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Nadezhda Hope KyoungJun Woo (KJ Woo) Ly Nguyen Kh HyeongJin Kim/Kyung Min Boo Nadezhda Hope Asel Sadekova Phoungpaulica Lay Dena H Nguyen Kirsy Marlin Crystal Srock Cheryl Mui Hon Liang Yi Asher Yeo Xin-Yi KJ. WooParagele (limephoto lab SEOUL) Janina June Saladino Korapun Sritongsuk (ASIA) Stefanie Johnson Darla Cornett Algie Lesia Stephens Josephine Chew Amy Saiauski Gabrielle Luu Ryann Ellis J’mescia Price (JP) Maria Smith Theng Hui Tay Tamar Herman Nadezhda Hope Yuzu Lida HyukJoon Lim Yubin Jeon Grace Kang Korapun Sritongsuk (TH) Pharttana Anantawana (TH) Kay Lee (MY) Muhammad Faiz Bin Azman (MY) Wilson Chee Chan Weng (MY) Darren Kwok (SG&MY Team Leader) Stephanie Chee (SG) Cheryl Tan (SG) Emily Heng (SG) Joan Heng (SG) Son Ju Eun (SG) Janice Quek (SG) Phyllis Koh (SG, twitter) Oktantri Putri A. (INDO) Theresia Sylvanny (INDO) Jeannada Nathasya Laya (INDO) Frisanty Marissa (INDO) Amy Saiauski(FB/twitter/me2day) Dena H Nguyen (Tumblr) Josephine Chew Cassie Clifford Emilie Heilman Asel Sadekova Lida Yuzu (KOREA)
Contents February Winter 2014 No 12
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JJUN Cover Interview LPG Interview SON VANITYMR Cover Feature
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UKISS Concert In USA CNBLUE Concert In USA
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The 28th Golden Disk Awards +Red Carpet
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The Asia Model Festival Awards +Red Carpet
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SEOUL Music Awards + Red Carpet LUCKIE BEAT Press Conference In Indonesia +FanMeeting
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SNSD World Tour in Thailand YB Concert in USA
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Valentine’s Special: 12 Days Of Love Romantic Restaurants In Seoul Who Said Singles Can’t Have Fun? Which Celebrities To Go On Valentine’s Date! Korea’s All Time Favorite Couples Romantic Duets Festivities From Boys to Girls
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Kisses Wanderlust and Lovestruck Places Face Reader Review DIY Valentines Day Gifts Valentines Fashion For Females
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It’s Getting Steamy In Here: GAIN
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Chick Flicks For Valentines Introducing NOM Introducing ALPHA GIRLS
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Top 5 RUNNING MAN Moments Top 5 Drama OSTs Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
JJUN Cover Interview Interviewed &Translated by Lim HyukJun Photography by Yuzu Lida Assts Victoria&Peter Edited by Darren Kwok
Cover Interview
Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
Cover Interview
Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
Happy Valentine’s!
Cover Interview
BTS
Behind The Scenes
Interview
3RD GENERATION LPG Interviewed and Translated by Jong Youn Youn special thanks to KSTORY Entertainment
1. What are the prons and cons of having so many members? Due to having so many members, every time we are on stage, wefeel a deep, strong bond and less tension on the stage; we can easily rely on each other. A negative aspect is maintenance fee. When twe do showcases or events, it takes 1,000,000 won (around 1200 USD). The cost includes food, transportation (two SUV vehicles), hair treatment and stage clothes. Minimum labor force is 13 people needed (9 members, 2 drivers, 1 manager, 1 style coordinator). In order to be ready on the stage, it takes approximately 3 hours and a half for us to prepare (if everything goes as planned). 2. What other K-pop artist or groups are you close to? Unfortunately, we aren’t close to other k-pop singers and artists so yet. The reason is that we already consist of nine members so we are not able to share our waiting room with any other group or singer. 3. What identifies LPG among the many other girl groups? Our strength could be our height; average member’s height is up to 172cm. The tallest member is 174cm, Rica, shortest one is leader Songha, 164cm.
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4. What are your plans for the beginning of 2014?
