This is the ninth in a series on foreigners working in the Korean entertainment industry. ― Ed.Korean-American Bryan Park, also known by his stage name NoName, came to Korea to pursue a music career in 2008, and though it has been hard going, his efforts are starting to bear fruit.The hip-hop artist left his label over the summer and opened up his company, AMP Media, in August 2012, and currently has about 15 to 20 people working there, including two artists and a group of trainees for an idol g

“American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson rejects speculation she‘s a lesbian and says it’s an insult to gays to suggest one is gay for being “single for so long.”Clarkson, who was recently engaged to boyfriend Brandon Blackstock, says she‘s never had an interest in women, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.“People think, ’Oh, she‘s been single for too long,’” Clarkson told Cosmopolitan. “That‘s kind of an insult to the gay community. Being single doesn’t mean you‘re gay.”Clarkson said she’s “nev

The former husband of late actress Choi Jin-sil was found dead at his home in Seoul Sunday in an apparent suicide, police said.The body of Cho Sung-min, 39, a former top baseball player who was married to Choi from 2000 to 2004, was found in the bathroom of his apartment in the southern Seoul neighborhood of Dogok-dong, police said.A friend discovered the body and told police, saying Cho appeared to have strangled himself with a belt.The late actress committed suicide in 2008 after struggling wi

Dance“Romeo and Juliet”: The Korea National Ballet is opening this year’s season with Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.” The troupe is presenting a version created by legendary French choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot of Monte Carlo Ballet Theater. Unlike the Kenneth MacMillan version showcased by Universal Ballet Company last year, the upcoming show presents simple and modern costumes and choreography. Its stage setting, created by French designer Ernest Pignon-Ernest, is also noted for

Life of Pi (U.S.)Opened Jan. 1 Drama. Action. Adventure. Directed by Ang Lee. Pi (Suraj Sharma)’s family prepares to move upon hearing that the government’s financial aid for the family’s zoo will be cut off. The family boards a ship to Canada with their zoo animals. But an unexpected storm sinks the ship and only Pi, who gets on a lifeboat, survives the deadly accident. On the lifeboat, an injured zebra, a starved hyena and an orangutan with a handful of bananas increase the tension. However, t

Elle Goulding’s ‘Halcyon’ is hauntingly beautifulEllie Goulding“Halcyon”(Polydor Records)In an age of auto tuned homogeneity, Ellie Goulding’s voice is really something. She imprints on everything she sings with unique character. Goulding’s tremulous vibrato and hoarse timbre have the feel of something primal and folky, her birdlike high notes are childlike, while darker tones imply ancient depths of sorrow. Ellie Goulding has always dealt with unfairly high expectations. Best known in the U.S.

When his “Sopranos” boss David Chase asked James Gandolfini to play another New Jersey Italian for his movie, a working class dad unhappy with his musician-son’s career choice in the swinging ‘60s, the big man didn’t hesitate.“I knew this guy,” Gandolfini says. “There’s a lot of my dad in him.”Pasquale, his character in “Not Fade Away,” is a gruff mechanic who runs a local Pep Boys auto repair shop. He’s pushing his son (John Magaro) to go to college. He doesn’t approve of the kid’s music, his l

JERUSALEM (AP) ― The Mideast conflict has done little to help Israel’s image in the world, but the way local filmmakers deal critically with the Israel-Palestinian issue has won wide international praise ― and this year, recognition from the top of the movie industry.Two Israeli-produced documentaries about the conflict have been shortlisted for possible nomination in this year’s Academy Awards. Few Israeli films have contended in the Best Documentary category before. The shortlisted films repre

Hong Ra-hee, the director of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, has been named the most influential figure in the Korean art circle, according to a survey. The survey of 3,368 visitors to art museums, galleries and fairs was conducted by the Korea Art Price Appraise Association during last year. According to the art evaluation agency, Hong was also voted as the most influential figure every year between 2005 and 2009. Hong’s museum attracted more than 260,000 visitors in 2012 with major exhibitions s

Musical ‘chameleons’ write their own fusion of styles