Korea Observer

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin A much-awaited K-pop concert in Singapore that would have featured acts like EXO, SHINee and KARA was cancelled by the organizer due to “contractual obligations” to a Korean broadcasting company. Fans are angry and scrambling to get ticket refunds after Fatfish Entertainment announced that the “MBC Korean Wave In Singapore 2013″ concert would not push through. Teen Top, B1A4 and miss A at the press conference in Singapore for the concert last August (Photos from the MBC Korean Music Wave in Singapore 2013 Facebook page)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop star Nichkhun, a member of boy band 2PM, praised Filipinos for being warm and friendly, and said that he was really looking forward to see his fans up close at his fun meet.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Nichkhun, member of K-pop boy band 2PM, arrived in Manila last night for his “fun meet” for a Philippine clothing brand that will be held tomorrow. Nichkhun at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last night (Photos courtesy of @Careyblue21 and @aveeporn on Twitter)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop boy band Super Junior has been invited to speak at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Super Junior in costumes to celebrate their eight anniversary (Photo by www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin “No Breathing,” the Korean film that was shot partly in the Philippines, has earned $2 million at the box office since its release last Oct. 30. The movie has garnered 318,766 in attendance and has earned 2.15 billion won (about $2 million and P87.6 million) in South Korea as of Nov. 5, according to data from the Korea Film Council’s website. Clockwise from top) Lee Jong Suk, Yuri and Seo In Guk in ‘No Breathing’ (Photos from ‘No Breathing’)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Pop stars Rain and Hangeng were feted at the People of the Year Award 2013 by BAZAAR Men’s Style held in Beijing, China. Rain received the Asia All-Around Entertainer Award at the ceremony as part of the Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week Celebration Party. Rain with his award (left) and Hangeng with Harper’s BAZAAR Executive Publisher Su Mang on the red carpet. (Photos courtesy of BAZAAR Men and Hangeng’s accounts on Weibo)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop group Girls’ Generation bagged the Video of the Year in the inaugural YouTube Music Awards held Sunday night in New York City (Monday morning in Manila). Girls’ Generation’s “I Got A Boy” was voted Video of the Year, beating out Psy’s “Gentleman” Demi Lovato’s “Heart Attack,” Epic Rap Battles of History’s “Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney,” Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop,” Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj’s “Beauty and a Beat,” Lady Gaga’s “Applause,” One Direction’s “Best Song Ever,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert’s “Same Love,” and Selena Gomez’s “Come & Get It.”

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Korean boy band Infinite fulfilled their pledge of making lasting memories with their Filipino fans upon their arrival on Nov. 2 when they held their concert “2013 Infinite 1st World Tour: One Great Step” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. Sungkyu, Hoya, Dongwoo, L, Woohyun, Sungyeol and Sungjong headline the concert that ran for almost three hours, showcasing their vocal talents and impressive dance routines. “I missed you so much,” Hoya told the fans at the concert. Infinite opened the concert with “Destiny,” the group’s latest single that won them awards on music TV shows in Korea. They followed this with “Tic Toc” and “Paradise” from their first studio album and its repackaged version released in 2011. Other songs performed were “Wings,” “Inception,” “She’s Back,” “Man in Love,” “The Chaser,” “Nothing’s Over,” “Cover Girl” and “BTD.” Infinite H’s Hoya and Dongwoo performed “Special Girl” while Sungyeol and Sungjong s...

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin When Korean boy band Infinite visited and performed in the Philippines for the first time last January, they said they were deeply moved by the response of Filipino fans.