Actress Yoo Ju Eun Passes Away

Trigger warning: Article discusses suicide

South Korean actress, Yoo Ju Eun, passed away August 29, 2022. The 27-year-old actress who appeared on Big Forest (2018) and Joseon Survival (2019) died via suicide according to Yoo’s brother.

Yoo’s brother shared his sister’s final message on social media to grant the actress’ last wish.

I am sorry for leaving first. I am especially sorry to Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Oppa [brother]. My heart screams that I don’t want to live. Life without me may be empty, but please live on bravely. I will keep watch of everything. Don’t cry. You’ll be hurt.

I’m not sad at all in the slightest right now. I feel resolute and calm. I think it’s because I have thought of this for a long time.

I’ve lived such a happy life that was more than I deserved. That’s why, it is enough for me. This is enough. So please live without placing blame on anymore.

I’m not dead, so everyone, please live well. I hope many people are called to my funeral, and I want to see everyone for the first time in a while and check in on anyone who is having a hard time.

I wanted to act so badly. Perhaps it was my all, and it was a part of me. However, living that life wasn’t easy. I don’t want to do anything else. That was so hopeless. Having something you want to do is a blessing, but I realized that only wanting to do that thing is a curse.

God loves me, so he won’t send me to hell. He will understand my feelings and care for me going forward. That’s why, everyone, don’t worry.

And to all my loving family and friends and my loves. Thank you so much for treasuring me and loving me. That was my strength and my smile. I lived with unforgettable memories until the end, so I think I’ve lived a successful life. Thank you for understanding and embracing me who was lacking and impatient. I’m sorry I can’t express it well. But you’ll still understand how I feel, right?

And to all those precious relationships I’ve made, especially the teachers, I was so grateful, and I respected you all. Thank you so much for teaching me the many things in life.

Mom, Dad, I love you. Don’t cry. Please.

Yoo’s service will be held August 31, 2022 at Ajou University Hospital. We send our condolences to Yoo’s family, friends, and loved ones.

If you or someone you love needs help, please contact the suicide and mental health hotlines available in your country. In the United States, dial 988. There is hope.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#YooJuEun #BigForrest #JoseonSurvival #Asianactresspassesaway #YooJuEunpassesaway #Koreanactress #suicide #suicideprevention #crisishotline #kcrushnews #officialkcrush #needhelp

 

Fresh off her recent chart-topping hit “Pity Party”, the K-Pop star will be visiting seven cities with a new EP on the way

South Korean singer and songwriter JAMIE has announced today her first-ever headlining tour in North America visiting seven cities in October just days after unveiling that her new EP is set to release in October, her first EP in four years since jiminxjamie. The globally recognized artist has been releasing a handful of hit songs over the last few years, and she’s grown into one of the most featured artists hailing from Korea.

The pre-sale tickets will start on Wednesday, August 24 at 5pm (PT) / 6pm MT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET / Thursday, August 25 at 9am (KST) while the general on-sale tickets start on Monday, August 29, 5pm (PT) / 6pm MT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET / Tuesday, August 30 at 9am (KST). For complete pre-sale and ticket details, please visit https://www.unboundentertainmentgroup.com/jamie or https://www.modo-live.com

 

“I’m so excited to see my North American fans face to face for the first time! I hope that Baby J’s are ready!” – JAMIE

 

JAMIE North American Tour 2022:

All dates, cities and venues below are subject to change.

Oct 10 – Los Angeles – 1720

Oct 11 – Vancouver – Harbour Event Centre

Oct 15 – Toronto – The OperaHouse

Oct 17 – Brooklyn – The Brooklyn Monarch

Oct 19 – Dallas – DEAC

Oct 21 – Seattle – The Crocodile

Oct 23 – San Francisco – The Midway

 

In early 2021, JAMIE was included in the remix of American hip-hop artists Saweetie and Doja Cat’s Best Friend alongside South Korean-Japanese rapper CHANMINA, garnering over 13 million plays on Spotify. Other notable global collaborations such as Family by David Guetta, Ty Dolla $ign and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, and Numbers with CHANGMO have all dominated the charts on its release. JAMIE has built an unparalleled repertoire, showcasing her chameleonic musical abilities and maturity in EPs like the coming-of-age 19 to 20, the genre-hopping jiminxjamie and the soon-to-be-released new body of work is destined to be a stand out once again. With buoyant, charismatic, mischievous charms, and inimitable vocal talent. The critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter continues to enchant her growing international fanbase (under Warner Music Korea), as she currently boasts 1.6 million followers on Instagram and millions of streams on multiple platforms.

 

For more information about the tour and EP, please visit JAMIE’s social media and https://www.unboundentertainmentgroup.com/jamie for tickets.

 

ABOUT JAMIE

JAMIE, also known as Park Jimin, is a multi-faceted South Korean singer and songwriter. She rose to fame at a young age of 14 through winning the first season of the South Korean talent survival show “K-Pop Star” in 2011, and became a member of the K-Pop duo 15&. In addition to her activities in the vocal duo, JAMIE also released two well-received solo extended plays, 19 to 20 and jiminxjamie in 2016 and 2018, respectively. With her vibrant and playful personalities, JAMIE has further found success in the hosting world as she has won a place in the heart of K-Pop fans all around the world through her role as the MC on the long-running idol variety show, After School Club. In August 2019, JAMIE signed to Warner Music Korea as the first Korean artist to join the roster, where she continues to share more of her music and stories through her stunningly powerful vocal performances. She’s since then released a plethora of global music hit collaborations which only cements her reign in the K-Pop genre.

 

Connect with JAMIE:

Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok | Spotify

 

 

SUPER JUNIOR, the legendary K-Pop idol group are returning to Singapore Indoor Stadium September 3, 2022, with their 9th concert tour, SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR – SUPER SHOW 9 : ROAD.

SUPER JUNIOR, because of their international recognition and prominent contributions in the Korean wave are known as the “King of Hallyu Wave.”.  One of the longest running groups in K-Pop, SUPER JUNIOR has shown different facets in their career to stay active in the industry, and their musical style has varied from album to album. SUPER JUNIOR is well known for their successes and popularity as all-rounded entertainers, with their members branching out into hosting, presenting, and acting over the years.

Tickets for SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR – SUPER SHOW 9 : ROAD IN SINGAPORE start from $198 went on sale, August 13, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. onwards via Ticketmaster’s ticketing channels. Visit ONE Production Facebook page for more information about the concert.

 

Concert Details

• SUPER JUNIOR WORLD TOUR – SUPER SHOW 9 : ROAD IN SINGAPORE
• Date: 3 September 2022
• Time: 15:00
• Venue: Singapore Indoor Stadium
• Address: 2 Stadium Walk, Singapore 397691

Ticketing Information

• Price: CAT 1 SEATED: $328 | CAT 2 STANDING: $308 | CAT 3: $308 | CAT 4: $278 | CAT 5: $248 | CAT 6: $198 | CAT 7: $308 (Restricted View) | CAT 8: $198 (Restricted View)
• Ticketing Channels:
• Online: www.ticketmaster.sg
• Hotline: +65 3158 8588
• Available at all SingPost outlets

 

A night of fun and music at Hong Kong Coliseum ended tragically as a giant video screen fell and struck performers performing alongside Cantopop male idol group MIRROR’s concert Thursday. The incident was captured on video.*

While MIRROR and their backup dancers performed, the massive moving screen broke free from the ceiling and plunged onto the stage as frightened onlookers watched. While the screen didn’t hit any MIRROR members, it did fall on a dancer and another performer. Others rushed to their aid following the screen collapse.

Patrons described the venue as chaotic with fans fainting, crying, and screaming. Some concertgoers were treated for shock at the venue.

“[Concertgoers] were happy to watch the performance, but everyone left with an angry, heavy, sad and worried mood. Now we just hope the victims are safe,” said customer service representative Kevin Tang.

Concert organizers stopped the show and asked fans to leave the venue.

John Lee, Hong Kong’s chief executive, said, “I am shocked. I express sympathy to those who were injured and hope that they would recover soon.”

Reports indicate that only two performers were injured, while others initially stated five performers were injured. It is confirmed two performers, Chang Tsz-fung and Mo Lee Kai-yin, were hospitalized, with Lee having severe injuries since the screen crashed into his neck. While he is speaking to authorities, Lee may be paralyzed from the neck down depending on his recovery. Lee remains hospitalized while Chang was discharged Friday afternoon.

Future events have been canceled at the venue while a comprehensive investigation into why the screen cables failed. Human error is one of the causes being investigated. The remaining screens are also expected to be removed once it’s determined how they could be removed “safely.”

“The involvement of high-level [officials], to ensure matters will be given attention and dealt with appropriately, is also important,” John Lee said.

“We will embark on a very detailed investigation with support of relevant departments and some professionals to make sure we delve deep into the cause of the incident,” Culture Secretary Kevin Yeung Yun-Hung said. “It is our responsibility and determination to ensure a similar incident will not happen again.”

“I have contacted the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, and instructed the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, together with relevant departments, to comprehensively investigate the incident and review the safety requirements of similar performance activities in order to protect the safety of performers, working staff and members of the public,” John Lee said.
Makerville, the concert organizer, apologized to fans and canceled the rest of the eight shows MIRROR was set to perform at Hong Kong Coliseum.

This isn’t the first accident to occur during MIRROR’s run at the Hong Kong Coliseum. On Monday July 25, 2022, member Frankie Chan stepped off the stage and fell three feet. He was not severely injured.

Following Thursday’s incident, the Hong Kong Red Cross set up a counseling hotline to help those who witnessed the accident. Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority also urged the public to also reach out to its mental health hotline if needed.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid watching relevant video clips and should also be cautious about their exposure to the information related to the incident,” Karen Tam, the Hospital Authority’s senior clinical psychologist, said in a statement. “They should always be aware of their emotions and maintain regular life. When necessary, they should talk to people they trust.”

MIRROR rose to prominence in Hong Kong during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Group members were selected via ViuTV’s talent show King Maker in 2018. MIRROR is one of the biggest groups and most recognizable groups in Hong Kong and in the Cantopop sphere, often appearing in different advertisements and as ambassadors for different brands. MIRROR is often credited with revitalizing Cantopop in Hong Kong. The released their new song, “We Are,” on July 22, 2022.

*Given the sensitive nature of the accident, Kcrush has selected to not share the video directly. However, it can be viewed by clicking on the highlighted text. Viewer discretion’s advised.

 

—-Olivia Murray

Visiting theme parks is a fun hobby for many thrill seekers. Asia has plenty of theme parks beyond Disney parks to offer globetrotters. If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, take the time to check out these parks on your adventures!

LEGOLAND Malaysia

Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia | 7, Persiaran Medini Utara 3, 79100 Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia 

 

 

Opened on September 12, 2012, LEGOLAND Malaysia is Malaysia’s first international theme park. It’s Asia’s first LEGOLAND park (sixth globally), and it features over 40 attractions.

LEGOLAND Malaysia has eight themed areas.

Technic

Technic features LEGOLAND Malaysia’s fastest attractions. Here, you will find:

• Aquazone Wave Racers: A twin-circle track ride that has four water cannons that splash water on riders.
• The Great LEGO Race: A rollercoaster that uses virtual reality (VR) to enhance the thrills of the ride. As you ride the coaster, you wear a VR headset that will show you images of a LEGO environment to ride through.
• LEGO Academy: Home to educational workshops and building zones where you can let your imagination run wild.
• LEGO Mindstorms: Learn about LEGO robotics through the available workshops.
• Planet LEGO: Via 30-minute sessions, families can “build, unbuild, and rebuild” whatever they imagine to share with the world.
• Technic Twister: Guests sit in a spinning pod and turn a wheel to control spin speeds.

