Vol. 53, No.33 Special Section Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 5
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
August 12, 2015
Local Events
Entertainment
Sports
Student Corner
page 2, 3 “Off Beat Happenings” Coming Soon
page 15
pages 9 - 10
page 3
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KCON LA: Celebrating Korean Pop Culture by Lucia Flores and Lorena Flores Los Angeles
It was a warm summer morning as thousands of people gathered at the Los Angeles Convention Center, ready to check-in to KCON LA. Held July 31st - August 2nd, KCON is North America’s largest conven-
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tion celebrating all things “hallyu.” “Hallyu,” also referred to as the “Korean Wave,” encompasses Korean culture, pop culture, fashion, music, and art. Produced by CJ E & M, one of Asia’s leading entertainment companies, and Mnet (Korea’s top music channel), KCON LA had something for everyone. Attendees were able to attend panels and workshops, sample Korean food, dance to K-pop music, watch K-dramas, and meet their favorite Korean celebrities. Listed below are several highlights from the threeday event: Ki Hong Lee: Maze Runner, Hollywood & Beyond: Ki Hong Lee is one of the stars of the “Maze Runner” film series, playing the role of Minho. He spoke
about his experience breaking into Hollywood and the hurdles he faced because of his ethnicity. He also spoke about upcoming projects, including “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,” which is set to premiere in September of this year. All-Star Meet-andGreet: David Choi, DANakaDAN, Ki Hong Lee: Singer/songwriter David Choi and hip-hop artist DANakaDAN later joined Ki Hong Lee for a special meet-and-greet with fans. After answering several questions from the audience, they posed for pictures and thanked the fans for the support. Uncovering Korean Indie Music: Moderated by Adrienne Stanley (contributing editor at KDramastars and contributing writer at
KCON LA was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center July 31st - August 2nd. Photo by Lucia Flores
KpopStarz, MTV Iggy), and featuring panelists from KoreanIndie.com and Seoulbeats, the panelists spoke about their current favorite indie artist. Additionally, the panelists gave out resources for those looking to immerse themselves in the Korean indie music scene. Let’s Talk About Cross Cultural Clashes in Hal-
lyu: Moderated by Multifacetedacg (Reaction Vlogger), this panel featured both professional writers and bloggers in the K-Pop scene. Panelists spoke about their own experiences in dealing with cultural appropriation and about behaviors in which fans and idols themselves may have knowingly/ unknowingly engaged in
KCON continued on page 6
Pasadena Unified Names Associate Superintendent for School Support Services by Hilda Ramirez Horvath Pasadena
Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Brian McDonald, Ed.D., has named Mercy Santoro as Associate Superintendent for School Support Services. Under the direction of the Superintendent, Santoro will be responsible for the district’s school support programs, including after school enrichment services, enrollment, communications, parent engagement, community engagement and intergovernmental relations. She will also serve as the Superintendent’s spokesperson for the district. “After having worked closely with Mercy over the last few years through Collaborate PASadena, I am
thrilled to welcome her to the district,” said McDonald. “Her leadership and experience will help propel the district forward in implementing new operating principles focused on leadership, flexibility and accountability at the school and district levels so that we can provide a stimulating educational experience for today’s learners and tomorrow’s leaders.” Santoro has extensive experience in human services, municipal government, strategic planning and staff development. She joins PUSD from the City of Pasadena, where she has been Director of Human Services and Recreation since 2011. Santoro played a critical role
in developing and leading the 2013-2016 School/ City Work Plan, now known as Collaborate PASadena, that aligns resources to improve educational outcomes and the quality of life for children, youth and families of the Greater Pasadena
area. Key community-building projects implemented during her tenure include
Associate Superintendent continued on page 6