Japan 2nd, Korea 11th in global music sales

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Japan maintained its position as the second largest music market in the world while South Korea kept its 11th place despite a decline in music sales in 2012.

In the top 20 markets for Global Recorded Music Sales in 2012, the United States is still No. 1 with sales of $4.48 billion, a decline of 0.5 percent from 2011, according to the RIAJ Yearbook 2013 issued by the Recording Industry Association in Japan (RIAJ).

Girls' Generation (top) and AKB48 (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Super Junior's Siwon on Met Gala, world tour & fashion

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)

2 K-pop stars tape TV show in Cebu

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Cebu is still the favorite destination of Korean celebrities in the Philippines.

Two K-pop stars went to Cebu in southern Philippines recently to shoot a special episode of a Korean TV show.

Son Dambi, former After School leader Kahi and stylist Chae Han Suk were in Cebu to tape an episode of MBC's "Son Dambi's Beautiful Days" lifestyle TV show.

Son Dambi and Kahi in Cebu (Photos courtesy of Kahi's blog and MBC)

Legendary singer to marry young actress

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Legendary singer Seo Taiji is getting married for the second time to another actress.

It was announced that 41-year-old Seo Taiji, a pioneer in popularizing K-pop in the 1990s, will be tying the knot with 25-year-old actress Lee Eun Sung, who is 16 years younger than him.

Psy set to perform at 'American Idol' finale

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Korean rapper Psy will be performing his latest single "Gentleman" at the finale of "American Idol," which will be aired in the US on May 16.

The finale of the FOX show will decide who will be crowned as the new "American Idol" between finalists Candice Glover and Knee Harrison.

Besides Psy, other performers at the finale are former "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez and current judges Keith Urban and Mariah Carey, according to the "Idol" blog mjsbigblog.

Psy at Harvard (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard News Office
and Harvard Magazine)

Baek Ji Young gets pregnant before wedding?

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Korean pop singer Baek Ji Young is reportedly pregnant with her first baby, just a month after she announced that she would be getting married to her boyfriend.

"I heard that Ms. Baek Ji Young is pregnant. She is being very careful because she's in the beginnings of her pregnancy," ENewsWorld quoted a source as saying.

Winners at the 49th Baeksang Arts Awards

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
Actor Ryu Seung Ryong and TV host Yoo Jae Suk were the big winners at the 49th Baeksang Arts Awards on May 9, taking home the "daesang," or grand prize, for their respective works in film and TV.
Ryu Seung Ryong won the daesang in the film division for "Miracle in Cell No. 7," which became the fourth bestselling film of all time in Korea with 12.8 million tickets sold since its release last January.

Diva Lee Hyori returns with new album

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
Korean pop diva Lee Hyori will be coming back to the music scene with a new album, three years after a plagiarism scandal that affected her career.
Lee Hyori will be releasing her fifth album "Monochrome" on May 21. Ahead of the album, she released her single "Miss Korea" on May 6, which topped music charts in Korea.

Psy meets Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow at Met Gala

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Korean rapper Psy attended the Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual gala in New York City on May 6 (May 7 in Manila) that drew Hollywood celebrities including Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Swift, Emma Watson and Kanye West.

At the event, Psy met and had a picture taken with Beyonce and Gwyneth Paltrow.

2PM tops iTunes charts in PH, 5 others

2PM tops iTunes charts in PH, 5 others

Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online:Email me at sangchusan(at)gmail.com