K-POP - Girls' Generation

Each member of Girls' Generation adds her own brilliant hue to the vibrant creativity of this multi-faceted band. One minute coyly taking the stage in a rainbow of skinny jeans and the next minute dressed in military-type outfits and showing off their legs through powerful, controlled dance moves—these girls can do it all! Whatever the concept, Girls' Generation adds their own unique style, making each album a bit hit and spreading Girls’ Generation fever across the globe. As the leading girl group in Asia, Girls’s Generation has enjoyed tremendous popularity not only in Korea but also in Japan and Taiwan, setting the global standard for girl idol groups.

Group Introduction

Meaning 'The Era of the Girls,' Girls' Generation (also known as SNSD) is a nine-member girl group that made its debut in 2007. The group consists of Yoona, Sooyoung, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Taeyeon, Jessica, Tiffany, Sunny, and Seohyun. The group won the Artist of the Year (Daesang) awards at the Golden Disk Awards for two consecutive years (2009 and 2010) and were the first Korean girl group to make it to #1 on Japan's Oricon weekly album chart and the first overseas group to top the best-selling albums list in Japan. Girls' Generation is widely recognized for their talent both in Korea and abroad. Its members have appeared in various shows, dramas, radio programs, and commercials, winning the hearts of men and women of all ages.

The group’s 2009 hit single ‘Gee’ holds the record for being the longest running No.1 song on KBS Music Bank. Other hit songs include ‘Girls' Generation,’ ‘Kissing You,’ ‘Tell me your wish,’ ‘Oh!,’ ‘Run Devil Run,’ and ‘Hoot.'

- First Album Release: ‘Into the New World’ (Single album)
- Girls’ Generation’s Official Website: http://girlsgeneration.smtown.com/ (Korean)

Yoona (윤아)Yoona became widely known to the Korean public, especially among those in their middle ages, after her portrayal of Jang Sae-byeok, a positive and optimistic character, in the KBS drama You are my destiny (2008). In recognition of her talent not only as a singer, but also as an actress she was awarded the ‘Best New Actress Award’ and the ‘Netizen Award’ during the 2008 KBS Drama Awards and the ‘Best New Actress Award’ and the ‘Popularity Award’ during the 2009 Baeksang Arts Awards.
* Date of Birth: May 30, 1990
* Blood Type: B
* Height: 166cm

Sooyoung (수영) Before making her debut in Girls' Generation, Sooyoung had been a member of the duo ‘Route 0’ in Japan in 2002. Thanks to her fluent Japanese, she has been instrumental in facilitating Girls' Generation’s activities in Japan. Sooyoung hosted the MBC TV children's game show Fantastic Duo and has proved to be a talented entertainer in sitcoms, movies, and fashion shows.
* Date of Birth: February 10, 1990
* Blood Type: O
* Skills/Hobbies: Japanese
* Height: 170cm

Hyoyeon (효연) An exceptional dancer, Hyoyeon takes center stage during Girls' Generation’s lively dances with her strong and powerful movements. In contrast to her intense charisma on stage, on entertainment programs she captivates fans with her bright personality and her quirky charms.
* Date of Birth: September 22, 1989
* Blood Type: AB
* Skills/Hobbies: Dance
* Height: 160cm

Yuri (유리) Yuri is known for her lively personality and her tan, healthy glow. Before her debut with Girls’ Generation, she appeared in numerous commercials, magazines, music videos, and movies. She showed her witty side as the talented host of MBC's Music Core and also took part in the KBS entertainment program Invincible Youth.
* Date of Birth: December 5, 1989
* Blood Type: O
* Skills/Hobbies: Swimming
* Height: 167cm

Taeyeon (태연) Taeyeon is often thought of as the group’s best singer, thanks to her rich and soothing voice that is as powerful as it is unique. Taeyeon participated in the making of the OST for the Korean drama Hong Gil Dong, the Hero and the song 'Can you hear me' for the drama Beethoven Virus. She was also the lead actress in the musical Midnight Sun, showing a new side of herself to her many fans. Recently, she has been gaining popularity thanks to her friendly face and personality.
* Date of Birth: March 9, 1989
* Blood Type: O
* Skills/Hobbies: Chinese
* Height: 162cm

Jessica Nicknamed 'Ice Princess' by her fans, Jessica is known for her sweet voice. Her popularity soared after she sang the well-known song ‘Naengmyung’ (냉면, cold Noodles) with comedian Park Myung-soo on the MBC show Infinite Challenge. Her singing abilities and command of the English language landed her the lead role in the musical Legally Blonde, showcasing her talent as a musical performer.
* Date of Birth: April 18, 1989
* Blood Type: B
* Skills/Hobbies: English
* Height: 163cm

Tiffany Tiffany introduces herself as 'Tiffany, brighter than a jewel.' Her smiling moon-shaped eyes and her warm personality seem to spread her perpetual good mood to everyone around her. One of the hosts of the music program Sonyeon Sonyeo Gayo Baekseo (KM), Champagne (KBS) and Show! Music Core (MBC), she is known for her singing abilities and fluent English.
* Date of Birth: August 1, 1989
* Blood Type: O
* Skills/Hobbies: English, playing flute
* Height: 162cm

Sunny Affectionately called the ‘Vitamin of Girls' Generation,’ Sunny is bright and full of charm. She is experienced in the entertainment field and has co-hosted a DMB radio program with Sungmin of Super Junior and hosted numerous TV music programs. In 2009, she starred in the KBS program Invincible Youth and won the hearts of TV viewers with her can-do spirit and adaptability in the face of rural life.
* Date of Birth: May 15, 1989
* Blood Type: B
* Skills/Hobbies: Exercise
* Height: 158cm

