[UPDATE] Jung Joon Young Identified as One of the Burning Sun Chat Participants

 

Note: Articles written about this topic are not accusing anyone of guilt. The stories just relay information. All parties are innocent until proven guilty.

Singer, actor, and variety show regular, Jung Joon Young (Drug Restaurant, 2 Days & 1 Night, Four-Wheeled Restaurant) has been identified as one of the participants in the KakaoTalk chats surrounding the Burning Sun controversy. He also admitted to illegally filming and sharing sex videos.

On March 11, 2019, the media reported that the chatroom texts allegedly between BIGBANG’s Seungri (who was named a suspect March 10), different celebrities, and Burning Sun staff were leaked to the media by a phone repairman who was in possession of a celebrity’s phone that needed fixed.

“Following analysis of the KakaoTalk conversations, it was confirmed that chat room actually existed and the conversation were not fabricated or manipulated,” police said.

Later in the day, it was revealed that the alleged celebrity is Jung.

According to SBS, some of the chats are allegedly graphic in nature. Some purported one-on-one chats also contained graphic content about several girl group members.

Jung’s label, MAKEUS Entertainment, released a statement following the allegations.

Hello, this is MAKEUS Entertainment.

We currently feel immense regret at the severity of the ongoing reports involving singer Jung Joon Young, who is a part of our new sub-label, Label M.

We are currently in contact with Jung Joon Young, who is overseas for schedules; however, we are still facing difficulties in confirming the validity of the accusations. We apologize for this. Nonetheless, we assure that Jung Joon Young plans on immediately halting all of his schedules in order to return to Korea, so that he may begin his diligent participation in the ongoing police investigations.

Once again, we apologize for causing worry through such disconcerting news.

These are not the first allegations against Jung for recording and sharing sex videos. In 2016, Jung admitted to filming himself having sex with his then-girlfriend. His now-ex reported Jung for sexual harassment in August of that year, but the woman involved eventually dropped the charges and Jung was cleared in September. At the time, Jung stated the film showing he and his then-girlfriend engaging in intercourse was consensual. He later apologized for the incident, an apology that is now being called “fake.”

 

 

Jung, who was overseas at the time for promotions, reportedly returned to Korea and is expected to cooperate with the investigation. His questioning is expected to take place March 14, 2019. He was booked on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes. Police allege that Jung has at least ten women filmed over a period of ten months since 2015.

“We booked Jung Joon Young and others in relation to allegations of spreading illegally taken videos this afternoon. We cannot reveal the identities of the other suspects,” the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said.

Jung has since been fired from his TV appearances. On March 12, 2019, MAKEUS Entertainment released a statement saying his contract has been terminated.

All parties are innocent until proven guilty. This is a swiftly developing story.

 

— Olivia Murray

 

Note: Articles written about this topic are not accusing anyone of guilt. The stories just relay information. All parties are innocent until proven guilty.

In an unexpected turn of events, Seungri announced on March 11, 2019 that he is retiring from the entertainment industry.

In an Instagram post, Seungri wrote the following message to his fans:

This is Seungri.

At this point, I think it would be best if I retire from the entertainment industry. I decided on retiring from the entertainment industry as the issues that I caused a societal disturbance which are too major. Regarding the issues that are being investigated, I will be investigated diligently and reveal all the suspicions.

Receiving criticism and hate from the public for the past month and a half and with the situation of all the investigative agencies in the country currently investigating me, I am even being cornered as a traitor of the nation. I personally cannot tolerate causing harm to everyone around me in order to save myself.

I sincerely thank all of the fans in and outside of Korea who have given me lots of love for the past 10 years, and I think this is where I stop even if it’s at least [to protect] the honor of YG and BIGBANG.

Again, I am sorry and apologize once again.

I have been thankful to everyone until now.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

승리입니다 제가 이시점에서 연예계를 은퇴를하는것이 좋을거같습니다. 사회적 물의를 일으킨 사안이 너무나 커 연예계 은퇴를 결심했습니다 수사중인 사안에 있어서는 성실하게 조사를 받아 쌓인 모든 의혹을 밝히도록 하겠습니다. 지난 한달반동안 국민들로부터 질타받고 미움받고 지금 국내 모든 수사기관들이 저를 조사하고 있는 상황에서 국민역적 으로까지 몰리는 상황인데 저 하나 살자고 주변 모두에게 피해주는일은 도저히 제스스로가 용납이 안됩니다 지난 10여 년간 많은 사랑을 베풀어준 국내외 많은 팬분들께 모든 진심을 다해 감사드리며 와이지와 빅뱅 명예를 위해서라도 저는 여기까지인거같습니다 다시한번 죄송하고 또 죄송합니다 그동안 모든분들께 감사했습니다

A post shared by @ seungriseyo on Mar 11, 2019 at 1:39am PDT

 

YTN reports that a YG Entertainment insider said, “Seungri’s retirement announcement was not a decision made after consulting with YG, but a decision made on his own. He was even more distressed because these incidents happened right before his enlistment.”

“To be honest, no exact details have been revealed about Seungri during the past month and a half of police investigations. Seungri felt especially more guilty about causing harm to those around him,” the insider concluded.

A source from YG told Xportsnews, “Currently, there is no additional statement to be made from the company related to this. There has also been nothing decided yet regarding anything such as a termination of his exclusive contract.”

Meanwhile, Koreaboo states that YG Entertainment songwriter, YGM, stated Seungri was kicked out and that he did not leave the company under his own volition.

In a now deleted post, YGM allegedly posted, “fooling around by telling people that he voluntarily left when he was actually kicked out. Real.”

The statement is neither confirmed nor denied as YG himself has not commented on Seungri’s retirement announcement.

Seungri was recently named a suspect in connection to the Burning Sun scandal. He was booked and questioned by police based on charges he violated South Korea’s Acts on Pimping and Prostitution and its Punishments.

Meanwhile, he is expected to enlist March 25, 2019.

 

All parties are innocent until proven guilty. This is a swiftly developing story.

 

— Olivia Murray

Note: Articles written about this topic are not accusing anyone of guilt. The stories just relay information. All parties are innocent until proven guilty.

On March 10, 2019, police officially named BIGBANG’s Seungri a suspect in the Burning Sun controversy. Upon the announcement, it was also revealed that he is banned from leaving the country due to the ongoing investigation.

“We booked Seungri and changed his status to that of a suspect in order to issue a search and seizure warrant and clear him of the suspicions,” a police spokesman said at a press conference.

According to Soompi and SBS Australia, Seungri was booked and questioned by police based on charges he violated South Korea’s Acts on Pimping and Prostitution and its Punishments. Upon booking, he was questioned regarding his purported involvement in lining up high-end escorts for foreign investors of nightclubs with which he was associated.

Police also stated “three to four” other people were also booked in connection to the case as it relates to the KakaoTalk messages.

Additionally, on March 10, 2019, police also investigated Club Arena in Gangnam searching for evidence in the case. According to SBS Australia, police found information regarding the pimping allegations in the search, but there is no confirmation as to who was involved.

On March 11, 2019, Kyanghyang Shimun reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency banned Seungri from leaving South Korea due to the ongoing investigation.

 

KakaoTalk Texts Confirmed Legitimate

Meanwhile, police confirmed the much-contested text messages allegedly sent via KakaoTalk are legitimate. YG Entertainment, Yuri Holdings, and Seungri denied their legitimacy earlier in the investigation.

“Following analysis of the KakaoTalk conversations, it was confirmed that chat room actually existed and the conversation were not fabricated or manipulated,” police said.

Additionally, Soompi reports that the alleged hidden chat room and the alleged secret camera videos that were circulated on the chats were found when one of the celebrities mentioned in the group chats was having his phone repaired. The repairmen allegedly leaked the messages and videos to the media.

 

Seungri to Enlist March 25

Even though the investigation is still ongoing, Seungri is still slated to enlist and begin his military service March 25, 2019. It has not been announced if his enlistment will be delayed in any capacity, but given how fast this story develops, there is a chance his enlistment may be delayed.

Seungri has been cooperative with police during the investigation.

 

All parties are innocent until proven guilty. This is a swiftly developing story.

 

— Olivia Murray

Stills of Melody Day from their ‘When it rains’ MV.

 

Bringing dramas to life

Originally formed in 2012 as a three-member all-female Kpop group, Melody Day made their official debut in February 2014 with members Yeoeun, Chahee, and Yein. A fourth member, Yoomin joined the group a little later in October 2014.

Their debut single album ‘Another Parting’ peaked at only no. 30 on the Korean Gaon music chart but managed to win the best music video award at the Melon Music Awards in 2014.

Although the group lacked chart success, they were recognized for their vocal prowess featuring ubiquitously either individually or as a group in original soundtracks (OSTs) for over twenty six Kdramas over the years, such as the popular ‘Master’s Sun’ (2013), ‘You Are My Destiny’ (2014) and more recent offerings such as 2018’s ‘Temperature of Love’ and ‘My ID is Gangnam Beauty’.

 

Surviving in the Kpop music industry

Armed with talent and determination, the group made valiant attempts at growing their fanbase and popularity, participating in collaborations with popular Kpop artists such as Vixx’s Ravi, CNBlue’s Lee Jong-hyun and Wheesung, amongst others.

One member, Yeoeun, participated in the popular anonymous singing competition show  ‘Masked Singer’ and became the ninth winner. In addition, three of the members – Yeoeun, Yoomin, and Chahee – joined the idol rebooting reality competition show ‘The Unit’ but unfortunately failed to enter the winning group line-up.

Yein, also helped to raise awareness of the group with her individual schedules which included a permanent role on a variety show and becoming a DJ for Kookbang FM’s popular radio program ‘Candy Star’.

Their fourth and final digital single as Melody Day – ‘Restless’ – was released in June 2018. Despite their efforts, Melody Day still fell short of mainstream fame as a group, which could be the reason why the members decided not to renew their contracts with their agency, Cre.ker Entertainment, upon the expiry of their contracts in December 2018 – spelling an end to their activities as a group.

 

Finding their footing in 2019

 

 A recent photo of Yeoeun shared on her Instagram account @yeosilver.

 

Yeoeun has previously stated through a handwritten message on her Instagram account that she wished to show supporters of Melody Day a better version of herself and looked forward to bringing good news in 2019.

Since then, she has shared her activities which included participation in the OST for the opening song of ‘Aerover’ an MBC TV comic and the OST for Kdrama ‘A Pledge to God’.

 

Photo of Chahee on her travels at The Getty Villa, LA, California shared on her Instagram account @hichaheebye.

 

Chahee, known as the choreographer of the group has charmed fans before with her candid statements in tv appearances so it’s no surprise they’re eagerly awaiting news on her next project. However, there’s been no news as yet and her Instagram account @hichaheebye has been set to private so be sure to follow her to get the latest updates.

Her most recent photos show her travelling in and around LA, California, including a trip to the beautiful Getty Villa.

 

A recent photo of Yoomin shared on her Instagram account @na_yoo_min.

 

Yoomin, previously became known for being related to famous South Korean actor Jang Dong Gun who is her father’s cousin. Since then, she has worked hard to make her mark as a singer through her work with Melody Day and through exposure in shows like ‘The Unit’ but has not made any announcements on upcoming projects just yet.

Meanwhile, fans can check out her Instagram account @na_yoo_min for the latest updates in 2019.

 

A promo photo of Yein from Melody Day’s last single ‘Restless’ in 2018.

 

Yein, originally auditioned as an actress before joining Melody Day and it is known that her parents are voice actors. She has also taken part in reality dating show ‘My Daughter’s Men’ and participated as a DJ for a radio program in addition to her lead vocalist role in Melody Day.

Currently under the radar with even her Instagram account becoming inactive, it’s not known what she’ll be focusing on in future as fans await her next comeback.

