EXO to perform at MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop boy band EXO will perform at the MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia 2013.

EXO  has been added to the line-up of performers which currently includes Robin Thicke, Far East Movement and Joe Flizzow, according to MTV Asia.

(Clockwise from top left) Robin Thicke, EXO, Joe Flizzow and Far East Movement
(Photos courtesy of SM Entertainment and MTV Asia)

Ailee tops Billboard, Korean charts

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop star and Philippine tourism ambassadress Ailee is on a roll with her second mini-album "A's Doll House," topping Billboard and other Korean charts.

Billboard announced that Ailee topped the K-pop Hot 100 chart with her title track "U&I."

Ailee (left) with legendary music producer Quincy Jones (Photo from Ailee's Twitter account)

2NE1 to release new song 'Do You Love Me'

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop girl group 2NE1 will be releasing their new single "Do You Love Me" on Aug. 7 as follow-up to their first comeback track, "Falling in Love," which was released this month.

YG Entertainment announced today the news on the company's official blog.

2NE1 (Photo by www.newsen.com)

Kfest message from Alexander

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Ex-U-KISS member Xander Lee Eusebio flies high as solo artist

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

It's been two years since Alexander "Xander" Lee Eusebio launched his career as a solo artist after his stint as an original member of K-pop boy band U-KISS ended in March 2011.

He found himself at a crossroad at the time, thinking very hard even if he would continue his career or not.

Former U-KISS member and now solo artist Alexander ‘Xander’ Lee Eusebio answers questions
at his Manila press conference hosted by Kring Elenzano (Photo by Jonathan Hicap)

Se7en, Sangchu punished with imprisonment

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Singers Se7en and Sangchu of Mighty Mouth and five other celebrity soldiers were ordered to spend time in a military jail as punishment for the massage parlor scandal last month.

Korea's Ministry of National Defense has announced the punishment for the celebrity soldiers after completing its investigation of the incident, which led to the abolition of the entertainment soldiers system of the military.

Celebrity soldiers (clockwise from top left) Se7en, Sangchu, Leeteuk and KCM (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Fans rejoice as KFTC rules in favor of JYJ

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Fans of JYJ welcomed the decision of the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) to issue a corrective order against SM Entertainment and the Korean Federation of Pop Culture and Art Industry (KFPCAI) for interfering in the boy band's activities.

In a decision, the KFTC said SME and KFPCAI worked to impede JYJ's TV appearances and activities as a singer after the three members of the boy band sued SME in 2009 to annul their exclusive contracts with the entertainment agency.

JYJ (Photo by www.newsen.com)

Top Korean TV drama director-producer found dead

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

One of Korea's well-known TV drama directors and producers was found dead on July 23 in an apparent case of suicide.

Kim Jong-hak, 62, who directed Korean dramas such as "Faith" starring Lee Min-ho and "The Legend" starring Bae Yong Jun, allegedly killed himself in a gositel, or a small rented room, in Gyeonggi province in Korea.

Im Jong-hak (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Kate Middleton Royal Baby FIRST APPEARNECE! Prince Williams and Kate Mid...

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Jay Park to hold first European tour

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop rapper Jay Park will embark on his first European tour in September.

The tour will be held in the last week of September and will kick off in London, United Kingdom. This will be followed by concerts in Amsterdam in The Netherlands and in Germany.

"Yes, I'm going to be in Europe in September," Jay Park confirmed in a video that he posted on his official Facebook page.

Jay Park (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Grammy.com spotlights on JYJ's Junsu

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

JYJ member Junsu said music is his life and the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, had a major influence in his career.

"Ever since I was a kid, music has always been in my life and it is the only thing that I know and I can do," Junsu told Grammy.com in an exclusive interview.

Junsu at his press conference in Bangkok last July 19. (Photo by www.newsen.com/C-JeS)

Billboard: 2NE1 Talks Long-Awaited Return, U.S. Debut Rumors: Exclusive Video Q&A | Billboard

2NE1 Talks Long-Awaited Return, U.S. Debut Rumors: Exclusive Video Q&A | Billboard

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Xia Junsu GRAMMY Exclusive

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Korean celebrity soldiers face punishment, system abolished

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Eight Korean celebrity soldiers including Se7en and Sangchu of Mighty Mouth who were involved in the massage parlor incident will be punished as the Ministry of National Defense decided to abolish the entertainment soldiers system after it received severe criticism from the public.

Se7en and Sangchu (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Mnet 20's Choice Awards winners revealed

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop diva Lee Hyori, 2NE1's CL and bands SHINee and Infinite were among the winners at Mnet's 2013 20's Choice Awards held July 18 at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Ilsan.

This is the seventh year of the awards and the ceremony was hosted by Shinhwa's Minwoo and Jun Jin and Kim Seul-gie.

(Clockwise from top left) Miss A's Suzy, Shinhwa, Infinite, SHINee and 2NE1's CL. (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Girls' Generation, Psy emerge as bestselling artists in Korea for first half of 2013

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Girls' Generation dominated albums sales in Korea while rappers Psy and Baechigi led in digital rankings for the first half of 2013.

