Anxiety sometimes drives us to raise our standards and meet them, but when anxiety arises from complex societal problems, it tends to be more of a burden.Artist Yoon Dong-chun conducted a simple experiment to figure out what troubled young people of today the most. He displayed dozens of bottles of “Hope Pills” in his solo exhibition and let young viewers buy them for 3,000 won ($3) each. Pills that the artist said would help realize the dream of getting a job were the first to sell out. Other k

PerformanceJuly 1, 2014

Madonna performs at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Nov. 8, 2012. (AP)DETROIT (AP) ― Madonna, who was “inspired” during a recent visit to Detroit, is donating money toward the construction of a new youth boxing gym and buying iPods, iPads and other supplies for students at a charter school in her hometown, according to a news release issued by the music icon’s publicist Monday. The statement said Madonna’s donations to three Detroit organizations represent “the first phase of a long-term commi

PerformanceJuly 1, 2014

Local newspaper Segye Ilbo on Monday night belatedly revealed that popular K-pop star and 2NE1 member Park Bom was caught trying to receive illegal amphetamines via international mail nearly four years ago in an incident that went unpunished and unreported. On Oct. 12, 2010, customs agents at Incheon International Airport reportedly seized a package, which was sent by Park’s relatives living in the U.S., filled with 82 amphetamine pills that are banned in Korea. Although it has not been specifie

July 1, 2014

Reunited K-pop group g.o.d. released “Sky Blue Promise” off their eighth album online, Tuesday.The song topped nine local online music charts after its release at noon.The track is written by renowned Korean producer duo Double Kick, who also wrote g.o.d’s last single, “The Lone Duckling,” released earlier in May to much acclaim. “Sky Blue Promise” talks about both the present and the past of the group and its promise to fans. The song includes lyrics from g.o.d’s past hit songs.g.o.d. (Olive TV

July 1, 2014

K-pop boy band B2ST’s vocalist Son Dong-woon said that Korean singers should step up efforts to localize their music and style to make the K-pop boom long-lasting at the Hallyu Conference, held Tuesday in Seoul.  (OSEN)“Singers should understand foreign cultures before they perform abroad. There are, of course, cultural differences among fans from different parts of the world,” the youngest member of the group told the audience. The Hallyu Conference, jointly organized by Korea’s national broadc

July 1, 2014

Five-man K-pop band B1A4 announced Monday that its upcoming EP will include six songs all composed by the members.The group said its fifth mini album “Solo Day” will be released on July 14, and it is gearing up for a comeback in the local entertainment industry.B1A4 unveiled its list of tracks including the lead track, “Solo Day” at midnight on Tuesday, raising anticipation in long-awaited fans.Leader Jinyoung’s participation in making the album is something to highlight as he had a part in the

July 1, 2014

Fei, a member of K-pop girl group Miss A, expressed her fondness towards the three other members of the group -- Suzy, Min and Jia.“It’s been seven years since I came to Korea. I spent more than half of this period with them (members of Miss A). These photos of Miss A are my favorites. Five years or 10 years or more, I hope to walk together smiling and laughing like in the photos. And our ‘sayA’ (name of Miss A’s fandom) too. I love you,” Fei wrote on her Twitter alongside the photos of Miss A.

July 1, 2014

Idol group B2ST talked about their team name during an appearance on an SBS radio program Saturday. While introducing B2ST’s profile at the start of the program, the show host said, “The group name not only means ‘animal’ but also ‘Boys of EAst Standing Tall.” The members of B2ST revealed that there were other candidates for their team name before their debut.According to the group, other possible names were “Gold, Silver, Bronze Eagle,” “300” after the popular 2007 warrior flick, “Sixcon,” shor

July 1, 2014

Hot hallyu stars were not originally celebrities from their birth. Their passion and efforts have let them to reach their dreams and finally become attractive celebrities. The Korea Herald listed innocent and cute look of Korean female idol group members. Girls Generation Yuri   (COSMOPOLITAN)T-Ara Hyomin  Hyomin (center)T-Ara Jiyeon (OSEN)T-Ara Boram  (OSEN)T-Ara Eunjung  Eun-jung (left) in drama (OSEN)Secret Sunhwa   (OSEN)Secret Hyosung  (OSEN)(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

July 1, 2014

Actor-rapper So Ji-sub successfully completed his first fan meeting event in Taiwan with some 6,000 local fans gathered in the country’s capital to see the Korean heartthrob, the star agency 51K said on Tuesday.  Actor-rapper So Ji-sub attends the two-day fan meeting event in Taipei, Taiwan, from June 28 to 29. (51K)Dubbed “SOJISUB 1st Asia Tour: Let’s Have Fun in Taiwan,” the promotional event was held in the Taipei International Convention Center in Taipei, Taiwan, from June 28 to 29. The even

July 1, 2014

K-pop girl group 2NE1’s Park Bom shed tears after hearing the news Monday that she was allegedly caught smuggling illegal drugs into Korea but set free four years ago.Yang Hyun-suk, CEO of Korea’s top K-pop agency YG Entertainment, made a statement Tuesday to explain Park’s alleged drug smuggling. Park Bom crying on TV show "Roomate" (SBS)“I haven’t seen Park Bom much lately due to her hectic schedule. I am afraid that I just bumped into her as the news went viral. I had to watch her crying all

July 1, 2014

It was belatedly revealed that Park Bom, a member of the K-pop idol group 2NE1, was caught smuggling illegal drugs into Korea but released without punishment about four years ago.The local daily Segye Ilbo reported Monday that Park had attempted to smuggle 82 amphetamine pills from the U.S. into Korea back in October 2010 via international mail. She was caught by customs officials at Incheon International Airport and the case was referred to the prosecution. But prosecutors suspended the drug-re

July 1, 2014

The Korean idol groups JYJ and EXO will perform in the opening ceremony of the Incheon Asian Games on Sept. 19, their agencies said. It is the first time that the two groups will share the same stage.(SM Ent./C-jes Ent.)JYJ, which has served as the promotional ambassador for the event since February last year, is to sing “Only One,” the theme song for the Incheon Asian Games, at a pre-opening ceremony.EXO is scheduled to sing its hit song during the opening ceremony along with other popular Kore

July 1, 2014