Music Break Featuring "Ajumma" Kang Ji Min

In a country that has perfected bubble-gum pop, South Korea has pretty much ignored folk music ("the real music") and folk musicians.

The Korean ajumma above is Kang Ji Min, and she sings both Korean and American pop classics.  Her voice in this rendition of "Without You" is almost perfect.  It is pure and powerful but not showy, unlike the Mariah Carey's version.

Just an ajumma with her guitar, laptop, and amazing voice...

Down with Kimchi Revisionism!!!

In an article on Korean-Chinese (Chaoxianren or Chaoxian minzu) in Korea, the so-called Chosun Ilbo newspaper of South Korea jingoistically proclaims that northeastern China during the 18th century was a part of Korea.  LMAO! And more LMAO!

Firstly, refer to the map of Qing China below.  Secondly, use some common sensical logic.  The ancestral homeland of the Qing was Manchuria, which has always comprised the northeastern (dongbei) territories of China. (Manchus lived in Manchuria, for the benighted writers of the Choson Ilbo.)

At its apex, the Qing empire stretched from Outer Mongolia to Vietnam.  An empire this large (and before 1842, quite powerful) surely could have afforded to protect and defend its own ancestral homeland from tiny Chosun (Chaoxian) Korea.  In fact, Chosun (Chaoxian) Korea was a vassal/tributary state to Qing China.  The Chosun (Chaoxian) king had to pay his respect to the Qing emperor every year or so by sending tributes to the Forbidden City.

Here is the offending paragraph from the Chosun Ilbo (July 6, 2011 online version): 

Korean Chinese can trace their roots back to the late 18th century, at around the end of the Chosun Dynasty. At this time, Koreans began migrating in search of food to northeastern China, which was then considered a part of Korean territory.

 
Map of Qing China (Source:  Wikipedia)

Yet Another K-POP Suicide

　Chae Dong-ha, 30, former member of the Korean pop trio SG Wannabe, was found dead in his home Friday morning, his agency said.



　Chae had hanged himself in his house in Eunpyeong-gu. Chae’s manager said Chae could not be reached the night before, and he was found dead the following morning when the manager arrived at his house. Police believe Chae committed suicide on the night of May 26.



　Chae’s agency said he had been suffering from depression since the death of his former manager’s, who committed suicide in 2009 in a motel in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang province.



　Chae had expressed his affection for his former manager in an album he released that same year. On the album Chae wrote, “He was everything to me -- my consoler, my friend, my brother. When I met him, I had the whole world in me.”



　Chae debuted in 2002 with his first solo album but failed to gain popularity. In 2004, he formed a ballad trio, SG Wannabe, with Kim Yong-jun and Kim Jin-ho. The group became popular in South Korea and Japan. In 2008, however, Chae left SG Wannabe and moved to a different agency. In 2009 he released his second solo album.



　Chae had been planning a concert next month in celebration of his birthday on June 23.



　Just four days before Chae’s death, an MBC sports announcer committed suicide. Celebrities including actor and singer Park Yong-ha, actress Choi Jin-sil and actress Jeong Da-bin have committed suicide in recent years.



　By Yun Suh-young (syun@heraldm.com)

Source:  Korea Herald

Late Summer Eye Candy!

Hubba...hubba

Friday Eye Candy

Miss Chae Rim, Korean actress, who currently stars in "Job Well Done." So beautiful...

Another Piece of Eye Candy

Miss Kim Jung Hwa

Currently playing a role in the K-drama entitled "Job Well Done," Miss Kim also had a major role in another highly ranked K-drama, "Kingdom of the Winds," in which she played King Moo Hyul's bride.

Her best features are the eyes and nose, of course surgically enhanced. We are talking about Korean actresses!

Bian-lian Huang, Associate Editor.

Hott Chick of the Month

Han Ga-in

SIZZLING HOTT!!!

Korean pop star and actress Yoona. Her acting ability is a little weak, but she's only 18 (jealous!) and will undoubtedly improve. Look for her to cross the Pond into mainstream Hollywood some day soon...