UKP Magazine Summer 2016

SEOUL STUDIES

FAN TO CELEBRITY ATTACHMENT: OP-ED

Your step by step guide to moving to Korea to Study.

Writer Holly Smith talks us through the case of Teen Top's Niel.

UKP magazine

SUMMER 2016

QUIZ

WHAT KIND OF IDOL ARE YOU?

K-INDIE STYLE GET THE LOOK WITH INDIE ARTISTS LAYBRICKS

EXCLUSIVE

WE TALK TO ROCKBOTTOM ABOUT TOPP DOGG AND THEIR FEARS.

WWW.UNITEDKPOP.COM

THE PREMIER NEWS SITE FOR K-POP AND KOREAN CULTURE IN THE UK AND EUROPE

PAGE 11

PAGE 39

INDEX INTERVIEW SOUTHWAY STYLE

STYLE GET THE COVER LOOK 39. An Interview with SOUTHWAY

3. High Street Buys

43. We talk idols with Rock Bottom

5. Airport Style

45. New Indie Releases

6. Who Wore It Best?

47. Get The Look with Laybricks

7. Summer is here! Summer Style.

ENTERTAINMENT

Welcome to the Summer 2016 edition of the UKP Magazine.

We've packed this issue with more exclusive content than ever for you to enjoy!

Get yourself some summer K-pop looks or peruse the hottest Indie interviews - the choice is yours.

If you have any comments, let us know - info@unitedkpop.com!

Freya Bigg, CEO/Founder

Production Team

9. Get The Look - TWICE

51. K-pop New Releases

11. Get The Cover Look

53. Summer Replay

Freya Bigg

55. Rookie Spotlight

Lore Walsh

LIVE 13. 2016 UK Concert Round Up

57. Behind The Scenes K-pop

15. HISTORY Coverage

59. Idol Attachment - an OP-ED

19. An Interview With HISTORY

61. Quiz & Games

21. Giriboy Coverage 23. An Interview with Giriboy 25. KCON Paris: An Experience 29. What is the K-pop Academy?

INDIE SECTION

Design

Steph McStea Emily Stewart Writing Freya Bigg

Donna Sheffield

63. Thrilling K-dramas for a cool summer

Lore Walsh

Amanda Birchall

65. Summer Films

Holly Smith

Bethany Nicholls

Mai Vabo CULTURE 67. Seoul Studies: Moving to Korea

Eva Lee Special Thanks

69. Korean Folk Villages

33. Summer Tour Feature

71. History: 70s Seoul

35. An Interview with Laybricks

73. Culture: The Colours of Life

37. An Interview with Project:Impair

75. Korean foods for the Summer

Writer &

Photographers

Translator

Jinny Park

Jeong Eun Sohn

Marc Reubu Good

Guest Writer

Impressions

Lisa Espinosa

U.Jin

HIGHSTREET BUYS!

Here are some suggestions on how you can get that K-Pop idol look with that high street price tag!

BTS ‘Fire’ MV Jimin Souvenir Jacket // Reclaimed Vintage Souvenir Bomber Jacket @ ASOS: £56

Block B ‘Toy’ MV // Urban Classics Hooded Checked Flannel Shirt @ attitudeclothing.co.uk: £32.99, White Gothic Print Cap Sleeve T-Shirt @ Topman: £15

SISTAR ‘I Like That’ promotions // Shell Pink Split Side Maxi Skirt @ New Look: £7, Pink Boxy Crop Top @ New Look: £12.99

NCT 127 Taeyong ‘Fire Truck’ promotions // Womens Super Stretch Treggings [Red] @ H&M UK: £12.99

Sonamoo ‘I Like U Too Much’ 3rd Mini Album Cover // Women’s Striped Sundress [Pale Blue] @ Topshop: £28

AIRPORT FASHION STYLE ------------------------------------------------

Y

ou may be packing your suitcases ready for an imminent escape from the uncertain, grey British weather. The only certainty this summer is the catwalk through Seoul’s airports. We’re diving into the hottest looks this summer from some of K-Pop’s most stylish fliers.

Girl’s Days’ Hyeri casually strolled up to Incheon Airport in a cut off black shirt and ripped jeans, favouring a simple yet stylish look. Hyeri is on trend with her off shoulder look and her flatform sandals are super in this season. She finishes the look with an idol essential: oversized sunglasses.

Girls Generation star and Korea’s sweetheart, Yoona looked utterly flawless in this summer trend ensemble. Keeping it cool with a light, blue shirt with exaggerated sleeves and tight black shorts. The highlight of the outfit is the footwear and we are loving those heeled patent brogues to complete the look.

N

obody does airport style like Nana. The After School and Orange Caramel visual recently wore a cropped striped shirt and loose culottes on a flight out of Seoul last week.

Holding a studded clutch, Nana looked bright and breezy in this comfortable co-ord. This outfit is perfect for temperamental summer weather like the weather we get in the UK, and the dark colourway is suited to the gloomy forecasts ahead.

WHO WORE IT BEST?

This stylish off-shoulder shirt by brand DRINKSCANCODE has become a staple for celebrities this summer. You’ll notice the iconic brand is popular with most K-Pop groups and this particular shirt has been a favourite choice for MVs and live performances.

CLC’S ELKIE?

O

ne of CLC’s newest members, Elkie, wore the bold off-shoulder piece in their latest MV ‘No Oh Oh’.

Paired with the Ring Mini Skirt from R.Shemiste and thigh-high socks.

TWICE’S MINA?

I

n a performance for hit single ‘Cheer Up’, TWICE vocalist Mina shows off her style with a white/red version of the same shirt. She wore the 4D Slit Skirt in red colourway to complete the look.

F(X)’S LUNA?

T

his stylish off-shoulder shirt by brand DRINKSCANCODE has become a staple for celebrities this summer. You’ll notice the iconic brand is popular with most K-Pop groups and this particular shirt has been a favourite choice for MVs and live performances.

SUMMER TIME IS HERE! And without a doubt, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to dress up for parties, events and festivals. But that begs the question; “what make-up look should I wear?” that’s where we come in! We’ve created the perfect k-pop inspired summery make-up look that’ll be easy to re-create for every occasion and it’ll be super simple to dress it up for even more glamourous occasions, we’ll even include some examples on how to vamp up the look to take it to the next level!

We’re going for a metallic toned eye make-up, accented with winged eyeliner and a gradient lip! Completed with extremely luminous skin. Then, for the extra glamorous style; we’ll extend the eyeliner for an even more dramatic look, intensify the eyeshadow and swap the gradient lip out for abolder, more colourful version and maybe add some glitter for good measure.

1. Begin by taking a small angled brush and filling in your eyebrows until you’re satisfied (or you can leave this step out if you don’t feel the need to) and clean up the final shape with some concealer.

4. Now, taking a warm medium brown, apply this in the crease and blend out to add some definition to the eye. Take this same shade on the ¾ of the lower lash line too.

5. Using a metallic gold shadow, apply this on the lid and the middle of the lower lash line too and blend out the edges.

2. Prime your eyes with your favourite primer, and apply a white cream pencil on the waterline and around the inner 6. Now, taking a shimmery light corner to brighten up your eyes. white, apply this onto the inner corners and onto the brow bone.

3. Start off applying an eyeshadow 2-3 shades lighter 7. Using your favourite eyeliner than your skin tone to your brow (I find a liquid pen type the bone, and on the inner corner to easiest) draw a thin line starting set the white pencil from earlier. from the inner corner and bring And blend any harsh edges out. this out into a small wing.

8. Now curl your lashes and apply your favourite mascara onto your top and bottom lashes.

9. Take your primer, and apply a light reflecting cream to start getting the luminous finish.

Then, apply your foundation and concealer (if needed) on top.

Set any areas you may get oily with a translucent powder (for me, this is my T-Zone area) 10. Then, mixing yourblusher with some bronzer (a warm coral will give a lovely summer glow) and apply this to the apples of your cheeks and around the bottom of your cheek bones.

O P T I O N A L E X T R A S 4. Take some false lashes, a 7. Using your favourite bold 1. Apply any excess foundation to the edges of your lips, and apply a lip stain to the middle and blend out to get that gradient effect. You can also apply a nude type lipstick on top to help blend the colour!

2. Take a dark brown eyeshadow and blend this into the crease, blending outwards to add a darker look to the eye. Take this onto the outer corner of the bottom lash line too. (If you want something even more dramatic, use a black eyeshadow)

style that start shorter and finish longer, will accentuate the cat-eye shape and glue these as close to the lash line as possible. Make sure you get the inner corner to stick down properly so they don’t come off throughout the day/night.

5. Take a liquid glitter liner, and apply this on the inner corner to finish off the more dramatic eye look - it’ll bring the whole thing together and make your eyes sparkle!

6. You don’t have to alter the 3. Then using your favourite skin, but adding a good setting eyeliner, extend and thicken the spray will ensure everything wing to create an even more stays on until you’re ready to exaggerated eye shape. remove your make-up.

lipstick (A matte finish will improve staying power) and apply this all over your lips!

No need to create a gradient effect this time. Applying a bold colour will also make it easier for touch ups - as you won’t have to blend out the colours each time.

GET THE LOOK TWICE

Summer is here! The weather is heating up (hopefully) and this means we have plenty of cute outfit options for any occasion. Earlier on in the year, 9-piece girl group TWICE came back with the unbelievably catchy song ‘Cheer Up’. The MV itself features a multitude of different styles, from a mature and glamorous look, pastel pinks, and a cute everyday sporty style. So - no matter what fashion styles you prefer to wear you can definitely find something to suit you using ‘Cheer Up’ as inspiration, and this ‘Get the Look’ will be doing just that!

Take a look below to see twelve different pieces that you can use, find something similar, or even notice you already have to recreate their looks.

The great thing about the styles they wear in the MV is that they’re all incredibly summer appropriate, and you can mix and match lots of different pieces in- from skirts to jeans, pretty much anything will complement the styles!

The great thing about the styles they wear in the MV is that they’re all incredibly summer appropriate, and you can mix and match lots of different pieces in- from skirts to jeans, pretty much anything will complement the styles!

1. Ella Varsity Bomber Jacket - £20 BOOHOO.com 2. Navy Contrast Sleeve Bomber Jacket - £14 NewLook.com 3. Women’s High Waist Stretchy Shorts - £14 LE3NO.com 4. Light Acid Wash Frayed Denim Shorts - £28 RiverIsland.com 5. Adidas Striped re-worked Crop Top - £30 CrowntheQueens.com 6. Savvy Cross Wrapped Crop Top (White Ver.) - £23 ChicWish.com 7. Pastel Colour Block T-Shirt - £10 BOOGZEL.com 8. Blue Stripe Bardot Top - £30 MissSelfridge.com 9. Aggie Cord Mini Skirt - £25 BARDOT.com 10. Khloe Knee High Socks - £4 BOOHOO.com 11. Winston Vans Women’s Skate Shoes - £27 JCPenney.com 12. Vintage Style Black Choker - £11 EverMaker.com

Complete with a cute hairstyle, a touch of lipstick, and you’re ready to go as the 10th member of TWICE! We hope you have as much fun wearing these inspired styles over summertime as much as we enjoyed creating them.

If you wanted to find any of these items, just head over to their listed website and search the items name.

Source Sites: [BOOHOO, New Look, LE3NO, River Island, Crown the Queens, Chic Wish, BOOGZEL, Miss Selfridge, Bardot, J.C.Penney, Ever Maker]

COVER LOOK

We are getting our summer beachwear inspiration from SNSD/Girls’ Generation member Tiffany, who graces the cover of this UnitedKpop Summer Special E-magazine! The key to this look is to keep everything really simple. When you are chilling on the beach, the last thing you want is your accessories and jewellery getting in the way and getting clogged up with sand, so leave all of it at home! Let the focus instead fall on your swimwear.

Tiffany chooses some dark swim shorts and a white, halter-neck tankini top. Of course, if you do not want to show as much skin, you could also opt for a full white swimsuit and wear the shorts over the top. Finish off your look with some flat and simple flip flops or sandals to complete that really laid-back, beach feel. It would be best to go completely without makeup when you are planning on going to the beach, especially if you want to go for a dip in the sea! Tiffany shows off some very light-looking make up here, so perhaps limit your

GET THE COVER LOOK! TIFFANY S O L O DEBUT

product use to some cover-up and eyeliner if you would really rather not go bared faced.

Obviously, water-proof make-up is advised! Tiffany shows us that you do not require a bikini in order to look good on the beach, and thankfully, there are now many swimwear options for all of us out there that do not wish to bare it all. The main idea is to keep things light, simple and comfortable, and of course, to enjoy yourself and feel confident in your body, whatever your size and shape.

