Japanese Women Pick K-pop Artists They Want To Gift With Chocolates On V-Day

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)

CN Blue Tops Billboard Chart

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Korean boy band CN Blue debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's World Albums chart with their new album "Re:BLUE."

"Re:BLUE" is the band's fourth mini-album and contains six tracks including the title song "I'm Sorry," "Coffee Shop" and "Where You Are."

This is the first time that CN Blue has topped the chart. Infinite H, a subunit of boy band Infinite, also debuted on the chart, placing at No. 8 with their first album "Fly High" while Girls' Generation's "I Got A Boy" is at No. 10.

Super Junior Bags Grand Prize Anew At 27th Golden Disk Awards

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Korean boy band Super Junior won the Disk Daesang, or album of the year, on the first day of the 27th Golden Disk Awards held on Jan. 15 at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Super Junior won the grand prize for their sixth album "Sexy, Free & Single." The award was based on album sales and ratings from judges.

Super Junior (top) and FNC Entertainment artists FT Island, CN Blue and Juniel
(Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com and CNBlue_4 on Twitter)

K-pop Artists Nominated In Billboard Japan Music Awards 2012

Several K-pop singers have been nominated in the Billboard Japan Music Awards 2012.

Nominated for the Top Pop Artist 2012 category are Girls' Generation, KARA, Super Junior, CNBlue,  TVXQ and Jang Geun Suk along with EXILE, AKB48, SKE48, SMAP, Hey! Say! JUMP, Carly Rae Jepsen, NYC, NMB48, Rihanna, Kis-My-Ft2 and Mr. Children among others.

Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com

Style Icon Awards 2012 Nominees

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Who will be crowned Korea's style icon this year?

From K-pop stars to sports figures, the nominees for the Style Icon Awards 2012 are a mix of the most popular celebrities in Korea.

Billed as a search for the "Most Stylish Icons that Brightened 2012," the Style Icon Awards will culminate in an awarding ceremony on Oct. 25.

Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com and YG Entertainment

K-pop Groups In Oricon Rankings For 2012

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Several K-pop groups made it to the list of bestselling artists in Japan for the first half of 2012.

Oricon chart has released the list of top 50 singles, albums and DVDs from January to June.

Photos from www.newsen.com and Facebook pages of Big Bang & Super Junior

K-pop groups nominated in MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2012

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines – The list of nominees for the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2012 is out and six K-pop groups are included.

2NE1, KARA, Girls Generation, 2PM, CNBlue and SHINee got nominated along with music heavyweights like Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Bruno Mars.

(Clockwise from top left) KARA, Girls Generation, SHINee &2NE1
(www.newsen.com

Two Pinoy fans win in KBS K-pop contest in Seoul

By JONATHAN M. HICAP
Manila Bulletin 

MANILA, Philippines – Three K-pop fans, one from Singapore and two from the Philippines, won in a K-pop sing and dance contest held by Korean TV channel KBS World in Seoul, South Korea to celebrate its eighth anniversary on July 1.

6 K-pop singers make it to Oricon chart's Top 50 bestselling artists for 1st half of 2011

By JONATHAN M. HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Oricon chart has released the list of the Top 50 artists in the Japanese music market for the first half of 2011, based on singles, albums and DVD sales.

While the rankings are dominated by Japanese singers, six K-pop singers made it to the list, namely TVXQ, Big Bang, KARA, CNBlue, Girls Generation and Jang Geun Suk.

[NEWS]: Super Junior declared Korea's bestselling artist in 2010

News from the Manila Bulletin newspaper:

By JONATHAN M. HICAP

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Gaon Chart, South Korea’s version of the Billboard charts, has named K-pop boy band Super Junior the bestselling artist in South Korea for 2010.

[caption id="attachment_95" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Super Junior receiving the Gaon award from Minister Choung Byoung-gug of Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. (Photo courtesy of www.newsen.com)"][/caption]