K-pop News Archive

On the April 8 episode of SBS “K-Pop Star,” Park Jin Young, the producer better known as JYP, made a comment that is sure to generate lots of discussion.

During the show, Lee Michelle, the half-Korean, half-African American contestant with exceptional vocal skills, was eliminated by Lee Seung Hoon, the phenomenal dancer who’s shown flashes of brilliance despite being labeled as the “least talented” out of the TOP 5 contestants. The result came as a surprise as Lee Michelle’s stunning performance of Soul Society’s “U Just” earned her many compliments from the judges, and a higher judge score than Lee Seung Hoon.

Lee Seung Hoon, however, showed a lackluster cover performance of Psy’s “Champion,” which was not received as well by the judges, amounting to the lowest score out of the TOP 5 contestants. Judging from the score and evaluations, as well as the crowd’s response, it almost seemed like a no-brainer for Lee Michelle to advance to the next round.

However, the final cut on SBS “K-Pop Star” each week is decided by a combination of different factors, including the judges’ scores, pre-show online poll, and viewer text messages during the show. Surprisingly, Lee Michelle has not been able to earn the love of the viewers, as she consistently ranked at the bottom for all online polls, while Lee Seung Hoon has become the fan-favorite, rounding out the top two or three on most weeks.

This week was no different, and as a result of a lopsided viewer response during the show, Lee Seung Hoon was able to overcome his poor performance (and low score) to eliminate the clearly more talented singer, Lee Michelle.

As JYP announced the winner between Lee Michelle and Lee Seung Hoon, he seemed to show his frustration at the results, as he emphasized, “JYP will be casting Lee Seung Hoon because it’s the viewers’ choice.”

At the closing moments, JYP went on to highly praise Lee Michelle for overcoming the racial barriers in Korea’s conservative society. He said, “I have one thing to tell Lee Michelle. I kept asking her (during our training) why she couldn’t clearly express her true feelings. But she just said, she couldn’t express herself because growing up she’s been hurt so many times by so many people.”

“I strongly believe that all the parents (in Korea) must continuously teach and educate their child not to make fun of someone, or make derogatory comments, just because of that person’s skin color or race. I wonder if there’s any other country than Korea that’s so close-minded and oppressed in that manner. And I would like to applaud Lee Michelle for overcoming all the barriers and showing a new possibility with her performance today.”

In case you haven’t seen any of Lee Michelle’s performance, here’s a clip of her singing Gummy’s “Forget Me” and Beyonce’s “Halo” on “K-Pop Star.” We hope to see her again with her own single soon!

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The article profiles a former state prosecutor who was instrumental in rooting out mob control over the Korean show business world in the early 2000s.

However, once the government decided that K-pop would spearhead South Korea’s greater presence in international consciousness, the crime fighter found it difficult to carry out his mandate and has since quit to become a private attorney.

The article implies that most of Korea’s main talent agencies are headed by current or former gang leaders but, because the entire showbiz industry is so reliant on talent, they are given a pretty long leash by the authorities.

Their background is nightclubs, which in the ’80s and ’90s were controlled by organized crime syndicates. In terms of money, nightclubs were the center of the show-business world at the time.

Eventually, these groups expanded to become talent agencies, extending their grasp into television where the money is now.

Though a number of recent high-profile cases have seen talent sue their management over punishing contracts, Aera says the majority of South Korean talent accept such contracts because their agencies protect all their interests, and not just those associated with their particular art.

Through mob affiliations, the agencies can quash scandals and take care of competition.

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Busker Busker is taking K-Pop by storm, as all five songs off of their debut album have landed in Billboard‘s ‘K-Pop Chart‘!

According to the chart on April 7th, the trio’s title track, ‘Cherry Blossom Ending‘, ranked first on their hottest 100 K-Pop songs chart. This is the first time the boys have ranked in on the ‘Top 10′, let alone top the chart.

Their other songs in the rankings include “First Love” at 4th, “Yeoseo’s Night Ocean” at 6th, “Loneliness Amplification Device” at 8th, and “Ideal Type” at 9th.

Taeyeon came in 2nd with her ‘The King 2 Hearts‘ OST while Big Bang followed in 3rd with “Fantastic Baby“, 2AM in 5th with “I Wonder If You Hurt Like Me“, CNBLUE in 7th with “Hey You“, and Ailee in 10th with “Heaven“.

Source + Photos: Star News via Naver

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JYP‘s male vocal quartet 2AM is enjoying their  spot on our chart at number 1 for the second consecutive week. 2AM made their comeback three weeks ago with their new single “I Wonder If You Hurt Like Me” from their second mini album “F.Scott Fitzgerald’s Way Of Love” and have managed to secure their place at the number one spot with a high score of 937. The song also earned them several awards from weekly music shows.

