KPOP Jacket Lady
KDrama and KPOP Concert Reviews, Travel Tips, Korean Recipes and more
Foodie’s Delight: The Street Food Of Korea. Part 2.
Korean street food is made in many different ways, including in movable stalls to small kitchens that are tucked into ground floors of old buildings, with much of the cooking spilling out into the street in front of the store. There’s no place to sit and eat at many of these so it still is very much street food, but with a more permanent location. Locals often get take out from these places on a regular basis.
There’s a great place in Namdaemun Market which sells the most delicious steamed buns. There are a few different fillings to choose from, but the absolute best one I had had a delicious pork filling. It was served piping hot and passers by laughed at me as I was doing the whole ‘too hot, but so good’ dance with the first bun. One older gentleman asked us if was good and a couple of others encouraged us to eat well. I think they liked watching us enjoy their local food.
Another type of street food stall can be attached to a sit down restaurant where some items are cooked in areas open to the street and you can just buy food to go, or go inside and sit down. Many of these have very basic interiors. These photos show all sorts of vegetables and meats being fried in a light covering of batter. I did enjoy these, but at some places they were a little greasy for my taste. You can tell how incredibly popular these fritters (Jeon) just by looking at how many these ladies are preparing.
You can also find great food inside some of the markets, with some markets having better reputations than others. Here you usually find a place to sit to eat if you can, although at some places people stand as well. There’s a huge selection of different types of food to try, but you need to be confident and a little adventurous as the ladies are usually busy and don’t have much time to spare if you ask too many questions, plus most are unlikely to speak English.
In Dongdaemun market we opted to try a lady who had a tiny eating space behind her stall, as we felt we would be out of the way of the main crowd. Unable to communicate except by pointing and gestures, the lady finally just gave my daughter a plate and a set of tongs and told her to put what she wanted on the plate.
This was all reheated so that it was piping hot and delivered to our table. The kimchi pancake was really, really good. I also enjoyed the little dumplings (mandu). We of course had some banchan on the table and a beer to drink. Surrounded by working people on lunch break we were totally immersed in the local eating culture. Not a place to sit and linger, many people came and went quite quickly as they hurried back to their daily routines.
While eating all this street food might make you thirsty, don’t despair, vending machine drinks can be found almost everywhere……
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Part 1, Pojangmacha: Better Known To Some As A Soju Tent, Korea Without The Chili Pepper, and Korean Tea.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. Photo credits to Elle Marzec.
Korean Variety Show Games, Part 5.
I’ve talked about lots of games in past posts, but with the large number of Korean shows that feature games I’m guessing I’ll be writing quite a few more.
Dangyunhaji.
I thought I’d start off today with an older game that sees an increase in popularity from time to time. I read somewhere that this was once a traditional game and was played in the Joseon era by the Yangban class as a way to judge someone’s personality. By seeing how they reacted to the questions posed to them you could gain insight into their temperament. It was meant to test their honor, integrity, and unflappability. And that a clever player could sometimes trick an unwary opponent into disclosing a revealing answer. Who knows if that is true, but the game of Dangyunhaji, known in English as “of course”, can definitely test a player’s character.
Although a relatively easy game, one player asks a question, the other must reply ‘of course’ or forfeit the game, it is more involved than that, in that one must choose each question carefully to try and test your opponent’s mettle. It is often the most fun to watch when players know each other and can ask probing questions. Dangyunhaji was very popular on the KVariety show X-Man and there are lots of clips showing them play the game on Youtube. Kpop groups such as BTS KNK, and Lovlyz, plus individuals like Jackson from Got7 can also be found playing this game with varying degrees of success.
Chopsticks Games.
Another game seen in the older variety shows involves the snapping of chopsticks in half with your butt.
Beginners should start off playing this game with only a couple of chopsticks, not the bundle shown in Junho, of 2pm’s, butt. Wooden chopsticks are tied together and then a strong piece of cloth is threaded between the legs and attached to a branch, dowel, or broomstick handle. The branch is then pushed either forward or upward until the chopsticks break. This, as can be imagined, is an uncomfortable game to play and yet it is still played on variety shows from time to time.
Another chopstick breaking game that is seen from time to time uses 2 chopsticks threaded through your fingers and then slammed onto a hard surface such as a table or knee. I actually don’t really recommend anyone try this one at home as it looks quite painful.
A chopstick game that is more my speed is using them to move a specific number of small objects like dried beans from one bowl to another in the shortest amount of time. This actually can prove to be quite an entertaining party game.