LEGO City

At LEGO City, guests can wander around a city made from LEGOs. Kids can take part in driving, boating, and airplane “schools,” ride the DUPLO Express, and check out the Frontliners Mural, which is a tribute to the frontline workers that helped during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

LEGO Kingdoms

Travel to a land of dragons and Medieval-themed fun! At LEGO Kingdoms, young guests can “joust” and ride dragons. Here, you will find:

• Royal Joust: Young guests ride a jousting horse around a track through a Medieval forest.
• Dragon’s Apprentice: A mini-coaster for young ones and their parents, Dragon’s Apprentice has twists, spirals, and turns that provide views of the king’s castle.
• Merlin’s Challenge: Merlin controls a carousal that goes up and down.
• The Dragon: Built more for older kids, this coaster travels about the king’s castle and through the treetops. This is a faster coaster than the Dragon’s Apprentice.
• The Forestmen’s Hideout: Visit this playground to climb, slide, and play with other guests!

Miniland

Miniland features miniature models of different landmarks showcasing different Asian countries. Check out miniature LEGO sculptures featuring the Taj Mahal, Myanmar’s Karaweik Palace, Beijing’s Forbidden City, and Kuala Lumpur among other notable sculptures.

Imagination

A great place for young guests, Imagination features DUPLO play zones while also experiencing some 4D movies at LEGO Studios.  If you scale the Observation Tower, you and your family can enjoy views of the park. Finally, at the Kids Power Tower, lift yourself up to new heights using pulleys to view the park before falling down to the ground.

Land of Adventure

The Land of Adventure features dinosaurs, pharaohs, and beetles wrapped up in an exciting time for young children! Land of Adventure’s attractions include:

• Dino Island: Glide along a river and through a volcano and temple before splashing into the waters below.
• Lost Kingdom Adventure: This dark ride has guests riding in a car searching for lost treasure. Use a laser gun to collect coins along the way.
• Beetle Bounce: Ride on a scarab mobile 15 feet into the air before coming back down.
• Pharaoh’s Revenge: Enjoy shooting foam balls at targets and experience challenges in this indoor playground.

LEGO NINJAGO World

NINJAGO is an indoor theme park that invites kids to put their skills to the test to become the Master of Spinjitzu. Kids can practice their climbing skills on Cole’s Rock Climb, or they can practice their ninja moves at Nya’s Practice, a digital green screen. At Kai’s Spinner, young ones can practice spinning and balance. Wrap up the day by visiting Zane’s Temple Build where you can help build the NINJAGO monastery.

 

 

If you’re hot from visiting the main theme park, take a trip over to the LEGOLAND water park. Here, build boats and rafts or ride the Brick Blaster, Splash and Swirl, Tidal Tube, or Red Rush innertube slides. You can also get soaked by sliding down the Wave Rider, Twin Chasers, and LEGO Slide Racers.

If indoor fun is more your style, check out SEA LIFE Malaysia, which is also part of the LEGOLAND Malaysia umbrella. Visit the underwater world where you have access to 13,000 sea friends of 120 different species. Watch jellyfish, seahorses, reef sharks, stingrays, and zebra sharks swim around, or interact with starfish and other rockpool creatures.

After 6pm, experience Malaysia’s first underwater dining experience at SEA LIFE Malaysia. Diners get to sit surrounded by the aquarium fish as they dine on a four-course meal. Experiencing dinner at the aquarium is by reservation only.

While visiting LEGOLAND Malaysia, you can stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel, which features rooms that are pirate, ninja, adventure, or kingdom themed. Dining and shopping can be found at the resort and throughout LEGOLAND, so there are plenty of things to do!

 

 

As of July 22, 2022, LEGOLAND Malaysia requires all adults 18 or older to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

 

Snow Kingdom

Mumbai, India| R City Mall, Lal Bahadur Shastri Rd, Amrut Nagar, Ghatkopar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400086, India

 

 

Located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Mumbai, Maharashtra, Snow Kingdom is India’s largest snow theme park. While it’s small by United States’ standards (14,000 sq ft), it’s the perfect theme park for anyone who wants to experience snow when they normally wouldn’t get to do so.

The theme park is located inside R City Mall and boasts that it is “the perfect respite from the city’s humidity, high temperatures, and pollution.” Through reverse-osmosis, water’s made into snow to create a perfect winter wonderland that features seals, penguins, and snow deer, a discotheque, and rides. The park provides sterilized winter clothing so guests can have fun in the 18-degree Fahrenheit (-8 degrees Celsius) temperatures.

At the discotheque, have a ball and dance away on the snow-themed stage area. If dancing isn’t your thing, throw snowballs, ride on toboggans, or climb a 23-foot-tall cliff. You can also slide down hills using inner tubes or check out the inside of igloos. Snow Kingdom is also the perfect place to host unique birthdays and anniversaries.

Snow Kingdom’s open from 11am-9pm daily, with the last entry allowed at 8pm. Play sessions at the park are an hour long. The busiest times are between 6pm-9pm.

 

Phuket Fantasea

Phuket, Thailand | 99, Kamala, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand

 

 

Phuket Fantasea is a fun, lively place to experience some of Thailand’s nightlife*. The theme park features Thailand’s incredible architecture and provides a fun experience to anyone wishing to experience Thailand’s hospitality and vibrancy.

Venturing the park brings you up close and personal with Thailand’s famed architecture, especially the statuary and ornate decorations that make Thailand a beautiful and opulent place to visit. Even the restrooms are rich in Thai art and structure!

Shopping is one of the highlights at Phuket Fantasea. At Iyara Grande, shop for fine jewelry or pick up some traditional handicrafts at Tribal Craft Bazaar. Young visitors will enjoy the colors and theming of the Festival Village shops as they look for plushies featuring Thailand’s famed tigers and elephants. At Legende de Bangkok, visitors can dress up as Thai princes and princesses for photo souvenirs.

At the Similan Entertainment Center, guests get to experience an “undersea” arcade and shopping. Arcade and carnival games provide entertainment for guests of all ages as the center celebrates Thailand’s Similan Islands.

The most exciting elements of Phuket Fantasea are the shows that occur nightly at the Viva Bangkok Stage Theater. Here, you can see traditional dances, hear lively music, and enjoy some of the best entertainment Thailand has to offer.

Wrap up your visit at one of the two restaurants located on property: Golden Kinnaree Buffet Restaurant or Suriyamas Seafood Buffet Restaurant. Both will provide dining experiences that cannot be missed!

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom

Hengqin, Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China| 3GWP+VHX, Xiangzhou, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China

 

 

Opened in 2014, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is part of the Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort, a tourist attraction that wants to be known as “the Orlando of China.” Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is the winner of the 2015 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement, the 2018 Thea Award winner for Outstanding Achievement for the Journey of Lights parade,  and holds the Guinness world record for being the world’s largest aquarium.

The theme park has eight themed areas: Ocean Avenue, Dolphin Cove, Amazing Amazon, Ocean Beauty, Polar Horizon, Hero Island, Mount Walrus, and Hengqin Ocean.

Ocean Avenue

At Ocean Avenue, the park’s entrance, guests get to experience an LED digital canopy that shows off ocean life.

Dolphin Cove

From Ocean Avenue, enter Dolphin Cove where guests can experience several attractions with a dolphin theme.

• Battle of the Pirates: A spinning teacup ride that has water jets for added excitement.
• Dolphin Round Ride: This ride is similar to the Dumbo ride at the Disney parks. Kids will enjoy riding in a circle as the dolphins go up and down during the ride.
• 5D Castle Theatre: The castle theatre is home to the world’s largest curved screen at 1,500m². The theatre shows a 13-minute video called Kaka’s Great Adventure.
• Dolphin Island, Dolphin Theatre, and Dolphin Conservation Center: Dolphin Island is home of the spotted white dolphin habitat. The Conservation Center houses the Chinese spotted dolphin habitat with viewing areas available for guests.

 

 

Ocean Beauty

The Ocean Beauty hub has a giant whale shark statue that serves as the hub’s centerpiece. The Amazing Amazon section of the park houses several aquariums including the Whale Shark Exhibit that is the largest aquarium in the world. Here, guests can view whale sharks and manta rays. After visiting the Whale Shark Exhibit, check out Deep Sea Odyssey, a submarine ride that goes inside the whale shark aquarium.

Amazing Amazon

The Amazing Amazon section is home to the Parrot Coaster, which is Asia’s first wing coaster and the first to feature a splashdown. It’s the third largest wing coaster in the world while being the world’s longest wing coaster. The Parrot Coaster features several turns and a diving loop, and it has a zero-gravity loop for added thrills.

Journey to the Amazon has a freshwater aquarium that is sure to thrill guests with its colorful array of fish.

Polar Horizon

Polar Horizon features cold-weather animal and sea friends. Here, guests can view the belugas, polar bears, and penguins in their designated habitats. The Polar Explorer is the hub’s rollercoaster that’s the park’s answer to Disney’s Splash Mountain. Sadly, this attraction features live bears as part of the coaster’s visuals.

Hero Island

Hero Island has three animal exhibits: The Otter’s Den (an Asian small-clawed otter habitat), Stingray Encounter (a stingray touch pool), and Tide Pools (touch tanks for small fish and sea animals).

This hub has five attractions.

• Bumper Smash: A bumper car attraction where guests bump and ride around a track.
• Games Arcade: The games arcade feature game stalls that resemble carnival games.
• Penguin Coaster: A small, child-friendly coaster that races around a track twice.
• Jungle Coaster: This coaster is more advanced than the penguin coaster, so it is more suitable for children 8-years-old and up. It circles a track twice.
• Tower of Sea Monsters: A lift-and-rotate ride that is not meant for younger children, the ride is synchronized and provides visuals of monstrous sea creatures.

Mount Walrus

Mount Walrus features Walrus Island, Sea Lion Bay, and Sea Bird Paradise. Each are exhibits where guests can see walruses, sea lions, pelicans, capybaras, and sea turtles among other creatures. Here, guests can ride the pirate ship ride, Spirit of Adventure, or the giant flume ride, Walrus Splash. Guests will enjoy the walrus-shaped mountains built as this hub’s landmark.

Hengqin Ocean

Hengqin Ocean is the main hub for Chimelong’s shows, parades, and fireworks. Here, guests have prime viewing for the nighttime parade, Journey of Lights. Journey of Lights is similar to Disney’s Spectromagic, Electrical Light Parade, and Paint the Night parades where performers, characters, and floats decorated in lights travel down the theme park’s trail to delight guests of all ages.

Of course, this is just a small sampling of the theme parks Asia has to offer. Stay tuned for more park features in one of our upcoming Wanderlust Wednesday posts!

*Note: One of the downfalls of Phuket Fantasea is the use of live animals as entertainment. Guests can interact with elephants as they are ridden within the park. Inside, there is also a location where white tigers reside (Tiger Jungle Adventure), and you can take photos with baby tigers and elephants. Animals are used in the live shows. For anyone who objects the use of wild animals for entertainment, Phuket Fantasea should be skipped.

