UKP Magazine Summer 2018

INTERVIEW: CHRISTOPHER WORTLEY

Learn how to make and play Ddakji, as seen on Running Man!

We talk to the songwriter behind hits for the likes of TVXQ and Taeyeon.

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

HOW TO: DDAKJI

SUMMER 2018

+ NEWS REVIEWS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS 1

Subscribe for our free digital mag.

2

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

3

58

48 60

34

10

44

CONTENTS NEWS ROUND-UP

6

MONSTA X IN LONDON

10

TRENDING TOPICS

16

UPCOMING EVENTS

17

NEW RELEASES

22

ROOKIE SPOTLIGHT

24

INDIE SPOTLIGHT

26

SUMMER SOUNDS PLAYLIST

28

KOREAN VOCAB

30

PLACES TO VISIT

32

TURKEY MEATBALL SSAM RECIPE

34

FESTIVALS: SAMBOK & BOKNAL

36

HOW TO: DDAKJI

38

FILM REVIEW: THE HANDMAIDEN

40

NEW DRAMAS & MOVIES

42

DRAMA REVIEW: LAUGHTER IN WAIKIKI

44

INTERVIEW: CHRISTOPHER WORTLEY

46

OP ED: HOLLAND PAVING THE WAY

48

INTERVIEW: ARTLOVER

50

FANART CORNER

52

FAN TALENT: UJJN

56

WHO WORE IT BEST?

58

REVIEW: PRIMARK’S K-POP BEAUTY

60

ULTIMATE SUMMER K-BEAUTY

62

GET THE LOOK: SPORTS BRALETTES

64

HOLIDAY PRODUCT HIT LIST

66

NEWS ROUND-UP

24K TO RETURN TO EUROPE FOR 2ND TOUR IN AUGUST

6

ASDA PLANNING TO STOCK BTS ALBUM

By Freya Bigg After April’s announcement of BTS’ new world tour drove fans wild, ASDA is driving up the excitement by revealing their plans to get BTS‘ upcoming album onto shelves in their stores.

HMV have previously stocked a small selection of K-pop in their Oxford Circus store, but this would mark the first K-pop group to get their CDs available to purchase across the UK. It is not yet clear if ASDA plans to stock the CDs in all of their stores, or if it will be largely available online.

SANDARA PARK FLIES TO SWITZERLAND

By Josh Naughton Sandara Park, of 2NE1 fame, had announced via Instagram on May 17th that she would be flying out to Switzerland to film for the TV show Borrow Trouble, which is broadcast on Korean channel JTBC2.

The first season of Borrow Trouble showcased its cast members catching a flight to Belgium and coming up with ways to make money to live from.

The second season, featuring Dara, is set to be broadcast during the month of June.

By Sophia Tang 24K have consistently returned to complete a European tour, since they first started showcasing their talents in Europe in January 2017.

Their last European tour occurred last August in 2017 which included the likes of Spain, Germany, England, Poland and Budapest.

However, this August the group will be returning to Europe for their 2018 European tour!

The final locations have been announced for the upcoming European tour. In total the group will be venturing around Europe to 7 cities. The cities will include: Lisbon (Portugal), Berlin (Germany), Paris (France), Prague (Czech Republic), Warsaw (Poland), Essen (Germany) and Helsinki (Finland). The dates for the concerts are noted below, but will range from the 3rd of August to the 15th of August.

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

BLACKPINK IS FIRST K-POP GIRL GROUP TO FEATURE ON OFFICIAL UK CHART

By Kristine Phillips Within a week of their comeback, the YG girl group have left a handful of broken records in their wake, which only goes to show how powerful BLACKPINK’s impact has been within a span of seven days.

And it’s looking to be only the beginning.

They made their first feature on the UK’s Official Song Chart with the title track ‘DDu Du DDu Du‘ at a peak’s position at #78!

It’s the first time to see an appearance from a Korean girl group on the chart and it’s a fantastic achievement to see especially for a nearly 3 year old group to accomplish, congratulations to BLACKPINK!

TVXQ CHANGMIN SPOTTED IN ITALY

By Amy Furney

BRITISH ROCKERS KARKOSA TO PERFORM AT ZANDARI FESTA

By Amy Furney Birmingham rockers Karkosa are set to play their first show in Seoul, South Korea. The unsigned group is made up Tin Rushton, Will Clews, Ryan Trott and brothers Jack and Michael Warnock. In an interview with the Express and Star described their success in Korea as “phenomenal”, praising the fans abroad for their support.

Karkosa attribute their success to Instagram. It isn’t just used in order to not only promote their shows and new releases, but also reach out to potential future fans. Glimpsing at the responses to their posts indicates that fans truly follow the group closely.

Participating in this year’s Birmingham Music Awards, the group unfortunately missed out on the best alternative/indie act prize.

But this hasn’t gotten in their way as they have since gotten their hands dirty. They have since worked with

local radio broadcasters Raw Sound TV and participated in the Hot Vox New Blood competition. Despite not winning the competition, the group are good sports and sing nothing but praise for the winners, Short Stories.

Now, with the backing of their fanbase, Karkosa are ready to take on Zandari Festa in Seoul, South Korea in October. The show will be after the release of their new single, ‘Red Hoodie’ which you can preorder here.

Their international success may be unusual, but it is a great example of how music truly can overcome perceived cultural and language barriers. They are clearly working their way up the ranks, and having already played some shows in London, it surely won’t be long until they manage to reach other places in the UK.

Fans spotted TVXQ’s Changmin holidaying in Florence, Italy. The K-Pop idol has posted pictures of his time in the country on Instagram: Travelling to Florence came after the star’s appearance at Milan Fashion Week, which he also posted about on Instagram:

TVXQ released their latest album, New Chapter #1: The Chance of Love just under three months ago.

So, could some of these snapshots be part of the duo’s upcoming promotion?

7

ARE YOU READY? FOR REAL?

8 Photography

by Freya Bigg - UnitedKpop

MONSTA X IN LONDON

By Lerah Barcenilla On the night of June 17th, Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith saw its grounds all the way to the Thames squirming with Monbebes donning their hoodies and shirts emblazoned with their favourite or “bias” members. Many have queued since the night before and at the strike of four (or 12am Korea Time), you can hear them chant a united “happy birthday” to Monsta X’s leader, Shownu, whose birthday falls just a day after the concert.

A few fans handed out banners such as posters with “Always By Your Side” in both Korean and English – a project that will come into fruition late in the concert. As well as this, fansite UKMONSTAX were handing out mini banners for Shownu’s Birthday.

As the fans slowly enter the venue, Monsta X’s songs play and Monbebes sang along to hits like Hero, Beautiful and Shine Forever in well-coordinated fan chants that shocked even the venue staff behind them. Even with only half of the pit filled at this point, their voices were strong enough to send vibrations rocking the floor.