Or you can play a version where there is a pile of beans, or something similar, and multiple people compete to see who can pick up the most and place them in their container. I’ve seen this version played in the US using mini marshmallows. I play with different items that score different amounts of points.
Or you can use chopsticks to stack small items like wooden blocks, to see who can stack the most.
Giant chopsticks appear from time to time and it is always funny seeing the players trying to use them.
And more recently to eat with.
I’m quite sure there’s other games that can be played with chopsticks. Which is your favorite? You can let me know in the comments below.
Have a great day everyone.
You might also be interested in Korean Games, And Where To Find Out More About Them.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
All photo credits to original owners.
How Many Kpop Idols/Groups Have I Actually Seen Perform Live?
When people see the Kpopjacket they often ask have I seen every idol/group that is represented on the jacket and the answer is, not yet! Sometime I sewed a patch because I liked a particular group, or even because they have a cool or interesting logo.
But I have seen a lot of Korean singers and musicians, even if some may be borderline Kpop. Other times I may not have seen the whole group, but just an individual or a subunit. I saw, and chatted with, Brad Moore of Busker Busker fame a couple of weeks ago when he performed with Big Phony at SXSW.
My count therefore stands at around 70, from big names like Big Bang, SHINee, and BTS, to less well known such as Hoody, and Baek Ji Young. Some were huge concerts while others were at Music Shows or Fanmeets.
Showcases such as MCountdown and SXSW allowed me to see multiple artists in one show. The same I guess is true for the evening concerts at KCONs, so not counting those, and fanmeets, I’ve only been to about 35 pure concerts so have a long way to go to catch up with some of you guys. Still I usually stick with the number 70 for the idols/groups I’ve seen in total even if it was only 1 or two songs each for some of them.
I’m looking forward to increasing the number of idols/groups I’ve seen as well as seeing some of my favorites perform again.
How many have you seen and who was your favorite? Let me know in the comments.
Have a great day everyone.
Updated to add Seventeen, JJCC,
and Taeyang concerts.
Updated Oct. 2017.
SBS The Show. With multiple groups. TRCNG. Golden Child. DIA. Rainz. MASC. Bolbbalgan 4. April. Walwari. Jung Dong Ha. Park Jae Jung.
Also Busan Asia One Festival Opening Concert with multiple groups. (Ikon, Black Pink, APink, Astro, BAP, Got7, GFriend, Sechskies, Wanna One, SF9, Momoland, NCT127, and Nu’estW.)
SXSW 2018. Junoflo, (with Ann One as guest). DPR Live. (Christian Yu was on stage with him.) Crush. Cifika. Lee Hi. KARD. Say Sue Me also performed but the venue was late in getting everyone in, so most people missed her performance.
Zion T concert in Dallas.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Kpop Credentials where there’s a more recent update and list of whom I’ve seen and where.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
Photo credits to original owners.
SHINee World V Tour In Dallas. 2017.
Once again SHINee, one of the most iconic groups of Kpop, chose Dallas, Texas on Friday 24th of March 2017 to be one of their few stops in North America. Their first time in Dallas was a Fan Meet back in July 2016, whereas this time they were here for a full concert. One of only 2 cities in the US chosen to hold a concert, the other being Los Angeles, meant that fans came from near and far to attend. The furthest I heard of was a group from Peru, but fans may have come from even further afield.
Shawols, the name of SHINee’s fandom group, are among the most loyal and enthusiastic around, as could be seen by the fans arriving early and buying a huge amount of fan merchandise. Fans showed up hours before the show, and the press to get in once the doors opened was intense. It took a little while longer before we were allowed into the seating area. Although not a complete sell out, the theater was absolutely packed with fans.
The show started with a 6 minute video up on the big screen giving us a backstory of sorts. Full of colorful imagery and CGI, it encompassed nods, to folk tales, Escher, and nightmares of imprisonment, an endless maze, and never ending corridors, before the 5 shinning princes traveled through space, imaginary worlds, and gardens collecting the colors they needed to defeat the witch who had stolen all the color from the world. Armed with all the color they had collected they rescued the world and brought the “Color of SHINee” back to us.
With ever greater screams and cheers the fans waited expectantly for the curtain to rise. When it did the roars increased until it was almost deafening. SHINee was finally there before them, and for many, a dream had come true. SHINee opened with Hitchiking, from 2013. Backed by 4 dancers, SHINee filled the stage with their dancing and music.The choreography was spot on, with sharp, crisp moves, and the stylish flare that is synonymous with their name.