SHINee‘s “Sherlock” has made an impressive advance as it ranked at number 2 this week. Last week, the song made its entry in our chart at number 10. “Sherlock” is a combination of two tracks from SHINee’s new mini album, “Clue” and “Note” which has never been done before in K-Pop. The number is more of an experimental sound than a remix of two songs.

miss A‘s “Touch” still is battling it up at number 7. The ladies of miss A concluded their promotional activities with goodbye stages last week on music shows.

Big Bang‘s “Fantastic Baby” is still going strong by battling it up for the third place of the podium.  Despite it being more than a month since its release, Big Bang’s “Bad Boy” is back in the top 10 at number 9 while “Blue” still makes it in the top 10. 

Competition will be tough with CNBLUE making a comeback after a year and a half. CNBlue is making its entry in our chart at number 6 with the catchy number “Hey You.” Speaking of tough competition, Shinhwa is back with a bang after a 4 year long hiatus and earns no less than fourteen (magical number for Shinhwa celebrating their 14 years since debut) spots in our chart with “Venus” from their tenth album “The Return.”

SOOMPI CHART for 2012, Month 4, Week 1

1. (–) 2AM – 너도 나처럼 (I Wonder If You Hurt Like Me) ***2nd Week @ No. 1***
Score: 937
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Kim Do Hoon / Lyrics: Hitman Bang, Kim Do Hoon
Album: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Way Of Love | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

2. (+8) SHINee – Sherlock
Score: 933
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Thomas Troelsen, Rufio Sandilands, Rocky Morris, Thomas Eriksen / Lyrics: Jo Yoon Kyung
Album: SHINee Mini Album Vol. 4 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

3. (-1) Big Bang – Fantastic Baby
Score: 794
Genre: RB

Music: Teddy, G Dragon / Lyrics: G Dragom
Album: Big Bang Mini Album Vol. 5 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

4. (+1) Ailee – Heaven
Score: 753
Genre: RB

Music: Wheesung / Lyrics: Wheesung
Album: Ailee digital single “Heaven”
Watch: MV

5. (+4) Lyn – 곰인형 (Teddy Bear (feat. Hae Geum))
Score: 749
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Yoon Min Soo / Lyrics: Yoon Min Soo, Min Yeon Jae
Album: Lyn Vol. 7 Part 2 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

6. (new) CNBlue – Hey You
Score: 642
Genre: Pop Rock

Music: Kim Do Hoon, Lee Sang Ho / Lyrics: Han Sung Ho
Album: CNBLUE Mini Album Vol. 3 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

7. (-3) Miss A – Touch
Score: 611
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Park Jin Young / Lyrics: Park Jin Young
Album: Miss A mini-album “Touch” | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

8. (+14) Shinhwa – Venus
Score: 574
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Andrew Jackson, Gandalf Roudette, Joshua Thompson / Lyrics: Lee Min Woo
Album: Shinhwa Vol. 10 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

9. (+2) Big Bang – Bad Boy
Score: 556
Genre: RB

Music: G Dragon, Choice 37 / Lyrics: G Dragom
Album: Big Bang Mini Album Vol. 5 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

10. (-7) Big Bang – BLUE
Score: 552
Genre: RB

Music: Teddy, G Dragon / Lyrics: Teddy, G Dragon
Album: Big Bang Mini Album Vol. 5 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

Here are the top 10 songs of the first quarter of 2012 according to our accumulated chart scores.  Note that most songs released in March does not accumulate enough scores to be included in this top 10, but they will be accounted for on the next quarter update. – edward1849

About the Soompi Music Chart:

Soompi Music Chart is unlike any other music charts or television rankings.  It takes into account rankings by various major music charts in Korea and airplays of each song, making it an unbiased and objective tally of what’s going on in the world of K-pop.  Our chart is composed of the following sources:

Air Monitor Chart - 15%
GAON Music Chart – 15%
Various Internet charts (Olleh, Bugs, Melon, Soribada, Naver, Daum) – 15%
Billboard Korea – 15%    
SBS (Inky Gayo Take 7 + voting list) – 10%
MBC Inky Top 100 Chart - 10%
KBS Music Bank K-Chart - 10% 
MNet Chart – 10%

Thanks to Mardi09 for helping on this week’s internet chart research and edward1849 for bringing us the Soompi Chart each week.

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Psy became Lee Seung Hoon‘s mentor on the upcoming episode of SBS “K-Pop Star.” Viewers and fans are already anticipating to watch this unique combination of talents on screen. Psy visited Lee Seung Hoon, who safely landed a spot on the final Top 5, while he was practicing and volunteered to train him as a special mentor. 