Soon the lights dimmed. A VCR introducing the seven members and the tour, THE CONNECT played on the stage’s screen. When the lights shone on stage once more and Jealousy started to play, fans erupted in loud cheers. This was followed by Be Quiet and Beautiful where Jooheon’s passionate rapping sent the crowd wild.

at the Monbebes before him. This was mini fan project to celebrate the leader’s birthday. When asked, “What do you think about when you hear London?” Jooheon blurts out “Harry Potter” with his signature accent. Someone mentions fish and chips. Hyungwon added, rather proudly, that he “took a photo with a double-decker bus yesterday” voice alight with happiness and he promised to upload the photo on social media before they leave the UK. He recently posted this writing “Wanna stay here more. Thanks.

Love you England.”

Kihyun, ever the flirt, adds “But do you know the real reason why we came here? Because of you guys – you, you, you you guys” he proceeded to point at various members of the crowd before him, eyes lost in his smile. He then teases the fans with a loud “Are you ready? For real?”

The next few songs are Gravity followed by Tropical Night, the electronic dance track that had fans singing and jumping to “Yeah yeah It’s the tropical night yeah”.

Another ment followed with I.M, Jooheon and Wonho. “I.M is our English teacher,” Jooheon says with pride and proceeds to say, in a British accent “I would like some water please” sending a ripple of laughter across the crowd. I.M looks towards the crowd in awe before commenting, “I saw you guys dancing. You have better moves than us!”

A short ment followed where fans sang happy birthday to leader Shownu after he introduced himself, eyes disappearing as he smiles

9

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

COVERAGE

All this time the members, not only the team’s youngest and fluent English speaker I.M, spoke phrases in English. They would occasionally switch to Korean where someone from backstage would translate.

Jooheon imitates the crowd excitement shrieking “OHMYGOD IT’S MONSTA X!” and it’s no surprise that the concert saw such a turnout.

With their 6th EP, The Connect: Dejavu peaking in the UK at #15 and the high demand for a Monsta X concert in the UK and Europe – in fact, this whole European leg of the tour (and the inclusion of London that was missed in past tours) would not have been possible without the persistent efforts of Monbebes fulfilling MyMusicTaste’s various challenges in order to invite Monsta X over.

WHEN ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY ARTISTS THEY LIKED, KIHYUN MENTIONS HIS FAVOURITE GENRE IS BRITPOP.

The group constantly shows worry, asking in English if the crowd is tired and if it’s hot only for the Monbebes to scream in response – this excitement will last the night. “I’m quite hot,” Wonho says with a playful smile, fiddling with the collar of his shirt and I.M proceeds to run his hands across the fabric, teasingly pushing it aside, amused at the fan screams rising an octave. Hyungwon worries about the fans getting hurt, eyes scanning the crowd and the way his voice lilts when he says, “be careful!” wide-eyed and playfully reprimanding sends the fans chuckling.

Kihyun sings a verse of Tropical Night and stares in awe as the fans sing back in perfect unison, even the Korean verses.

When asked if there were any UK artists they liked, Kihyun mentions that his favourite genre is Britpop.

He then sings a few lines of Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, and the crowd follows his cue to sing

10

Photography by Freya Bigg - UnitedKpop

“I have goosebumps,” Kihyun says, pretending to shiver and he tries again, eye smile in full force. “I lay by your side,” he sings and it was beautiful, hearing the main vocal, whose voice is as good if not even better live, harmonise with the nearly four thousand Monbebes and seeing the look of bliss and awe on his face.

Hyungwon, feeling left out, pouts and says, “I’ll do something too!

Expecto Patronum!” sending the fans into laughter and this leads up to the next songs Crazy in Love and All In. The short ments turned into short tutorials of the key points in choreography. At one point, Minhyuk and I.M were asked to do a sexy dance to hilarious effect and Jooheon ups the stakes by combining his signature aegyo and a robot dance.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL HEARING THE MAIN VOCAL HARMONISE WITH THE NEARLY FOUR THOUSAND MONBEBES.

The members spoke in English every chance they got with I.M acting as part translator part initiator.

A look of pure awe and surprise paints his face when he leads Monbebes to complete his verses in Destroyer and Shine Forever.

There’s something beautiful in the way the venue filled with lyrics in perfect unison and if the look of shock and happiness on the maknae’s face said anything, it was that he felt it too. Jooheon breaks up the sweet moment to playfully say, “I will write more English lyrics too!”

11

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

along. This is followed by We Found Love with Minhyuk joining in after.

The vocalist says in English, “There’s a song I want to sing, if you know it sing together” and this followed a beautiful rendition of Sam Smith’s I’m Not The Only One.

And after the KpopKnight fiasco, it’s great to see Monbebes fill the venue with their cheers and they are more than capable of singing along to the songs and cheer in coordinated fan chants. Once again, the venue is filled with both Korean and English and shows the capacity to which music can transcend language barriers.

Having teased the possibility of performing their 2015 debut single to the cheers of the Monbebes, the sestet took to the stage with the rock version of Trespass.

With Monsta X’s genre versatility, they effortlessly veered off from their signature hip-hop and R&B sound to serenade Monebebes with ballads as well as setting the room on fire with EDM and dance tracks. The VCR segments see the members playfully talking to Monbebes, and the later segments hint at the ongoing narrative told in past music videos like Dramarama and Destroyer that followed the members as they challenged Time itself in an attempt to meet each other again.

When the end of the concert approaches, it seemed that Monsta X ran over the venue curfew and halfway through their encore stage, Fallin, what first appeared as if they had blown the speakers may have been due to the venue pulling the plug instead. Their last few words are muffled. While it is a shame that the sound was cut during Monsta X’s encore stage, it is important to note that if venues do not comply with these regulations, live music venues can be fined thousands for breaking sound curfew, which will eventually ruin these places. This means fewer venues for Monsta X and other future groups to perform at when they might embark on their UK tours.

The members also had solo and collaboration stages with Hyungwon dancing to Charlie Puth’s How Long, I.M soon joining him after his rendition of Drake’s Fake Love.

While Shownu and Jooheon painted the stage with gold and silver to deliver a cover of Bruno Mars’s Versace on the Floor. Kihyun, Wonho and Minhyuk, on the other hand, sent Monbebes squealing with I Do.

This slight mishap did not deter Monbebes though and they filled the strange gap in sound with their own voices, taking this as an opportunity to sing another “happy birthday” to Shownu. The sestet exited the stage to the cheers of their adoring fans, voices still strong despite the consistent fan chants that echoed throughout the venue all night.

When Monsta X performed White Love, fans raised their banners, collected along the queue as part of the White Love banner project by UK Monbebe.

12

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Photography by Freya Bigg - UnitedKpop

AFTER THE KPOPKNIGHT FIASCO, IT’S GREAT TO SEE MONBEBES FILL THE VENUE WITH THEIR CHEERS.