**Note: Chimelong Ocean Kingdom faced severe criticism over the years due to polar bears being kept in captivity and penguins developing skin disorders due to being kept in a sub-tropical climate. They’ve also been criticized for the orca (killer whale) trade between China and Russia. The park also hosts shows featuring dolphins, sea lions, and beluga whales. Live bears, seals, and sea lions are also incorporated into displays around the amusement rides. For anyone who objects the use of wild animals for entertainment, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom should be skipped.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#AsianThemeParks #ChimelongOceanKingdom #polarbears #LEGOLANDMalaysia #PhuketFantasea #HengginOcean #SnowKingdom #RCityMall #MumbaiIndia #Thailand #AsianWaterParks #Malaysia #China #WorldsLargestAquarium #LEGONinjagoWorld #indoorthemeparkfun #AsianAmusementParks #waterparks #LEGOKingdom #kcrush #kcrushamerica #officialkcrush #GoldenKinnareeBuffetRestaurant #SuriyamasSeafoodBuffetRestaurant

 

GreatGuys (멋진녀석들) is a South Korean idol group signed to DNA Entertainment. They debuted on August 25, 2017, with the single “Last Men”. Since then, they have been actively promoting new songs and touring abroad. Eventually, they became the first K-pop group to hold a concert in the Dominican Republic. The group aims at showing different sides to their fans and always innovate musically speaking; from synth-pop, to R&B or even disco-based sounds, they are comfortable with every genre.

 

 

On July 20, 2022, GreatGuys released their fourth mini-album We’re Not Alone Final: Only You, with the lead single “Blind Love”, a dance/electronic song.

 

 

In the music video, the members hide their identities as vampires and live as bodyguards to protect the girls they love. Through the song, the members want to express that it is never a waste to give up everything to support the one you love unconditionally, and it contains the message that Greatguys will be with Grace for the rest of their lives.

 

Links: Instagram | Twitter | Tik Tok

Song : Music Video

 

#GREATGUYS #Vampireconcept #DNAEntertainment #GREATGUYSBLINDLOVE #GREATGUYSNEWSINGLE #GreatGuysLastMen #WereNotAloneFinalOnlyYouAlbum #kpop #krnb #DominicanRepublicConcert #kcrushnews #newmusic #Asianmusic #Korean #newalbum #GREATGUYSFANS #Jae I #Horyeong, #Haneul #Daun #Donghwi #Dongin #Hwalchan #Uiyeon #Baekgyeol #GREATGUYSGRACE

 

Acclaimed artist and producer benny blanco has teamed up with Jin, Jimin, V and Jung Kook of BTS and Snoop Dogg for a new song, “Bad Decisions,” out August 5. “Bad Decisions” is the first single to be released from benny’s forthcoming third LP, set for release later this year.

“I’m still pinching myself,” says benny. “I can’t believe I have a song coming out with Jin, Jimin, V and Jung Kook of BTS and Snoop Dogg. It doesn’t even feel real!”

Furthermore, Xbox will present benny, BTS and Snoop fans all around the world with several unique and unprecedented ways to celebrate the release. More details are forthcoming.

benny blanco is a multi-Platinum, award-winning artist, record producer, songwriter and musician. His two albums to date—FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS and FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS 2—have been streamed more than 8 billion times to date and seen him collaborate with Justin Bieber (their Platinum hit “Lonely” reached #1 on Top 40 radio and has been streamed more than 1 billion times), Halsey and Khalid (on the five times Platinum “Eastside,” a worldwide smash hit and Top 40 #1), Juice WRLD; Selena Gomez, J Balvin, Tainy, Calvin Harris and a host of others.

As a producer and songwriter, blanco is responsible for hundreds of millions of album sales worldwide due to his work with artists including Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Halsey, Maroon 5, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Kesha, Sia, The Weeknd, Selena Gomez, Wiz Khalifa, Kanye West and many more. He is the founder of two labels in collaboration with Interscope Records: Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets.

BTS are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boyband that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, the band has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records, including six #1 Billboard Hot 100 singles in a span of a year and just over a month, and multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. BTS were nominated two years in a row for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 63rd and 64th GRAMMY Awards and have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards. Jin, Jimin, V and Jung Kook are vocalists in the group.

 

An entertainment industry mogul, Snoop Dogg has reigned for nearly three decades as an unparalleled force who has raised the bar as a globally recognized innovator.  Snoop Dogg is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, DJ, media personality, businessman and icon. In addition to his extensive work in music, Snoop Dogg is a serial entrepreneur with endeavors in Web 3.0 tech, entertainment, lifestyle, global consumer brands, food/beverage and cannabis industries.

 

 

 

#BennyBlanco #BTS #SnoopDogg #BadDecisions #August52022 #BennyBlancoBTSCollaboration #hiphop #kpop #pop #BIGHIT #HYBE #Xbox #BennyBlanco3rdLPRelease #newrelease #BTSCollaboration #kcrushnews #BTSSouthKorea #hiphopmusic #bennyblancoproducer #Jin #V #Jimin #JungKook #SacksandCo

 

 

GLOBAL CHART DOMINATING K-POP ACT TO FINALLY MAKE THEIR LANDING IN EUROPE

SOLD OUT STOPS IN NORTH AMERICA WITH ADDED SHOWS, SET TO TAKE OVER FIVE CITIES IN EUROPE

K-pop’s queens of musical lore, LOONA, announced the European leg of their 2022 LOONA 1st World Tour : [LOONATHEWORLD]. After taking on a full 14 shows in the Americas with sold out nights, the supergroup is ready to take on five cities in Europe, with stops in Warsaw, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, and London. Their European leg of the tour kicks off in Warsaw on September 6 and continues on through three more cities before reaching the last stop in London on September 16.

2022 LOONA 1st World Tour : [LOONATHEWORLD] sees the group make their first landing in Europe, a long awaited moment for fans of the group. It comes as no surprise that the tour itself was organized from the requests of many fans for the group to come to their city, concrete proof of their growing popularity.

The group stands as the epitome of mystery and allure in their concept storyline, seasoned with the charms of the different members that come together for the perfect combination of what makes K-pop unique. Even within the realm of K-pop, the girls stand tall in their distinctive personalities and charms – a dozen main characters, one for each month of the year.

The tour follows a successful first half of the year for LOONA who made their return to the big stage in front of an audience with 2022 이달의 소녀 CONCERT [LOONAVERSE : FROM] in Seoul back in February. From breaking their own first week sales with their recently released Summer Special Mini Album [Flip That] as well as dominating with No.1 on the iTunes Top Albums charts in at least 31 regions, the girls are set to bring their enchanting performances to Europe.

Information regarding presale and general ticketing for the shows can be found on https://mmt.fans/bFQS or through MyMusicTaste’s social media channels.

 

2022 LOONA 1st World Tour : [LOONATHEWORLD] in EUROPE Dates:

September 6, 2022 – Warsaw / Poland / Arena COS Torwar

September 8, 2022 – Amsterdam / Netherlands / AFAS Live

September 11, 2022 – Frankfurt / Germany / Jahrhunderthalle

September 13, 2022 – Paris / France / Le Zenith

September 16, 2022 – London / United Kingdom / O2 Academy Brixton

 

ARTIST) About LOONA:

From their unique debut with staggered member reveals over the span of two years starting in 2016 to their official musical release of the song “Hi High” in August of 2018, LOONA has embraced the mysterious and lore driven concept of their group to become a name that represents the core of K-pop: performance, production, and addictive melodies. LOONA’s twelve members: HeeJin, HyunJin, HaSeul, ViVi, YeoJin, Kim Lip, JinSoul, Choerry, Yves, Chuu, Go Won, and Olivia Hye create the blended mix of charms, talents, and personalities that brought catchy pop tunes like “Butterfly” to the top of the Billboard charts. Their 2020 releases of “So What” and “Why Not” continued their ranking on international music charts, making them a staple recommended K-pop group on multiple social media networks. They’ve stacked up achievements like their 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards win for Best Korean Act and their 2021 placement as having one of the most requested songs on radio shows. Their latest music video, “Flip That” has already garnered over 35 million views to date. The title track over their mini album of the same name also dominated the iTunes Top Albums charts with No.1s in 31 regions.

 

MANAGEMENT AGENCY) About Blockberry Creative:

Blockberry Creative is a South Korean record label formed in 2016. The label is home to the girl group LOONA. Blockberry Creative has lived up to its own name through the unique approaches of artists development and promotions.

 

PROMOTER) About MyMusicTaste:

MyMusicTaste is a fan initiated live event making service that brings fans, artists and promoters from all over the world together in one place to create a valuable and meaningful concert experience for everyone involved. MyMusicTaste puts the power in the fans’ hands, allowing fans to request their favorite artist’s concert in their city. With the mission to connect and amplify the voices of fans all over the world, MyMusicTaste successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, GOT7, MONSTA X, The xx, Machine Gun Kelly, and more in over 57 different cities. With the simple idea–empowering fans to bring their favorite artist’s concert in the city of their choice based on fan demand–MyMusicTaste is challenging the $27 billion concert market through cutting-edge technology and sophisticated, user-friendly service. Currently, www.mymusictaste.com supports more than 30 countries and offers 15 different languages.

 

For more about LOONA, visit:

Website: http://www.loonatheworld.com/

Facebook: loonatheworld

Instagram: @loonatheworld

Spotify: LOONA

TikTok: @loonatheworld

Twitter: @loonatheworld

YouTube: loonatheworld

 

#LOONA #MYMUSICTASTE #BlockberryCreative #LOONA1stWORLDTOUR #LOONATHEWORLD #kcrushnews ##HEEJIN #HYUNJIN #HASEUL #VIVI #YEOJIN #KIMLIP #JINSOUL #CHOERRY #YVES #CHUU #GOWON #OLIVEHYE #LOONAButterfly #LOONAFlipThat #LOONAWhyNot #inpersontour #LOONAConcert #LOONAfans #kpop #kpopmusic #kpopidols #kpopEuropeConcerts #kpopUSconcerts

 

Having taken the No.1 spot on the US Billboard Hot Trending Songs chart, the soaring Japanese boy band BE:FIRST are preparing to release their long-awaited debut album ‘BE:1’ on August 31, 2022. But fans won’t have to wait to hear new music from BE:FIRST – they have now released ‘Scream’, the lead single from the album, along with a music video.

‘Scream’ is an intense exhilarating dance track that shows a challenging new side of BE:FIRST. The song is produced by the power duo of SUNNY BOY, known for songs for artists including BTS, BLACKPINK, BIGBANG, 2NE1, Namie Amuro, Daichi Miura, and SKY-HI; and Maxx Song, the leading K-pop producer behind BoA, Red Velvet, TWICE and more. The track features lyrics by SKY-HI that proclaim the dawn of a new era – perfectly fitting for the lead single from the debut album ‘BE:1’.

 

BE:FIRST ‘Scream’ download and streaming links:

https://BEFIRST.lnk.to/_BE1

 

The track is accompanied by an energetic music video based on the idea of “returning to the new normal” in a world where self-restraint and other limitations still continue; it interprets the title ‘Scream’ as a thirst for liberation, with visuals that show the catharsis of loudly screaming one’s desires. The video tells the story of the members of BE:FIRST overcoming the oppressive world of “walls”, “rules” and “fear”, to face the future and advance to the highest stage.

The dance elements were choreographed by Kazuki (s**t kingz), who took first place in the leading United States dance contest BODY ROCK in 2010 and 2011 as a member of s**t kingz. Look out for dance performances that showcase the energy of the group and the cool series of individual shots that highlight the skills of each member.