Psy and Lee Seung Hoon previously met on “K-Pop Star.” At the time, Psy praised Lee Seung Hoon after watching him performing self-written rap and choreography, “You are gonna accomplish something.” PSY added, “You must meet me later.” After three months, Psy followed through with his comment, which seemed like a mere joke at the time.

Upon their reunion, Psy greeted Lee Seung Hoon by saying, “I knew we were going to meet again.” He continuously encouraged and cheered for Lee Seung Hoon through out their mentoring session together. A source tells that the rendezvous of the two was filled with joy and delightful spirit. During their session together, Psy gave Lee Seung Hoon some interesting advices. He said, “You’ve become way too serious lately. You seem too normal. Don’t pressure yourself to be too serious or do well.” He also complimented Lee Seung Hoon, “Your performance of ‘Father’ made me cry.” 

An official from “K-Pop Star” commented, “Driven by Psy’s encouragement, Lee Seung Hoon is confidently and diligently preparing for his upcoming live performance. All three agencies–SM, YG, and JYP–are doing their best in supporting the top 5 contestants. There will be much improved performances on the 6th live broadcasting of ‘K-Pop Star.’” 

Viewers and fans will be able to watch the remaining five contestants of ‘K-Pop STar” performing live on April 8 at 6:20pm KST.

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Thousands of people gathered at the Twin Plaza Hotel in West Jakarta on Saturday in the hope of purchasing tickets to Korean boy band Super Junior’s upcoming concert, causing a massive traffic jam in the area.

As many as 12 Super Junior fans passed out during the ticket sale.

The band, also known as SuJu, is scheduled to perform for its Indonesian fans on April 28 and 29. Ticket prices range from Rp 500,000 to Rp 1.7 million ($55 to $187).

“They have been queuing since this morning and had not had breakfast. And the weather here is hot, too. We asked the hotel management to move ticket sales to the hotel lobby,” West Jakarta Police Chief, Sr. Commissioner Suntana said, as quoted by news portal Detik.com.

Concerned over the possible disturbance of guests, hotel management refused, forcing the police to threaten to end the sale.
“But then later they finally agreed  to allow 100 people per session [into the hotel lobby],” Suntana said.

Hundreds of fans continued to wait for tickets until 3 p.m. despite the fact that the event organizer announced that the 17,000 tickets were completely sold out.

Each person was only allowed to buy a maximum of four tickets.

SuJu fans, who call themselves ELF, who did not get tickets said they were disappointed by the fact that there were scalpers operating in the sale venue. “I didn’t get a ticket, but someone offered me a VIP seat ticket for Rp 4 million while the original one costs only half of that,” Sissy, a fan, said. 

Some of the fans’ complaints were heard by show promoter Showmaxx Entertainment, who apologized to the fans who did not manage to get tickets.

“It’s not easy to detect scalpers because many people send their drivers or ojek drivers to buy tickets. But we cannot ask people, one by one, if they are planning to resell the tickets,” Dewi, a Showmaxx staffer, said.

“We also didn’t expect this crowd. We prepared thousands of tickets for the concert at Mata Elang International Stadium in Ancol, North Jakarta,” she added.

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There are many corporate companies that have recently hired idols as endorsement models. With K-Pop making its way all over the world, idol groups have become the hot keyword of the entertainment industry. The continuous exposure of the idol groups through various entertainment shows, dramas have made the advertisement industry to take notice of the idol groups.

It has become a trend among company brands to effectively use the potential of idol groups through CM songs or theme songs for CFs and endorsements sung by them to land in music charts and gain an explosive response from consumers. Big Bang, Girls’ Generation, JYJ, KARA, 2PM, T-ARA and more of popular idol groups have experience of hit CM songs.

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The most powerful idol group that sung CM Songs is Big Bang. The group has recorded 3 hit theme songs such as ‘Stylish’ for sports brand ‘Fila,’ ‘So Fresh So Cool’ for ‘Hite Beer,’ and ‘Lollipop’ for ‘LG Cyon.’

Big Bang is called ‘king of CM songs’ and most recent CM song performed is the soft drink ‘Sunny 10 Sparkling Aide.’ Sunny 10 have last year appealed T.O.P and G-Dragon to the younger generation remaking the CM song to a sensational beat. This year along with the groups return members Daesung, Seungri and Taeyang is to join the commercial involving all members of Big Bang to work as ‘Sunny 10 Sparkling Aide’ models.

Even After School that boasts good looks and fancy performances have also joined CM song line of idols. After School recently was selected as models for Japan’s global hand bag brand Samantha Thavasa. Samantha Thavasa has generally chosen famous celebrities including Nicky Hilton and Taylor Momsen and caused a stir when After School was chosen as models. The commercial featured After School’s first Japanese album song ‘Just In Time.’

