’s best-known beaches. Some tourists refer Sihanoukville as Snookyville or even Snooky, though none of the locals know the term Snookyville or Snooky.

Sihanoukville is the country’s main seaside destination and acts as a gateway to close-by idyllic undeveloped islands such as Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem. Attracting a much lower number of tourists than neighboring Thailand, Sihanoukville is popular for its natural beauty and largely untouched beaches. With plenty to see and do, Sihanoukville is one of the greatest cities to explore when in Cambodia.

How to get to Sihanoukville?

You can easily get in Sihanoukville by plane, bus, taxi, boat, train or even by helicopter (if you are willing to pay >$1000 for your transportation). More commonly are by plane and by bus. The airport is located 17km to the east of town, on the edge of Ream National Park and you can even fly from Malaysia or Vietnam. If you have more time to travel, you can take the bus, it is cheaper but it’s sure a much longer trip. You can also get there from Phnom penh or Siemriep or even from Ha tien province, Vietnam. The ticket for the bus is about $10-$15 depends on where you get the bus.

How to get around Sihanoukville??

Distances between the beaches are a little too long to walk comfortably, but getting around is easy, as the roads are wide and bike taxis (motodop) are everywhere. The standard price is US$1 per trip, although expect to haggle at night or if the distance is long. They’ll gladly pile on two people and their luggage too. For larger groups, car taxis can be called up by phone (flat US$5 to most places around town).

There are dozens of the ubiquitous tuk-tuks around the new bus station and the accommodation areas. They are some of the most persistent and over-charging drivers in Cambodia; they have formed an “association” for price fixing – a trip to the bus station, US$2 in Phnom Penh, costs US$3 if your bus company pays but they will hit you for US$6 if you arrive at the bus station and want to go to the beach. If you have decided where you will stay it can help to call for a pick up; even if it is not free, it may save you some overcharging.

Things to do in Sihanoukville?
There are so many fun things that you can do here but these are the most common activities that tourists wish to do.

* Scuba Diving
There are many islands off the Cambodian coast that have lots of coral and fish. All the dive boats in Cambodia leave from the Sihanoukville port area. There are 4 PADI Dive Centres, one of which, Scuba Nation PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre, provides a range of diving and snorkeling services, day trips. The Dive Shop, another PADI 5 Star National Geographic dive center, offers island based bungalows as well as over night trips to the outer islands. EcoSea Dive, offers SSI courses as well. The newest dive centre, Island Divers, also offers various diving services. Angkor Dive is also based on Koh Rong Samloem who offer over night trips to the island to not only dive, but also to experience the traditional way of life in a Khmer fishing village. The main scuba diving area is at Koh Rong Samloem Island located 14 miles offshore, as well as at Koh Tang Island 35 miles from Sihanoukville. Overnight trips are necessary in order to reach Koh Tang. There is also some shallow diving at Koh Tas some 6 miles from Sihanoukville, but it’s mostly reserved for when the weather is too rough to get all the way to Koh Rung Sanloem. The best diving Cambodia has to offer is the overnight trips to the Koh Tang Group, where large pelagic are seen regularly and visibility is double what you will find at the closer sites. Two dive day trips usually range from US$59-85, overnight trips US$185-325 all inclusive.

* Snorkeling

Many restaurants at Serendipity Beach advertise a snorkeling trip for US$15, but most are unable to properly explain what their offer includes, but most will be the same trip organized by one of the travel agents which includes breakfast at the beach, a visit to two snorkeling spots and a three hour lunch break at Koh Ta Kiev. If you are serious about your snorkeling, you should consider going with one of the three scuba diving shops to ensure you get proper gear.

* Kayaking
Marina Road Otres 2. Kayaking the mangrove lined Ou Trojak Jet river is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the beach, this short river can be easily kayaked in a day with several stopping points for refreshments. At the source are the Monks Water Garden and the Otres Pagoda.

Mini Golf
Mollie Golf Mini Golf, Wat Kraom, Victory Hill 12pm to 6pm and by appointment. Enjoy an afternoon playing 18 holes of Mini Golf in a garden setting in the countryside of SihanoukVille. Included are the classic windmill hole, the SihanoukVille Golden Lions hole, and the Ream Island water hole. Free entry to the gardens and drinks are included. Private parties are welcome at $3 to $4 per person.