Seohyun (서현) The youngest of the Girls' Generation members, Seohyun has an innocent image, but demonstrates a surprising level of maturity as a singer. Seohyun starred in MBC's We got Married Season 2 (which ran for over a year) as the virtual wife of CNBlue's Jung Yong-hwa. She was also featured in TVXQ's song 'Journey' for the repackaged album, 'Keep Your Head Down.’
* Date of Birth: June 28, 1991
* Blood Type: A
* Skills/Hobbies: Playing piano
* Height: 168cm

Official Fan Club

S♡NE(SO ONE) S♡NE is the name of the Girls' Generation's official fan club. The logo S♡NE (‘SO ONE’) holds a number of meanings: ‘Girls' Generation and their fans are one,' 'Girls' Generation is one,' and 'We want Girls' Generation

Official Fan Club Website: http://fanclub.smtown.com

Official Fan Club

S♡NE(SO ONE) S♡NE is the name of the Girls' Generation's official fan club. The logo S♡NE (‘SO ONE’) holds a number of meanings: ‘Girls' Generation and their fans are one,' 'Girls' Generation is one,' and 'We want Girls' Generation

Official Fan Club Website: http://fanclub.smtown.com

Discography (List of Albums)

Discography

2007	August, 2007	‘Into the New World’ (Single album)
	November, 2007	‘Girls’ Generation’ (1st album)
2009	January, 2009	‘Gee’ (Mini album)
	June, 2009	‘Genie’ (Mini album)
2010	January, 2010	‘Oh!’ (2nd album)
	March, 2010	‘Run Devil Run’ (Repackaged 2nd album)
	October, 2010	‘HOOT’ (Mini album)

Awards

Awards

2007	14th Annual Korean Entertainment Arts Awards - Best New Female Group Foreign Press Club - Foreign Promotion Award 15th Korea Most Popular Entertainer Awards - New Generation Rookie Award 22nd Golden Disk - Rookie Award, Popularity Award M.net M-Countdown #1 – ‘Into the New World’ M.net M-Countdown #1 – ‘Girls' Generation’ SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song – ‘Girls' Generation’ (2 times)
2008	17th Seoul Music Awards - Best Newcomer Award and High1 Music Award SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song – ‘Kissing You’ (2 times) KBS Music Bank #1 – ‘Kissing You’ M.net M-Countdown #1 – ‘Kissing You’ (2 times) M.net M-Countdown #1 – ‘Baby Baby’
2009	Korea Golden Disk Award - Digital Music Daesang Award Melon Music Awards - This Year's Artist Award, This Year's Song Award, TOP10 Bonsang Award, Mobile Music Award, Smart Radio Award, Odyssey Award Korea National Assembly Award Ceremony - This Year's Pop Music Award MBC Entertainment Awards - Special Award in musician category KBS Music Bank K-Chart #1 – ‘Gee’ (#1 for 9 consecutive weeks, a new record) Inkigayo Mutizen Song – ‘Gee’ (Triple Crown) KBS Music Bank K-Chart #1 – ‘Tell me your wish’ SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song – ‘Tell me your wish’ (2 times)
2010	16th Korea Entertainment Art Award - Female Group Award 19th High1 Seoul Music Award - Daesang Award, Bonsang Award, Digital Music Award Korea Golden Disk Award - Daesang Award in disk category, Bonsang Award, Popularity Award KBS Music Bank - Year-end Overall K-Chart #1 Japan TBS 52nd Japan Record Award - New Artist Award KBS Music Festival - Top Korean Pop Song #1 Bugs Music Award - This Year's Song, This Year's Idol, This Year's #1 Music Video Melon Music Awards - Artist Award, Hot Trend Award, TOP 10 Korea Gallup Poll - This Year's Musician Award, Top Popular Song #1 (2 consecutive years) Korea Pop Music Award - This Year's Song Award, Netizen popularity Award 2010 Korea Advertising Awards - Top Commercial Model Award KBS Music Bank K-Chart No. 1 – ‘Oh!’ (#1 for 5 consecutive weeks) KBS Music Bank First-half Integrated K-chart #1 SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song – ‘Oh!’ (2 times) 22nd PD Awards – Musician Award Gaon Chart – ‘Gee’ #1 2009 Digital Music Award KBS Music Bank K-Chart #1 – ‘Run Devil Run’ (2 times) SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song – ‘Run Devil Run’ (2 times) KBS Music Bank K-Chart #1 – ‘Hoot’ (5 times) SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song – ‘Hoot’ (3 times)
2011	20th High1 Seoul Music Award - Hallyu Special Award, Bonsang Award, Popularity Award, Daesang Award Japan Record Association, 25th Japan Golden Disk Award - This Year's New Artist Award 2nd Korea Seoul Culture & Arts Award - Daesang Award in pop music category #1 in Forbes Korea 'Korea's Power Celebrities 40’

Other Activities

Other Activities

2007	Commercial model for Elite school uniforms Appointed Volunteer Ambassador for the Seoul City Government
2008	Appointed Girls Scout Ambassador Advertising model for viliv multimedia Advertising model for Gupne Chicken Advertising model for New Ellesse Advertising model for Haitai's Sunkist Sweet Ade Advertising model for Samsung Anycall Haptic Advertising model for Nexon
2009	Korean artist invited to Thailand Papaya Music Festival Model for Samsung's ‘Hahaha Campaign’ Advertising model for Binggrae's banana-flavored milk Appointed Ambassador for the Incheon World Ceramics Festival Advertising model for Dongseo's Post Cranberry Almond Granola Advertising model for LG Electronics' CYON new chocolate phone Advertising model for Shinhan Card Advertising model for Samyang Ramyeon Girls' Generation's 1st Asia concert tour: ‘Into the New World’
2010	Advertising model for Korea' Nintendo DSi Appointed Ambassador for Incheon Airport Customs Advertising model for Caribbean Bay Water Park Launched first photo album – ‘Girls (in Tokyo)’ Advertising model for Dominos Pizza Advertising model for Samsung Electronics in China Debut showcase in Japan Model for Daum internet portal Performed at Japan Fuji TV's ‘FNS Music Festival’
2011	Asia model for worldwide Intel brand Model for Vita 500 of Gwangdong Pharmaceuticals Advertising model for Japan UHA Mikakuto e-ma Nodoame (candy) Advertising model for Woongjin's water purifier Advertising model for Lipton in Japan Launched ‘All About Girls' Generation "Paradise in Phuket"’ DVD First Japanese tour: ‘Girls' Generation Arena Tour 2011’ Second Solo Concert: ‘2011 GIRLS’ GENERATION TOUR’ in Korea Appointed Ambassador for ‘2010-2012 Visit Korea Year’

