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K-Pop Star Jung Yong-hwa to Enlist, Leaving Behind Cloud of Familiar Controversy

K-Pop Star Jung Yong-hwa to Enlist, Leaving Behind Cloud of Familiar Controversy

SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – CNBLUE frontman Jung Yong-hwa is set to enlist in the armed forces come March 5, according to an announcement made on January 26 by his talent agency FNC Entertainment. The surprisingly sudden decision to fulfil his national duty, after it was revealed that Jung was investigated by police for [...]

BIGBANG’s “Bae Bae” Tops 100 Million YouTube Views

BIGBANG’s “Bae Bae” Tops 100 Million YouTube Views

SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – The video for K-pop boy group BIGBANG’s “Bae Bae” has surpassed 100 million views on Youtube. It hit the milestone on Tuesday night, becoming the 11th video from the group to garner 100 million views on the global video-sharing service, the group’s agency YG Entertainment said on Wednesday. The group performded before 50,000 [...]

BIGBANG to Hold Year-End Seoul Concert Without Rapper T.O.P

BIGBANG to Hold Year-End Seoul Concert Without Rapper T.O.P

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – K-pop band BIGBANG plans to hold a year-end concert in Seoul but without its main rapper T.O.P, who was involved in a marijuana scandal this summer, its agency said Thursday. The group will throw a two-day show titled “BIGBANG 2017 ConcertLast Dance In Seoul” at Gocheok Skydome in western Seoul on Dec. 30-31, YG Entertainment said. T.O.P will not be part of the concert, according tothe company. T.O.P, whose real name [...]

High-Profile Drug Cases Evidence of a Growing Illegal Narcotics Black Market

High-Profile Drug Cases Evidence of a Growing Illegal Narcotics Black Market

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – The recent bust of Gyeonggi Province governor Nam Gyeong Pil’s oldest son for illegal narcotics use has reintroduced the subject of such substances into everyday conversation. The case involving Nam’s son is preceded by the arrest of Choi Seung Hyeon, who was convicted for smoking marijuana with a young [...]

T.O.P’s Marijuana Scandal Highlights South Korea’s Strong Stance on Cannabis

T.O.P’s Marijuana Scandal Highlights South Korea’s Strong Stance on Cannabis

SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) – Smoking marijuana is no joke in South Korea.  Despite its growing medicinal applications and lenient approach (regardless of its legality) towards possession and consumption in more than a few countries, marijuana is treated by the Act on the Control of Narcotics as an equal alongside other, sometimes heavier, substances [...]

Netflix and YouTube Accelerate Investment in South Korean Entertainment Content in Absence of Local Competitors

Netflix and YouTube Accelerate Investment in South Korean Entertainment Content in Absence of Local Competitors

SEOUL, May 11 (Korea Bizwire) – In the absence of local over-the-top content service providers in South Korea, global OTT giants including Netflix and YouTube are accelerating their efforts to invest in original South Korean entertainment content to crack open a market that has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Despite the majority of the [...]