Gaon Chart, Korea's version of Billboard, has released the rankings for January to June 2013 of album sales, digital singles and online downloads.

(Clockwise from the top) Girls' Generation, Psy and Baechigi (Photos by www.newsen.com)

2013 Video Music Award Nominations: Get The Full List!

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1710689/vma-nominations-list-2013.jhtml

2 Filipino film projects get support from Busan Int'l Film Festival's Asian Cinema Fund

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

A total of 27 film projects including two from the Philippines have been chosen by the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)'s Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) as funding recipients.

The Asian Cinema Fund aims to help "activate more independent film productions and the creation of a stable production environment for Asian filmmakers by offering funding for projects in different stages of production."

The ACF called for entries from March to May this year for three categories: Script Development Fund, Post-Production Fund and Asian Network of Documentary (AND) Fund.

Racquel Zaballero-Sanchez (left) and Jewel Maranan
(Photos courtesy of Sanchez's Facebook page and @shinematutina on Twitter

Psy's 'Gangnam Style' celebrates 1st anniversary

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

A year ago yesterday, Korean rapper Psy released a quirky and funny music video titled "Gangnam Style" on YouTube that featured a horse-riding dance.

"Gangnam Style" was the title track of Psy's new album "Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1," which was also released on July 15, 2012.

Psy performing in Korea, on the "Ellen Show" and gracing the
Billboard magazine. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com, "Ellen" show and Billboard)

Hangeng cast in 'Transformers 4' movie

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Chinese pop star Hangeng is set to do his first Hollywood film.

The former member of K-pop boy band Super Junior has been cast in the American movie "Transformers 4," sending his fans into a frenzy.

Hangeng (Photo by www.michaelbay.com)

[MV] XIA(준수)_Incredible (feat. Quincy) (인크레더블 Feat. 퀸시)

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Kim Hyun Joong, TVXQ get gold status in Japan

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop acts Kim Hyun Joong and TVXQ's respective singles have been certified gold in Japan.

Kim Hyun Joong's third Japanese single "Tonight" and TVXQ's new single "Ocean" have sold at least 100,000 copies each, according to the latest certifications issued by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).

Kim Hyun Joong and TVXQ (Photos by KeyEast and TVXQ Facebook page)

Another member leaves T-ara

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

A year after Hwayoung left K-pop act T-ara amidst accusations that she was bullied, another member has decided to leave the girl group to launch a solo career.

Ahreum has been announced that she will be leaving T-ara for her solo debut. Apparently, her musical preference is different from that of T-ara’s music.

Ahreum (Photo by www.newsen.com)

CEU Dentistry student crowned 2013 Pinoy K-pop Star

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

A week before the finals of the 2013 Pinoy K-pop Star, 18-year-old Kristine Bernadette Solis was suffering from pharyngitis, or inflammation of the throat, that she was unable to practice her song "Can't Let You Go" by Seo Young Eun, an original soundtrack for the hit drama "49 Days."

What she could only do was listen to the song over and over. She was only able to practice her piece the night before the finals.

Pinoy K-pop Star 2013 winner Kristine Bernadette Solis (center) together with judges Director Hwang Seong-un (left) of KCC in the Philippines and Director Kim Yoon-sik (right) of the Korea Copyright Commission. (Photo by KCC Philippines)

MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Filipino theater student to debut in Korean film with Jang Hyuk and Soo Ae

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

In 2011, Lester Avan Andrada, a Communication Arts majoring in Theater student at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos (UPLB), became an exchange student at the Far East University (FEU) in Korea.

As he was training at FEU-Korea's Theater and Acting Department, he saw an ad for a role in a Korean film posted by a talent agent in March last year. He tried his luck and auditioned the following month.

Rain discharged from the Korean army

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Asian pop star Rain has been discharged from the Korean army at about 8 a.m. today after serving for 21 months.

Hundreds of fans including from Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, Malaysia and the US and the media waited for him outside the Ministry of National Defense office in Yongsan, Seoul.

Photos by www.newsen.com

Lee Hyori getting married, Won Bin in a relationship

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop diva Lee Hyori, 34, is getting married to her boyfriend, musician Lee Sang Soon, 40, according to reports.

The two are reportedly planning to wed in September in Jeju Island in Korea.

(Clockwise from top left) Lee Hyori, Lee Sang Soon,
Lee Na Young and Won Bin. (Photos by www.newsen.com)

CNBLUE's agency asks court to issue order vs indie band

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Back in February, indie band Crying Nut filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against pop rock band CNBLUE and its agency, FNC Entertainment, for using one of its songs on a TV show and DVD without permission.

Now, FNC Entertainment has asked a Korean court to order indie band Crying Nut to delete posts on the latter's website pertaining to the lawsuit.

CNBLUE in Manila (Photo courtesy of CNBLUE's Facebook page)

ELFS to SME: Clarify boundaries

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Some fans of Super Junior, called ELFS, are targeting again Super Junior M members Henry Lau and Zhoumi as they demanded SM Entertainment to clarify and define the boundaries between Super Junior and the two in the Super Show 5 world tour.

Super Junior with Henry Lau and Zhoumi in the Super Show 5 in Chile
(Photo courtesy of SM Entertainment)