Backstage: LED Apple

To be honest I did not know anything about LED Apple before doing the short interview with them last Wednesday. Even before doing the interview I never knew that they've changed members twice or three times already. I tried to "study" before doing the interview by searching members profiles but unfortunately I got the old members' profile information. hahaha A perfect example of epic fail. Even the staff who took us to their room was also confused. She told us 4 then she said ah 5 members. Then when I met the manager he said 6. Epic failure just happened so fast that I really felt embarrassed. haha But when I met the group it changed. They were very friendly. 

The first thing you will notice when you see them would be their height! I've already seen many boy groups but I think it's only LED Apple and X Five that are really tall. Most of the time only Hanbyul was talking in behalf of the group. Aside from being the leader he is also fluent in English although I asked them in Korean. haha. Sometimes Kyu Min also butts in and utter some English words like "Yeah." After the interview, I thought it was already finished but Hanbyul came out of the dressing room and talked to me. He said if it's fine to do the interview again. So I was kinda surprised because he's really working hard for the group. He thought of something else to say in the video interview so he wanted to do it again. He was even seriously conversing with Kyu Min about what to say etc. It's was nice to see them working hard for their fans. 

After the interview, since we were just in the same area, we get to use the same washroom, drink coffee and just talk to them in the hallway. I also talked to Keano about his Twitter. 

I think LED Apple fans are very lucky and I could say they've made the right choice! I like their attitude and I like how they showed their respect to everyone. I remember the program's producer was really taking care of them just like a mom. hehe. Keep supporting the group folks!

Here's a music video of their song Accidentally Met By Chance

THE 3RD PHILIPPINE KPOP CONVENTION

Fandom For A Cause! And it's happening today! 

Here's another huge activity for Filipino K-Pop fans out there! Organized by the Philippine Kpop Committee, Inc. (PKCI) visit and have fun at the

THE 3RD PHILIPPINE KPOP CONVENTION
December 30, 2011 10am-7pm
The Megatent, Meralco Ave., Ortigas
Minimum donation to GK/PAWS in lieu of tickets: P150
www.kpopcon.info| facebook.com/philkpopcomm

Interesting about this convention is that the organizer, PKCI, is comprised of over 60 of the biggest fan clubs in the Philippines. Proceeds to this event will also be donated to a charity.

In the previous years, their beneficiary has been Gawad Kalinga. Proceeds from the 2nd Philippine Kpop Convention went to the Kalinga sa Bayan campaign particularly to fund the activities for the 2011 Bayani Challenge in Bantayan Island in Cebu. This year, they will extend their cause to animal welfare in the Philippines through the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). 



For more information visit

Website: http://kpopcon.info/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kpopconph
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/kpopconph
Tumblr: http://philkpop.tumblr.com/

ZE:A Turns Into A Girl Group?

Boy groups really know how to make K-Pop fans go crazy when they do a dance cover of girl groups' songs. Wonder Boys is a very good example for this. Depending on which version of Wonder Boys you think is good there will always be fans screaming for it!

Boy group ZE:A also did some of these during their first party concert, Na:Num, last Dec. 26th. They danced Kara's Mister and Step, Wonder Girls Be My Baby, 2NE1's I am the
Best and Rania's Doctor Feel good. The fans were screaming non-stop.

They were really really good especially Dongjun and Kevin. I think Kevin was probably the best in dancing Kara's Step. He got the swag. hahaha. And I think their Rania Doctor Feel Good version was the coolest performance they did that evening. hahaha. They were all synchronized plus facial expressions. I have videos but I can't upload it for copyright purposes. Please get DVD copies instead.

Yep. They announced that DVDs will be sold so you can see the whole dance and what happened in the party concert. Make sure you get your copy!

KPOP NATION '11

For Filipino Fans out there! One of the biggest gathering of K-Pop fans in the Philippines will be happening today! If you're in the Manila, you should visit and have fun with your fellow K-Pop chingus! 

Organized by KFEST Manila Events Management in partnership with Megatrade Hall, KPOP NATION ’11 is scheduled today, December 28, 2011 (Wednesday) at the Megatrade Halls 2 & 3, 5th Flr, Mega B, SM Megamall.
The event will start from 10:00 a.m. and last till 9:00p.m.

Event Highlights   

K-POP Cosplay Competition
I’M A KPOP STAR
K-POP Fashionistas
Dream Concert Dance Cover Competition
Super Junior: A Grand Tribute
2011 Philippines’ K-POP Cover Group Awards

Mini Contests and Activities
K-POP Dance Zone

Marriage Booth
The Face Of KPOP NATION 

There's more so check this link!
For more information visit KPOP Nation ‘11

Pictures taken from KPOP and Culture Fest

Power Korean: Kwan Pil Byeun (변관필)

Hard work spotlights the character of people:  some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all*

We’ve already heard a lot of rags to riches stories. I’ve always been impressed every time I read them and hoping that my “perseverance” would also work out the way I wanted. The next friend I’ll be introducing has quite a similar tale of success. He’s one of my closest friends here in Korea and I’m proud to say that his story is very inspirational.

Hardships

Kwan Pil Byeun was born in Busan but moved to Seoul for middle school, alone. He’s good at athletics so he decided to come to Seoul and train for basketball at a famous school specializing the said sports, Yongsan Middle School. His parents supported him all throughout. However, he transferred to another school after graduating, to Myeongji High School, because his family could not handle the fees anymore.

His high school life was never easy. Even if he did not train for a varsity program he was very busy doing part time jobs. He said he almost tried everything. From construction works, hotel, delivery, being a waiter and more menial jobs just to save money. After graduating high school, he did not go to college immediately. He decided to just work for a year and save money but at the same time he was already preparing for his admission to a university.

Now, he is currently a 3rd year student taking BA Physical Education at Sejong University.

TV-Magazine Exposures

One would wonder how he got himself into the “entertainment” business. Kwan Pil was a basketball player in middle school and college but his figure didn’t match the image of an athlete. Figure, meaning weight. One day, his professor recommended him to join a TV program called Absolute Man (절대남자) on XTM last June 2011. Since he needed money, he joined and just thought of it as like a part time job. The mission of the program was to lose weight in 13 weeks. Their diet and exercises were filmed regularly to show the progress. Luckily, the word that he used because he said all contestants were deserving, he won. While doing the mission he was also able to join another competition by invitation. He joined a very popular contest in Korea, the Men’s Health Cool Guy Contest in August and also won as Best Challenger.

So after that he got more offers. He modeled for many clothing lines like Levis, K-Swiss etc. and magazines like Men's Health, My Wedding and more. He also appeared on many TV shows like MBC Prime and XTM’s Keu Dang Ban (그당반). So, I’ll guess we’ll expect to see him more on TV. 

Entrepreneur

Yes you’ve read the subheading right, he’s an entrepreneur. At his young age Kwan Pil is already running his own business through his hardwork. He opened a coffee shop ala restaurant ala bar called Banana Talk last October 21^st this year.  I call it a hybrid coffee shop because it does not only offer coffee or desserts on its menu. It also offers different food choices like chicken, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, drinks and the atmosphere is really good. When you visit Korea, make sure to stop by this store and get a sign from him!

Despite his success, Kwan Pil is very down to earth and believes that he still have a lot of things to learn. He plans to study culinary and management too. And hmm maybe a bit unrelated, he has a dog named Batteug.

 

Try to find him in this picture.

Follow him on Twitter and Facebook

and Join the group

Banana Talk

*Sam Ewing