Most Popular
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Marine Corps commander summoned by CIO for questioning on alleged influence-peddling case
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Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal
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40 flights canceled on Jeju Island due to bad weather
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[Weekender] Korean psyche untangled: Musok
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N. Korea slams US, other countries for seeking alternative to UN sanctions monitoring panel
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Pandemic left Korea more depressed than before: report
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Gov't appears to shelve punitive measures against mass walkout by doctors
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[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist
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From fake prostitution ring to nonexistent robber, prank calls hamper police
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Missing S. Korean traveler in Paris found safe after 2 weeks
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Beleaguered Microdot may leave TV show as scam allegations involving parents rile public
In the latest development concerning allegations that rapper Microdot’s parents were involved in a multibillion-won scam, the 25-year-old rapper is reported to be leaving Channel A’s popular fishing show “The Fishermen and the City.”Local media outlet Sports World, citing a representative of the cable channel, said it has been decided that Microdot should no longer be part of the show as the controversy is hindering him from filming.The latest episode of the show on Thursday aired without any sc
Nov. 25, 2018
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Ailee confirms solo concert in December
Singer Ailee will stage a solo concert in December, according to YMC Entertainment on Friday.The event, which runs Dec. 8-9 at the Olympic Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, is the star’s first solo concert this year. A poster for Ailee’s upcoming concert in December (Yonhap)The agency said Ailee will show her full potential as a singer during the concert, filling the stage with various genres of music from soft ballads to powerful dance tracks.“I cannot believe that it’s already been a year since my
Nov. 23, 2018
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Rapper gets suspended sentence for assaulting girlfriend
An appeals court upheld rapper Iron’s 2016 sentence of eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, after a lower court found him guilty of multiple counts of assault.The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday found Iron, 26, guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend on several occasions, including an assault during a sexual encounter.He was also ordered to perform 80 hours of community service. (Yonhap)Iron was booked without detention in September 2016 after punching his girlfriend
Nov. 23, 2018
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Block B without Zico? Group leader not renewing with agency
Rapper Zico is leaving Block B after his five-year contract with the group’s label recently expired. Seven Seasons, which represents Block B, announced in a statement on Friday that Zico and the agency had agreed not to renew.“We thank Zico for (all the efforts he put in) as the leader and producer of Block B,” Seven Seasons said in its statement. “We wish Zico luck on his new beginning. We will always support him.” Zico (Yonhap)The remaining six band members have extended their contracts, Seve
Nov. 23, 2018
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Jang Geun-suk’s fans sue online commenters for defamation
Cri-J, the fan club of actor Jang Geun-suk, is taking legal action in defense of its hero’s reputation. The fan club told local media Friday that it had launched a fundraiser in August, seeking 20 million won ($17,690) to sue online rumormongers who had posted “unfounded ill-intended words (against Jang Geun-suk).” Fans say the targets of the suit repeatedly left malicious comments about Jang. With the funds it raised, the fan club recently filed a defamation suit against the commenters. (Tree J
Nov. 23, 2018
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Drunken Tiger says he considered giving up music for financial reasons
South Korean hip-hop icon Drunken Tiger has opened up about struggling with financial difficulties five years ago.He said during a group interview with reporters on Thursday that he was so financially strapped that he considered giving up music and starting a tteokbokki (a spicy rice cake dish) stand in his neighborhood.In South Korea, a tteokbokki stand is one of the most common businesses opened by low-income self-employed workers.The story came as a surprise because the award-winning hip-hop
Nov. 23, 2018
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‘Make way, Mr. President’: BTS storms Time’s person of the year poll
Both President Moon Jae-in and boy band BTS are vying to be named Time’s 2018 person of the year, in the US magazine’s annual search for the person or group who has had the greatest influence for the past 12 months. This photo of Moon and BTS was posted on the band`s official Twitter account on Oct. 14. (Twitter @BTS_BigHit)BTS currently leads the magazine’s online poll with 10 percent of total votes, followed by Moon with 7 percent.Time started holding the online poll in 1998 to let readers wei
Nov. 22, 2018
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BTS wins first platinum single and first gold album from RIAA
BTS recently won its first platinum single and two gold album certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America.RIAA certifications are awarded based on number of recording units sold -- over 500,000 certify for gold, over 1 million platinum, over 10 million diamond. (Big Hit Entertainment)The septet’s latest album “Love Yourself: Answer,” which debuted at the top of Billboard 200’s Sept. 1 chart, has been certified gold, becoming its first gold-certified album. The lead track to t
Nov. 22, 2018
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‘Produce 101’ star Jeon Somi to debut solo under YG subsidiary
Jeon Somi, a winner of season one of the talent competition show “Produce 101,” will embark on a solo career in March 2019. (Mnet)Jeon debuted with the yearlong project group I.O.I following the season finale in April 2016. Comprising contenders who finished within the top 11, I.O.I enjoyed success, winning three new artist of the year awards at three of the major music awards at home: Golden Disc, Mnet Asian Music Awards and Seoul Music Awards.Previously signed with JYP Entertainment, Jeon did
Nov. 21, 2018
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Making Stravinsky visible