We will start performing in China soon; we might play as sub-units. Like 4 and 5, or 3 by 3. Details are not confirmed yet, but sub-unit performance will happen soon. 5. Do you still keep in touch with any previous LPG members? We hardly meet 1st LPG as well as 2nd LPG, However, Yumi(who was 2nd LPG) is the dancing teacher and choreographer for the group. 6. If you had a chance to do a concert abroad, which country would you choose and why? It could be China due to huge number of fans; we are learning Chinese with a personal teacher. We take private lessons one by one. 7. Recently, LPG went to China, did anything happen during that time? Everything was good except Chinese food. It was yummy but heavy and greasy. So we began to like drinking gas water and coke to digest. In the end, we still love to drink soft drinks. 8. How did Songha become the leader of LPG? It was not her personal decision; the decision was made by LPG’s manager. Age-wise, she falls in the middle range of ss
personal preferences DARK CHOCOLATE : LEEWON
WHITE CHOCOLATE:
SONGHA, HAYUL, JIEUN, LEECA, LANUI, LAHEE, JEEWON, YOUJOO
JAJANG NOODLES:
HIGH HEELS:
HAYUL, JIEUN, LAHEE LEECA, SONGHA, YOUJOO
JIEUN, LAHEE, YOUJOO, JEEWON, LEEWON
JJAMPONG NOODLES:
FLAT SHOES:
LANUI, JEEWON, LEEWON
LEECA, LANUI, SONGHA, HAYUL
LPG (the youngest members, Jeun and Ayuri, are 21). This means she could be a good mediator, take care of the young members and listen to the advice of the older members. Plus, she is planning to expand her talent as an actress in drama, musicals, and movies. She started her career as actress and model; her major was film and acting in university. 9. Recently the trend of girl groups is focusing on being sexy, as one of those groups, what do you think about today’s trend? Every girl would like to be sexy, not only girl groups but also ordinary ladies. That is a normal thing, and being sexy is undeniably valuable to anyone. LPG’s new album (which will be released this March) will have a sexy concept. The music style will be different from the previous one (which was more like a Korean traditional dance called 뽕짝, pongjjak). This new album will have more pop and modern dance. For this reason famous choreographer who choreographed Brown Eyed Girl’ –시건방진 춤, and PSY’s Gangnam style) was hired to teach and to upgrade LPG’s dancing skills and concept. 10. Since all members are living together, how do you get along with each other? In the dorms, there is more like family mood. For example, speaking of bathroom time, there is a certain time limit for sssss
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someone that may be using the restroom. Older sisters are very generous to younger members; there is no strict rule like in army training camp. But making food is Leeone and Yujoo’s role. They are very good at cooking all kinds of foods. The house has two big rooms and each room has five bedrooms. But not everything is located on same floor –we live on two separate floors (first and second floors). 11. Any fun moments during your photo shoot in China? There was shooting for all members together without any definite reason. All members hardly smiled in front of camera because we were tired due to our hectic schedule. The shooting mood was awkward; we made unnatural facial expression all the time. So one member had an idea: “Let’s pretend SHINHWA members are standing behind us,” and then everybody’s mood changed. At the end of shooting, the outcome was good, and it remained hilarious memory. 12. When you are on the way to an, how do you choose food/lunch? Most of the time, manager makes a daily food set. Kimbob is the most common and favorite menu for them due to its cost and it’s easy to eat food especially in the car.
Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEUNGMO PHOTOGRAPHY
Exclusive Coverage
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Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
Exclusive Coverage
BLUE MOON 2014 CNBLUE WORLD TOUR T
WRITTEN BY JOSEPHINE CHEW PHOTOS COURTESY OF POWERHOUSE
alented Korean band CNBLUE rocked the stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California on 24 January 2014 as part of their CNBLUE Blue Moon 2014 World Tour. In addition to playing their hit songs like “In My Head”, “Intuition”, “I’m A Loner” (“외톨이야”), and “I’m Sorry”, fans were treated to live versions of vari ous non-title track songs—my personal favorites being “Y, Why...” and “Love Light”. While CNBLUE had the crowd jumping and cheering to many of their upbeat songs, they also toned down the vibe with their ballads like during “Feeling” where Yonghwa started the piece with the keyboard. Also, during the encore stage, Yonghwa and Minhyuk showed their chemistry when Minhyuk handed Yonghwa one of the drumsticks and the two finished the last beat together for the ending of “You’ve Fallen for Me” (“넌 내게 반했어”).
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Throughout the concert, the members didn’t let the language barrier stop them from communicating with fans. Yonghwa was a ball of joy, showcasing his dancing skills quite often during various songs, earning himself the title of CNBLUE’s dancing machine (at least in my mind). Before ssss
starting “Love”, Yonghwa encouraged the fans to repeat after him. After telling the fans to repeat “love, love, love”, he teased the fans to repeat after his beatboxing—really good beatboxing skills. Jungshin also gave a preview of his dance skills twice, but totally stole my heart when he was the only member remaining on stage still interacting with fans after the encore stage. Taking breaks in between sets of songs, the CNBLUE members conversed in English with the audience. Although Yonghwa and Jungshin spoke the most, Jonghyun and Minhyuk often times played live background music for them. Even though they were more on the silent side, Jonghyun and Minhyuk were still able to steal the spotlight with their jaw dropping skills on the guitar and drums respectively. I cannot stress this enough, but the 4-membered band is truly amazing and talented, and blew me away with their live concert. It was a night where the audience and artist had the same heart and mind. CNBLUE is definitely a group you HAVE to see live at least once. If you ever have the opportunity to see CNBLUE live, trust me, you will not be disappointed!
Exclusive Coverage
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IT SHINES IN GOLD THE GOLDEN DISK AWARDS 2014 WAS PACKED WITH NON-STOP ENTERTAINMENT FEATURING THE BEST OF K-POP!
[
WRITTEN BY HON LIANG YI PHOTOGRAPH BY KORAPUN SRITONGSUK
It’s not dubbed the Korean Grammy Awards for no reason.
Super Junior’s ‘Sorry Sorry’ respectively.