Throughout the concert every member of the group performed flawlessly, however, I have to say that time and time again my eyes were drawn to Key. He positively owned the stage. I could feel his confidence and enjoyment even from where I was seated, which was quite far back from the stage. It wasn’t until later in the show that Onew came into his own and I became conflicted as to who to watch. Now that isn’t to say that I didn’t watch all of them, I did, just that at times not all of them could be watched at the same time. Obviously Jonghyun was the focus when he sang his parts, as was Onew, and Taemin drew all eyes with his dancing, as did Minho with his rapping, charisma, and cheeky grins.But if anyone was the MVP of the night I would have to say it was Key.
The show was divided into sets, with video clips in between. The videos were full of all the best aspects of their personas with obvious thought given to fan enjoyment. Each member smiled, pouted, and winked down from the big screen, while lounging or standing in model-like poses. The videos showed us all one of the many reasons why so many of us were, and still are, long time fans. There’s no question that they are an attractive group of young men.
There were also a few breaks where they spoke to the audience, to thank us for being their fans, their surprise at our ‘passion’ and to explain that since they didn’t perform live for us before, they would include mainly their most popular and famous songs. This they did, with song after song being greeted by screams and cheers. Lucifer, Juliet, Why So Serious, Sherlock, Everybody, Dream Girls and more rocked the theater. I think they performed about 23 songs in all. But the biggest cheer of the night was probably for Ring Ding Dong with the whole crowd singing along. Although SM has a general no cameras and no photography rule, many, if not most of the audience, were taking photos and videos, many of which can be found on Youtube. If you watch any of them, please realize that being at the concert was at least a hundred times better. The music was loud and all encompassing which along with the palpable excitement of the fans surrounding you, and SHINee performing before you made everyone’s hearts beat faster. When people says concerts like this are more of an experience than a show I think they’re probably correct.And it was a fantastic experience.
As the most confident English speaker Key was the one who mostly chatted with the audience, although all the others had opportunities to say thing with the aid of a translator. Jonghyun spoke to the crowd a fair bit in Korean and Minho spoke a few short phrases in English, although it seemed as if he wanted to say more, while Onew and Taemin were shy and cute and hesitant to say much at all. Key told us a funny story or two, one recounting why he was wearing a different outfit for this show. Apparently during a costume change his clothes had been thrown carelessly over “a lightning device” (I think he meant a light) and soon they could smell burning and they looked to see his clothes were on fire. (It was his Gucci and he mentioned it more than once, so I think he really was quite upset by the loss, even though he was trying to joke about it.) This happened at the Vancouver concert.
Having debuted in 2008 this is SHINee’s 9th year of being together and in that time they have managed to maintain their reputation as being among the best live vocalists in Kpop, which they proved yet again at this concert. With two amazing main vocalists, each of whom complements, contrasts , and melds with the other perfectly, they can sing everything from ballads to fast up tempo songs that include elements of funk, rock and EDM. Minho has improved over time, and Key and Taemin are no slouches at singing either. Also known for their intricate and complex choreography created for them by some of the top choreographers in the world, SHINee is a visual delight too, both for their stellar dancing and their quirky fashion style. Sometimes bordering on the bizarre SHINee has started more than one fashion trend in Korea and among their worldwide fans.
Even after the concert ended, there was still a feeling of joy and contentment among many of the fans. A dream had been fulfilled and they had experienced an evening they would never forget. Thank you SHINee. Y’all come back y’hear.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy KPOP Night Out @ SXSW, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, HyunA Charms Her Dallas Fans, +Hello Bi+ches Tour 2016 + Dallas, SHINee Shines Bright in Texas, (2016 Fanmeet.) and Got7: Fly in the USA concert review.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. Photos credits are to original owners.
KPOP Night Out @SXSW. Part 3.
The View From The Back.
After seeing MFBTY I asked the fans around me if they would let me switch out with my friend who was about 8 rows back, as he is a huge fan of Hyolyn and of Red Velvet. They kindly acquiesced and we swapped places. I had thought the crush was bad at the front of the stage, but it got worse the further back I went. In order to experience the concert from multiple places, I eventually worked my way all the way to the back. The view from the first 10 rows or so was pretty good, and photos from there came out better than right at the front. Whether it was the venue, or the artist’s preference, many of the lights on stage were focused out toward the audience, and were blinding at times and making it hard for anyone trying to take pictures.
Hyolyn’s set was delayed a little as the staff had to wipe up the water from MFBTY, Yoonmirae had sprayed a little water towards the fans. This shouldn’t have crept into Hyolyn’s time since there were already decent length gaps between each performance of the night, but I guess the stage technicians weren’t quite on the ball.