White Zig Zag Crochet High Neck Bikini Top – New Look: £14.99

ALSO, REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR SUN CREAM ALONG AND TO BE MINDFUL OF YOUR SKIN IN THE SUN THIS SUMMER!

Black Scallop Hem Shorts New Look: £7.99

Beach Collection Black Twist Front Bikini Shorts – Debenhams: £8.40

White Crochet Bikini Top River Island: £20

Flip Flops – H&M UK: £2.39

Pour Moi Fuller Bust Swimsuit – ASOS: £30

Black Plaited Strap Wedge Sandals – New Look: £19.99

UK CONCERTS 2016 JANUARY TO JULY

Throughout the first half of 2016 there have been several performances in the United Kingdom by Korean pop bands, Korean Hip Hop performers and K-Indie groups. Here you can find out about all of the concerts which have taken place from January to July.

Friday 19th February 2016 20:00 The Laundry 2-18 Warburton Rd, E8 3FN

HISTORY - 21ST FEB

ROCK BOTTOM CREW - 15TH APR

Sunday 21st February 2016 - 17:00 O2 Academy Islington, N1 0PS

Thursday 14th April 2016 - 19:00 174 Camden High St, NW1 0NE

Cult of Ya is proud to present Currency Exchange Show #2, featuring Illionaire Record's Dok2 and The Quiett, on their first joint European tour.

History is a five member boy group from South Korea. This year they went on their European tour with stops in the United Kingdom.

Rock Bottom Crew performed in London featuring the members Kidoh, I11evn, Supreme Boi, Don’t Call Me a Dog, Hashmate, and Type-C.

GIRIBOY - 1ST MAY

JAMBINAI EUROPEAN TOUR

DOK2 & THE QUIETT - 19TH FEB

DEAD BUTTONS EUROPEAN TOUR 15th April to 7th May 2016 Multiple locations in Europe

Sunday 1st May 2016 - 23:00 Ace Hotel, London

Dead Buttons were announced as one of Giriboy is set to play a show at Ace Hotel the acts Liverpool Sound City festival, in London, on May 1st. A one-off show their third year on the line up. They had from the bespectacled rapper, Ace Hotel several performances throughout Europe. will see Giriboy played a forty minute set.

Monday 16th May 2016 Corsica Studios, London The new album A Hermitage by Jambinai will be out on 17 June 2016 on Bella Union and will be presented during their European tour in May 2016.

LAYBRICKS UK TOUR

B.A.P - 13TH MAY

DTSQ EUROPEAN TOUR

10th May to 21st June 2016 Multiple locations in United Kingdom

Friday 13th May 2016 - 20:00 The Coronet, London

May 4th and June 5th 2016 Muptiple locations in Europe

LayBricks is a rock band based in Korea, consisting of drummer Hyejin Yu, and vocalist and guitarist Kwangmin Seo. Since their debut, they promoted British style music, inspired by alternative rock.

B.A.P have been preparing for this world tour alongside working on their upcoming album since they made their greatly anticipated comeback to the K-pop industry.

DTSQ (Delta Sequence) consists of Kim Su-hyun on vocals, Lee Joon-sub on synthesizer, and Park Soon-pyung on drums. The music is a combination of punk and psychedelia.

57 UK TOUR - 13TH TO 31ST MAY 13th May to 31st May 2016 Multiple locations in United Kingdom

WE ARE THE NIGHT UK TOUR

SUPERHEROES OF KOREAN ROCK

25th May to 29th May 2016 Multiple locations in United Kingdom

26th May 2016 - 19:30 Night & Day Cafe, Manchester, M1 1JN

57 is a two-piece rock band from South Korea, featuring male guitarist Junhong Yun and female drummer Sur Kim. Originally formed in 2012, 57 began in their hometown of Jeonju.

Post-military service pop-punk rockers Rocket Diary returned in 2013 as electro-rock group We Are The Night.

Extending their skills, they are working on adding more elements to their music.

On May 26th, just two nights before Sound City kicks off there were performances by Dead Buttons, PATiENTS, and 57 (Oh-Chill)] who take stage at Manchester’s Night & Day Cafe.

SULTAN OF THE DISCO

KOHH EUROPEAN TOUR

VASCO + BLACK NUT IN LONDON

1st July to 3rd July 2016 Electrowerkz, London

Friday 22nd July 2016 - 19:00 Electrowerkz, London

They arenamed after the song of Dire Straits “Sultan of Swing'. Members include: Nahzam Sue , J.J Hassan, Ganji Kim, G, and Hong-gi.

Cult of Ya is proud to present an exclusive showcase of Japanese hip hop artist Yuki Chiba, better known as Kohh. He held three performances throughout Europe.

The two stalwart artists from Korean hip hop label Just Music head to London for an intimate showcase, along with scratch-maestro DJ SQ.

24th June to 26th June 2016 Glastonbury Festival

HISTORY IN LONDON The boys of History hit up London earlier this year to tell their story and prove to British K-pop fans why they are ones to watch in 2016.

HISTORY’s long-awaited debut in the UK began with the announcement of a European tour and ended with an electric performance that had fans begging for more.

of a harmonising ballad whilst rapper, Sihyoung, greeted London fans and bounced across the stage.

The next song began slow as the boys slipped into ‘D-Day’ and wooed the On Sunday, HISTORY performed in front crowd with their gentlemanly style and of hundreds of fans at the O2 Academy tight choreography. It was the perfect in Islington as part of their Europe Live choice of song considering the concert Tour 2016. The group had just arrived was D-Day for plenty of fans. After from Helsinki a few hours before they the performance, the members took were set to perform in London and had a little break to greet their fans: “We a date in Paris only three days after. are HISTORY! What’s up London?!”

Fans queued the majority of the day to Dokyun excites fans by mentioning secure a good spot during the show and how powerful they are and Sihyoung is the atmosphere outside the venue was speechless as he looks out to the crowd. energetic considering the bitter British Kyungil screams: “Are you ready?!” and weather they had to put up with. It was the show resumes, with ‘There’s No Sun’ a surprise to see so many fans outside of taken from their 3rd mini-album. the UK in attendance! Fans from all over had travelled to the British capital to see It’s a melodic, stripped down their idols perform including a number performance showcasing their raw vocals of Japanese fans! as they stand looking out at the crowd.

Ji Yeong bobs his head to the music and The doors opened a little after 5pm fans wave their light sticks in sync. Jaeho with fans gathering around the barriers breaks formation to come closer to the not long after. The venue was relatively crowd before they begin their next song, small which made for excellent viewing ‘Tomorrow’. They ooze confidence whilst as every fan could get close enough to performing and fans get increasingly the stage. When the show began, the louder with every high note from atmosphere was alive and HISTORY maknae, Ji Yeong. Just before the boys entered to an electric jubilation of stop for a quick interval, they performed screams and cheers. They definitely felt ‘Why Not’ which seemed to be a secret the love from their vocal fans. They were fan favourite! suited in slick, black outfits and eased fans in with their debut song ‘Dreamer’, Kyungil drives the crowd wild by telling which was fitting as it was their first time them how much they are all loving performing for their UK fans. The crowd London! He mentions he loves British succumbed to a nostalgic performance music, movies and Harry Potter.

Sihyoung comments on his favourite colours being red, blue and white, signing out the Union Jack to loud cheers. Dokyun tells fans he likes football and Jaeho recalls seeing the British film Kingsman: The Secret Service recently. Sihyoung tells fans to come say ‘hi’ if you see them on the streets whilst they’re sightseeing. Points to HISTORY for their fan-service! Kyungil asks for the lights to stay on so they can see every person’s face in the crowd. More points awarded for fan-service! They exit the stage for a quick outfit change.

Dokyun reappears to perform solo ballad ‘Because I Love You’ before the group come back as a whole to perform single ‘What Am I To You’ and fans are treated to suave choreography and sexy attitude during the song. The screams have just about died down when HISTORY explode into ‘Psycho’ and fans go insane, reciting perfectly synced fan chants at every opportunity. The choreography isn’t for the faint-hearted and fans were exposed to moves that left them fanning themselves down with their light-sticks.

The interlude comes at the right time as fans needed a cool down after that last performance. After a five minute interlude with a showcase of HISTORY’s

music videos playing on a big screen, Ji Yeong enters onto the stage to perform a solo ballad kitted out in a heavy, leather jacket. The maknae impresses fans with his vocals before Jaeho and Dokyun take over with, “The Manual”, an equally impressive ballad. Kyungil appears on stage in a pinstripe suit and performs ‘Baby Hello’ alongside Ji Yeong and Sihyoung. After a showcase of their individual talents, they perform ‘Liar’ which is a perfect song for more fanchants. The boys looked like they were soaking in every moment with their fans during this performance as they stood looking out to the crowd and smiling, signalling everyone to sing along.

After ‘Liar’ was over, Kyungil shared a secret with fans… they were currently working really hard on their next album!

Kyungil then opened the floor for fan questions (more fan-service points awarded!) and instructed they had to throw up their hands after the count of three. The first fan to be handed a microphone shouted: “Why are you guys so handsome?!” and Sihyoung acted all coy in response, replying “Kyungil is better than me!” Another fan asked: “What British food have you tried?” The group agreed they’d only tried Subway and McDonalds but will

“

WE ARE HISTORY! WHAT’S UP LONDON?!

try fish and chips! The hot question was posed to the group next: “What’s your ideal type?!” Ji Yeong affectionately hugged Kyungil, Kyungil replied that his type is someone who likes him back.

Jaeho impressed the crowd by saying ‘British girls?’ to which Kyungil called him ‘Casanova’. Dokyun likes nice girls with a pretty smile and Sihyoung said his ideal type was girls who look good in denim jeans… screams erupted from all the girls in denim jeans.

HISTORY wrapped things up by introducing their next song: “When we say ‘we are’ you say, ‘lost!’” and began the performance of their 2nd Japanese single, “Lost”. It was definitely a fan-favourite and the EDM vibes were electrifying on stage and in the pit! After a solid performance with a flawless routine packed with energy, the boys wound things down with ballad “Beautiful, My Girl”. You could sense the concert was nearing an end and after an impeccable performance, the boys said they don’t want to go home!

They mention how they originally came with the intention of giving the fans energy but they’ll be going back home with energy from the fans. The crowd went wild, feeding more of that energy HISTORY loved! They promised fans

to work hard in Korea, “if you’ll wait for us…” The crowd didn’t hesitate to scream their support.

The boys performed their final song ‘Might Just Die’, which came as no shock to be the most popular in terms of fan-chants and cheer, before they left the stage. Of course, the crowd went crazy for more performances and screamed for an encore. The boys reappeared with a technical performance of ‘Ghost’ and finished with a sweeter sound and sang ‘Tell Me Love’ as a farewell to their loyal fans. It was a perfect finale and the boys left the stage with goodbye bows, kisses to the crowd and energetic waves.

7M3A9603 2The concert as a whole was one of the very best we’ve ever had here in London! From what I could see, there was no aggressive pushing between fans in the crowd which is a nice change compared to recent concerts!

HISTORY put on an incredible show and the balance between performing and interacting with fans was perfect. As promised, we can look forward to new music this year and hopefully they won’t hesitate to return for another European tour!

TALKING HISTORY WITH HISTORY:

AN INTERVIEW We met with the five boys of HISTORY backstage before the concert and sat down for an interview. We chatted about their next possible concept for a comeback and how excited they are to perform in London!

We understand the dual meaning behind your name is ‘His Story’ and making ‘history’ but would you ever try any historical concepts?

What are you most excited to see or do during your time in London?

All: There’s so many…

Jaeho: Yes we would, but what do you think?

Sihyoung: We want to go to the Tower of London!

It would be great! You could film it while you’re here in London? Tower of London or Buckingham Palace, perhaps?

And film an MV there…?

All: laughing Ahhh – yes!

All: laughing Jaeho: And we could eat with the Queen.

Sihyoung: Ahhh, yes Buckingham Palace! We could do that!

What would you be doing if you weren’t idols?

Jaeho: We’re into all sorts of genres of music so if we weren’t idols, we’d definitely be doing something else in the industry.

Dokyun: We’d be different types of musicians.

What’s next for HISTORY in terms of concept?

Jaeho: We’d want to do a masculine concept that’s a bit more playful.

All: We want to combine the two. We want to be ‘boyish’ but still be masculine or if we had a masculine concept we’d tone it down by being a bit playful.

Jaeho: Yeah, we’d be solo musicians.

All: A man who knows how to get out there and play!

How does it feel to be finally performing in front of your European fans? It’s be 3 years since you’ve debuted and you’ve gained a lot of support.

Kyungil: We’ve been waiting for a long time to be able to perform in front of our European fans.

All: Because of that, we are quite nervous!

Do you notice any differences between your European fans and your Korean fans?

Kyungil: European fans have a lot more energy compared to our fans in Korea.

Can you please make a shout-out to your London fans who are excited for your show?

