Winners at Mnet 20’s Choice Awards 2012

Girls’ Generation’s subunit TaeTiSeo won the Trendy Music award while Super Junior bagged the Global Star plum in the 2012 Mnet 20’s Choice Awards ceremony held on June 28 in Seoul.

TaeTiSeo won the award over Big Bang, SISTAR, FT Island and miss A.

On the other hand, Super Junior edged out BEAST, Kim Hyun Joong, Girls’ Generation and Jang Geun Suk for the award.

Super Junior, Kim Soo Hyun, TaeTiSeo and Han Ji Min
(Photos by www.newsen.com)

2 Korean Stars On Army Enlistment, Exemption

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin 

MANILA, Philippines  - A member of a boy band will enlist in the military in July while a Korean actor faces controversy over his exemption from military service.

SS501 member Kim Kyu Jong will complete his basic military training for four weeks starting July 23, according to a notice posted by B2M Entertainment on his personal website on June 26.

Kim Kyu Jong and Kim Moo Yul (Photos by www.newsen.com)

Sandara Park Sports New Hairstyle For 2NE1’s Comeback

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - The girls of K-pop group 2NE1 are gearing up for their much-awaited comeback with Sandara Park sporting a new hairstyle.

In the last few days, YG Entertainment posted teaser photos of 2NE1 members along with hints on their comeback date.

Photos courtesy of YG Entertainment and screen grab

(PHOTO): Manila Bulletin print edition (June 26, 2012)

My K-pop article "K-Pop Groups Make It To Oricon 2012 Rankings"  published in the Manila Bulletin issue today, June 26, 2012. 

Seoul to give away 30 tickets to MBLAQ's concert in Indonesia

Here is a big surprise ONLY for our Indonesia fans of Seoul!!! 
Seoul is going to give away 30 tickets for the MBLAQ concert in Indonesia.

'Delicious Seoul Story' Cooking Contest: Win a Gourmet Trip to Seoul!

Experience the Chuseok holiday in Seoul this year! Just make a video of you and your friend cooking up a Korean dish and upload it onto our YouTube channel. You may be one of the five lucky teams to be selected to win a 'Delicious Seoul Story' trip to Seoul that includes airfare, hotel accommodation, a gourmet food tour, and classes with master Korean chefs!

Entry Period

Submissions must be entered between 12:00 Korean Standard Time (KST) on July 2, 2012 and 17:00 Korean Standard Time (KST) on August 10, 2012.

Eligibility

Only non-Korean citizens residing outside of South Korea can enter.

Winners Announcement

Winners will be contacted individually via e-mail and will also be announced on the website (http://welcome.visitseoul.net) on August 17, 2012 Korean Standard Time. * The dates for the "Delicious SEOUL story" trip are set for September 17, 2012 - September 21, 2012 and cannot be changed. If a winning team is unavailable for travel by the designated dates, the winning team will be disqualified and the Seoul Tourism Organization reserves the right to select another winning team at its sole discretion. (From Visit Seoul) 

To join the contest, go to http://welcome.visitseoul.net/eng/sub/delicious/delicious_1.jsp

American fan with hereditary disease fulfills dream; meets SHINee, Super Junior

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - A 15-year-old girl from Brooklyn, New York, who suffers from a hereditary disorder affecting the nerves and muscles, fulfilled her dream of meeting her favorite K-pop group SHINee.

K-pop Groups In Oricon Rankings For 2012

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Several K-pop groups made it to the list of bestselling artists in Japan for the first half of 2012.

Oricon chart has released the list of top 50 singles, albums and DVDs from January to June.

Photos from www.newsen.com and Facebook pages of Big Bang & Super Junior

Kangin Included In Super Junior's New Album

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - Super Junior member Kangin will be returning to the boy band after two years and nine months through his participation in their new album.

SM Entertainment confirmed that Kangin will be part of Super Junior's sixth album, his first activity after being discharged from the Korean military last April.

(From left) Kangin at the police station in 2009, his discharge from the army and his recent photo taken in May (Photos by www.newsen.com and Kangin's Twitter)

2AM Jo Kwon's I'm Da One MV

2AM leader Jo Kwon's first solo album "I'm Da One" has been released. In addition, the music video for the title track "I'm Da One" has been uploaded on YouTube. Check it out.