According to my friend at the front Hyolyn’s performance was sensual and sexy and she got down and low, and kept all eyes focused on her as she controlled both the stage and the crowd. She made eye contact with the fans and beamed that mega-watt smile multiple times. If you want to see the fancams he made you can see them on youtube and see just how close he is to her stellar performance. Her backup dancers were excellent too.
I stopped at another decent viewpoint, about half way back where there was a step up. A different group of friends had a spot here and had a good view, although it was a place they had to stand firm on, as people behind them kept trying to push them off the step. After escaping all the way to the back after Hyolyn’s set I managed to grab a drink and breathe a little. It was nice to take a break from the crowd after about 6 hours. A group had also found that the upstairs balcony had a good view, if at an awkward angle for some, others had given up on watching and had found seats where they could at least listen to the show in comfort.
I made an attempt to find a spot to watch Red Velvet when they came on stage, but the mass of people was packed too tight. I did though watch larger men who arrived right before Red Velvet came on force their way through, with no regard to the fact that other people had waited for hours to see them. I personally had a large man push me aside…..and then stand right in front of me, before he then managed to push another woman aside and move further forward. Yes know that’s how concert audiences work, I’ve been going to concerts since the late 70’s, but it was the rudeness and sheer disregard towards other people which I didn’t expect from Kpop fans.
To make sure I could at least see some of Red Velvet’s performance I found a tall guy at the back who was filming with his phone and ended up watching them on the small screen, with occasional glimpses of the stage when the crowd shifted and moved. Red Velvet was somewhat nervous and initial technical difficulties made them a little unsure and awkward. They may also have been a little intimidated by the very close, and very loud crowd, especially being in a foreign country. They seemed sweet and adorable, and did eventually relax a little. At one point Irene had to go backstage for a few minutes and I’m not sure what that was about. The fans were hyped up, and very vocal, thrilled to be able to be this close to their favorite idols.
Even after the show was over fans streaming out of the venue seemed reluctant to have the evening end, and they stood outside in small groups going over their favorite moments. Eventually everyone dispersed as exhaustion began to set in. I was in line at 10am and the show ended at 2am. It had been one long day, but it does show the commitment of Kpop fans to their artists and music.
This was my second KPOP Night Out at SXSW, the first being in 2015, and this one was definitely a better lineup of artists and a slightly better venue. The Belmont worked well on some levels, but the stage is small, the standing room for the audience is narrow and enclosed by high walls which, alongside it being at outside venue, made it quite hot and oppressive in the tightly packed crowd. The view of the stage is not good for about a third, or more, of the audience.
Still most fans will put up with a lot to see their favorite artists, although producers and organizers shouldn’t rely on that. A few people I spoke with said that it might be an event they go to every couple of years or so, rather than every year because it was just so exhausting. Also I think maybe mixing up the genres of Korean music a little more might be popular. A Trot singer might be a lot of fun, especially if they sang some of the really popular songs that we all hear in Kdramas, and on variety shows. Or B Boy dancers, since Korea has some of the best around. The draw will always be the idols, but for this show anyway, the fans did their best to make it a fantastic experience for all the groups, not just their biases.
Thank you to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, KOCCA, and MU:CON, plus anyone else who helped bring KPOP Night Out to SXSW and Austin, Texas. Y’all come back y’hear.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Part 1, and Part 2.
Photo credits to ‘Sangheili19’ (check out his youtube channel for some amazing fancams of the show.) except for last photo, credit to MFBTY ? or original owner.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
KPOP Night Out At SXSW. Part 2.
A View from the Front.
In part one I mentioned that I was at the K-POP Industry Party held before the show, which meant I was inside the venue before the doors opened, and therefore was able to get a center spot 2nd line back from the front for the actual showcase. I stayed here for the first 4 acts before switching with a friend so he got to see his girl groups up close. Part 2 is about the first four groups, Big Phony, No Brain, Galaxy Express, and MFBTY, along with some of their label mates and friends, as seen from the front of the venue. Part 3 will be about trying to watch Hyolyn, and Red Velvet, from towards the back of the venue. Definitely different experiences!
The weather was warm and a little muggy, with only a few drafts of the wind that had plagued us while waiting in line earlier in the day managing to get past the tall brick walls surrounding the stage area. Packed tightly together it was a little uncomfortable, but at least I was close to the stage and had a great view. This changed later as dozens of photographers lined up against the stage, constantly blocking the sight-lines of the people who had paid to watch the show. I had doubts the qualifications of some of them as they were using their phone cameras more than their ‘real’ cameras. One man kept leaning so far back into us that the young lady in front of me actually had him pressing up against her and totally blocking her view, as well as making her feel uncomfortable.
