Korea Observer

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Asian pop star Rain, Big Bang’s G-Dragon and former Super Junior member Hangeng are among winners at the recently concluded QQ Music Awards, organized by China’s biggest music streaming site, QQ Music. The awards ceremony, held at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen, China, drew popular artists from across Asia including Jay Chou, JJ Lin and Jolin Tsai. (Clockwise from top left) Rain, G-Dragon, Hangeng and Lyn (QQ Music and YG Entertainment)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Pop stars Rain and Hangeng were feted at the People of the Year Award 2013 by BAZAAR Men’s Style held in Beijing, China. Rain received the Asia All-Around Entertainer Award at the ceremony as part of the Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week Celebration Party. Rain with his award (left) and Hangeng with Harper’s BAZAAR Executive Publisher Su Mang on the red carpet. (Photos courtesy of BAZAAR Men and Hangeng’s accounts on Weibo)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin It's almost a month after his discharge from the army and yet pop star Rain is still being hounded by controversy regarding his appointment as an entertainment soldier. A Korean lawmaker accused that these entertainment soldiers, who were tasked to promote the image of the army, were given preferential treatment. Rain (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Eight Korean celebrity soldiers including Se7en and Sangchu of Mighty Mouth who were involved in the massage parlor incident will be punished as the Ministry of National Defense decided to abolish the entertainment soldiers system after it received severe criticism from the public. Se7en and Sangchu (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Asian pop star Rain has been discharged from the Korean army at about 8 a.m. today after serving for 21 months. Hundreds of fans including from Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, Malaysia and the US and the media waited for him outside the Ministry of National Defense office in Yongsan, Seoul. Photos by www.newsen.com

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Korea's Ministry of National Defense is investigating celebrity soldiers Se7en and Sangchu of Mighty Mouth after an SBS TV report allegedly showed the two men going to a massage parlor after a military concert in Chuncheon, Gangwon province. The two together with pop star Rain, KCM and Kim Kyung Hun attended and performed at the event held last June 21. Se7en and Sangchu (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Asian pop star Rain has decided to join Cube Entertainment, which manages K-pop artists BEAST, 4Minute and G.NA., ahead of his scheduled discharge from the military this July. This was announced by Hong Seung Seong, chief executive officer of Cube Entertainment, on the company’s website. Rain (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korean pop star Rain has been meted out punishment of one-week probation by the Ministry of National Defense following media reports showing that he dated actress Kim Tae-hee . Rain and Kim Tae-hee (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines – Hallyu pop star Rain and popular actress Kim Tae Hee have been revealed to be dating, creating a firestorm on Korean Internet portals and forums, and among fans. (Top) The photos showing Rain and Kim Tae Hee dating. (Below) The two worked together in an ad for an e-commerce site in Korea (Photos courtesy of Dispatch and www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - The sequel to the 2004 hit Korean romantic comedy "Full House" will premiere in Korea on Oct. 22 on cable channel SBS Plus. "Full House Take 2" stars actress Hwang Jung Eum and actors No Min Woo and Park Ki Woong.

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 HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines – Big Bang, 2NE1, Rain and IU are the No. 1 favorite singers in France, according to a survey. A total of 3,755 people participated in the online survey on tourism and Korean wave conducted by the Paris branch of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) from December 23, 2011 to January 20 this year. Big Bang, Rain, 2NE1 and IU (Photos by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN M. HICAP Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - “Full House,” the 2004 hit comedy series shown on Korean TV station KBS that helped boost the popularity of Asian pop star Rain and actress Song Hye Kyo, will have a sequel but with a different cast.

By JONATHAN M. HICAP Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Asian pop star Rain ( 비 aka  정지훈)  will hold a series of concerts in Korea as a gift to his fans before he enters the military in November this year.

In the “Entertainment Era” corner on the episode of “Live Info Show” that aired on June 15, the cameramen paid a visit to the place where singer Lee Joon’s commercial for underwear was being filmed.