Can you sing, dance, act, model or have what it takes to be an MC?

Would you like to become a part of JYP Entertainment?

If you answered ‘Yes’ to both of those questions, you need to apply before the 7th June 2013 to be in with a chance to make this all come true for you!

Keep reading for the details of how you can apply!

Anyone can apply for the audition, providing that you were born between 1988 and 2001.

REGISTER ONLINE BY: 7th June 2013.

AUDITION: 8th June 2013 from 9:00 – 16:00

AT:
Korean Cultural Centre UK, Grand Buildings,
1 – 3 Strand,
London
WC2N 5BW

TO PREPARE FOR THE AUDITION:
Vocal: The first verse of song(without MR)

Dance: Music CD or mp3 and 1min dancing

Acting, MC, VJ : 1min of impromptu or memorized acting or freestyle

Model: Posing and walking

You must bring the printed application on the audition

Applicants who have passed will get an individual notification.

Registrations will also be accepted on the day of the audition

APPLY HERE!

As always, please ensure you have read all the details through carefully before applying.

Check out the Official JYP Auditions page too!

[Sources: KCCUK, coverdance.org].

If you’re already a K-pop fan, and maybe you’re looking for a new Korean singer or group to listen to, you might be interested in reading this. If you’re completely new to the whole K-pop scene, and you want to know more about it, then you’ll definitely be interested in this.

So, let’s get started!

In South Korea, there are a lot of music labels, but I’m just going to focus on the top three to get you started.

1. YG Entertainment (often referred to as YG Family, or just YG) Artists include: 2NE1, BIGBANG, SE7EN, PSY, LEE HI, EPIK HIGH, 1TYM, GUMMY

YG is known for ‘breaking’ the typical K-pop mould. The artists are encouraged to make whichever music they choose, which is why the styles of music produced here can vary a lot. K-pop is known for it’s clean and perfect look with the artists and music videos (MVs) but recently in YG Entertainment, we are seeing a lot of crazy fashion styles and they’re leaving us the impression that they don’t want to be seen as ‘perfect’. Songs by YG are the most Western of the ‘Big Three’ companies.

A good example of this would be GD’s 미치GO (MichiGO)  MV

2. SM Entertainment (often referred to as SM Town, or just SM) Artists include: Girls Generation, SHINee, EXO-K, BoA, Super Junior, F(x)

SM is the very definition of K-pop in my opinion; the artists are portrayed perfectly, the dances are completely in sync, and the music videos tend to be more tame. The girls in SM have a very cute look and personality, with the exception of Amber from F(x), who is more tomboy-like. I would say the biggest culprit in SM for acting cute and girly is Girls Generation. The nine girls of Girls Generation (also known as SNSD) are known as the representation of how the perfect girlfriend should act and behave in South Korea. But the guys in SM, on the other hand, tend to have a pretty face, teamed up with a good body for the girls (and guys) to swoon over. The choreography of SM songs is often done in such a way that looks clean, and shows off the artists skills whilst adding energy to the song.

A good example of an SM Entertainment song and MV would be Girls Generation’s I Got A Boy.

3. JYP Entertainment (often referred to as JYP Nation, or just JYP) Artists include: 2PM, 2AM, Wonder Girls, JJ Project and J Lim

JYP is definitely one of the easiest companies to recognize a song from. In most songs, you will hear the company’s name, “JYP” whispered in the intro of the song, something which is widely teased about by fans and haters alike. JYP tends to make a more R&B style of music, and their style seems to have become sleeker and more mature with time. The difference with JYP is that the owner of the company (Jin Young Park) is still active as a singer in the K-pop industry. He also personally writes and produces most of the songs under JYP entertainment, whereas in other companies, usually staff or one of the artists create the songs.

A recent and popular music video produced by JYP would be 2PM’s All Day I Think Of You

Along with the musicians in K-pop, you should probably get to terms with the language that K-pop fans use. K-pop fans tend to use a lot of Korean terms to describe things, and at first, it’s more than a little confusing.

Maknae (막내) – The youngest member in a group/company (eg. Minzy from 2NE1)

Oppa (오빠) – This literally means ‘older brother’ but we use it as a respectful way of referring to a male idol we like. Note that this word can only be used by a female who is directing it towards an older male.

Hyung (형) – This is the male version of oppa. Only males can use this when they are directing it to an older male.

Unnie (언니) – This can only be used by a female who is directing it to an older female.

Noona (누나) – This can only be used by a male who is directing it to an older female.

Dongsaeng (동생) – This can be used by anyone, directed at anyone, as long as the person you direct it to is younger than you.

Aigoo (아이구) – This is what you would say if you are surprised or shocked, although often only used by the older generation. The younger equivalent is ‘Omo‘ (오머).