 

 

—-Fie Fed

 

Stills of the girls from their recent Instagram live broadcast in January 2019. From left: Yujin (Mail), Minju, Jane, Euna and Suji.

 

A brief starburst

The Ark was a five-member all female South Korean Kpop group formed under Music K Entertainment. The members comprising Minju, Yuna, Yujin, Halla, and Jane debuted in April 2015, releasing only one digital single album titled ‘Somebody 4 Life’ before disbanding in 2016.

The short lived hip hop group promoted the single and music video for ‘The Light’ from their album prior to disbandment which struck a chord with audiences due to the moving storyline and similarities with the Sewol Ferry disaster which had greatly affected the South Korean public at the time.

 

Keeping their dreams alive

The group’s brief time in the limelight was surprisingly impactful, garnering a moderate but loyal following judging from viewer comments and the over 4.8 million views of their sole mv ‘The Light’ on YouTube.

With the small taste of fame and support from fans, the girls were determined to continue their work in the entertainment industry with some members taking part in new programs and projects to raise their profile or debut in new groups since the disbandment.

Yuna was one of the most prolific members, participating in reality competition shows such as ‘Unpretty Rapstar’ and ‘The Unit’, even earning herself the nickname ‘audition addict’ in the process.

Suji was also on ‘The Unit’ and successfully debuted as one of the members of the winning lineup from the show which has since ended.

 

Gearing up for 2019

The girls met up recently last January and shared their current plans for 2019 in a live Instagram broadcast which is available on YouTube.

 

A recent photo of Yujin shared on her Instagram account @mail_yj.

 

Yujin has changed her name to Mail and is now a solo artist working on releasing a new album. No set date yet for the release but you can check out her official Instagram account @mail_yj and YouTube channel where she regularly uploads videos of her covers.

 

A promo photo of Minju (left) and Euna (right) shared on their official Instagram account @official.khan.ig.

 

Minju and Yuna (now known as Euna), have formed a duo called ‘Khan’ and released their first single ‘I’m Your Girl’ in May 2018. They also have an official Instagram account @official.khan.ig and YouTube channel with over two million views for their ‘I’m Your Girl’ mv.

They recently appeared on ‘Vocal Play’, the first South Korean acapella music show where participants display their vocal prowess by singing without instrumental accompaniment.

 

A recent photo of Jane shared on her Instagram account @j.a.n.e.c.h.u.n.

 

Jane is currently studying in university and enjoying life as a hardworking scholarship student. She shared during the live Instagram broadcast that she is relishing the life of an ordinary student but looks forward to being back in the entertainment industry once her studies are over.

 

A recent photo of Suji shared on her Instagram account @1998_suji_ya.

 

Halla, now known as Suji, has finished her stint with The Unit and is now focusing on breaking into the acting world. She’s currently preparing herself through training and lessons and hopes to debut as an actress soon. In response to a fan question during the live Instagram session, she mentioned that her dream role is to star in a historical drama.

 

 

—-Fie Fed

Following Hoya and Yoseob (Highlight, formerly known as Beast) military enlistments, three more K-idols enlisted March 4, 2019.

VIXX’s N, 2AM’s Jeong Jinwoon, and SHINee’s Key all checked in for their required service.

N (Cha Hak Yeon) reported to the Nonsan Army Training Center to begin basic military training. While masked, N smiled and waved at ST☆RLIGHTs (VIXX’s fandom) as he prepared to say goodbye. N’s family came with him to send him off.

 

 

N made his enlistment announcement on his fan cafe early in January by stating, “Although you may be surprised or startled by the sudden news, I think it will be a great source of strength to me if you quietly cheer me on, just as you have done up until now.”

Prior to leaving, VIXX’s groupmates sent supportive messages to him on social media.

“Hak Yeon, you did well, you worked hard, thank you,” Hyuk wrote on Twitter.

In a Twitter post, Leo said, “All sorts of things happened to us. Thanks to you, I can feel the weight of the precious moments we spent together more strongly. I miss you a little today.”

Through a string of tweets, Ravi added, “You’re someone I’m grateful for because you gather energy for VIXX, never cower from standing in the front of our team and fight for us in the shadows. We fought with each other like crazy and now our bond is too deep… [I have] love and hatred for Cha Hak Yeon (laughs). I miss you today (tears). I was relieved to see that you were energetic, but I’m also worried. See you again soon. I love you.”

N promised his fans and groupmates that he would return safely.

 

2AM’s Jinwoon also enlisted at the Nonsan Army Training Center.

 

 

Jinwoon cheerfully greeted fans prior to entering the training center. Fans can with cards and gifts to wish him well.

In an Instagram post, Jinwoon said, “I’ve never been gone for so long before, and I wasn’t sure what to do, so I first took down all of the lights. After seeing my desk that’s covered so it doesn’t get piled with dust, it feels weird [Laughs]. I’ll return quickly and make a lot of great songs.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

이렇게 오랫동안 자리를 비운적이 없는데 어떻게 해야하나 하다 모든 전기를 다 내리고 먼지 안 쌓이게 덮어버린 내 책상 보니까 기분 이상하다ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ금방 다녀와서 좋은 노래 많이 만들께요?

A post shared by Jeong jinwoon (@jinwoon52) on Mar 3, 2019 at 11:30am PST

Jinwoon is the last 2AM member to enlist. Currently serving are Seulong and Jo Kwon, while Changmin served prior to his debut.

 

On February 24, 2019, Jinwoon held a solo concert with his band to say goodbye to his fans.

SHINee’s Key (Kim Kibum) smiled as he said goodbye to fans prior to entering the Nonsan Army Training Center. He is the second SHINee member to enlist following Onew’s enlistment in December 2018.

“In order to fulfill my military duty, I am enlisting today and will be discharged around October of next year. I will be strong and healthy, so don’t worry too much,” Key told fans.

Prior to leaving, Key wrote a letter he posted to Instagram. It reads,

To. All my little freaks.

Hello, this is SHINee’s Key. Everyone’s doing well, right?

I debuted in 2008 and busily made it this far.

The precious memories I’ve shared with everyone have become the driving force for me to run towards the same place without getting distracted.

I’m always thankful, and I feel sorry that I couldn’t entirely express my feelings of gratitude.

I haven’t had long breaks before, but I’ve been called to enlist on March 4, so I won’t be able to greet you all for the time being.

Although many of you might feel hurt and disappointed, I know you’ve waited for this long before while waiting for album releases, so without many worries, I’ll bravely return in good health.

Please stay healthy and happy. I hope you’ll spend your time filled with love.

I’m always grateful, and I love you.

P.S. I’m leaving!!!!!♡

FROM. KEY

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by SHINee KEY (@bumkeyk) on Mar 3, 2019 at 12:45am PST

Key released an MV for “I Wanna Be” which features Soyeon of G(I)-dle. He also told fans that in April, he will be featured in shows that were prerecorded prior to his enlistment.

Jinwoon, Key, and N will complete training then will complete their service in the military band. We wish all three the best.

 

— Olivia Murray

 

Jo Su-gyeong (born 22, November of 1962) – known worldwide as Jo Sumi – is a Korean Coloratura soprano, a Grammy-winner, animal activist and philanthropist.

Jo was born and spent most of her childhood in Changwon, South Korea. Her mother was formerly an amateur singer and pianist who had been unable to pursue her career due to the state of South Korea in the ‘50s. Because Jo was exceptionally bright and showed evident signs of musical talent, her parents saved up to buy her a piano and she was made to practice every day under strict guidance by her mother. Jo began playing the piano at age 4, even before she learned to read – received vocal lessons at age 6, and was not permitted to play outside like the average children her age. Under her mother’s orders, she was made to play 8 hours on the piano per day without any rest. Jo has said during one of her interviews: “When I was born my destiny was already made because my mother clearly wanted me to be an opera singer, so there was no choice.”

In 1976, Jo was admitted into Sunhwa Arts School in Seoul on a full scholarship, and acquired dual diplomas when she graduated. She also received the highest score in the history of Seoul National University entrance exam for her audition. While still a student, Jo made her professional recital debut, appeared in several concerts with the KBS, and as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro with Korea National Opera.

In past interviews, Jo reflected on her Korean college life and said that she played hard for attention by dressing loud and acting the diva on school campus. She spent the majority of her time clubbing; lost interest in studying and rarely attended lectures. She was later forced to drop out of school, due to poor grades.

After being fervently persuaded by her parents and professor, Jo made up her mind to leave Korea to study abroad but the lack of money was the issue. She was nearly made to cancel her flight but was able to miraculously attain the sum that she needed, at the last minute.

Jo was admitted to Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Italy, which is one of the world’s most oldest music institutions, and was trained by world-renowned teachers including, the late operatic tenor Carlo Bergonzi. Jo had to work extra work and took classes to learn Italian. This only allowed her to get 3 to 4 hours of sleep a day, and since she didn’t have enough money for food either, she collapsed due to malnutrition and had to be hospitalized. Another hardship she had to face was the housing issue – Jo had to practice her vocals for hours in the night and neighbors often complained – which made her relocate several times a year (with her piano), which wasn’t easy without a vehicle.

 

 

Her hard work eventually paid off because she soon acquired the recognition she longed for and deserved. After graduating in 1985, Jo won several of the most competitive international competitions, and was awarded first prize in the Carlo Alberto Cappelli International Competition in Verona, which was held exclusively for first-prize winners of major competitions.

Here are some of the highlights of her music career.

In 1988, Jo made her La Scala debut, and in the same year, she debuted with the Bavarian State Opera and sang Barbarina in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at the Salzburg Festival. She made her European operatic debut as Gilda in Verdi‘s Rigoletto at the Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste, Italy. Conductor Herbert von Karajan, took notice of Jo’s performance, and cast her as Oscar in Un ballo in maschera opposite the legendary Spanish opera singer Plácido Domingo for the 1989 Salzburg Festival.

Maestro Herbert von Karajan, who is one of the greatest conductors of the last century, made a statement that Jo had “a voice from above” which tagged her like a nickname from then onwards. However, his fatal heart disease prevented Jo from performing under his baton but she did get to sing under his direction at the studio recording for Deutsche Grammophon.

In 1989, Jo made her debut with the Vienna State Opera and returned to the Salzburg Festival to sing in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera. That same year, she made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera. In 1990, Jo made her debut with the Chicago Lyric Opera as the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. The following year, she returned to the Metropolitan Opera to perform and made her Royal Opera, Covent Garden, debut and returned to Covent Garden the following year as Adina in L’elisir d’amore and Elvira in I puritani.

In 1993, Jo won a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 1993 and the Best Soprano of the Year at the La Siola d’Oro International Opera Prize in Forli, Italy in the same year.

She appeared in the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with the Metropolitan Opera and sang the role of the Queen of the Night at the Salzburg Festival and Covent Garden. In 1994, she made her debut with Los Angeles Opera as Sophie in Strauss‘ Der Rosenkavalier, and performed as Countess Adèle in Le comte Ory at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in 1995.

During the next decade or so, Jo performed in major cities around the world, with numerous symphony orchestras, including the Cincinnati Pops, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

In 2006, just before she performed Ave Maria at Chatelet, Paris, Jo learned that her father had just passed away, so she was about to cancel her performance to attend the funeral in Korea. But her mother advised her to keep her promise to the audience, and that it would be more honorable to hold the concert in her father’s memory. Her performance from that concert, was dedicated to her father and released on DVD, Sumi Jo in Paris – For my Father.

In 2007, she performed Violetta in La traviata for the first time with the Toulon Opera and performed at the Opera Comique and Opéra Royal de Wallonie, from 2008 until 2009.