Kyungil: It’s an honour to meet our London fans and our European fans. We just want more frequent opportunities to see them more.

“

IT’S AN HONOUR TO MEET OUR LONDON FANS

Photography by Keundo Song

GIRIBOY at Ace Hotel, Shoreditch

On May 1st Ace Hotel in Shoreditch, London, played host to Korean rapper and producer Giriboy. The show was hosted by Cult Of Ya, the company behind recent shows by DOK2 and The Quiett, and Okasian and B-Free.

Those with Meet & Greet tickets were able to take photographs with the rapper as they entered the sold out venue, with standard ticket holders filling up the space in Ace Hotel’s basement soon after.

Giriboy took to the stage a little before 11pm to deliver a loud and fast-paced half hour set.

Performing fan favourites such as Sucker, and Because You’re Pretty, Giriboy had the devoted crowd in the palm of his hand. Fans sang and rapped along to the set, creating an impressive buzz in the small, intimate show location.

Despite having flown ten hours for the show, and only landing hours before taking to the stage, Giriboy easily held a captive audience with his performance.

Though, one might assume that a show that avoids such a situation would see Giriboy deliver a set with even more bang – but sometimes such circumstances cannot be avoided.

As the third success in Cult of Ya’s Currency Exchange show series UnitedKpop don’t doubt there will be more impressive Korean hip hop acts hit stages in London before long.

INTERVIEW WITH GIRIBOY

A

t the beginning of the month Giriboy played his first show outside of South Korea, at Ace Hotel in London. We asked you on Instagram what questions you’d love to ask the rapper, and you sent us plenty of suggestions.

We sat down with the Giriboy backstage after his set to find out who inspires him, where he gets his fashion sense, and which Korean artist he thinks we should be listening to!

Who inspired you to become a rapper, was there a rapper or musician you looked up to when you were younger that made you want to be involved in music?

The Korean group Shinh8132-wa [laughs]. Pharrell and NERD too.

The inspiration of Shinhwa isn’t something to knock – this year they will be celebrating their 18th anniversary You never considered following the idol path like Shinhwa though, you always wanted to be a rapper?

In middle school I thought about being an idol, but I thought that I couldn’t live that life, with the training and the schedules.

Do you have an opinion on idol rappers?

I think Zico is a really good rapper, so it doesn’t matter. If they’re good, they’re good.

Is there a Korean hip hop artist we should watch out for?

C-Jamm! C-Jamm is Korea’s best rapper!

You can currently see C-Jamm proving his skills on Show Me The Money 5.

Do you have a fashion icon?

I don’t have a fashion icon really. But there is a Japanese application called Wear. It is kind of like an Instagram for fashion. I look at that a lot.

My favourite Hip Hop artist is: Kanye West My favourite other genre artist is: Kasabian, and The Killers I’m currently listening to: Pharrell I’d most like to collaborate with: Tinashe I would love to produce for: C-Jamm You really wanted to know whether Giriboy was TEAM CAP or TEAM IRON MAN, but unfortunately he said he hadn’t had time to watch the movie yet, so didn’t know.

But he did have this to say to his British, and international fans: I am thankful you recognise me, but please don’t download my music on torrents [laughs]!

You can legally buy Giriboy’s music via iTunes!

ㄱㄹ ㅂㅇ “

The inspiration of Shinhwa isn’t something to knock – this year they will be celebrating their 18th anniversary

kcon2016france Writer Katy shares her first hand experiences at KCON Paris 2016, one of the biggest K-pop conventions to date.

KCON is the international K-Pop convention that’s been held every year since 2012, it gives fans across the world the chance to see their favourite artists live while also having the opportunity to learn more about Korean culture. However, the event only took place in select countries such as the US and Japan… And then the US again, and then Japan again. But this year, things have started to change.

This change started with KCON in Abu Dhabi and then within the next few months it was announced that KCON was going to take place in Paris, France on June 2nd. This is the first time that such a large scale K-Pop event had ever taken place in the entire continent of Europe. So obviously, I had to go.

I was standing in the line at Glasgow International Airport, Boarding pass in hand and KCON ticket stored securely in my backpack waiting to board my plane. When I heard behind me “I’m just worried about my bomb, I don’t want it to get crushed.”

Of course, I was a little shocked, but as I listened to the people behind me talk, it became clear to me, they were going to KCON too and the girl was worried about her BTS Lightstick getting damaged.

I had kind of an epiphany standing there, there are lots of K-Pop fans in Europe who had been waiting so desperately for something like this. It’s not just going to be a concert, it’s going to be something bigger than that.

I had just got off my plane at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris when I heard screams. The couple I had heard behind me ran to the sound and I instinctively followed them. It was another hour before my friend’s plane arrived, I had time to kill. I saw a group of K-Pop fans crowded around people.

It took me a while to spot who, but then I saw them. Amber & Luna from f(x) were right there, trailing their suitcases behind them and waving and

taking pictures with fans. I felt like I had entered some other dimension to be honest. When f(x) had left, the fans began to talk to me in French, when they saw I was having difficulty replying, they taught me French words. I was not even 20 minutes into being in the country and I had already seen 2 K-Pop idols and made new friends.

The next day was D-Day and people had started lining up at crazy hours in the early morning. I arrived at just after breakfast after walking for an hour to reach the arena. Both the lines for the convention and the standing/pit ticket were already miles long. I had never seen lines so long in my life and I have been to my fair share of concerts.We were forced to choose between waiting in line for the very slim chance to get to go in the convention (There were only 2 time slots, with a capacity of 500 people at a time) or to wait in the never-ending line for concert entry. We chose the latter and quickly made friends with the people in the line. They were French, Spanish, Polish, and English people just beside us... You name the European nationality, and there was someone in that line representing it.

Min Ho appeared on screen at one point and I was almost deafened by the screams.

They were nothing compared to the screams that occurred when all the lights dimmed. Seconds seemed like a life time before the stage lit up red and blue as the Korean traditional song ‘Arirang’ began to play. BTS rose up from the stage and were joined by host LeeTeuk, Block B, I.O.I, f(x), SHINee and FTIsland. All the artists stood in a line singing a song that held so much of Korea’s history in a country on the other side of the world. Then, President Park Geun-hye was welcomed officially.

LeeTeuk was speaking in Korean while there were French subtitles on the screen. While there was no English and I didn’t understand everything 100% I managed to piece most of it together. Block B were first, A video ‘Toy’ at various Paris landmarks was on screen and then, just as the song was about to reach the chorus, everything cut off. Then they themselves came out of the darkness, walking incredibly slowly.

But somehow within seconds, jumped straight into choreography as the song blasted louder than before. The party had begun.

We all stood bundled together in the awful weather.

It was freezing and cold rain was pouring down. I left Scotland when the sun was shining and arrived in a France wherein the whole country was having a problem with flooding. We stood together under a single umbrella and talked about our favourite groups and also our doubts about the organisation of the event. We were all disappointed that the convention was so small and we wondered if this amount of people would be able to fit in the standing area of the arena. “I don’t think they expected this amount of people would like K-Pop and would come from far away to see it.” My new Spanish friend said and I had to agree with her.

After hours and hours, the line started to move.

As we edged closer to the massive entry doors we saw black limousines and a large number of official looking Korean men. It was only after we had gotten passed security and had entered the Arena that we found out why. “The South Korean President is here!!!!” The Arena was huge and despite our fears, we were close to the front. On the large screens, there were specially prepared adverts. Such as one’s celebrating France and Korea’s relationship, others showing Korean traditions, culture and food. Lee

There were light sticks of every group performing in the crowd, different colours and shapes. Glow sticks and posters. Everyone was so excited to be there and was losing themselves in the music and atmosphere. “I didn’t think this day would come!” A boy beside me shouted in French. Block

B performed 4 songs and on the very last song – Nalina, they came down the walkway that I was standing at the end of and were soon enough, standing right in front of me. Close enough that I could see the sweat on their faces. Each group that performed followed this pattern, on the last song they would run down the stage in an effort to greet all of the fans.

After Block B, it was I.O.I in their first overseas performance since they had formed and they did well for such a new group. What made KCON special though was the special stages, FTIsland’s HongKi and Jonghyun performed a duet in English and then after, SHINee’s Taemin came out and covered a song called ‘Reality’ by English singersongwriter Richard Sanderson. It is these moments, where they are performing songs that they don’t usually sing that

I truly appreciated the one-of-a-kind experience I got to be a part of. These moments continued when f(x) took the stage and performed not only their well-known songs, but also Amber got to perform ‘Shake That Brass’ and Luna performed ‘Free Somebody’ which had only came out a few days prior to KCON and this was her first time performing it live.

BTS were next and of course, everyone lost it. They performed only their highenergy dance tracks and everyone was bouncing. Rap Monster performed a solo song called ‘What am I to you’ and it was of course, one of my favourite moments of the night. It’s very different seeing your favourite K-Pop stars live from seeing other artists. It’s not just a concert, it’s a surreal other-worldly experience and even when they are

standing right in front of you waving at the crowd, it’s still hard believe that they are real. FTIsland were amazing. Lee HongKi was an endless ball of energy and he seemed so genuinely excited to be there. He was trying his best to communicate and was running around the entirely stage platform. Their music changed the entire atmosphere, it was like we were now transported to a rock concert and everyone was loving it. He got the crowd jumping up and down and putting their hands in the air. My favourite moment happened when FTIsland were on stage and Hong Ki fell to the floor and said “Oh Shit!!” and out the corner of my eye I saw a middle aged woman frown quite considerably. It was definitely the highlight of the night.

Speaking of highlights, When SHINee performed and Minho was right in front of us dancing with an extremely tight,

“ almost see-through shirt on… I wasn’t complaining.

SHINee performed all of their classics and I saw girls in the seated sections even standing up and doing the dance moves to perfection. When ‘View’ came on, everyone’s voices doing the fan chant echoed around the arena.

I remember clearly at the end of the night.

Red, white and blue confetti fell from the sky and everyone had their hands up just taking in the moment. The most recognisable songs of the artists played one at a time and LeeTeuk announced the group names as the members came to the stage in front of me. It was a chance to see all of them up close, and a chance to say goodbye. They bowed and waved and danced and threw the confetti and then each of them made their way out of sight. The large arena lights came on and it was over. I was perhaps the most exhausted I had ever been in my entire life, but adrenaline was still coursing through me.

We made it outside and the rain had stopped falling. Everyone began to file out and make their

I REALLY FELT a PART OF SOMETHING BIG

way back to their homes and hotels. Me and my friends gathered under a tree and made sure we had each other’s contact details. This was the best part for me. I really felt part of something so big, it was just a concert. But it was a concert that people had travelled miles to get to and a concert that had shaken a city like Paris. I realised how powerful K-Pop is. How powerful, creative and caring K-Pop fans can be, no matter where they are from. It was over far too quickly and I soon found myself sitting on a plane heading home.

“Did you go to KCON too?” I asked the girl who was sitting beside me on the plane who was wearing a SHINee T-shirt. “Yes! It was so amazing.” She replied. “I hope they have another one in Europe soon, like an even bigger one.”

“Me too. “

K-pop Academy What is it all about?

Get the low down on the Korean Culture Centre UK’s reknowned K-pop Academy, now in its 9th run.

Not only is the K-pop Academy packed with brilliant activities, but it’s also FREE. What more could you want?

Photo by KCCUK

“To me, the K-pop Academy is.... a brilliant way to try things, expand your knowledge, to make long-lasting friendships and get inspired.

- Maisie Duff, former student

K

-pop academy centres all on Korean culture; this can vary to KPOP to history to food.

The academy is all about teaching and learning about South Korea in jam packed classes, which is available to anyone that is interested in the culture. The classes are open to all backgrounds and ages over 16, so it is a good opportunity to experience and share your interests with other students around you.

The popular programme is based in London and organised by the Korean cultural centre, each year this is announced in terms and classes usually run to around 10 – 12 weeks. The admission fee is free and runs from 2pm-4pm every Saturday. Other than the focus of KPOP, it is a way to provide lectures and workshops looking at both the traditional and the art form of Korean culture over the years.

Each term there is something new to experience such as trying out traditional Korean hanbok (clothing), learning the language of speaking and writing in hangul , learning Kpop dances and cooking classes where you get the chance to try out the authentic food.

Even better, by the end of each term, the best student is selected exclusively to receive a free return flight to Korea. This is your chance to have fun and to get the best out of the classes with professionals and maybe you will be that lucky student to receive that ticket!

Past students have shared their experiences and have learnt to have a great time at something different making new friends along the way. Former student Maisie Duff said: “Kpop academy is a brilliant way to try things, expand your knowledge, to make long-lasting friendships and get inspired”.

Keep an eye out for the next term and if you are thinking of applying, ask your friends to come along and enjoy it together.

