Korea Observer

2NE1 to release farewell song ‘Good Bye’ http://entertainment.mb.com.ph/2017/01/06/2ne1-to-release-farewell-song-good-bye/ via @manila_bulletin

By JONATHAN HICAP Seoul, South Korea – The first broadcasting theme park in South Korea is now open and it will let you interact with your favorite K-pop stars, actors and actresses in a virtual setting.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  2NE1’s Dara is excited over her web drama “Dr. Ian” announced to air on March 29. She took to Twitter to update her fans about it, posting, “My first drama! Dr. Ian Coming to you on March 29th.”

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Twenty-year-old Jean Kiley Manguera has never been to South Korea. Come October, not only will she travel to that country but more importantly, she will represent the Philippines in the 2014 K-pop World Festival in Changwon.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin 2NE1′s Manila concert slated tonight at the Mall of Asia Arena falls on the same date as their debut performance five years ago on SBS “Inkigayo.” The group members are thrilled with the coincidence.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop quintet 4Minute notched their first TV music chart triumph since making their comeback with their new mini-album “4Minute World,” which contains five tracks including the lead single “Whatcha Doin’ Today.” The girl group performed the title track on SBS “Inkigayo” on March 30, competing with other artists including CNBLUE, Girls’ Generation, 2NE1, Orange Caramel, Boys Republic and JJCC. 4Minute showing their first comeback trophy (Twitter)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The reality TV show “America’s Next Top Model” hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks is filming in South Korea for the program’s upcoming season and among those tapped to appear as guests are K-pop groups 2NE1 and BTOB. 2NE1 in Hong Kong and BTOB with ‘America’s Next Top Model’ judge J. Alexander in Seoul (Facebook page and www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin It’s been five years since K-pop group 2NE1 debuted with “Fire” in 2009. This year, 2NE1, composed of CL, Bom, Sandara Park and Minzy, is on the comeback trail with their new album “Crush.” 2NE1 (www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Seoul, South Korea – Korean music TV shows showcasing the most popular K-pop singers continue to draw local and international fans. Bulletin Entertainment  witnessed how these fans would even brave the coldest of weathers to see their idols in person.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin 2NE1′s “All or Nothing” world tour got off to a big start on March 1 and 2 at the SK Handball Arena in Seoul, South Korea, with an estimated 12,000 domestic and international fans in attendance.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin 2NE1 swept the Korean music charts following the release of their new album “Crush” last night. The single “Come Back Home” landed at No. 1 on several Korean real-time charts to achieve “all-kill” status.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin YG Entertainment has postponed the release of 2NE1′s second studio album “Crush” to coincide with the birthday of group member CL on Feb. 26. “We have urgently postponed 2NE1′s 2nd album release date from the original schedule of 12am on February 24th to 12am on February 26th. The offline album will be released on March 7th as planned,” YG Entertainment founder Yang Hyun Suk said.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin 2NE1, CNBLUE and Girls’ Generation are going head to head this month, with each group releasing separate albums on Feb. 24. SM Entertainment was the first to lay claim on the date, when it announced the release the new album of Girls’ Generation titled “Mr.Mr.” (From the top) 2NE1, CNBLUE and Girls’ Generation (YG Entertainment, FNC, SM Entertainment)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Twelve artists who topped Korea’s premier music chart in 2013 were recognized at the 3rd Gaon Chart K-pop Awards held on Feb. 12 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul, with each getting a Song of the Year award for their respective hits. (Clockwise from top left) SISTAR, EXO, Cho Yong Pil, 4Minute, IU and Girls’ Generation. (www.newsen.com)

The American reality show “The Bachelor,” recently shot an episode in South Korea featuring the K-pop group 2NE1, as part of the show’s fourth episode that aired Monday night in the US (Tuesday morning in Manila). Juan Pablo and the girls performing on stage with 2NE1 in an episode of “The Bachelor” (Photos courtesy of ABC)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Korean rapper Psy and boy band EXO bagged the most-prized trophies at the 28th Golden Disk Awards held on Jan. 16 at the Kyunghee University’s Grand Peace Palace. Psy took home the Digital Daesang, or Song of the Year, for “Gentleman,” his follow-up track to his viral hit “Gangnam Style.” (Clockwise from top left) Psy with SHINee’s Minho, EXO, BEAST, SHINee and Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon and Tiffany. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com, isplus.joins.com and No Cut News)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop girl group 2NE1, composed of CL, Park Bom, Sandara Park and Minzy, will be launching their second world tour next year and the Philippines is one of the stops. YG Entertainment, 2NE1′s agency, announced that the girls will start their 2014 World Tour in March.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin 2NE1′s Sandara Park and her brother, MBLAQ’s Thunder (also known as Cheondung), have launched an online campaign to raise money for people affected by Typhoon “Yolanda” in the Philippines. Sandara Park and brother Thunder (Photo courtesy of Sandara’s Twitter account)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Korean pop group 2NE1 will be appearing as guests in the new season of the American dating show “The Bachelor.” The reality TV show will premiere on Jan. 6 next year on ABC with 32-year-old Juan Pablo Galavis, a former professional football player, as the bachelor. “The Bachelor” Juan Pablo Galavis (top) and 2NE1. (Photos courtesy of “The Bachelor”/ABC and www.newsen.com)