Korea Observer

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin  Lee Byung Hun, the Korean actor who gained international recognition via the films “G.I. Joe” and “Terminator,” publicly apologized to his wife, actress Lee Ming-jung, after his name was dragged into a scandal involving a model and a member of a K-pop group. www.newsen.com

The Korean police raided the offices of the sponsor and organizer of the 1st Pangyo Techno Valley Festival on October 19 as investigation was launched to know their culpability following the concert tragedy. Sixteen people died and 11 were injured when a ventilation grate they were standing on collapsed during the K-pop concert in Gyeonggi Province in South Korea last October 17.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin When Yim Siwan debuted as a member of K-pop boy band ZE:A in 2010, he also jump-started his acting career with some supporting roles in several Korean dramas. He has made a great leap since, scoring his first-ever solo lead role in “Misaeng,” a drama series that started airing on CJ E&M’s tvN on Oct. 17.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin At least 14 people are feared dead when a ventilation grate collapsed during a K-pop concert in Gyeonggi Province, according to Korean media. The Pangyo Techno Valley Festival featuring 4Minute, T-ara, Junggigo, 2BiC, TransFixion and Cherry Filter was ongoing on Friday, Oct. 17, in Bundang, Seongnam City when the accident happened. (Top) 4Minute and (bottom) the ventillation grate that collapsed. (Photos: newse.com and news.tf.co.kr)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Super Junior member Sungmin, 28, has confirmed reports about his impending marriage to musical actress Kim Sa Eun in December. In his letter to fans posted on the official Super Junior website, Sungmin confirmed that the wedding will take place on Dec.13. Super Junior’s Sungmin and Kim Sa Eun (Photos: SBS FunE)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop boy band BTS, or Bangtan Boys, will be heading to Manila for a concert in December. The seven-member K-pop group will be holding their first solo concert “2014 BTS Live Trilogy in Manila Episode II: The Red Bullet” on December 7 at the Mall of Asia Arena, according to Happee Sy of Pulp Live World Productions.

Philippine Airlines is flying to the Big Apple,  New York City , on  March 15, 2015 , marking the carrier's much-awaited network expansion to the  US  east coast. In announcing the  New York  service, PAL Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Dr. Lucio C. Tan said, "This auspicious start of regular flights to  New York  will coincide with PAL's 74th founding anniversary." The four-times-a-week service –  Manila - Vancouver - New York  – will operate at Terminal 1 of New York’s  JFK  International   Airport . PAL will have full traffic rights between  Vancouver  and  New York .

Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online:To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com