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K-POP- Super Junior

One of the largest boy bands in the world, Super Junior is among the top bands of Korean K-pop, defining the idol genre and sweeping across Asia and to the far reaches of Europe and the USA, captivating fans with their catchy songs and spirited dance moves. The band has a powerful stage presence that manages to combine each member’s individual charisma and energy for a fluid and unified performance. Super Junior’s fame continued to spread after the band went on tours through China, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan, and headlined SMTOWN concerts in LA and Paris. In the wake of the SMTOWN concerts in particular, a surprising number of fans across the world banded together to ask for Super Junior concerts in their own hometowns. These efforts point once again to the status of the band as an international sensation.

Super Junior made their debut in December 2005 with ambitions to become superstars not only as a singing group, but also as entertainers in each of their respective fields; acting, performing, MCing, music composing, modeling, etc. In addition to their activities as a group, Super Junior has also formed various subgroups to accommodate different musical genres; ‘Super Junior-K.R.Y.’, ‘Super Junior-T’, ‘Super Junior-M’, and ‘Super Junior-Happy.’ Moreover, the members of Super Junior have each made individual appearances on television and in other media outlets. Ever since releasing their first full-length album ‘Super Junior 05’ in December 2005, Super Junior has continued to produce hit songs such as ‘Twin,’ ‘Don’t Don,’ ‘Sorry Sorry,’ ‘Bonamana,’ and ‘Mr. Simple.’

- First Album Release: ‘Super Junior’ (2005)
- Super Junior Official Website: http://superjunior.smtown.com/ (Korean)

Member Profiles

• Name: Leeteuk (이특)
• Date of Birth: July 1, 1983
• Height: 178cm
• Blood Type: A
• Talents & interests: Listening to music, singing, composition, piano

Not just Super Junior’s reliable leader, Leeteuk has established himself as an MC for numerous variety shows and TV programs. He has contributed greatly to spreading Super Junior’s popularity through various activities such as DJing. Starting in 2006, he began hosting the KBS radio show ‘Super Junior’s Kiss the Radio,’ which has grown to become one of the most-listened-to radio programs in the country.

• Name: Heechul (희철)
• Date of Birth: July 10, 1983
• Height: 179cm
• Blood Type: AB
• Talents & interests: Writing poems and children’s stories, playing video games

Nicknamed the ‘universal star,’ Heechul has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his talents as a singer, actor, DJ, and MC and his roles in the teen TV drama ‘Sharp 2’ (2005), and the SBS drama ‘Love You Ten Million Times’ (2009). He is seen as a truly versatile entertainer. Not only one of the main MCs for the SBS music program ‘Inkigayo’ (2007) and host of the MBC variety show ‘Radio Star’ (2010), Heechul was also the DJ of his very own radio program, ‘Kim Heechul’s Young Street,’ aired on SBS Power FM from 2010 to 2011.

• Name: Siwon (시원)
• Date of Birth: February 10, 1987
• Height: 183cm
• Blood Type: B
• Talents & interests: Watching movies, playing drums, Taekwondo, Chinese, singing, dancing, acting

Siwon’s striking looks and intense charisma add yet another compelling element to Super Junior’s charm. In recent years, Siwon has been drawing attention as a rising new actor (not just for his acting skills, but also thanks to his gorgeous face). After his appearance in the KBS drama ‘Eighteen, Twenty-Nine’ (2005), he was cast in the SBS drama ‘Oh My Lady!’ (2010), ‘Atena: Goddess of War’ (2010), and the KBS drama ‘Poseidon’ (2011). He has also appeared in various advertisements and fashion shows.

• Name: Yesung (예성)
• Date of Birth: August 24, 1984
• Height: 178cm
• Blood Type: AB
• Talents & interests: Singing, listening to music, playing video games, watching movies, reading, sports

Yesung has wide fan appeal thanks to his versatile skills—performing upbeat dance moves onstage, singing heartfelt tracks on OSTs, and revealing his off-the-wall charms on variety shows. Yesung has starred in the musicals ‘South Korean Mountain Fortress’ (2009), ‘Honggildong’ (2010), and ‘Spamalot’ (2010) and has recorded the song ‘It Has to be You’ for the KBS drama ‘Cinderella’s Sister’ (2010) and the track ‘Waiting for You’ for the SBS drama ‘Paradise Ranch’ (2011).

• Name: Shindong (신동)
• Date of Birth: September 28, 1985
• Height: 178cm
• Blood Type: O
• Talents & interests: Making various facial expressions, making jokes, dancing

Shindong is always bursting with cheerful energy. Known as the former MC of the MBC children’s program ‘BoBoBo’ (2007-2009), he has also gained recognition for his acting skills through supporting roles in the KBS drama ‘Single Dad in Love’ (2008) and in the SBS drama ‘Dr. Champ’ (2010). Since 2008, he has hosted the MBC radio program ‘Stop the Boring Time’ for which he won the Radio Award at the 2009 MBC Drama Awards. Shindong was honored again for his talents in 2010 when he received the New Star Award at the SBS Entertainment Awards. Active onscreen and in various media outlets, Shindong attracts fans of all ages.

