HyunA and Jay Park will be joining the lineup of artists representing the Korean music industry at this year’s South By Southwest music showcase in Austin, Texas. The two artists are recent additions to a handful of Korean bands that have been selected to perform at the upcoming music festival in March. HyunA and Jay Park are expected to represent K-pop music, which has become popular both at home and abroad.Although the two artists differ greatly from the 16 Korean acts that have already been a

Akdong Musician, the amateur winning team of SBS’ music reality competition “K-pop Star 2,” plans to make an official debut at the end of February, a local media outlet reported. 　 The teenage duo, consisting of siblings Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Soo-hyun, will debut as professional singers through the SBS TV audition program “K-pop Star 3” after a nine-month training period at YG Entertainment, the report said. 　 The sibling stars took the No. 1 spot in the competition in 2013, garnering a

Nichkhun, a member of K-pop idol group 2PM, showed off his badminton skills, outshining counterparts on the KBS entertainment show “Uridongne Yecheneung,” aired on Tuesday. 　Badminton coaches and players, including the former Olympic gold medalist Lee Yong-dae, starred in the last episode, “All Star Match,” and teamed up with stars for a doubles badminton match.  　“Uridongne Yecheneung” means “our neighborhood arts and sports.” The popular show features stars challenging local residents in vario

Max Changmin, a member of pop duo TVXQ, has decided to drop out of the variety TV show “Uridongne Yecheneung (Our Neighborhood Arts and Sports),” nine months after he joined the program.According to the show’s production team, the star has decided to focus on his music with TVXQ, which recently released its seventh full-length album. The popular show, in which stars challenge local residents in sporting activities, will air its last episode with the idol singer on KBS 2TV on Feb. 4. 　By Ock Hyun

In spite of actress Shim Eun-kyeong’s impressive performance, Hwang Dong-hyuk’s latest

Leeteuk’s previous mentions of his childhood on television and comments made by acquaintances with the star’s father are shedding new light on the family’s affairs after news of the tragedy broke out on Monday.“I was often beaten up and my parents would argue often. Father was just a scary figure to me at the time,” the Super Junior member confessed on a TV program in 2012, describing his deprived childhood.Acquaintances who went to pay their respects to the family commented that Leeteuk’s fathe

JYP Entertainment, run by one of the nation’s most successful music producers Park Jin-young, will be launching its new boy band “GOT7” next week. Coming a year after the debut of duo JJ Project, who since its launch has released only two singles to little success, officials at JYPE announced plans to do away with the group and move the two members into the seven-member K-pop idol boy group. The public has already glimpsed a number of the members in action during the airing of YG Entertainment’s

Korea‘s rising sex symbol Clara posted a video of her at dance practice on Twitter on Tuesday, drawing much attention from her fans. She wrote, “Clara is practicing SNSD’s dance for ‘I Got a Boy.’” She was practicing the dance to participate in MBC TV’s annual music festival’s opening stage that was aired at the end of last year. 　 By Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)

Up-and-coming musical actress Park Ji-yeon shares thoughts on her success and passion for music

Museums introduce creative exhibitions that offer fresh insight into the latest practice of contemporary art

One of the nation’s iconic veteran solo artists, Lee Sun-hee, will make a comeback next month with the release of her 15th studio album, her first in five years, in commemoration of her 30th year in the music industry. “This year marks the 30th anniversary so it’s very meaningful,” stated a representative from the singer’s agency Hook Entertainment. “She is currently working on the upcoming album, which will feature all new songs. The album will pay tribute to her music from the past 30 years.”

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Bruce Springsteen’s 18th studio album “High Hopes” went online in the United States Sunday, 10 days before its general release ― and on the 41st anniversary of The Boss’s debut outing.Television network CBS had announced it would host the Internet-only pre-release after the conclusion of this week’s episode of “The Good Wife” at around 10 p.m. in a unique tie-in with the top-rated legal drama.But American fans of the New Jersey-born rock ’n’ roll voice of blue-collar America w

Actor Eom Ki-joon posted a photo with Suzy of Miss A, who had come to watch the musical “Werther” on Twitter Sunday. The 39-year-old actor and the K-pop girl group member starred together on the KBS drama “Dream High” in 2011 as a teacher and student. Eom said he would perform on stage four more times before “Werther” end its run on Jan. 12. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

Actress Kim Yoon-jin graced a special section in the Friday edition of the New York Times, with a detailed interview covering her acting career and life story, including her childhood as an immigrant and her New Year resolutions. The NYT introduced Kim as a “game-changing” actress and previewed her comeback to the small screen on ABC TV show “Mistresses.” 　　Kim’s acting career began in the film “Shiri” in 1999, breaking box-office records in Korea. The star is now looking to take off to the U.S.