For more information about the K-pop Academy: Tel: 020 7004 2600 Email: info@kccuk.org.uk

15TH SEPTEMBER – 25TH OCTOBER

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PHOTO BY JINNY PARK

INDEPENDENT MUSIC CONTENT FROM UNITEDKPOP

HEY! HO! WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY LORE WALSH

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ix indie bands set out to tour the UK and Europe this summer and we caught shows by them all. Her'es the lowdown on Dead Buttons; We Are The Night; DTSQ; 57; LayBricks; and PATiENTS.

Electronic rockers We Are The Night kicked off the K-Music Showcase at Sound City and set the tone well. We Are The Night are an interesting band to watch. There isn't one set instrument for each member with this group, as you'll often see them switch between electronic and the more common 'band' instruments; and the range of sounds BritROK saw Dead Buttons three times on brings a depth to their music. and the range of sounds they blend brings a their 2016 EU Tour, and it was their set on Liverpool Sound City's main stage that depth to their music. The group combine the sounds of synthesisers, electronics, impressed the most. A small crowd and effects units such as the talk box with a vast stage size didn't phase the duo, as drums and guitars to produce very Dead Buttons roared through a set that easy listening vibes. included favourites such as 'Witch', and new single 'Desire', true to fashion.

/DEADBUTTONS

/BANDWEARETHENIGHT

DTSQ feel a little left of field. To look at them you probably couldn't put them into a genre box, and frankly it would be a hard job upon listening to them too.

With all the rawness of punk rock, there's also plenty of psychedelic undertones, and even influences of techno. Vocalist and guitarist Suhyun Kim exudes the energy of all their genre influences; so what ever exact genre of niche rock these guys fit into is a little beside the point - they're great and that's all one needs to know.

In one of the highlights of their Sound City set the trio played an homage to the Liverpool's most famous band, The Beatles, with a cover of I Am The Walrus.

/WEAREDTSQ

LET'S GO! With every time you see 57 play you'll be further caught by their magic. There is a haunting quality to the vocals of Junhong, and when teamed with his guitar playing and the powerful drumming of Seol Kim, the sound of 57 is compelling.

Junhong could boast the best vocal ability of any Korean indie group to have played in the UK (it's something of an unwritten rule that you don't have to be able to sing to be in an indie band).

There is a power in the performance of 57 that doesn't feel like it should be possible for just two people to produce. But with each song the duo continue to prove that train of thought wrong and up the ante.

/DUO57

LayBricks are another group we were able to see three times on their UK tour. The duo have an interesting energy to their performance. The musical skill of both Kwangmin and Hyejin seems to cast a spell over those who watch, and you can't help but be drawn in and captured in the moment.

Even playing completely acoustic, as we saw them at Sofar Sounds Manchester, you can't help but be lost in their sound.

There is a fun and carefree feel to their music; but there's an almost juxtaposing depth as Kwangmin's lyrics reveal the true affectivity of LayBricks. This depth, and the energy of Hyejin's drumming gained Laybricks plenty of new fans.

/LAYBRICKS

PATiENTS this time returned with new drummer Soowon Choi. Though Soowon wasn't the only noticeable difference to the punks' performance this year. The trio played two new tracks during their set but it was 'Space Call Girl' that particularly stood out, showing off the ever growing skill of keyboardist Hyukjang Kwon.

Vocalist and bass player Sumin Jo has too improved. In three years we've seen Sumin go from delivering an impressive, yet mostly static performance; to a performance that proves his worth as a vocalist, and displays his true power as a showman.

We can't wait to see some of these bands again!

/PATIENTSPUNK

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AYBRICKS is an indie rock band consisting of vocalist and guitarist Kwangmin Seo, and drummer Hyejin Yu. The duo began playing together in 2014, and released their first EP in November of 2015. They headed UK this May, touring all across the country for almost 6 weeks. Their tour not only included a performace at the Liverpool Sound City, and two Sofar Sounds shows (a global music community curating smallsized gigs in small, personal locations such as living rooms), but they also booked their own gigs at local pubs. During their adventure they came in contact with UK labels, festival organizers from all over the world, and local musicians.

We met with LayBricks again, on their return to Seoul, to hear their tour stories.

It is a great honor to interview you before the tour to the UK and also right after it. How have you been after coming back to Korea?

Kwangmin and Hyejin: Thank you so much for sharing our adventure in the UK on United K-pop. It is such an honor to be featured on United K-Pop magazine. On the day after coming back, we performed at Live Club Day. We missed Korean rock fans so much. Since then, we have been too busy preparing for our big upcoming solo concert.

You are holding a concert on the 31st of July at Sangsangmadang. Is it your first solo concert? It sounds like it will be a challenge for your band but also a jump start for your career. How have you promoted the gig?

WORDS BY JEONG EUN SOHN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JINNY PARK /LAYBRICKS /BANDLAYBRICKS

Kwangmin and Hyejin: We had no idea how many things we should do for the gig. As we did not sign up to any label, we have to do everything by ourselves. Our concept includes briefing everything we experienced in our tour in the UK. We will run the documentary about our daily lives in the UK, have a Q&A session, and perhaps give away some merchandise. It goes without saying, that we practice really hard for our performance. If you are in Korea, don’t miss our concert held at Sangsangmadang on 31st, July. Tickets are available at melon.com.

though it meant they needed to reduce their performing time.

In fact we met with Tommy and Mary again. We played the day before coming back to Korea. But, one of the bands who was lined up for the gig had to cancel their schedule. So, we asked the promoter to invite Tommy and Mary instead. This time, they thanked us so much.

Laybricks performed at Liverpool Sound City, at Sofar Sounds, and at local pubs. Could you share your memorable moments?

Hyejin: I can remember every gig for different reasons. But if you ask me to choose one, I would say Liverpool Sound City. I was so nervous before performing onstage. It was amazing to be at the festival held in the UK, in Liverpool the hometown of rock and roll music, but Hyejin: Possibly the number of it was in the UK where we were new to audiences at live venues. It looks like locals. Moreover, we were playing at the it is a part of their daily lives to go to festival for the first time. live music venues. Some of audience Kwangmin: If people came to our stage just come to the venues to watch our at Sound City, we were ready to show performances, but most people drop by the venues to enjoy music. It is not a big them the best performance ever.

It was no problem at all to interact with deal whether they know who performs the audience through music. Our priority or not. Many pubs run live concerts, no was definitely to bring people to the pubs compete to volume the music up, stage. So, we distributed our leaflets, and so many talented buskers perform introduced ourselves, and promoted on the street. As a band, we really like being surrounded by these music-friendly our music as much as possible. Anyway, people showed up more than we had people. Everyone I met in the UK was open to discovering new bands, ready to expected. It was so touching that people enjoy music, and was good at expressing came to listen to our music.

Hyejin: Rock festivals in Korea do not one’s feelings about music. have much information about us. Maybe they are not interested in our music at Who were the most impressive bands among the ones you met all. However, many people showed their support at Sound City. We even got an in the UK? invitation to the V-Rox festival held in August from a person we got to know at Kwangmin: Tommy and Mary. the festival. In fact, several music festivals They are a rock duo just like us. We held abroad sent us an invitation. We enjoyed their busking with a drum and couldn't accept all of the offers, but we amplifier so much that we determined really hope we can make it next year. to say hi to them at the very least.

Kwangmin: I also have good memories Hyejin: Actually, Kwangmin told about Sofar Sounds Manchester. At first, me to do so. it was exhausting finding the venue. But, Kwangmin: They had no clue at all about who we are, but they welcomed us it was so interesting to see people come to Sofar Sounds carrying blankets and with all their heart. They even gave us a pillows. Super homey. chance to busk at Trafalgar Square even Let’s go back to your UK story.

You stayed in the UK for almost 6 weeks. What were the big differences between the Korean and British music industries?

Which songs were most loved by locals?

Kwangmin: UK and Korean audiences have similar tastes, I believe. People love ‘Make you Silly’ and ‘Let’s Dance’ that we usually perform at the end of the gig.

People sing along to ‘Make you Silly’, and dance to ‘Let’s Dance’, and this wraps up the show. The only difference may be UK people groove more freely.

Hyejin: Ah, they also love ‘Moon’.

We actually did not sing this song often, as the lyrics are in Korean. But, people questioned us about not performing ‘Moon’. Some people in the audience even researched what the lyrics are about.

You are planning to tour the UK next year. How will it be different from this year’s tour?

Kwangmin: We will be on a global tour from early next year. To be honest, we have gone through a lot of trials and errors this year. This helped us understand how we should have organised a tour, promoted our music, and entered the local music scene. As we have learnt from our experience, we may organise our next tour more skillfully, more passionately, and perhaps in a more exciting way. I don’t know how much we will scale up the tour yet, but we may need more crew members.

Is there anything you would like to say to the readers?

Kwangmin and Hyejin: We have wrapped up a tour successfully thanks to your support. We especially thank the readers who have come to our shows in the UK. We will definitely visit the UK next year. Let’s catch up in 2017.

If you are in Korea now, we look forward to meeting you at Sangsangmadang on the 31st of July.

Stay tuned for our next moves.

Laybricks will hold their concert at Sangsangmadang on the 31st of July, with the Hanz and Rock 'N' Roll Radio. Before performing at the V-Rox festival in Vladivostok.

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hen WHOwho’s Jun Roh shared a mysterious Facebook page on his Twitter I was curious. It wasn't long until he announced that he had joined forces with Eun ho Lee of Igloo Bay to create a new band and perform an entirely new type of music. If you have heard WHOwho and Igloo Bay it might be hard to believe that a member of each could join forces. project:IMPAIR, however, are powerful and catchy and you will find yourself drawn into the melody. They have a rapidly growing fanbase and I can't wait to see what the future holds for this band.

Could you introduce yourself to BritROK readers?

Jun Roh (Jun): Nice to meet you. I am Jun Roh from band WHOwho and project:IMPAIR. Eun Ho Lee (Lee): I am a drummer, Eun Ho Lee. You joined forces this past March to form a band named project:IMPAIR. Tell us how this happened.

Jun: While thinking of a new type of music in February, I became interested in Korean traditional melodies. It looked like it would be super fun to combine our traditional melodies with a rocking sound. I let Eun Ho take a listen to my demo, and then we decided to form the band together.

Lee: I was definitely drinking beer with Jun Roh, but I found myself playing a drum at some point. What destiny.

What kind of music does project:IMPAIR create?

Lee: Basically, our music is based

on blues. Sometimes it may be powerful, but at other times, soft and accessible. Since we joined forces I can create music in the styles that we like, we do not limit the range of our music.

Jun: I have been interested in introducing my songs to people all over the world. Then, a thought hit me: I need to work on somewhat unique

MEET THE NEW KIDS

ON THE

BLOCK

THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PROJECT:IMPAIR WORDS BY JEONG EUN SOHN PHOTOGRAPHY BY U.JIN

music, but with a common Western rock sound.

IMPAIR’s music is super rocking while inspired by traditional Korean music (gugak) and the blues.

What differentiates the music is that it is composed of 3 beats, like “gugak”. Actually, most Western rock is based on 4 beats. In fact, "IMPAIR" means an odd number in French. Still, we play musical instruments that people from all across the world are familiar with: a guitar and a drum. I believe our music may appeal to global music lovers, since we have unique beats with parts that many will be familiar with. Moreover, every lyric is in English. We mostly sing about anger, madness, and passion.

As we try to differentiate our sound from other bands, we ended up adding a few more instruments.

Lee: This is my first try performing a keyboard on stage. I've been working really hard on that these days.

What song would you recommend to music lovers who are new to project:IMPAIR? Jun: Powerful 3 beats song, 'Kingsley'.

We made a live clip of this song by ourselves, so please take a look! Have you ever read 'Alice in Wonderland'? The title comes from this, Alice’s last name is Kingsleigh. It was my first time to make a film and record the sound. It was pretty challenging but I really had fun.

project:IMPAIR have already performed many times since you debuted in April.

Have you made any lasting memories yet?

Jun: 1st of July. It was actually pouring.

I can’t believe how hard it was to carry musical instruments.

Lee: I thought we may be swept away.

How is it working in two different bands?

Are you planning any other global tour?

Jun: We plan to visit Europe in

September, mostly France.

Lee: I really love to perform abroad. I hope Igloo Bay have a chance to do that Jun: I can write and perform songs in the future too. in various ways. The way I express my Jun: It would be amazing if WHOwho feelings is definitely widened. I am so glad and Igloo Bay can go all together. that I can perform in a way that Lee: Travelling abroad is always exciting.

I admire.

If we have a chance to perform while Lee: It looks like I finally have started travelling, we can interact with local performing in the way I want. I can play music lovers, local musicians, et cetera. in whatever ways I want, literally. As I I would like to organize a global tour have two bands, my schedule is tight, whenever we have a chance. but I am very glad to do so.