 

BE:FIRST ‘Scream’ music video:

https://youtu.be/KRsgokUKeiE

 

BE:FIRST’s official YouTube account has already surpassed an astonishing 200 million views despite its opening seven short months ago. In addition to music videos, dance practice videos, and livestreams, the channel also features the ‘You’re My “BESTY”’ series, which shows a glimpse of each member’s unique character and natural vibes. Videos in the series are subtitled in multiple languages so that fans around the world can appreciate the charms of BE:FIRST first-hand, as well as listen to their music.

 

‘You’re My “BESTY”’ playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrvWONK6FcnT_u87ljOQ-n419GILIo3

 

BE:FIRST is a seven-member dance and vocal group featuring SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, RYOKI, and LEO. They signed with BMSG, the management company and label led by SKY-HI. Their debut single ‘Gifted.’ was released in November 2021 and hit No.1 on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100, as well as reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot Trending Songs 24-hour chart. Their second single ‘Bye-Good-Bye’ also topped the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100, and its music video has received over 25 million views on YouTube.

 

———————————–

 

BE:FIRST release information

New single ‘Scream’ out now

 

‘Scream’ download and streaming links:

https://BEFIRST.lnk.to/_BE1

 

‘Scream’ music video:

https://youtu.be/KRsgokUKeiE

 

1st album ‘BE:1’

Released Wednesday, August 31, 2022

 

 

Product details/store:

https://shop.md-sass.jp/en/collections/befirst

 

————————————-

 

BE:FIRST profile

A seven-member dance and vocal group featuring SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, RYOKI, and LEO, signed to SKY-HI’s management company and label BMSG. Each member has a high level of ability and potential for singing, dancing, and rap, along with a musical sensitivity reflected in their songwriting and choreography. Each owns an attractive individuality that marks each of them as unique. Under the name BE:FIRST, this seven-piece group has swept the No.1 spots on various charts in Japan since before their debut. Now they are taking their bold first steps toward Asia and the world.

 

BE:FIRST links

Official website: https://befirst.tokyo/

Japanese Twitter: https://twitter.com/BEFIRSTofficial

Global Twitter: https://twitter.com/BEFIRST_global

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/befirst__official/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BEFIRSTofficial

TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSJnapbvM/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BEFIRSTOfficial/

 

BMSG links

Official website: https://bmsg.tokyo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMSG_official

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmsg_official/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BMSG_official

 

#BEFIRST #BEFIRSTScream #BMSG #JPOP #SOTA @SHUNTO #MANATO #RYUHEI #JUNON #RYOKI #LEO #SKYHI #Asianmusic #Japaneseboygroup #Kazuki #YOUREMYBESTYSERIES #Debutalbum #ScreamMusicVideo #BEFIRSTSCREAMMUSICVIDEO #B1album

 

Former figure skater and Olympic medalist Kim Yuna will be a newlywed soon!

Korean media source The Fact discovered Kim has been dating Forestella’s Ko Woo Rim after essentially stalking the star for two months to uncover if dating rumors surrounding her were true. The Fact later published images of the two together on a date July 23, 2022. Along with the images, The Fact shared “proof” the female with Ko was Kim based on the design of woman’s phone case.

Kim, who leads a private life, has reportedly been dating Ko for three years. Beat Interactive, Ko’s agency, said Kim and Ko met in 2018 following the All That Skate Ice Show.

Following The Fact’s sharing of photos and Newsen’s report of the dating news, Beat Interactive released a statement that also confirmed Kim and Ko will get married this fall.

 

Hello. This is BEAT INTERACTIVE.

We have happy news to share regarding our agency’s artist Ko Woo Rim. Ko Wo Rim will be getting married to figure skating queen Kim Yuna in October.

The wedding ceremony will be carried out privately with close relatives and acquaintances, so we ask for generous understanding from the many fans and media for not revealing the specific details of the wedding date and wedding hall location.

Ko Woo Rim first met the bride-to-be in 2018 at the congratulatory performance for the All That Skate ice show, and after three years of dating, their love has come to bear fruit in the form of marriage.

Ko Woo Rim is a graduate of Seoul National University’s department of vocal music, and he is a member of the crossover male quartet group FORESTELLA that ultimately won JTBC’s “Phantom Singer 2.” With his weighty yet gentle and charming voice, solid singing skills, and romantic sensibility, he has been greeting the general public with numerous albums, concerts, and broadcast performances.

After marriage, Ko Woo Rim will continue to work actively as a member of FORESTELLA, a vocalist, and a crossover singer. Please send lots of support for Ko Woo Rim’s activities as he shows a more mature side to himself within a stable family.

Thank you.

 

Kim’s agency, All That Sports, also confirmed the marriage news.

“Kim and Ko first met when Forestella appeared as a guest singer at the All That Skate Ice Show in 2018, and dated for three years,” said All That Sports. “Both Kim and Ko want to have a normal wedding only with close relatives and acquaintances. We plan to proceed privately without revealing the specific wedding date and venue to the media.”

Kim is considered a national treasure in South Korea. She is the 2010 ladies’ singles figure skating Olympic champion and 2014 Olympic silver medalist. She is the 2009 and 2013 ladies’ figure skating world champion, 2009’s Four Continents champion, three-time Grand Prix Final champion, 2006’s World Juniors champion, and the 2005 Junior Grand Prix Final champion. She is also the six-time South Korean figure skating national champion. Kim is also the first female skater to win every major international figure skating competition. She is also the first figure skater ever to complete a Career Super Grand Slam by also winning the Junior Grand Prix Final and the Junior World Championships. During her career, Kim’s held 11 world record scores and broken 13 world records. Kim’s also the first and only figure skater to have never finished off the podium in her entire career under the current ISU Judging System.

Ko is the maknae of Forestella, a crossover vocal quartet. Ko graduated from Seoul National University as a voice major in 2019. He competed on Phantom Singer 2 where he was initially eliminated but ultimately saved. Prior to the show’s conclusion, Forestella was formed with Ko as a member of the group and won the competition. Ko is currently attending graduate school to earn a Master’s degree.

Congratulations to Yuna Kim and Ko Woo Rim on their relationship and upcoming marriage!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#Forestella #YunaKim #KoWooRim #YunaKimQueenOfFigureSkating #figureskater #PhantonSinger2 #SeoulNationalUniversity #kcrush #kcrushnews #AllThatSkateIceShow #weddingannouncement #engagement #BeatInteractiveAgency #SeoulKorea #Olympicmedalist

 

2012 was one of K-Pop’s stand out years thanks to hits from BIGBANG (“Fantastic Baby”), 2NE1 (“I Love You”), FTIsland (“Severely”), EPIK HIGH (“Don’t Hate Me”), Lee Seung-gi (“Return”), T-ara (“Lovey-Dovey”), Sistar (“Alone,” “Loving U”), and Block B (“Nillili Mambo”) among others. The year brought plenty of mainstream hits and helped the Hallyu Wave crash into more shores, especially in the United States. However, no song released at that time made the splash quite like PSY’s “Gangnam Style.”

“Industry executives, government officials, pundits, critics, fans… just assumed that the breakout star from Korea would likely be either a boy band or a girl band,” said president of the Seoul-based DFSB Kollective artist and label services agency, Bernie Cho. PSY “proved to everybody that instead of a Korean version of a Western pop star or an international pop star, what the world wanted was something very authentic, original, unique.”

Released on July 15, 2012, the smash hit was not only popular in South Korea, but it quickly climbed international charts, causing the song’s popularity to grow. Soon, “Gangnam Style” not only became a song that was both loved and loathed because of its airplay on the radio, TV shows, sports stadiums, and talk shows, but it also became an international dance craze and an award-winning track that placed K-Pop on the map as a culturally significant music genre in the West.

“It was really influential in perhaps making Korea or Korean music or Korean media more of a common element of general knowledge in lots of places… certainly in the US, but also globally,” said scholar Michelle Cho.

“These kinds of going-viral-on-the-internet media platforms, (such as) YouTube, made K-pop and hallyu really popular and big overseas,” Gyu Tag Lee, a Cultural Studies Professor specializing in K-Pop at Icheon’s George Mason University, said. “Without the big hit that was ‘Gangnam Style’, there may not have been BTS, there may not have been BLACKPINK.”

“I feel very proud that I had a role in being that trigger. BTS have thanked me for that part several times, so I’m proud of it,” PSY said during a press conference for his latest album, PSY 9^th.

“He was always someone I was grateful for,” BTS’ Suga said in an interview in May 2022. “With ‘Gangnam Style,’ he paved the way for K-pop in the United States that we were able to follow his footsteps with ease.”

“To have played a role in paving the way for music of all kinds to transcend borders is a true honor,” said PSY.

When it was released, not even PSY could have predicted how much of a viral hit and pop culture icon “Gangnam Style” would become.

According to PSY, “Gangnam Style” was created to poke fun at the Gangnam district lifestyle.

“People who are actually from Gangnam never proclaim that they are—it’s only the posers and wannabes that put on these airs and say that they are ‘Gangnam Style’—so this song is actually poking fun at those kinds of people who are trying very hard to be something that they’re not,” PSY told CNN in 2012.

The satirical song and video are about claiming to be from Gangnam in order to impress a girl, while the video’s dance and themes are intentionally uncouth as part of the fun. Initially, “Gangnam Style” was intended for the local South Korean audience as the humor within the themes, celebrity appearances, and lyrics would be familiar to the local audience.

However, the catchy song and music video appealed to international audiences, causing PSY to become a household name.

“The YouTube video never targeted foreign countries,” PSY told Reuters in 2012. “It was for local fans. My goal in this music video was to look uncool until the end. I achieved it.”

“Gangnam Style” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart while carving a path in music history. In the United States, it was certified platinum five times, while Australia saw the song certified 10 times platinum.

PSY’s hit track became the first YouTube video to hit 1 billion views, a feat it achieved December 21, 2012. Ten years later, it’s still one of the top five most-viewed YouTube videos, coming in fifth with 4.4 billion views as of July 15, 2022. The top four consists of “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and featuring Bruno Mars (4.6 billion views), Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” featuring Charlie Puth (5.5 billion views), “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran (5.7 billion views), and “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee (7.8 billion views). The YouTube “Billion Views Club” now has over 300 members, and this is thanks to “Gangnam Style” breaking the floodgates.

“[PSY] broke the rules of the game. The traditional marketing and promotional playbooks were essentially thrown out the window,” said DFSB Kollective’s Bernie Cho. “[‘Gangnam Style’ showed] the importance, the impact, the influence of YouTube on pop music and pop culture worldwide.”

Since the release of “Gangnam Style,” streaming has become the music industry’s main source of revenue. In addition to changing the industry’s revenue stream, music charts have also adapted to include YouTube and other streaming services into their metrics.

Ten years later, PSY is still going strong. Since 2012, PSY has gone on to create other well-known hits including “Gentleman” (2013) and “Daddy” with CL (2015). He’s also collaborated with Snoop Dogg (“Hangover”) (2014) and “That That” with Suga (2022). He’s also created his own company, P Nation, which is home to HyunA, Dawn, Heize, Crush, and Jessi (formerly). PSY also  developed his own idol group, TNX, which debuted in 2022.

“Gangnam Style” is one of those once in a generation pop culture events that will be looked upon in the years to come. Congratulations to PSY for his impact on music history!