• Name: Sungmin (성민)
• Date of Birth: January 1, 1986
• Height: 175cm
• Blood Type: A
• Talents & interests: Watching movies, playing musical instruments, Chinese martial arts, acting

Singing, acting, sports—you name it! There is nothing that this multifaceted member of Super Junior can’t do. In 2009, Sungmin appeared in the MBC variety show ‘Oppa Band’ and captivated audiences with his superb guitar skills and stunning looks. Following his success onscreen, he was cast in the KBS drama ‘President’ (2010). Despite his young age, Sungmin is a seasoned professional on the musical stage, playing the main lead in musicals ‘Akilla’ (2009), ‘Honggildong’ (2010), and ‘Jack the Ripper’ (2011).

• Name: Eunhyuk (은혁)
• Date of Birth: April 4, 1986
• Height: 176cm
• Blood Type: O
• Talents & interests: Sports, listening to music, dancing

A phenomenal dancer, Eunhyuk puts the passion into the bands’ choreography with striking dance movements that are as powerful as they are fluid. Eunyhuk, along with Leeteuk, co-hosted the KBS radio show ‘Super Junior’s Kiss the Radio,’ and is loved by fans all over the world for the wit he let loose on SBS variety shows ‘Strong Heart’ and ‘Star King.’

• Name: Donghae (동해)
• Date of Birth: October 15, 1986
• Height: 175cm
• Blood Type: A
• Hobbies & Talents: Sports, watching movies, dancing, singing

Donghae enjoyed a fresh burst of popularity among Taiwanese fans after appearing in the music videos of Taiwanese singers Ariel Lin and Zhang Liyin and being cast as one of the main characters of the Taiwanese drama ‘Extravagant Challenge’ (2011) along with fellow band member Siwon. In 2010, he starred in the SBS drama ‘It’s Okay, Daddy’s Daughter’ and contributed to the drama’s OST, receiving recognition for his music composition skills.

• Name: Ryeowook (려욱)
• Date of Birth: June 21, 1987
• Height: 173cm
• Blood Type: O
• Talents & interests: Singing, music composition

Ryeowook has contributed greatly to the spread of Super Junior’s popularity in China, Taiwan, and Japan as a regular member of the band’s two subgroups, Super Junior-K.R.Y. and Super Junior-M. Beloved for his exquisite vocals, Ryeowoook has contributed to several drama OSTs, recording solo track ‘Smile Again’ for the MBC drama ‘My Sweet Home’ and ‘If You Love Me More’ for the KBS drama ‘Spy MyeongWol’. In 2011, he was cast as the lead in the musical ‘Temptation of Wolves’ and showed a whole new side of himself to his adoring public.

• Name: Kyuhyun (규현)
• Date of Birth: February 3, 1988
• Height: 180cm
• Blood Type: A
• Talents & interests: Singing

Kyuhyun is a notable singer with a sweet and tender voice. He has released a number of solo songs that have been used as main theme songs for such popular TV dramas ((‘Pasta’ (MBC), ‘Baker King, Kum Tak Goo’ (KBS) and ‘President’ (KBS)). In 2010, he played the role of D’Artagnan in the musical ‘The Three Musketeers’ and in 2011, he appeared on the KBS variety show ‘Immortal Classics 2.’ With each new appearance, Kyuhun received a fresh wave of love and acclaim from audiences everywhere.

Awards

Awards

2006	Thailand’s Channel [V] Countdown: #1 on the International Charts for 5 consecutive weeks (‘Miracle’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song - Triple Crown Award (‘U’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song (‘Dancing Out’) 13th Korea Entertainment Arts Awards: Best Male Group Award M.net KM Music Festival: Best New Group Award 16th Seoul Music Awards: Newcomer Award 21st Golden Disk Awards: Newcomer Award SBS Song Awards: Newcomer Award
2007	SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song (‘Don’t Don’) Hot Tracks Album Sales Charts (2007): #1 (2nd full-length album ‘Don’t Don’) 14th Korea Entertainment Arts Awards: Best Male Dance Artists Award M.net KM Music Festival: Artist of the Year Award, Netizen Popularity Award, Mobile Popularity Award 15th Korean Popular Entertainment Awards: New Generation Top Artist Award Golden Disk Awards: Disk Bonsang Award, Popularity Award 2nd Thailand SEED Awards: Asia’s Best Newcomer Award China Tencent Stars Magnificent Ceremony: Asia’s Artist of the Year Award
2008	17th Seoul Music Awards: Disk Bonsang Award, Mobile Popularity Award MTV Asia Awards: Favorite Artist of Korea Award Chinese Year-end Music Awards: Best Group Award (‘Super Junior-M’)
2009	KBS Music Bank: #1 on March-April Charts (‘Sorry Sorry’) M.net M Countdown: #1 for 2 consecutive weeks (‘Sorry Sorry’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song - Triple Crown Award (‘Sorry Sorry’) Thailand’s Channel [V] Countdown Asian Charts: Set record of being #1 for 8 consecutive weeks (3rd week of April – 1st week of June) Taiwan’s online music website, KKBOX: #1 for 36 weeks on the ‘Korea/Japan Single Top 100 Charts’ Taiwan’s online music website, Ezpeer: #1 for 34 consecutive weeks Thailand’s Channel [V]: #1 on Asian Top 50 Year End 2009 Taiwan’s Hit FM: #1 on 2009 Top 100 Singles Chart KBS Music Bank: #1 on K-Chart (‘It’s You’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song (‘It’s You’) Golden Disk Awards: Disk Daesang & Bonsang awards, Samsung YEPP Popularity Award Melon Music Awards: Top 10 Bonsang Award
2010	19th High1 Seoul Music Awards: Bonsang Award, Hallyu Special Award, Popularity Award Korean Popular Culture and Art Awards: Minister Commendation for Culture and Tourism KBS Music Bank: #1 for 3 consecutive weeks (‘BONAMANA’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song – Triple Crown Award (‘BONAMANA’) Taiwan’s online music website, KKBOX: #1 for 63 consecutive weeks (‘BONAMANA’) KBS Music Bank: #1 on K-Chart (‘No Other’) SBS Inkigayo: Mutizen Song (‘No Other’) Golden Disk Awards: Disk Bonsang Award, Asian Popularity Award Philippine ASAP Choice Viewers Awards: Best K-Pop Artist Award Melon Music Awards: Netizen Popularity Battle Award
2011	GAOn Chart Awards: Top Selling Album of 2010 1st Taiwan HIT FM Awards: Top Selling Korean/Japanese Album

