GOT7, an Idol group consisting of seven members: Jay B, Jackson Wang, BamBam, Mark, Jinyoung, Yugyeom and Joungjae, made history by being the first K-pop act to chart on Billboard’s Artist 100 since Psy (peaking at nr. 88), entering the chart at nr. 45. But that’s just one of their many successes. Formed in 2014,…
“I Have Been Quiet for Some Time, but I Am Back with More Arsenal, More Motivation, and More Love. Let’s Enjoy This Ride All Together” – In Conversation with Loopy
When Loopy steps on stage, he is so captivating that time seems to freeze, and all the verses he raps are a deep flow of emotions. Without a doubt, Loopy, born Lee Jin-yong, knows how to deliver a message through his music. Being based in both Seoul and Los Angeles opened his mind and allowed…
Lee Tae-sung On Movies and Arts – Exclusive Interview
What happens after watching Korean dramas for over 15 years? You develop first lead syndrome or second lead syndrome. Of course, this sounds absurd, but it does happen. Throughout the years, a few actors and actresses have really stuck in my head thanks to their acting, and that includes Lee Tae-sung. Although Lee Tae-sung was…
“I Love to Make Creative Meaningful Stuff, so When I Perform, I Can Show the Audience Who I Really Am.” – In Conversation with XENZU
What do we know about Chinese hip-hop? Although it’s been around for over 20 years in the country itself, it is in the last decade that the genre has been somewhat successful overseas. Many argue that Chinese is not suitable for rap music because it is a tonal language, however, those who claim that have…
“Broker” Review
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda has long claimed his biggest directorial influence is that of the British social realist master Ken Loach, even though the similarities between the pair prove superficial when examined beyond the surface. Both are most renowned for their humanist dramas that explore the struggles of those living on society’s margins, although their…
The More We Listened, the More It Became Clear That This Was Going to Be a Special Performance – Loopy Takes Over the O2 Academy Islington
Lee Jin-yong, also known as Loopy, is a one-of-a-kind South Korean artist. While initially pursuing a career in producing, his time spent living in Los Angeles had influenced the artist to become a rapper. Beginning his career in 2014 under the name Loopy, the artist grabbed my attention when he released his first mixtape, King…
K-pop Boy Group CIX to go on their 2nd World Tour, “Save Me, Kill Me”, in 2023, Including Six European Cities
Popular K-pop boy group CIX is heading to Europe and U.S. in January and March 2023. This will be the group’s 2nd World Tour, which will include six European cities. CIX is a five-member K-pop boy group under C9 Entertainment, consisting of members BX, Seunghun, Jinyoung, Yonghee and Hyunsuk. In 2019, CIX has actively promoted…
Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man: RM’s “Indigo” Review
Art doesn’t come from someone who takes the shortcut. Only by taking the longest and most strenuous path can art send forth its fragrance. Truth is only realized and expressed through suffering. Yun Hyong Keun Strictly speaking, Indigo is not Namjoon’s first solo album, as prior to this he had released two free mixtapes, RM…
Landmark BTS POP-UP: SPACE OF BTS IN LONDON To Launch at The O2
PRESS RELEASE: 21st-century K-pop icons BTS are bringing an exciting retail experience to Europe in the form of a pop-up that will take place at The O2 in London later this week. The retail experience will run until the 31st of January 2023. Launching on 9th December in London within Icon Outlet at The O2,…
“My life had been leading me down a path designed to help me become the actor I am today.” – In Conversation with Jung Ryeo-won
Jung Ryeo-won never really thought of becoming an actress, but fate had other ideas. Korean-Australian Ryeo-won spent her teenage years in Australia, where she graduated from Griffith University with a major in International Business. One day, while visiting Korea, she was picked by a talent agent and relatively quickly became a part of a K-pop…
Netflix’s “Little Women” – In Conversation with Park Ji-hu and Nam Ji-hyun
Little Women is Korean drama at its best. While we can all agree that 2022 was an extraordinary year for female-based K-dramas, this 12-episode show is a true gem produced by the renowned Studio Dragon. The title, Little Women, has tricked many into considering it a mere adaptation of the 1868 novel of the same…
“I had such good help on this project. I feel incredibly blessed.” – In Conversation with Christine Ko, Director of “The Woman in the White Car”
Although there has been some visible progress over the past few years, female filmmakers still remain largely unseen either in front of the camera or behind it. While pushing through a world that is dominated by men, female filmmakers have shown that there are still countless stories to tell, stories that the opposite gender might…
17th London Korean Film Festival: “Stellar: A Magical Ride” Review
There’s something inherently comforting about the road trip movie. Always following the same narrative formula, with little room to innovate due to its constraints, a film within this subgenre is always about a journey both literal and metaphorical – the lead character experiencing emotional growth, whilst ticking off all the expected beats you’d expect on…
Jackson Wang Sets to Dominate the World of Music with His First-Ever Solo Headline Tour
Jackson Wang is a man of many talents. Known for being a member of GOT7, a South Korean Idol group, the artist has impressed many with his singing and rapping skills throughout the years. Jackson is also recognised for being a record producer, songwriter, music video director, and fashion designer. In 2017, he expanded his…
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