Beastly idols 2PM cannot be left out from CM song line up. Having gained popularity for Coca Cola’s mini coke CM song ‘Open Happiness’ the group has this time again sang the CM song for their latest endorsement with Mr. Pizza. Also a casual clothing brand ‘Union Bay’ selected KARA’s Jiyoung, Seungyeon and actor Lee Min Ki to create a new CM song as well. These idol groups CM songs are becoming an effective way to market the brand products.

The advertising industry will most likely continuously select idol groups as endorsement models for the time being as they are matching the image of companies that wish to expand globally with K-Pop recent popularity soaring out to the world. Also it’s anticipated for the CM songs that is sung by idol groups to enjoy the same popularity as much as a regular album does.

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T-ara

As reported yesterday, T-ara will be indeed adding two new members to become a nine member group, and Core Contents Media‘s CEO, Kim Kwang Soo, has released an official statement confirming the changes.

On April 6th, Kim Kwang Soo stated, “T-ara will be changed from the current seven members to a nine member centered system, and if needed, member changes as well as member additions will be decisively executed.”

The two new members will start promoting with T-ara starting in July of this year with the release of a new album.

Kim Kwang Soo explained that the reason for the addition of members is for the expansion and development of the group. “I’ve seen a portion of the celebrities I’ve created become conceited and idle about three years after they’ve risen to popularity. Although T-ara is working hard, to show them that they must continue to try and work even harder on stage as well as off stage, I have decided to implement changes,” he stated.

After the news of the addition of new members, many had expressed their concerns and anxieties, however Kim Kwang Soo thought differently.

He commented, “Even now with new girl and boy groups debuting left and right every month, they are working hard for more than ten hours a day… In situations like these, if they find safety in thinking ‘We are one of the top groups in Korea’, they can never progress. T-ara has worked tirelessly to challenge themselves in new ways, and they’re still doing so now.”

He continued, “We will try even harder to make sure that no controversy arises from their greetings or attitude. If there is a member within T-ara who does not work hard and becomes full of herself, and as a result causes harm to other members, I will decisively exchange that member in question with a new member. That is the way that T-ara can go from being just Korea’s T-ara to a group that goes beyond Asia to stand at the center of K-Pop.”

Kim Kwang Soo added, “We hope for your understanding and interest in T-ara’s next move.”

T-ara’s new members will be revealed in July.

Source + Photo: TVreport via Nate, No Cut News via Naver

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Group 2NE1 has been selected to speak about K-Pop in front of international advertising and communication professionals.

YG Entertainment revealed today, 2NE1 has been selected as a co-speaker with Cheil Communications at a seminar titled ‘Korean Wave Through Digital Wave’ at the Cannes International Advertising Festival. The seminar is to take place on June 18 and is to be attended by more than 9,000 people from 90 countries.

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2NE1 has been selected as one of the seminar speakers for their unique, distinctive music and fashion leaders of the hallyu wave as well as YG Entertainment is one of the agencies that are actively using digital media. They will explore the current phenomenon and discuss global contents strategy, mixture of digital, social and cultural.

2NE1 has been continuously communication with international fans through Facebook, me2day, and Twitter using SNS services. The result was being selected as MTV Iggy’s Best New Band and gathered viewership as many as 2.8 billion on YouTube proving their love from international fans.

2NE1 shared, “This will be the first time to stand in front of people as speakers and not performers. We will do our best to promote K-Pop and explain the reason why many people should focus on K-Pop around the world.”

The current chairman and one of the officers in Cannes International Advertising Festival, Terry Savage said, “Every year, many people take interest in Cheil Communications’ seminar, which focuses mainly on digital advertising. This year they will be discussing the recent boom in the digital hallyu content marketing.”

The Cannes International Advertising Festival began in 1953 is a global event gathering those in advertising and communications field. The festival is hold about 50 seminars for 7 days from June 17 to 23.

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K-pop girl group KARA launches own perfume
Posted: 05 April 2012 1941 hrs

Related News

SEOUL: Popular South Korean girl group KARA has launched their own fragrance, reported Korean media on Wednesday.

The fragrance, KARA 5 JEWEL (K5J), was created by KARA members, Gyuri, Seungyeon, Hara, Nicole and Jiyoung, when they met up with a French perfume designer during a trip to Paris last year.

In a statement, KARA members said they “have been working for a long time on developing K5J” and that they “created the K5J to bring them closer to their fans”.

KARA was actively involved throughout the production from handpicking fragrance notes to reviewing the design concepts and naming the perfume.

Described as having a “fruity, floral and woody” scent, the K5J will be available in Singapore in the summer.

Earlier in March, it was reported that KARA will be the first Korean girl group to have figure models made in their image.

- CNA/lp

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