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K-POP - SHINee

SHINee is a pop band that sets and leads the trends in music, dance, and fashion. This boy band made their first debut with Replay (누난 너무 예뻐, Replay), which won them many female fans of all ages. Following Replay, the singles Love like Oxygen (산소 같은 너) and Amigo (아.미.고) off their 1st album also became big hits. The group swept the various music awards, winning the award for best new artist of the 2008.
SHINee made a strong follow-up to their first album, with Romeo, their 2nd mini album, which came out in May 2009. With their trendy music and sparkling performances, they continually rank first in the TV music shows competitions.
Although SHINee is a relatively new group, they are already in the limelight and have become major stars in Asian countries such as China, Taiwan and Thailand.

TAE MINReal Name: Taemin Lee
● Date of Birth: July 18, 1993
● Special Skills: Piano, Chinese
● Hobby: listening to music, “Poppin” Dancing

MIN HO● Real Name: Min-ho Choi
● Date of Birth: December 9, 1991
● Special Skills: Acting, English, Chinese
● Hobby: Soccer, Basketball

ONEW● Real Name: Jin-ki Lee
● Date of Birth: December 14, 1989
● Special Skills: Singing, Piano, Chinese

JONG HYUN● Real Name: Jonghyun Kim
● Date of Birth : April 8, 1990
● Special Skills: Singing, Lyrics writing, Chinese
● Hobby: Going to the movies

KEY (KI BUM)● Real Name: Kibum Kim
● Date of Birth: September 23, 1991
● Special Skills: English, Chinese
● Hobby: Water Skiing, Dancing


Major Awards
 

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K-POP-Big Bang

Big Bang is a very popular Korean boy band. Its five members are known as T.O.P, Seungri, Daesung, G-Dragon, and Taeyang. They were launched by the famous management company, YG Entertainment on August 19th 2006, as part of the company’s 10th anniversary concert. Big Bang immediately received praise from critics, the public, and other singers for the members’ outstanding talent.
On September 23rd, 2006, the group made their debut on the tv music show, “Music Core”, but Big Bang became famous throughout the country even before their official debut, since MTV Korea had aired an eleven-episode documentary about the making of the band. So far, as many as 1 million copies of their albums have been sold and Big Bang is popular not only in Korea, but also in Thailand, Japan and other countries around the world.

G.DRAGON
- TEAM LEADER/ RAPPER/ VOCALIST
G.DRAGON has been training with YG Entertainment for 6 years, having joined the management group when he was only 13 years old. He is regarded as a skilled producer, and has worked on other singers’ albums as well as Big Bang’s.
During his childhood he appeared in movies and TV shows, but it was always his dream to become a singer. He takes his responsibility as the leader of the band seriously. He does not tolerate mistakes, but at the same time he encourages and supports the other members. He composed “Lies”, “Look at Me, GwiSun”, “Fool” and “We Belong Together”. G-Dragon is considered by many to be the most fashionable member of the group, and many teenagers copy his flamboyant urban style.

Real Name : Kwon Ji-yong
Date of Birth : August 18th 1988
Blood Type : A
Physique : 177cm, 58kg
Talents : Rap, dance, beat box, song writing, and fluent in English and Chinese
Education : Kyung Hee Univ. Postmodern Music Department
Activities: Participated in the 2001 Korea HIPHOPFEX, appeared on YG FAMILY and PERRY Albums, and several concerts

T.O.P
- RAPPER / VOCALIST
T.O.P earned his status as one of Korea’s biggest heartthrobs by stealing a kiss from Lee Hyori, one of Korea’s most famous female singers, at the Mnet Km Music Festival. T.O.P has an attractive husky voice and is considered to be the most masculine in the group. However, he is actually very reserved and sensitive. He likes to be alone and his hobby is collecting action figures.
T.O.P. acted in the drama “Iris” alongside actors Kim Tae Hee and Lee Byung Hun, and he will appear in the upcoming drama “My 19-year-old” with Seung Ri, another member of Big Bang.

Real Name : Choi Seung-hyeon
Date of Birth : November 4th, 1987
Blood Type :181cm, 65kg
Physique : B
Talents : Rap, beat box, song writing, fluent in English
Education : Danguk Univ. Film and Theatre Department
Activities: Winner in KBS Radio’s “Rap Battle”, performances in various clubs

SEUNG RI
- SINGER
Even before Big Bang’s debut, Seung Ri was widely known in his hometown, Gwangju, because of his amazing dance skills. However, he failed many auditions beause of his short height. In YG Entertainment’s Big Bang audition, he was almost eliminated, but luckily he was given a second chance, and his singing, dancing skills, and stage presence impressed the producers so much that he made it into the group.
Seung Ri was the first member of the group to be in a musical, starring in Sonagi, and the second member to debut as an actor. He appeared in the film "Why Did You Come To Our House" which was released in April 9th 2009. He will also act with T.O.P in the upcoming drama My 19-year-old. He recently released his first solo album “Strong Baby”, so these days he has a pretty busy schedule. However he always practices his singing and dancing in order to give the perfect live performance for his fans.

Real Name :Lee Seung-hyeon
Date of Birth :December 12th, 1990
Physique : 177cm, 60kg
Talents : Dance, Singing, Fluent in English
Education : Kyung Hee Univ. Postmodern Music Department
Activities: Member of the dancing team, Ilhwa

TAE YANG
- SINGER/ RAPPER
Tae Yang became a trainee member of YG Entertainment when he was 13 years old. Since he was always training at YG Entertainment, he has never had a girlfriend, and so he is regarded as the pure, innocent band member by the fans. However, he is considered quite attractive due to his masculinity and dark skin color, and has more female fans in their 20s and 30s than any other member of the group. His first solo album Hot was a great success. Tae Yang likes urban hip-hop fashion and his hobby is collecting caps.