The opening act was Big Phony (aka Bobby Choy) a super cool guy, who is totally talented on multiple levels, even if he himself is somewhat self deprecating and modest. He’s a singer, songwriter, composer, producer, actor and movie screenwriter, in all one of those people that you could dislike if he wasn’t such a nice person. Having lived in New York, Seoul, and LA, he brought a more culturally diverse musical background to KPOP Night Out.
It was still daylight when he began his session, joined by members of No Brain and Brad Moore from Busker Busker as his backup musicians. The crowd was happy to see him and may have surprised him somewhat with their enthusiasm, but he’s been to Texas before and must know that things are bigger and better here. Big Phony’s sound can be described as ‘folk’ or ‘indie’ but it was more than that, it was lyrical with a soulful underlay of sadness, yet there was a wistfulness and hope there too. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance and hope more people start listening to his music. You can, of course, find his MV’s on Youtube, including Hanging on a Thread, and The Hours, as well as others.
After a short break and a rearrangement of the stage the next act was No Brain, a veteran punk/rock group who have been together for over 20 years. Their experience and talent was immediately obvious, but what was more compelling was their joy in performing. Bulldaegal bounced and stalked the stage with a barely controlled explosive energy, pumping up the crowd to an almost riotous level. Not a huge fan of this style of music I was caught up in the frenzy and was dancing and shouting along with everyone else. Surprisingly I really enjoyed their performance and was impressed with each member of the group as they were masters of their craft. After Bulldaegal with his infectious smile, Hyoonga was perhaps my favorite with his soju song. I missed out on the chance to drink soju with him, maybe another time.
No Brain, long known as the ‘godfathers’ of Korean punk have performed in Korea, Japan, the US, Canada, and even Russia. If you ever get the chance to go see them I highly recommend you do so. You’d be in for a helluva show.
Galaxy Express described as a “high octane, runaway bullet train” performed next. Formed in 2006 they are a 3 member group known for their dynamic stage presence. With many fans around the world they’ve appeared on stage in multiple countries including the US, Canada, France, England, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. They won Musician of the Year in 2011 at the Korean Music Awards. They were definitely loud, powerful, and talented, but unfortunately they couldn’t keep the crowd momentum going and looking around the audience I could unfortunately see quite a few disengaged people.
The group I was looking forward to the most was initially advertised as a set by Drunken Tiger and one by his wife Yoonmirae, then we heard that Bizzy would be there too and so it would be MFBTY performing as well. It actually turned out that they brought more people from Feel GHood Music with them to include Ann One and Junoflo, along with 2 DJs so it really turned into a party on stage. Drunken Tiger, aka Tiger JK, started everything off pumping up the crowd, getting us to shout out Korean words and phrases with risque meanings. He introduced everyone, told us he was drunk and hoped we weren’t disappointed they weren’t ‘kpop’. By the shouts, screams, and cheers from the crowd it was obvious everyone was really glad to be there watching them perform. As Junflo tweeted later “SXSW THAT WAS THE CRAZIEST SHOW EVER.”
At this time I have to say that I was enjoying the show so much I didn’t really take much time to take photos. Sometimes nowadays we concentrate so much on recording something we don’t truly experience it, and I was there for the experience.
Most of the time everyone from Feel GHood Music was on the stage at the same time although the performance was divided up roughly into Drunken Tiger being the focus, then Yoonmirae, and then finally MFBTY, although Junoflo, Ann One, and one of the DJs were all given time to show us what they could do. Ann One was unknown to me before the show, but she is definitely someone who I’ll watch out for, both as a songwriter as well as a singer. Junoflo is also someone to watch for, particularly as Druken Tiger said he expected him to be the future of Feel GHood Music, and DJ Zomanno was really good, adding unexpected humorous elements into his set.
These 3 photos are from http://www.asianjunkie.com/2017/03/19/sxsw-2017-mfbty-and-friends-steal-the-show-at-k-pop-night-out/ who has written probably the most comprehensive review of this part of KPOP Night Out @ SXSW. Worth reading.
Popular as Drunken Tiger was, Yoonmirae was the darling of the night with her amazing performance. I think at times she was surprised at how popular she was. The crowd was totally focused on her and sang and cheered and applauded her in a frenzy of appreciation. Our Texas girl made us proud. But it was probably when the MFBTY songs were sung that the crowd completely lost their minds.
Sweet Dreams is one of my favorite songs so I was thrilled to finally hear it performed live, along with Get it In, and Bang Diggy Bang Bang, although there wasn’t a single song that wasn’t great. The performance was loud, wild, and crazy, and at the same time heartfelt, and touching. I think they were happy to be here in Texas and I know we were thrilled for them to perform here.