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#PSY #GangnamStyle #Gentleman #YouTube #kpop #koreanmusic #Asianmusic #PSYInternationalCharts #PNation #PSY10Years #kcrush #kcrushamerica #PSY10TimesPlatinum #DFSBKollective #BernieCho #PSYDaddy #PSY2012 #PSYBrokeRecords #kpopidol #GangnamStyleBroughtStreaming #PSYInternationalMusicCharts #TNX #HyunA #Dawn #Heize #Crush #Jessi #YouTubeBillionViewersClub

 

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was gunned down Friday July 8, 2022 while campaigning in the city of Nara. The longest running Japanese prime minister (2006-2007; 2012-2020) was 67-years old.

Abe, who was campaigning for political candidate Kei Sato, was giving a speech at the time of the shooting. Video taken during the event shows Abe speaking to constituents prior to collapsing from gunshot wounds in the chest and possibly the neck*. Another video also shows a man wearing grey holding what appears to be a large, crudely made gun prior to being tackled by security and arrested.

Reports suggest the weapon the alleged gunman— identified as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, a former Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force member— used is a homemade gun known as a “zip gun,” but Japanese authorities have yet to confirm this information, although they have said the gun appears to be homemade.

Following the shooting, reports indicate that Abe was briefly responsive before “showing no vital signs.” He was transported to the hospital “in a state of cardio-respiratory arrest**” where initial reports indicate he was in “critical to very grave condition.” He was pronounced dead at 5:03pm local time.

Nara Medical University emergency department chief Hidetada Fukushima said Abe suffered major damage to his heart in addition to two neck wounds that damaged an artery, causing extensive bleeding.

Abe’s assassination is the first murder of a Japanese prime minister since Tsuyoshi Inukai in 1932. He is the third prime minister in Japan assassinated. Takashi Hara was the first in 1921.

Japan has some of the world’s strictest gun laws, so the shooting adds another layer of shock to a country already dealing with Abe’s death.

The World Reacts

Many current and former world leaders expressed their shock following the news of Abe’s death.

“He was working for peace and stability in Japan and the world,” current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during a press conference. “He was a dear friend who loved this country… To lose such a figure in this manner is absolutely devastating.”

“I am stunned, outraged, and deeply saddened by the news that my friend Abe Shinzo, former Prime Minister of Japan, was shot and killed while campaigning,” Joe Biden, President of the United States said. “This is a tragedy for Japan and for all who knew him.”

President Biden also added, “He was a champion of the Alliance between our nations and the friendship between our people. The longest serving Japanese Prime Minister, his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific will endure. Above all, he cared deeply about the Japanese people and dedicated his life to their service. Even at the moment he was attacked, he was engaged in the work of democracy.”

“I am shocked and saddened by the assassination of my friend and longtime partner Shinzo Abe in Japan. Former Prime Minister Abe was devoted to both the country he served and the extraordinary alliance between the United States and Japan,” former United States President Barack Obama said in a statement shared on Twitter.

While attending the G20 summit in Indonesia, United States Secretary of State Tony Blinken told reporters, “This is shocking. It’s profoundly disturbing … It’s also such a strong personal loss for so many people. In the United States, Prime Minister Abe was an extraordinary partner. And someone who clearly was a great leader for Japan.”

“Incredibly sad news about Shinzo Abe,” United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. “His global leadership through unchartered times will be remembered by many. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and the Japanese people. The UK stands with you at this dark and sad time.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place.”

“On behalf of the French people, I send my condolences to the Japanese authorities and people after the assassination of Shinzo Abe. Japan is losing a great Prime Minister, who dedicated his life to his country and worked to bring balance to the world,” French president Emmanuel Macron tweeted.

“Horrible news of a brutal assassination of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. I am extending my deepest condolences to his family and the people of Japan at this difficult time. This heinous act of violence has no excuse,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a tweet.

 

 

Shinzo Abe’s Prime Minister Tenure

Abe was the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the time of his death.

In 2006, Abe held Japan’s Prime Minister position, making him the youngest post-war prime minister in Japan’s history.

His first stint as prime minister was rocked with scandal, including the government’s loss of pension records that affected 50 million claims according to the BBC. The LDP party suffered during 2007’s upper house elections, which didn’t help Abe’s role at the time.

In 2007, he stepped down due to ulcerative colitis, but with the help of medication, he got the disease under control. He was once again voted in as prime minister in 2012. He was re-elected again in 2014 and 2017, helping him become Japan’s longest serving prime minister. He retired in 2020 due to his inability to carry on his duties due to a return of his ulcerative colitis.

During his tenure, Abe was known for his nationalist views. While his tenure as prime minister had many successes, there were failures and controversies in-between.

One of Abe’s economic policies, “Abenomics,” was viewed as helping Japan return to an economic growth period. The policy involved negative short term interest rates “that made it cheaper for consumers and companies to borrow money and spend, increasing government spending on infrastructure and more financial incentives such as tax breaks, and reforms that sought to add more women into the workforce, and allow more migrants in to ease labor pressures and kickstart growth,” according to the BBC. While Japan’s economy did experience growth, the Covid-19 outbreak forced the country into a recession, which led to criticisms of Abe’s economic policies.

Other criticisms surrounding Abenomics involved the shortcomings of tackling nepotism, having more women in the workforce, and changing unhealthy, negative working environments. Critics cite these promised changes remained unfulfilled during Abe’s tenure.

In 2015, Abe was successful in passing legislation that allows Japan’s military to expand its operations overseas in support of allies.

During the pandemic, Abe faced criticism regarding his handling of the outbreak as he campaigned to boost domestic tourism, which many viewed as assisting the virus’ spread.

Abe was unable to secure the return of the Northern Territories/Kuril Islands off the coast of Hokkaido. The disputed islands are claimed by both Russia and Japan.

One of his goals during his prime minister stint was to change Japan’s pacifist constitution which was drafted by the United States following WWII. Japanese conservatives view the constitution as a humiliating defeat following WWII, while others view it as “a brake on entanglement in foreign conflicts.”

Amending the constitution did not happen.

Abe was also critical of China, often angering the country, especially regarding his stance on Taiwan.

“A Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency,” Abe said while adding it would be impossible for Japan not to get involved in a conflict with China over Taiwan’s self-governing status.

China and Japan also have disputes over islands in the East China Sea.

 

Controversies

Abe wasn’t a stranger to controversy during his prime minister run.

In 2012, Abe proposed the Restoration of Sovereignty Day, which was first celebrated April 23, 2013. The holiday was designated to mark the end of end of the US occupation of Japan. Many Okinawans viewed the celebration as an act of betrayal. Okinawa was invaded by the United States in 1945; it wasn’t returned to Japan until 1972. Nearly three-quarters of US troops stationed in Japan under a bilateral treaty are based in Okinawa.

China and South Korea, collectively, took issue with Abe’s handling of post-Japanese occupation and comfort women controversies accountability.

With China, seven decades of bitterness exist over the atrocities the country suffered at the hands of the Japanese during Japan’s occupation in Manchuria and Nanjing among other locations. Japan was responsible for millions of deaths in China during their occupation.

In South Korea, the wounds left by Japan stem from nearly a century of forced labor, occupation, and kidnapping and sending women to work as comfort women in Japanese-run brothels. South Korea has demanded apologies and reparations for the atrocities they endured thanks to Japanese rule.

Japan’s issues with both South Korea and China are more detailed and nuanced.

While both countries have asked for formal apologies, Japanese officials have provided them over the years, but Abe’s actions have been viewed as insincere. Instances where Abe visited Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine have been viewed as unfavorable as the shrine is a site linked to Japan’s militarism before and during WWII.

Yasukuni Shrine honors Japan’s war dead and convicted war criminals.

“The Yasukuni Shrine issue is about whether Japan correctly acknowledges its history of invasion and of Japanese militarism, and about the feelings of the people in the victims’ countries, including China,” China’s former Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in 2012.

Visitations to the shrine are viewed as leadership lacking remorse for the war crimes Japan committed in China and South Korea, and his visits in 2013 and 2020 were met with protests from the Chinese and South Koreans.

In 2015, Japan–South Korea Comfort Women Agreement was declared to resolve the comfort women issue between the two countries. In the agreement, Japan was set to apologize for Japan’s treatment of comfort women with South Korea set to accept the apology.

During the summit phone call December 28, 2015, Abe sent his “sincere apologies” to South Korea’s then-president, Park Geun-hye. The phone call addressed that a final agreement was in place between the two countries.

Afterwards, a foundation was set up in South Korea under the Japan–South Korea Comfort Women Agreement where Japan provided 1 billion yen to the foundation. According to The Japan Times, of the 47 women who were alive when the agreement was reached, 36 wanted to receive cash payments and 34 of them went on to receive about 10 million yen each.

However, South Korea did not support the agreement, so the deal was scrapped in 2017. In South Korea, President Moon Jae-in’s administration dissolved the foundation, effectively annulling the agreement that was in place between the countries, once again heightening tensions.

Prior to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korean president Moon Jae-in once again called for renewed talks with Japan and a sincere apology from Prime Minister Abe, to which Abe told reporters, “We can by no means accept South Korea’s unilateral request for additional measures,” adding that additional apologies are “unacceptable.”

While many in Japan praised Abe’s stance to not give in to South Korea’s demands, others internationally view Abe’s comments and actions as detrimental and a roadblock to creating a working relationship between the two countries.

Despite his politics and controversies, many view the assassination of Shinzo Abe a horrific wrong bestowed upon Japan and the legacy he worked to build.

Abe leaves behind his wife of 35 years, Akie Abe (née Matsuzaki). The couple did not have children.

*Initial reports stated Abe was shot in the neck and chest. Later reports state Abe was only shot in the chest. However, the medical team that tried to save Abe said he had wounds to the neck and chest.

**In Japan, a “state of cardio-respiratory arrest” is used before a death is confirmed by a doctor.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#ShinzoAbe #JapanesePrimeMinister #JapansFormerPrimeMinister #Japan #ShinzoAbedeath #kcrushnews

 

– Leader Castle J’s title song #MOOD Lyricist and co-composition participation, eye-catching!

– Simultaneous release of 4th mini album on/offline on July 7th

4th generation global idol group MCND has released the track list of their new album [THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.2].

The track list of the 4th mini album [THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.2] was released through the MCND official SNS channel at midnight on the 1st.

The track list, designed with the motif of the message screen, tactfully expresses the emotions of the MZ generation, who communicate with emoticons. The image with the meaning of communicating through trendy music raised the expectations of global fans for this album.

The track list includes the title songs ‘#MOOD’, ‘BLOW’, ‘REDSUN’, and ‘Back to you’. In addition, ‘W.A.T.1’, which pre-released a ‘perfect group dance performance’ as a track video, and ‘JUICE’, which drew an explosive response from global audiences on the European tour stage, are attracting fans’ expectations.

In particular, MCND leader ‘Castle J’ participated in writing and composing the lyrics for the title song ‘#MOOD’, and received credits for a total of 4 songs including ‘BLOW’, ‘JUICE’, and ‘Back to you’. . He drew attention by revealing his name. ‘Castle J’, which debuted in 2020, has steadily climbed the album credits until now, showing off its status as a self-produced idol.

Meanwhile, MCND’s new album [THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.2] will be released on/offline on July 7th. The showcase held on the day of the album’s release will be broadcast live simultaneously through Naver’s ‘Vlive’ channel and Shopping Live, and will meet fans through an offline fan showcase for the first time since their official debut in Korea.