13

S C I P O T G N I D TREN MAY

NETIZENS TURN THEIR NOSE AT APINK “SURGERY” RUMOURS

If only we were making a witty pun but Namjoo of APink’s more slim features have not been met well by fans. When the group was attended an endorsement event, real time searches seemed to be more interested in Namjoo, who appeared to have a different face shape and suspected plastic surgery on her nose and eyes. Many reporters have commented that the rumours gathered more attention towards APink’s fan song “Miracle” and Pink Cinema fan meeting but Plan A Entertainment are refusing to comment on the situation, stating that “There is nothing to say.”

APRIL

YG’S DAMAGE CONTROL

YG Entertainment has been hurt hard with the cancellation of the MIXNINE group debut and with their own artists’ returns to the scene trickling in through the year, it is safe to say that Yang Hyun Suk is not every KPop fan’s most popular CEO at the moment. So many best laid plans have been broken hard and there has been massive backlash from fans, the trainees involved and the companies who took part in the survival show’s progress.

However, it seems that its not letting “Papa YG” slow down as he has slammed down several announcements and plans through his social media which includes a new Hip-Hop crew, a new subsidary built with HIGHGRND called YGX and a Dance Academy in the works.

Although he didn’t have much to comment on the likes of Lee Hi, Sechskies and Suhyun; he has also confirmed that BLACKPINK will be returning with a mini-album in the next month. This may be damage control to the maximum but we will have to wait and see if he can live up to his words after the failure of MIXNINE.

14

JUNE

TWICE UNDER FIRE FOR ALLEGEDLY COPYING SNSD AGAIN Twice have come into the firing line of Netizens once again as they gear up for a comeback with ‘Dance The Night Away’. Fans have pointed out the distinct similarities in their concept to SNSD’s concept for their hit “Party”.

This is not the first time Twice have been accused of copying the K-pop legends. ‘Cheer Up’ and ‘Heart Shaker’ came under scrutiny for their similarties to SNSD’s past concepts.

C

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

UP COMING

EV ENTS JULY - SEPT 2018

15

REALITY OF JUCHE KOREA AS SEEN THROUGH POSTERS 07/07/18 - 12PM - 8PM 1 Matthews Yard, CR0 1FF Juche Korea-the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (aka north Korea ) is one of the most misunderstood countries on the earth. This exhibition organised by the UK Korean Friendship Association will give an opportunity to gain a better understanding of Juche Korea.

2018 K-POP WORLD FESTIVAL: UK REGIONAL ROUND 07/07/18 - 1:30PM - 5:30PM 229 The Venue, 229 Great Portland Street, W1W 5PN The UK Round is a preliminary heat of the K-Pop World Festival which takes place in Korea later in the year. This exciting event gives K-Pop fans the chance to show off their talents whether this is in the form of singing or dancing.

EASTBOURNE KOREAN FESTIVAL 07/07/18 - 6:00PM - 9:00PM Town Hall, Grove Rd, BN21 4TX This is the first Korean festival to be held in Eastbourne, after a number of its kind in London. The event is organised by Sun Hwa Griffiths, who has lived in East Sussex for over 25 years. Expect to see Korean Art performance, the Thames Philharmonia Orchestra with Choir and a Korean buffet. Korean dinner will be served after performance by Korean Restaurant and Supermarket Association (KORSA).

TALK: TIM INGLES WITH JOO YEON SIR 09/07/18 - 11:30AM Swinfen Hall Hotel, Lichfield In this bespoke event for the 2018 Lichfield Festival, Tim talks about his career and passion for extraordinary and valuable instruments. His talk will also feature live music from violinist Joo Yeon Sir, playing a selection of Ingles & Hayday violins, giving a rare opportunity to experience and understand the contrast between each instrument’s unique sound.

16

GRAY, LOCO, WOO WON JAE, DJ PUMPKIN IN LONDON 21/07/18 - 6:00PM - 11:00PM / Troxy, 490 Commercial Road AOMG megastars Gray and Loco are set to perform in London, supported

by DJ Pumpkin and Woo Won Jae. The event organised by Cult Of Ya will take place in London’s Troxy.

This is DJ Pumpkin’s 2nd time in London after previously performing

alongside another AOMG member, ELO last year in March, a concert which was hosted by BeatCraze.

Standing and Circle Block tickets available only.

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

KCCUK SCREENING: BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN 19/07/18 - 7:00PM KCCUK In 1983, college freshman In-woo falls for fellow student Tae-hee. His relentless pursuit pays off when, during a hike, they declare their mutual love and decide to seal it with a bungee jump in New Zealand.

At the moment of leaving Seoul, In-woo waits in vain at the station for Tae-hee, who never shows up.

Seventeen years later, In-woo – now a high school teacher with a family of his own – starts seeing idiosyncrasies of his former lover in a male student, and slowly becomes obsessed with him. As the mystery of who this boy might be unfolds, In-woo must deal with gay jibes and his own memories of Tae-hee to try and make sense of it all.

LKFF 2018 TEASER: CLAIRE’S CAMERA

KCCUK SCREENING: THE SEA KNOWS

23/07/18 - 7:00PM Regent Street Cinema

26/07/18 - 7:00PM KCCUK

Claire’s Camera sees The Handmaiden star Kim Min-hee take the role of a film-sales assistant abruptly dismissed from her job, right in the middle of the festival.

Having been given only the vaguest reason for dismissal by her boss – a supposed lack of ‘honesty’ – the young woman is left to ruminate on her situation within the filmfocused atmosphere of the French town. Enter noted actress Isabelle Huppert (Elle), a holidaying music teacher with a wandering eye and an instant camera that will come to connect the dots between the wronged assistant, her former boss, and the film director at the heart of the friction.

In 1944, Japan is conscripting Koreans into the Imperial Army.

Students Arowoon and Inoue are forced to journey across the sea to Nagoya, where they face gross mistreatment from their sadistic Japanese superior, Mori.

Nevertheless, they retain their defiant spirit in both word and deed.

When Arowoon ventures outside the barracks, he encounters another side to Japan through a young woman called Hideko. Although she is Japanese, he defies convention, yet again, by falling in love with her.

However, their ‘Romeo and Juliet’ story takes a terrifying turn when the war threatens not only their lives, but also that of their unborn child.

Will fate grant this unconventional pair a happier ending than Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers?

SEONG-JIN CHO AND THE OXFORD PHILHARMONIC 29/07/18 - 8:00PM Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford Winner of the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition, the superbly talented Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho joins the Oxford

Philharmonic Orchestra to perform Chopin’s lyrical first piano concerto.

Marios Papadopoulos directs Beethoven’s pioneering ‘Eroica’ symphony; composed during the revolutionary climate of the Napoleonic regime, its heroic scope charged the development of nineteenth-century romanticism.

