130829 G-Dragon ft. Missy Elliott - NILIRIA (Nuiliriya) on 'M! Countdown What's Up, LA?'

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Block B to resume career under new agency

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop boy band Block B will be resuming their career under a new company following their legal dispute with their agency.

The group will transferring from Stardom Entertainment to Seven Seasons agency. Block B and Stardom Entertainment have settled their issue pertaining to the former's exclusive contracts.

Block B (Photo: www.newsen.com)

JYJ's Jaejoong wins Best Hallyu OST award at Seoul Drama Awards

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop group JYJ member Kim Jaejoong has won the Best Hallyu Drama OST award at the 2013 Seoul International Drama Awards.

Jaejoong will be receiving the award at the ceremony, which will be held on Sept. 5 at the National Theatre of Korea.

G-Dragon, Missy Elliot perform new song at KCON in LA

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

K-pop star G-Dragon's dream came true when he performed with Grammy-winning rapper Missy Elliott on stage.

The two heated up KCON, the K-pop convention in Los Angeles, over the weekend when they sang together G-Dragon's new song for his new upcoming album "Coup d'etat."

IU's weekend drama ends on top of ratings

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

"You're The Best, Lee Soon Shin," the KBS2 weekend drama of K-pop princess IU and actor Jo Jung-suk, aired its 50th and last episode in South Korea on Aug. 25 and ended a successful five-month run on top of the ratings.

Photo: KBS

Big Bang's Seungri on producing his new album and maturity

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Big Bang's youngest member Seungri said producing his second mini album "Let's Talk About Love" brought changes in him and he was satisfied with the results.

Seungri released the album last Aug. 19, which was also the date when Big Bang debuted in South Korea in 2006. He is currently promoting the album on music TV shows.

Seungri (Photo from Seungri's official Facebook page)

Big Bang member T.O.P's visit to Manila postponed

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

The onslaught of heavy rains in the last few days has resulted in the postponement of the Manila visit of Big Bang member T.O.P and the launch of a mobile messenger application in the country scheduled today, Aug. 22.

Big Bang's T.O.P and Sarah Geronimo (Photos by www.newsen.com and SarahGLiveOfficial on Facebook)

'Hide and Seek,' 'The Flu' top Korean box office

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Thriller "Hide and Seek" and the drama "The Flu" topped the box office in Korea, earning a combined total of 30,817,723,000 won (about P1.2 billion) since the two films opened last Aug. 14.

As of Aug. 19, "Hide and Seek," stars Son Hyeon-joo, Moon Jeong-hee and Jeon Mi-seon, has grossed a total of 16.85 billion won (about P658.35 million) as of Aug. 19 to top the box office.

A scene from "Hide and Seek" (left) and "The Flu" star Jang Hyuk (right) (Photos by www.newsen.com)

What's next for the Korean Wave?

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

In the last few years, the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, has spread in many countries.

From Asia, Hallyu has found its way to other regions like in Latin America, North America and Middle East.

Hallyu stars (clockwise from top left) Super Junior, Choi Ji-woo and Bae Yong-joon in 'Winter Sonata,' Big Bang and Lee Young Ae in 'Jewel in the Palace' (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Actor-theater director dies in drowning accident

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

An actor and theater director best known for appearing in the 2011 drama "Dream High" was found dead in what police said was a case of drowning.

The body of Baek Won Gil, 42, was found at about 9 a.m. on Aug. 16 in the waters of Namdaecheon in Gangwon, South Korea.

www.newsen.com