 

photo = TOP MEDIA

 

#MCND #CastleJ #MCNDcomeback #MCND4thminialbum #TheEarthSecretMissionChapter2 #MCNDMOOD #MCNDBLOW #MCNDREDSUN #MCNDBackToYou #kpop #kpopmusic #kcrushnews #kpopidol #MCNDNaverVlive #MCNDMZGeneration #kcrushamerica #kcrush #MCNDnewreleaseJuly

 

Three-piece band Chilli Beans. was formed in 2019 by members Moto (vocals), Maika (bass and vocals) and Lily (guitar and vocals). Today they released the music video for ‘School’, a song from their upcoming debut full album, titled ‘Chilli Beans.’

‘School’ music video:

‘School’ subscription
https://chillibeans.lnk.to/School

The lyrics to ‘School’ are a declaration of cutting ties by a girl who no longer wants to follow the rules. It takes full advantage of each Chilli Beans. member’s shared role as vocalist, with bassist Maika’s vocal line contrasting with the choral blend at the song’s finale, resulting in an unmistakable song that is drenched in noise yet somehow also nostalgic.

Chilli Beans. are a neo-garage band combining rock and next-generation sounds, with a unique vocal sense and a talent for melodies that linger in the ears. The band’s secret weapons are their outstanding songwriting sense, skillful vocal work and overwhelming live performances.

The track ‘lemonade’ from their first digital EP took the No.1 daily spot and No.3 weekly spot on Spotify’s ‘Viral 50 – Japan’ playlist when it was released in August 2021, and the band have reached a wide range of fans across generations on social media.

March 2022 saw the release of their second digital EP ‘Daydream’, and their song ‘Tremolo’ was used in a commercial for cosmetic brand Rosette. Following this success, the band’s second digital single ‘My Boy’ was released on April 13 and was selected as the opening song to MBS TV drama series ‘Motokare←Retry’.

The band held their own live event titled ‘Dancing Room 002’ in Tokyo and Osaka in June, which followed March’s ‘Dancing Room 001’, and they are now preparing for their first solo concert on September 9 at LIQUIDROOM in Tokyo, titled ‘1st Oneman Live Chilli Beans. Room’. This breaking band are growing day by day.

Their self-titled first full album, ‘Chilli Beans.’, will be released on Wednesday, July 13. As you may guess from the title, it will be an album that reflects Chilli Beans. exactly as they are, expressing themselves through free production and through making music just the way they want to make it. The album will include 14 songs.

This year, Chilli Beans. will also appear at two of Japan’s most iconic music festivals: SUMMER SONIC 2022 and ROCK IN JAPAN 2022. Keep an eye out for more!

◆ First full album info
Artist: Chilli Beans.
Title: ‘Chilli Beans.’
Release date: Wednesday, July 13

▼ CD preorder link
https://www.merchbar.com/pop/chilli-beans

▼ Tracklist
CD (for all three versions)
1. School
2. lemonade
3. It’s ME
4. This Way
5. neck
6. Undoron
7. My Boy
8. L.I.B
9. Tremolo
10. HAPPY END
11. blue berry
12. Vacance
13. Shekilala
14. call my name

More info
▽ Official website
https://chilli-beans.amebaownd.com/

▽ Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/chillibeansmusic/

▽ Twitter
Tweets by chillibeans_mc

▽ TikTok

@chillibeans.official

 

 

#ChilliBeans #debutselftitledalbum #Julyannouncements #kcrushnews #ChilliBeanspressrelease #jpop #Japanesepopband #ChilliBeansSchool #ChilliBeansdebutalbum #Moto #Maika #Lily #MV #ChilliBeansMoto #ChilliBeansMaika #ChilliBeansLily #ChilliBeansSchoolmusicvideo #kcrush #kcrushamerica #Japaneseidol #3membergirlband

 

The good news keeps on coming for acting stars Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin!

On March 31, 2022, the Crash Landing on You super couple married in front of close family and friends at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin Gu, Seoul.  After the wedding, the couple honeymooned in Los Angeles, California.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 손예진 (@yejinhand)

On June 27, Son Ye Jin announced the pregnancy news on her official Instagram. The translated message reads:

How are you all doing?

I’m doing well ^^

Today I would like to share with you some cautious and happy news.

A new life has come to us..🤗

I’m still stunned, but I’m living day by day feeling the changes in my body amidst worries and excitement.

I’m so grateful, but I’m so careful that I haven’t been able to tell the people around me yet.

To the fans and those around us who will be waiting for this news as much as us, we deliver the news before it’s too late.

We will protect the precious life that has come to us.

I hope you all stay healthy by taking good care of the things you need to protect in your life..🙏

Be happy

A few weeks prior to Son’s confirmation, Netizens speculated the pair may be expecting a baby. The speculation stemmed from a May 29 Instagram post Son shared wearing a white, flowy dress and playing with her dog. Fans of the actress felt she may have been hiding her “baby bump,” but her agency, MSteam Entertainment, denied the rumors saying they were “not true at all.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 손예진 (@yejinhand)

Now with the pregnancy confirmed, everyone hopes Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin will have a happy, healthy baby!

Congratulations to the newlyweds as they embark on their parenthood journey!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#SonYeJin #HyunBin #babynews #June2022 #kdrama #hallyunews #kdramanews #kcrushnews #GrandWalkerhill #Seoul #Koreanews #MSteamEntertainment #CrashLandingOnYou #kdramacouple

 

Actress and singer Jang Na Ra, 41, married her non-celebrity partner June 26, 2022!

The Go Back Couple star announced her marriage June 3. In her announcement, Jang said,

I have personal but happy news to share with you all today.

I’m getting married!

After two years of dating a friend six years my junior who is in video work, we have promised to become one another’s life companions! I fell for his beautiful smile, kind and genuine heart, and above all else, the way he is overflowing with sincerity and pours his whole heart into his work. The fact that I will be spending my life together with such an amazing person makes me so happy that I couldn’t ask for anything more, and I wanted to honestly share my joy with all of you, who are so precious to me!

We will live joyfully, happily, and well [together]!

it seems like just yesterday that I, who am nothing special, debuted as a celebrity, but so much time has passed since then. I sincerely thank you for embracing me, supporting me, and always looking kindly upon me for a long time.

I plan to greet you with a fun new project immediately after the wedding, so I’m working hard on preparations for that as well! I will become an actress who does her utmost in every moment with a heart that is even heavier with gratitude than before.

I am truly sorry for the fact that I am not able to go into more detail [about my fiancé], out of the worry that he—who is not a celebrity—might face discomfort at work because of me. I earnestly ask you for your generous understanding.

Thank you always!

Jang’s June 26 nuptials were held outdoors that had friends, family, and fellow celebrities in attendance. Among the guests were CNBLUE’s Jung Yonghwa, Park Kyung Lim (who hosted the wedding), and Lee Sang Yoon. Jung’s father, actor Joo Ho Sung, walked his daughter down the aisle.

 

 

Guests, photographers, and videographers did a great job hiding the groom’s identity to protect him. Prior to the nuptials, Jang’s agency, Lawon Munhwa, announced they would pursue legal action if anyone spread rumors or information about Jang’s fiancé.

“As Jang Na Ra herself asked previously, please refrain from spreading or publishing indiscriminate, speculative posts or articles, and/or spreading private information including the identity of Jang Na Ra’s fiancé, who is a non-celebrity,” Jang’s agency said. “From now on, all posts which are deemed as partaking in the nonconsensual spread of private information online, as well as malicious posts and comments about Jang Na Ra and her family, will be met with legal action.”

Following the wedding, Lawon Munhwa said, “Jang Nara happily wrapped up her wedding ceremony amidst the support and congratulations from many people. We ask once again for your understanding that it was not possible to film and cover [the wedding] to be considerate of the non-celebrity groom’s side and due to the spread of COVID-19. Please send lots of support for Jang Nara going forward as she starts the second chapter of her life.”

Jang said, “Thank you so much for congratulating me with your interest and love. To repay your love and support, I will live happily and merrily as a great wife at home and a sincere actress at work.”

Congratulations to the happy couple, and may they have a long, happy marriage!

 

Catch Jang Nara in her latest drama Sell Your Haunted House on Viki! The drama also stars Jung Yonghwa.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#JangNaRaOfficiallyMarried #JangNara #SellYourHauntedHouse #kcramaactress #kdrama #GoBackCouple #LawonMunhwa #kcrushnews #kcrushamerica #koreanactress #koreansinger #JangNaramarriageannouncement

Spoiler Warning: Review talks about key moments in the drama

Trigger Warning: Review mentions self-harm, suicide, and abuse

 

As one 2022’s most buzzworthy dramas, The Sound of Magic has plenty of promise. Based on the webtoon The Sound of Magic: Annarasumanara, the Netflix series sticks fairly close to the source material (minus Il-deung’s odd-shaped head), but it comes with complications as the story closes.

The Sound of Magic follows 17-year-old Yoon Ah-yi as she shoulders the pains of adulthood while attending high school. Abandoned by her mother and father— the latter of whom is on the run from loan sharks—Ah-yi is left to take care of her younger sister while trying to succeed in high school. Ah-yi must do odd jobs to afford rent, bills, and basic needs while managing her studies and harassment by her father’s debt collectors and landlord. At school, Ah-yi is picked on for her obvious poverty. One day, fate and money blowing in the wind leads her to an abandoned amusement park and her introduction to mysterious magician Ri-eul, a man subject to rumors and urban legends.

The series also follows 17-year-old Il-deung as he struggles to be the perfect son destined for greatness thanks to the path his parents laid out for him. Additionally, The Sound of Magic also has a side story involving a missing student Ha-yoon.

Penned as a musical drama, The Sound of Magic has a solid cast that carries the story’s duality well. Choi Sung-eun (Beyond Evil, Start-Up) delivers as Yoon Ah-yi. Choi embodies Ah-yi’s innocence, hopefulness, and despair. Regardless of the situation, Choi radiates a bright light that helps draw in the viewer.

Choi’s bright portrayal of Ah-yi is contrasted by the darker portrayals of Ri-eul/Minhyuk (Ji Chang-wook) and Il-deung (Hwang In-youp). Ji does well portraying the mysterious Ri-eul. Like Ah-yi, he, too, exudes hope through despair, but his portrayal is sullen and introspective.

Meanwhile, Hwang’s take on Il-deung is more closed off and much like the character in the original webtoon. Hwang, like Ji, does well portraying someone deeply troubled. While Hwang plays Il-deung much like the webtoon character, he does come across as too one-note at times, so it’s hard to buy him as someone who has a crush on Ah-yi, especially when he has self-serving tendencies.

 

 

Baek Ha-na (Ji Hye-won) is easy to dislike. Ji Hye-won plays the role well, but Ha-na is a stereotypical antagonistic high school female. She’s smart, callus, and sneaky, providing all the criteria that embody the schoolgirl bully archetype. Her disdain toward Ah-yi is strongly evident, and even when she does try to be helpful, she comes across as snarky and insincere.

Despite strong actors and characters, The Sound of Magic’s story is one that tries to cover too much in a span of six episodes. As a result, the story drops the ball to where it becomes a rushed, muddled mess at the end that leaves more questions than answers. That’s not to say that The Sound of Magic doesn’t have positive points as it does have those. However, trying to cram a lot of content into six episodes wasn’t a smart move on Netflix’s part. Extending the story to even eight or ten episodes may have helped wrap up the show in a way that could be satisfying for all audiences.

First, The Sound of Magic does a solid job blending fantasy and reality. The abandoned amusement park serves as a great backdrop for the characters as it was once a place of hope, fun, and joy. While the façade and crowds have faded, the dreary scenery has moments of brightness as Ri-eul takes Ah-yi on a journey to help brighten her spirits even though the amusement park, specifically the carousel, has sad memories attached.