The four-hour Golden Disk Awards 2014 saw the Music Industry Association of Korea awarding the hottest K-pop artistes with outstanding achievements in the industry. Held on January 16, the awards show saw 32 Daesangs (the grand prize) and Donsangs being given out.
With the energy levels at an expected high then, you’d be surprised to hear that when it was revealed that EXO won the Disk Daesang near the end of the Golden Disk Awards, the members seemed to be so shocked they didn’t even jump around in excitement – instead, they walked around, shaking hands with the other artistes on stage and thanking the fans from the stage. Sehun sums up what EXO had to say: “To all EXO fans, thank you. I love you.” EX
The top prizes – the Disk Daesang which rewards top album sales and the Digital Daesang which rewards top song sales – went to EXO and Psy respectively. Other winners included CN Blue (Digital Bonsang and The Good Will Star Award), Bangtan Boys (Newcomer Award) and SHINee, which walked away with the largest haul of three awards – Ceci Asia Icon Award, Disk Bonsang Award and the Disk Popularity Award.
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But of course, it was not all about honouring K-pop stars with awards – it was about song and dance as well. One performance that really caught our eye was from 4Minute, who reminded us so much of G-Dragon’s snazzy tunes with ‘What’s Your Name’. Then nostalgia hit skyhigh in Kyung Hee University’s Grand Peace Palace when EXO-M and EXO-K took the stage, performing TVXQ’s ‘Mirotic’ and Super Junior’s ‘Sorry Sorry’ respectively.
Winner of the Digital Daesang, Psy, who swept the world off their feet with unprecedented hit ‘Gangnam Style’ and later, ‘Gentleman’, received the award himself, unlike in 2013 when he received the same award via video. Apologising to the audience, he said, “I also wanted to receive the award in person last year, and I apologise for having to greet you through a video last year. I came to receive it today.” He then told the audience that he is “almost finished” with his new single, and let’s just say we can practically smell the 2015 Digital Daesang on him already! Check out the photo highlights of the Golden Disk Awars 2014 that we’ve snagged here!
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Exclusive Coverage
SEOUL
MUSIC
AWARDS
photography by theresia sylvanny
in LUKIE BEAT press conference INDONESIA LC9 and Lunafly had successfully held a concert entitled LUKIE BEAT CONCERT LIVE IN JAKARTA at Jungle Land, Sentul City, Bogor. To start up the excitement of Lukies and Love Beats (Fandom of Lunafly and LC9), The Indonesian promoter (SH Entertainment) decided to held a press conference on January 18th. This would be LC9’s first time visited Jakarta and Lunafly’s second time visited Jakarta after they succefully held a concert on 2013. On January 18th 2014, Ice Pallace of Lotte Shoping Avenue, Kunigan, South Jakarta is filled with the media who are ready to attend the press conference. The Press Conference started off with LC9 entering the venue and introducing themselves to the media. Unfortunatey, LC9 Leader RASA won’t be able to attend the press conference and the concert due to his military service. When LC9 member being asked about their first impression on Indonesia, King asnwered “I Love Indonesia! Indonesia is perfect, but I don’t like the rain”. To everyone surprise, LC9 has prepared an Indonesian ssss
song called “Inikah Cinta” and they sang it with an almost perfect pronounciation. Not only showing off their ability to sing Indonesian song, they also said few phrases in Indonesian. AO said “teu ngartos” (AO turned out said something in Sundanese instead of Bahasa which means “Don’t understand”). E.Den said “kumaha damang” (E.Den also said something in Sundanese which means “How are you”). Jun and J-HYO said the same phrase “Indonesia cetar!” E.Den also revealed LC9 plan in 2014 “Our plan in 2014 is to release another album, and we are now currently in the process of choosing the title for our album. Please anticipate it.” After bidding everyone goodbye LC9 left the stage and it’s time to Lunafly entered the stage. “Selamat siang! Assalamualaikum, saya Theo!” Lunafly Theo greeting everyone by showing off his Bahasa skill. Unfortunately Lunafly’s Sam didn’t attend the press conference due to his sickness. Theo and Yun revealed that they really missed Indonesian food such as nasi goreng and satay. Press conference atmosphere is so bright because Theo can’t stop saying “Masalah buat lo?” (which means “Is that a problem to you?” in English. The phrase usually used for jokes) to the media and caused lauhghter to everyone. When Lunafly being asked about their preparation for the upcoming concert, they excitedly answered “We’ve prepared a surprise for Indonesian Lukies. Please wait for it!”. The Press Conference ended when LC9 member came out and they posed together along with Lunalfy member.
photography by theresia sylvanny
IN LUKIEconcert BEAT JAKARTA
This not only stopped with the presscon, the LUKIEBEAT event continued with a concert on the next day, which takes place at Jungleland, Sentul, Bogor. Even though the concert was delayed for few hours due to heavy rain, that didn’t stop the enthusiasm of Lukies and Love Beats (Fandom of Lunafly and LC9) for the concert that day. The concert started off with LC9 debut MV “Mama Beat” playing on the big screen and soon LC9 came to the stage to perform “Mama Beat” live for their fans. After rocking the stage with Mama Beat, LC9 gave the concert venue soothing atmosphere with their song Hold On which showcased King and J-HYO beautiful vocals. Finishing with Hold On, LC9 asked one of the fan to come up to the stage and join them while LC9 serenade the lucky fan with Dynamic Duo “Guilty”. During “Guilty”, the crowd went crazy and envy when suddenly King kissed the lucky fan’s hand. Once again, LC9 proudly showing off their Indonesian skill with covering one of Indonesian song “Inikah Cinta” and E.Den complete the performance with English rap. “We sing very well, right?” King said in English and E.Den added “It’s actually pretty hard to learned the song, and we needed one week to learned it, not to mention the song was very good”.