If you think these activities above are too much, you can find a spot and relax on the beach or go get a massage, do some shopping for souvenirs at the shopping area downtown. I am sure whatever you decide, you will have a very fun time.

Food and Drinks
For food and drinks, along the beaches, especially at Ochheuteal Beach, there are many food stalls and some restaurants serving grilled, meat, chicken and seafood with chips/fries and a beer for US$3-4. There are a good many restaurants in town as well. Sihanoukville has a surprisingly diverse set of cuisines.

For drinks, the trend on Serendipity Beach is to advertise with permanent ‘Happy Hour’, which usually implies cocktails for US$2-2.5 and draft Anchor beer for as little as US$0.50-0.75. The latter is only recommendable if you don’t mind drinking it with ice, however, as it’s often not as cold as it should be.

—Lucy Le

MAMAMOO Special Episode

This Wednesday only series will provide English subtitles on select videos. We hope you will enjoy.

In mainstream K-Pop, band-type girl and co-ed groups are hard to come by with many of them failing to gain traction. Often, the groups end up disappearing into obscurity.

In 2017, Rolling Culture One’s five-member girl group, Marmello—which is considered an Indie group despite their poppy sound— officially debuted with a band concept, a risky move in a competitive market that’s not kind to band-concept girl groups. The members, guitarist Choi Yuna, bassist Kim Do Eun, leader, keyboardist, and synth Yoo Da Eun, drummer Jeon Ga Eun, and vocalist/maknae Kim Hyun A, face a tough climb in the K-Pop industry, but their talent shines in the three singles released since their debut: The debut track, “Puppet,” their second single, “Can’t Stop,” and their March 2018 release, “Wake Me Up.”

Marmello have been together since 2014. The girls attended high schools in the same district, which is where they are believed to have met (how the group formed has not been addressed by the members or their company at present). Between then and their debut, the quintet has performed at various gigs. The group has an undeniable spunk about them that make them charming, and their personalities shine in their tracks to help their music have a refreshing sound.

The group’s name is derived from a flower that represents seduction as there is hope they can seduce the public with their unique sound and ability to be fluid in the Rock genre. Each member has a background in writing and producing, and all five girls attended college and majored in applied music.

On February 19, 2018, the girls revealed the name of their fan club after allowing their fans to vote for their fandom name. Out of the four choices—Quince, Marshmello, Garden, and Marmalade—Marmalade became the fandom name.

Marmello is a group on the rise, so we hope they get attention and continue to grow. Check out their discography so far and enjoy the music!

“Puppet”

“Can’t Stop”

“Wake Me Up”

 

 

—-Joelle Halon

The legislature of South Korea’s capital Seoul chose to shut down all PCs at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays to stop the “way of life of working extra time” among government representatives.

The activity reported on Friday will start on the 30^th of March, and it will steadily abbreviate the working day to 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Friday of April. From May on, all PCs will be closed off by 7:00 p.m. each Friday.

Be that as it may, the measure does not appear to be broadly famous. The Seoul government is taking into account exceptions in uncommon conditions, with 66% of its representatives applying.

As indicated by information from the Service of Faculty and Administration in January, government representatives in South Korea work a normal of almost 2,740 hours every year, around 57 percent more than laborers in other countries.

During South Korea’s national assembly, prior to this month, a law was passed to minimize the maximum work week hours down to 52 from 68.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s is seeking to change the work culture in the country, where it is almost expected to work extra hours and where paid leave is underused.

 

—-Denise Coley

On March 13, 2018, Sports Hochi announced Japanese vocal group Kalafina will disband in the spring. However, the group’s agency, Spacecraft Produce denies the report on the group’s fanpage, stating only one member will be leaving, making the group a duo. Spacecraft did not say which member would depart other than announcing one member expressed her intentions to leave and that her request has been accepted.