17

KCCUK SCREENING: A WOMAN JUDGE

KOREAN PERFORMERS KCCUK SCREENING: AT THE ED FRINGE FEST BAREFOOTED YOUTH

02/08/18 - 7PM KCCUK

03/08/18 - 27/08/18 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

09/08/18 - 7PM KCCUK

A young, determined woman, Jinsuk, has her mind set on becoming a judge. Encouraged by her father who sends her off to a monastery to focus on her studies, and despite her mother’s fervent efforts to marry her off to a wealthy suitor, Jin-suk defiantly follows her own path. With those around her doing nothing but oppose and obstruct, should she relent and follow the route society expects of her, or can she go against all odds and fulfil her dream?

Edinburgh Fringe Festival is host once again to some exciting Korean acts, performances and talks.

Adolescent films first gained widespread popularity in Korea during the 1960s; of these, The Barefooted Young (or Barefooted Youth, as it is sometimes translated) is the best-known example. In the film, Doo-soo - a lower class gangster - stumbles across a group of thugs harassing two young women. He intervenes, saving the women but getting himself injured in the process. When one of the women, a diplomat’s daughter named Johanna, comes to thank him in person, the two begin a relationship. Whilst highlighting the vast socio-economic gap between Doo-soo’s underworld and the upper class existence of Johanna, the film reflects the rise of youth culture in the 1960s.

KCCUK SCREENING: MANDALA 16/08/18 - 7PM KCCUK Set in contemporary Korea, Mandala follows two rather different characters: Pob-un, a young Buddhist monk who has decided to quit his university studies and leave his doting girlfriend, instead embarking upon a search for

18

• Faust Korea • Billingual Korea UK Producers Workshop • The Merry Wives of Seoul • The Taming of the Shrew • Just One Wise Life • Gwangju Metropolitan Korean Traditional Orchestra • Late Night Disco Fight

answers regarding the futility of human existence, and Ji-san, an elderly, rather unconventional monk who indulges all life’s earthly pleasures, particularly alcohol. The two meet by chance on the road in rural Korea and together they start a journey of selfdiscovery, reflecting upon the issues of freedom of choice, religious devotion and enlightenment.

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

START ART FAIR 13/09/18 - 16/09/18 Saatchi Gallery A number of Korean artists will exhibit their artwork at the START Art Fair in September, alongside artists from all across the globe.

• ARTWA • BiHop • Hong Sung Chul • Jade Flower Gallery • KUNST 1

KCCUK SCREENING: BLACK REPUBLIC 23/08/18 - 7:00PM KCCUK

Opening on a pitch black screen, we begin to hear a voice: it is the words of the mother of the protagonist, Han Tae-hoon, a student who becomes involved in the Korean democratisation movement of the 1980s. The woman’s voice stands for both mother and country, a land then plunged into darkness. Taehoon flees from the authorities using a fake identity and seeks refuge in a mining village, but the staterepressive forces are not the only ghost he is trying to escape - the lingering thought of the possible failure of the democratisation movement never ceases to haunt him. Tae-hoon does not belong in his chosen hideout; his presence starkly reveals the undeniable tensions between intellectuals and blue-collar workers, a division permeating through the minjung movement.

A CHUSEOK EVENING OF NORTH KOREAN CUISINE 26/09/18 Hoxton Street, London

Korean food might be everywhere in the UK – from Michelin-starred restaurants to local pubs – but there’s one thing missing from these menus: North Korean food. Join us on September 26th in London for a Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving] celebration.

19

PENTAGON SHINE APRIL 2ND

WINNER EVERYDAY APRIL 4TH

TWICE WHAT IS LOVE? APRIL 9TH

SUPER JUNIOR REPLAY APRIL 12TH

VIXX EAU DE VIXX APRIL 17TH

TEEN TOP SEOUL NIGHT MAY 8TH

YONG JUNHYUNG GOODBYE 20’S MAY 9TH

DREAMCATCHER ESCAPE THE ERA MAY 10TH

BTS LOVE YOURSELF: TEAR MAY 18TH 20

SHINee THE STORY OF LIGHT EP1 MAY 28TH

WANNA ONE 1÷X=1 (UNDIVIDED) JUNE 4TH

SHINee THE STORY OF LIGHT EP2 JUNE 11TH

BLACKPINK SQUARE UP JUNE 15TH

BTOB THIS IS US JUNE 18TH

NU’EST W WHO, YOU JUNE 25TH

SHINee THE STORY OF LIGHT EP3 JUNE 25TH

DAY6 SHOOT ME: YOUTH PART 1 JUNE 26TH

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

NEW RELEASES APRIL TO JUNE

21

A D Y R E V E

A LA T A new generation of K-Pop is soon approaching with several rookie groups struggling to break the mold.

However, it can be more than a struggle and some may slip away but with the survival show culture of previous years; there is more interest and indeed more hype towards a group’s success. That has come to light with the debut of (G)I-DLE.

Their debut brings together the popular girl crush trend with a smooth tropical house sound and lyrics that will get into your head immediately and ‘LATATA’ definitely made a lasting effect on fans as the group won their first music show win on MTV’s ‘The Show’ after just twenty days after their original debut and already gathering a combined view count of twenty million for their debut music video.

In such name o to poss K-Pop. time w the fier loved f

ROOK

Pronounced as Yeoja Aideul, these young ladies hail from CUBE Entertainment and already had major reputation behind them. With their ancestors being Hyuna and 4Minute, it could be said that it is very risky to debut another girl group in midst of Pentagon and CLC rising through the rank. However, this may have been far in the making.

(G)I-DLE begins back in 2016 with the first season of ‘Produce 101’. The show did create I.O.I but the show also opened up national interest in the trainees who may have not been as successful; including Jung Soyeon, a popular rap talent who finished 20th in the entire competition.

B

Before long, she was building up a portfolio of strong work in the industry as she released two solo tracks, ‘Jelly’ and ‘Idle Song’ after appearing in ‘Unpretty Rapstar 3’. She did cause a stir performing diss battles in her “Pick Me” uniform but with her success in the rap survival show, CUBE signed an exclusive contract for her t act as a solo artist and soon become a member of their new group.

The other members have also gathered attention for their own talents and past which brings more interest to how they contribute in the group.

Miyeon was revealed by fans to have been a YG trainee in the past and was in fact a possible member for BLACKPINK. Nothing was confirmed to state why she left aside from secret dating rumors but her visuals and solid performance skills clearly show what she learned during her time with the company.

Joined by Thai member; Minnie, main dancer; Soojin, Chinese member; Yuqi, and Taiwanese member; Shuhua, (G)I-DLE formed together in May 2018 with their first mini-album, ‘I Am’ and the title track, ‘LATATA’.

22

S O OJ I N

EV

h a short period of time, they have gathered the of hot rookies and dubbed as one of the groups sibly lead the new generation of girl groups in . With one album release under their belt, only will tell as they could well be on their way to carry rce name that CUBE girl groups are known and for.

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

-A T

Y A

Until then, if you’re idling and not sure which rookie to support; be sure to check (G)I-DLE out and find out exactly why they are currently ones to watch.

