Korea Observer

KTO Hallyu tourism report reveals most influential Korean stars on social media in the Philippines : Most talked about on social media in the Philippines are (clockwise from top left) BTS, EXO, BLACKPINK, GOT7 and iKON The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has released a comprehensive research on Hallyu, or Korean Wave, tourism Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

8 Asian singers to release ‘Me Me We’ song of hope to overcome COVID-19 : AIZAT AMDAN CHILLIES ME ME WE SONG NEWKIDD QUEST RAHMANIA ASTRINI RAVI VIXX Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

K-drama ‘The World of the Married’ star Han So-hee apologizes for her scheming mother’s debts : Han So-hee as Yeo Da-kyung in 'The World of the Married' (JTBC)  Actress Han So-hee, who rose to fame through this year’s hit JTBC Korean drama “The World of the Married,” has issued an apology after Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

BLACKPINK’s ‘How You Like That’ Special Edition album sells 155,000 copies on first day : BLACKPINK (Instagram)  After setting Guinness and YouTube world records, K-pop girl group BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That” achieved another feat by placing first on an album chart in South Korea.  “How You Like That” was released as Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

‘Train to Busan’ sequel ‘Peninsula’ premieres at No. 1 in South Korea, sets best opening-day record this year : Korean actor Kang Dong Won (left) in 'Peninsula' (KOFIC, Red Peter Films, NEW)  “Peninsula,” the much-awaited sequel to the 2016 hit Korean zombie movie “Train to Busan,” premiered on top of the box office in South Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

South Korea requires travelers from PH to present negative COVID-19 PCR test result : The South Korean government is requiring travelers from the Philippines to present a negative coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test result using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before they will be allowed to board their flights to that country starting July 20. Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

Korean star couple Ku Hye-sun, Ahn Jae-hyun now officially divorced after 4 years of marriage : Ku Hye-sun (left) and Ahn Jae-hyun (Instagram)  After a little over four years of being married, estranged Korean celebrity couple Ku Hye-sun, 35, and Ahn Jae-hyun, 33, are now officially divorced. The agreement came out July 15 Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

EXO-SC’s Sehun, Chanyeol sell 300,000 copies of ‘1 Billion Views’ album in 2 days : EXO-SC’s Sehun and Chanyeol (Twitter)  EXO-SC, a unit of K-pop boy band EXO composed of Sehun and Chanyeol, made their comeback and in just two days, they sold more than 300,000 copies of their new album.  The Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

iKON’s Ju-ne, Jinhwan injured in car accident : iKON’s Jinhwan (left) and Ju-ne (Instagram)  K-pop boy band iKON members Ju-ne and Jinhwan suffered injuries when their vehicle hit a retaining wall on a national highway in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.  The accident happened at Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com

Korea’s Gaon Music Chart reveals new platinum certifications, top-selling albums for 2020 : (Clockwise from top left) Monsta X, EXO’s Baekhyun, NCT 127, TXT and IZ*ONE (Twitter)  South Korea’s Gaon Music Chart has issued new platinum certifications for album sales and streaming.  Boy band EXO member Baekhyun led the album Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online: To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com