In 2008, Jo was honored as the winner of the Puccini International Prize from the Puccini Festival Foundation in Italy, on the 150th anniversary of composer Giacommo Puccini’s birth.

Jo performed crossover stages since her first Broadway Songs concert at Carnegie Hall accompanied by The Orchestra of St. Luke’s in 2001, and her first crossover album “Only Love” was released worldwide, placing her on the list of best-selling recordings.

In 2011, she celebrated her 25th anniversary of International Opera Debut, as she travelled all over the world. By this time, Jo was performing all over the world, for longer than 300 days of the year. In 2013, Jo performed for Korea’s new presidential inauguration ceremony, followed by Korea tour concerts, Russia piano recital, Shanghai recital, China Philharmonic Invitation concerts and performed at the Vatican. In 2018, Jo performed “Here As One”, for the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, with CCM Singer Sohyang. On March 1, 2019, Jo released a single called “I am a Korean” to celebrate the 100th anniversary of March 1st National Independence Movement.

Jo currently holds over 50 recordings to her credit – complete operas, oratorio, operetta, and Broadway standards – and 10 albums for Erato Records.

 

Random Facts about Jo Sumi

 

 

*Jo is an advocate for animal rights and is a pescatarian.

*During her first Korean concert in 1988, the late Korean fashion designer Andre Kim watched Jo perform in a low budget dress that she had made herself (because she couldn’t afford a custom-made designer ensemble), and offered to provide the stage outfits for her. Kim made over 200 specially-made stage outfits for Jo until his death in 2010. Jo grieved for him and held a concert in his memory.

*Jo was behind singing vocals for the character Veda Pierce of the HBO mini-series Mildred Pierce.

*Jo can speak and communicate in most European languages, including Italian, French English and Russian.

*Jo is single, and has never been married. She was engaged at one point during the 90s, but the relationship didn’t work out.

*Jo is a highly knowledgeable soccer fan. She supports A.C. Milan and wants to try soccer commentating.

*Jo is a second cousin to Korean actor Yoo Gun: she is Yoo’s father’s cousin, which makes her the actor’s aunt in Korean terms.

*Boyband Highlight member, Yang Yo-seob performed a duet with Jo at “Jo Sumi’s Park Concert – La Fantasia.”

*Super Junior’s member Ryeowook joined her on stage at “Jo Sumi’s Park Concert – One Night in Paris” to perform I Love Paris.

 

We were unable to mention Jo Sumi’s entire list of performances and accomplishments for obvious reasons (the article would be enormously long), but nevertheless, we wish our readers got to know of her hard work and achievements throughout her career.

 

 

— J.Chung.

 

For the month of March, we interviewed “The Korean Vegan” who is a recipe creator, food blogger, writer, photographer and attorney. Joanne is a Korean-American who was born and raised in Illinois, Chicago and was very much influenced by her family when it comes to the love for food.

Since going vegan in 2016, she set out to prove that she could still have the foods that she’s been enjoying all her life, while maintaining a solid vegan diet and lifestyle.

I’ve personally wanted to interview the Korean Vegan for a while, because I was very intrigued and inspired by her blogs and distinguished vegan recipes which were accompanied by beautifully shot photographs. “A massive thank you” goes out to Joanne for this great interview and wish her the best in all her ventures!

 

*Thank you for taking the time out for a KCrush interview. Would you kindly introduce yourself to our readers?

Thank you so much for having me! I’m thrilled to be featured by KCrush! My name is Joanne Molinaro and I am the founder and creator of The Korean Veganä.

The Korean Vegan is a food and lifestyle blog that shares both veganized Korean recipes and stories about my family.

 

*Please tell us how the “Korean Vegan” journey started for you…

I started The Korean Vegan in 2016, which is when I adopted a plant-based diet. At that time, I had a lot of misgivings about trying a vegan diet, because I wasn’t sure it was possible to be both vegan and Korean. I grew up eating lots of fish, pork, and galbi, so the notion of giving all of that up felt a little bit like giving up my Korean identity.

My husband encouraged me to start a channel on YouTube in which I shared my cooking. He dubbed it “The Korean Vegan,” and the name was so clever, I started a YouTube channel that very day! Since then, I’ve expanded The Korean Vegan into a full-blown blog with several different social media platforms.

 

*Where do you like to get inspiration/ideas from when creating recipes?

First and foremost, my family. I love cooking for my family, so if there’s a particular dish they enjoy, I will try and veganize it. For example, my father loves jjajangmyun and therefore, it was one of the first things that I veganized. I also love watching Maangchi and other classical Korean cooks—their recipes bring me right back to my childhood and I want to veganize everything they make!

 

 

*Can you share with us your favorite vegan cuisine/recipe?

Well, it’s probably a toss-up between my vegan jjajangmyun or my vegan tteokbokki! I eat pretty healthy during the week, but during the weekends, I allow myself a little flexibility and I usually end up making one of those two dishes and park myself in front of a K-drama for a few hours!

 

*What do you think are the most prominent benefits of being a vegan?

That is a really good question. I’d have to say that the most impactful benefit to going vegan is the mitigation of the damage we do to our planet. It takes an astonishing 2,500 gallons of water to produce just 1 lb of beef. Cutting one’s consumption of meat could therefore have an enormous impact upon the environment.

Beyond the global impact, though, is the personal one. Most human beings are compassionate and love animals. In my own personal experience, not having to feel guilty anymore about eating them has been the most liberating benefit of going vegan.

 

*You’ve stated that you’ve had eating disorders in the past. Could you share some advice to anyone who is going through such struggles?

The hardest thing for someone with an eating disorder to understand is that our worth is not defined by our size. We can tell ourselves this millions of times, but we will never really believe it until we start viewing ourselves with compassion.

One piece of advice that has worked well for me is to view myself and my body as my dongseng. How would I treat my little sister? Would I tell her, “You’re fat, you need to lose weight, you need to eat less, you’re ugly”? Of course not! We need to show the same level of compassion to ourselves as we do to those we cherish.

 

*You frequently mention your family members in your blogs ~ who influenced you (the most) when it comes to food/cooking?

That’s a tough one, but I’d probably have to go with my grandmothers. Both of them. They both did the vast majority of the cooking when we were growing up.

When I think about Korean food and Korean cooking, my mind immediately reverts back to memories of my cheen-hahlmuhnee (paternal grandmother) snipping the tails off a batch of kongnamul or my weh-hahlmuhnee (maternal grandmother) setting a tray of dotori muk. They will both be featured prominently in my upcoming book.

 

*What do you like to do in your free time and how do you release stress?

Watch K-dramas until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore.

 

*Do you ever listen to Korean music or pay attention to the Korean media?

Sometimes, I will go on a Korean drama binge and afterwards, look up what’s going on with some of the K-pop stars. I’ve been obsessed with Hyun Bin, for example, since I watched  My Lovely Sam Soon, and still keep tabs on him every once in a while. As to Korean music, I honestly only listen to the OSTs of my favorite K-dramas (I literally listen to the OST for Kim Sam Soon on repeat sometimes…).

 

*Do you like to travel? Which country or continent do you most wish to visit or revisit?

I’m a relatively moderate traveler. I used to travel a lot for work, but less so now. Because we don’t have children, my husband and I like to hop around frequently to NYC, Florida, and California. We also like to travel to run marathons. In 2018, we went to Cincinnati, Boston, and Indianapolis to run marathons.

We also love Europe. We were married in Rome, Italy, and we often go there (his family is from Rome). We like to visit other European countries when we are in Europe, though we really do love Italy best. We will be vising Korea together this May, and it will be my very first time in over two decades. I’m extremely excited and also a little nervous!

 

*Tell us a bit about your upcoming book and other ventures.

My book will be a mix of Korean vegan recipes and stories about my family – very similar to my blog and Instagram. It will center upon my family’s immigration from North Korea to South Korea and then from South Korea to the United States. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d one day be writing a cookbook, but it appears there’s a need for a book of Korean vegan recipes and, well, people seem to enjoy my stories!

 

*Please tell us about your wishes, plans and goals for 2019.

My goals for 2019 are (a) to write a book that I am very proud of, (b) run a sub 4-hour marathon, and (c) meet Hyun Bin in person (just kidding – not really)!

 

 

—  J.Chung.

 

The Burning Sun scandal continues to spin into orbit as new details emerge about the club and the alleged conduct that occurred there. Additionally, Seungri’s role and knowledge about the alleged prostitution, police collusion, and drug-use have been called into question via an eight-hour police interview. Here are the latest updates.

 

Police Launch Probe into Reporter’s Claims

On February 26, 2019, Seoul Police began investigating prostitution claims involving Burning Sun and Seungri. The claims suggest that Seungri offered prostitutes to Burning Sun investors. 

“We have launched an investigation into the escort service claims that have been reported on by the media,” the Seoul Police Department said.

An SBS FunE reporter who is well-known for her investigative journalism that has called attention to Goo Hara’s assault case and several Korean #MeToo cases shared alleged KakaoTalk messages between Seungri, Mr. Yu (who was revealed to be actress Kim Han-byul’s husband) from Yuri Holdings (he and Seungri headed the company starting in 2015), Singer “C,” and a Mr. Kim (a club employee) that occurred December 6th, 2015. In the texts, the group allegedly discuss finding girls for a Chinese client (some reports state he is Taiwanese) who later became a Yuri Holdings investor in 2016.

The alleged texts have been heavily edited, and the reporter in possession of the texts claims she “cleaned them up” to eliminate “inappropriate expressions.” Dispatch and SBS have different versions of the texts, which seem to show integrity issues with the alleged KakaoTalk messages. Additionally, police cannot recover the original text source and the reporter did not provide the source.

The Seoul Police Department’s Special Crimes Squad said, “We requested the KakaoTalk messages from the reporter who was first to report on the sexual escort services claims involving Seungri. However, we have not received them yet.”

Upon the release of the alleged texts, YG Entertainment said, “After confirming with the individual, we attest that this news report in question is based on fabricated text messages; its claims are entirely false.” YG also threatened legal action.

Meanwhile, VIPs, BIGBANG’s fandom, have called the alleged texts into question claiming that in 2015, BIGBANG were in Osaka, Japan for a concert when the texts were sent. Fans claim this is all the evidence that is needed to debunk the text claims.

Yuri Holdings, too, have claimed the messages to be false. In a statement, the company said,  “We believe someone with malicious intent towards Seungri and our company has fabricated these text messages as a grudge and sent them to reporters. This is fake news that has been published without being confirmed. We plan to request an investigation into the individual who fabricated the text messages and submitted them to reporters, and we will take legal action to reveal the truth.”

However, the reporter states she has no reason to fabricate the messages and that further reports will be released.

“There is no reason why I would edit or fabricate the messages. There was absolutely no fabrication or editing, except for the extremely inappropriate expressions that I’ve purified,” the reporter said. “I will actively participate in the investigation if required to do so in the future.”

She added, “If I had fabricated it, I would have much more to lose [than win]. I would lose everything. And this is the truth. If I didn’t intend to fight until the end, I wouldn’t have started it in the first place.”

Seungri said he didn’t send the texts although he doesn’t remember what happened three years ago. 

 

Money Transferred to the Police

According to the Korean Herald, one of the suspects, surname Lee, admitted to transferring money to the police.

During the investigation into Lee (later revealed to be Lee Mun-ho, the head of Burning Sun), who is alleged part of an organized crime syndicate, police found that he had been working with a former police officer and had transferred a total of 20 million won received from Burning Sun into six accounts. However, it is not clear if any of the accounts belong to the police officer, surname Kang.

Lee claims the transactions occurred August 2018. During the transaction, which Lee claims occurred in his vehicle, 2.3 million won transferred to two current police officers. Former officer Kang, who is currently a board member of a cosmetics company, was present during the transaction. The police state Kang may have been the “middle man” between the police and Burning Sun.