Jun: I really like to travel. There is nothing better than travelling and What do you have planned performing at the same time. That is why for project:IMPAIR in the I can’t wait to visit Beijing.

near future?

Jun: Of course, we will do a lot of

shows. We also have a plan to release an album in the second half of 2016. Touring the world is also a part of our plan.

Lee: Right. We are actually visiting Beijing in July. A few gigs are booked already including Fake Beach Festival.

Can’t wait to meet Chinese music lovers, Chinese musicians, and wander around the city!

What do you anticipate most about visiting Beijing?

Jun: Peking Duck. Tsingtao.

Lee: Of course, performing in Beijing.

It must be really significant to introduce project:IMPAIR to Chinese music lovers. How do you work on this?

Jun: We will live stream our performance on Weibo, perhaps.

Lee: Right. We created our account on Weibo. It was challenging.

Jun: As we can’t speak Chinese at all, just creating an account took so long.

But, we will take everything step by step.

We already look forward to live streaming our performance.

What kinds of performing do you want to do in the future?

Jun: Something fun. Oh, but I can’t

explain what “fun” is. Just something fun.

Lee: Rock festival, definitely.

Is there anything you'd like to say to our readers?

Jun: It is my first time doing an

interview as project:IMPAIR. Me and Eun Ho work very hard to write songs in various styles. Stay tuned to see our next moves!

Lee: I hope we can meet at the live venues!

Even though project:IMPAIR is pretty new to the indie scene in Korea, they are already well received by fans. After coming back from Beijing, project:IMPAIR will be releasing an album; organizing a global tour to European countries, and performing as often as possible. Their journey is sure to be interesting.

/2MPAIR /PROJECT_IMPAIR /PROJECTIMPAIR

A CROSS-BREED OF PUNKY ROCK’N’ROLL AND EDM WITH A SPRINKLE OF VIDEO GAME SOUNDS

AN INTERVIEW WITH SOUTHWAY WORDS BY JEONG EUN SOHN PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARC REUBU & GOOD IMPRESSION

When BritROK asked me to interview several bands for UnitedKpop Magazine, Southway just came up in my mind. I met them at MU:CON SEOUL 2015. At that time, I worked as an interpreter between the director of global music festivals and local bands. /SOUTHWAYWORLD

/SOUTHWAYMUSIC

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hile interpreting, I was fascinated by their lives as musicians. They do not settle down in a particular city. Rather, they tour the world as much as possible to exposure their music broadly. As Southway is a duo consisting of Shaun from the UK and Shiun from Korea, they often jump from the UK to Korea.

If you have ever watched their YouTube videos, you can see why people all across the world fall in love with their music.

In my case, I was so overwhelmed by their energy at their showcase.

It was definitely way beyond my imagination. That is why I chose Southway, because I hope more and more people get to know this amazing duo.

Can you introduce yourself?

We are an Electronic Dance Performance (EDF) duo called Southway consisting of Shaun Jason from Bristol (UK) and Shiun Kim from Seoul (South Korea). We met dancing at a club on Christmas Eve in Seoul in 2008.

How did you come together as ‘Southway’?

After immigrating to the US from his hometown of Bristol in the UK, Shaun started Southway initially as a solo project. He began couch-surfing his way across the US traveling from coast-to-coast, eventually settling in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. It was in LA that he began writing and recording songs, and playing his own Southway shows in the LA area. He then moved to San Francisco and continued to record, which led to the release of the first Southway full length album called 'Electroganic' in 2004. Shaun kept writing and recording which paved the way for the release of Southway's second solo album called 'SomaPop' in 2007.

WE WILL MAKE YOU GROOVE AND DANCE. IT’S ABOUT LIVING THE LIFE TO THE FULLEST - CARPE DIEM. During a radio promotion tour of South Korea later in 2007, Shaun continued writing more songs, and became firmly bitten by the travel bug yet again. This prompted another inspirational move to Seoul and the completion of the third Southway album, aptly titled 'Suitcase'. It was at this time Shaun met Shiun, who was training as a theatrical performance artist. This is when they first started playing music and touring together.

After a two-year tour that covered dates in Asia and the USA, Shaun and Shiun moved to London. It was in London that they started working on the next Southway album, which was their first album as a duo, incorporating a new re-invented, New Wave influenced, electronic dance sound.

Since forming their band, the duo have been keeping active in both the UK and Korea to build their presence in both regions. Currently, they are focusing on South Korea and surrounding areas.

How would you describe your music to anyone unfamiliar with your work?

Punk and rock’n’roll mixed with EDM. We love classic songwriting, and then fusing it with cutting-edge modern technology; machines and the sound of the future.

The core of our music is a great songs, which inspire us and excite us.

Primarily, we have to fall in love with

our music first, and then by us being inspired by the songs, we can translate our enthusiasm for the song into a high energy and passionate performance.

That’s where our hearts lie really, in the performance of the song.

During the development of our sound, we would go out to see live bands, and even though we could enjoy the gig, missed electronic music and emotional and dynamic sense that DJs create in their sets. Similarly, when we went to dance clubs, we felt a real thirst for the human musician element that you don’t see in a DJ set, so we wanted to create something that included all of that. In the past the world has seen some incredible musical performers, the great musicians playing real instruments and their passionate, sweaty and energetic performance put on by artists like James Brown and Prince and the human interaction that breaks the boundaries between the stage and the audience.

This ‘lack’ in both dance music and rock music motivated us to create our music to fulfill that gap, the music that is as hard-hitting, emotionally dynamic and danceable for the crowd as dance music and at the same time, the music that drives us to perform with passion, energy and human interaction with the audience and the music that we play live with multiple real instruments such as synthesizers, electronic drums, acoustic drums, cymbals, an electric guitar and drum machines - a cross-breed of punky rock’n’roll and EDM with a sprinkle of video game sounds.

Is there a specific song you would suggest a new listener listen to first?

We would suggest our new single ‘Here & Now’ . It is a colorful, dynamic and exciting song that we hope will make you groove and dance on the dancefloor. It’s about living the life to the fullest - carpe diem.

You have toured so many countries. Which countries were most memorable?

Every country had its own unique character we liked. The most memorable part of our musical journey was our extensive live music tour of the UK, playing festivals, clubs and events. To prepare for the tour, we bought a regular white van in Scotland, drove down to London and self-converted it into a fully-furnished campervan with couches, bed, tables, kitchen, closets, shelves, cupboards, toilet and shower.

W

hat are the merits of performing in Korea?

The Korean crowd is amazing. Music is so deeply engraved in the Korean culture that anybody from little children, teenagers and university students to the elderly can sing along a tune in a heartbeat, a deeply impressive fact for sure.

What does the future hold for ‘Southway’?

More music, more shows.

Is there anything you would like to say to the readers?

Our life as travelling musicians is not easy but we are passionate about what we do and we love doing it. If you find something that makes you happy, please keep doing it. Your happiness will be infectious like a positive virus and make the world a better place.

Southway's performance on Friday 22nd July at Club FF in Hongdae, Seoul is going to be a really special one, because we will be filming our show and the crowd live!

We will post more details about this on our and Instagram soon.

Facebook

WE FELT A THIRST FOR REAL INSTRUMENTS, SWEATY AND ENERGETIC PERFORMANCES THAT BREAK THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN STAGE AND AUDIENCE

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hen asked to describe their new release Southway say "Here & Now is a colorful, dynamic and exciting.We hope will make you groove and dance on the dancefloor. It’s about living the life to the fullest - carpe diem"; and it is hard to disagree. At the outset 'Here & Now' feels more electronica than anything close to indie rock, and it certainly leans more to the EDM side of their musical cross-breed. Though as the track continues the introduction of more promient drum beats, and vocals draws in more reminiscence of its rock 'n' roll influences.

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SOUTHWAY HERE & NOW

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ur Southway favourite is 'Mirror To The Heart'.from their fourth studio album 'The World Outside'.

There are plenty of mainstream Korean acts experimenting with EDM, though the majority of them seem to lack a truely seamless integration into their own genre. That isn't the case with Southway.

They duo have been adding to, and perfecting, their sound for over ten years; and it shows.

This is a track you'll find yourself playing over and over as 'Here & Now' is packed with an energy that makes it an extremely addictive track.

MIRROR TO THE HEART

There's a familiarity in 'Mirror To The Heart' that comes from its influences. This is a song that could BritROK Rating: believably have come from any of the experimental Art Rockers, New Romantics, or Synthpop masters.

As you listen the track draws images of Gary Numan, The Human League, Ultravox, David Bowie and many other musical pioneers.

Maybe that is the key to the magic of Southway.

Whilst creating their own style, they still stay true to the great artists that have paved their way and filled their hearts and minds with the musical inspiration they needed to follow their own musical paths.

Though three years old this track still feels perfectly relevant. 'Mirror To The Heart won't be leaving our list of favourite Korean indie tracks any time soon, and we are more than okay with that.

SOUTHWAY

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e sat down with ROCK BOTTOM CREW at Underworld back in April. They told us how they spend their free time, what they are scared of, and why they are not idols.

Tell us two things about ROCK BOTTOM that your fans might not already know about you We do not do anything special. We usually enjoy playing PC games and drink alcohols. We also love to visit well-knowned restaurants.

Some of Rock Bottom debuted as idols, but why did you choose to create hip hop crew instead?

The group couldn't help but laugh and smirk at Kidoh, as he shook his head, almost disappointed in himself.

When I was younger I dreamed of becoming an entertainer. So I signed the contract with an idol company without thinking deeper. But, as time went by, I felt it was not what I have imagined, and dreamed of. As a matter of course, I decide to do the music I wanted to do by myself.

TOPP DOGG WASN'T WHAT I IMAGINED TRANSLATION BY KATY KIM & JEONG EUN SOHN PHOTOGRAPHY BY LORE WALSH

A beautiful blend of tradition and spirit SALTNPAPER

One Heart ft EZ of Ggotjam Project

SaltNPaper is otherwise known to many as MYK. Michael Y. Kim was one of the original artists signed to Epik High's Map The Soul label, and made a name for JAMBINAI himself as the unofficial fourth member of Epik High. Interestingly, he's also the son They Keep Silence of noted designer YoungSe Kim, creator of the popular INNOWAVE headphones.

Jambini last month released their 'A MYK has moved away from his original Hermitage' album via UK label Bella Union. The first song to be released from hip hop roots in more recent years to that album back in April was 'They Keep become a self-sufficient artist, Silence'. This is a powerful and haunting producing a number of albums with very little outside assistance. track, true to all the music from this The original English language version of group previously.

'One Heart' can be found on the album Awe Fin. Though, after signing to Fluxus Utilising traditional Korean instruments Music, the one-man-band teamed up such as the Haegum, Geomingo, and Piri alongside those often associated with with EZ of Ggotjam Project to produce rock music (guitar, bass, drums), Jambinai a Korean version in May this year. It is a beautiful track, and proof that while blend tradition and the spirit of their many know his name the music of genre beautifully.

SALTNPAPER is still very much a hidden gem.

Jambinai are unlike anyone you will have heard before; even comparisons to If you love ... James Bay BritROK Rating: Finnish cello metal group Apocalyptica wouldn't feel quite right.

'The Keep Silence', like many of their tracks, seems like it would not sound out of place on the soundtrack of a movie. Much like the orchestral and performance music the instruments were traditionally used for, Jambinai create boundless atmosphere in their releases.

This allowing the listener to become completely involved, and lost, in their music.

If you love ... Elbow meets Bring Me The Horizon

PATiENTS

Space Call Girl

PATiENTS have, technically, not released 'Space Call Girl' yet; but they've been playing it at live shows since they hit the UK in May. Although this track embodies everything about the group that we've seen previously it also feels, different. The track sees keyboard player Hyuk Jang Kwon flourish, showing off an even greater level of skill; and frontman Sumin Jo's vocals have improved since we last saw the group play in the UK. This will be one of two new tracks to release featuring new drummer, Soowon Choi. Soowon fits seamlessly into the group, his presence strong, neither lost in the background, or overpowering.

The 'hybrid' style of PATiENTS brings a new level of energy to their punk spirit; the inclusion of keyboards and the lack of guitar seems no big deal. 'Space Call Girl' proves that 'hybrid punk' is more than worthy of its place in the genre. You'll be compelled to raucously join in with their enthusiastic sound as the spirit of the music captures you. For five minutes you too will believe you're as punk as they are.

If you love ... The Prodigy meets Sex Pistols

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ORCHESTRAS. SPOTLIGHTS. TURNTABLES. 2016's best alternate releases: January to July

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DEAD BUTTONS 16-22

'16-22' marks the first UK release from Dead Buttons after signing to Baltic Records. Much like their previous offerings this is a track with plenty of shout-along opportunities. It's definitely no surprise that Dead Buttons have caputured so much attention.

