Girls’ Generation sweeps music charts with “I Got a Boy”

Girls’ Generation makes a successful return with a new song, “I Got a Boy.”

There is no sign of waning in the popularity of Korea’s most popular girl group Girls’ Generation.

The nine girls of Girls’ Generation took back the stage with the release of their fourth album, “I Got A Boy.”

Since the comeback with the new title track song, the girl group has been receiving positive reactions with its music video posted on the official SM Town channel of YouTube, viewed 350,000 times in a single day. The music video now has over 2,200,000 hits, making the girl group the first K-pop singers to get that many hits in such a short period of time. Such an explosive reaction to “I Got a Boy” clearly shows that the starlets still have a strong fan base.

Earning the top spots on many music charts, Girls’ Generation proves that it remains Korea’s best girl group. Billboard praises ”I Got a Boy” as “one of the most forward-thinking lead pop singles heard in any country,” saying that the song satisfies listeners with a combination of forward-thinking EDM (electronic dance music), classic and modern R&B, ‘80s new wave, and more, in an article titled “Girls’ Generation, ‘I Got A Boy’: Track-By-Track Review.”

Korean blockbuster drama Iris returns

Korea’s top spy action TV drama Iris is coming back for its second season with a lot more for fans. The follow-up to the first season of the blockbuster spy-thriller has charmed the media since production began with large-scale overseas location shootings and more spectacular action. The drama welcomed representatives of the foreign and domestic media and Hallyu fans at a press conference which took place on February 7 at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, central Seoul. 

Eight of the total 20 episodes have been made so far, according to the Iris II production crew at the conference. They have finished overseas shoots in five countries -- Hungary, the Czech Republic, Cambodia, Austria, and Japan. The media spotlighted the promotional footage featuring action and chase scenes at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, a snowy landscape in Akita Prefecture in Japan, and on a bridge in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. At Angkor Wat, the crew used a helicopter for the first time ever in a Korean TV drama in order to present a more spectacular action scene. 

Iris II is armed with intense action and breath-taking scenery from five countries backed by an elaborate script. To make the action scenes more extreme and more realistic, the crew from the famous action movie Die Hard 5 worked with Iris II as they did for the previous season. ” If you say Iris I was the legend of Korean blockbuster drama, Iris II will become a new myth,” said a KBS representative with confidence at the conference. 

The show will star newcomers Jang Hyuk as Jeong Yu-geon, the head of a task force in the National Security Service (NSS) and Lee Da-hae as Ji Su-yeon, an Olympic gold medalist in pistol shooting recruited by the NSS. The story of Iris II is set three years after the mysterious death of Kim Hyun-joon acted by Lee Byung-hun, the top NSS agent in the first season. It will show the continuing war between the secretive group of international terrorists known as IRIS and the NSS with characters led by a new leader. It will also reveal the truth behind Baek San played by Kim Yeong-cheol, the former NSS head who was revealed to be the leader of the Korean division of IRIS. 

The two main actors -- Jang Hyuk and Lee Da-hae -- will act not only as top NSS agents but also as a couple who are deeply in love. Jang previously showed promise as an action star in KBS2 drama Chuno (The Slave Hunters) where he was also paired up with Lee Da-hae as a love interest. Jang and Lee are expected to portray one of the best on-screen couples once again in the upcoming season.

Other actors to watch include Kim Yeong-cheol and Oh Youn-soo as Choe Min, the new leader of the NSS. K-pop stars -- Yoon Doo-joon of the group Beast and Lee Joon of MBLAQ – have also grabbed the attention of both the media and Hallyu fans worldwide as they will act as ace NSS agents.

“Iris II will deal with more realistic issues compared with the previous story,” said Chung Tae-won, head of Iris production company Taewon Entertainment, at the conference. Chung said viewers will find it more absorbing as the following episodes will deal with North Korean nuclear issues and other pending inter-Korean issues in which both Koreas have reached a deadlock. “We also do our utmost to match the emotions of the actors through the scripts with spectacular action scenes, said Kim Tae-hoon, one of the co-producers of the spy-thriller along with director Pyo Min-soo.

