Taeyeon, Suzy and more -- K-pop female acts return

From chart-topping solo singers to rising female bands, the K-pop scene will be rife with returning female acts this week. K-pop group Lovelyz dropped its second album “R U Ready?” on Sunday with the title track “WoW!” Lovelyz (Woolim Entertainment)Power vocalist Ailee, whose original sound track for “Guardian: The Great And Lonely God,” “I Will go to You Like the First Snow” is enjoying popularity here, is set to return Monday with a new track titled “Old Longing” (unofficial translation). Gugu

Feb. 26, 2017

Sistine chapel photographed in unprecedented detail

The famous frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling was painted by Michelangelo, can now be examined in minute detail thanks to an unprecedented photographic venture, the Vatican Museums have said.By combining innovative digital technology and special light-emitting diode LED lamps that aimed to reproduce daylight, photographers were able to make images measuring 43 centimeters tall by 1.2 meters wide. Journalists look at the Sistine Chapel with its new lighting during a press visit to the

Feb. 26, 2017

Chun Kyung-ja's controversial painting to go on public display

A national art museum said Saturday it has decided to put on public display renowned painter Chun Kyung-ja's work that her bereaved family alleges is a fake.This, if realized, would mark the first time that the painting has been shown to the public in 26 years. "Beautiful Woman" will be part of the exhibition for works by some 100 painters representing the Korean fine art of the 20th century, set to open in the Gwacheon branch of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in mid-April, acc

Feb. 25, 2017

[Travel Bits] Festivals in Korea this week

Yangpyeong Strawberry FestivalThe Yangpyeong Strawberry Festival is being held through the end of May. Visitors can pick their own strawberries at the strawberry farms and participate in a variety of activities and programs in the village. Reservation is required.Exclusive events for bloggers are on offer at blog.naver.com/yp_nadri. Up to 50 teams can participate. The festival is open to visitors of all ages. For more information, visit www.yp21.net for information provided in Korean, English, J

Feb. 24, 2017

Twice to debut in Japan

K-pop group Twice on Friday announced the group will be heading to Japan on June 28, starting the countdown on its official Japanese website.The album to mark the start for the nine-member group‘s musical career in Japan is to be titled “#TWICE,” and will be a compilation of Twice’s hit songs, including “Like Ooh-Ahh,” “Cheer Up” and “TT.” Ten songs, in both Korean and Japanese, will be featured on the album. Twice (JYP Entertainment)Twice is also slated to hold a showcase to commemorate the alb

Feb. 24, 2017

Facts about Dean’s new single

R&B artist Dean dropped a new single titled “limbo” on Feb. 17, comprised of two songs.　The producer-turned-singer, who has written songs for K-pop’s biggest names such as EXO, VIXX and Taeyeon, has been consistently collaborating with artists such as Crush to produce trendy tracks. 　The following is a list of facts about the new album:1. The album’s concept is the state of limbo between dreaming and reality, where the two are indistinguishable. 2. It was inspired by the Christopher Nolan movie

Feb. 23, 2017

GFriend to release new EP next month

South Korean girl group GFriend will drop a new album next month amid anticipation that it will follow the success of the group's previous hits, its management agency said Thursday.  (Yonhap)The upcoming EP, slated to come out March 6, is the first in eight months after its full-length album "LOL," according to Source Music.The six-member act -- Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB and Umji -- rolled out two albums last year and enjoyed enormous popularity at home and abroad with back-to-back hits "R

Feb. 23, 2017

BTS becomes 1st Korean artist to have 4 straight albums on Billboard 200 with “‘You Never Walk Alone”

The latest album by Bangtan Boys has ranked No. 61 on Billboard’s top 200 album charts, marking the fourth consecutive time the Korean boyband has made the list.According to the group’s agency Big Hit Entertainment, this is the first time any Korean artist has appeared on the list for four albums in a row. Bangtan Boys (Big Hit Entertainment)The seven-member band last week released the album “You Never Walk Alone,” as a follow-up to its second studio album “Wings” in Oct. 10. The album peaked at

Feb. 23, 2017

Red Velvet, Tiger JK, Yoon Mi-rae to perform at ‘K-Pop Night Out’ at SXSW

Korean band Kim Ban-jang and Windy City has been invited to perform at the South by Southwest festival in the US, according to local media reports Thursday.The band is slated to perform at the Flamingo Cantina at Austin, Texas, the venue of the SXSW. It marks the third year the band is participating in the annual event. caption: Red Velvet (SM Entertainment)Other Korea-based artists who will take part include Glen Check, Luna Lee, Neon Bunny, and XXX.　The Korea Creative Content Agency has also r