Aegyo (애교) – The term that Koreans use when they are acting cute or childlike.

Saranghae (사랑해) – The Korean word for ‘I Love You’.

Comeback – When I first heard this, I genuinely thought that the group had broken up and had recently got back together again. This isn’t what a comeback is in K-pop. When you hear people talking about an artist’s comeback, it means the artists are beginning a new cycle of promotions for their latest release. A farewell stage is how the artist marks the time the album promotions are coming to an end.

Knowing these will make it easier for you to understand other fans and make new friends!

If you’ve decided you’re now a fan and would like to meet some others, there are many ways you can meet K-pop fans – but mostly just through the internet. There are fanfiction sites, where you can read or write made up stories/fantasies about Korean celebrities; a good site for this is Asianfanfics. There are also many subtitled show clips and performances of K-pop artists on YouTube available to watch. And through browsing YouTube, you will also find that there are a lot of people who do vocal covers of K-pop songs in either English or Korean, do K-pop dance covers and there are also people who upload dance tutorials to help you master the latest dance. But one of the best ways – in my opinion – to meet other K-pop fans is by attending flashmobs. Organisations or just people in or around London will organize these to capture the attention of a Korean artist to persuade them to perform in London.

When I first became a fan of K-pop, I went to a flashmob and everybody there was really nice! They all speak to you as if you’ve known them for years, and they’ll be more than willing to answer any questions you have.

My advice is that if you’re someone who listens to American or British pop music a lot, you would be better off starting with songs by YG Entertainment. The style of music they produce has been known to appeal to a western audience, just like PSY did. I have known of people who go from listening to mainstream music, straight to SM or JYP music and they love it, so it really depends who you are and your personal preference. So that’s it, the Westerner’s guide to K-pop!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

Many of us are aware of how fashionably adventurous BIGBANG ‘s leader G-Dragon can be and it appears retail clothing company H&M have taken notice of this, recommending said musician as someone to check out if anyone wanted to go for a “wild male summer style”.

GD is mentioned in H&M‘s 2013 UK Summer Magazine as an eccentric style icon of inspiration alongside the likes of Natasha Khan from Bat For Lashes or the 1920s Flapper Glamour from Baz Luhrmann‘s The Great Gatsby.

He confirmed he was in London with this tweet earlier today

just saw the Miguel drop kick from all the way out here in London…..yes its even hilarious from over here DEAD

— OLD BOY JON (@dumbfoundead) May 20, 2013

From tomorrow Dumbfoundead will be performing at:

• O2 Academy, Islington – Tuesday 21st
• Club Academy, Manchester – Wednesday 22nd
• O2 Academy 2, Oxford – Thursday 23rd
• Kasbah, Coventry – Friday 24th
• Academy 2, Dublin Ireland – Saturday 25th

Only Islington is sold out – all other venues have tickets available from various sellers here apart from Kasbah in Coventry, you can purchase tickets for the Coventry show directly from the Kasbah website (Note: Although the Kasbah listing doesn’t quote Dumbfoundead as the second act his own website does)

Probably the most defining aspect of this particular video and group is  that the members possess those ‘powers’ that they’re so fond of showcasing, in this video especially. With all due respect, this was the ‘gimic’ that EXO debuted with so they had to show it off somewhere. However, alongside the two or three different sets for the main dancing, plus individual member shots for singing, the addition of these scenes showing the ‘powers’ feels clumsy. There seems to be too many switches between scenes, none of which are synonymous with each other, hence the clumsy, cluttered end product. The effects for these powers are incredibly well edited, though, so they earn credit in that respect at least.

Most clips show the intricate dance for ‘MAMA’, which is very intricate. The dynamics are far superior to a lot of other choreography in K-pop; the members rarely stay on the same level for more than eight counts. The formations are expertly arranged, with all sorts of canons and isolated groups happening, as well as the sections in complete synchronisation. The contrast between sharp moves and soft moves is well weaved in and the EXO members pull the difference in these moves off really well, since we can see the difference between them. If the movements were not bold enough, the contrast would be hard to see and most moves would look the same. The dance breakdown sequence showcases all of these features in under a minute and is therefore an exceptionally good piece of choreography. Kudos to Lyle Beniga.

EXO’s stage outfits have become somewhat of a talking point between K-pop fans over the past 13 months. No EXO stage is complete without metallic accents, glitter, sequins… You get the idea. ‘MAMA’ is the video that this trend blossomed from, with the members dressed in outfits so sparkly that it’s the outfits that are the reason the video looks dark and dimmed. Yes – you thought it was for dramatic effect didn’t you..? Even the white sets aren’t as bright as, say, f(x)‘s ‘Electric Shock’. That’s one theory anyway! (I like to believe it’s true.)