T H G I L T O KIE SP

SH U H UA

S OY E O N

ORD B Y E M M A A LF

M IY E ON

M IN N I E

YU Q I

G I N Y R V E (G)I-DLE 23

INDIE SPOTLIGHT

BY LORE WALSH

24

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

D

anny Boy & The Carriages played their first small tour in the UK in May, including a set at Liverpool Sound City.

Danny Boy & The Carriages have a sound that isn’t commonplace in Korean indie. Inspired by 60’s and 70’s sounds, the group present a modern twist on the old rock ‘n’ roll style. The group produce lyrics completely in English, something Daniel (Kim Hansung) says is because the emotions he wishes to portray are better conveyed in English.

Their live performances are lively, with all their music having an infectious sound and the same toe-tap-ability you’d find in their old school inspirations.

It certainly wouldn’t sound out of place if they broke into a rendition of Dylan’s ‘To Fall In Love With You’.

Despite their sound, the group are not all interested in the same kind of music, their sound coming mostly from the influences of Daniel. Interestingly, listening to Daniel talk you may be surprised to find he has never resided in the UK. His accent sounds mostly Scouse, though it occasionally drifts to Mancunian.

The band say Twice are their favourite Kpop group, though this is at least in part motivated by their visuals, and drummer Jaeyi is a fan of G Dragon.

Overall, however, they don’t follow Kpop closely.

During an interview with BritROK Daniel expressed his surprise that the death of SHINee’s Kim Jonghyun made UK news. He spoke candidly about his own experiences with Mental Health services in South Korea and how he’d related to Jonghyun’s struggle with dismissive medical advice.

You can download Danny Boy & The Carriages’ EP ‘The Carriages’ from iTunes for just £2.49, a steal for four impressively addictive tracks.

BritROK’s full interview with Danny Boy & The Carriages will be released in July as the first interview in an ongoing conversation about Mental Health entitled ‘Together We Are Stronger’. /dannyboyandthecarriages

대니보이 앤 더 캐리지스

/danny_carriages

25

Both the song and its accompanying music video are exhilarating. Perfect for those warm, sunny days winding down into dusk or for those unforgettable road trips in the summer heat with your friends.

It’s a perfect chill or wind-down song. You can enjoy the contrast of Minju’s sweet tone and Euna’s cool rap. It’s a song that’s perfect for those summer-time commutes. Just plug in your earphones, break out your sneakers and enjoy.

Just as refreshing as a cold glass of iced lemonade on the hottest day of the summer. Fantagio’s six-member boy-group ASTRO have a remarkable discography behind them and Baby is one of the highlights in a bright career.

An eighties inspired super-track. This is a smooth, impeccably produced song with a great vocal performance by the legendary Wonder Girls. Summer will be made even better with this incredible song.

This year EXO-CBX have graced us with a song that’s perfect for those summer-time hangouts. Whether you’re biking it, or exploring a beautiful hiking trail, you won’t resist asking, ‘Can I be your boyfriend, can I?’

26

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

This is the hottest song of the summer. An effortless blend of the hot, summery vibes we expect from a former member of Sistar, and the easy shift into Hyolyn’s sophisticated and effortlessly cool new style as a solo artist.

Wishing you were on a beautiful island beach with crystal clear ocean waters this summer? So do we! Let NCT 127 transport you to the dream-like, paradise in this light electric melody anchored by sweet lyrics and clean harmonization.

An oldie but a goodie. BEG’s iconic Kill Bill was released in summer 2013, and it still sounds so fresh and modern five years on. Check this one out and try not to get too addicted to the instrumental!

As the intro says ‘Get ready to jump right now! Turn my headphones up!’ This Zico-produced song is all about having fun, and dancing the hot summer blues away.

Add it to your playlist for an instant 3-minute boost of energy.

In a slight departure from Suzy’s squeaky-clean image, this is a song about having fun and loving it. A bubbly, upbeat instrumental paired with the soft, pretty tone of Suzy’s voice makes this a must-have for your summer playlist.

27

by katy small

28

tdat-deut hae-yo it’s warm yeo-haeng travel

bang-hak vacation

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

yeo-reum Summer

na-bi butterfly

mo-rae sand

ba-da sea

hae sun

yeol-dae-ya tropical night su-bak watermelon

hae-byun beach

hae-ba-ri-gi sumflower

sy-yeong-jang swimming pool joh-eun yeo-reum bo-nae-sae-yo have a nice summer!

29

Five Summer Spots in Gangwon-do

BY DONNA SHEFFIELD The humble province of Gangwon was flooded with visitors earlier this year, as the 2018 Winter Olympics took place there. Now all the athletes have left PyeongChang, it’s the perfect province to head to for an out-of-Seoul summer break.

Not convinced? Here’s five reasons why you should head east to Gangwon!

You can recreate a seaside scene from Goblin You be Euntak, and I’ll be the Goblin! In this hugely popular K-drama, Euntak could summon her supernatural bae by blowing out a flame. The first time she used this power was filmed here, on Youngjin Beach. Don’t worry if you forgot to bring a red scarf and wildflowers for props, as they’re available for rent for a pic. If you’re hungry, why not grab a squid ink coloured ice cream? You can also easily grab some cheap, fresh seafood here because it’s close to a major fishing area, Jumunjin Harbor.

Youngjin Beach, 81-32 Gyohyang-ri, Jumunjin-eup, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do.

You can explore a giant cave Hwanseongul Cave is the largest limestone cave in Korea and feels like an ancient underground city. It was formed 530,000 years ago but is still in excellent condition. Check out the stalactites, stalagmites and stone pillars as well as unique waterfalls and ten lakes inside. There have been 47 new breeds of animals discovered in Hwanseongul Cave, with four of these being found to only live in this cave. Its length is 6.5 km long but only 1.6 km of that is open to explore, some of it via monorail.

Allow about one and a half hours.

Hwanseongul Cave, 800, Hwanseon-ro, Singi-myeon, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do.

30

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

You can beat the heat on a mountain hike Cities are hot as hell in summer. There’s no cooler place than in the mountains - and Achimgari is one of the most popular spots with locals. Located on Mount Bangtaesan in Inje, it’s famous for its trekking courses. It’s called Achimgari because people can only plow the fields during the morning (“achim”) as the sunshine here lasts for a shorter duration.

Achimgari has a hiking course of about 12 kilometers that takes five hours to complete. Expect natural paths, rather than man-made roads, and places where you may have to wade briefly into the rivers. There are also areas near the valley where you can go rafting.

Achim Valley, Mount Bangtaesan, Inje, Gangwon-do

You can stay in a temple AND recreate another scene from Goblin Woljeongsa Temple is a major temple in the area. It has a long history, as it was established by Monk Ja Jang (590-658). The onsite museum features many unique Buddhist artefacts, and it is said to house the bones of Buddha himself. The temple offers overnight stays, and activities for overnight guests include chatting over tea with monks, ringing the temple bells, learning about temple etiquette, Zen meditation, and eating Baru Gongyang, a monastic meal. The pine fir forest surrounding the temple is a natural attraction in itself, and home to yet another famous Goblin scene - his confession of love to Euntak.