Real Name : Dong Young-bae
Date of Birth : May 18th, 1988
Blood Type :174cm, 56kg
Physique : B
Talents : Rap, dance, beat box, song writing, fluent in English and Japanese
Education : Daejin Univ, Theater and film Department
Activities: Appeared on Jinusean’s A-YO Music Video, appeared on YG Family’s Wheesung albums, and in several concerts



DAE SUNG
- SINGER
In 2008, Dae Sung starred in the Korean adaptation of Cats, becoming the second Big Bang member to appear in a musical. He showed off his many talents by appearing on a TV music show as a MC and on the very popular SBS entertainment show Family Outing. On these tv shows he came across as a really friendly guy and so Dae Sung has many fans. He’s a great singer and performs well in many different genres. His trot single, “Look at Me, Gwisun”, was a hit with many fans, regardless of their age and gender. It’s thought that he resembles the Japanese animation character, Doraemon, so he receives many Doraemon dolls from his fans.

Real Name :Kang Dae-sung
Date of Birth :April 26th 1989
Physique : 178cm, 63kg
Talents : Singing, fluent in English
Education : Kyung Hee Univ. Postmodern Music Department
Activities: Passed the Big Bang audition while taking the MBC Academy course

Member : T.O.P, Seungri, Daesung, G-Dragon and Taeyang
Date of Debut :August 19, 2006
Official Homepage : http://www.ygbigbang.com/
Official homepage in Japan :http://www.ygbigbang.jp/

Big Bang's official Fan Club VIP
Big Bang's official fan club calls itself "V.I.P." (a reference to the band’s second single: "Big Bang is V.I.P."). It is estimated to have around 300,000 members. Generally at concerts in Korea, most fans will wave balloons in a specific color to show their devotion to a band, however Big Bang fans don’t wave balloons, instead they wave bandannas and crown shaped glow sticks, which are decorated with the letters BB. You can get these at YgeShop (http://www.ygeshop.com) or at concerts venues.

E-mail : bigbang@ygmail.net
Address : YG Entertainment, Deokyang Building, 3rd Floor, 371-26 Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (zip code) 121-884
Official Fan Club :http://cafe.daum.net/YGBIGBANG?DWISI=3ADHomepage : http://town.cyworld.com/bigbang/

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UNESCO World Heritage - Jongmyo

Jongmyo is the royal shrine where the memorial services for the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty were performed. The structure represents the greatest religious implications from a Confucian perspective. Since the principal ideology of the Joseon Dynasty was based on Confucianism, the services performed in Jongmyo must also be viewed as an extension of political activities.

The Jongmyo Shrine, Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, and the Tripitaka Koreana of Haeinsa Temple were the first monuments to be listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple sites, are precious national treasures that feature the essence of Buddhist art from in the times of the Shilla. The Tripitaka Koreana, is the most complete corpus of Buddhist doctrinal text in the world. Korean people also view these sites as extremely precious and were not surprised in the least when they became World Heritage Sites.

The Jongmyo Shrine, however, is relatively small compared to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty, and has less aesthetic value than other structures like, for example, Changdeokgung Palace. In spite of this, the Jongmyo Shrine was one of the first Korean national monuments listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This demonstrates that the Jongmyo Shrine has an indigenous value that has been largely neglected by the Korean people. The value of the shrine does not come from the structure itself, but rather from its historical background. The real value of the Jongmyo Shrine is in its excellent preservation of the history of the Joseon Dynasty through its dedication to all the deceased kings and queens over 500 years in one place. As more is learned about the Jongmyo Shrine, more values are discovered that justify the legitimacy of it as one of most precious national monuments in Korea.

Historical value and the significance of the Jongmyo

In 1394, King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, ordered that the capital should be moved to Hanyang, present-day Seoul. King Taejo ordered the building of the Jongmyo, the royal shrine for the memorial service, to the left of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Sajikdan, the altar for the god of the earth and grain, to the right of the palace. The Jongmyo Shrine was completed in 1395, one year after moving the capital and before the completion of the construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace itself.

What was the reason behind building the Jongmyo and Sajikdan on each side of the main palace? The Jongmyo is the royal shrine dedicated to the memorial services for deceased kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, and the Sajikdan is the altar for the god of the earth and grain. Having these two structures on each side of the main palace implies that the legitimacy and authority of founders of the Joseon Dynasty had been approved by the divinely sanctioned.

The Jongmyo Shrine is regarded as a sacred ground of Confucianism. Since Confucianism does not worship a deity or God as in Christianity or Buddhism, the legitimacy that runs from the ancestors becomes the sacred ideology of Confucianism. That is why the shrine was the first royal structure built by King Taejo, founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Not surprisingly, the Jongmyo Shrine was the first building structure to be rebuilt after the complete destruction of all the palaces and the main building structures during the Japanese invasion of 1592. This suggests that the Jongmyo Shrine had the greatest religious and political significance within the Joseon Dynasty.

In China, the Taemyo is a counterpart of the Jongmyo in Korea. But the culture of Confucianism has been dying out in China since the Communist Revolution of 1949. Although the building structure of the Taemyo still remains in Beijing, no memorial services are conducted on this site. The shrine for commemorating the deceased emperors of Japan is somewhat different from the Jongmyo Shrine of Korea as the system for appointing an Emperor is still maintained. The uniqueness of the Jongmyo is its continuity of the spirit of Confucianism even today after the fall of the Joseon monarchy. From this perspective, the Jonmyo Shrine is the represents the spirit of Confucianism throughout the world.