After showcasing their Indonesian skills, LC9 also performed few covers of pop songs, such as “Party Rock Anthem” from LMFAO, “Hangover” from Taio Cruz and What Makes You Beautiful from One Direction. Following through, just like the opening for LC9, Lunafly performance was opened with their music video played on the big screen. Soon after, the members came up to stage to perform “What’s Your Name” and the fans went crazy especially since Sam looked very healthy and happy. After finishing their opening song, Sam couldn’t stop saying sorry because he didn’t attend the press conference due to his sickness and the fans replied him with loud “Gwaenchanha!” (It’s alright!). Lunafly couldn’t stop showing off their Indonesian skills, they keep saying Indonesian phrases esepcially Theo who can’t stop saying “Masalah buat lo?” and filled the concert venue with laughters. Lunafly also performed few covers of pop songs such as “As Long As You Love Me” from BackStreet Boys, “Mirror” from Justin Timberlake. Just like what they’ve promised at the press conference, Lunalfy surprised their fans with cover a song called “Jodoh pasti bertemu” from Indonesian soloist Afgan. Later, they revealed that Afgan is one of their Indonesian favorite singer After Lunafly gave their fans a surprised by singing an Indonesian song, it’s time for Indonesian Lukies to return the favor. A video suddenly playing on the big screen, showing Indonesian Lukies singing happy birthday song to Lunafly Yun (Yun’s birthday fell on January 14th) , the fans on the venue also sing Happy Birthday to Yun and made Yun can’t held his tears anymore in front of the stage. Finally, Lunafly ended their performance with the most awaited song for the night, Fly To Love. Lukie Beat Concert Live In Jakarta was wrapped with LC9 joined by Lunafly on the stage to perform “Never Say Never” from Justin Bieber and “One Thing” from One Direction.
Exclusive Coverage
GIRLS GENERATION WORLD TOUR
“GIRLS & PEACE” IN BANGKOK
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Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
LIVE IN DALLAS AND GEORGIA YB, also known as Yoon Do Hyun Band, is one of the most famous rock bands in South Korea. Consisting of leader and vocalist Do Hyun Yoon, guitarists Heo Joon and Scott Hellowell, bassist Park Tae Hee and drummer Kim Jin Won, the band has released a total of nine albums and one DVD since 1993. The band has won several awards since then, including “Best Music Award” from Korea's three main broadcast stations KBS, MBC and SBS, and “Performance Culture Award” from the 21th Seoul Music Awards. This march, YB plans to reach central and southern USA fans and audiences abroad with an outstanding concert that seeks to arouse the Hallyu Wave in USA.
EVENT INFORMATION: YB LIVE IN DALLAS
YB LIVE IN ATLANTA
DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 7TH, 2014 AT 7:30 PM
DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2014, 7:30 PM
LOCATION: MAJESTIC THEATRE - 1925 ELM ST. DALLAS, TX 75201
LOCATION: WILD BILL’S ATLANTA, 2075 MARKET ST, DULUTH, GA 30096
Ticket Information (Dallas): https://www.mandooent.com *VIP - $200 / A -$150 / B - $120 / C - $100 / D - $80 / E - $50 * On sale - Friday, Jan 10, 2014 @9:00 AM CST Ticket Information for Atlanta coming soon.
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DAYS
OF LOVE WRITTEN BY AMY SAIAUSKI
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Issue Special The 14th day of every month in Korea is considered a “love” day and it holds a special meaning for couples. If you are single, though, do not worry, April 14th is the day for you.
JANUARY 14TH
JUNE 14TH
JULY 14TH FEBRUARY 14TH
AUGUST 14TH MARCH 14TH SEPTEMBER 14TH
APRIL 14TH
OCTOBER 14TH
NOVEMBER 14TH MAY 14TH DECEMBER 14TH
ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS IN SEOUL WRITTEN BY JULIE CARLSON
Located on the 33rd floor in the Jongno Tower in Jongno-gu, the ultra-modern Top Cloud offers stunning views of the capital of Korea. Open year round, the European style restaurant features grills, buffets and cafe menus with set prices for adults and children. Listen to live jazz music while taking in the city lights and skyscrapers. Staff dressed in all black serve up steak, fish and chicken dishes. Top Cloud is open from noon until midnight (www.topcloud.co.kr).