 

Cho, Lee Drug Investigation

In late February, police investigated the house of Burning Sun employee Mr. Cho.

During the investigation, police uncovered ecstasy, ketamine, and “Happy Balloon” (hallucinogenic). Another person connected to the club, an employee by the name of “Anna,” also had suspicious powders and liquids in her home. Anna allegedly is one of the suppliers that provided drugs to other Burning Sun employees and club-goers. The evidence has been turned over to the National Institute of Scientific Investigation for analysis.

Lee Mun-ho was also investigated for drugs. Lee’s home, along with the home of another suspect, Han, were raided February 26. During the raid, drugs were found in the homes; Lee’s urine sample came back as having drugs present in his system.

Seungri, too, has not escaped drug allegations thanks to a Vietnamese news report that claims Seungri was caught inhaling “Happy Balloon” during a 2017 business trip to Hanoi.

In the photo circulated on Vietnamese media, Seungri is seen standing next to a woman who is holding a balloon close to his face. YG Entertainment and Seungri have both denied the claims that it is “Happy Balloon.”

“Upon checking with Seungri, the photo was taken from a misleading angle. He said he has never inhaled nitrous oxide. The reports from Vietnam are clearly false reports, and he feels very falsely accused. He is arguing that it doesn’t make sense for him to inhale nitrous oxide in an public place like a club,” YG Entertainment said.

In related news, Seungri reportedly passed a drug test during his questioning. 

 

Seungri Cooperative with Police; Activities Halted

On February 27, Seungri was questioned by the police for over eight hours. During the questioning, police state the allegations of drug use, prostitution, sexual favors, and sexual assault were among the discussion topics. 

When he arrived at the police station, Seungri spoke to reporters.

“This morning, I submitted a petition asking for a thorough investigation into myself. Once again, I apologize for causing concern and anger with the various controversies and accusations. I will earnestly cooperate with investigations so that the truth can be revealed as soon as possible,” he said.

Upon leaving the station, he added, “Questioning for all allegations has been finished. Regarding drugs, I underwent all drug tests requested by the narcotics unit. Many people are angry about the various controversies, and I will cooperate with police so that all suspicions can be dispelled. I ask that you wait for the results of the investigation. If the police require anything else, I will return for further questioning.”

The police stated, “Currently, he is not an overt suspect in the case; he is an internal suspect. In terms of the case regarding claims of hiring prostitution, further investigation is required for completely accurate results.”

 

Following the questioning, YG Entertainment announced that Seungri will be going on hiatus and that his remaining concerts in Jarkarta, Indonesia and Osaka, Japan have been canceled. Regarding the cancelations, YG Entertainment released a statement:

Hello, this is YG Entertainment.

Seungri has unfortunately canceled his upcoming concerts in Osaka on March 9 and 10 and in Jakarta on March 17. We ask for the generous understanding of many people who were waiting for the concerts.

Seungri voluntarily arrived at the police station at approximately 9 p.m. yesterday and diligently participated in the police investigation regarding the suspicions for about eight hours and 30 minutes.

Seungri earnestly requested for the police to especially investigate the suspicions regarding prostitution services rigorously.

Not only the concerts, but Seungri will halt all other scheduled activities and actively cooperate with all upcoming police investigations.

As they are suspicions that many people are curious about, we hope that all of the suspicions and truths are unveiled as quickly as possible through speedy and rigorous investigations by the police.

Investigations are still ongoing with more details expected to be revealed in the coming days. All parties are considered innocent unless proven guilty in the court of law.

 

—- Olivia Murray

 

The March 1st Movement was one of the main public demonstrations of Korean resistance during the colonial rule of Korea by the Japanese. This movement that lasted from the year of 1910, refers to an important event which occurred on the first day of March of 1919. On this day, Koreans hang the national flag at home and at most public places to honor their ancestors who fought hard for the country’s emancipation. On May 24 of 1949, South Korea officially designated the first day of March, as its National holiday.

On March 1, 1919 at 2 p.m., 33 Korean activists gathered at Taehwagwan Restaurant in Seoul, along with a huge crowd to announce the Korea’s Declaration of Independence and the associated delegates also read the same proclamation throughout their regions on the same day, and hour. The leading activists all signed the document and sent a copy to the Governor General, which stated:

“We herewith proclaim the independence of Korea and the liberty of the Korean people. We proclaim this to all the nations of the world in witness of human equality. We proclaim this to our descendants so that they may enjoy in perpetuity their inherent right to nationhood. In as much as this proclamation originates from our five-thousand-year history, in as much as it springs from the loyalty of twenty million people, in as much as it affirms our yearning for the advancement of everlasting liberty, in as much as it expresses our desire to take part in the global reform rooted in human conscience, it is the solemn will of heaven, the great tide of our age, and a just act necessary for the co-existence of all humankind. Therefore, no power in this world can obstruct or suppress it!

 

 

The Korean leading activists then phoned the Japanese police to inform of their actions and were soon arrested. An enormous crowd assembled in Pagoda Park, and a young student Chung Jae-yong read the declaration of independence out loud. In 2017, Chung’s grandson revealed in the news that his grandfather had arrived at the scene earlier that day as a supporter, and publicly read the announcement by pure chance, since he had a copy of the statement with him and the leaders were not present or arrested at this time.

The crowd continuously chanted “Daehan Minkuk Mansei!” which translated into “Long live Korean independence!” in Korean and this went on until the Japanese police weren’t able to control the crowd, so they called for their military and naval forces for aid. Approximately 2,000,000 Koreans were present to participate in over 1,500 demonstrations, and a vast number of them were massacred by the Japanese police force and army.

The Bloody History of the Korean Independence Movement by Park Eun-sik states that 7,509 people were killed/executed, 15,849 wounded and 46,303 arrested. The killing by the Japanese police went to the extreme, as seen from the existing photos of Korean men, women and even children murdered and left in the streets.

So many precious lives were wrongfully taken on this day, but this Movement reached beyond the Korean peninsula and influenced the growing non-violent resistance in India and other suppressed countries. It became the foundation for the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea based in Shanghai, in April 1919 and numerous Korean leaders went into exile in China or Russia to continue their work for the country’s independence, which eventually happened in August of 1945.

This day on March 1st, we wish to reflect on past history, to really appreciate the human rights and freedom which we are so fortunate to be able to claim.

 

 

— J.Chung.

What’s a vegan?

To put it simply, a vegan diet is one that excludes any animal product. As such, it’s more restrictive than a vegetarian diet as, in addition to meat, it also excludes dairy and poultry products such as milk, cheese and eggs.

Why go vegan?

There are many reasons one would choose this diet, such as, for ethical, religious, environmental or health reasons and certainly, reading about some of the inhumane practices in our highly industrialized commercial food production would invoke the vegan in any of us. Hence, it’s no surprise that veganism has become a widely accepted dietary choice.

What do vegans eat?

Surprisingly, not all vegan diets are created equal. While some vegans have wholeheartedly embraced the ‘no animal product’ rule and stuck exclusively to whole foods originating from plants, others have remained vegan while substituting meat with ‘meat-like’ products – usually tofu-based products masquerading as meat and the like.

Whichever your preference, with a little effort, you too can be a card-carrying vegan with the help of simple vegan recipes to tempt your discriminating vegan palate.

A Malaysian staple

In this article, I’ll be sharing a simple recipe for Nasi Lemak, a hearty, staple of Malaysians be it for breakfast, lunch or dinner (though not for all three meals in a day unless you’d like to end up as big as a bus).

There are three main components to this dish which are, the rice, the Sambal and the side dishes. As mentioned above, this is a bare bones recipe with minimal ingredients which you can choose to fancy up as much as you please yet will be more than satisfying as it is, if you choose to be a lazy vegan.

 

Let’s begin shall we?

 

 

The Rice

Simple and delicious, all you need to do is slice onions, ginger and garlic and throw them into the pot with rice, coconut milk, salt and water and cook as usual. If you have it, add a pandan leaf for fragrance.

That’s it folks! It’s even simpler if you’re using a rice cooker as you can just throw the ingredients in and press the button without needing to watch the stove.

 

Here are the amounts used when cooking for 2 – 3 people:

2 to 3 cups of rice

1 cup of coconut milk (basically, the coconut milk should be a third of the total water you’d usually use to cook the rice, e.g. if you use 3 cups of water to cook rice, replace 1 cup with coconut milk)

1 whole onion

A slice of ginger (about 1 inch)

2 cloves of garlic

Salt to taste

 

 

The Sambal

Sambal is basically a chilli-based sauce or condiment that you’ll be eating the rice with. There are many versions from extra hot to mild and you’ll be able to adjust as you like once you get the hang of it.

Again, keeping things minimal, you will need dried chillies, onions, tamarind juice, salt and sugar. As a Sambal enthusiast, I usually already have blended dried chilli stored in my freezer which I can just take out to use when I need it. So, no need to blend a new batch every time. Also, ready-blended chillies are also available at Asian stores so you can get those as well.

To prepare the tamarind juice, I use a spoon of tamarind paste and dilute it with some water (see pic above of that brown-looking liquid in a bowl). Then, slice the onions and you’re good to go.

First, add some oil to a pan and stir fry the onions till soft. Then add 4 tablespoons of chilli (just multiply this amount as needed if you need more portions – who knows you might be a Sambal fiend and not know it!) and stir fry until it starts to dry up and then becomes oily.

Add a little bit of water and 8 tablespoons of tamarind juice, half a teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of sugar and let it thicken to a semi-paste like consistency. Voila! That’s your Sambal ready!

 

Some things to note:

Sambal preference is a personal choice so feel free to adjust the proportions according to your taste. Prefer it spicier? Use more chilli or less tamarind juice and sugar. Want it more sour? Add more tamarind juice, etc.

 

 

The Sides

Nasi Lemak can be enjoyed with a variety of vegan sides so feel free to add any of those listed below.

Optional sides:

1. Stir-fried water spinach (just stir fry onion, and add in water spinach and salt to taste)
2. Stir-fried mushrooms & carrots (again just stir fry onion before adding carrots and mushrooms with salt to taste)
3. Crispy fried tempeh strips (just cut tempeh into thin strips and deep fry till crispy)
4. Fried/toasted peanuts
5. Sliced cucumber

The Finished Product

To whet your appetite, here’s a photo of the finished Nasi Lemak with Sambal on top of the rice and sliced cucumber and stir-fried carrots and mushrooms on the side. Happy cooking!

 

 

—-Fie Fed

February is Black History Month, and it provides a chance to learn about and embrace black heritage and the various contributions made by black individuals throughout history. Of course, this includes Asians who are black.

With many Asian countries being largely homogenous, those who have mixed-race backgrounds may have difficulty gaining fame in their home countries, especially in the entertainment industry. On American soil, minorities, in general, still have mountains to climb in order to gain recognition from their majority peers. Of course, we at Kcrush believe all people should have a shot to achieve their goals and dreams, and we hope everyone will have a chance to do so as society continues to change.

In honor of Black History Month, we’re calling attention to notable Black-Asian celebrities. Of course, this isn’t a complete list, so we invite you to share your favorites in the comments and on Facebook!

 

Jhené Aiko

Jhené Aiko is an American singer and songwriter. Her mother is of Spanish, Dominican, and Japanese descent, while her father is of Native American, Jewish, German, and African-American descent.