To reflect the strong interest in the drama, the actors and production staff of Iris II had meaningful experiences during overseas shooting. They received heartfelt welcomes and were invited to a reception dinner in Akita Prefecture of Japan in late January this year due to their contribution to local tourism; the original Iris which featured the beautiful snowy scenery of the area attracted many viewers to visit the region. They held a press conference and showed a promotional video clip for Iris II during their Japan visit and received an enthusiastic response from the Japanese media which had shown strong interest in the first Iris in 2009.

Iris II will be aired from February 13 on KBS2 every Wednesday and Thursday. KBS2 will also broadcast a theater version of the first series during Seollal from February 9 to 11. 

Korean slugger joins MLB’s 20-20 club

Unstoppable locomotive Choo Shin-soo of the Cincinnati Reds has again showed his prowess.

In a home match against the New York Mets on September 23 (Cincinnati time), Choo joined the 20-20 club in home runs and steals with his 20th swipe. The Korean slugger became one of the big leaguers to record over 100 runs scored and 100 walks in one season.
Choo’s record of reaching 20 homers, 20 steals, 100 runs, and 100 walks proves his sharp batting eye and power, agility, and capability to read the overall flow of a game, which is not easy to achieve in the Major League (MLB) where only top-class baseballers compete. Choo became the first hitter with such record as a National Leaguer in the 113-year history of the MLB which includes both the American League and National League. 

Thanks to Choo, the Cincinnati Reds have entered the postseason. Sports reporter Mark Sheldon spotlighted Choo’s play in his September 24 article titled "Choo's walk-off single sends Reds to postseason." 

In the next home match against the Mets on September 25, Choo recorded one score and two hits, including his second three-base hit of the season. Choo has so far recorded 21 home runs, 20 steals, 105 runs scored, and 109 walks, and is six away from reaching base 300 times. 

Makgeolli Mamas & Papas, connoisseurs of makgeolli

For whom does the bell toll? In the university district of Hongdae, it tolls for makgeolli drinkers. Selling makgeolli from a pushcart, the infamous Makgeolli Ajeossi (old man) heralds his arrival with a handbell and a hearty yell. “I love you!” he offers to his foreign customers, along with bottle after bottle of the unbelievably cheap rice-fermented alcoholic beverage, makgeolli. 

Makgeolli has earned incredible goodwill, both domestically and abroad, over the last few years. This unusual opaque milky mixture, traditionally served in a bowl rather than a cup, offers a quintessentially Korean drinking experience that more and more people from overseas are falling in love with. 

“I’m excited to be on the ground floor of makgeolli,” says Monica Kluge, a Canadian enthusiast of makgeolli and founding member of Makgeolli Mamas & Papas. 

She started Makgeolli Mamas & Papas with her Australian friend Julia Mellor in November 2011. “The long-term ambition for MMPKorea is to spread as much knowledge about makgeolli as wide as possible in order to strengthen makgeolli communication and community,” says Kluge. “We want our website to be a one-stop shop for makgeolli information and content, whether it be house reviews or recommendations across Korea (and internationally), news, or links connecting the homemade makgeolli community.” 

Traditionally reputed as a farmers’ drink for alleviating a hard day’s work in the fields, it has also been known as nongju, or farmers’ alcohol. But lately, makgeolli has since moved into the cities and become a craft beverage, where foreign residents like Kluge and Mellor have been quick to embrace it -- perhaps even quicker than the Korean public. 

“We still get shocked looks when we say we like makgeolli and people often ask why,” says Mellor. “But, more and more people are drinking it and trying it for the first time and the farmers' drink stereotype has been disappearing.”

The group holds gatherings every three weeks, each time visiting a new makgeolli house and creating a collective review to be posted on their website. “From the meetings, we want to get people talking about makgeolli, meeting new people, trying new things,” says Mellor, “but also inspiring them to get out and explore makgeolli on their own.”

