Korea Observer

‘Let’s go,’ says 2PM’s Nichkhun as he lands lead role in movie ‘Hong Kong Love Story’ : K-pop boy band 2PM member Nichkhun has been cast in a lead role in the Hollywood film “Hong Kong Love Story,” his agency said. “Hong Kong Love Story” is a romantic comedy to be directed by Keoni Waxman, who has helmed many films starring Steven Seagal. Nichkhun will star in […]

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin 2PM’s Nichkhun, 25, and Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany, 24, are now officially a couple, with their respective management, JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment, confirming the matter in a statement and asking fans for understanding and support. (Top) Nichkhun and Tiffany during the secret date in Gangnam last month; both were emcees at the Korean Wave Music in Bangkok in 2011 (Sports Seoul and MBC)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The numbers are in and local films dominated the box office in South Korea in 2013. Korean films captured nine of the top 10 highest-grossing films of the year, based on figures from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). Park Shin Hye, Ryu Seung-ryong and Kal So-won in the top top-grossing film ‘Miracle in Cell No. 7′ (Photos by the film’s official Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Boy band EXO and SHINee’s Choi Minho became the most searched K-pop group and Korean personality in the Philippines in 2013, respectively. Google Philippines released its annual year-end Zeitgeist, a collection of the top search queries by Filipinos on google.com.ph. (Clockwise from top left) SHINee's Minho, EXO, Jang Geun Suk, Girls' Generation, Yoo In Na and SHINee. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com and EXO's Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The government of South Korea will be donating $5 million (about P219 million) worth of humanitarian assistance to the victims and families affected by Typhoon “Yolanda” in the Philippines. K-pop fan clubs, on the other hand, are helping in the relief efforts through donation drives and volunteering. Fans of (from the top) Girls’ Generation, CNBLUE, 2PM, DBSK and others are helping in providing assistance to the victims of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in the Philippines (Photos from Facebook pages of Girls’ Generation, CNBLUE and 2PM, and www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Asian stars have expressed their sympathy and prayers for the Philippines and for the families affected by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name “Haiyan”), which caused widespread devastation and killed hundreds in the country. Clockwise from top left) 2PM’s Nichkhun, Aziatix, Lee Min Ho, Sandara Park and Ricky Kim (Photos by Jonathan Hicap and Twitter accounts of Aziatix, Lee Min Ho, Sandara Park and Ricky Kim)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin A much-awaited K-pop concert in Singapore that would have featured acts like EXO, SHINee and KARA was cancelled by the organizer due to “contractual obligations” to a Korean broadcasting company. Fans are angry and scrambling to get ticket refunds after Fatfish Entertainment announced that the “MBC Korean Wave In Singapore 2013″ concert would not push through. Teen Top, B1A4 and miss A at the press conference in Singapore for the concert last August (Photos from the MBC Korean Music Wave in Singapore 2013 Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop star Nichkhun, a member of boy band 2PM, praised Filipinos for being warm and friendly, and said that he was really looking forward to see his fans up close at his fun meet.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Nichkhun, member of K-pop boy band 2PM, arrived in Manila last night for his “fun meet” for a Philippine clothing brand that will be held tomorrow. Nichkhun at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last night (Photos courtesy of @Careyblue21 and @aveeporn on Twitter)

Wilbros company has announced today that Nichkhun's BENCHSETTER Fun Meet in Manila for BENCH clothing will be held on Nov. 9. Details to follow.  Here's my Manila Bulletin article on Nichkhun's Manila fan meet: http://www.mb.com.ph/2pms-nichkhun-to-visit-manila-in-november/

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The hosts and performers for the 2013 Asia Song Festival have been announced and one of them is a band from the Philippines. Clockwise from the top) 2PM, MYMP and EXO (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com and EXO and MYMP official Facebook pages)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Kim Hyun Joong and girl group KARA claimed the top spots on the latest Billboard charts while other K-pop artists are also enjoying chart success in Japan.   According to the latest Billboard charts, Kim Hyun Joong's third mini-album "Round 3" debuted at No. 1 on the World Albums chart. Photos: www.newsen.com

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)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop boy bands Big Bang and 2PM won at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2013, which was held at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on June 22. 2PM bagged the Album of the Year award for "Legend of 2PM," the band's second Japanese album which was released last February. 2PM and Big Bang (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com and Big Bang's Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Korean boy band 2PM's comeback album has topped iTunes charts in the Philippines and five other countries. 2PM released their third Korean studio album "Grown" online on May 6 and it rose to the No. 1 position on the iTunes album chart in the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. 2PM (JYP Entertainment)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Korean boy band 2PM finished their two-day "Legend of 2PM in Tokyo Dome" concert on April 20 and 21 and were so overwhelmed by the support of more than 100,000 Japanese fans that they cried. Photos by JYP Entertainment

By JONATHAN M. HICAP MANILA, Philippines - Korean boy bands 2PM, Big Bang and TVXQ have received nominations in the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards Japan (VMAJ). MTV Japan announced the nominees, the hosts and the first three performers of the awards ceremony, which will be held on June 22 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

JYP Entertainment unveiled today 2PM's comeback trailer.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - When K-pop boy band 2PM arrived in Manila last March 1, they revealed that their new Korean album will be released soon. JYP Entertainment, 2PM's agency, has announced 2PM's comeback after two years since the release of the group's last Korean album "Hands Up" in 2011.

Young Pinoy fans throw a rousing welcome  in the K-pop boy band’s first Manila concert By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin When Korean agency JYP Entertainment announced last January that boy band 2PM would be holding its first-ever concert in Manila, Filipino fans were thrilled that their dream to finally see the boys in person would soon come true. My 2PM article in the Manila Bulletin, March 13, 2013