A-PRINCE paparazzi photos

I was in Hongdae covering a K-Pop related event when A-Prince member Seungjun called me saying they're also in the area having a photoshoot for a magazine. So I went looking for the place. As expected A-Prince members were "shining brightly" in the streets of Hongdae. kkkk Like if you also happen to be in the area you'd probably make a stop and also take pictures. Since I had my camera with me, I've decided to take some shots and it came out like paparazzi photos because these were taken from a relatively far distance to be discreet.

Siyoon

The rest were fine with smoky make up I guess except for Siyoon. Siyoon's smoky make up was a bit too much... that it made him look like someone else.... Just sayin kkk 

Seungjun was still blonde that time.

Minhyuk

Woobin

Sungwon

They told me the name of the magazine is Hallyu Magazine, a US based magazine about Korean entertainment and culture. A-Prince fans out there should grab their own copies because A-PRINCE is the main cover! Check the online version HERE. You can purchase your own copy online HERE

C-Clown on After School Club (May 8th)

The six boys of C-CLOWN were special guests on Arirang TV's After School Club last May 08. If you haven't seen the episode you can check the Video on Demand section of After School Club's website. You might as well check the other episodes too.

I am close friends with C-CLOWN members especially Barom. Every time we see each other backstage in music shows or events it's like meeting old friends. hehe. Barom is probably one of the nicest idols out there. I know some diva idols and Barom is the total opposite. He's very down to earth. He is also very motivated and really a passionate person. He told me to tell international fans that he's reading all your mentions, messages so just keep it comin!

I have talked to everyone in the group already several times and based on that I could probably give some insights on their character. TK is surprisingly fun to talk to. At the start he would tend to be really quite and shy but when he gets to know you he'd say a lot. He even utters lots of English words with good pronunciation. hehe Ray on the other hand is very bubbly. Every time I take a photo of him he'd give suggestions on how he want it to appear. Like he'd say can you make this one cute? The last time he told me to take a "sophisticated man type of photo" of him. So I was like...how'd I do that? lol

The youngest member Maru was carrying an English book with him the last time we meet so I was testing his English. He said he'd study more and next time he'll talk to me in English. Siwoo is a little bit quite in front of people but not when he's with the other members. Kangjun I'd say is also very bubbly who appears to joke a lot too.

These six members are really close to each other like a family. So to all CROWNs out there continue to support them. During this episode of After School Club, Siwoo said he wants to ride on a plane. He said they haven't been outside of Korea.

Well it's a shame because I know the group has many international fans. Hopefully, they'll be able to travel soon. In case you wanna invite them, you can shoot me an e-mail and I'll try my best to connect you with them (if you're a promoter).

After School Club airs live every Wednesday on Arirang TV at 5pm. You can chat with your favorite Korean stars/ idols so the format is really unique. It's all in English to especially cater to international fans!

Interesting Korean diet commercial

If you are living in Korea or familiar with their "culture" the TV ads I'll be showing here will be very interesting to you. Now that Spring is almost finished, more and more young men and women are hitting the gyms. FYI just like convenience stores you'll find fitness clubs in almost every corner in Seoul.

Part 1

So this TV ad has two characters. The Girl and her Fat. Part 1 doesn't need an explanation I guess. It's very universal. Like you can consider yourself thin but because of that fat you're carrying with you, the original sexy/thin you won't or can't show up. As a media student, I think the idea is very brilliant! 

Part 2

Second part now comes with some Korean-ish yet a bit universal concept for people who are having a hard time to diet. The first scene shows the Girl trying to go out for a run but Fat says let's do it tomorrow. haha so she ended up not exercising. Then the second scene was at a coffee shop. FYI Korea is known to be a coffee shop republic (not coffee republic but shop). You can watch this video Coffee Culture in Korea I made months ago for fun. hehe So going back, the girl was gonna order her drinks and Fat said "caramel macchiato" so the Girl said it. The counter ask her for the size, Fat said "large large"...so yeah the Girl ended up getting large caramel macchiato. LOL. After that, the next scene shows the Girl being stressed from working up late...Then Fat says eat "sweets sweets.." so there she ended up eating chocolates.

The scenes and idea are very simple but this TV ad definitely makes everyone smile. Aside from TV, this is being shown in many public places too like movie theaters and subway stations. Most of the time girls would stop and watch it and say "OMG that's really me!" or "That's exactly what I do" kinds of lines.

Heo Young Saeng and MIB on ASC

ASC's MCs Hanbyul and Eric Nam and the special guests

Arirang TV's very own idol variety real-time show After School Club's (ASC) second guests were SS501's Heo Young Saeng and rap group MIB. I wasn't really able to stay during the whole recording so I will just show you some pics I took when I was at the studio.