In their time active they’ve seen a renaissance of makgeolli, ushering in new makgeolli bars, food blogs focusing on makgeolli, and lovers of makgeolli. 

“Everyone ends up lovin’ it!” Kluge says. “The key is that makgeolli has a lot of great traditions, it is interesting to explore the old school makgeolli houses or the new makgeolli lounges, and people are realizing it is an important and enjoyable nook in Korean culture.” 

“[MMPKorea] see makgeolli as a core of Korean culture,” says Jo Hyo-jin, a professor at the Graduate School of Tourism Science at Kyonggi University who also frequents MMPKorea meetups. “There comes a bigger understanding of Korean culture along with makgeolli. As they evaluate places where makgeolli is sold, they will become great guides or guiding lights for other foreign makgeolli fans.” 

Jo also teaches lectures on makgeolli at Susubori Academy, a traditional Korean liquor institute connected with the university. Susubori offers one-day classes for the curious, as well as full certification courses in brewing makgeolli, plus a host of other alcoholic beverages including beer and soju. His classes have been a hit with foreign brewers. 

“Makgeolli has a low alcohol content like beer so it is easily drinkable,” he explains. “It is not as harmful to your health as hard liquor. There is also the charm of makgeolli itself. It does not belong to any category such as wine or vodka. It is unique.” 

The makgeolli boom started in 2009 in an atmosphere of economic uncertainty. Amid overall plummeting alcohol sales, makgeolli sales surged almost 48 percent according to the National Tax Service. In 2010, Makgeolli exports to Japan overtook sake imports to Korea, according to the Korea Customs Service. In 2011, makgeolli sales overseas reached USD 52.7 million, 90 percent of which landed in Japan. 

Makgeolli is also touted for its health benefits, made with a live yeast culture not unlike that of other fermented delicacies such as yogurt. It also contains fiber, amino acids, lactobacilli, and vitamins B1, B2, and C. Traditionally, makgeolli is made by fermenting glutinous rice, barley, or wheat, and most varieties have an alcoholic content between six and eight percent, on par with beer rather than soju which hovers around 20 percent. 

In recent history, makgeolli was made with chemical additives to hasten the fermentation process, but brewers are returning to more natural methods. Meanwhile, soju, which still maintains its popularity coming in cheap, low-quality green bottles, has seen considerably less experimentation. But after experiencing the splitting headache of a soju hangover, more and more people are turning away from soju and switching to the much fresher, flavorful, nutritious varieties of makgeolli. 

“Makgeolli is very different to soju, in that there is easy access to so many different kinds, flavors, and ingredients, so every makgeolli you try will be different,” says Kluge. “It’s much more like wine in that way.” 

Additionally, to stay competitive and maintain sales growth, makgeolli retailers have been introducing a wide range of new products and premium brands. Also, unlike soju which is manufactured by major distillers like Jinro and Lotte, makgeolli is mainly produced by small businesses, allowing for more experimentation and regional variation and ensuring that customers will never run out of new tastes to experience. According to Hur Si-myung, principal of the Makgeolli School, there are over 800 makgeolli breweries throughout Korea. 

But makgeolli’s renaissance has also led to an interesting challenge for the Mamas & Papas. The milky, sweet beverage offers first-time tasters a unique drinking experience unlike any other popular alcoholic drink, but it also exists outside the usual frame of reference for connoisseurs of more familiar alcoholic drinks such as wine and beer. 

“When we review different kinds of makgeolli, we have learned that there is no established vocabulary to differentiate from what we are trying,” says Mellor. “If we try wine, we talk about things like 'nose,' 'finish,' 'tannins,' 'curtains,' 'bouquet', but makgeolli is still limited. It's really interesting to see what people come up with to describe what they are tasting. We are starting to see some common patterns and word frequencies which we hope will evolve into a widely accepted makgeolli-tasting vocabulary.” 

Although the rise of makgeolli sales has slowed this year, that doesn’t mean the drink is going to disappear, as the number of makgeolli makers and lovers continues to grow. 

