Singer Kim Jang-hoon donated $60,000 to various U.S. organizations after wrapping up his New York concert at Manhattan Center on Saturday.Kim, a well-known philanthropist, gave $20,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, $30,000 to the NYU Student Senators Council, and $10,000 to the FIT Student Association. Some 3,000 people attended the concert.Prior to the New York concert, Kim had already made donations of $50,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and

Singer Son Ho-young, who attempted suicide, was transferred from an intensive care unit to a general ward on Sunday, his agency said. According to CJ E&M’s officials, Son’s condition improved but he still needs more psychological stability. The member of former pop group g.o.d was visited at his hospital room by fellow members Kim Tae-woo and Danny Ahn, though they could not have a long conversation due to Son’s health status, the agency said. Son’s suicide attempt, which came on the heels of hi

Russian violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet is celebrating his 60th birthday in a big way: a world concert tour with the Moscow Soloists, the chamber orchestra he founded in 1986.The concert, “Yuri Bashmet and Moscow Soloists” on Wednesday at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, will feature Korean pianist Son Yeo-leum, second-place winner of the 2011 International Tchaikovsky competition, in a program that includes J.S. Bach’s Keyboard Concerto BWV 1052, Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata in A Minor, D. 82

Muneyoshi Yanagi’s collection focuses on everyday items

Ballerina Kim Ji-young to dance to club music and pansori in collaboration with choreographer Kim Bo-ram

Actress Han Hye-jin said she would move to the U.K. to be with husband-to-be Ki Sung-yueng after her wedding.Han said via Twitter on Tuesday that “My fiance Ki and I will be tying the knot on July 1. We will exchange vows to become husband and a wife.”Ki will return to the U.K. right after the wedding to join training with English Premier League club Swansea and Han will follow him after wrapping up her part for a film and broadcast program.Han’s agency said that though nothing has been decided

K-pop girl group 2NE1 leader CL put out her first single “The Baddest Female” on Tuesday, along with its music video. “The Baddest Female” is a slow but powerful hip-hop song which stresses the importance of women being strong by calling them “bad girls.” The 22-year-old singer appeared on 15 sets, each in different outfits ranging from a masculine leather jacket and shorts to funky hip-hop trousers. “I would like to praise CL’s recently released music video for fine teamwork between the singer

  Cho Yong-pil, one of South Korea’s top singers, will showcase his 19th album, “Hello,” as well as many of his previous hits on a monthlong tour. Cho, widely regarded as the representative figure of Korean pop music, will kick off his tour at Seoul Olympic Park’s Gymnastics Stadium on May 31 amid heightened attention to his music following the successful launch of his much-anticipated “Hello” album. The 63-year-old singer will tour Daejeon, Uijeongbu, Jinju and Daegu for a full month.“I started

Korean director Moon Byoung-gon on Sunday won the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes International Film Festival, which ran May 15-26, for his film “Safe.” Moon is the first Korean to win the honor.“I am bewildered and didn’t know if I would win a prize,” the 30-year-old director was quoted as saying after the awards ceremony in France. “I am all the more happy to receive this award because I had no expectation that I’d win.”The 13-minute short is described as a grim portrait of a man addicted to g

CJ Entertainment & Media vice chairperson Lee Mi-kyung has been added to the list of CJ Group executives under investigation for allegedly establishing slush funds overseas as well as committing acts of tax evasion and fraud. CJ E&M is the widely influential media content division of the food and media powerhouse, which is the country’s 14th-largest business conglomerate.The affiliate is one of the driving forces behind hallyu and it remains to be seen what impact the current probe will have on

Korean director Moon Byoung-gon’s ‘Safe’ wins top prize for short films

 KBS TV Gag Concert segment "Yellow Sea"A comedy program on the state-run KBS network featured an unflattering portrayal of ethnic Koreans in China, inviting critical comments from viewers. The segment in question is named “Yellow Sea,” which debuted on KBS’ “Gag Concert” Saturday. In the skit, actors play dirt-poor Chinese-Koreans attempting a voice phishing fraud on South Koreans in a satirical fashion. They used a half-baked standard Korean accent to deceive their counterparts, which seemed t

“SNL Korea,” a weekly comedy show on a cable network, apologized to the Korean Nurses Association on Saturday regarding one of its segments called “The Third Hospital” aired a week earlier.“We feel sorry for what was aired last week,” said Ahn Young-mi and Choi Yil-gu, the two hosts of the show. “There were complaints from the Korean Nurses Association about the way we portrayed nurses in Korea,” added Choi. Ahn also apologized to “all of those who might have been offended by the show.”The contr