 The aesthetics of Jongmyo Shrine

The Jongmyo shrine dedicates 83 ancestral tablets of Taejo, a founder of the Joseon Dynasty, his ancestors to four generations, high-ranking officers who helped King Taejo in the founding of the Joseon Dynasty, and kings and queens thereafter for over 500 years. The Jongmyo features an architectural style of magnificence and divinity as it represents the supreme royal shrine of the Joseon Dynasty. Its subtle beauty of dignity and prestige is unmatched in the palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palace. Since the Jongmyo was the most sacred and solemn space in Joseon, the structures were not decorated with the usual colorful paintings and patterns. The Jeongjeon, the main hall dedicated to the 48 tablets of deceased kings and queens, has a great solemnity.

The image of Jeongjeon Hall viewed from the Nam-mun, the main gate, holds the beauty of a simple black tiled roof top and presents a formal calmness. The plain design of the structure looks like the plain face of a person. The Jeongjeon Hall has asymmetric dimensions of101 meters long to the side on a foundation to 110 meters wide and 70 meters vertically.

It resembles the figure of coupled trains. The Jeongjeon Hall was meant to be built this way to serve its unique function during the Joseon Dynasty. Yet, another aesthetic perspective has been added to the structure. The Jeongjeon Hall had 25 kan (compartments) with 19 Kan for the ancestral tablets and 3 kan of spacing compartments on each end. The original design had only 7 kan when King Taejo ordered its construction, however, as the dynasty passed throne after throne through 500 years, the Jeongjeon Hall had to be extended at the ends to accommodate more tablets of deceased royalty, and maintain the divine order of the Dynasty’s ancestral tablets.

There were four major extensions to the original structure that led to the current configuration of the Jeongjeon Hall. These major extensions notwithstanding, the Jeongjeon Hall has maintained its original structural integrity of one complete building.

It features different architectural styles shown in the extensions while maintaining the beauty of the uniformed integrity of the building. Many scholars of historical monuments both foreign and domestic are often charmed by the monotone architectural configuration with variations in the style of the Jeongjeon.

There were four major extensions to the original structure that led to the current configuration of the Jeongjeon Hall. These major extensions notwithstanding, the Jeongjeon Hall has maintained its original structural integrity of one complete building. It features different architectural styles shown in the extensions while maintaining the beauty of the uniformed integrity of the building. Many scholars of historical monuments both foreign and domestic are often charmed by the monotone architectural configuration with variations in the style of the Jeongjeon.

The unique design of the Jongmyo Shrine is not even found in China, where the shrine for dedicating ancestral tablets of monarchs originated. The Jeongjeon Hall was the biggest wooden structure of one unit in the world when it was built and extended. It is regarded as the archetypal architectural structure of the Joseon Dynasty, possessing superb artistic value.

The legacy of Jongmyo 

The Jongmyo Shrine was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Jongmyo Jerye cermemony, held for the worship of the late kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, with Jongmyo Jeryeak, court music played at the ritual, were inducted as UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001. The three elements completing the legacy of the Jongmyo Shrine, the physical structure of Jongmyo, the Jongmyo Jerye, and the Jongmyo Jeryeak must be evaluated as one. These three elements become one and represent the prototype of Korean cultural heritage from its monarchy. UNESCO placed a high value on its continuing legacy and heritage even after the end of the Joseon Dynasty by listing both the site and the rituals as world heritage sites.

 
The Jongmyo Jerye is held on the first Monday of May every year. In the Joseon Dynasty, there were at least five rituals held at the shrine each year. Today, the rituals have been revived, beginning with the King’s Parade to the Jongmyo. The royal carriage starts its march to the shrine from the Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the Gyeongbokgung, to the Sejongro, Jongro, and the Jongmyo. The primary cast members for the rituals are provided by the organization representing the descendants of the royal family, Daedong Jongyakwon, with the help of 1,200 other actors. The total cost of one ritual event is over 0.8 billion KRW even though the scale has been downsized from its original magnitude. A total of 3,500 utensils are used for the ritual, many of them are customized to uphold the philosophical representation embedded in the unique shapes of dishes, cups, and bowls.

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UNESCO World Heritage - Changdeokgung Palace

The primary palace of the Joseon Dynasty was Gyeongbokgung palace. Overlooking Sejong-ro, Seoul’s main street, its grand, majestic features rightfully have become a symbol of the prestigious Joseon Dynasty. Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung palaces were all subsidiary palaces located inside the capital of the Joseon Dynasty. These palaces served as residences for the royal family in case Gyeongbokgung Palace was undergoing routine repairs or was damaged by fire. Unlike the main Gyeongbokgung palace, the simple, unimposing style of Changdeokgung Palace is neither majestic nor grandiose.

It may come as a surprise to learn that the monarchs of the Joseon Dynasty spent longer periods of time at Changdeokgung Palace than at Gyeongbokgung Palace. This is primarily because Gyeongbokgung and other palaces were burnt down during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. Changdeokgung Palace, rather than Gyeongbokgung, was rebuilt after the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592. From then on, Changdeokgung served as the primary palace, replacing the destroyed Gyeongbokgung Palace. But ever before that disaster, the monarchs of the Joseon Dynasty preferred Changdeokgung Palace to Gyeongbokgung. Changdeokgung Palace was and is regarded as being constructed in the quintessential Korean style, part of the reason it was so highly favored by the Joseon kings. The palace is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site for its historical significance, simplicity and subtleness. The UNESCO committee described the site as an outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design. The UNESCO committee also stated that the design of the palace was exceptional because the buildings exist in harmony with the natural environment.

Topography of Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace is situated along the slope of Mt Bukgaksan and the palace is special in that it does not overlook any of the major streets of the capital like other palaces do. Ironically, the less majestic placement of the Changdeokgung Palace adds to its aesthetic value.