Aiko’s music career began when she was a contributing artist for American boyband B2K (1998-2004). From there, she appeared in several music videos and released mixtapes that feature Drake, Miguel, and Kanye West among others. On November 12, 2013, her debut EP Sail Out was released. The album debuted at number eight on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.
Since Sail Out, Aiko released two studio albums, Souled Out (2014) and Tripped (2017), and a collaboration album, Twenty88 (2016) with Big Sean (as Twenty88). Each album performed well on Billboard music charts with Souled Out debuting at number three. In 2015, she earned three Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song (“The Worst”), Best Urban Contemporary Album (Sail Out), and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (“Black Majik”- Common featuring Jhené Aiko). She also lent her voice to 2015’s We Love Disney compilation album where she sang Alice in Wonderland’s “In a World of My Own/Very Good Advice.”
Aiko’s sister, Jamila, is also a singer known as Mila J.

 

Amerie

Singer, songwriter, actress, and author Amerie is of South Korean and African-American descent. She debuted on the American music scene in 2002 with the track, “Why Don’t We Fall in Love,” which peaked at number twenty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In addition to being popular in the U.S, the song also topped Australian and U.K charts.

Since 2002, Amerie released four studio albums including 2018’s After 4am, 11 music videos, 19 singles, one EP, and appeared on two soundtracks. Her albums All I Have and Touch have been certified Gold by the RIAA, while her song “1Thing” (2005) earned Platinum certification. In 2003, she won the Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards, and in 2005, she was awarded the Aretha Franklin Award for Entertainer of the Year by the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. In all, she’s been nominated for 26 awards in her career.

In 2003, Amerie helped develop the teen lifestyle series The Center. In 2004, she made her acting debut in the film First Daughter. In 2009, she collaborated with 4Minute on the track “Heard ‘Em All.”

In 2011, she married Sony music executive LG Nicholson. The pair welcomed a son in May 2018.

Thelma Aoyama

Japanese, Afro-Trinidadian J-Pop and R&B artist Thelma Aoyama has been in the music industry since 2007. While her career has been quiet in recent years, Aoyama’s music did make waves during her debut and peak. She’s collaborated with several artists across Asia including BIGBANG’s Taeyang, 4Minute, labelmate SoulJa, Taiwanese pop group Da Mouth, and fellow Japanese musician hide.

Two of Aoyama’s most well-known tracks include SoulJa’s “Koko ni Iru yo” (2007), a track where she was a featuring artist, and the answer-song, “Soba ni Iru ne” (2008) which featured SoulJa. The latter track earned certification in 2008’s Guinness Book of World Records as the year’s best-selling digital single in Japan with over two million downloads. By November 2008, the single had over 8.7 million downloads. In Japan, the song stayed in the top five on music charts for seven weeks and was one of Oricon’s highest-selling singles by a female artist that year.

 

 

Tyson Beckford

Born to a Chinese-Jamaican mother and an Afro-Jamaican father, Tyson Beckford is best known as a Ralph Lauren Polo model and one of the first successful black models. He’s also acted in several movies and TV shows including 2005’s Into the Blue My Wife and Kids in 2002.

In the 1990s, Beckford was considered one of the world’s most beautiful people. He appeared on the “Most Beautiful People” and “Hottest Hotties” lists for People Magazine and VH1, respectively. He also co-hosted and served as a judge on America and Australia’s version of the TV show Make Me a Supermodel. In 2014, Vogue named him the “Greatest Male Model of All-Time.”
In addition to acting and modeling, Beckford also serves as an ambassador for Kick 4 Life, an organization that uses soccer to reach disadvantaged youth in the African country of Lesotho.

Beckford survived a 2005 hit-and-run car accident, an event that he claims had a major effect on his spirituality. Beckford managed to exist his vehicle before it was engulfed in flames.

“I thought I was dead, actually. I thought I was dead… I think my body gave up, it didn’t wanna move and I think that’s where God came in and said, ‘It’s not your time,’” Beckford said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

 

Cassie

Singer, model, dancer, and actress Cassie Ventura (known professionally as Cassie) is the daughter of a Filipino father and African-American, West Indian, and Mexican mother. She’s been active in the entertainment industry since 2005.
Since 2016, she’s released one album, one mixtape, 11 music videos, and 13 singles. Considered as an R&B and hip-hop artist, Cassie has collaborated with several different artists such as Jay-Z, Akron, Puff Daddy (also known as P-Diddy, with whom she had a long-term relationship that ended in 2018), Nicki Minaj, G-Eazy, and Lil Wayne. Her debut single, “Me & U” was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2006.

As a model, Cassie is known as a trendsetter and is contributed as one of the influencers of the half-shaved hair trend that began in 2009.

As an actress, Cassie had roles in the films Step Up 2, The Perfect Match, and Honey 3: Dare to Dance. She also appeared on Empire as Haven Quinn.

 

Patrick Chung

New England Patriots strong safety, Patrick Chung, is of Jamaican-Chinese descent. His mother, Sophia George-Chung is a Jamaican reggae artist, while his father, Ronald Chung, was a music producer.

Chung’s NFL career started in 2009 with the New England Patriots. Except for 2013 when he played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chung has always been a Patriot. In 2018, he was named one of the Patriot’s team captains.

Chung has also been named a second-team All-American in 2007 and named a two-time first-team All-Pac-10 in 2007 and 2008 when he played college football at the University of Oregon.

During his tenure with the team, Chung has won three Super Bowls, including the 2019 Super Bowl where he unfortunately sustained a broken arm. The Patriots signed Chung until 2020, so there is still a chance for another Super Bowl.

 

Han Hyun-Min

Time Magazine named Han Hyun-Min of 2017’s “30 Most Influential Teens” and with good reason: Han is the first Korean model of African descent to appear on South Korean catwalks. The Nigerian-Korean model was discovered on Instagram, and after a meeting with an agent at a coffee shop, he was signed on the spot when he was 15-years-old!

“We met in Itaewon, actually, at Holly’s coffee shop,” Han told Vogue. “They had me walk there; I walked, and the moment they saw me move, they signed me.”

Han is mostly self-taught when it comes to modeling, claiming that he learned how to “model-walk” by watching YouTube videos.

While he is making strides in the modeling world, he states he still faces prejudice when looking for modeling jobs. “Because my skin is different, some designers and brands won’t really use me,” Han told Vogue. “But rather than leaving, I want to work harder—being Han Hyun Min and building my own unique charm is important to me.”

 

Kamala Harris

Attorney and politician Kamala Harris is California’s third female U.S Senator and the first of Jamaican or Indian descent. Since 2017, Harris has served alongside Dianne Feinstein as a junior U.S. Senator. From 2011-2017, she was the 32nd Attorney

General of California. She was also San Francisco’s 27th District Attorney (2004-2011).

Harris is known as a supporter of sanctuary cities, Medicare-for-All, the legalization of recreational marijuana, and she is known as one of the Senators who voted for passing the DREAM Act. She also Environmental Justice Unit in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. As a member of the U.S. Senate, she co-sponsored the Equality Act; she’s a supporter of the LGBTQA+ community.

Harris’ siblings also have high-profile roles. Her sister, Maya Harris, is a political analyst on MSNBC, while her brother-in-law, Tony West, is the General Counsel of Uber and a former U.S. Justice Department senior official.

Harris also wrote a book titled The Truths We Hold: An American Journey.

On January 21, 2019, Harris, a Democrat, announced she will be running for President for the 2020 United States Presidential election.

Chanel Iman

Chanel Iman is an American supermodel who has a Korean-African-American mother and an African-American father.
Iman’s career started when she was 12-years-old. She started off a child model before winning third place in Ford’s Supermodel of the World contest in 2006. After signing with Ford Models, Iman’s modeling career took off. She’s been featured in several Allure and Vanity Fair spreads globally, and she’s appeared in ad campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, and Dennis Basso among other fashion designers. On the catwalk, she’s walked for Burberry, Gucci, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermés, Louis Vuitton, and Alexander McQueen.

Iman is also one of Victoria Secret’s famous “angels,” a role she was given in 2010. She’s been modeling with the company since 2009.

Vogue magazine in France has named Iman as one of the top 30 models of the 2000s, a role her résumé certainly supports!
Iman also had an exciting 2018. She married New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepherd in March and welcomed daughter, Cali Clay, in August.

 

Insooni

Born to a South Korean mother and an African-American father, Insooni (Kim In-soon) has been a popular musician since the late 1970s and is considered a legend in the Korean music world. While she’s classified as an R&B singer and known as the “Tina Turner of South Korea,” Insooni has also dabbled in Contemporary Christian music.

Insooni’s road to success wasn’t easy, especially since she was born in a time when mixed race people weren’t as accepted in Korea. Insooni states she had trouble throughout her school career due to her mixed-race status. As a result, she only has a middle school education as she opted to not complete high school. At one time, she wanted to be a nurse.

However, her singing career worked out for the best.

In 1978, Insooni made her music debut as a member of the Hee Sisters. During the 70s, Koreans felt a female musical group could not succeed.

Insooni later broke from the group and released Fate, her debut solo album in 1980. Since then, she has experienced a successful career despite initially being banned from performing on some music shows and singing competitions because of her mixed-race status. With 19 albums under her belt and a career that spans over 30 years, Insooni has stood the test of time despite the prejudices that tried to keep her down. In 2018, she also had the opportunity to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

A few years ago, Insooni opened a school for mixed-race students called Hae Mil School. The name means “clear sky after the rain.” The school opened in 2011 as a boarding school for multicultural students.

“I’d like to meet with those of different skin colors and help melt away their bitterness with the warmth of a mother or aunt. I hope to be a role model for them and help them lead their lives without making the same mistakes that I made,” Insooni said in a Korea Times interview.

Insooni’s daughter, Jasmine, is another aspect of Insooni’s life that brings a lot of pride. She is a student at Stanford University. Hard work really does pay off!

 

Crystal Kay

Japanese songstress Crystal Kay is well-known in the J-Pop sphere, especially since her career began at the start of the J-Pop, anime, and manga boom in the West. Kay’s mother is a Zainichi Korean; her father is African-American. While she is of Korean heritage, Kay considers herself Japanese.

“I consider myself a Japanese artist because I was born and raised here, but nationality-wise I look, and am, foreign,” she said.
Kay’s been a singer since she was four-years-old. When she was 12, she signed with Japan’s Epic Records. A CM she recorded for Vitamin Water garnered attention for the pre-teen, which later manifested into Kay’s pop and R&B career. In 1999 at the age of 13, Kay released her first single, “Eternal Memories,” which has since become her eighth top-selling single.

By 2001, Kay released seven singles, making her one of the most active artists in the early decade. 2002 through 2007 were Kay’s best years where she peaked in popularity and earned her first number one album in All Yours (2007), which was her seventh album released.

2019 marks Kay’s 20th year in the J-entertainment industry. In addition to being a singer, Kay also acts. She has an appearance in 2019’s The Earthquake Bird.

In 2018, she also released her 11th studio album: For You. In addition to her studio albums, Kay has released 42 singles, five compilation albums, and two EPs. Seven of her 11 albums have been certified Gold or Platinum by the RIAA. She’s also performed alongside M-Flo, BoA, Dreams Come True, Chay, Thelma Aoyama, and Lionel Richie. She’s fluent in both Japanese and English. She is considered one of Japan’s pioneers for mixed-race entertainers.

 

Kelis

Famous for the “Milkshake” that brought all the boys to the yard, Kelis is part Chinese-Puerto Rican/African-American.

The singer, songwriter, and chef experienced success with her debut album Kaleidoscope (1999) and the well-known single “Milkshake,” the now meme-worthy song famously butchered by 4Minute, from her third album Tasty (2003). Even though she is an American songstress, Kelis’ success stems mostly from the United Kingdom where ten of her singles have broken the top ten on U.K music charts.