There are several beautiful moments present as the story unfolds, especially the parts shown in the initial teaser trailer where Ri-eul fills the amusement park with fireworks to seemingly show Ah-yi the beauty of the world around her. These magnificent moments appear frequently to help move the plot and reflect how each of the main characters have more purpose and light in them than their current grinds.

Note: The following section contains spoilers for Ah-yi and Il-deung. Please skip ahead seven paragraphs if you don’t want spoilers.

At its heart, The Sound of Magic is about going against the grain and finding a place in this world even if it isn’t what society wants. This is where the drama shines even while focusing on the issues of sexual assault, suicide, self-harm, poverty, and mental illness.

 

 

For Ah-yi and Il-deung, the growth they experience feels realistic even though the duration’s compressed over six episodes. Ah-yi, who is already self-sufficient and capable, learns to find her own happiness. Some of the show’s most beautiful and meaningful moments stem from the conversations she has with her younger self. For anyone who ever grew up in a desperate situation, these scenes do touch the heart as Ah-yi tries to convince her younger self that everything will turn out okay (“Consolation”). When her past and present selves connect, the audience may feel a sense of yearning while Ah-yi reassures her younger self. These well-done scenes will linger in memory.

Meanwhile, Il-deung experiences exponential growth. Il-deung, who is seemingly emotionless throughout much of the series, has sparks of personality, especially where he imagines singing “I Mean It” to Ah-yi while sitting in a field. This scene is so sweet, magical, and pure! Il-deung’s soft-hearted, kind personality shows through.

However, Il-deung’s growth at the end of the series should earn Hwang In-youp some props! As indicated in several scenes in The Sound of Magic, Il-deung struggles with self-harm due to the increasing pressure to be perfect and follow the path his parents laid out for him. Il-deung’s often seen scratching and clawing at the back of his neck, leaving an open sore. The only times he doesn’t engage in this act is when he is learning and performing magic with Ri-eul. Il-deung learns to loosen up a bit, only to be thrown back into his sullen world whenever his parents throw their influence around. Anyone who grew up in a controlling household may sympathize with Il-deung, making him of the show’s most relatable characters.

Il-deung’s also involved in many of the show’s most emotionally charged scenes, which is why Hwang In-youp needs recognition. During “The Curse of Asphalt” scene when Il-deung realizes he is a slave to the grind and chasing the limelight, Hwang does an amazing job switching his emotions between anguish and the realizations his current path isn’t the one he desires. The facial expression subtleties enhance the scene. Il-deung’s internal struggle presents itself well here.

Hwang makes Il-deung’s internal struggles flourish more as the show progresses. Two other standout scenes featuring Il-deung involve his future self as well as his breakdown from his stress. These are showstopping moments since they sum up crumbling under society’s expectations and pressures. It’s a moment that viewers should pay attention to in an age where there is a better attempt at trying to shine a light on mental health.

However, there are times when Il-deung reacts jealously toward Ri-eul and Ah-yi’s friendship. Thanks to Ha-na’s influence, Il-deung believes Ri-eul and Ah-yi’s relationship to be romantic in nature. Il-deung takes to creeping around Ri-eul’s space and lurking around corners watching Ah-yi as if she is a possession instead of person. These moments, along with Il-deung’s treatment of Ah-yi while he pays her to do his schoolwork and to fail an exam make Il-deung a walking red flag at times. Unfortunately, these moments negate some of his positive developments.

 

­­­

 

Ri-eul (whose real name is Minhyuk) is the complex magic man behind Il-deung and Ah-yi’s transformations. When he’s introduced, he’s subject to Ha-na’s urban legends. Early in the story, not much is known about Ri-eul other than he lives in an abandoned amusement park with his scarlet macaw, Bella. He seems to know the Ah-yi and Il-deung need help and that they seem to be outsiders in their community much like he was when he was younger when he discovered he wasn’t meant to do what was expected of him. Slowly, Ah-yi and Il-deung learn more about Ri-eul, but it takes hearing the story from his high school friend for Ri-eul’s story to be heard.

Ri-eul’s story makes him a sympathetic character to some degree, especially since you can see pieces of his sad tale through Ah-yi and Il-deung’s current existences. Like Il-deung, Ri-eul was expected to be a perfect student and set out on a life laid out for him. Like Ri-eul when he was young, Ah-yi loses her sense of innocence and wonder. Ri-eul takes on a savior role to help Il-deung and Ah-yi not become like him when he was younger: People who lose their sense of self and all hope in order to fit into a pre-determined box. As Il-deung states, “Now I know. No one in this world is crazy. They make you into a crazy person little-by-little if you don’t fit into society standards” (Episode five, Curse of Asphalt).

The following section contains spoilers. Skip ahead eight paragraphs.

While the revelations into Ri-eul’s past provide insight into the character and how a suicide attempt shaped who he is today, the disclosures do leave more questions than answers.

Late in the show, it’s revealed that Ri-eul is a person of interest in Ha-yoon’s disappearance as well as another case in Seongmi. Then, there’s the elephant in the room regarding his actions against Ha-na that were dropped just as quickly as Ha-na did from the show’s finale!

While it is revealed that Ri-eul is not involved in Ha-yoon’s disappearance, the whole mention of him being considered in the disappearance of another girl did a vanishing act (much like Ri-eul did at the drama’s close!). This whole plot was odd at best considering how Ri-eul was angrier about accusations that his magic wasn’t real over being accused of being behind the disappearances of two high school girls. While the reaction does seem to be in line with Ri-eul’s overall character (he spends much of the drama trying to convince others his magic is, indeed, real), being questioned for other crimes seems to be too big of a revelation to drop.

Considering how the real culprit for Ha-yoon’s murder is caught, is it possible this same culprit is also the one responsible for the other disappearance? This individual also tried to sexually assault Ah-yi, so it could be plausible. However, how probable is it that this person happened to be in each place Ri-eul happened to live in to commit these crimes? This is just one of the issues with the overall plot. The storyline isn’t completed, and it’s never made clear if Ri-eul is innocent or guilty. How he doesn’t fight back against the allegations regarding the other disappearance could make some viewers think he might be involved. It is hinted at that he is on the run again, so it may make the audience wonder.

The show places a shadow on Ri-eul as flashback scenes show he has some deeper issues than what’s alluded to in his origin story (time at the hospital, time at a mental institution)., but the biggest issue is how he lashed out at Ha-na.

Granted, Ha-na is a character the audience will love to hate given her conniving personality. She sneaks around, bullies, and spies on people. Even when she tries to be sincerely concerned, she seems to have ulterior motives. However, it doesn’t excuse how Ri-eul reacts to Ha-na when he caught her wearing a camera when she came to visit him. In a pivotal scene, Ha-na goads Ri-eul, first by telling him she wanted to see magic but that she could see it in a theater and not at his place. She then confronts Ri-eul with video she took of him struggling with another person before telling him he’s crazy and his magic isn’t real. A struggle ensues and Bella gets injured. The attack on his magic causes Ri-eul to snap and he shows his rage by choking Ha-na. If it wasn’t for Bella’s squawks, Ri-eul may have killed Ha-na in his rage.

This is a massive issue The Sound of Magic glosses over. Despite a few mentions after the fact, there’s a suggestion the audience should get over this incident because Ri-eul believes his magic is real, he creates magic in the lives of Ah-yi and Il-deung and helps them find their way. Ri-eul’s character is ultimately romanticized and portrayed as a man wrongly accused of crimes and sympathetic because of his tragic backstory, but it doesn’t change how he attacked someone almost half his age because she accused him of being a con without real magic.

Yes, Ri-eul struggles with mental illness and feelings of inadequacy, but the actions here are inexcusable and shouldn’t be swept under the rug because of his seemingly kindly and helpful actions toward Ah-yi and Il-deung. While Ha-na is a character that provokes others, what happened to her shouldn’t be pushed under the magic carpet because the audience wants Ri-eul to be the good guy.

___

The Sound of Magic also covers the silencing of crime victims. This may be a theme that some viewers may miss, but it should be noted that Ah-yi, Ha-na, and Ha-yoon were silenced by the men that attacked them. In episode five, Ah-yi is silenced by the shopkeeper Doo-shik (Yoon Kyung-ho) when the police ask if she knows him. It appears she tries to tell the lead detective that Doo-shik attacked her, but he instead talks over her to where she can’t say anything. Ha-na is physically silenced, while Ha-yoon’s murder silences her permanently in exception of the little bit of magic that revealed what happened to her.

The show does too much to try to cover a lot of societal issues that occur globally but more heavily in South Korea. The ambition here should be commended, but The Sound of Magic could have been more successful in addressing these issues if it was longer than six episodes. There’s a lot to unpack, so it is a shame the show was so condensed.

Overall, there are solid characters despite the rockiness of the storyline. However, the issue regarding Ri-eul is problematic and one that’s not solved adequately. The message sent that he’s a protagonist is questionable at best, but it is a topic worth discussing.

The Sound of Magic earns a solid 3/5. It was a decent show, but the issues associated with it can’t be ignored.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

 

#TheSoundOf Magic #kcrushreview #YoonKyungho #TheSoundofMagicAnnarasumanara #netflixseries #buzzworddrama #kdrama #kdramaseries #kdramareview #JiChangwook #HwangInyoup #kcrushofficial #webtoonreview #Rieul

VERIVERY a seven member group debuted on January 9, 2019, with Jellyfish Entertainment. This group’s pre-debut song, titled “Super Special,” became an instant hit and was the OST of their first reality show. The members consist of DONGHEON, HOYOUNG, MINCHAN, GYEHYEON, YEONHO, YONGSEUNG, and KANGMIN. Their first full album, “SERIES ‘O’ [ROUND 3 : WHOLE]” was recently released and has a huge following of their music video and song, “0” from the album. VERIVERY’s fans known as “VERRER” are very special to them and they have worked hard to bring about this first album, full tour in 2021 and more. You can look forward to new things from them soon. We want to thank them for taking time out for this interview and we say much continued success.

#VERIVERY #JellyfistEntertainment #kcrushinterview #VERIVERYInterview #videointerview #kpop #kpopidol #newVeriVeryinterview #kcrushoriginal #officialkcrush #Asianmusic #Asianidol #Seoul #kpopboyband

Back in 2018 and 2019, Kcrush published two articles about biracial celebrities with Asian backgrounds. We’re revisiting those articles and including more celebrities that have Asian backgrounds. Of course, we encourage our readers to share others we may have missed!

 

Bruno Mars

Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars (Peter Gene Hernandez) is of Filipino, Puerto Rican, Spanish, and Jewish descent.

During his time in the music industry, Bruno Mars has stated that record executives “had trouble categorizing him” because of his mixed-race background. He’s even been accused of cultural appropriation due to his racial ambiguity, though several celebrities have called the allegations bogus.

“There are a lot of people who have this mixed background that are in this gray zone,” Bruno Mars told Latina magazine. “A lot of people think, ‘This is awesome. You’re in this gray zone, so you can pass for whatever the hell you want.’ But it’s not like that at all. It’s actually the exact opposite.”

Despite his struggles in the industry, Bruno Mars has become one of the most recognized singers over the past decade. With songs like “Just the Way You Are,” “Grenade,” “Locked Out of Heaven,” and “Uptown Funk” among others, Bruno Mars is a certified hit-maker!

 

Charles Melton

Riverdale actor Charles Melton is of Korean and English descent. Melton grew up in both the United States and South Korea. The model-turned-actor is the first Korean-American/Asian-American actor to lead a teen romance film by a major Hollywood studio when he starred in The Sun is Also a Star.