Y’all come back, y’hear.
Have a great day everyone.
You might also enjoy KPOP Night Out @ SXSW Part 1, Part 3, Hyuna Charms Her Dallas Fans, +Hello Bi+ches Tour 2016 + Dallas, and Got 7: Fly In The USA Concert Review.
Photo credits to original owners. 1. Kpop Night Out @SXSW. 3. Big Phony. 4. No Brain. 6. Galaxy Express. 9,10,11, Asian Junkie. (only 2,5,7,8,12, 13 to me.)
Kpop Night Out @ SXWS. Part 1.
South by Southwest, SXWS, or South-by when speaking, is a music, film, and interactive media festival that also has conferences, panels, and gaming with lots of parties thrown in for good measure. Being held in Austin, Texas there’s also lots of great food, and of course all the drinking you could want on the infamous 6th street.
Starting in 1987 it has grown by leaps and bounds, each year including more and more diverse aspects of popular culture as new technologies emerge. This year it ran for ten days and closed down parts of the center of Austin, the capital city of Texas. SXSW is the largest music festival with this format in the world and showcases over 2,000 artists from all around the globe performing almost every type of music you can imagine. The list of artists who have performed at SXSW includes some of the best musicians in the world. The interactive part which is focused on emerging tech is probably the biggest event of its kind in the world.
Since the artists have to pay their own way many must hold fundraisers and find innovative ways to get to SXSW to actually perform. For fans of Korean music under the broad cover of Kpop (the Korean popular music meaning, not only the idol meaning) it is fortunate that various people have stepped in to help. The Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, & Tourism, plus KOCCA, and Mu:CON all helped sponsor the event along with the help of local volunteers. KPOP Night Out is now in its 5th year at SXSW and has grown every year. I attended in 2015 when it was at Elysium, it has now however moved to a slightly larger venue at The Belmont, which although an improvement is still unfortunately not a great venue for fans.
SXSW works on a badge and wristband system with prices for these being quite high. People with these get different levels of priority entry to each event. Sometimes if there’s left over space regular people get a chance to gain entry by a pay at the door system. For Kpop fans this means that if you want the best chance to get in you need to be near the front of the line for non pass holders. The Belmont was estimating that maybe 75 non pass holders would be able to get in. I arrived at 10am with a couple of friends, in a light drizzle we claimed a spot in line. The first people in line were apparently there at 8am. We were about a dozen people back, but as the day progressed that slipped to about 20 back as friends of the early people began to appear. (As a side note, I think most people were ok with this if it was only one or two people who joined the line, but there was some bad feelings and requests from others in line to not let people cut in which was understandable, especially as the chances for getting in were slim.)
As usual with the Texas Kpop community there was a lot of catching up with friends, bonding with people from the same fandoms, and general friendliness. We found out which concerts we had in common, and which future concerts we were planning to see. Unlike in some places, many Texas fans are ‘multi-fans’ and attend multiple Kpop concerts each year. Obviously each has a favorite group or two, but we try to go to as many concerts here in Texas as we can to help support all the Kpop artists who come here.
I was fortunate to be able to attend the Kpop Industry Party which was held before the concert. It was on the outdoor rooftop patio of The Belmont where we could look down and watch the stage being set up and even Big Phony’s warm up. The party was to “meet the artists, record labels, producers, and creators”. Although the ‘big name’ artists weren’t there, the company representatives were and the poor lady with Red Velvet was very popular. I was able to chat with a few people from the companies/artists and had a great chat with Bradley Moore of Busker Busker fame. He and the representative from Feel Ghood Music were extremely generous with their time and very enjoyable to chat with. Brad even took a few selfies for me with my camera.
As with most parties there were free drinks (2) and food, which for this event was provided by Chi’lantro a local Austin chain of Korean Mexican fusion food. There was also a live performance by Hoody the first female artist under the AOMG record label. I was able to stand quite close and enjoyed her performance. She did remarkably well singing with all the party noises and goings on in front of her. I will note that some of the local volunteers and photographers were quite rude and chatted and talked in small groups right in front of the performance. In future please go to the back so as not to be rude to the artist and other guests. You were representing America and you didn’t do so well. I hope to see Hoody at a future performance as I very much enjoyed what I heard.
I had thought to go back to my friends outside, but got caught up chatting once more and then realized I could watch Big Phony’s warm up from the balcony.