Since 2000, Kelis has been nominated for 32 awards; she’s won nine awards including Best Video for “Caught Out There” (Billboard Music Awards, 2000), Best International Breakthrough Artist (Brit Awards, 2001), Best R&B/Soul Act (NME Awards, 2001), Best Solo Artist (Glamour Awards, 2001), International Award (Silver Clef Awards, 2010), The HDT Award for “Acapella” (MP3 Music Awards, 2010), Best R&B Single and Best Dance Single for “Acapella” (New York Music Awards, 2011), and the Best R&B Album award for Flesh Tone (New York Music Awards, 2011).

Kelis is a Le Cordon Bleu graduate. She released a cookbook called My Life on a Plate: Recipes from Around the World. She also has a line of sauces available to the public.

Lee Michelle

Lee Michelle is best known for her appearance on 2011’s K-Pop Star, a music audition competition. Lee, who is Korean and African-American, was a member of one of the shows girl groups, SuPearls, with Park Ji-min, Lee Seung-joo, and Lee Jung-mi. At the end of the show, Lee signed with YG Entertainment and trained with her fellow SuPearls members (minus Park who signed with JYP. Park was replaced by Lee-Hi), but the group ultimately disbanded.

In 2013, Lee signed with DIMA Entertainment as a soloist. In 2014, she released her debut track “Without You,” a song and MV that earned strong praise and recognition from international K-Pop fans. The MV features Egypt Yoona as a young Lee navigating racial slurs and struggling to accept herself in light of Korea’s homogenous society. Even today, “Without You” stands as Lee’s strongest song and most-talked about MV.

In addition to “Without You,” Lee released two other singles: “I Can Sing” and “That’s Okay.” She’s appeared on Tribe of Hip-Hop, King of Masked Singer, and SESESE House. Currently, she lends her voice to several drama OSTs. She most recently appeared on the Love to the End OST.

 

Nicki Minaj

American singer-songwriter and rapper Nicki Minaj hails from Trinidad and Tobago. Her father, Robert Maraj, is Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian, so he has South-Asian ancestry.

Minaj is an oft-controversial figure, but she is a gifted rapper as shown through her various alter-egos (Harajuku Barbie, Roman Zolanski, and Rosa to name a few) and ability to change her voice and sound with ease.

Minaj got her start in the Brooklyn group Full Force where she was part of the quartet Hoodstars in 2004. When she left the group, she used MySpace to help market her music before signing with Dirty Money Entertainment in 2007. In 2007 and 2008, she released two mixtapes that helped her earn her first of many awards when she was named Female Artist of the Year at the 2008 Underground Music Awards.

Now signed with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment, Minaj became a breakout hit-maker. With tracks like “Your Love,” “Anaconda,” and “Starships,” which is one of the best-selling singles of all time, Minaj cemented herself as one of Hip-Hop’s leading ladies with 344 award nominations and 114 awards won.

 

Ariana Miyamoto

2015’s Miss Universe Japan, Ariana Miyamoto, has a Japanese mother and an African-American father. Miyamoto, who is also 2015’s Miss Nagasaki and a top-ten finisher at the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant, is Japan’s first multiracial woman to be crowned Miss Japan.

Miyamoto’s Miss Japan crowning caused a lot of controversy in her home-country because many felt she is not “pure enough” to represent Japan. To Japan, she is a hāfu even though Japan has been her home for most of her life.

“If I say I am ‘Japanese’ the reply would be: ‘No, you can’t be,’” Miyamoto told the BBC. “People will not believe that. But if I say I am ‘hāfu’, people agree. There is no word like hafu outside Japan, but I think we need it here. In order for us mixed kids to live in Japan, it is indispensible and I value it.”

Growing up, Miyamoto experienced a lot of discrimination, especially from classmates who felt her dark skin would rub off on them. She told the BBC that her best friend killed himself due to the discrimination he, too, faced. She wants to use her position to help break down discrimination that is deeply ingrained in Japan’s homogenous society. “…the reason I took part in the pageant was my friend’s death,” Miyamoto said in an interview. “My goal was to raise awareness of racial discrimination. Now I have a great platform to deliver that message as the first black Miss Universe Japan. It’s always hard to be the first…”

 

Ne-Yo

Musician Ne-Yo is part Chinese due to his father being African-American of Chinese descent.

Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith, started his career as GoGo in the R&B group Envy. When the group disbanded in 2000, he signed with Columbia Records, but they dropped him prior to his first album’s release. However, Ne-Yo earned recognition as a songwriter creating songs for Mario, Youngstown, Christina Milian, B2K, and Mary J. Blige among other notables. Finally, in 2006, his debut album In My Own Words finally dropped, and it went on to make Ne-Yo a well-known name both in the United States and internationally.

Ne-Yo has put together a solid career with several albums and singles being certified silver, gold, and platinum over the years. Additionally, he has collaborated with some big names both stateside and internationally include Barbra Streisand and Japan’s Utada Hikaru.

 

Naomi Osaka

2019’s number one tennis player has been making a lot of waves.

Osaka, who is of Japanese and Haitian-American descent, has been a media darling with her laid-back attitude and humble demeanor. She famously beat Serena Williams to win her first Grand Slam despite the controversy around the match. Then, she won her second consecutive Grand Slam at the Australian Open this year.

Osaka, who was tennis’ former 72nd ranked player, quickly climbed the ranks to earn the sport’s top spot. In doing so, she also became Japan’s first player to earn top ranking.

However, like pageant winner Ariana Miyamoto, many debate her “Japanese-ness” because she is not fully Japanese. The debate has been hotly discussed since Osaka needs to decide if she wants to keep her Japanese citizenship or her American citizenship. But, for now, she is the reason Japan is on top of the tennis world.

 

Sean Paul

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Sean Paul (Sean Paul Francis Henriques) is part Chinese. His mother is English and Chinese-Jamaican.

The dancehall and Reggae musician is an active recording artist and record producer. In the U.S, he’s best known for his two chart-topping hit songs “Get Busy” (2003) and “Temperature” (2006), but he’s also known for his featuring roles in Clean Bandit’s “Rockabye” and Beyonce’s “Baby Boy.”

Sean Paul’s career began through open mic events in Kingston. Manager and producer Jeremy Harding learned of Sean Paul through a relative but didn’t meet Sean Paul until he visited Harding for advice. From there, Sean Paul’s career began to blossom.

His career flourished in the early to late 2000s when “Get Busy” and “Temperature” exploded in popularity. Since then, Sean Paul’s still a recognizable name in the industry with other hit tracks like “Give It All to Me,” “She Doesn’t Mind,” and “Got 2 Luv U” among others. Sean Paul has released seven full albums and 24 singles. He’s been nominated for 55 awards; he’s won 19 of them. He also earned the honors of being the most successful Jamaican artist in history on the U.S. charts.

 

Dave Roberts

Former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder and current Los Angeles Dodgers manager is African-American (father) and Japanese (mother). His father was a Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan where Roberts was born.

Roberts’ MLB career began in 1999 with the Cleveland Indians (1999-2001). Throughout his nine-year career, Roberts additionally played for the Dodgers (2002-2004), Boston Red Sox (2004), San Diego Padres (2005-2006), and the San Francisco Giants (2007-2008). He was in the Detroit Tigers minor league system when he signed with them in 1994 (28th round draft pick of the 1994 Major League Baseball draft) until 1998 when he was traded to the Indians.

As a major league player, Roberts won the World Series with the 2004 Red Sox although he did not play in the World Series itself. While his career was mostly plagued by injuries, Roberts found ways to contribute in meaningful ways.

When Roberts retired, he became a NESN broadcaster for the Red Sox for one season in 2009. He then moved on to the Padres where he was named Baseball Operations Special Assistant in 2010. In 2010, Roberts was hired as the Padres first-base coach, a position he held until 2014 when he was promoted to bench coach.

In 2015, Roberts was named as the Dodgers new manager after Don Mattingly was relieved of his duties. Upon Roberts’ hiring, he became the team’s first minority manager. Following the 2016 season—Roberts’ first full season as the team’s manager—he was named the National League Manager of the Year. Since his hiring by the Dodgers, the team has made it to the post-season each year.

In 2018, Roberts and the Dodgers agreed to a four-year contract extension. Roberts is signed as the manager until 2022.

 

Kimora Lee Simmons

Fashion designer and model Kimora Lee Simmons has an African-American father and a Japanese mother.

Growing up, life wasn’t easy for Simmons. At school, she was picked on for her tall height and mixed-race heritage. Her father, Vernon Whitlock Jr., was sentenced to prison for selling narcotics. However, her mother signed her up for modeling school to help Simmons build confidence. When she was 13-years-old, Simmons was discovered by discovered by Marie-Christine Kollock and sent to Paris to complete training.

At 14, Simmons had an exclusive contract with Chanel and worked under the late-Karl Lagerfeld and gained attention from some of the largest names in the fashion world including Yves Saint Laurent.

In 1998, she married record producer and entrepreneur Russell Simmons. Together, the two worked on Phat Farm and Baby Phat, an apparel brand that was popular in the early-to-mid-2000s. After Russell Simmons sold the company in 2004, it took until 2007 for Kimora Lee Simmons to be named President and Creative Director of Phat Fashions. She left the company in 2010, a year after her divorce from Russell Simmons.

Since the Phat Fashion days, Simmons has launched her own KLS fashion brand and has done some acting and reality TV. Additionally, she’s had her own shows: Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane and Kimora: House of Fab.

 

Hines Ward

Hines Ward was the always-smiling wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers between 1998-2011. Number 86, who was born to an African-American father and Korean mother in Seoul, South Korea in 1976, is a two-time Super Bowl winner and a one-time Super Bowl MVP. He’s also been selected to four Pro Bowls, earned three second-team All-Pro selections, and has been named to the Steelers’ All-Time Team.

Known as one of the NFL’s best blockers, Ward was known for hitting players in their blind-sides. One such hit broke a player’s jaw (Keith Rivers) in 2008, which led to the NFL’s “Hines Ward Rule” that made blind-side blocks illegal. His actions also led to him being voted ESPN’s “Dirtiest Player in the NFL” in 2009.

For four years, Ward had a streak of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons; unfortunately, a fifth year wasn’t possible due to an injury in 2005. However, he was once the Steelers’ franchise leader in receptions and touchdowns before both records were toppled by Antonio Brown.

Ward has also left his mark on pop culture. In 2011, he was dubbed the winner Dancing with the Stars’ 12th season. He also appeared in 2012 Dark Knight Rises. In 2018, he was named an honorary ambassador for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.

 

Tiger Woods

Woods has one golf’s most storied careers. He has 80 PGA Tour wins (second-most all-time behind Sam Snead), 40 European Tour wins (third-most all-time behind Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer), and has several awards and honors in his name including 11 PGA Player of the Year awards. He also has 17 records in the Guinness Book of World Records; he is the third-highest sportsman with Guinness Book honors.

While Tiger Woods is considered one the world’s best golfers, he’s also known for his 2009 infidelity scandal. Woods considers himself Cablinasian—is African-American (father), Thai, Chinese, and Dutch (mother).

 

Yoon Mirae

Born to an African-American father and a South Korean mother, Yoon Mirae (Natasha Shanta Reid) is one of Korean music world’s most known figures. The rapper and singer started her career in 1997, so she is considered one of K-Pop’s first-generation stars.

In 1995, Reid was discovered when she was heard singing outside of an audition. Reid did not audition, but her friend did. When World Records representatives heard her, she was signed to join the co-ed Hip-Hop group Uptown. She along with Chris Jung, Carlos Galvan, Steve Kim are original members; the group debuted in 1997.

In 1999, Reid joined singer Annie to form the Hip-Hop and R&B duo Tashannie, a portmanteau of both their names.
In 2000, Uptown disbanded after Jung, Galvan, and Kim were arrested for drugs (the group reformed with a rotating roster following the incident). Tiger JK, who was Reid’s then-boyfriend and now-husband, was also arrested and spent time in jail. Reid went into hiding before re-emerging in 2001 as a solo artist.