If you love ... The Strokes

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WINTERPLAY

NO BRAIN

Winterplay's cover of Prince's 'Purple Rain' was released as tribute to the artist after his death. The impressive rendition is filled with smooth jazz vibes courtesy of trumpeter Lee JuHan; and is complimented beautifully by the voice of Moon Haewon.

No Brain may be one of the godfathers of the Korean punk scene, but that doesn't mean you can put them in a box.

'Living Paycheck to Paycheck' draws on influences from Ska and Reggae to create an addictive track you won't forget quickly.

If you love ... Jamie Cullum

If you love ... Gallows

Purple Rain (Prince Cover)

Living Paycheck to Paycheck

BritROK Rating:

BritROK Rating:

57

Pray For the Dead

'Pray for the Dead' is an incredibly haunting track from this duo. Split into sections, you're able to see the full capacity of 57 through this track. If you're looking for top quality vocalists we highly recommend you check out this group.

If you love ... Depeche Mode meets Muse

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GOLDMUND

We Are The Night

One

BRother

The vocals of Hyuntae are extemely distinctive, and this track feels unlike anything else coming out of Korea right now. Though its influences are clear; if the Pet Shop Boys released an album in Korean, you can well imagine it would sound just like 'One'.

This an addictive track from We Are The Night, with a cool music video filmed during their UK tour.

'BRother' blends synthesisers, electronics and effects units, with guitar and drums and the result is a great easy listening track. This is certainly one for warm summer evenings.

If you love ... Pet Shop Boys

If you love ... The 1975

BritROK Rating:

BritROK Rating:

EFFORTLESS

COOL

GET THE LOOK: WITH LAYBRICKS WORDS BY LORE WALSH PHOTOGRAPHY BY JINNY PARK

E

ffortless cool is really as easy as it sounds. One of the Kings of Cool, designer Rick Owens, once said that those who don't care about being cool are often the coolest people - and he probably knows what he is talking about. Though, not caring is easier said than done. So here are a few tips and tricks for capturing an effortless cool Rock 'N' Roll vibe.

If you have a little more to spend you might want to invest in a name-brand pair of shoes.

Converse, Vans, Underground and Dr Marten's are all brands that are synonymous with indie subcultures. Underground and Vans have Vegan friendly shoes too! Searching for a bargain often pays off too as all of these brands can regularly be found in local retailer sales.

On the tightest of budgets a look akin to Hyejin & Kwangmin's [left]will set you back no more than £30 in high street stores such as Primark; where you will find bold graphic print (or band) T-shirts, simplistic skinny jeans, and nonbranded baseball shoes fill the rails.

The best thing? You’ll probably have parents, family or friends that are old enough to have seen the original wave of these fashion, even if they weren’t wearing the fashions they’ll definitely be able to point out those items on the high street that are just like the originals.

A coat or jacket is the perfect accessory for your outfit, and let’s face it, British weather almost always requires one anyway!

Why not try out a leather jacket for the ultimate Subcultures are great sources of inspiration for edgy look – though a Polyurethane faux-leather fashion. Lots of great British designers were, and one can look just as impressive if you need a still are, inspired by musical subcultures such as cheaper, or vegan friendly, alternative.

Rock 'N' Roll and Punk. You don't have to buy A denim jacket, like Kwangmin's, can help ward designer to capture these looks though, you can off the heat that would otherwise be soaked up achieve 'cool' even on the tightest of budgets. by leather. Need something a little warmer, or with a hood for the rain? A Parka might be just The reason subcultures are great to grab fashion what you’re looking for. Khaki green would be tips from is really quite simple. Most of these the most authentic of colour choices, but there’s groups emerge because of a need, or want, plenty of opportunity to adapt the style with a to stand out and not conform to the norm. different colour. Which of these you can find on They are borne of individuals, not fashion the high-street may depend on the season, but corporations, they're the epitome of Do-Itstores like New Look and H&M almost always Yourself budget fashion. have staple versions of at least one of these.

THE COOLEST THING IS WHEN YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT BEING COOL - RICK OWENS

UKP MAGAZINE / SUMMER 2016

BRITROK

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NEW REL TAEYEON - WHY Release date: June 28th

The Girls’ Generation leader has continued to surge through with her solo comebacks in 2016, her most recent release is ‘Why’. It’s an upbeat track that’s the kind of song that can lift your mood.

The background context of the song gives off the impression of putting off saying goodbye, but it’s only once she’s finally completed the task that it has allowed her to be able to move on with her life, which thus cut off the ties and set her free.

f(X)’S AMBER & LUNA - WAVE Release date: May 6th

The two members of the SM girl group f(x) have been busy with their own musical solos, but joined to form a duo as they released ‘Wave’ a few months ago. It’s an electronic dance number that steps away from the typical pop image that K-pop has been known for.

They collaborated with R3hab, a Dutch DJ who has worked with the likes of distinguished artists in the western side of the world such as Rihanna, Lady Gaga and more.

BEAST - BUTTERFLY Release date: June 26th

It’s only July and the shift in the number of members of established K-pop groups have already started to dwindle as time goes on, with Beast not being an exception.

However, this hasn’t stopped Beast from carrying on, giving in their all once again in their latest album.

The Cube entertainment group recently made their comeback with two title tracks, ‘Ribbon’ and ‘Butterfly’. The latter is a beautiful ballad track with the accompanying soothing vocals, which is something that we would recommend listening to unwind and taking a moment to relax.

LEASES

BTS - FIRE

Release date: May 2nd Since their debut back in 2013, they have gradually moved their way through the charts and into the hearts of their fans. This is one of the double title tracks of the album, it’s overflowing with charisma and confidence in comparison to its polar opposite the softer ‘Save Me’ track.

This is definitely a song that’s well suited for the summer that will get you in the partying mood, as it’s a tune from start to finish!

EXID - L.I.E

Release date: June 1st The rising girl group had returned with ‘L.I.E’, the nature of the lyrics seemed to shadow a number of girl groups who have also made their comebacks this year.

It seems like the early half of 2016 isn’t so lucky in love as the dominating concept looks to be seeking retribution or falling out of love. There’s a trend going on with the dubstep beat drop during the chorus, though the vibe has allowed the girl group to edge away from the ‘Up & Down’ era that helped to draw attention and success in their path.

HEIZE (ft. DEAN) - SHUT UP AND GROOVE

Release date: June 1st

The two members of the SM girl group f(x) have been busy with their own musical solos, but joined to form a duo as they released ‘Wave’ a few months ago. It’s an electronic dance number that steps away from the typical pop image that K-pop has been known for.

They collaborated with R3hab, a Dutch DJ who has worked with the likes of distinguished artists in the western side of the world such as Rihanna, LadyGaga and more.

YANG DA IL

She Didn't Love Me

From Yang Da Il's debut EP, 'She Didn't Love Me' shows off the growing power of BrandNew Music's R&B soloists.

An incredibly soothing track filled with intense emotion, you can't help but be captured in a moment by 'She Didn't Love Me'.

If you love ... Zion T

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XIA JUNSU

WONDER GIRLS

'Rock The World' combines everything that makes XIA such a hit maker. The track is perfectly on trend; with English hooks and rap from The Quiett and Automatic to allow an international feel, and considering XIA is "gon' rock the world" its entirely appropriate.

Wonder Girls reportedly struggled to adjust to their band concept, but it doesn't show.

'Why So Lonely' is filled with summery reggae vibes. Yubin's stint on 'Unpretty Rapstar 2' feels entirely worthwhile as this track shows off why she is such an important part of Wonder Girls.

Rock The World

Why So Lonely

If you love ... TAEMIN

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If you love ... 2NE1

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NCT 127

Fire Truck

It might be hard work getting your head around how NCT works, but they're easy to like. Akin to their experimental label seniors SHINee, NCT have a sound that stands out.

Interestingly there's a 3.5 Floppy Disk in the music video. Most of the members aren't old enough to remember them!

If you love ... SHINee

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SEVENTEEN

BTS

Very Nice

Fire

'Very Nice' is a fun and upbeat track, a song befitting of any summer soundtrack. It isn't anything new, or innovative; but that is why it works so well. 'Very Nice' showcases the abilities of Seventeen as a unit well.

But with such a large group it seems hard for anyone to stand out individually.

Filled with lyrics you'll be able to shout along to with gusto, 'Fire' feels like a BTS anthem. There are vocal influences from rock genres, but the sound is still rooted in the same hip-pop that rose BTS up.

With forty-two million views in six weeks the power and popularity of this group is undeniable.

If you love ... INFINITE

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If you love ... EXO

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JAY PARK & UGLY DUCK Ain't No Party Like an AOMG Party

Though technically an independent label, AOMG have a place firmly in the mainstream thanks to Jay Park.

'Ain't No Party Like an AOMG Party' is the production work of Yultron, Prima Vista and Cha Cha Malone; so it is possibly no surprise that it is the perfect party track for the summer.

TWICE

Cheer Up

T

wice have racked up an impressive sixty-three and a half million views on Youtube in just two months with their 'Cheer Up' music video.

After three months 'Cheer Up' still holds a place in the top ten on the MelOn chart. This girl group has quickly become hot topic, and they prove their worth well.

In recent years it has been much harder for girl groups to make their mark on the industry in comparison to the rising number of successful boy groups.

Though a generation switch is starting to happen in Kpop, marked most prominently with the disbandment of 4Minute. It is this swith that is allowing

The men of AOMG prove they know how to make a hit

Jay's music can be a little like Marmite for some, but this is an earworm; much like 'Mommae' (another collaboration with Ugly Duck). You might not be one hundred percent behind the lyrical content but the beat will be one that is in your head continuously.

groups such as Twice to step into the ring as real contenders.

Playing on the SNSD golden formula, the nine members of Twice are a solid unit, with strong vocalists, such as Momo, emerging well.

The music video features b-boys, contortionists, fire-breathers, some impressive body paint by tattoo artist Sanlee, and the seemingly compulsory topless Jay Park scenes - which, Ugly Duck points out, gets the attention of many females.

In an interesting mv shot from the perspective of an anthropomorphic camera, you can see filters placed over the lens, each one showing Twice in a different scenario.

So, get this track on your night-out playlists, because as AOMG tell you: "It ain't lit if we not there".

If you love ... SNSD

If you love ... BIGBANG

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REPLAY REPLAY REPLAY

The best of 2016's Kpop releases: January to July

ROOkie spotlight 0 to1 (021)

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his rookie girl group debuted last month in June under Loen Entertainment and FNC China. There’s a variety of different backgrounds with the members, with a mix of Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Filipino to cater on an international basis.

021 is made up of six members, of which are Wei Yang, Ruru, Jiyoung, Sona-K, Lina, Yuri. It’s still early days, often success

comes in gradual progress with the groups coming from the smaller companies.

The girls leapt onto the highly competitive K-pop scene with ‘Show Me’, it’s a song that’s bursting with confidence. The first impression we had of this group was a mixed vibe between some of the well-known groups in the industry as the concept style seemed to be a mix to probably

try and appeal to different people.

While it can be noted that while they are still inexperienced and the slight issue with the Korean pronunciation, we’re sure it’ll all come around in time.

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romeo

L

ooking over to the second rookie spotlight group Romeo, the seven boys debuted back in 2015 with ‘Lovesick’. The group consists of seven members, which include Seunghwan with the role as the leader and rapper, Yunsung as one of the main vocals of the group, Milo being a rapper, Minsung, Kyle and Hyunkyung all being vocalists and finally Kangmin as the last rapper and the maknae of the group. Since their

debut, they have been gradually gaining more attention from their YouTube channel with their youthful charm and talent.

swiftly followed by their most recent ‘Miro’. The latter’s music video showcases a few glimpses of their dancing abilities as it was stated that the chorography was The formation of this group came inspired by ‘The Maze Runner’ about with the partnership befilm. We look forward to seeing tween the Japanese company Pony the group on how they can further Canyon and the South Korean CT develop in the future.

Entertainment. As of present, this group have already released three mini-albums from ‘The Romeo’ being the first, ‘Zero In’ and then

Kpop music videos are always full of weird and wonderful scenes that must have taken hours of careful planning and preparation, right? We had a look at two impressive music videos scenes and reveal just how they were filmed.

y g o l o p a n o k i The dramatic scene in iKON's 'Apology' mv that sees B.I talking to a woman in a car before chasing after her as she drives away was filmed in slow motion. There were no lines written for the video, as they would never be heard. So B.I asked the actress what she'd had for lunch, tellling her he'd had Kimchi Fried Rice.

He even made her laugh when she was meant to be crying!

Did you ever wonder how they filmed the impressive scene in SHINee's 'Everybody' when the camera speeds under their legs?

The camera was mounted on a remote controlled car! Having to hold the position to film the shot, and the curiosity of watching the car had the SHINee members sprawled across the floor after the take was over!