Love the smell of fresh roses? Then you don't want to miss the Sky Rose Garden atop the Daehan Cinema on Chungmuro street in Jung-gu. Catch a movie beforehand at one of the oldest movie theaters in Korea. Then, hop on the elevator to the 8th floor to dine at a beautiful outdoor cafe with views of Toegye-ro and the exclusive shopping area of Myeong-dong. Weather allowing, Sky Rose Garden creates a magical ambience with lovely roses in a variety of colors. This is a perfect dating spot! Afterwards, stroll along Chungmuro, known for its retro buildings and artistic culture. Oh, and not to mention multiple pet shops! Chungmuro was once the home to Seoul's film industry.
Revel in the gorgeous sights of the historical Hangang River at Cafe Aritaum. Situated on both sides of the Yanghwa bridge, this special spot boasts two different styles of cafés. Café Aritaum Seongyu located on the west side of the bridge offers Western-styled decor and Café Aritaum Yanhwa features Eastern-styled decor. Both relaxing cafes have large circular windows, including floor-to-ceiling windows with picturesque views of various sites. Delight in a freshly brewed cup of coffee or a delicious dessert while observing Seonyudo Park or Namsan Tower. Both cafes are open throughout the year during various times.
Dine in luxury at the chic Sky Lounge located on the 30th floor of the InterContinental Seoul COEX hotel in the affluent part of Seoul - Gangnam. This intimate restaurant and bar is the romantic place to see and be seen. It offers a 360-degree view of the city. Open for lunch and dinner, Sky Lounge has contemporary dishes like beef tenderloin, pasta or fresh fish, and delectable desserts, such as Tiramisu. Sip a cocktail at the lect bar while listening to live music and take in the breathtaking sights of Southern Seoul (www.iccoex.com). SOURCES: Seoulistic, InterContinental COEX, SeoulSite, VisitSeoul.net, tripadvisor, lonelyplanet, Wikipedia
Issue Special
K
orea is the metropolis of the many ideal, romantic couples roaming the beautiful streets that just seem like a scene right out from a Korean drama or movie, but we never question what the singles do in that season. Here’s where we find out. In Korea, there is a special day just for the singles two months after February called Black Day on April 14th—an exclusive day where the singles of both genders share the same sentiments about their lonely status, wearing dark black attires and enjoy ing a bowl of jja-jang-myun (Korean black bean noodle) to eat their feelings up. In fact, because of this tradition, singles in Korea barely feel the gloom of not being in a relationship, but rather gain strength from spending time with other singles.
KOREAN’S VALENTINE’S SPECIAL: WHO SAID
SINGLES CAN’T HAVE FUN? WRITTEN BY JU EUN SON
However, that does not mean that singles cannot participate in the celebration of Valentine’s Day! In fact, some people take this time to gather their courage and confess to their special loved one on that special day—perhaps with chocolates or gifts to impress. other g Whether the other person will receive and understand it as a friendly gesture, social obligation, or feelings of love, the person who confessed is surely to find out on White Day, March 14. On that day, the other person who was confessed to on Valentine’s Day, most often the guy, will return the favor or...unfortunately, not reciprocate the gesture. So singles, don’t let those couples intimidate you because all of you are just special and beautiful on your own. Enjoy Valentine’s Day!
WHICH CELEBRITIES AR WRITTEN BY JU EUN SON
THE RIGHT DATE
JUNG WOO
THE OLD SCHOOL ROMANCE The recent “Reply 1994” drama took the world by storm when it was just released, with their raging popular casts and their superb acting skills. One of them was Jung Woo who played the main female character’s love interest, became famous overnight thanks to his old school romance guy persona in the drama. He’s the kind of guy who would not express his affection through words but actions and it’ll melt any girl’s heart without a sweat. But beware of the harsh jokes that he may say, do take them with a pinch of salt and have fun instead.
Girls and guys have dreamt about dating their favorite idol once in a lifetime. Now that it’s time for Valentine’s Day, let’s see who’s the right person for you!
VALEN
LEE MIN HO LEE JONG SUK
THE PRETTY BOY
THE LISTENER
The “Boys Over Flowers” and “The Heirs” main actor, Lee Min Ho, is the kind of guy every girl dreams and drools at least once in life. Showering you with all the love and attention he has and knowing the right moves that all girls absolutely fall helpless for, gets him on the top list of the ideal boyfriend you would want especially on Valentine’s Day.
The main actor of the drama “I Hear Your Voice” has been a rising star ever since the drama aired, and it also flaunted Lee Jong Suk’s quiet but charismatic nature, which charms girls all the time. He’s one of those rare, one of a kind guys who will listen to you and focus on on only one girl all the time—so girls who have a lot to talk about, Lee Jong Suk is the right guy for you.
Although the downside may be that he might get a little obsessive over you—but hey, it’s Lee Min Ho. It may just be a wisp of hope, but it’s okay to dream once in a while.
Do remember to give him a chance to talk though. Don’t overdo it and turn your date into a boring one with only you talking all day.