Feb. 23, 2017

French artist is entombed in rock for a week

A French artist was entombed Wednesday inside a 12-metric ton boulder for a week, saying, “I think I can take it.”With the world‘s press looking on, the two halves of the limestone rock were closed on Abraham Poincheval by workmen in a Paris modern art museum.  French artist Abraham Poincheval performs “Pierre” (“Stone”), at the Palais de Tokyo on Wednesday in Paris. (AFP-Yonhap)The 44-year-old had hollowed out a hole in the rock just big enough for him to sit, with a niche to hold supplies of w

Feb. 23, 2017

David Bowie honors, George Michael tribute top Brit Awards

The Brit Awards recognized big international stars including Drake and Beyonce and a cross-section of homegrown talent Wednesday -- but the ceremony was overshadowed by the much-missed David Bowie and George Michael.　 Bowie, who died in January 2016 at age 69, was crowned British male artist of the year and won British album of the year for "Blackstar," released days before his death.　 Bowie‘s son, filmmaker Duncan Jones, accepted the best album award on behalf of his father, who he said had "al

Feb. 23, 2017

Twice going strong on foreign charts

Twice’s new album “TWICEcoaster: LANE 2” is on fire not just in Korea, but abroad as well.As of Wednesday, the album topped iTunes top 20 music album charts in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong. It also had a strong showing in the Philippines, taking the No. 5 spot. Twice (JYP Entertainment)The main track, “Knock Knock,” topped the top 20 songs charts in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, and was ranked among the top 10 on charts for nine regions. “TWICEcoaster : LANE 2” was espe

Feb. 22, 2017

Burkina architect Kere honoured with UK pavilion project

Burkina Faso’s Diebedo Francis Kere will be the first African architect to design a temporary pavilion in London’s Hyde Park, a prestigious assignment given to a world-famous architect every year.Kere’s design is inspired by a tree in his hometown of Gando that serves as “a central meeting point for life,” the Serpentine Galleries said in a statement.“An expansive roof, supported by a central steel framework, mimics a tree’s canopy, allowing air to circulate freely while offering shelter against

Feb. 22, 2017

Huge art show questions legend of Vermeer the lone genius

A new blockbuster Vermeer exhibition which opens Wednesday aims to smash the myth that the Dutch master was a solitary genius who worked alone at home cut off from the world.The Louvre in Paris has gathered a third of the 17th century painter’s canvasses for the show -- the most ever shown in one place since his death -- where they will hang alongside nearly 60 painting by his friends, rivals and contemporaries.“We wanted to do away with the stereotype of Vermeer as ‘the Sphinx of Delft,’” said

Feb. 22, 2017

Ali to sing at Nathan East concert

Korean singer Ali has been invited by legendary bassist Nathan East to perform at his upcoming concert in Seoul as a guest singer, the show’s promoters said. The 32-year-old singer decided to perform with the founding member of jazz quartet Fourplay “immediately upon being asked” by East, U&I Communications said. Ali (U&I Communications)“Ali said she has been listening to East’s music for a long time and has had great respect as a fan of his talents and bass performance that brings out the best

Feb. 21, 2017

Imagining a 50-year-old Kurt Cobain

Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who defined grunge and the rise of alternative rock, would have turned 50 on Monday. He remains an enduring cultural presence even for many young people -- but what would he be doing if he were alive?The 27-year-old shot himself at his home in Seattle on April 5, 1994, ending his life, his suffering and, at least symbolically, the grunge movement. Rock has kept evolving since his suicide, yet “Nevermind,” Nirvana’s brutal 1991 masterpiece, is still widely considered

Feb. 20, 2017

Red Velvet’s song is once again ‘weird at first, addictive later’

Red Velvet’s new song “Rookie” has been enjoying a streak of popularity lately, topping charts of major music programs since its Feb. 1 release. For two weeks in a row now, “Rookie” has nabbed first place on music programs “M Countdown,” “Music Bank” and “Inkigayo” as of the weekend of Feb. 18-19. Since Feb. 2, the song has maintained first place on the Korean songs section of Chinese Xiami Music charts.　 Red Velvet (S.M. Entertainment)Billboard describes “Rookie” as a “quirky, funk-driven dance

Feb. 20, 2017

BTS reveals powerful new music video for ‘Not Today’

BTS revealed Monday the music video for “Not Today,” a song from the boy band’s new album “You Never Walk Alone,” released Feb. 13. The clip depicts BTS members performing powerful choreography with some 30 background dancers, similar to some of the boy band’s other beat-heavy hits such as “Fire” and “Dope.”  A scene from BTS’ music video for “Not Today” (YouTube) A scene from BTS’ music video for “Not Today” (YouTube)The music video, which shows the members dancing against a backdrop of rocky v

Feb. 20, 2017