Korea Observer

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, continued to spread in many countries with the number of fans reaching 9.28 million in 2013. The number of hallyu fan clubs and groups worldwide reached 987 last year, according to the Global Hallyu Data 2013 report released by the Korea Foundation.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Filipino director, producer and writer Pepe Diokno says Korean film grants have helped his projects get off the ground and urged other filmmakers to try his experience. Filipino director Pepe Diokno (Photo courtesy of Diokno’s Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The Korean government’s support to its film industry has aided its growth by providing funds in various programs including research and development, international co-productions and technology. (From left) KOFIC’s Jiyin Park, Filipino director Ato Agustin, CJ Entertainment’s Tae-sun Jung and Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Editor Isabel de Leon (Photo by Jonathan Hicap)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin With the popularity of Korean dramas in the Philippines and the active participation of Filipinos in film festivals in South Korea, a collaboration between the two countries is possible. South Korea’s Ambassador Hyuk Lee (center) with (from left) Prof. Patrick Campos, Prof. Roland Tolentino, Tito Valiente and Director Seong-un Hwang at the 2013 Hallyu Forum. (Photo by Jonathan Hicap)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The film industries in South Korea and the Philippines and the cooperation between the two countries will be the main topics at this year’s Hallyu Forum, which will be held on Sept. 17 at Pandanggo Hall of the historic Manila Hotel. Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) will be holding the Hallyu (or the Korean Wave) Forum as the launch pad for the 2013 Korean Film Festival in the country.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin In the last few years, the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, has spread in many countries. From Asia, Hallyu has found its way to other regions like in Latin America, North America and Middle East. Hallyu stars (clockwise from top left) Super Junior, Choi Ji-woo and Bae Yong-joon in 'Winter Sonata,' Big Bang and Lee Young Ae in 'Jewel in the Palace' (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines--Popular Korean actress Park Shin Hye looked beautiful, radiant and elegant as she entered the Ruby Room inside the Manila Diamond Hotel at the presscon for her Asia Tour "Kiss of Angel in Manila" fan meeting scheduled on March 16 at the Aliw Theater. Award-winning Korean actress Park Shin Hye answers questions at her presscon.  Kring Elizano emceed the event. (Photos by Jonathan Hicap)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - The hallyu, or Korean wave, that has swept Asia and other regions has helped in changing how Filipino dramas are made and increased the popularity of K-pop in the Philippines. This was according to a paper presented by Prof. Ma. Crisanta Flores of the University of the Philippines Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature. Korean dramas (clockwise from left) "My Name is Kim Sam Soon," "Full House" and "Stairway to Heaven" (Photos courtesy of MBC, KBS and SBS)

By JONATHAN M. HICAP Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korea is banking on the popularity of boy band Super Junior to promote the country and the Korean Wave and attract more visitors.

My article from the Manila Bulletin online edition: By JONATHAN M. HICAP MANILA, Philippines (Feb. 23, 2011) - Top Korean actress Lee Young-ae, who played Jang-Geum in the highly popular Korean drama “Jewel in the Palace," is now a proud mother of fraternal twins: a boy and a girl. Lee Young-ae as Jang Geum in "Jewel in the Palace" (Photo courtesy of MBC)

Super Junior (Photo courtesy of SM Entertainment)

Light sends soft rays through the floor-length windows of Ga Hwa Dang, a traditional Korean hanok-turned-teahouse located in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. Behind the counter, manager Kim Yu-ri painstakingly prepares the establishment’s brews. Surprisingly enough, less than half the 19 teas on the menu are leaf-based. Instead, a majority are made with fruit, roots and seeds. Ga Hwa Dang’s nutty and rich wild sesame tea comes with a dish of artistically presented Korean sweets. (Lee Sang-sub/The Korea Herald)  

From Manila Bulletin newspaper: By JONATHAN M. HICAP MANILA, Philippines (Feb. 14, 2011) — If Koreans were given a choice to pick celebrities they want to be their dates on Valentine’s Day, they would spend the red-letter day with Girls Generation (aka SNSD), Big Bang, actor Hyun Bin and actress Kim Tae Hee. [caption id="attachment_136" align="alignnone" width="402" caption="(Clockwise from the top) Girls Generation, Kim Tae Hee, Hyun Bin and Big Bang. (Photos courtesy of SM Entertainment, SBS, MBC and YG Entertainment)"] [/caption]

My article in the Manila Bulletin newspaper: By JONATHAN M. HICAP MANILA, PHILIPPINES (Feb. 11, 2011) -- The five members of girl group Wonder Girls held a live video webchat Thursday morning from New York City (10 p.m. in the Philippines) to update fans on their activities and also celebrate their fourth anniversary. [caption id="attachment_118" align="alignnone" width="455" caption="The Wonder Girls during the live chat"] [/caption]

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]

By JONATHAN M. HICAP / Manila Bulletin (Feb. 9, 2011) MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Filipino-American Grammy nominee and Black Eyed Peas’ official DJ, Poet Name Life (real name Jaime Lim Munson) flew to Korea to help write and produce songs for K-pop girl group 2NE1.

Here's an article from Manila Bulletin , a leading English newspaper in the Philippines, about Filipino fans wanting K-pop girl group Girls Generation to come to Manila for a concert. Manila Bulletin has been publishing articles about Korean pop and entertainment almost everyday. MANILA, Philippines (Feb. 8, 2011) — Filipino fans of top K-pop group Girls Generation have launched an online petition to entice the all-female band to visit the Philippines and hold a concert here. [caption id="attachment_50" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Girls Generation"] [/caption]

The ladies of 4minute are off to a great start after the lunar new year holidays, as they've been awarded the "KPop New Artist Award" at the 2010 Billboard Japan Music Awards on February 6th. [caption id="attachment_40" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="4minute with their Billboard Japan award (Cube Entertainment)"] [/caption]