Korea Observer

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)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines – JYJ member Kim Jaejoong’s first mini-album has become a success, selling briskly and topping music charts in Korea, Japan and other countries. Jaejoong released “I” last Jan. 17, which quickly rose to the top of Korean chart Hanteo. Jaejoong (Photo by C-JeS Entertainment)

I was at the mall earlier and passed by the Tony Moly branch at Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City. 

MANILA, Philippines - 2012 became an exciting year for hallyu or the Korean Wave, especially for K-pop. A horse-riding dance became an Internet sensation and swept the world. A number of Korean stars visited the Philippines and a three-year old legal dispute ended through a settlement. Here's Bulletin Entertainment's Top 10 Korean entertainment stories in 2012: 1. Psy - In just six months, Korean rapper Psy crossed over to the US music market with his viral song "Gangnam Style" that became a hit, achieved a billion views on YouTube and set three Guinness World Records. Psy became a staple on entertainment TV shows in the US, flew to different countries to perform and won a New Media award at the American Music Awards (AMA). Our wish in 2013: We hope that his next song will become a hit as well. (Clockwise from top left) Big Bang, Psy, Girls Generation, Wonder Girls' Sunye, JYJ and Jasmine Lee (Photos courtesy of YG Entertainment, www.newsen.com and Jas...

JYJ's Xia Junsu is included in the latest issue of KOREA magazine. The article, "K-pop Evolves," lists Korean singers who are ready to ride the new wave of K-pop after Psy. 

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - After three long years, the legal battle between members of boy band JYJ and agency SM Entertainment (SME) came to an end with the two parties forging a settlement through arbitration.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Boy band JYJ member Jaejoong didn't disappoint his 4,000 supporters by showing up at his first fan meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. Before he went to Indonesia, the singer and actor was suffering a bad case of sore throat. Despite this, he decided to go on with the fan meeting held at the Mata Elang International Stadium.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines - Fans are angry that one of Korea's most popular hallyu stars has suffered another humiliation in his own country when he was left out in the TV broadcast of the opening ceremony of the 32nd National Para Games in Korea.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will be giving away signed copies of Xiah Junsu's "Tarantallegra" album.  Joining the contest is easy.  Xiah Junsu's "Tarantallegra" album (Photo courtesy of Seoul, Korea Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP MANILA, Philippines - Gaon chart, Korea's version of the Billboard charts, released the single and album rankings for K-pop for the month of May. TaeTiSeo , the subunit of Girls Generation, topped the singles and album rankings.

JYJ's Kim Jaejoong certainly got time today as he posted several " selcas " on his Twitter account. 

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Japanese fans have not forgotten boy band JYJ, based on their response to the first solo album of Xiah Junsu. Junsu released the album "Tarantallegra" last May 14, which topped real-time charts in Korea and Japan.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is giving away 20 tickets to JYJ's Xiah Junsu's concert in Thailand scheduled on May 27. 

JYJ member Xiah Junsu has released on May 14 his much-awaited music video for "Tarantallegra," his first solo album.  The song is awesome, which also features Flowsik. The cool choreography for the music video was made by Jeri Slaughter and his team.  Screen grab by @cassph

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fans of Korean boy band JYJ has come together for their first-ever gathering in the country to show their love and support to their idol group. Called “JYJ Haven: The Beginning: The JYJ Philippines 1st Fan Gathering,” the event was held on April 21 at Discovery Suites in Pasig. Filipino JYJ fans at the gathering. (Photos courtesy of JYJ Philippines)

SBS' drama "Rooftop Prince" starring JYJ's Yoochun and Han Ji Min has overtaken MBC's "The King 2 Hearts," starring Lee Seung-gi and Ha Ji Won, in the ratings.  The two Korean dramas premiered last March 21 and on the sixth episode, "Rooftop Prince" won the ratings game. 

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines – On the last day of the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit in South Korea on March 27, the wives of world leaders who were attending the event were treated to traditional dance and K-pop music. (Top) First Lady Kim Yoon-ok greets JYJ (Bottom) The First Lady and the wives of world leaders pose for a photo with JYJ (Photos courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae and Newsis.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines – It was an emotion-filled morning Friday for JYJ member Park Yoochun as he and his brother Park Yoohwan held the funeral for their father, Park Hyun-geun,  who died of a chronic illness last Mar. 14 at age 51. Brothers Yoohwan and Yoochun at the funeral. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com)  

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines – It was a tearful homecoming for JYJ member Park Yoochun from the band’s successful concert in South America when he learned that his father passed away on Mar. 14. Yoochun at Incheon International Airport on March 14 (www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin   MANILA, Philippines – Korean boy band JYJ broke their silence on the issue regarding their sasaeng, or stalker fans, confirming they were victims of invasion of privacy and stalking. JYJ