While Changdeokgung is only one-third the size of Gyeongbokgung Palace, it is imbued with a great delicate, feminine beauty in comparison. Upon walking through Donhwamun, the main gate, everyone will notice such features. The grandeur of the throne hall can usually be observed immediately after walking through the main gate. However, Injeongjeon Hall, the throne hall of Changdeokgung Palace, is to the right of the palace down the main avenue and then, to the left. At a glance, the palace appears architecturally disorganized, but when thoroughly surveyed with a topographical perspective, the setting its setting is in complete harmony with the lines and flow of the terrain. According to the theory of Pungsoo (geomancy), the setting of the Injeongjeon Hall is comparable to the bud of a Japanese apricot, which is a flower that hangs from the boughs of the trees that grow on the Baekdudaegan, the biggest mountain range on the Korean Peninsula.

The placement of the building in the Changdeokgung flows in continuous harmony with the natural terrain. Instead of clearing away large hills, the architects continue the flow by building on the slopes and making sure paths and avenues detoured around hills. The pavilions in the secret huwon garden were built nestled in between the tree lines and gorges, to ensure there was no interference with the overall landscape. Jean Michel Willmote, a renowned architect who also designed the presidential chamber of the Elysee Palace of France, was amazed and charmed by the beauty of Changdeokgung Palace, the space that best represents the beauty of Korean architectural style.

The aesthetics of the royal garden

Changdeokgung Palace was once called the Biwon, or “Secret Garden”. In the early 20th century, under Japanese occupation of Korea, the Japanese called the palace the Biwon downplay the significance and integrity of the palace by emphasizing only the peripheral gardens. This only further illustrates the superb beauty of the garden itself, as a representative of the entire palace. Behind the palace lies the huwon garden, incorporating into its grounds pavilions, landscaped lawns, trees, and flowers. The garden was an extremely private space for the king and was known as the Naewon (Inner Garden) or Geumwon (Forbidden Garden). This garden represents the real value of the Changdeokgung Palace.

The Buyongji, or lotus pond, can be found after following the forest trail along the hillside to the back of the palace. The Buyongji Pond is located on the edge of two hillsides, and a pine tree stands in the middle of the island there. To the left is the splendid feature of Buyong-jong, a small pavilion standing to the side of the Buyongji. The Juhamnu Pavilion stands across from the Buyong-jong.

All these natural settings represent the real value of the secret huwon garden in Changdeokgung. At first glance, the huwon can be viewed as just a beautiful garden but the natural setting of the huwon was constructed in consideration of philosophical interpretations. The main gate of the Juhamnu Pavillion is called the Oesumun, which means the gate for fish and water. A fish-shaped cornerstone on the corner of the Buyongji portrays a scene of fish jumping out of a pond to reach Juhamnu, the royal research institute, through Oesumun Gate.

This implies the philosophical interpretation of this gate being a gateway to success for young scholars.


Changdeokgung Palace is awash in the essence of aesthetic configuration. Each and every pavilion and pond has a philosophical interpretation.



The beauty of the palace encompasses not only architectural considerations but also philosophical as well.

An ecologically-rich natural environment in the heart of Seoul

The forest at the back of the Buyongjong Hall is designated as an area of limited access. Public access to the forest was strictly limited for 25 years up until 2004. The first building appearing on the path of the forest is the Jondeokjong Pavilion, a small hexagonal pavilion with overlaid roof tops. The pavillion is decorated with very colorful wall paintings portraying brown and blue dragons playing with the Yeouijoo, a legendary wishing stone (cintamani stone). A wooden plate is inscribed with the following: All the streams embrace the moon while there is only one moon in the sky. The moon is me, myself, and you are the streams.

The author of this imposing lyric is King Jeongjo (1752-1800), who was upholding royal authority by suppressing a widespread fracture inside his cabinet. At this pavilion, King Jeongjo met to persuade not only those supporting his revolutionary reforms but those opposing them as well. Throughout history, the secret huwon garden was a place for secret politics.

The hill beyond the Jondeokjong is steep enough to be a small mountain. The Ongnyucheon Jade Stream is surrounded by small pavilions on the top of the hill. It has been said that tigers were once spotted in and around the area of the Ongnyucheon Streem. Changdeokgung Palace is a rich and ecologically sound environment with a forest consisting of 290,000 trees of 160 different types and 40 different kinds of birds, including three types of natural monument species, the spotted woodpecker, the Chinese scope owl, and the mandarin duck.

Visiting Changdeokgung Palace

Since May 2010, visitors have been able to tour Changdeokgung Palace at their leisure (with the exception of the Secret Garden (Huwon, 후원) during the palace’s regular operating hours. Despite the new independent touring, guide/commentator services are available for interested parties.
In order to preserve the historical integrity of the Secret Garden (Huwon, 후원), visitation to the Secret Garden is limited. Visitors to the garden must be accompanied by a palace tour guide and no more than 100 guests are permitted each tour. To visit the Secret Garden, each guest must purchase a separate ticket in addition to his or her Changdeokgung Palace entrance ticket. The two tickets cost 8,000 KRW for adults (ages 19~64) and 4,000 KRW for children & teens (ages 7~18). Entrance to the palace alone (without Secret Garden access) is 3,000 KRW for adults and 1,500 KRW for children & teens.


Those planning on visiting other palaces in the Seoul area should buy an “all-in-one palace ticket” for 10,000 KRW that grants the ticketholder access to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung (including the Secret Garden), Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and the Jongmyo Shrine. Tickets expire one month after purchase.

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NOW IN JAVA

Now  in Java

Urban poverty is always located on the outskirts of the city

Many of the city's poor are exposed to the risk of poverty and disease

Skyscrapers, a symbol of huge wealth and dirty poverty coexist in Jakarta city
the slums are formed surrounding long canal through the city

They would settle  their all meal of a day $5, their day income.

Each stall serves typically home style dish for $1-3,but their income is not good.















Beauty salon in a poor neighborhood

   Tired of the boy sitting in bench beach

    Beach lover in sunset

Wedding Photo in sunset  beach

Holy pray before Ramadan

Flower boy in front of the cemetery

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