Korea Observer

The famous Cebu Dancing Inmates from the  Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC)  in southern Philippines have once again showed their awesome skills when they performed Korean rapper Psy's "Gangnam Style."  The video was uploaded on YouTube on September 29. 

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines - When Korean rapper Psy returned to Korea last Sept. 25 after his successful promotion in the US, he vowed to perform topless if "Gangnam Style" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He better get ready as the song jumped to No. 2 this week and looms to become the first Korean song to top the Hot 100 chart. Psy in Korea (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - The leader of one of the most popular K-pop boy bands will be enlisting in the Korean military next month. It was announced that Leeteuk, leader of Super Junior, will be enlisting in the army on Oct. 30. He will enter the 306 Support Group at an army camp in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi province in South Korea. There he will receive five weeks of basic military training after which he will start completing his 21-month military service. He will be discharged in 2014. Leeteuk (Photos by www.newsen.com and SMTown)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines - Korean rapper Psy can finally claim the moniker "YouTube sensation" as an official world record. As his phenomenal music video "Gangnam Style" continues to rake in views, the Guinness World Records has declared it as the most liked video on YouTube. Psy with rock legend Bon Jovi at the iHeartRadio Music Festival

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines - Wonder Girls leader Sunye denied a report in a Korean women’s magazine that she's getting married next month to her non-showbiz boyfriend. Sunye shot down the report via a Twitter message. “I’m informing you guys again that my next month marriage news revealed by a misreport is false. I know very well that many people are blessing my open relationship with kind words," Sunye said, according to Allkpop.com. Sunye and her boyfriend (Internet photo, wonderfulgeneration.net, allkpop.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korean TV station MBC has announced that it will produce a sequel to the hit TV drama "Jewel in the Palace," a decade after the original series aired in 2003 to 2004. "Jewel in the Palace" became a top rating drama in Korea and was exported to many countries including the Philippines.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korean rapper and YouTube sensation Psy's wish to chart higher on Billboard has come true. And fellow YG Entertainment artist G-Dragon, leader of boy band Big Bang, has joined him on the charts. (Clockwise from top) Ellen and Psy doing the "Gangnam Style" dance on "Ellen"; Psy on 'Saturday Night Live' and G-Dragon

2NE1's Sandara Park has finally joined Twitter under the name @krungy21, putting the description that she is the "Pambansang krungkrung ng Pilipinas" (The Philippines' national weird or unique personality). "Krung krung" was a nickname given to Sandara when she was still active as an actress and singer in the Philippines. It means weird, unique or crazy.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korean singer IU has made it to Billboard's 21 Under 21, the chart's "annual ranking of music's most powerful minors." "They've got hit records, millions of fans, and the kind of success most musicians only dream of -- and they can't even uncork a bottle of champagne to celebrate their success," according to Billboard.com.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korean boy band Big Bang member Seungri has become involved in another controversy with Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily publishing photos and video of what appear to be intimate moments between him and Japanese model and actress Anna Kubo in Hong Kong.  (Videos after the cut) ( Left) Seungri and Ann Kubo having an intimate moment in Hong Kong. (Top and bottom right) Seungri's photos published in FRIDAY magazine in Japan. (Photos courtesy of appledaily.com.hk and FRIDAY magazine)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines  - Korean rapper Psy is on a roll. His hit song "Gangnam Style" has been nominated for best video in the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA), which will be held on Nov. 11 in Frankfurt, Germany.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - A stylist and judge on the TV franchise "Korea's Next Top Model" was found dead by his sister in his home in Seoul last Sept. 15. Korean police identified the victim as Woo Jong-wan, 46. Photo courtesy of www.newsen.com

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korean rapper Psy's US promotion for his hit song "Gangnam Style" has finally paid off big time. "Gangnam Style" has debuted on Billboard's coveted Hot 100 chart at No. 64, the highest rank achieved by a K-pop artist on the singles chart since 2001.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines - K-pop group T-ara's agency sued a dozen Korean media outlets, blaming them for the negative publicity that the girl group has been getting since the bullying controversy broke out in July. T-ara (Photo by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Pop superstar and  "X-Factor' judge Britney Spears' wish to learn the now famous "Gangnam Style" dance has finally come true. Last Aug. 29, Spears tweeted that she loved the music video of Korean rapper and YouTube sensation Psy and wanted to learn the choreography.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korean rapper and YouTube sensation Psy attended his first MTV Video Music Awards ceremony today, walking down the red carpet and appearing on stage. The singer, whose viral music video "Gangnam Style" has racked up 115 million views on YouTube, appeared on the VMA stage with host Kevin Hart. Psy on the VMA red carpet and with Grammy winner John Mayer at the MTV pre-show party. (Photos courtesy of MTV and jmpicspam on Twitter)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - The Korean government's show of support to the K-pop and tourism industries includes the construction of a 15,000-seater concert hall in Seoul. The planned concert venue is estimated to cost about 200 billion (about P7.38 billion) to construct with the government providing 25 billion won (P924 million), according to Korea's Ministry of Strategy and Finance. (Clockwise from top left) KARA, Lee Min-ho, 2NE1 and Big Bang. (Photos by www.newsen.com, MTV and YG Entertainment)

EL MONTE - Fourteen city pool workers landed in hot water this week after a video surfaced of them performing a parody of the viral Korean pop music video "Gangnam Style" at the El Monte Aquatic Center. The 13 lifeguards and pool manager were fired Wednesday. Several of the former employees said the city's decision went too far and that they were off the clock when they filmed the video.

Psy To Attend MTV VMA; 'Gangnam Style' Poised To Reach 100 Million Views Today | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online

Winners At The Seoul International Drama Awards 2012 | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online The Philippines' Maalaala Mo Kaya drama also won a special prize. Congratulations to all the winners!