Just one of the many impressive tricks used by ZanyBros.

y d o ryb

e v e e e N I SH

s e n e c s e h t D N I BEH

Fan to celebrity attachment: The case of Teen Top's Niel We live in a strange, modern world full of constant celebrity news coverage.

Thanks to the internet, social media, and apps like Instagram, we can keep updated even on what our favourite celebrities are having for breakfast! Perhaps, it is understandable then, that fans can feel very close to famous people.

It is easy to develop a strong attachment to a K-Pop idol, their frequent exposure on variety and music programmes, YouTube, social media etc. can make you feel as though you are going through every day together. This attachment can even develop into a crush of sorts – despite never even meeting this person; it might be difficult to take your eyes off them as they perform on stage, and you may even find yourself recognising their little idiosyncrasies; the way they fix their hair when nervous, or the differences between their genuine laugh and the one they reserve for camera and interviews.

If you foster these feelings for a K-Pop idol, it can certainly be hard news to swallow if it’s revealed that they are in a romantic relationship. That stabbing sensation in your chest, a sinking feeling in your stomach may be familiar to you. Of course, this is not to say that you are deluded into thinking that you and this idol are meant to be, it is just that you have become very attached to this person.

Of course, this is all part and parcel of the marketing ploys of entertainment agencies. If fans form in-depth attachments to idols, they will be more likely to purchase everything said idol is associated with. This is also a reason why many idols are discouraged, and sometimes even actively prohibited from dating. If you are single and leave your sexuality ambiguous, you are debatably more likely to court interest from people of all sexualities.

When considering a particular ‘scandal’ involving Teen Top member Niel, we can see a form of this celebrity/fan attachment in play. Niel was spotted with a supposed girlfriend back in 2015; Niel denied that they were romantically involved. Earlier this year though, Niel was spotted vacationing with the female again along with his fellow group member Chunji. This led to fans coming to the conclusion that Niel had lied to them about being in a relationship with the woman in question. Numerous fan cafes dedicated to Niel were promptly shut down in response and fans made it clear that it was not the fact that Niel was in a relationship that had caused them upset, but rather that he had seemingly lied about it.

It is not that I am suggesting fans are sore that Niel may be ‘off the market’ (though a few might well be), it is simply interesting that fans feel this attachment and, as a result, a level of betrayal at the hands of Niel.

“It was not the fact that niel was in a relationship... but rather he had seemingly lied about it.”

My personal opinion is that all celebrities (including K-Pop idols) should be able to conduct their private lives in whatever way they wish. I do also think it is important to consider two factors: firstly Niel and this woman may not even be more than friends, and secondly, they may not have been romantically involved back in 2015 meaning that Niel would not have been lying at the time.

Having said that though, I would also feel slightly upset if I found out that my favourite K-Pop idols have lied, and it probably would change my perceptions of them. Whether this is down to a sense of attachment to celebrities, or just appealing

to general senses of injustice is unclear. In any case, in a world of social media and 24/7 coverage, it shows that all celebrities require extra vigilance when it comes to maintaining their public image. There is an increased likelihood of exposure and an increased chance of fans becoming extremely attached to the famous.

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On the game page you can fill out a word search consisting of words related to Korea and K-Pop, as well as finding out what your personality is based on your personal preferences

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PERSONALITY QUIZ

Here you can find out what your The questions will be to do with end, the result will be to do with group. Would you be the dancer,

personality type is based upon what you like best. a multitude of subjects in order to find out. At the the type of idol you would be if you were in a kpop the singer, the visual, the leader? Let us find out!

Are you more introverted and prefer your own space, or extroverted and enjoy being surrounded by people?

INTROVERTED

EXTROVERTED

During your alone time, do you prefer creative hobbies or doing something active such as a sport?

In a large group of people do you tend to make the decisions or follow suit with everyone else?

CREATIVE

SPORT

Does your creativity relate to writing or artwork?

Do you prefer difficult workouts or light cardio?

FOLLOW

LEAD

Are you more talkative or quiet within a group?

DIFFICUT

INVOLVE

ARTWORK

ATTENTION

LIGHT QUIET

WRITING

TALKATIVE

Do you prefer to have someones attention or involve everyone?

YOU ARE A...?

YOU ARE A...?

YOU ARE A...?

YOU ARE A...?

When it comes to creativity, you love coming up with ideas through textual expression instead of visually. This could mean you have strong abilities in song writing.

As well as this, you love talking to others and getting to know them, you help to keep the group active and make the conversation lively.

This makes you the perfect person to be center stage as a singer.

Your dedication to rigourous exercise regimes shows that you would work well as a dancer.

This urge to push yourself is important to learn intricate dancer moves which are used in various routines. As well as this, you enjoy because the focus of attention on the stage through your breath taking abilities to please a crowd and to show how talented you are.

Although you are quiet, it does not mean you go unnoticed. You have the ability to play a major part of the group even if you do not talk all to often. Your confidence is shown through the way you present yourself instead of the words you say. Additionally to this you enjoy the creativity of testing out different styles, whether that is with the clothes you wear or the types of make up you use.

As the leader you have the personality traits of being both humble yet respectable. You want to make sure that no one feels left out and that they are doing well.

Additionally to this, you enjoy to stay active and healthy in order to stay positive towards with all of your friends.

Through your kindness you gain trust from others easily as well as being liked by everybody you meet.

SINGER DANCER VISUAL LEADER

3 Thrilling Korean Dramas to Keep You Cool All Summer In the spirit of the Korean summer tradition of watching creepy things to keep cool, here are three Korean dramas to send chills up your spine and keep you cool all summer long.

LISA ESPINOSA

Lisa Espinosa aka Raine is fascinated by all things Korean, especially K-drama, K-pop, and Korean food. She is a Hallyu writer, blogger, photographer, and multigenre professional cellist.

“As they work across time to solve deadly murders...�

SIGNAL Early in 2016 tvN aired Signal, a time-traveling thriller directed by Kim Won-suk and penned by Kim Eun-hee dropped and captivated audiences all over the world. From episode one to episode sixteen, this riveting drama keeps you on your toes as it tells the tale of three detectives, Park Hae-young (Lee Je-hoon), Cha Soo-hyun (Kim Hye-soo), and Lee Jae-han (Jo Jinwoong) as they work across time to solve deadly murders via one special walkie-talkie. What makes this drama so thrilling is the slick production, the spot-on acting, and the well-rounded cases that beg our three detectives to solve them and put the victims to rest.

It is not only the macabre cases that thrill and chill, but the personal obstacles that Hae-young, Soohyun, and Jae-han work through that keeps audiences on their toes.

Hae-young is a youthful profiler, gifted, but cocky and disillusioned.

Working with dogged Jae-han and grounded Soo-hyun teaches him about the darker side of the world and what it truly means to be a policeman, to help bring the dark to light to the best of their abilities..

MIRROR OF THE WITCH Freshly concluded Mirror of the Witch is the story of a cursed princess, Yeon Hee (Kim Sae-ron), and the man who is desperate to save her, Heo Joon (Yoon Si-yoon). Heo Joon is a real life historical figure who is known for his major contributions to medicine. Yeom Jung-ah as Shamaness Hong Joo is downright terrifying in her determination to achieve her wicked ends and end Yeon Hee’s life to complete the curse. The wrenching music and beautiful effects as Hong

Joo works her black magic tightens chests and the battles between Heo Joon and Yeon-hee, and Hong Joo and her black magic driven allies are tense, violent, and deadly. Sit down to watch Mirror of the Witch and wait with baited breath as Yeon Hee struggles against Hong Joo to break the curse with Heo Joon by her side.

“Yeom Jung-ah as Shamaness Hong Joo is downright terrifying in her determination to achieve her wicked ends...”

MONSTER Monster is a monster-sized revenge drama penned by Jang Young-chul and tells the story of an embittered Lee Gook-chul/Kang Ki-tan (Lee Ki-kwang/Kang Ji-hwan) who trusts in no one but himself. Savage family battles, underhanded dealings, and oppressive circumstances mold main character Ki-tan into the titular monster (along with the many others of his twisted family and power-hungry family circle) and then back into a human being. Park Ki-woong as Do Geon-woo is, as he always is, enthralling in his rage and all the more terrifying for it.

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W

W has just begun, but already it’s fast-plot and creative twists have made many-a-viewer glue their eyes to their screens in anticipation.

Lee Jong-suk as the fictional character Kang Cheol whose life is in danger and Han Hyo-joo as real world doctor Oh Yeon-joo who is desperate to save him is guaranteed to keep the thrills coming.

SUMMER FILMS

SUMMER IN KOREA CONJURES UP THE FANTASIES OF RELAXING VACATIONS ON JEJU ISLAND SO WE'RE BRINGING YOU THREE OF THE BEST MOVIES FILMED ON LOCATION THERE

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JISEUL Now for something a little different, Jiseul is a war drama film directed by a Jeju Island native. The film is shot entirely in black and white and the cast is composed of local actors speaking in dialect. They are not professional actors. The film is set during the Jeju Uprising in 1948 and the idea of every considered aspect of production, set and casting being native to Jeju Island makes this film a must-watch. It is incredible.

Based on a true story, Jiseul is the story of hope. The title means ‘Potato’ in Korean and had been explained as an idea of the potato being the food of hope in dire situations. In a post WWII world, the villagers of Jeju island learn that the US Military and nationalist Korean government has declared that every person living five miles out from the mainland is a Communist and will be arrested and killed. This uprising begins here and the villagers flee. They seek refuge in the caves and hills on the island, going underground in fear of their lives.

Jiseul won’t be everyone’s favourite film. It is a sombre, cold film with carefully composed exposure and tone.

It isn’t a light-hearted film but highly educational, interesting and moving. A definite 5/5. Give it a chance even if you’re not a war film enthusiast.

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MY MOTHER, THE MERMAID

Na-Young is an office worker and lives at home with her incompetent father and her temperamental, up-tight mother. Na-Young’s parents are beginning to become a negative influence and Na-Young finds herself too becoming an angry, unpleasant person. It’s unbearable as neither Na-Young or her parents seem to have any respect for one another. Na-Young feels pity for her father and the way her mother treats him.

The story begins when Na-Young’s father reaches tipping point and leaves home. Na-Young decides to visit the home village of her mother and discovers the story of how her parents met.

The film is altogether incredibly scenic and beautiful.

The moral of the story is something very relatable and it reminds us that we cannot choose our family but to understand them and love them regardless. It is a transformative journey between time that alludes to family throughout. It’s a perfect summer flick to escape and be inspired.

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A WEREWOLF BOY

Park Bo-Young and Song Joong-KI star in one of the most popular Korean films of the past five years.

Although it isn’t your typical summer holiday film, A Werewolf Boy is filmed on Jeju island and truthfully, if you haven’t already seen it, you should definitely give it a watch this summer.

Park Bo-Young plays a sickly girl who moves with her mother and young sister to a remote home in the country-side. Soon Yi has a lung condition and on recommendations to forced to move with her family. Initially rather unhappy and lonely, Soon Yi longs for her life back in the city. Her family discover a wild boy living in their barn. The ‘wolf boy’ is invited to the family home and practices human behaviours with the help of Soon Yi. Soon enough, a relationship begins to blossom between Soon Yi and the boy and it is a love story they will never forget.

Both main characters are portrayed perfectly by the teenage actors. They bring the characters and the story to life. The growth of the characters and their relationship is so credible and tangible. It is a wmustwatch!

SEOUL STUDIES: A PREP GUIDE TO LANGUAGE STUDY IN SEOUL

Everything is carefully constructed into a plan in your head. So far it’s probably sounding a little like this: Step one: Move to Seoul Step two: Lead a perfect life of studying and coffee breaks at cute little street cafès, walks along the Han River and of course becoming fluent in Korean in no time, so that you can enjoy all the perks that come with living in the city of your favourite idol group… like, you know, having a conversation with them.

It all sounds very nice and easy, but the process of moving to another country can actually be pretty complicated and takes time and careful planning. We’re here to help!

First things first: Research. There are a surprising amount of options of how to make everything work for you. Everyone is different. The more you know before you start actually applying to universities left and right, the better are your chances of succeeding! Plan ahead, and don’t be discouraged if everything seems big and complicated at first, or things don’t succeed right away. Start in good time, and everything will come in order.

Look into universities, write lists of pros and cons to each place. Compare and compare again, to find what best caters to your needs!

Do you plan to continue on a degree after a year of language study? Look into which universities might be eligible for support through various government schemes, or who might have scholarships you can apply to. Pursuing a degree is expensive, and any extra income is welcome. Also make sure to check out which schools offer the best degree programme for your field. Hongik University excel in arts and crafts, while Kyunghee University offer a good range of social science courses.