"We should focus on culture rather than trying to sell overseas," says Jo. "Beer is localized and produced everywhere around the world. The government should change its strategy to globalize makgeolli so that it can be enjoyed by a more diverse population." 

“The makgeolli world is limitless,” says Kluge, “and we have big plans to be a part of it all.” 

Kimchi and kimchi-making culture is likely to be listed by UNESCO as one of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage items, it was announced on October 23.

According to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA), a subsidiary body of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Committee has recommended that “Kimjang: Making and Sharing Kimchi” be inscribed as an intangible heritage item. The recommendation is mostly likely to result in its addition to the heritage list.

The final decision is slated for the eighth Intangible Heritage Committee meeting to be held from December 2 to 7 in Baku, Azerbaijan. If kimchi makes it onto the list, Korea will have 16 items inscribed as intangible heritage items, including its royal ancestral ritual at the Jongmyo shrine and the music associated with it (inscribed in 2001), the dance Ganggangsullae (2009), the martial art Taekkyeon (2011) and the song Arirang (2012).

UNESCO took into account that kimchi, an iconic Korean food made of fermented cabbage, has a long history and that it is an important cultural asset that has served to nurture the Korean people’s identity. In particular, it acknowledged that kimchi making, known as kimjang, has reinforced the solidarity and the spirit of sharing among Koreans throughout the generations.

In late November and early December, Koreans make enough kimchi to last through the winter. When doing so, relatives and neighbors gather to give a helping hand. According to a 2011 survey by the CHA, 95 percent of Koreans eat kimchi everyday and 64 percent answered that they eat the side dish with every meal.

The health benefits of kimchi are proven. It is full of lactic acid bacteria, fiber and vitamins. Many believe it is effective in helping cure diabetes, heart disease and obesity and in preventing stomach and colorectal cancers. Kimchi is exported to 52 countries around the world as it has become loved by many.

When severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) spread from China in 2003, some believed Koreans were safe from SARS because of their kimchi and the pickled cabbage dish became hugely popular. U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama also posted a photo of some kimchi she personally made, and the recipe, on her Twitter feed.

Health magazine selected kimchi as one of the world’s five healthy foods in 2006.

Big Bang confirmed for 2013 MAMA in Hong Kong

Big Bang is back, back at MAMA that is. 

On October 25, CJ E&M announced that Big Bang has been confirmed to perform at Mnet’s 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), which will be held at the Asia World-Expo in Hong Kong on November 22. 

“We are excited to welcome Big Bang, including G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, Daesung, and Seungri, to Asia’s premier music festival, 2013 MAMA,” said An So Yeon, the chief producer of the music ceremony. “Fans should get ready for what will truly be a performance only dreamt about until now with all the expertise and 15-year production know-how of Mnet.” 

Big Bang took home the Artist of the Year Award at the 2012 MAMA. 

Following their mini album, Alive, the group has focused on solo careers, each member succeeding in his own endeavors. 

2013 MAMA will take place on November 22. 

G-Dragon awarded 'Style Icon' of 2013

Iconic K-pop star G-Dragon was awarded the top prize at the “2013 Style Icon Awards” (2013 SIA) which was held at CJ E&M Center located in Sangam-dong, Seoul, on Oct 24.

G-Dragon, 25, became the youngest person to take the honor of being the “style icon” of the year.

The leader of Big Bang is an undisputed fashionista who wore a gray-color suit and sported pink-dyed hair at the award ceremony.

“G-Dragon, who is praised as a great musician by his flamboyant performance on stage, is credited this time with a unique fashion style to which young people aspire,” said CJ E&M, the host of SIA.

“I usually like to be called a style icon and feel great to receive such an award. I’ll make greater efforts to present better stages,” said G-Dragon in his acceptance speech.

Besides the Grand Prize, six special awards were given to Crayon Pop, A$AP Rocky, producer Na Young-seok, designer Chung Uk-jun, singer Clara, Choi Jin-hyeok and Soo Young.