Check out those fabulous outfits in the music video below!

Vote here for next week’s breakdown and you can buy the MAMA album here.

Check out their MV teaser below! 

VIXX will be releasing their 1st Mini Album “Hyde” on the 20th of May, which is also the date of their one year anniversary party. Tickets for this event, held at the Uniglo AX in Seoul, sold out within 9 minutes.

The 300 lucky ST☆RLIGHTs who managed to nab tickets will get to join VIXX for their one year celebrations. The first public performance of their title track, “Hyde”, will be at the party.

When it was revealed that female singer Baek Ji Young was getting married to her actor boyfriend Jung Suk Won, I was very happy for the couple. Most fans of Baek Ji Young will be aware of the troubled past the singer had and it really seems like these two are very happy together. Most people familiar with the South Korean culture will know that it is usual for individuals over around the age of 30 to be looking to settle down and start a family (as is also the case with many other cultures), so there is also that pressure to be considered.

Of course, this is quite different to a 21^st century British culture in most cases. It is not unheard of for a couple to cohabit for many years and have children together before getting married, that is if they even decide to anyway. Many British citizens do still get married, but it would not be irrational to say that it is not so much of a custom here as it once was.

Taking a personal example from my own life: I am a 21-year-old female and both of my grandmothers will occasionally drop that classic question: “Have you got a boyfriend yet?” However, my parents – a married couple – will never ask me this question. I will often tell my parents after seeing a screaming child on television that they: “will never get any grandchildren from me!”, to which they reply “Good! We don’t want any!” Or I will be watching an expensive weddings programme and turn to them to say: “I would never pay all that for just a wedding!” which will often be met by my father saying something along the lines of: “If you get married, have your wedding far away so your mother and I don’t have to come!”

This is obviously a silly anecdotal example, but I think it might serve as a good template to show how attitudes can change in a matter of a generation. I am from a non-religious, Westerner background and my parents do not expect me to get married, nor to have children, but whenever I ask my mother how she could have married at a very young 18 years old, she simply replies: “It was a different time back then!”

Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-traditional values and I believe every single individual in this world should be able and free to do whatever makes them happy (as long as it does not harm others). I know that, in the distant future, I may even want to get married and maybe….even…have children (excuse me while I go somewhere to hyperventilate).

Singer Baek Ji Young and actor Jung Suk Won in a ‘couple shoot’.

Anyway, this extensive digression is to make the point that, not matter what your background, I feel it is best to appreciate the importance of such events. So imagine how I felt when I read that Baek Ji Yong was coincidentally 4 months pregnant a month after announcing marriage.

This is not the first time this has happened, remember Haha and Byul’s marriage announcement after only 6 months together? Then the subsequent pregnancy revelation? Of course, both of these couples may have made the decision to get married as something completely separate from the fact that they had just found out a baby was on the way. However, I cannot help but shake the feelings of ‘shotgun marriage’ for both of these cases.

Comedian Ha Dong Hoon (a.k.a Haha) and singer Kim Go Eun (a.k.a Byul) on their wedding day.

The reason I have such an issue with this is because I feel the act of marrying quickly as a result of pregnancy works to cheapen the symbol of marriage. I feel that getting married to someone should be a sign of your commitment to one another and a decision made because you never wish to be separated – not because you feel obligated to do so through societal pressure.

As I said at the start of this piece, South Korea holds some traditional values in its culture, so marriage is much more popular there than it is in Great Britain. I am also sure that celibacy is encouraged in this country and that is why couples who have not remained celibate want to hastily get married before they are looked down upon for conceiving out-of-wedlock.

I am left to question, if you feel the pressure to remain celibate and let that have an effect on your life, then why didn’t you remain celibate?!

I may be completely wrong. As aforementioned, these weddings could be the furthest thing from shotgun and there is no way to tell as we are not in these relationships ourselves of course, but I would hate to think these celebrities got married for any reason other than the love they feel for one another.

What do you think of this argument?
Do you think these weddings were really ‘shotgun’ or not at all?
Let us know your opinions!

[Sources used: Google Images. Allkpop].

Are you a K-Pop fan that knows all the choreography to every one of your favourite songs?
Do want the chance to win an all expenses paid trip to South Korea and the opportunity to perform on stage?
Keep reading!

The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) will be holding the 3rd K-Pop Cover Dance Festival (with JYP Audition) at the KCCUK HQ in London on the 8th June 2013!

As in past years, the participants that pass all rounds of the competition will get a free, all expenses paid trip to South Korea. This trip includes a tour around Korea and the chance to perform on a real stage!

What to do:

- Sign up on this website BEFORE MAY 31st 2013

- Upload your cover dance videos.

