K-pop stars who made an appearance at “K-collection in Seoul” on Sunday at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena at the Olympic Park, Bangi-dong, in southeastern Seoul. (SBS) K-pop stars strutted down the runway on Sunday, moving to the rhythm of their hit songs. “K-collection in Seoul,” a fashion show/concert held at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena at Olympic Park in Bangi-dong, featured popular K-pop gro...

(Yonhap News) South Korea's popular K-pop group "Shinhwa" said Monday it wants to remain the country's longest-running "boy band" as it announced plans for a new album and concerts after four years away from the stage. Clad in sharp black suits, the six members of the group expressed their excitement at a news conference in Seoul to mark their 14th anniversary and upcoming Asian tour. "I feel ...

A cosmetics company canceled a Feb. 21 preview of a Japanese commercial featuring actress Kim Tae-hee, as Japanese netizens criticized her for advocating Korea’s sovereignty over Dokdo. Dokdo is a group of rocky islets in the East Sea that Japan has claimed as part of its territory and calls Takeshima. Kim, who has been enjoying popularity as an actress and a model for television commercials in...

Swizz Beatz, a renowned American rapper-producer, said on Monday K-pop is leading a trend for new music and that he wants to play a leading role in introducing Asia to the West through Korean music. (Yonhap News) "What I found in Korean pop music is a new expression. The world is open for new things and I think right now K-pop in Korea is leading in that area. I'd like to be the one to introduc...

Although Asia-centric, major entertainment companies seek to reap U.S. benefits Since Girls’ Generation appeared in two major U.S. talk shows and Wonder Girls launched their TeenNick television movie, “The Wonder Girls,” last week, the buzz has been overwhelming. Yet, underneath all the hype lies a question: Why is Korean pop looking to America? “Insofar as America is the world’s biggest music...

JYJ member Kim Jae-joong made his first appearance in Turkey for a fan meeting Monday. About 600 fans attended the meeting at Ankara University. A female student of Ankara University holds up her hand to show off nails painted in Korean and Turkish national flags, 6 February 2012 (GMT). (Yonhap) President Lee Myung bak introduces Kim Jae-joong to the students of Ankara University, 6 February 2...

Hallyu sees new turn as more K-pop stars dominate TV drama and performing arts scene This is the last of a five-part series on hallyu. ― Ed. For Girls’ Generation fans, the year 2012 must come as an exciting one. Not only are they going to see their favorite hallyu singers on YouTube music videos and K-pop shows, but they are also going to find the girls on the small screen, as TV drama actres...

Hallyu idol group 2PM. (Yonhap News) Pop group 2PM will be teaching the Korean language on air in Japan, according to the group’s local agency. The group will appear on Japan’s public broadcaster NHK from April, hosting a five-minute segment of its popular Korean-language education show. The segment is slated to be titled “2PM’s One-point Korean,” and the members will be mainly teaching useful ...

Donghae, a member of popular boy band Super Junior, was picked by foreign fans as the number one Hallyu star they would date, a survey showed. Dong Hae and Si-Won at Yahoo Buzz Awards Ceremony (Yonhap News) According to the survey by broadcaster Arirang TV, Donghae, 26, topped the list of the seven most datable hallyu stars voted on by web users around the world. The survey, conducted for a mo...

‘Winter Sonata’ boosts Nami Island tourism while interest in hansik grows through ‘Daejanggeum’ This is third of a five-part series on hallyu. ― Ed. Buoyed by “hallyu,” or the Korean Wave, Korean dramas are stretching their influence beyond the small screen and affecting other industries, including tourism and food. KBS TV drama series “Winter Sonata,” for example, the drama which started the ...