The korean government also sponsors a full scholarship which includes a full degree and a year of language. Check out the requirements to apply for the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) from your country, and find all the deadlines on their website.

Figure out your own economy. Set up an expected budget, and include what you can afford to pay monthly for rent. Also consider what money you will have to spend before actually going. Vaccines?

Visa? Did you know some embassies require you to have a certain amount of money in your bank account to provide you with a visa? Make sure to check with the korean embassy in your country for the specific requirements!

Housing is an important part of any abroad experience, and Korea can be difficult to figure out here. There are however loads of great online content to help you out! Figure out the concept of Key money, and whether or not it is realistic for you to be able to front a deposit of that size. If not, perhaps sharehouses are something for you.

Goshiwons are perfect if you want to live as cheap as possible, and have a room all to yourself. If you’re looking for size and comfort however, this isn’t for you. Take a look at Goshipages.com or TheComeandStay.com to find more options in the area that you’re looking at.

Finally, and most important: have fun with it! Ask questions and figure everything out as you go along. A good thing is that most universities have at least 4 starting sessions each year. That means that even if you miss one deadline, the most you will have to postpone your trip is 2-3 months!

Good luck, and safe planning.

The process of moving to another country can be pretty complicated and takes time and careful planning.

SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY Are you a language geek who want a real challenge? Check out Sungkyunkwan University, where they offer a more intense language course, with 6 levels in a year. Most other universities only offer 4 levels in one year. The campus is also very big and green, perfect for studying outside.

EWHA UNIVERSITY Do you want to try self studying before leaving? Ewha University books come highly recommended and are easy to follow. Get them on Ebay and try to reach level 2 on your own, before taking the placement test at Ewha. Ewha Womens University is also highly recommended as one of the best courses for learning Korean, as it focuses on both theory and practical use.

SOGANG UNIVERSITY Sogang University also comes highly recommended based on the language training scheme, but might be a bit more pricey. Check out your options!

LOOKING OUTSIDE SEOUL Oftentimes, universities outside of Seoul offer language courses and housing at a much cheaper price than in the capital.

They are also often more eager to cater to foreign students, as they don’t get many applicants each year. Look around, and don’t be afraid to send emails to universities, as they are happy to help with any enquiries. How about spending a few months on Jeju Island?

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RELIVING 1000 YEARS OF HISTORY: FOLK VILLAGES Korea is a very patriotic country, it may not scream about eagles as America does, but Koreans still have an immense pride in their country and what it has achieved.

As an example, Samsung completely dominates the mobile phone market in South Korea. If visiting as an iPhone user, you will very much be in the minority.

But current technology isn’t Korea’s only pride. Around the country there are a number of historical folk villages, preserving times and traditions gone by.

Live actors roam the village in period clothing, adding that time travel feel.

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ocusing on the Joseon Era (1392-1897), the Korean Folk Village in Yongin provides visitors with a peek into Korea’s history.

The Korean Folk village was founded back in the 1970s, and has since gone from strength to strength; hosting a number of historical buildings along with reenactments by actors in full Joseon garb.

What was most striking about the village, was the similarities to some of the architecture in Britain of the same era. A number of Tudor-style thatched cottages were littered around the village. Even the clothing had a hint of similarity.

It was interesting to see that despite existing independently over 5,000 miles away, both countries developed in a similar way.

The reenactments in the village are what really makes it a great experience. From the beggar asking for money - real money! to the traditional Korean tight rope walkers, everything entertained.

Outside of the tourist side of things, the Korean Folk Village is also famous for being a Korean drama filming location, with a number of traditional dramas taking place on its grounds.

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The Korean Folk Village is also a popular spot for school trips amongst Korean elementary schools

HISTORY

SEVENTIES SEOUL

THE COLOURS OF LIFE

The importance of colour in Korean life, from ancient times to today.

In Korean culture, colour plays a big role. Sit down at a Korean dining table and you’ll be presented with a feast of colourful vegetable and meat dishes.

Try on a hanbok, and again, you’ll see a rich blend of several colours or more.

These are just two examples of how an ancient colour principle, obangsaek, still exists in modernday Korea. A direct translation of obangesaek into English would be ‘five direction colour’. O is Korean for five, bang is direction or number, saek is colour.

The five colours are black, blue, red, white, and yellow. Ancient Koreans identified these colours in a way of trying to understand the world. Therefore, in obangsaek, the colours relate to the compass, but also to seasons, body parts, tastes and emotions.

Traditional clothing is one of the easiest ways to see obangsaek in action today. On their first birthday, Korean babies are usually dressed in clothing with saekdong-jeogori, hanbok-style sleeves made

with multiple stripes of colour. Traditional bridal hanboks feature the five colours heavily too. While many Koreans now opt for a western-style wedding dress in white, if they choose the traditional route, they will wear a lot of red, and grooms often dress in blue or brown. Tables used in the traditional ceremony are also covered with red and blue cloths.

Offering some variety, a secondary set of colours has also been developed from the original five, which is why you’ll notice when Korean hanboks have green or pink, it’s usually a specific shade of green or pink you’ll see.

When it comes to food, blue isn’t the easiest to swallow (unless it’s blue cheese or blueberries!) so green is often used to represent blue. Look at the colourful mix of vegetables on top of bibinbap or wrapped up in kimbap and you should be able to count the five. Understanding the idea of obangsaek can help you appreciate even the simplest Korean dish a little bit more.

Black

Represents: North, winter, water, kidneys, salty tastes, sorrow and knowledge.

Ancient Koreans equated the Northern direction with deep valleys and water.

Although we often associate water with the colour blue, deep water can look black. It also represents yin on the yin-yang symbol.

People living in the Chosun dynasty generally avoided using black objects and clothing in their daily lives.

Blue

Represents: East, spring, trees, the liver, sour tastes, delight and benevolence.

The sun rises in the east, so ancient Koreans see this compass direction as having strong yang energy. Blue is often used in clothing and buildings, and plays a part in the traditional wedding ceremony, where red and blue cloths on the wedding table represent the harmony of the couple.

Yellow

Represents: the centre, earth, the spleen, sweet tastes, greed and wisdom.

As the centre of the colours and the compass, yellow was an honorable colour for the ancient Koreans. Only the emperor wore yellow at that time. Everyday citizens used yellow in their homes, in straw decorations, to ward off illnesses and evil spirits.

Red

Represents: South, summer, fire, the heart, bitter tastes, pleasure and propriety.

The colour red is often equated with fire or heat in other cultures too. Ancient Koreans saw the south gets the most sun during the day. It’s filled with yang energy, which can give vitality and push away evil. Red foods feature in two old rituals still seen today: when a son is born, red peppers are hung on the family gate with a rope; and in winter, a rice porridge with red beans, patjuk, is eaten.

White

Represents: West, autumn, gold, the lungs, pungent tastes, anger and righteousness.

Ancient Koreans wore mainly white clothes, as they saw the colour as having purity, and innocence. As farmers, they saw the sun as their divine being, and white reflected the sun’s rays (while keeping them cool). They were known as ‘the white-clad people’ at that time.

Seoul Food for Summer Time

Even if the UK summer isn’t exactly sweltering, these three Korean summer food favourites will at least make your dinner table look cool, and make your tastebuds rejoice...

SAMGYETANG - Perfect for: Meat-eaters and spice fiends!

Samgyetang, or chicken ginseng soup, is the big daddy of Korean summer foods.

But don’t be fooled - it’s hot!

Koreans believe eating spicy stuff in summer is thought to help you beat the heat fatigue by increasing your own personal body heat, and boosting your energy levels. This idea, with its roots in ancient Korean medicine, is called Yi Yeol Chi Yeol, or fighting heat with heat.

It’s a particular favourite on three days of summer, the hottest according to the lunar calendar, known as Chobok (the beginning), Jungbok (the middle) around ten days later,

and Malbok (the end) around 20 days after that. These dates vary every year, but tend to fall around July and August.

You’ll know if someone’s eating samgyetang in Seoul, as they’ll likely be sweating as they down each mouthful. It’s not too difficult to make it at home.

A good dessert to follow it up with is watermelon - the zingy coldness makes a great contrast to the spice.

Ingredients (Serves 2) 2 whole chickens ½ cup short grain rice/glutinous rice, rinsed and soaked in cold water for 2 hours 2 fresh ginseng roots, washed 2 large dried jujubes (Korean dates) washed 16 garlic cloves, washed and the tips are removed 2 to 3 green onions, chopped Salt l ground black pepper

Method → 1. Strain the rice.

2. Remove the chicken giblets and rub the outsides with salt all over. Rinse under cold water.

3. Pat dry, and remove any extra fat around the body cavities with kitchen scissors.

4. Stuff each chicken with rice, 1 ginseng, 1 jujube, and 8 garlic cloves.

5. Place the chickens into a heavy pot. Add 8 cups of cold water, cover, and cook over medium high heat for 30 minutes.

6. Turn down the heat to medium and cook another 40 minutes until the chicken, ginseng, and rice turn soft. Open up the pot from time to time and ladle some broth from the bottom over top of the chickens. If the broth evaporates too much, add more water.

7. Remove from the heat.

8. Place the two chickens into individual bowls and add the broth. Sprinkle with chopped green onion and ground black pepper. Serve with kimchi.

PATBINGSOO - Perfect for: Anyone with a sweet tooth!

Ingredients (Serves 1) 1 tray of ice cubes 2 heaped spoonfuls of cooked sweet red beans (pat) 1/2 cup non-dairy milk (soy is ok!) toppings of your choosing Method: 1. Put ice cubes into a food processor and pulse until the large chunks are gone.

2. Scrape out the processed ice into a bowl. Spoon some ‘pat’ onto the ice and add all your favorite toppings.

3. Pour in some soy milk (or any non-dairy milk) to slushify everything a little and make it easier to mix.

A 99 Flake may seem like the perfect summer icy treat, but that’s because you’ve never tried patbingsoo. It traditionally consists of shaved ice and sweet red beans, but the dessert has been taken to a whole new level in recent years, with fruit, milk, cereal, ice cream, jelly, rice cake and a whole heap of other sweet yummies hopping into the bowl. It’s eaten at all times of year in Korea, but in warmer weather its frosty layers look especially appealing.

A popular chain in Seoul is called Sulbing, and they offer ‘snow ice,’ a whipped frozen milk version, and the toppings vary seasonally - right now it’s all melon-flavoured treats. Making your own patbingsoo isn’t as daunting as it might sound. If you’ve got a food processor you can make a simple one no problems. Pre-freeze condensed, soy or almond milk to make it ‘snow ice’ like. Add fruit, chocolate or nuts to your own desires. Or if you want to go down the traditional route, stock up on sweet red beans, also known as adzuki beans.

KONGGUKSU - Perfect for: Vegetarians!

Cold noodles might sound a little unappetizing to typical British tastes, but seriously, give kongguksu, soy milk noodle soup, a try and you’ll be converted. It’s very gentle and filling on the stomach, and beyond pre-soaking the soybeans, ideally overnight, it requires very little kitchen faffing. Soybeans, noodles, a blender and some cucumber are all you really need, so it’s perfect for a nostress summer lunch.

If you’re in Seoul it’s easy to find it on menus in summer, but a noodle place called Jinju Hwegwan has been serving up this dish for 60 years, so it’s well worth checking out. Expect to pay around 9,500 KRW for a bowl. Find the restaurant by City Hall Station, exit 9. It’s around 50 metres from the station, close to the Samsung Building.

Method → 1. Drain the soybeans and put them in a pot with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat for 15 minutes. If it boils over, keep the lid off.

2. Rinse the cooked soybeans in cold water. Drain and put into a bowl. Scrub them with your hands to remove the skins. Fill the bowl with cold water and the skins will float to the top. Tilt the bowl and pour out the skins and water, leaving just the beans behind.

3. Scrub the soybeans some more.

Add more water, drain, and remove the skins several times until all the skins are removed.

4. Put 1 cup of the cleaned soy-

beans into a blender. Add mixed nuts, roasted sesame seeds, salt, and 2½ cups of cold purified water to the blender and blend for two minutes until everything is creamy.

Put it into the fridge.

5. Boil water in a large pot and add the noodles. Stir with a wooden spoon. Close the lid and cook for a few minutes. The noodles will float when they’re done.

6. Rinse and drain the noodles in cold water a couple of times. They should feel cold to the touch.

7. Put noodles into a bowl and pour the soybean broth over them.

Garnish with tomato and cucumber strips, and add some ice cubes to keep it chilled while eating.

Ingredients (Serves 2) 1 cup of dried soybeans, soaked in cold water overnight 2 tbs mixed nuts 1 teaspoons of toasted sesame seeds ½ pound (8 ounces: 226 grams) of somyeon (thin noodles) 2 teaspoons of salt water and ice cubes ½ cup cucumber strips and tomato for garnish

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