Korea Observer

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Kim Hyun Joong and girl group KARA claimed the top spots on the latest Billboard charts while other K-pop artists are also enjoying chart success in Japan.   According to the latest Billboard charts, Kim Hyun Joong's third mini-album "Round 3" debuted at No. 1 on the World Albums chart. Photos: www.newsen.com

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 Chinese pop star Hangeng is set to do his first Hollywood film. The former member of K-pop boy band Super Junior has been cast in the American movie "Transformers 4," sending his fans into a frenzy. Hangeng (Photo by www.michaelbay.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Some fans of Super Junior, called ELFS, are targeting again Super Junior M members Henry Lau and Zhoumi as they demanded SM Entertainment to clarify and define the boundaries between Super Junior and the two in the Super Show 5 world tour. S uper Junior with Henry Lau and Zhoumi in the Super Show 5 in Chile (Photo courtesy of SM Entertainment)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Korean boy band Super Junior will be coming back to the Philippines to hold their world tour in August. This has been confirmed by Happee Sy of Pulp Live Productions to  Bulletin Entertainment  via text message. Sy also announced on Twitter, May 22: "24 Days to CNBlue BlueMoon Tour Manila! Less than 100 days to SS5 Manila. Kpop friends, are you spazzing enough?" Photos by SM Entertainment

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Besides rapper Psy, Super Junior's Siwon also attended the famous Met Gala in New York City together with other Korean stars. In an interview with Billboard.com before the gala, Siwon said he couldn't believe it that he was going to attend the event. Siwon with Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld and Korean actress Jung Ryeo Won (Photo courtesy of Jung Ryeo Won's Twitter)

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. Clockwise from top left) Super Junior, Wooyoung and Big Bang (Photos by www.newsen.com)

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 - 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 - K-pop stars attended the 22nd Seoul Music Awards held last night at the SK Olympic Handball Stadium in Seoul. Psy won the daesang, or grand prize, but he was unable to attend the awards ceremony due to his busy schedule. Epik High's Tablo received the award on his behalf. Psy instead sent a video message to thank the organizers for the award, his agency and family. Last year, Super Junior won the daesang. Winners (from left) SHINee, Super Junior, Lee Seung Gi and Big Bang (Photos courtesy of sportsseoul.com)

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)

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...

By JONATHAN M. HICAP MANILA, Philippines - K-pop's Super Junior and f(x) were honored at the 19th Republic of Korea Entertainment Art Awards. The two were chosen as Best Groups. Donghae and Yesung accepted the award on behalf  of Super Junior while Victoria, Krystal and Amber received the award for f(x). (Clockwise from top left) f(x), Super Junior, Juniel and EXO-K (Photos by SMGlobal on Twitter and www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Big Bang, Psy and Super Junior bagged the major awards at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) held in Hong Kong on Nov. 30. Big Bang won as Artist of the Year while Psy received the Song of the Year award for his global hit "Gangnam Style." (Clockwise from top left) Big Bang, Psy, Super Junior and Adam Lambert

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines - It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and for singers IU and Super Junior's Eunhyuk, their photo on Twitter has raised questions, disbelief and shock. The deleted photo from IU's Twitter account

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

BY JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  MANILA, Philippines - Super Junior's leader Leeteuk seems to be adjusting well to his new endeavor in the Korean military. A photo of Leeteuk smiling brightly together with other trainees was posted on the 306th Army Reserve online cafe. Leeteuk (center) together with Mighty Mouth's Sangchu and other trainees. (Photo courtesy of 306th Army Reserve online cafe)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korean boy band Super Junior will have to go on with their activities without their leader Leeteuk in the next two years. Leeteuk will be enlisting in the Korean military today as part of the mandatory service of all male Korean citizens. Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Hallyu actor Jang Dong-gun was declared as Style Icon of the Year at the 2012 Style Icon Awards (SIA) held on Oct. 25 in Seoul, South Korea. The awards ceremony honored Korea's "Most Stylish Icons that Brightened 2012." (Clockwise from left) Style Icon of the Year awardee Jang Dong-gun and Style Icon winners miss A's Suzy and Seo In Guk and Jung Eunji (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com and www.enewsworld.mnet.com)

Super Junior will release a photo book to celebrate its seventh year in the spotlight. SM Entertainment announced Tuesday that the limited-edition book will go on sale across Asia starting Nov. 6. Photo courtesy of Korea JoongAng Daily