Korea Observer

The Korean Cultural Center and the Association of Korean Folk Painting Artists will be opening the exhibit   Minhwa: The Meaning of Symbols in Folk Painting   on March 8 , featuring eight Korean artists whose works highlight the importance of   minhwa   or folk painting in the Korean socio-historical landscape.

Jennifer Lawrence tripped as she went up the stage to receive her Best Actress award at the Oscars. Here's the GIF: \

Date : Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 6 PM Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 5 PM Place : Olympic Park, Gymnastics Stadium

I got this as a gift last Christmas and it's truly wonderful. The K-Drama Calendar depicts photos from your favorite Korean dramas. 

By JONATHAN. HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Nichkhun, member of K-pop boy band 2PM, is the newest endorser of Philippine clothing brand BENCH. BENCH made the announcement this morning on its Twitter and Facebook page. 2PM's Nichkhun on BENCH billboard in Magallanes, Makati (Photo courtesy of @anjell_27 on Twitter)

BY JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines - When members of Korean boy band 2PM hold concert in Manila on March 2, they will be the first artist under JYP Entertainment to do so.

Following in the footsteps of his fellow group mates -- Lee Ki-gwang and Yoon Doo-joon -- Yong Jun-hyung will also be taking on a acting role in an upcoming new drama.

Former Super Junior member Hangeng and Korean rapper Psy have been nominated in the 2013 Kids' Choice Awards (KCA). The two will be competing in the Favorite Asian Act category with Filipina singer  Sarah Geronimo  and Malaysia'a Shila Amzah. Favorite Asian Act nominees (clockwise from top left) Hangeng, Psy, Shila Amzah and Sarah Geronimo. (Photos courtesy of Kids' Choice Awards website)

How does SHINee view their new album? CSI investigator Onew will satisfy your curiosities about SHINee's new album. 

Embassy of the Republic of Korea in  the Philippines The Korean Embassy in Manila is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for the 2013 Korean Government Scholarship Program for graduate and post-graduate students. 

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Actor Kwon Sang Woo, who rose to stardom through the Korean drama "Stairway to Heaven," topped the list of Korean celebrities with the best six pack or washboard abs. (Clockwise from top left) Kwon Sang Woo, Julien Kang, Song Seung Hun, 2PM's Chansung, MBLAQ's Lee Joon and Cha Seung Won (Photos by www.newsen.com)

My friends and I had a fantastic lunch last week at  a Korean restaurant inside BF Homes Subdivision, Paranaque City in Metro Manila.  Galbi and Korean sidedishes. (Jonah Hicap)

BY JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin   MANILA, Philippines - Boy band JYJ and rapper Psy have been selected to perform at the inauguration of South Korea's first female President, Park Geun-hye. President-elect Park Geun-hye will be sworn in as South Korea's 11th president on Feb. 25 at a ceremony to be held at the National Assembly square in Seoul. The performers at the presidential inauguration. (www.newsen.com)

Child called 911 and asked the operator to help him with math.

Jay Park has released a new song titled "Appetizer" and it's available for free download. 

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - The 2nd Gaon Chart K-pop Awards ceremony was held on Feb. 13 at the Olympic Hall at Seoul Olympic Park in Seoul, South Korea. Photo by www.newsen.com

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin   MANILA, Philippines - The producers of the drama "Five Fingers" has issued an apology to a member of K-pop group T-ara for firing her in the drama last year. Photo by www.newsen.com

Behind the rising popularity of Korean pop singers on the global stage lies the power of media outlets and user-driven websites such as YouTube.  “With the advent of YouTube, the boundaries between countries are collapsing. YouTube serves as a tool linking a person to a person, a country to a country, in real time. Now any high-quality and creative content can be spread all over the world in a split second.”  Korea.net

KBS World has a new website to learn the Korean language

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - The leader of popular Korean band Ulala Session passed away on Feb. 11 due to stomach cancer. He was 33. Lim Yoon Taek died in a hospital at about 8 p.m. He was surrounded by family and friends when he passed away. Photo by www.newsen.com

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Nine-member Girls' Generation dominated Korea's Gaon charts for January, copping No. 1 in album sales, singles, streaming and downloads. Girls' Generation (www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Entertainment program "Infinite Challenge" is the No. 1 favorite TV program in South Korea, according to the latest survey conducted by Gallup Korea. Gallup Korea surveyed 1,511 respondents aged at least 19 years old from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 and asked them about their favorite Korean TV programs. Infinite Challenge (MBC)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Hallyu star Kim Hyun Joong has decided to withdraw from his comeback TV drama following a dispute between TV station KBS and a production company. Kim Hyun Joong (Photo courtesy of Key East Entertainment)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Wonder Girls' leader Sunye, who got married last Jan. 26 in Seoul, left for Montreal, Canada this morning together with her husband, James Park, to live there for the time being. Park's parents also live in Montreal.

By JONATHAN M. HICAP MANILA, Philippines - Korean rapper Psy got nominated in the 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will honor the best in Latin Music. The awards ceremony will be held on April 25 at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami in Florida.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Valentine's Day is getting closer and Japanese women have picked K-pop groups they want to gift with chocolates on the red-letter occasion. A total of 1,000 respondents were asked by MPost, a Japanese site that is devoted to the Korean Wave, to answer a survey about Valentine's Day. Caption: (Clockwise from the top) JYJ, Code V and TVXQ (Photos courtesy of C-JeS Entertainment and www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - The Japanese music industry is reeling from a sex scandal involving a member of top girl group AKB48 and a Japanese-Filipino member of GENERATIONS boy band. AKB48 member Minegishi Minami, 20, shaved her head after a Japanese weekly magazine published a report and photos of her spending the night and leaving the house of GENERATIONS member Shirahama Alan, 19. The two starred in a 2011 drama.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - The editorial director of Billboard is impressed with K-pop artists and says that the "right song" like Psy's "Gangnam Style," regardless of its language, can succeed in the US market. Bill Werde said this as response to my question during Billboard's IAmA ("I am a") question-and-answer session on popular social site Reddit last Feb. 1. Hyuna (Photo by www.newsen.com)

Want to meet the Hottest boys?  Be among the first online buyers of tickets to the 2013 2PM LIVE TOUR in Manila "What time is it" concert and get the chance to join the Meet & Greet! Those who get tickets via SMtickets.com until February 14 are qualified to be drawn as one of the 150 lucky fans!

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - K-pop stars attended the 22nd Seoul Music Awards held last night at the SK Olympic Handball Stadium in Seoul. Psy won the daesang, or grand prize, but he was unable to attend the awards ceremony due to his busy schedule. Epik High's Tablo received the award on his behalf. Psy instead sent a video message to thank the organizers for the award, his agency and family. Last year, Super Junior won the daesang. Winners (from left) SHINee, Super Junior, Lee Seung Gi and Big Bang (Photos courtesy of sportsseoul.com)