Woljeongsa temple, 374-8, Odaesan-ro, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do

You can walk or fly in the sky!

Look away now if you’re scared of heights - but for the rest of us, Byeongbangchi Skywalk offers one thrill of a walk. The tempered glass floor of the skywalk projects out from a cliff at an altitude of 583m. It offers some stunning views of the mountains and lakes, and if you’re a fan of 2 Days & 1 Night you may recognise this spot as it’s been used as a filming location. If looking isn’t thrilling enough, there’s a seated zipline just a short walk from the Skywalk that you can enjoy - and once you’ve landed, they’ll bus you right back to the Skywalk.

Byeongbangchi Skywalk, 225, Byeongbangchi-gil, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do

31

RECIPE TURKEY MEATBALL SSAM

32

For the Meatballs:  500g lean turkey mince  3 Spring Onions  1 handful of spinach  1 red bell pepper  1T soy sauce  1T sriracha sauce  1T Ginger puree  Salt (to taste)  Pepper (to taste)  Cumin (to taste)  Chilli Flakes (optional) Method: 1. Preheat the oven at 200⁰C and line a baking tray with baking paper 2. Dice your pepper, spring onions and spinach into small pieces 3. Combine all of the ingredients into a bowl 4. Mix thoroughly with your hands; they should all mix together and the lines in the mince should no longer be visible 5. Form the mixture into 20 meatballs and place on the baking tray 6. Put the tray in oven for 20 minutes or until done.

For the Other Fillings Washed little gem lettuce (for wrapping your fillings with!) 40g boiled brown rice (boil your rice with a vegetable stock cube for extra flavour) Cucumber cut into bitesize pieces Pan-fried spring onion Kimchi Method: 1. Grab your little gem lettuce leaf 2. Pop a whole (or half) a meatball inside 3. Fill it up with any of your other side dishes. Get creative; cucumber and rice? Kimchi and spring onions? Fire away!

4. Roll up the lettuce leaf and eat 5. Repeat 33

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

In traditional Korean cuisine, Ssam refers to a dish in which a meat and a whole heap of other vegetables are wrapped in a leafy green. Here at United K-Pop, we love leafy greens. And all the tasty things they can wrap. So, without further ado, here is a recipe which will allow you to pack more of your five-a-day into one dish in a mouth-wateringly delicious way! Although this recipe calls for certain ingredients, they can all be subbed according to your taste buds and dietary requirements. For example, the turkey mince can be exchanged with a meat-free mince. This recipe serves five, and the meatballs themselves are suitable for home freezing. However, once defrosted, they cannot be re-frozen.

34

Photo by Hon Kim on Unsplash

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

FESTIVALS

SAMBOK & BOKNAL

By Keeley Burridge

Korea experiences a lot of hot weather over the summer months.

The days are long, humidity reaches insane peaks, and the sun can be relentless. It’s because of this that Koreans have thought up a multitude of ways to cool off over the warmest of days and even celebrate the hottest. These days are referred to as Boknal, and over the course of these days, Sambok occurs. Families and friends come together to share food and battle the heat together. It might sound unusual to those of us in the UK who primarily deal with cloud and drizzle, but this tradition has roots in Korean history.

Years back, the lifestyle of many Korean’s revolved around farming.

This was a labour intensive job, and when the sun reached its peak in the middle of the day, people would take a break to keep out of the most intense heat. The three boknal days were the peak of the growing reason.

Soon after this, rice would be harvested. Food played a big part in Sambok in this way, with people seeking nutritional means to keep their stamina up for harvesting and to get them through the tiring heat.

When kings still ruled over Korea, the royal court would distribute ice to officials in government, but common folk were not so lucky. Ice was expensive, meaning the subjects had to find other methods of keeping cool.

Boknal wasn’t, and still isn’t three consecutive days in a row. Each day is given a name - chobok, jungbok and malbok, meaning beginning, middle and last respectively - and there’s relatively long intervals between each. There’s ten days between chobok and jungbok, and twenty days between jungbok and malbok, with each day falling on a different date every year.

“

Families and friends come together to share food and battle the heat together.

Despite Sambok having such a long history, there aren’t any common traditions that have lasted since it began. Instead, traditions have changed and developed over the years. One such tradition is the eating of nutritional foods. When Sambok comes around, restaurants serving healthy dishes are packed.

The most popular of these is Samgyetang, or Ginseng chicken soup.

It’s a warm chicken broth, filled with nutrients, but perhaps not the first thing you’d think of when it comes to summer foods. Koreans believed in Oriental medicinal properties for many years and this has transferred into beliefs on what helps keep up stamina when the heat makes your energy fall. Other healthy foods you might come across include patjuk (red bean porridge) and naengmyeon (cold noodle soup.)

Even more opposite to the usual ice creams and cold drinks of the summer is the concept of 이열치열 (yi yeol chi yeol.) This basically means fighting fire with fire; eat something hot and it will make you feel cooler afterwards. For this reason, spicy foods are also popular alongside healthy warm dishes like samgyetang. Tteokkbokki and spicy fried chicken work perfectly, as they’re not too heavy and can be easily snacked on - so long as you can handle double the heat!

That’s not to say that more familiar methods of cooling down aren’t popular, though.

Patbingsu also sees a rise in popularity with it’s sweet, icy and refreshing flavours. With hot weather being such a common part of the Korean summer, it’s not wonder that Korean’s have come up with plenty of ways of dealing with the heat over the years. But it’s also nice to know that the hot days bring people together and keep part of history alive.

Traditions change as the times do, but their roots always lie in the history that developed from.

During the three days of Boknal, the changing traditions of Korea are an example of how the past in the present can still come together.

Not to mention, there are great tips to be found in sharing great food to get through the summer heat.

Fight fire with fire, or chill out with something on the icy side? The choice is up to you!

35

HOW TO:

DDAKJI

By Holly Smith

If you have watched Korean variety shows, especially ‘SBS Running Man’, you may be familiar with the game Ddakji (Sometimes also referred to as Ttakji). Ddakji is a Korean game often played by groups of children outside on playgrounds, in villages and culde-sacs. It is incredibly simple and involves the flipping of paper tiles by slamming one down on another.

Today, I will regale you with my ddakji-making journey, instruct you on how you can make your own and how to play a game with them.

HOW TO PLAY

STEP 1

STEP 2

Start with two squares of different coloured paper of the same size. I have used card here, but paper is most definitely easier to work with.

You could even try it with some pieces of patterned wrapping paper if you wanted to make it look fancy.

Of course, origami paper would work perfectly for this too.

Fold each in half horizontally.

STEP 3

STEP 4

Fold the top right corner down to meet the bottom line. You will end up with a triangle shape on the right-hand side.

Fold the bottom left corner up to meet the top line to make two triangles. It should look something like this.

• Make sure you have lots of tiles made up and distributed equally to all the players.

