Korea Observer

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1710689/vma-nominations-list-2013.jhtml

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 A year ago yesterday, Korean rapper Psy released a quirky and funny music video titled "Gangnam Style" on YouTube that featured a horse-riding dance. "Gangnam Style" was the title track of Psy's new album "Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1," which was also released on July 15, 2012. Psy performing in Korea, on the "Ellen Show" and gracing the Billboard magazine. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com, "Ellen" show and Billboard)

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)

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

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop acts Kim Hyun Joong and TVXQ's respective singles have been certified gold in Japan. Kim Hyun Joong's third Japanese single "Tonight" and TVXQ's new single "Ocean" have sold at least 100,000 copies each, according to the latest certifications issued by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Kim Hyun Joong and TVXQ (Photos by KeyEast and TVXQ Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin A year after Hwayoung left K-pop act T-ara amidst accusations that she was bullied, another member has decided to leave the girl group to launch a solo career. Ahreum has been announced that she will be leaving T-ara for her solo debut. Apparently, her musical preference is different from that of T-ara’s music. Ahreum (Photo by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin A week before the finals of the 2013 Pinoy K-pop Star, 18-year-old Kristine Bernadette Solis was suffering from pharyngitis, or inflammation of the throat, that she was unable to practice her song "Can't Let You Go" by Seo Young Eun, an original soundtrack for the hit drama "49 Days." What she could only do was listen to the song over and over. She was only able to practice her piece the night before the finals. Pinoy K-pop Star 2013 winner Kristine Bernadette Solis (center) together with judges Director Hwang Seong-un (left) of KCC in the Philippines and Director Kim Yoon-sik (right) of the Korea Copyright Commission. (Photo by KCC Philippines)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin In 2011, Lester Avan Andrada, a Communication Arts majoring in Theater student at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos (UPLB), became an exchange student at the Far East University (FEU) in Korea. As he was training at FEU-Korea's Theater and Acting Department, he saw an ad for a role in a Korean film posted by a talent agent in March last year. He tried his luck and auditioned the following month.

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