As a soloist, Reid’s albums peaked within the top 20 for three of her four releases. Many of her tracks also appeared on the Korean music tracks. However, her OST appearances peaked within the top ten five times out of eight releases with 2013’s “Touch Love” (Master’s Sun) 2014’s “I Love You” (It’s Okay, That’s Love) both earning number one spots.

In addition to being a successful soloist, Reid is also a member of MFBTY, a hip-hop trio comprised of her, Tiger JK, and Bizzy.
Reid and Tiger JK are advocates against child abuse. She’s also an advocate for multicultural awareness in Korea.

 

 

 

—-Joelle Halon

Spring will be the time for Park Bom fans to rejoice: She will be returning to the music scene in March with a new album and single featuring fellow former 2NE1 groupmate, Sandara “Dara” Park.

Her upcoming single, “Spring,” will be Park Bom’s first solo track since 2011’s “Don’t Cry” (her last collaboration was in 2013 on G-Dragon’s Japanese version of “Black”).  The track will be her first since signing with D-Nation Entertainment in 2018.

“Spring” is described as a mid-tempo R&B song written by Brave Brothers, who also serves as the main producer for the album.

“It’s a very good song, to the extent that I can confidently say that it’s the best female track I’ve ever made,” ,” Brave Brothers told Xportnews.  “I can assure you that it’s the best. When it’s released, people will say out of surprise, ‘This song is produced by Brave Brothers?’ It’s a song like no other. You can really look forward to it.”

Of her upcoming album, Brave Brothers said, “For several months I received an offer from Park Bom’s side, and after a lot of thought, I decided to produce her album. I like her vocal tone, and I wanted to make her a number one artist.”

“Park Bom’s skills are still superb,” Brave Brothers added. “Most people won’t be disappointed. Instead of being flamboyant or strong, we tried to express a special emotion. I included the vibe I had when I was in YG, but it’s not a reproduction of Park Bom’s previous image. It’ll be a totally different concept.”

Park Bom has been an extended hiatus since 2014 when she was accused of allegedly smuggling amphetamines into South Korea back in 2010. The “drugs” were prescribed medications for her Attention Deficit Disorder and depression, and her family tried to her get her medications—which she filled in the US at the time—by mailing her pills to her. U.S. hospital records cleared Park, but the Court of Public Opinion considered her guilty.

During her hiatus, 2NE1 also disbanded in 2016.

A date has not been released for Park Bom’s release, but we look forward to the track when it drops sometime in March.

 

 

—-Joelle Halon

A photo of SISTAR from their 2017 hit ’Lonely’. From left: Soyou, Hyolyn, Bora and Dasom.

 

Queens of the summer anthem

Soyou, Hyolyn, Bora and Dasom were the four members who made up the all-female South Korean Kpop group SISTAR signed under Starship Entertainment from 2010 to 2017. Known as the queens of the summer anthem, the group churned out hit after hit every summer during their years together, captivating audiences with their solid vocals, sexy dance numbers and outfits and breezy, catchy melodies.

During their seven-year run, the group produced two studio albums, six extended plays and seventeen singles, nine of which consecutively ruled the number one spot of the Korean Gaon music chart from 2011 to 2017.

In addition, the group also had a two member sub-unit SISTAR19 comprising members Hyolyn and Bora with hit singles such as ‘Ma Boy’ and ‘Gone Not Around Any Longer’.

 

Striking out on their own

Despite their success as a group, the members frequently participated in solo activities even while still together, branching out into collaborations with other artistes, featuring on original soundtracks for popular Kdramas and acting.

Thus, it’s no wonder that after seven years together and phenomenal success, the members decided to end their partnership amicably with Hyolyn and Soyou embarking on solo careers and Dasom and Bora focusing on acting roles. The members continue to be close leaving the door open for a future collaboration to the delight of their fans.

 

 A recent photo of the ladies celebrating Bora’s 30th birthday last December shared on her Instagram account @borabora_sugar.

 

Latest updates

A photo of Soyou shared on her Instagram account @soooo_you.

Soyou has remained under Starship Entertainment as a solo artiste, releasing the EP ‘Re:Born’ in December 2017 and following up with the recent EP ‘Re:Fresh’ last October. She’s also active on tv shows, becoming a vocal trainer on the 2018 idol survival show ‘Produce 48’.

She will soon return to meet audiences in two upcoming shows in 2019 – as a co-host on KBS beauty program ‘My Favorite Beauty’ as well as on the music variety show ‘In Sync’ where contestants comprising male and female singers set out to find the best duet partner.

Fans can check out her official Instagram account @official_soyou for updates on her latest endeavors.

 

Promo photo of Hyolyn’s upcoming world tour shared on her Instagram account @xhyolynx.

Hyolyn, previously known as Hyorin, was also known as the queen of OSTs, featuring on the soundtracks of numerous popular Kdramas even while active with SISTAR. Since disbanding, she has further cemented her image as the Beyonce of South Korea, going so far as to set up her own agency – Bridʒ (pronounced Bridge) – in order to have full creative control over her music.

She released four singles including ‘BAE’ in 2018 and held her first solo concert in November where Soyou and Bora were in attendance supporting their former SISTAR member. International fans can rejoice as they’ll be able to see her live, in person as she embarks on her first world tour this 2019.

 

A photo of Bora at an event for her upcoming movie ‘Sun-kissed Family’ shared on her Instagram account @borabora_sugar..

Bora played a supporting role in hit drama ‘Hwayugi: A Korean Odyssey’ and also appeared in OCN’s ‘God’s Quiz: Reboot’ in 2018. She will also appear as the lead role in upcoming movie ‘Sun-kissed Family’ to air this year.

As she is also known for her eloquent hosting abilities, it wouldn’t be a surprise if she continues to participate in hosting programs in the future like she did in the past for programs such as ‘Produce 48’ in 2018. On a personal front, she has been in a relationship with BIGSTAR’s Feeldog since 2017.

 

Dasom’s pic and new year wish shared on her Instagram account @som0506.

Dasom has been keeping busy acting since the group’s disbandment, playing one of the lead roles and winning the ‘Best New Actress’ award for kdrama ‘Band of Sisters’ in 2017’s SBS Drama Awards.

She continued her promising acting career in 2018, playing the lead in the KBS drama special Ms. Kim’s Mystery and will next be seen in the upcoming tvN drama ‘He Is Psychometric’ with GOT7’s Jinyoung set to begin airing in March 2019.

 

—-Fie Fed

As anticipated and expected, all six members of B.A.P departed TS Entertainment following the ends of their respective contracts. Jongup, Himchan, Daehyun, and Youngjae left the company this month (February 2019); Yongguk and Zelo’s contracts ended in August and December 2018, respectively.

Upon the news of remaining departures, TS Entertainment posted a message on B.A.P’s fan café that read:

Hello. This is TS Entertainment.

We would like to notify you that TS Entertainment’s exclusive contracts with B.A.P members Himchan, Daehyun, Youngjae, and Jongup have ended.

With the exclusive contracts that B.A.P members Himchan, Daehyun, Youngjae, and Jongup had with TS Entertainment ending, we have come to the agreement that they will not renew their contracts and will instead find their own paths.

We wish to sincerely thank all of the Korean and international fans who have sent their love to B.A.P members Himchan, Daehyun, Youngjae, and Jongup, and we hope you will continue to support them in the future.

Thank you.

Currently, it is unknown if B.A.P will come together as a group in the future even though the members themselves have promised fans they will be together again. Currently, some the members have solo plans; Yongguk (who recently released his solo track, “Hikikomori”) and Himchan are scheduled to join the military this year. Youngjae is rumored to have signed with a new agency.

“Although we won’t be able to right away because we have our own situations and our future plans are different, I still always think that we will be able to work together again some day,” Jongup told News1 during a phone interview. “As for right now, we’re trying to focus a bit more on the things that we’ve been wanting to do.”

Jongup clarified that the group will still be together. “[We] never said ‘disbandment,’” he said during the interview. “There are some who want to try things on their own, and we’ve ended up in a situation where we can’t do things together, so we decided to support each other. To be honest, it’s very sad that we’re unable to promote as B.A.P. Still, we’re accepting the current situation and we decided to support each other on our paths.”

Daehyun also shared his thoughts on his official Instagram.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

2012~2019 정말 미친듯이 달려오고 넘어지고 다시일어서고, 지금은 이런생각만 드네요, 정말 소중하고 행복한, 다시는 느낄수없는 그때의 기억이구나..하고말이죠. 지금까지 수많은 고생을 함께한 TS엔터식구분들 마지막까지 정말 감사합니다. 그리고 하늘에서 보고계실 김태송 대표님 이제야 말씀드려죄송합니다. 정말 대표님이아니셨다면 불가능할일들이였습니다. 여전히 존경하고 보고싶습니다. 2019~ 앞으로 언제어떻게 여러분을 찾아뵐수있을지 확실하게 말은못하지만, 죽는그날까지 저는 음악과함께할것입니다. 응원해주세요 감사합니다 BABY

A post shared by DaeHyun (@dh_jung_bap) on Feb 18, 2019 at 7:37am PST

His post reads:

2012~2019 I ran like crazy, fell down, and got back up again, and now all I’m thinking about is: They’re memories of precious and happy times that I can’t experience again. I’m so grateful until the end to our TS Entertainment family members who went through so many hard times together with us. Also, I want to finally apologize to CEO Kim Tae Song, who must be watching us from above. It’s really true that it wouldn’t have been possible if not for you. I respect you as ever, and I miss you. 2019~ I can’t tell you exactly when or how in the future I’ll be able to see you again, but I’m going to keep doing music until I die. Please support me. Thank you, BABY.

B.A.P recently celebrated their seventh anniversary January 27. Throughout their seven-year history, B.A.P experienced many hardships, mainly their 2014 lawsuit against TS Entertainment. With the news that B.A.P left the company, while BABYZ are sad B.A.P are not promoting as a group for now, there is jubilation that the group is no longer under TS’ control and poor management.

B.A.P debuted in 2012 with “Warrior.” Their last track together was “Hands Up” in 2018.

We wish the B.A.P members the best in their futures. 

Related: Kcrush Interview with Rapper and Songwriter Bang Yong-guk

 

 

—-Joelle Halon

 

Kim Hyung-soo – best known as K.Will – is a Korean Pop/R & B singer (born on December 30, 1981) who began his music career by featuring in a soundtrack for the K-Drama A Love to Kill in 2005. He was signed under BigHit Entertainment from 2005 until 2007, but transferred with Starship Entertainment when it became independent and is still signed under the company. Prior to his debut, he gained substantial recognition when videos of him singing Mariah Carey, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men and Celine Dion’s signature songs, plus well-known Korean pop ballads began to surf online. He participated in auditions to search for songwriters, worked as a vocal coach and was a part of an A cappella group.

K.Will made his official debut in 2007 with his first album Left Heart (2007) which was produced by JYP, and although it didn’t have much impact on the charts at the time; today, he is considered as one of the best vocalists of his generation in Korea. Thanks to his wide vocal range and distinctive voice, K.Will currently has a string of chart-topping ballad songs under his belt, accomplishing so much during his 13 years of his career. We are aware that we’re very lucky to have attained his interview, especially since he’s busy with doing concerts right now. We’d like to express our appreciation for K.Will for offering his precious time for a great interview, and hope that the fans will enjoy learning more about the talented singer.

 

Thank you for taking time out for an interview with us. Could you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hello, this is K.Will and it’s already 13 years since I debuted as a singer. Since I got the chance to get interviewed like this, thank you for taking an interest in me.

 

Tell us how you initially got into doing music.