• A Thrower must be decided.

Korean people will often go for a good, old-fashioned game of RockPaper-Scissors to decide this.

• Another player places one of their tiles flat on the ground.

• The Thrower will throw down their tile, with the aim on hitting the tile on the ground and flipping it over.

If the Thrower succeeds, they get to keep the flipped tile for themselves. It takes practice and good technique to flip another’s tile! If they fail, another player takes a turn.

• The winner is the one that manages to win all the other players tiles.

Why not give it a go and see how good you are at Ddakji?

36

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

Turn the shape 90 degrees so the points are at top and bottom.

Take the top point and fold it down so the edges on the left side line up

Do the same with the bottom point.

You should end up with a square shape.

STEP 8

STEP 9

STEP 10

Repeat the process with the other piece of paper.

Open the folds and lay one on top of the other in a cross position.

There should be a point on each side.

Fold the points in and tuck into the corresponding openings of each paper. You may find you need to flip things over and fold something the opposite way to make this work. It’s slightly fiddly, but be patient and you will get there. You might want to flatten the Ddakji tile between some heavy books or tread on it to ‘solidify’ the fold a bit more. You can also add some extra layers of paper to your tile to give it more weight.

FINISHED PRODUCT Here are my attempts. As you can see, the top one folded a lot flatter as it is paper and not card! In any case, I am sure you could make some better versions of these tiles than I can.

37

38

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

FILM REVIEW by Ann Amarawansa ark Chan-wook’s erotic period thriller The Handmaiden (2016) tells a provocative tale of seduction, desire and betrayal.

The sinuous narrative keeps goes back and forth on characters and events seen before, only we witness them from different perspectives, each time revealing more than before.

Inspired by Sarah Waters’s novel Fingersmith, Park takes the story from Victorian England and transfers it to 1930s Korea under Japanese colonialist rule. At first, Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri) is introduced as a poor demure handmaiden who is to serve at the home of Japanese heiress Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee).

But we soon learn that Sook-hee was recruited by charming conman “Count” Fujiwara (Ha Jung-woo) to persuade Lady Hideko to fall in love with Fujiwara so he can marry her before disposing of her and stealing her fortune. However these characters are not what they seem, and with twists lurking at every corner, Park keeps the audience in an enthralling game of Cat and Mouse.

Kim Min-hee gives a compelling performance as Hideko with a gamine innocence that captivates the viewer almost instantly. This is also the case with Kim Tae-ri, who is excellent as the Sook-hee whose youthful fiery charm balances out the cold composure of Kim Min-hee.

The male performances are equally as strong, with Ha Jung-woo as the crude conman “Fujiwara”. While the predatory aspects of his character make him despicable throughout the film, his sneery conceit is rather amusing.

Park manages to walk the fine line between titillation and sensuality, which allows it to avoid falling into “male gaze” territory. Instead, sex is used to illustrate the shifting dynamics and relationships between the characters and the narrative.

Overall, The Handmaiden is an intricate masterpiece that will send your senses into overdrive. Earlier this year, The Handmaiden became the first Korean film to receive a BAFTA award, winning in the ‘Best Film Not in the English Language’ category.

The Handmaiden is a sublimely shot and designed film with swooping camera work and lavish costume and set design, reviving the familiar operatic quality of Park’s critically acclaimed Vengeance Trilogy (Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Old Boy and Lady Vengeance). The heightened aesthetics combines delicacy and beauty with grotesquerie. Regarding the film’s portrayal of female desire and sexuality, The Handmaiden was hailed as a milestone for LGBT cinema in South Korea.

39

8 MUST-WATCH NEW FILMS AND DRAMAS /// 3 FILMS

Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead

The Accidental Detective 2: In Action

Suspecting that vampires exist in Joseon, Kim Min (Kim Myung-Min) seeks information. When he is requested to investigate a serial murder case on Kanghwa Island where the bodies are seemingly burned to death, Kim Min and his partner Seo-Pil (Oh Dal-su) meet a beautiful woman (Kim Ji-won) with incredible strength. Believing that the woman may be involved in the case, Kim Min finds out that she has lost her memory and doesn’t even know her own name. With the help of the woman’s strength, they ask her to help them investigate the murder cases as they try to figure out who the next target will be.

A sequel to Kim Jung-hoon’s 2015 film, the Accidental Detective, this crime-comedy tells the story of Kang Dae-man (Kwon Sang-woo) who sells his comic book store and opens a private investigator agency without telling his wife.

Former detective No Tae-soo now works with Kang Dae-man at the private investigator agency where they work with Yeochi (Lee Kwangsoo) who runs a cyber private investigator agency.

40

Burning A mystery drama film inspired by Haruki Murakami’s short story, “Barn Burning”, it was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Starring Yoo Ah-in as one half of a mysterious couple whom a writer meets at a party, the film follows the story of a man who claims to be an arsonist.

Described as a mystery thriller, Director Lee Chang-dong describes the film at the Busan festival as ‘a story about young people in today’s world. When they think of their lives and this world, it must feel like a mystery.’

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

5

Lawless Lawyer A legal action thriller about a gangster (Lee Joon-gi) turned lawyer who does whatever is necessary to bring justice as he works towards avenging his mother. From the writer of “Remember: War of the Son” and the PD of “The Liar and His Lover2 and “Time Between Dog and Wolf”, this drama follows the story of Bong Sang-pil (Lee Joon-gi) as he stands before the court for his mother’s revenge, having witnessed his mother get killed by Judge Cha Moon-Sook’s subordinate (Choi MinSoo).

DRAMAS

Miss Hammurabi

My Mister Telling the story of a man (Lee Sungkyun) in his 40s as he withstands the weight of life, and a woman (IU) in her 20s going through difficult experiences tasked to find out the weaknesses of the man at an architectural film. They meet and help each other, and she ends up falling for the man’s warm charms and learns to trust someone for the first time Starring popular singer-actress IU (“Scarlet Heart: Ryeo”) returns to TV in this romantic drama, which also stars Lee Sun Gyun (“Coffee Prince”, “Pasta”).

When a fiery rookie judge who follows ‘an eye for an eye’ principle and does not accept prejudice or blindly follow authority partners with a principled perfectionist, it brings into question whether this partnership will work our or will it be a death sentence for the both of them?

The new drama stars Go Ah Ra (“Hwarang”) and INFINITE’s L (“Kim Myung Soo”, “Ruler: Master of the Mask”).

Rich Man An adaptation of the Japanese drama “Rich Man, Poor Woman”, this drama tells the love story between a tech CEO (Suho) who has a condition where he can’t recognize faces and a bubbly woman (Ha Yeon-soo) looking for a job at his company. Lee Yoo-Chan (Suho) is the CEO of IT company Next In, but he is arrogant and does not trust people in general. Lee YooChan also suffers from an inability to recognize faces. Kim Bo-ra (Ha Yeon-soo) soon joins the picture.