 

Chrissy Teigen

Model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen is of Thai and Norwegian heritage. Teigen, who is married to John Legend and a mother to two children, began her modeling career with the clothing company Billabong. She’s also modeled for Sports Illustrated prior to morphing into a television personality and an oft-controversial figure.

Teigen is also a cookbook author, having two cookbooks published that went on to be New York Times best-sellers. In 2019, Times Magazine named her as one of the top influential people in the world.

 

Danny Pudi

Best known for his role as Abed Nadir in the TV show Community, Danny Pudi is Indian and Polish. The three-time Critics’ Choice nominee grew up in Chicago where he attended Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, Illinois. Growing up, Pudi spoke Polish to his mother and grandmother; he also took Polish dance lessons. He is a Marquette University graduate with a degree in communications and theatre. While attending Marquette University, Pudi was the first recipient of the Chris Farley Scholarship which opened the door to him performing improv and studying at Chicago’s Second City.

Besides being known for his role in Community, Pudi also stars as Brad Bakshi in Mystic Quest and voices Huey in the 2017-2021 Ducktales reboot.

 

Darren Criss

Darren Criss—who is a singer, actor, and songwriter— has Chinese, Filipino, Spanish, English, German, and Irish roots.

The Glee alum has an impressive acting and Broadway resume, but many will remember Criss as Harry Potter in A Very Potter Musical, A StarKid Production musical; Criss is a founding member and co-owner of StarKid.

Criss is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner for his role as spree killer Andrew Cunanan in 2018’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. On Broadway, Criss replaced Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. During his three-week stint, Criss’ appearance helped the show turn in three of its most lucrative weeks. Impressive for his Broadway debut!

 

Devon Aoki

Actress and fashion model Devon Aoki has Japanese, German, and English backgrounds.

Aoki, who is the half-sister of Steven Aoki, has had starring film roles in 2006’s DOA: Dead or Alive and 2008’s Mutant Chronicles. She’s appeared in 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Sin City (2005), and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead (2009).

Aoki made her modeling debut in 1997. She’s walked the runway for Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, and Comme des Garçons. In 1998, she was the face of Versace. She’s also appeared in ad campaigns for Tiffany & Co., Baby Phat, and Marc Jacobs among others.

In 2009, Aoki retired from acting to focus on motherhood. She and husband James Bailey share three daughters and one son.

Aoki is the daughter of Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki, the founder of Benihana restaurant and Genesis Magazine. She is also the aunt of model and singer-songwriter Yumi Nu.

 

H.E.R

H.E.R (Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson) is of Filipino and African American descent.

H.E.R debuted as a musician in 1997 when she performed as Gabi Wilson when she appeared on The Today Show. The singer-songwriter is known for her R&B hits like “Focus” (2016), “Best Part” (2017), and “Damage” (2020). Several of her hits have been certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA, and she’s the 2021 Apple Music Awards Songwriter of the Year. Between 2017-2021, H.E.R has headlined three tours.

In 2021, it was announced H.E.R would make her feature film debut in the upcoming adaptation of The Color Purple. She is slated to play Squeak.

 

Han Hyun-Min

In 2017, Time Magazine named Han Hyun-Min as one of the magazine’s top 30 most influential teens.

Han, who is of Nigerian and South Korean descent, is the first Korean model of African descent to appear on South Korean and international catwalks. A modeling agency discovered Han on his Instagram when he was 15-years old. Following a meeting at a coffee shop, Han was signed on-the-spot and quickly became one of the modeling world’s most in-demand models… but that doesn’t mean he didn’t face racism along the way as his career blossomed. He hopes to someday become a model in Japan.

 

Hayley Kiyoko

Singer-songwriter, actress, and dancer Hayley Kiyoko Alcroft has Japanese, Welsh, and Scottish roots.

As an actress, Kiyoko’s appeared in Lemonade Mouth (2011), Jem and the Holograms (2015), and the TV series The Fosters (2014).

As a singer, Kiyoko was a founding member of the American pop group The Stunners. Kiyoko, who identifies as a lesbian, uses her music to tell her story about coming to terms with her orientation. Through her music, she hopes to inspire others who struggle with their sexual identities.

“I think it’s just important for people to lead by example,” Kiyoko told Billboard in 2018. “My motto is to help people love themselves sooner. I can’t teach them how to do that. They have to figure that out on their own — that’s their journey.”

 

Henry Golding

Malaysian-British actor, TV host, and model Henry Golding had quite the journey before his starring role in Crazy Rich Asians made him a recognizable face!

Born in Sarawak, Malaysia, Golding’s mother is a native-born Sarawakian of indigenous Iban Dayak ancestry. Golding’s father is British. Golding moved to England when he was eight-years old before moving to Kuala Lumpur to pursue acting. Prior to heading back to Malaysia where he was TV host for The 8TV Quickie, Football Crazy, and The Travel Show, Golding worked as a hairdresser in London.

In 2017, Golding won the role of Crazy Rich Asian’s leading man, Nick, following a casting call. His charm and personality caught Jon M. Chu’s eyes after his accountant brought him to his attention. As the cliché goes, the rest is history!

Following the success of Crazy Rich Asians, Golding earned roles in A Simple Favor (2018), Last Christmas (2019), and The Gentleman (2019).

In 2016, Golding married Taiwanese TV presenter Liv Lo. Prior to their marriage, Golding had to complete a bejalai—an Iban rite of passage into manhood—as part of his Iban Dayak’s ancestry’s culture. He spent two months in the Borneo wilderness. He filmed his experience for the documentary Surviving Borneo which aired on Discovery Channel Asia.

Golding has several projects in the works coming out in 2022 and 2023. In 2021, he and his wife Liv welcomed their first child.

 

Jessica Henwick

Chinese-Singaporean and Zambian actress Jessica Henwick has had her hand in some of pop culture’s biggest shows and movies!

In 2009, Henwick became the first actress of East Asian descent to have a lead role in a British television series when she landed the role of Bo in Spirit Warriors.

From 2015-2017, Henwick had a recurring role as Nymeria Sand in Game of Thrones. From 2017-2018, she played a main role in Iron Fist, The Defenders, and Luke Cage as Colleen Wing. She also appeared as Jessika “Testor” Pava in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Bugs in Matrix Resurrection, the latter of which earned her Best Supporting Actress nominations by Gold House and CAPE.

 

Karen O

South Korean-born singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer Karen O (Karen Lee Orzolek) sports a Korean-Polish background.

Karen O is the lead singer of the American rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. While she was born in Busan, South Korea, she grew up in New Jersey. In addition to being the lead singer for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, she’s also an accomplished soloist who’s collaborated with Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Trent Reznor among others.

 

Kristin Kreuk

Perhaps best known for her role as Lana Lang in Smallville, Canadian-born actress Kristin Kreuk’s background is Chinese and Dutch.

Kreuk began acting in 2000 when a casting director contacted her for a role in the Canadian soap opera Edgemont.  From Edgemont, Kreuk snagged the lead role in Snow White: Fairest of Them All for ABC. After Snow White wrapped, Kruek, who was also still acting in Edgemont, landed the role as Smallville’s Lana.

Since Smallville, Kruek has appeared in the revival of the TV series Beauty and the Beast and Burden of Truth. She also works behind the camera as a producer.

Kreuk also had ties to NXIVM, a cult and multi-leveling marketing group. Kreuk left NXIVM in 2013. Initially, she believed it was a “self help group,” and didn’t see any wrongdoings during her time with the organization. Meanwhile, Smallville co-star Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan) was arrested and charged due to illegal activities with the organization including sex-trafficking, racketeering, and forced labor. Mack is serving prison time for racketeering and racketeering conspiracy.

 

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Best known as Saved by the Bell’s Zach Morris, Mark-Paul Gosselaar is Dutch and Indonesian.

“I was arguably America’s favorite white boy at one point,” Gosselaar told Newsweek in 2019 when asked about his own interracial experiences growing up. “…[It’s] like, ‘Wait, that guy is mixed?’ It’s one of those things that because of the way I looked I didn’t have to deal with it. It’s a conversation I have had and I do have with my kids because they are—as well—mixed.”

Gosselaar, who has been an active actor since 1986, has appeared in Mixed-ish, Hyperion Bay, NYPD Blue, and in the Saved by the Bell spin-offs and recent revival.

In addition to acting, Gosselaar is also a race car driver, cyclist, and pilot.

 

Michael Yo

Michael Yo has a black and Korean background.

The actor, stand-up comedian, and former host of The Insider has a solid résumé! In addition to his stand-up routine Blasian, Yo hosts the The Yo Show on Yahoo TV! and provides commentary on Showbiz Tonight. He’s also appeared on Chelsea Lately and America’s Got Talent.

Yo is married to Miss Wyoming USA 2010 winner Claire Schreiner.

 

Naomi Scott

Many know Naomi Scott for her roles as Mo in Lemonade Mouth and Kimberly the Pink Ranger in 2017’s Power Rangers movie. The English-Indian actress and singer became a household name for Disney fans thanks to her role as Jasmine in 2019’s live-action adaption of Aladdin.

Scott’s been active as an actress and singer since 2008. She was originally discovered by British pop singer Kéllé Bryan, which helped open many doors for Scott. Throughout her career, Scott’s work with British songwriters and producers Xenomania and appeared in the Disney UK’s series Life Bites. In addition to Power Rangers, Aladdin, and Lemonade Mouth, Scott also held roles in Charlie’s Angels (2019), Anatomy of a Scandal (2022), and 2022’s film Distant.

For her acting roles, Scott’s been nominated for Teen Choice, Saturn, and Shorty awards. In 2019, she won a Teen Choice Award for her role as Jasmine in Aladdin.

 

If there’s anyone we missed, stay tuned for part four! Of course, continue the discussion in the comments below!

 

Photo credits: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16)

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#biracialcelebrities #Asianbiracialcelebrities #HER #NaomiScott #MichaelYo #MarkPaulGosselaar #KristinKruek #KarenO #JessicaHenwick #HenryGolding #HaleyKiYoko #HanHyunMin #DevonAoki #DarrenCriss #DannyPudi #ChrissyTeigen #CharlesMelton #BrunoMars #kcrush #kcrushamerica #Asianhistory #Asiancelebrities #CrazyRichAsians

 

On June 18, 2022, former B.A.P leader and current rapper and producer Bang Yongguk will be holding a global fan meeting at 1am CST and 5am CST (15:00 and 19:00 KST).

The event titled Bang Yongguk Global Fan Meet-Up: Bangstergram, which is hosted by Hello Live, is a ticket-only event. We at Kcrush will be giving away two tickets to two lucky fans for this event!

To enter, we’re asking for donations to be made to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) via K-Pop Social Night’s fundraiser on the NAMI webpage. Even a donation as small as a $1 gets you entered into the contest. After making a donation, take a screenshot of your donation (do not provide any personal information!) and message us on Facebook to let us know. That’s it! We’ll notify winners on Friday June 17 by 3pm CST.

Each ticket will be purchased under the name and email of the giveaway winner, and we will send you the login information. The winning tickets will not include the video call.

Good luck to all who enter!

 

#BangYongGuk #giveaway #contest #BangYongGukFanMeeting #BAP #BAPBABYS #kpop #kindie #ksoul #BangYongGukCONCENT #Junefanmeeting #meetandgreetBangYongGuk #livestreamfanmeeting #BangYongGuklivestream #BangYongGukJuneevents