Sports Hochi announced that relations between Kalafina—which is made up of members Wakana Ōtaki, Keiko Kubota, and Hikaru Masai—and Spacecraft fell apart following composer Yuki Kajiura’s departure from the company. In February, Kajiura announced she would be working as a freelance composer following contract disputes with Spacecraft. Upon her announcement, Kajiura also announced the nature and future of Kalafina may change.
Kajiura created Kalafina in 2007. Their 2008 debut track, “Oblivious,” was the opening theme song for the anime series The Garden of Sinners (Kara no Kyoukai Fukan Fuukei).

At one time, the group had four “face” members: Ōtaki, Kubota, Masai, and Maya Toyoshima, who left in 2009. However, Kajiura, who worked behind the scenes, is and was considered Kalafina’s main member and the heart of the group.

Kalafina held their tenth anniversary concert at the Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo, Japan this past January. During the concert, the trio performed 32 tracks and announced their anniversary documentary that is slated to show in theaters. Spacecraft announced the film, titled Kalafina 10th Anniversary Film: A Sparkling Harmony Spun out of Dreams, is still scheduled for release March 30, 2018. All three members are expected to appear at the premiere.

Besides the movie premiere, Hochi Sports reports that Kalafina currently have no future release plans. The group held its last live event March 11, 2018 during the Toyosu Music Collaboration show in Tokyo, Japan. Their radio show, Kalafina Club, is expected to run through the end of March. Spacecraft noted that even though group activities are not scheduled for now, fans may expect individual collaborations with different music artists.

Even though the group is losing a member, knowing that Kalafina may still continue is a positive update for fans. With five studio albums, two compilation albums, several anime themes, and 21 singles including “Lacrimosa,” “Sprinter,” “Hikari no Senritsu,” and “Storia”, Kalafina have a storied history that will hopefully continue.
Spacecraft is expected to make an official statement about the group’s future in the coming days.

—-Joelle Halon

ManiacMoneyMakerz

This Wednesday only series will provide English subtitles on select videos. We hope you will enjoy.

Go Back Couple is one of 2017’s drama gems. While it didn’t receive the attention dramas like Goblin, While You Were Sleeping, Because This is My First Life, and Strong Woman Do Bong Soon did, it is one worth checking out. The 12-episode drama initially aired October 13 through November 18 on KBS2, but now you can catch it on Viki with full subtitles. If you’re on the fence, here are some reasons you need to check it out.

The Cast

Go Back Couple has a fantastic cast. Jang Nara (Ma Jin-Joo) and Son Ho-Jun (Choi Ban-Do) are believable as a husband and wife facing difficulties in their marriage. Jang and Son (who grabbed his first leading role in this drama) show authentic emotion with each other that make their performances standout. Jang and Son play off each other way and have good chemistry. Son, especially, has a good range of nuances that make him enjoyable to watch. His chemistry with Jang as well as the supporting cast makes the drama feel relatable.
The supporting cast also has amazing chemistry to where every character feels like they are truly friends and people anyone could run into in real life. Heo Jung-Min (Jae-Woo) and Han Bo-Reum (Bo-Reum) turn in great performances as the cutesy couple we all knew in school, but they do it in a way that isn’t obnoxious. Kim Byeok-Ok (Choi Gi-Il), Jo Ryun (Kang Kyung-Sook), Lee Byung-Joon (Ma Pan-Suk), and Kim Mi-Kyung (Go Eun-Sook) are fabulous as Ban-Do and Jin-Joo’s parents. Jo Hye-Jun (Chun Seol) and Lee Yi-Kyung (Go Dok-Jae) are charming as the oddball friends, while Go Bo-Kyul (Min Seo-Young) and Jang Ki-Yong (Jang Nam-Gil) are perfect as the “first loves” of Ban-Do and Jin-Joo, respectively. Finally, Im Ji-Kyu is perfect as the sleazy Park Hyun-Suk.
Go Back Couple’s cast is special because everyone felt like family. There isn’t a loose piece that makes anyone feel out of place. Because of this, it’s easy to be absorbed into the story as it unfolds.

