Super Junior, FT Island, SHINee Hold Concerts In Korea, Taiwan, Japan

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Boy bands Super Junior, SHINee and FT Island held their various concerts over the weekend in Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

After touring seven countries, Super Junior ended their Super Show 4 world tour on May 26 and 27 with encore concerts at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul.

FT Island, Super Junior and SHINee. (Photos courtesy of their Facebook pages)

Seoul is . . .

For me, Seoul is VIBRANT. 

It is a city that is rapidly changing with technological advancement. This modernization is complemented with the preservation of Seoul's rich cultural and historical heritage and warmth from the people of Seoul. (Jonathan Hicap) 

You can also view this photo at http://twitter.com/Jonah_writer/status/207126504507838467/photo/1/large

Justin Bieber, Jay Park, KARA, Mizz Nina In MTV Concert In Malaysia

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin 

MANILA, Philippines - Pop superstar Justin Bieber, K-pop stars Jay Park and KARA, and Malaysian singer Mizz Nina will headline the MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia 2012, which will be held on July 14.

Big Bang to release special edition album

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Korean boy band Big Bang will release a special edition album while holding their world concert tour.

The album will be called "Still Alive," and will be released in six versions online on June 3. The physical album will be released on June 6.

Rolling Stone picks 10 K-pop groups 'most likely to break in America'

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Rolling Stone website has picked 10 K-pop groups including 2NE1, Big Bang and Girls Generation that have the potential to break into the US music scene.

The website noted that while K-pop artists BoA and Se7en failed in their American debuts in the past, "K-pop has garnered a strong following without the help of any major American backing."

(Clockwise from top left) SHINee, BEAST, 2NE1 and SISTAR.
(Photos by www.newsen.com)

Girl's Generation Reaches Double Platinum Status In Japan

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila, Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Nine-member K-pop group Girls Generation achieved another milestone in Japan with their single "Mr. Taxi" reached double platinum status in Japan. 

(Clockwise from top left) Girls Generation, Kim Hyun Joong, T-ara and Bae Yong Joon. (Photos by SM Entertainment, Oricon, www.newsen.com and Keyeast)

JYJ Junsu's First Solo Album Hot In Japan

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.

[WATCH] YouTube presents MBC K-pop concert

Watch the entire MBC K-pop Concert held in Mountainview, California. 

Jay Park Gifts Fans With Free Mixtape [w/ download links]

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Keeping his promise to his fans, K-pop star Jay Park released his free English mixtape containing six songs, all of which he wrote in collaboration with other artists.

Traveling in Seoul is a breeze

By JONATHAN HICAP

Traveling to another country for the first time is always worrisome. You don't know the people, coupled with having a hard time to get around.

But it was different when I went to Seoul--South Korea's capital and a modern and bustling city that is home to about 10 million people.

Seoul is a fascinating city: Itaewon (top) and Myeongdong (bottom).
Photos by Jonathan Hicap