There wasn’t a special incident or anything like that which enabled me to become a singer. I just loved music from an early age, and began to really enjoy singing. I set realistic goals for myself and gradually got closer to what I set my mind on.

Since I really loved performing on stage, I wanted to have my own songs. But it didn’t occur to me that I could become a professional singer at first. I wanted to feature in good albums for other singers, and I soon fulfilled that wish by getting to be part of a chorus session. Because my voice got known to many people, I was then given a chance to record an album – that’s how I began my music career.

 

Which one of your songs or albums are you the most attached to? (K.Will has so far, released four albums: Left Heart, Missing You, The Third Album and The Fourth Album.)

My first album comes to my mind for various reasons. I consider myself extremely lucky for having worked with so many talented songwriters. The record sticks to my mind the most because… it was my first ever album.

I’d like to introduce the first song that I’ve ever written called, “I’ll Be With You” (the Korean title is “내 곁에”) to you. The song was written and produced for everyone who showed their love and support for me.

 

 

Which artists do you admire and enjoy listening to?

There are so many artists that I admire. My nickname happens to be Brian HyungKnight, I got that nickname since I was a kid because I sang Brian McKnight’s songs so much. To this day, I use “HyungKnight – 형나잇” as my ID for my fan club site, which derived from the nickname. Since countless R&B artists from the 90’s era influenced me enormously, I can never leave out Boyz II Men and Brian McKnight when I get asked questions regarding the artists that I admire and respect the most.

 

Can you recommend us one of your favorite songs or albums?

I want to recommend a song that I listened to a lot during the 90s – “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men, from their [Ⅱ] album, which is their second album.

 

Do you have a preference to a color? How would you describe your fashion or dress code?

I like burgundy and navy. I also have a preference for shades that are faded from their original colors. As to how I dress, I like to wear comfortable clothes. Because I often wear a suit when performing on stage, I enjoy wearing outfits that are very comfortable normally.

And I usually try to dress as if I didn’t try too hard but people around me actually have said that I should put in more care and attention to what I wear.

 

 

What is the first thing that you do when you get up in the morning?

I drink icy water when I get up.

 

What do you do to release stress and maintain your health?

I think the best way to release or relieve stress is to meet up with friends and have a good chat with them over a few drinks. I also put in the effort to have more hobbies. I like to watch sports and collect figurines as well.

There’s a saying in Korea called, “Sohwakhaeng – 소확행” which basically means “being happy, bit by bit” so I try to find happiness gradually, each day that goes by. To find that kind of happiness, I assume I’d have to spend more time to research on it. As to maintaining my health, I put an effort to eat meals properly and on time and things like that because my (schedule) everyday life is inconsistent overall. Since you’ve asked me that question, I am starting to think that I should take more care for my health.

 

What kind of food or beverage do you like the most?

I eat pretty much everything since I am not a fussy eater. Right now, the food that I’m craving is Korean blood sausage soup and the dish is something a lot of Koreans enjoy. I also like to drink coke.

 

Could you recommend any films, books or musicals that you’ve enjoyed recently?

I recently went to watch the musical, “Jekyll & Hyde” and I felt the show was extremely intriguing and superb. I took a special interest in the musical since I’m currently doing a musical myself, and I went to see it because a friend that I worked with before was playing the role of Jekyll/Hyde. The musical was just incredibly emotional and I was very awed. I strongly recommend you to see it.

 

Share with us on any particular episodes or fans that you’ve encountered during your career.

I feel that each moment is like an episode for me. Last year, I toured Korea 13 times and so many fans came to the shows. During each performance, I’m reminded that I get to do what I am doing due to the fans. So, I do really get emotional each time I perform. I especially recall the eyes of the audience, gazing back at me when I’m on stage. I feel so blessed that I have those fans who have enjoyed my music since (and even before) I made my debut as a singer.

 

Which country or stadium do you most wish to perform?

I am in-between doing concerts right now and I know that I’d really love to perform anywhere overseas. I think it’s unbelievable that there are people abroad who want to see me perform in person. Especially since the interest for Korean pop have become so huge these days, I’d think that I would put in more care and responsibility if I was given the chance to perform internationally. I’ve done a concert in the States in the past but didn’t get to tour the country, so I would love to do a tour there and also around Asia.

 

Please inform us on your plans, goals and wishes for the year of 2019. We wish you all the best in all your endeavors.

This year marks my 13^th anniversary as a singer, my wish is to produce more great songs that people can love and relate to wholeheartedly.

I also hope that 2019 would be the year that is meaningful in my life as a singer. Instead of having specific goals, I’d just love to continue singing and making music that will leave another mark in the walk of Hootsuitelife. I’ll continue singing in good health. Thank you.

 

 

As a bonus, we prepared 5 Random Facts about K.Will for you.

*K.Will wanted to initially call himself “Will” but later decided not to, because there was a yoghurt drink in Korea with the same name.

*One of the nicknames he attained during the start of his career was, “Male Mariah.” Several videos of him singing Mariah’s songs can be found online.

*K.Will is a baseball fanatic and supports the Doosan Bears.

*K.Will is allergic to shellfish. So, he can’t consume shrimps, crabs and such…

*His most close friends include Kim Bum-soo, Wheesung and Kim Tae-woo who all happen to be singers.

*K.Will is a Blood-type O.

 

—- J. Chung.

Dressing up appropriately for any K-Pop fan meeting or concert is a crucial aspect for consideration.

 

One of the many factors to consider when choosing an outfit is the performing individual or group that you are attending the concert or fan meeting for. For instance, when attending EXO concerts, one should choose outfits from the EXO-inspired wardrobe. Compared to an individual K-Pop performer’s concert/fan meeting, attending the gig of a K-Pop group can be rather demanding regarding matters of choosing an outfit. It is easier to choose from a wardrobe inspired by an individual performer as one can try a complete look from the K-Pop idol’s numerous stage performances or public appearances. However, since most of the K-Pop groups have more than four members, imitating a single member’s complete look would work but making the decision would be “long. To ease the wardrobe’s decision-making processes regarding K-Pop group concerts or fan meetings, choosing a complete look from your most favorite group member would be advisable.

 

The transpiring season would be another factor to contemplate upon when choosing a K-Pop concert or fan meeting event. It would be absurd to choose a wool long or short coat during summer. Wearing according to respective seasons ensures your comfortability during the gig and portrays your sense of style. Talking of style, it would also be advisable to give thought to the latest K-Pop fashion trend in deciding on your outfit. Wearing an outfit that Rap Monster wore a year ago, just because it is his concert, portrays your lack of fashion sense. Being a K-Pop fan, a fan is expected to at least have an idea of the latest K-Pop fashion craze. If a fan can keep up with the latest K-Pop songs and videos, he or she should at the very least maintain the depicted levels of exquisiteness in fashion.

 

 

 

Here are some of the 5 fun styles that you can dress up for K-Pop concerts or fan meetings.

1. A classy and porsh for alltmes –Patchted jacket ( with shorts, pants, or a skirt and a top to one’s liking). 

 

2. A layer of warmth for the chilly days – cardigans, pullovers.

 

3. Patterned shirts for summer days – stripped, flowered.

 

4. Cobain cargo pants – for that edgy look.

 

5. Leather pants – to smothen your curves.

 

What would you wear to your first K-Pop concert or fan meeting?  Let us know.

 

 

—-Pe Arlkh

 

While You Were Sleeping is about a woman who sees through her dreams of terrible things that will happen to people in the future and a prosecutor who tries to prevent them from happening.

 

Nam Hong Joo

Has the ability to dream about the future. This is causing trouble in her life. It is tough knowing the future and being unable to prevent it. She can warn someone about an accident, for instance, but in the end, the accident still happens. She begins to change with the help of Jae Chan.

 

Jung Jae Chan

A rookie prosecutor who develops the same ability as Hong Joo. He is able to help change what Hong Joo sees in her dreams. A handsome young man who changed Nam Joo’s destiny. He is living with his younger brother and he is a neighbor of Nam Joo.

 

Han Woo Tak

A police officer. His life was saved by Jae Chan and he ends up helping Jae Chan and Hong Joo and develops such a lovely friendship with them. Woo Tak is such a sweet and selfless man who is always more than willing to jump in and help when needed.

 

Lee Yoo Bum

Our villainous lawyer, will do anything for money. He can get himself out of the trouble, a constant thorn in prosecutor’s Jung Jae Chan’s side. He was dating Hong Joo and then she breaks up with him.

 

What I Think?

The cast deserves applause from suiting up to their personas at their very best every time they are captured on screen. Every single character was developed and had a couple of different traits displayed, which transformed them into a believable person. I really adored Jae Chan and Hong Joo as a couple. They are super cute together and give us plenty of adorable couple moments. They are also both genuinely good people that put others before themselves, and they develop such a supportive relationship with each other. The drama shows how the choices people make impact those around them. Self-centered Yoo Beom never cares about how his decisions affect others, and ends up having to lie and fabricate, digging himself a hole that eventually becomes way too deep to climb out of. The Three Flying Dragons, on the other hand, choose to always diligently stick to what they know to be right, at times even putting their careers at risk, in their desire to do good.

 

—-Lotus Hagar

The story of Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho) who is the rich heir to the Empire Group.  While living in the United States, Tan meets Go Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye) who came to the states to find her sister after not hearing from her for so long.  But when things don’t work right with her sister, So, Eun Sang ends up with no where to go and is taken in by Tan.  But no one would know that they both have a connection with each other back at Tan’s house.

 

Cha Eun Sung

Cha Eun Sang belongs to a middle class family and suffering a lot to earn money. Her mother works at Tan’s house as a maid. She has a nice, sweet and attractive personality.

 

Kim Tan

He is sweethearted, nice and good-looking. He is also a millionaire. He was made to stay in the U.S. by his brother because he didn’t like him since he was his father’s second mistress son.

 

Choi Young Do 

The heir of Hotel Zeus Group and Kim Tan’s childhood friend. A lonely person but also a trouble maker. At first he wanted to make Kim Tan jealous but he ends up with falling for Eun Sang and also could not get her to feel the same.

 

Yoo Rachel 

The heiress of RS International, a clothing company, and Kim Tan’s betrothed threatens Eun-sang the most at school. Her mother controls her since she is to be the “perfect” heiress, ignoring what Rachel actually wants. It obviously shapes up the person she is now.

 

Yoon Chan-young

A class representative of Jeguk High and Eun Sang’s oldest and best friend. As his father is merely a secretary, he is one of the few so-called “social care group” students in the school.  He tops the whole school in every test ever. He is Eun Sang’s Childhood friend and Bo Na’s Boyfriend.

 

Lee Bo Na

Daughter of the CEO of the talent-searching Mega Entertainment and Chan-young’s girlfriend.  She is a jealous girlfriend yet, actually a very kind person. Befriending Eun Sang (under the guise of protecting her boyfriend), she forgives people quickly.

 

What I think?

The Characters, are all so interesting, well developed, and well-acted that I’m going to take a chunk of just listing out all the best things about everyone. I think the time Eun Sang and Kim Tan spent getting to know each other, alone, in California is some of the strongest scenes in the show. The kids you know as high school students get a glimpse at adulthood, their chosen paths in life and a lot of relationships are still on the mend. It was not tear worthy or perfect, and it didn’t yank our characters apart and focused on the bigger picture. The two moms together were adorable; and so were Chan Young, Bo Na, Hyo-Shin, and Myung Soo.  They bring wonderful humor into the story, and I kind of want to be best friends with Chan Young and Bo Na myself. The message expressed was actually pretty good and kind of interesting. It seemed to be based on the theme “be careful what you wish for.” If you put Fame and Fortune at the top of your list, you may not be happy when you get it.

 

—-Lotus Hagar