RE IDEAL TO GO ON A
NTINE’S DATE AND WHY? PARK SHIN HYE SUZY (MISS A)
CL (2NE1)
THE PERFECT ONE
THE FIRST LOVE
THE TAMER
The demure and the timid-looking Park Shin Hye is the kind of girl that guys always fall for. Not only is she a glowing beauty, she has a great personality, which gives credibility of Shin Hye being a perfect, ideal girl. Kim Woo Bin, her co-star in “The Heirs” mentioned that Park Shin Hye works extremely hard and has a positive attitude as well.
Possessing the status of the Nation’s First Love, Suzy’s raving popularity does not seem to die down at all. Utterly loved by every guy (uncle fans included), Suzy and her lovable, carefree personality will surely make all boys goo-goo-gaga all over her, especially her charming smile. Apparent Apparently, she seems to be quite adventurous in her own way.
Famously known for being a fashionista who has top-notch designer friends for friends and being the ‘baddest girl’ in the music industry, CL is the ideal girl suitable for the wild bad boys who needs to be tamed. Although CL is the type of girl who parties (and works) hard, she’s mature enough to be in control and of her future companion.
A girl with the looks, the brains, and a bonus of having a wonderful character to that—she’s the girl all guys dream to have for their date.
Guys, here’s a tip for you: Suzy’s ideal date would be a chocolate bath.
So boys, watch out for this wild girl this Valentine’s because she’s coming through like a wildfire.
Issue Special
KOREA’S all time FAVORITE COUPLES [ ] WRITTEN BY EMILY HENG
A
s you all know, Valentine’s Day is coming up. Whether you love it or hate it, the best way to spend it is recounting Korea’s all time favourite couples in dramas, variety shows and in real life. Who knows? Maybe after reading this you’ll meet your very own Lee Min Ho. Korea’s all time favourite couple and the most popular one most definitely has to be Kang Joon Sang and Jeong Yoo Jin from the widely popular Winter Sonata. It was also said that Winter Sonata was considered to be the Korean Drama that launched the Korean wave through Asia and worldwide. Everyone loved the sweet couple and rooted for them throughout the series and even to this today, this couple still remains as one of Korea’s all time favourite couple.
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Another classic couple that was loved by everyone has to be Kim Sam Soon and Hyun Jin Heon from My Name is Kim Sam Soon. Who didn’t fantasize about meeting the one in a men’s bathroom after watching this? This lovable couple had so much chemistry that you just couldn’t help but root for them even with the seemingly impossible challenges they had to overcome. Who cheered when Sam Soon finally got her happy ending with Jin Heon? We know we did.
Sam Soon finally got her happy ending with Jin Heon? We know we did. When it comes to variety shows, the Monday Couple from Running Man is definitely one of the most liked and speculated about. While Song Ji Hyo and Kang Gary are not dating in real life, they have so much chemistry on screen that the audiences dubbed them ‘The Monday Couple.’ Effortlessly sweet and innocent, we can only hope that they would get together off screen as well. Or how about Shin Chae Kyung and Crown Prince Lee Shin from Goong? Doesn’t every girl fantasize about becoming a princess and meeting their prince charming overnight? Sure, while their journey was fraught with difficulties and chilly moments, we loved watching them fall for each other. Their relationship is the definition of the phrase “the course of true love never did run smooth.” smooth. So what are you waiting for? Your very own prince charming is out there for you somewhere. Get inspired by these couples and start looking!
Issue Special
Issue Special
ES N I T N E VAL IV IT IES T S E F R LS I G TO O YS B M O R F
WRITTEN BY RYANN ELLIS
When you think of Valentine’s Day you think of teddy bears, candy, hearts, and romantic date nights, right? Well, when it comes to Valentine’s Day, most countries celebrate it the same way. Valentine’s Day has traditionally focused on women, in which the men are seemingly responsible for planning dates, getting flowers, getting the right gift, etc. A botched Valentine’s tine Day for someone in a relationship or trying to get into one, can cause everything to fall apart. With this being said, however, Valentine’s Day is a bit different in Korea. When celebrating this special day of love in Korea, it’s up to the female to step up to the plate. Some people may think this is a weird way to see things, but there is a catch to it all in the end. While some couples don’t celebrate the day, the ones that do go full out. The woman will go out and buy
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chocolate for their loved ones. If the boy is just a small crush the female will most likely buy something smaller, but if the relationship is more intense, then the man can expect to be seeing something much more extravagant such as more expensive candies, and presents coming their way. Couples will sometimes go out to small restaurants and spend an evening together, but won’t go completely overboard on the whole day. Now for those that think this is a bit unusual, White Day is the catch I mentioned. On this day in March, the male will go out and buy a candy to give to the girl he likes—often times reciprocating the gesture or feelings to the ones who sent chocolates on Valentine’s Day. It’s a give and take type event for couples, but if you can find that right guy to give you a candy back, then you know you’ve struck gold.
Issue Special
kisses. written by tamar herman
the heirs The star-studded high school drama, like many other dramas, only had a handful of kisses, but Park Shin Hye and Lee Min Ho’s closet kiss was definitely a memorable one. Park Shin Hye has been known for never having truly passionate kiss scenes, but Lee Min Ho’s kissing expertise was able to make the kiss look realistic.
i hear your voice One of the most memorable images from I Hear Your Voice is the at the Coex Aquarium, and the kiss scene inside the aquarium tunnel was not only visually beautiful, but heartbreaking. Lee Jong Suk is saying a final good bye to Lee Bo Young, trying to convince her to fall in love with another man, and he’s ready to walk away. Then he makes the split second decision to kiss her. Lee Jong Suk’s acting skills shine in this scene, and as the tear rolls down his cheek, it’s hard to not feel sympathy.