It’s an Emotional Rollercoaster

Go Back Couple has a lot of heart, but it’s not heavy-handed in how it forces its audience to deal with the content. However, the show will make you laugh one minute and searching for Kleenex the next as it switches between college hijinks and family affairs.

Ban-Do’s friend Dok-Jae is great comic relief without being too over-the-top. During his scenes, he provides great laughter and reminded me of two friends I had in high school that did the same things he did (either intentionally or unintentionally). He has a personality that viewers will either love or hate, but it is guaranteed he will remind viewers of someone they once knew.

There are number of heartbreaking moments in the drama, particularly the scenes with Ban-Do, Jin-Joo, and Jin-Joo’s mother. For anyone who’s ever lost a parent, the secondary story about Jin-Joo and her mother will yank at your heart. The chemistry between Jang, Son, and Kim Mi-Kyung add to the emotional depth of this side story, making it an important theme. Whenever these three are on screen together, it’s a guaranteed tear-jerker.

It’s Relatable

Despite it being a light fantasy drama due to the time-travel element, the overall story is relatable on different levels because each character is someone the audience may have known at some point in their lives including the broken couple, a family experiencing loss, stoic kids with difficult home lives, over-achievers, the class clown, and someone who will do anything to impress the one he loves. There is a character that could make anyone say, “that’s me.”

The Child Comes First

The lead couple of Ban-Do and Jin-Joo stand out because many viewers can connect with the issues they have as a middle-aged couple. The stress of raising a child, the pressures and struggles of work, and even being a young mom at the crossroads of still relating to a younger generation and needing to be an adult and being there for your child. Even when they travel back in time, it’s clear that their child is their number one concern even as the pair rediscover themselves through new loves and improving their already established friendships.

A Different Spin on Time-Travel

Many wish they can go back to the past to change life paths. Go Back Couple does play on this trope, but in a way to where changes aren’t drastic. There’s are changes that involve helping friends discover their self-worth, and there is one major change involving Park Hyun-Suk that, while cheesy, is totally worth it given his character. However, the characters, overall, remain true to themselves but with stronger self-awareness in a way that the time-travel arc doesn’t cloud the entire series. In fact, viewers may often forget the characters went back in time 20 years because the story is that well put together.

Age is Just a Number

Jang Nara and Son Ho-Jun are 36-years-old and 33-years-old, respectively. In Go Back Couple, they have to be simultaneously 38 and 20-years old. On paper, this seems like it wouldn’t work, but it does. A huge kudos needs to be sent to the makeup and wardrobe departments for how well they made the age differences work for not only the main characters, but for the supporting cast as well.

At 38, Jang’s character looks tired and fed up with the dark circles under her eyes, the stringy hair, and the frumpy “ajumma” attire. At 20, she’s fresh-faced with glowing skin, bright eyes, and healthy, bouncy hair. At 38, Son’s character looks ragged, greying, with dulled skin; but at 20, he’s vibrant and fresh. The contrasts between the ages are worth seeing alone.

Speaking of age, a lot of reviewers weren’t happy that Ma Jin-Joo and Choi Ban-Do still acted like their 38-year-old selves when they were in their 20-year-old bodies. Ignore that negativity! The discrepancy here is necessary to the story, especially since the characters are aware they are only temporarily in these bodies and that it’s an opportunity for a do-over. There’s a reason the characters are taken back to this moment in their lives, especially since– while it was a good period for them back when they were actually 20 as shown in flashback scene– it was a tumultuous time for their friends. This is something they didn’t realize at the time. Now that they are older, they have a chance to set things right and “save” some of their friends that needed it. However, Jang and Son balance the dynamics well.

Jin-Joo and Her Mother

One of the secondary stories in the series is between Jin-Joo and her mom. The scenes featuring them along with Bong-Do and Jin-Joo’s mom have a way of squeezing the heart. As mentioned, for anyone who’s lost a parent, this storyline will be the most relatable out of the entire series because of its portrayal of love, regret, and wanting to act out in kinder ways. The scenes require Kleenex, so keep some handy!

Go Back Couple has a lot of reasons to be a drama list beyond what’s listed here. Check it out for yourself and let us know your thoughts!

 

—-Joelle Halon