The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company’s “Three Stravinsky” is a set of three dances based on three compositions by Igor Stravinsky, one of the most influential composers of the 20th century.A follow-up project to last year’s “Three Bolero,” in which three choreographers reinterpreted composer Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero,” this piece also involved three choreographers: the company’s artistic director Ahn Sung-soo and colleagues Kim Jae-duk and Jung Young-doo. Each one selected a Stravinsky sc
Nov. 21, 2018
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Rapper Microdot apologizes after parents’ fraud allegations
Rapper Microdot has apologized in the face of growing pressure to address fraud allegations surrounding his parents.In a statement released Wednesday, the rapper said, “First and foremost, I want to apologize to those who were hurt because of what my parents did.” (Microdot`s Instagram)“As a son, I think I have some responsibility to bear. I want to meet each and every one (of the victims) and listen,” he added. Microdot also apologized for his previous comments that the allegations are unfounde
Nov. 21, 2018
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Steven Yoo announces new album after controversy, plans to donate proceeds
Steven Yoo, also known as Yoo Seung-jun, will release a digital album after an 11-year hiatus that followed a controversial decision to acquire US citizenship. By becoming a US citizen, Yoo was able to avoid South Korea’s mandatory military service.According to local media, the singer will send out a prerelease track Thursday, titled “Another Day.” The song is a medium-tempo ballad. (Steven Yoo Weibo)Yoo’s album will be available Dec. 5 along with a music video for the title track. The singer c
Nov. 21, 2018
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Ed Sheeran on BTS: ‘I think they are great’
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran said on Tuesday that he is interested in working with BTS, saying the band is “great.” (Twitter)“Actually, I wrote a song that I think they might be messing with. I heard this the other day,” said Sheeran in an interview with a UK media outlet. “I really like BTS though, I think they are great.” (Instagram)Tuesday was not the first time the renowned singer has shown interest in collaboration with BTS. When the boy band released its latest album, “Love Yourse
Nov. 20, 2018
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J.Fla becomes first Korean YouTuber to reach 10m subscribers
YouTube sensation J.Fla, famous for her covers of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” and Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” has become the first independent Korean YouTuber to attract 10 million subscribers.“J.Fla is the first individual Korean YouTuber to surpass 10 million subscribers,” J.Fla’s agency Feel Music said Tuesday.(J.Fla Music=YouTube)The singer, also known as her Korean name Kim Jung-hwa, wrote “10,000,000 subscribers! It’s incredible! I didn’t expect this to happen so soon.” on her Twitter accoun
Nov. 20, 2018
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Wanna One makes its ‘bittersweet’ return with first -- and last -- EP
K-pop boy group Wanna One returned with its new -- and probably last -- album on Monday, eliciting a mix of excitement and sadness among its fans. The project boy group, comprised of 11 winners of music channel Mnet‘s idol competition show “Produce 101,” started its group activities in August 2017 for a limited time, with its deadline set at the end of this year. The new album, “1¹¹=1 (Power of Destiny),” is the group’s first full-length album. It has so far dropped two EPs, “1×1=1 (To Be One)”
Nov. 19, 2018
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European tour marks SPO’s first step toward normalcy
The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is taking tangible steps to return to normal after a yearslong struggle.The orchestra will embark Nov. 25 on a tour of five European cities -- Geneva, Udine, Lucerne, Grenoble and Paris -- and will perform at its final stop, Paris, Dec. 1. This is the first European tour for the orchestra in four years, which was left floundering after a bitter controversy over allegations of sexual harassment, abuse and irregularities. The Seoul-based orchestra has also started
Nov. 19, 2018
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[Newsmaker] ‘Blame system, not men’: San E defends controversial ‘Feminist’
Rapper San E has defended his song “Feminist,” despite facing public criticism the song is “sexist” and “ignorant” of what feminism actually stands for.In a statement posted to Instagram on Monday, the rapper said “Feminist” was not meant to bash women, as he encouraged fans to give his song a thorough listen.(Yonhap)“I chose the topic to highlight the pressing (social) issue of gender-based hate,” the statement read.“My intention was to point out the hypocrisy upheld by people like the narrator
Nov. 19, 2018
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Idols spotted on the way to Suneung test sites
Students in Korea who were born in the year 2000 took the national collge entrance exam Thursday, and several pop stars were among them. On the morning of the test day, reporters spotted several teenage stars headed to their assigned test sites. Kim Chae-won (Yonhap) Kang Hye-won, Kim Chae-won and Sakura Miyawaki (Yonhap)IZ*ONE’s Kim Chae-won went to a high school in Songpa-gu, Seoul, flanked by her bandmates Kang Hye-won and Sakura Miyawaki who walked her to the gates in support. Choi Bo-min
Nov. 16, 2018
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Drunken Tiger's new song featuring RM tops US iTunes' hip-hop chart
South Korean hip-hop icon Drunken Tiger's new song featuring BTS leader RM debuted at No. 1 on the US iTunes' hip-hop chart, its agency said Friday."Timeless" from Drunken Tiger's 10th full-length album topped the hip-hop/rap songs chart, the K-pop chart and the music video chart of the US iTunes upon its release, according to Feel Ghood Music. The piece also ranked high on the main pop chart while topping iTunes' song charts of 26 countries, including Sweden, Egypt, Romania, Israel, Finland, Sa
Nov. 16, 2018
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Wanna One suffers leak again ahead of album release
The main track of boy band Wanna One’s first full album was leaked four days ahead of its official release, sources in the K-pop scene said Thursday.They said a music file and lyrics for “Spring Breeze” from the album titled “1¹¹=1 (Power of Destiny)” have spread quickly across social media since Wednesday. Wanna One (Yonhap)This is not the first time that the band has experienced an illegal leaking of its material. In March, files for “Boomerang” and “Gold,” both on the band’s second EP, “0+1=1
Nov. 15, 2018