Valentine’s Day is popular in Korea, with couples celebrating the holiday all throughout the country, but public displays of affection are rare. Just like the average Korean couple, drama couples share very few kisses on screen. “Skinship,” simply touching, is a big deal in Korea, so kisses in drama are few and far apart, and often lackluster. The few kisses that do stand out are extremely memorable for their passion and emotion.
empress qi Historical dramas are always filled with intrigue and politics, and Ha Ji Won’s underwater kiss with Ji Chang Wook garnered a lot of attention. Although Ji Chang Wook’s character was attempting to save Ha Ji Won’s life by providing her air, the petal-filled bathtub provided a beautiful backdrop for the life-saving kiss. The fact that Ji Chang Wook appeared to be naked in the scene made the scene even more unusual for a drama.
you who came from the stars Neither Gianna Jun’s nor Kim Soo Hyun’s characters in You Who Came From The Stars are particularly endearing, but the chemistry between the two is undeniable. The show hasn’t been lacking in memorable kisses, but when Kim Soo Hyun falls to Gianna Jun’s attempt to try to prove that she can seduce any man in fifteen seconds, the relationship of the two characters goes from being entertaining to being heartbreaking; Kim Soo Hyun only has a few weeks left on Earth, but he has unwillingly fallen for the charm of Gianna Jun.
Special Feature
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Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
FACE READER
Special Feature
WRITTEN BY ESTAR H. PARK
Cast: SONG Kang-ho (Nae-kyung), LEE Jeong-jae (Grand Prince Soo-yang), BAEK Yoon-sik (KIM Jong-seo), JO Jeong-suk (Paeng-hun), LEE Jong-suk (Jin-hyeong), KIM Hye-soo (Yeon-hong) Directed By: HAN Jae-rim Release Date (South Korea): September 11, 2013
Face Reader is the story of Naekyung (SONG Kang-ho), the titu-
lar character. Despite being a face reader with extraordinary skill, he lives in poverty in the country as a recluse with his son, Jin-hyeong (LEE Jong-suk) and his brother-in-law, Paeng-hun (JO Jeong-suk). After Jin-hyeong, who is skeptical about the practice of reading someone’s face to determine their fate, moves to the royal city to become a scholar, Nae-kyung receives a recruitment offer from Yeon-hong (KIM Hye-soo), a premier madame in the royal city, to read the faces of her clients. Soon upon arrival, he catches the attention of the king by solving a murder case by identifying the murderer with his unusual talent. Brought into the palace to help identify threats to the king’s reign, Nae-kyung gets caught in the power struggle that arises when the king dies. Reading the faces of the two opponents, Grand Prince Soo-yang (LEE Jeong-jae) and KIM Jong-seo (BAEK Yoon-sik), pro tector of the child successor, Naekyung chooses loyalty to the current monarchy, and is embroiled in a violent political tumult that threatens his family and his country. One of the top grossing films in 2013, currently the 11th of all time in South Korea, Face Reader took the country by storm. Certainly all the right pieces were there, as the cast included up-and-coming talents Lee Jong-suk and Jo Jeong-suk, hot off their hit dramas I Can Hear Your Voice and The King to Hearts, as well as the formidable talents of big screen mainstays, Song and Lee. The bumbling country bumpkin with a heart of gold, his wacky sidekick, the dignified do-gooder, the evil prince, the cunning madame, the prodigal son - these archetypal characters are set in the most famous and historically revered of South Korean history, the Joseon dynasty, in the middle of a plot rife with political intrigue and thrilling danger, but the film somehow misses the cinematic epic mark. As the tension mounts, the film begins to undergo an emotional tonal dissonance, helped by the sometimes overwhelming and unsubtle musical score, making the movie feel like a tragicomedy seesaw. A ride that goes on for much longer than it should, it will still attract those who are interested in its acting pedigree or its historical subject matter.
Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
VALENTINE’S DAYWRITTEN GIFTSBY JP PRICE
F
ebruary is among us, and we all know what that means…Valentine’s Day! Now, if you’re like me and almost always semi-low on money, then you’ll want to know how I get by during these trying times. There’s only one thing I go to and that’s D.I.Y (Do It Yourself) gifts. Now D.I.Y gifts are special because it shows the person on the receiving end that you cared enough to make their gift and put it together instead of buying it (of course, not saying bought gifts are bad). If you don’t have any ideas about what to give your significant other, bias, or friend, here are some D.I.Y gifts that are simple enough make but still says a lot. to ma The first D.I.Y project is a cut out Valentines card. It’s simple, quick, and all you need is construction paper, scissors, and glue. Don’t forget the personalized message and you’re set—you could even include a small box of candy. The best thing about this is that it can work for anyone. As another project, why not try making a Valentine’s Mason Jar. What you’ll need is a jar, heart shaped dollies, string, whatever you want to fill it with (preferably food or candy), and a tag. The Mason jar is a great idea because the person gets not only a cool looking jar, but some awesome sweets to devour as they wish. de My last D.I.Y is my favorite, the gift of food. When in doubt cook them a meal. Nothing says I love you more than a surprise breakfast consisting of heart shaped pancakes. Everyone’s happy when there’s food involved. Now that you have a few ideas you can get out there and start preparing. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Opinion
Getting Steamy in Here!