- Be sure to go to the same website above and scroll down to the ‘NOTICE’ section for more details. Please read everything through carefully before you sign up.

Be quick to get your place and not miss out on this great opportunity!

[All image and info credit goes to the KCCUK and associates for the 2013 K-Pop Cover Dance Festival London (KCCUK Official Facebook), www.coverdance.org].

This week is the Girl Group Rookie edition, featuring Hello Venus with ‘Do You Want Some Tea?’. As well as winning the poll this week, Hello Venus are the first girl group to ever have graced our Music Video Breakdowns! Let’s see why they made it to the top… (And pardon me for slipping into 1st person this week.)

First of all, let’s admire those dresses! Quite possibly one of the most simple teaser photos we’ve seen in Kpop, the checkered dresses in white, red and black are really cute. There is a playfulness about the outfits that transpires from the varying patterns and colours and those sweet matching headbands. There are no loud neons, no excessively layered jewellery. In fact, it’s as though the outfits are merely politely being worn. The rest of the clothes in the video follow suit. While the concept doesn’t stand out by itself, in the wider context that is the rest of Kpop fashion at this moment, these outfits have a certain demure quality. Spot on styling.

Being a teenage female who thinks I’m older than I really am, the entire ‘aegyo’ concept doesn’t really do anything for me. Girls’ Generation‘s ‘Gee’ was the second Kpop video I saw and it was sweet and funny then. Two years on, I’m over it. Since it’s a big part of Korean culture, I guess they’re still not over it. So I was immediately deterred when I saw the first few seconds of this video and each member was doing their own little bits of aegyo in turn. However, ‘Do You Want Some Tea’ made aegyo fun again! Sprinkled throughout the video are those cartoon effects that portray emotions, that you’d possibly see in things like sticker machines (Neoprints, Purikura, etc) and phone camera effects. These effects have also been featured in Hello Venus’ other videos, including ‘Venus’.

The storyline is rather lovely, though nothing new. Each girl seems to be trying to consummate her relationship with a kiss from the man she loves, seemingly by offering him some tea. (Is this the same man from the ‘Venus’ video?) The lyrics also try to communicate this and, apart from the small use of English at the beginning, they haven’t dropped random English words into the song. A nice change from the regular awkward usages.

The video seems to focus on the drama more than the dancing, and unfortunately there is no dance video. From the limited clips featured in the video, we can see that the dancing isn’t too complicated and the steps are girly and neat. Hello Venus have proved themselves as a dance group with their previous choreography so it isn’t too disappointing to see these simple steps now. The acting goes much further than the pouting and shy smiles at the beginning of the video, with each member having their own scenes in which they use facial expressions and body language expertly (since there are obviously no lines for them to deliver). Perhaps some moments of awkwardness could be interpreted as bad acting, but it could also be the awkward nature of the scenes. The lyrics even say “We’re still a little awkward,” and the whole concept of the video is about pushing past that awkwardness.

Check out the video below!

Vote here for next week’s breakdown.

Up until now, any fashion related posts we’ve made have been about how to copy the style worn by idols in music videos. While MV fashion is most definitely awesome, if I want to rock a kpop look, sometimes I want wear something more subtle and at those times I try to incorporate the fandom itself into what I wear instead.

What I mean by this is that when looking for clothes and accessories to buy for a kpop look, instead of copying the idols style itself, I look for things in the official fandom colour, or even something with the band’s name or song title.

<

1. A+ Crop top (TOPSHOP) The actual fandom name of MBLAQ
2. Aqua beanie (RIVER ISLAND) The official fandom colour of SHINee
3. ‘Kiss Me’ earrings (New Look) Official fandom name for U-KISS

Not every fandom has an official colour or name, and at times like this, it pays to get a little creative! Here are just a few examples of how you can incorporate your fandom.

1. Red Comic Wow t-shirt (New Look – online exclusive) Reminds me of BIGBANG’s Fantastic Baby!
2. Khaki ‘Army’ Sweater (New Look) B.A.P-inspired, as leader, Bang Yong Guk, wore a similar item on TV show Killing Camp.
3. ‘Poison’ t-shirt (New Look) The name of one of SECRET’s latest tracks.
4. Black ‘I heart Mickey’ t-shirt (RIVER ISLAND) ‘Mickey’ is the stage name of JYJ’s Yoochun.
5. Green ‘I Hate You’ t-shirt (New Look – online exclusive) The name of one of 2NE1’s songs.

What I love about putting the fandom into what I wear is that it’s almost like a secret, and I don’t have to explain what this matoki on my top is again. It’s definitely more subtle than wearing a band t-shirt, but I feel like I’m representing my fandom still.

Win win!

(Unsure about a particular fandom name or colour? Never fear! Click here to find out.)