ASC's special guests Heo Young Saeng and MIB

MIB (5Zic, Sims, Cream, Kangnam)

 MCs Led Apple's Hanbyul and Eric Nam

MIB or Most Incredible Busters is famous for having good music (yep personal favorite). During the show SIMS was asked how he feels being the maknae (youngest) in the group but at the same time because of his mature appearance people usually think of him as the oldest. When that was asked I thought maybe he'd received such question a million times already. LOL I've encountered MIB many times. I even interviewed them for like 10 minutes before haha. The first one was during their debut. Originally I didn't have a good impression of the group because of their angry looking manager at that time. But now, they've changed a lot. They're very friendly and I don't see that angry looking manager anymore, although there is one more now but he's kinda ok. haha. When Kangnam saw me the other day he was like "We've met before right?" in Japanese. So I said, yeah a couple of times. I actually interviewed you before. So he was "Oh hahaha"

Heo Young Saeng's like...Why am I doing this? kkk

Now, every time we meet at the hallway in any music shows or events we act like we know each other. Haha. They're very nice. So far I've only talked to Kangnam. I usually call him by the name Takuya, not because it's his real name (no idea what's his real name though) because he looks like Takuya the famous Japanese singer and actor. I've also met Heo Young Saeng many times already but wasn't really able to talk to him. But I have a good impression of him because of the last picture (see above). I told him to hold his CD and I will take a pic and he said sure! hold the his signed CD, smiled and posed. Then we shook hands and he even tapped my back. Like cool fwends! kk

For more details about After School Club go and check their official accounts here : Facebook, Twitter, Website. The good thing about this show is international fans can participate. Check the website for the instructions. You can also watch the previous episodes on the VOD list.

A-Prince Joins Gangwon in Reviving Korean Traditional Market

I had a chance to join A-Prince in one of their most recent activities. We went to Gangwon Province last May 5th to attend a charity concert. The concert aims to revive people's interest and hoping that more and more people in the community would patronize local products in the market. A-PRINCE got invited as ambassadors and also the first K-Pop group to grace the said event for this year. Last year B1A4, U-Kiss, Chi Chi also attended the said event.

 Seungjun

 Minhyuk

 Siyoon

 Sungwon

Woobin

The members said they're really honored to be invited for such event. Before the concert started they were given a chance to roam around and enjoy the market. So they bought products being sold there like rice, noodles, vegetables just like Korean ajummas ^^. Woobin said they'll be bringing it back to their dorm.

A-PRINCE performed their hit singles Hello and You're the Only One. They also did a cover of One Direction's What Makes You Beautiful. They ended their performance with PSY's Gangnam Style and Gentleman which was received by the people with a massive applause and a lot of giggles from girls.

BtoB and their second confession!

         First of all I wanna congratulate BtoB for their comeback! The concept I'm getting through their stage outfits and song is "Spring Flower Boys." Which is timely I guess since it's already spring in Korea. Although sooner or later in a blink it's gonna be summer. I also saw them weeks before their comeback at Lotte World backstage. The first one to greet me was Sungjae. Like always. Every time he sees me he'd stop by and greet properly like a younger brother. No air. Really humble. Even if they're in a hurry he would still stop. haha. He was very surprised because we haven't met for ages. Then I explained because they had no broadcast schedules so it was kinda hard to meet them. Well, now that they're back, I get to see them almost everyday though... we do have have small chit chats but we really have nothing to talk to. Hahaha Except for showing them the photos I took.

Anyway, just wanna share some interesting photos of their performance last time on Simply K-Pop Ep. 59. I put some one-two liner story descriptions. If you wanna have your own version please feel free to do so.

Minhyuk: You! Yes you! 

 Sungjae: You know I can shoot you this invisible cupid arrow 

if you won't accept my 2nd confession....and you'll still be mine! bwahaha

 Ilhoon: You! This is my 2nd confession. Stop playing hard to get!

 Eungkwang: Don't you dare reject my 2nd confession! Or else....huh

Peniel: Yo! You! This time around I'll make you

 accept my 2nd confession!

I am quite close to four members in this group, Eunkwang, Minhyuk, Sungjae and Peniel. Happen to worked with them before on other projects and for Peniel since he speaks English he was the first one I was able to talk to in the group. I have also suggested him to many English radio/TV shows as a host. The other members are also equally kind. If you ever have questions about BtoB members, maybe how they are backstage etc. please feel free to write them below this post. I'll try my best to answer...well if I know the answer too. LOL Check BtoB's performances on Arirang TV's Simply K-Pop! It's aired Tuesdays at 1pm (KST) and also re-aired in different time slots depending on your location. If you happen to be in Korea you can be part of the studio audience just visit the website and read the announcements Simply K-Pop

Im Siwan is a dance breaker?

Yep you're not mistaken, you've seen it right DANCE BREAKER not breakdancer! LOL I remember my friend telling me how funny Im Siwan is when he dances. Wasn't so sure if I heard her right. She's talking about ZE:A and I know ZE:A has pretty difficult dance steps (well I can't dance so everything's difficult for me haha).  Apparently, Siwan's dancing skills made into headlines here in Korea's local entertainment news portals.

Three members of ZE:A's subunit ZE:A5 were special guests last week on Arirang TV's After School Club. Kevin, Siwan and Minwoo. Dongjun had another schedule while Hyunsik had minor injury so he had to rest. MCs Eric Nam and LED Apple's main vocal Hanbyul asked Siwan what he feels about it. And Siwan just smiled and was also really cool with it. He even said that he really is the dance breaker in the group. After that he danced PSY's latest single Gentlemen cracking up the staff and crew and the fans who were with us through Google Hangout. (Click to Join ASC’s Hangout)

If you were not able to see the pilot episode of Arirang TV's latest craze After School Club, you can check it on the shows Website's Video on Demand. You can also check the show's social media accounts: Twitter and Facebook for more updates.

You can also check this Related article for more information. I personally know Dongjun in this group but unfortunately he was not able to come during the recording. I've already met ZE:A many times before for interviews and other shows and they've always been down to earth. Kevin is also hosting a radio show in Arirang Radio called Hot Beat which is everyday from 12mn to 2am (KST).

This week's special guests on After School Club are MIB and Heo Youngsaeng!