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BROWN EYED GIRLS SON GA-IN GOT OUR PANTIES IN A KNOT WITH HER LATEST MUSIC VIDEO, “FXXK U.” HERE’S WHAT EMILIE HEILMAN HAS TO SAY.
T he sexy queen, Son Ga-in, is steam-
ing up your screen with her music video titled “Fxxk U”. Featuring Bumkey Kwon, the relaxed beat and guitar riffs go well with her airy, mellow voice and Bumkey’s smooth one. Altogether it is a very pleasing and classy-sounding song with a music video that tells a story you may want to hear.
My interpretation of the music video is as follows: it seems to portray an unstable and abusive relationship between a man and a woman. The man (actor Joo Ji-hoon) physically wants Ga-in, and throughout the music video he tries to take her, but Ga-in refuses his advances. During the portrayal of the deteriorating relationship, Ji-hoon soon gets physical and Ga-in resists to the best of
her abilities. Even though their relationship is obviously dying at this point, in the next scene they end up in each others’ arms, looking emotionally torn. I think Ga-in does love him, and I think he loves her too, but maybe he doesn’t know how to go about it the right way –or he just loves her in the wrong way. In the end, it looks like Ga-in has finally had enough, so she says “Fxxk U”, and leaves him. What do you think about it? Although the topic is a bit serious, Ga-in’s seductive voice takes you in and tells this story to its satisfying end. I think we can expect her upcoming album, Truth or Dare, to be a great one. Wait for its release on February 6!
Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
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Introducing
Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
Introducing
Korean Entertainment & Culture Magazine
Top Choice
TOP 5
RUNNING MAN WRITTEN BY DARREN KWOK
MOMENTS
5. 11 votes. 11 votes for the Betrayer. Against all viewership expectations, the Running Man team, over the course of several games, had earned ballot papers in which they would vote for whom they wished to eliminate first in order of the person with the most votes being number one.
As Jaesuk always explained to Gary, beautiful women always have a quick temper.
Despite even chatrooms opened to deal with the invincible Sparta Kook, the person with the most votes was Lee Kwangsoo, the betrayer. His breakdown and eventual demise was hilarious, although it was over quickly.
BoA then happened to team up with the two and as Bo they struggled to break a code using a piano and a piano score, BoA almost cursed. However, did we mention the way she did it was extremely cute?
4. Sleeping on top of a Jenga Tower- Miss “Mong”
1. I Swear
While the Running Man team argued with the Production team over the actual number of Running Balls to be earned over a Jenga game, Song Jihyo, Running Man’s Ace, fell asleep on the top of the tower – The horrifying fact was that the Jenga had already 20 or so pieces removed, which means it was incredibly unstable.
SBS producers managed to dig up a video of the Running Man members in their prime, including a footage that was never seen before. Suk Jin auditioning to be an MC.
3. An Uprising… Or a Puppet Emperor? When Tae Gon and Im Ho appeared in the “Kings” special, Im Ho chose the Commander as one of his team members and the quick witted Yoo Jaesuk was quick to remark – “The way I see it, the King will change.”
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Im Ho was following Kim Jong Kook’s instructions most of the time from that point onwards. 2. BoA’s Cursing… She almost did anyway
In the video, he sings two lines of the song, I Swear, which was surprisingly good.
NOTE: MYUK PD OR GRAB-THE-COLLAR PD HAS LEFT THE RUNNING MAN SHOW FOR INKIGAYO! WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST!
Top Choice
5 4 3
TOP 5
2 1
WRITTEN BY DARREN KWOK
For all those still suffering from The Inheritors’ withdrawal, stop by this OST and close your eyes, and cry. Then of course, go back to watching Park Shin Hye, Kim Woo Bin and your favorite stars in that drama.
The reason that this made it on the list is not because it isn’t exactly UNDER-RATED, but when you listen to this song, almost anyone who watched a Korean drama (which most likely will be Boys Over Flowers) will instinctively recognize it, which means that this is never over-rated. Let’s go back to the days of the flower boys!
From the hit drama, Shark, under-rated singer Na Yoon Kwon, he delivers a soothing song about having mixed feelings to a girl in two extremes: Love and Hate.
Who could have ever thought that our lovable Kim Taewoo who always comes up with amazing R&B as well as Soul songs, could be able to pull off such an upbeat and cheerful song? Back to… A Gentleman’s Dignity!
For the great Queen Seonduk, the equally great vocalist IU, or more affectionately known as the Nation’s Little Sister, sing this extremely grand-sounding OST for the drama, Queen Seonduk.