Korea Observer

Singer and actor Kim Jaejoong of boy band JYJ has been discharged from the Korean army Friday morning, December 30 after completing his conscription that ran for nearly two years.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Thousands of outraged fans worldwide have signed a petition demanding organizers of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games to honor its commitment and let popular K-pop boy band JYJ perform during the opening ceremonies on September 19.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Korean boy band JYJ and other artists under C-JeS Entertainment have partnered with humanitarian organization World Vision to extend a helping hand to less affluent students of Leyte and Batangas in the Philippines.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Apart from their responsibilities as members of JYJ, the members of the popular boy band have pursued individual activities ranging from films, TV series, theatrical roles and solo albums. In an interview with  Bulletin Entertainment , JYJ’s Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu shared some of their solo pursuits. (Clockwise from top left) Yoochun in ‘Three Days;’ Jaejoong and Junsu performing at their solo concerts (SBS and C-JeS Entertainment)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Popular K-pop boy band JYJ will be quite busy this year with a ramped up list of activities they have lined up. “Finally, we will bring you a new JYJ album in the second half of this year and, of course, there will be tours for concerts,” JYJ told  Bulletin Entertainment. JYJ (Photo by C-JeS Entertainment)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin JYJ and their former Japanese label AVEX have reached an agreement effectively ending their legal battle concerning the Korean boy band’s music activities in Japan. In an announcement posted on its website, C-Jes Entertainment, JYJ’s agency in South Korea, said the two sides have reached the settlement through mediation. (From left) JYJ’s Junsu Jaejoong and Yoochun (www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The Asian Games Centennial Festival (AGCEF) scheduled to be held in Boracay in Aklan from Nov. 27 to 29 has been postponed following the onslaught of super typhoon “Yolanda” (internatioonal name “Haiyan”) in the country. Part of the AGCEF was the Asian Games Centennial Music Gala that was supposed to feature K-pop boy band JYJ, composed of Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu, and other Asian artists. Boy band JYJ (Photo courtesy of 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The title track from Kim Jaejoong’s first studio album has topped 10 countries including the Philippines. Jaejoong, member of boy band JYJ, released his album “WWW (Who When Why)” on Oct. 29 which included the title song “Just Another Girl.” JYJ speaking at the event in Vietnam (Photo courtesy of Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The song and music video of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games performed by K-pop boy band JYJ have been released. JYJ (Photo by IAGOC)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin A drama series from Israel won the grand prize while Hollywood actress Lucy Liu won as best actress in the Seoul International Drama Awards 2013 held on Sept. 6 at the National Theater of Korea. “Prisoners of War 2,” which became the top rated drama in Israel, bagged the top prize selected among all the nominees for TV movie, mini-series, serial and series categories. Kim Yun-jin, Lee Jun-ki, Suzy and Jaejoong at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2013. (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop boy band JYJ will visit the Philippines in November as honorary ambassador to promote the 17th Asian Games that will be held in Incheon, South Korea, next year. The popular group is scheduled to do a roadshow to promote the Games in four countries starting this month. JYJ members Junsu, Jaejoong and Yoochun with Asian Games Organizing Committee President Kim Young-soo (Photo courtesy of 2014 Asian Incheon Games website)

This complete translation is from  http://jaetaku.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/130902-cjes-announcement-as-regards-activities-of-honorary-ambassadors-for-incheon-asian-games-2014/ Hello. This is CJeS Entertainment. JYJ are currently working as honorary ambassadors of the Incheon Asian Games 2014 (hereafter IAG).

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop group JYJ member Kim Jaejoong has won the Best Hallyu Drama OST award at the 2013 Seoul International Drama Awards. Jaejoong will be receiving the award at the ceremony, which will be held on Sept. 5 at the National Theatre of Korea.

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)

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)

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 Korean boy band JYJ has proven through concerts held at Tokyo Dome recently that their popularity in Japan remains high. JYJ, composed of Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu, performed to a sold-out crowd of 100,000 fans who came to the concerts held from April 2 to 3. Another  50,000 fans will come tonight, the last day of the concert. Photos by www.newsen.com and @jyj_ph

Junsu of JYJ narrated the documentary “The Zoo Is Alive” on a show that aired Monday night. This is the first time that the singer has narrated an MBC documentary program.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Boy band Super Junior and their company SM Entertainment dominated physical album sales in 2012. Rankings of album sales by company and artist were posted on Korean music chart site Instiz, which showed percentage sales top K-pop artists got last year. Photos by www.newsen.com

BY JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin   MANILA, Philippines - Boy band JYJ and rapper Psy have been selected to perform at the inauguration of South Korea's first female President, Park Geun-hye. President-elect Park Geun-hye will be sworn in as South Korea's 11th president on Feb. 25 at a ceremony to be held at the National Assembly square in Seoul. The performers at the presidential inauguration. (www.newsen.com)