Nicole, Jiyoung leave KARA

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Korean girl group KARA will be left with only three members with the departure of Nicole and Jiyoung.

Nicole officially left KARA today with the expiration of her exclusive contract under DSP Media, the group’s agency.

Nicole (left) and Jiyoung (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com)

Billboard names EXO as artist to watch this year

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Billboard has released its “14 Artists to Watch in 2014″ list and it includes Korean boy band EXO.

“They’re not household names… yet, but these 14 music makers – including pop stars in the making, soulful UK upstarts, an up and coming rapper, and a few hot groups – are primed to do big things this year,” according to Billboard.com.

EXO (Photos courtesy of EXO’s official Facebook page)

Philippines to host 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards?

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

If plans push through, the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) will be held in the Philippines this year.

According to the Global Hallyu Data 2013 report released by the Korea Foundation, there are plans to hold the awards show in the country on Nov. 26.

The 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) drew celebrities including (clockwise from top left) Paris Hilton and G-Dragon, Girls’ Generation, Rain and EXO (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Lions - The New Endangered Species?

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Korean Wave fans reach 9.28 million worldwide

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, continued to spread in many countries with the number of fans reaching 9.28 million in 2013.

The number of hallyu fan clubs and groups worldwide reached 987 last year, according to the Global Hallyu Data 2013 report released by the Korea Foundation.

Dinner at Bulgogi Brothers

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

Bulgogi Brothers 

(NEWS) Leeteuk’s dad, grandparents laid to rest

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Super Junior leader Leeteuk was in tears and in deep sorrow at the funeral for his father and grandparents that was held this morning in Seoul.

His sister, Park In Young, relatives and friends were at the Korea University Guro Hospital mortuary to bid their final farewell to Park Yongin, 57, Leeteuk’s father; and grandparents Park Hyeon Suk, 84, and Cheon Kyung Tae, 79.

Leeteuk at the funeral (Photos by www.newsen.com)

[VIDEO] 140108 Leeteuk's Father & Grandparents' Funeral

Aspiring K-pop artists, actors to get protection under new law

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

The Korean government will implement a new law that will protect aspiring K-pop artists and actors against abuse by unscrupulous entertainment agencies.

Under the new law by Korea’s National Assembly, those who will establish an entertainment agency in South Korea will have to get approval from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Actress Jang Ja-yeon, who appeared on ‘Boys over Flowers,’ committed suicide in March 2009 (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Top 10 highest-grossing films in Korea in 2013

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

The numbers are in and local films dominated the box office in South Korea in 2013.

Korean films captured nine of the top 10 highest-grossing films of the year, based on figures from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

Park Shin Hye, Ryu Seung-ryong and Kal So-won in the top top-grossing film ‘Miracle in Cell No. 7′ (Photos by the film’s official Facebook page)