This is a great photo to show some of the amazing collaborations between artists that happened during the night. In front you can see Big Phony, on the drums is Brad Moore from Busker Busker, then the other musicians are from No Brain, one of the other groups scheduled to appear later in the showcase. After this I met Big Phony and his brother, who were very pleasant and fun to talk to. A couple of photos were taken, but unfortunately not with my camera. Hopefully I’ll find them online and be able to add one at a later time.
I spoke with lots of people, both in the industry and those who were pass holders, volunteers, or staff. Everyone was hyped up to have a great night out, and for the most part KPOP Night Out delivered. Part 2 will follow soon.
Have a great day everyone.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits belong to original owners. ( Including myself, (7, 10-14) Jimmy Nguyen (9) and Simon Chan (8))
Springtime Cherry Blossoms In S.Korea.
When most people think of massive displays of cherry trees in bloom they tend to think of Japan, or perhaps Washington DC, but S. Korea has some of the most amazing cherry blossom festivals to be found anywhere, plus individual and specimen quality trees abound. Japan, S.Korea, and China have all made claims that cherry trees originated and spread from their countries, but wherever they came from they are some of the most beautiful trees when they blossom in springtime, especially after a cold and dark winter.
Beautiful old trees can be found planted on the grounds of many of the Palaces and Temples, often highlighted against the more geometric lines of the buildings, whether ancient or modern.
One of the earliest plants to bloom, they are a welcome sign of spring. Some other early blooms are the yellow genari (forsythia), and sansuyou (cornelian cherry), plus the purplish pink jindale (azalea). A few other trees show the pale green tips of fresh new growth, and an occasional magnolia trees blossoms in sheltered areas. After this first flush of springtime color Korea only becomes more colorful until it blazes into a firestorm of fall foliage before dying down to the muted colors of winter.
Beautiful as the individual trees are, many people visit S.Korea to see the mass plantings in bloom, or to go to one of the cherry blossom festivals dotted around the country. In is difficult to determine ahead of time when the trees will be at peak bloom so the Korean Meteorological Administration releases its estimate in early March each year. If you’re traveling from overseas it is often best to plan on sometime around the beginning of April since then you can travel north or south as necessary to catch the peak bloom.
The cherry trees start blooming down south in Jeju (2016 March 23-30) and then gradually travel north. Busan (2016 March 26 April 2nd) with Seoul (2016 April 6-13) and Incheon maybe being a couple of days later. The big festivals are the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival which winds around the National Assembly building. There are over 1,800 trees lined up, many along the Han River side of the National Assembly building with views across to the skyline of Seoul. We visited at night as the trees are lit up and there are food vendors, street performers as well booths selling all sorts of things. Although crowded, it was a fun festive atmosphere with everyone trying to get that perfect picture. Some people brought picnics and enjoyed the blossoms while eating in the adjoining Han River Park.
Other cherry blossom festivals occur in Seoul and Jeju, with the Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom festival down near Busan being the largest.
There are other spring festivals in S.Korea that focus on food, or tea, or even medicinal herbs, as well as cultural festival showcases multiple traditional aspects of S.Korea so spring is definitely a great time to visit.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Yeomiji Botanic Gardens, Korean Tea, Kimchi Pots: In Photos, Seoul In Photos, and All Korea Travel Information (re-blogged from official site.)
Photo credits to Elle Marzec.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
Easy On The Eyes: Korean Models Turned Actors. Part 3. Updated For 2020.
1987 was a good year. It was the birth year of three young men, Kim Young Kwang, Ahn Jae Hyun, and Jang Geun Suk, who would each become appealing models and talented actors. (If you follow the traditional Korean Zodiac, only Ahn Jae Hyun and Jang Geun Suk were born in the Year of the Rabbit. Being a January baby Kim Young Kwang falls under the previous year’s sign and is a Tiger.)
Kim Young Kwang, born in 1987, and standing at six feet two inches tall has a lot of charm as well as a captivating smile. The corners of his mouth turn up and give him a ‘a cat who ate the canary’ type look even when his face is at rest, which I find hard to resist.
Kim had some hard times growing up, his dad died while Kim was in Elementary school, he and sorta fell into modeling at age 19. He did remarkably well, walking the runway for big names such as Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and becoming the first Asian model to walk down the runway in a Dior ‘Homme’ show.
He debuted as an actor in 2008 and in 2011 appeared in White Christmas along with other aspiring models turned actors, such as Lee Soo Hyuk and Kim Woo Bin, with whom he is still friends. This drama is well worth watching, both because it was a good drama, but also because it kick started a lot of young actors careers.
