Korea Observer

By JONATHAN HICAP  The 26-year-old Korean singer Jung Joon-young, who finished in the top 3 of the talent show “Superstar K4,” has posted “wonderful photos” of the Philippines on his blog. Jung Joon-young in Batangas and at Bonifacio Global City (Photos courtesy of Jung Joon-young’s blog)

By JONATHAN HICAP  Korean actor Lee Je-hoon visited the Philippines to meet children and families who were affected by typhoons and participate in the reconstruction of a mangrove project in Cebu. Lee Je-hoon went to the country as part of the “Love Challenge” project by OXFAM Korea and Korean TV channel MBC, a global sharing initiative which seeks to generate donations for projects covering disasters, water, hygiene, food and women. Photos courtesy of SARAM Entertainment

By JONATHAN M. HICAP, Manila Bulletin Filipinos who aspire to become K-pop stars now have the chance to do so through reality-based talent search “KISPinoy” or “K-pop Icon Search” launched on April 22. Gracing the presscon held at K-Pub BBQ in Taguig were K-pop stars U-KISS and Laboum and award-winning Korean actress Seo Young-hee, as well as judges Rico Blanco and Nicole Asensio. Show hosts Richard Gutierrez and Jinri Park, “KISPinoy” founder and producer Matthew Choi, composer Won Sangwoo from NH Media, president Yu Jeonghoon of YU&IQ Entertainment in Korea, and Wilma Galvante, TV5 entertainment division head, also attended the event. “KISPinoy” is open to Filipinos who are at least 13 years old on audition date. It is said to be the biggest K-pop talent search in the country and it will air weekly on TV5 starting June 27. There will be a Korean judge on the show every week. The champion and possibly one of the top 10 finalists will win a multi-million peso record...

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), led by Secretary Imelda Nicolas, feted the winners of the Migration Advocacy and Media (MAM) Awards held at the SSS Magsaysay Hall of the Social Security System (SSS) headquarters in Quezon City, last Thursday.

​ BAE MINJU, a Korean businessman in the Philippines, died when his car was being stolen by armed men last July 27, 2014. His wife was kidnapped but later released unharmed, and the family driver was arrested for possible involvement in the crime. This is the ninth documented crime-related death of a Korean national in the Philippines since January of this year. In March, 21-year old college student LEE JI WON was abducted and murdered by suspects that include the taxi driver. It was a brutal and senseless crime that rattled the Korean community in the Philippines.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop Girl group T-ara will make its first-ever visit to the Philippines for a concert, as they announced via their official Facebook page. The visit, which is tentatively scheduled around “June-July,” is part of their 2014 tour dubbed the “Kingdom Under Fire 2 Joint Concert.”

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Seoul, South Korea – Since March last year, Filipino-Korean DJ Maria  Genevie “Gennie” Kim has been giving valuable advice, news and  information to Filipinos in South Korea through her radio program,  ”Philippine Language Multicultural Family Music Radio,” also known as  the “Multicultural Family Broadcast for Filipinos,” which streams via  the internet. DJ Gennie Kim at the radio station (Photos: Gennie Kim and Jonathan Hicap)

My friend and I met last night to have dinner and watch a movie at Alabang Town Center.  Bulgogi Brothers 

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Korean boy band Infinite fulfilled their pledge of making lasting memories with their Filipino fans upon their arrival on Nov. 2 when they held their concert “2013 Infinite 1st World Tour: One Great Step” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. Sungkyu, Hoya, Dongwoo, L, Woohyun, Sungyeol and Sungjong headline the concert that ran for almost three hours, showcasing their vocal talents and impressive dance routines. “I missed you so much,” Hoya told the fans at the concert. Infinite opened the concert with “Destiny,” the group’s latest single that won them awards on music TV shows in Korea. They followed this with “Tic Toc” and “Paradise” from their first studio album and its repackaged version released in 2011. Other songs performed were “Wings,” “Inception,” “She’s Back,” “Man in Love,” “The Chaser,” “Nothing’s Over,” “Cover Girl” and “BTD.” Infinite H’s Hoya and Dongwoo performed “Special Girl” while Sungyeol and Sungjong s...

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin A total of 27 film projects including two from the Philippines have been chosen by the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)'s Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) as funding recipients. The Asian Cinema Fund aims to help "activate more independent film productions and the creation of a stable production environment for Asian filmmakers by offering funding for projects in different stages of production." The ACF called for entries from March to May this year for three categories: Script Development Fund, Post-Production Fund and Asian Network of Documentary (AND) Fund. Racquel Zaballero-Sanchez (left) and Jewel Maranan (Photos courtesy of Sanchez's Facebook page and @shinematutina on Twitter

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Four choir groups from the Philippines won in the 2013 Yeosu International Choir Competition and Festival held from June 11 to 17 in Yeosu, South Korea. The competition, which had a total prize money of $140,000, drew 63 choirs from the US, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, Lithuania, Philippines and South Korea. Six choirs represented the Philippines. 

SEOUL, 4 June 2013 – The Embassy reported to the Department that Post’s Tourism office received two prizes at the recently concluded 26th Korea World Travel Fair (KOTFA). Photo courtesy of Philippine Embassy in South Korea

SEOUL, 4 May 2013 – The lone Philippine entry to the International Competition of the 14th Jeonju International Film Festival was chosen as Best Picture among the 10 films in competition at the recently concluded nine-day festival, the Embassy said on Saturday.

Along with the immense popularity of Hallyu in the Philippines, Korean food has been gaining more and more momentum in the local food scene, with numerous Korean restaurants mushrooming virtually everywhere.

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 M. HICAP MANILA, Philippines - Mark the date: October 24 . K-pop boy band Big Bang announced on May 31 that they will hold their Alive Concert Tour in the Philippines on October 24. Big Bang (Photo by Big Bang Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines – K-pop rapper and b-boy Jay Park’s mall tour in Manila will be held on May 4 to 6 in different venues. Jay Park will be in the country to promote his new album “New Breed,” which contains 15 tracks including the carrier single, “Know Your Name.” ( Photo courtesy of MCA Music Facebook page)

By JONATHAN M. HICAP, MANILA BULLETIN MANILA, Philippines – Korean girl group 2NE1 left Manila for Seoul  on Feb. 5, bringing with them lots of fun memories from their vacation and photoshoot in Manila and Albay in the Bicol region.

January 2, 2012 siwon407   SiwonChoi   Now We are at Orchard Road Metro Manila‎ Quezon City.

I first tasted Pajeon when we ate at a Korean restaurant in Paranaque, which is located south of Manila in the Philippines.  The restaurant, called Sam Won, is a popular place inside a subdivision.