Kim had a few supporting roles in some TV/cable dramas and then in 2014 got the role of second lead in Pinocchio for which he won a ‘New Star’ Award. In 2016 he appeared in two dramas, Gogh, The Starry Night, and Sweet Stranger And Me, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed and can heartily recommend. In 2017 he was in the drama Lookout and the thriller The Guardians. Then in 2018 he was in Room No. 9, as well as a couple of movies including On Your Wedding Day and The Soul-Mate.
2019 saw him star in The Secret Life Of My Secretary, which was one of my favorite dramas of that year.
He has appeared in variety shows, music videos, as well as a stint in theater, all while continuing with modeling, particularly in print and advertising. Fortunately he has already served his mandatory military service so we should be able to continue to enjoy watching his acting skills grow more with each new project.
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Ahn Jae Hyun
Ahn Jae Hyun, is another popular actor who got his start through modeling. Before then, however, he had to get though a surgery during his High School years for retinal detachment. Although ‘fixed’ for now this is a serious condition which means monthly check ups and caution when doing action scenes. It also meant that he served his mandatory military service in public services.
He began modeling in 2009, appearing on the catwalk, in magazines and in commercials. He then tried his hand at acting, but had a slow start with minor roles. He was beginning to get noticed in 2011, but decided it was a good time to get his mandatory military service out of the way. Upon completion he received a big break by capturing a supporting role in the mega-hit drama My Love From Another Star.
And basically he hasn’t looked back from there. By 2015 he got his first leading role in Blood followed by Cinderella And The Four Knights in 2016 for which he received a Top Excellence Award at the Korean Drama Awards. 2017 saw him in Reunited Worlds, and 2018 The Beauty Inside. His latest drama Love With Flaws will finish January 16th 2020.
In 2016 he married his co-star from the drama Blood, Goo Hye Sun and they quickly became a power celebrity couple. They were known for their open affection for each other and even starred in a variety show focusing on their marriage called Newlyweds Diary. They were also praised for donating money to charity instead of having a large wedding. However not everything was what it seemed and in August 2019 Ahn requested a divorce and a very messy and public ‘he said, she said’ followed. The public was split on their support as both showed unfavorable character traits. The divorce was finalized in September.
Like many other models, actors, and idols he has appeared on variety shows such as Happy Together, then he tried a stint as a cast member for New Journey To The West 2 where he traveled to China. He was recommended for the role by Lee Seung Gi his costar in the drama You’re All Surrounded.
Ahn Jae Hyun continues to model, and has won modeling as well as acting awards. He has completed his mandatory military service, thought he found a woman to love, had a messy divorce and is managing to continue to get roles in dramas. Things aren’t looking too bad for Ahn Jae Hyun, and no doubt he will continue to succeed in the future.
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Jang Geun Suk took a slightly different route by first being a child model and then a child actor. He was a model at the age of 5 and had acting jobs by the time he was 10. He did part of his schooling in New Zealand hence his English language skills. He also learned Japanese.
He returned from New Zealand for acting opportunities back in Korea and has pretty much been acting consistently ever since, first in roles as children or youths and then as adults. Many people first noticed him in the popular drama Beethoven Virus in 2008 as well as the movie Baby and I, but it was probably the drama You’re Beautiful in 2009 that cemented his position as an actor.
2009 also saw him in the chilling movie The Case Of The Itaewon Homicide in which he played a villain. The movie was based on a real case.
Other dramas followed such as Mary Stayed Out All Night, and Love Rain as well as the movie You’re My Pet. He also developed a career as a singer, especially in Japan where he has many fans. He has held very popular concerts in Japan as well as released multiple albums and won music awards there. A Chinese album and concerts also proved to be popular. He has sometimes been called The Prince Of Asia for his extreme popularity throughout the region. He has also written a Japanese Cookbook and branched out into appearances in music and reality shows such as Produce 101 and My Ear’s Candy.
His 2016 historical drama, Jackpot, did fairly well and it allowed him to expand his acting repertoire. That was followed by the movie Human, Space, Time And Human in 2017 and the drama Switch in 2018.
In July of 2018 Jang entered the military as a Public Service worker due to his diagnosis of Bi-polar Disorder. He was originally diagnosed back in 2011 and has undergone numerous re-examinations by the Military Manpower Association until they finally gave him a level 4 evaluation which excluded him from Active Duty. He is due to finish his commitment later this year. I hope to see him return to Kdramas, movies etc.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Easy On The Eyes: Korean Models Turned Actors, Part 1, and Part 2, My Favorite Parks (Actors Not Green Spaces), Is It The Kdrama Actor? and Korean Variety Show Games.
All photo credits go to original owners.
Please do not copy or use without permission or accreditation.
KPOP Jacket Lady 