Having moved from Jeju Island’s countryside to Seoul to attend college, her dream is to work at Next In.

Greasy Melo Set in a neighbourhood Chinese restaurant run by a recently released gangster (Jang Hyuk).

Soon a star chef (Junho) joins the failing neighbourhood restaurant and a privileged chaebol heiress (Jung Ryeo Won) has a life changing experience after having a bowl of jajangmyun. The drama tells their stories of love and healing with a mixture of romance, action, and comedy.

41

L

aughter in Waikiki is one of those dramas you watch to feel good. It’s funny, creative and over the top at times.

But it has heart, and a wonderful cast of characters that carry it’s everyday storylines through to the end with ease.

Focusing on the day to day lives of the group of friends who run a guesthouse, the drama doesn’t’ have a highly driven plot, nor much drama to keep the audience glued to their screens. This is perhaps one of it’s greatest strengths however; the writer and production team know what they’re dealing with.

42

From the start, Laughter in Waikiki never shies away from the genre it claims to be. It is a comedy, or perhaps a sitcom, and knows this. It never takes itself to seriously. This tone is set up in the first five minutes of the show as we’re introduced to our main characters.

The three men in charge of guest house Waikiki (which despite its name, has absolutely nothing to do with the actual Waikiki in Hawaii) are not your typical k-drama male leads. First, we have Kang Dong Gu {Kim Jung Hyun), and aspiring film director who never seems to have enough money to pay the bills. He’s stubborn and often times grumpy, the antithesis to Lee Joon Ki (Lee Yi Kyung). A rookie actor, Joon Ki never seems to be able to catch a break, always stuck in the background roles with a single line if lucky. And to complete the trio, there’s Bong Doo Shik (Son Seung Won), a freelance writer who never appears to be writing and has written a web novel entitled The President is Bruce Lee for the past few years. Whilst dealing with the slight problem of having to pay the bills they’ve yet again missed, they stumble upon a rather unexpected lost item - a baby girl.

Surmising that the baby must indeed belong to one of the very few guests they’ve had in the days prior, the guys resolve to look after her until her mother comes back to pick her up. Strapping the baby to his front, Dong Gu tries to go about his day whilst constantly bouncing her to keep her happy. All the while, his girlfriend breaks up with him and money to pay the bills is ever illusive.

So begins the chain of events that push this drama’s plot forward. Chain is the correct word here, as despite having a few general story arcs come in as the episodes move along, each episode has its own set of interlinking scenarios that form its own little cohesive story.

Is it funny? You bet it is. With each scenario, events take drastic turns for the worse, unfolding in hysterical and wholly unbelievable occurrences. It never takes itself too seriously, nor do the actors, who play their roles with dedication and an awareness that almost gives some of the scenes a wry tone. It’s as though they and the writers are saying “Yes, this is ridiculous and the chances of this happening in real life are zero to none. But let’s roll with it.” It requires a little suspension of disbelief but when you can let go, the humour is infectious. For this reason, it may not be for some. There will be people who simply can’t get over how ridiculous some of these plotlines are. At times they do get a little repetitive, or else tray into territory that is too zany or coincidental that the humour feels forced. But this is to be expected in a sitcom drama that has to run with twenty episodes of content.

When they get it right, however, it’s truly hilarious. One particularly memorable scene involves Joon Ki and Dong Gu’s younger sister Kang Seo Jin (Ko Won Hee) taking a drive in Joon Ki’s car, which he affectionately names Rebecca. Though hesitant after seeing the state of the tiny vehicle, Seo Jin is mollified by Joon Ki’s constant assurances of “It’s okay, it’s okay!” as she gets in. The door handle pulls off, the seatbelt won’t work, but still “It’s okay, it’s okay!” The chain of events that occurs is so impossible that it makes seeing the characters reactions even funnier.

A stray newspaper sheet on the windscreen leads to Seo Jin’s arm getting stuck hanging out of the window the doesn’t close properly, leading her to accidentally slap the face of a man who is arguing with his partner at the side of the road. It’s over the top, it’s just a little bit stupid, but somehow it works. And this is largely due to the characters that all this scenarios centre around.

Laughter in Waikiki might be a comedy, but it’s also got

some of the rom to the com thrown in. Romance is very much a sideline to the comedic slice of life style the episodes feature, but it’s also done with just the right amount of sweetness and a down to earth feeling that keeps it from being a distraction. Yoon Ah (Jung In Sun), the mother of the little girl left at the guesthouse, ends up staying after claiming she has nowhere else to go, and slowly Dong Gu develops feelings for her. This is handled relatively well by kdrama standards and isn’t rushed at all.

At the risk of spoiling the “will they won’t they” nature of the plotline, when Yoon Ah rejects Dong Gu, he doesn’t force the issue. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t fight for her behind the scenes however, leading to yet more shenanigans.

The characters all shine in their own ways, but it has to be said that Yoon Ah’s little girl, who we then find out is named Sol, becomes the star of the show without a doubt. Nearly every scene she’s in is stolen by her. The director does a wonderful job of capturing just the right expressions and reactions for the perfect moments. The other actors similarly work from this, never over playing their own reactions to Sol. She’s sweet, cheeky and starts at the centre of the plot. The only complaint from this would be that we sometimes don’t see her enough! There are practicalities with filming with a baby this young, and so it’s great that what we do see of her is just so good.

In that sense, the opposite can sometimes be said for certain parts of the drama. The episodes are split into two, meaning the contained stories never last too long. However things do get repetitive sometimes. Compounded with the lack of a driving, fast paced story, the drama does lag a little in the middle episodes. There is a temptation to skip some of the scenes when it feels like jokes a wearing somewhat thin and the idea has been seen before. But there is something about Laughter in Waikiki that will make you see the end, even if you don’t stick with it all the way through.

You root for the characters. You identify with them. You want them to succeed. And that’s at the core of every good kdrama. Laughter in Waikiki does live up to its name.

There’s lots of laughter to be found and touching moments to enjoy. It’s the perfect break from any melodrama or revenge plot, and does away with a lot of overly dramatic kdrama tropes whilst keeping some to its own advantage. If you know that this is the kind of thing you need, then check into guest house Waikiki for a while.

By the time it ends, you probably won’t want to leave!

43

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

By Keeley Burridge

by ann amarawansa

I

t is no secret that many of the songs released by K-Pop artists are often written and produced overseas; with some of the biggest hits coming from songwriters based in the US and Europe. The success of these songs shows that one does not need to be fluent in Korean to know how to write a song that captures the essence of the artist and connects with the fans.

We had the privilege of interviewing British songwriter Christopher Wortley (Published by Greig Watts of DWB Music Ltd), whose worked on songs for the likes of TVXQ and Taeyeon. He sat down with UnitedKpop to share his experiences of songwriting for Korean artists and thoughts on the K-Pop music scene.

44

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

Q. can you tell us a little bit about the songwriting process and how it works?

Q. k-pop as a genre has a For me and many of my colleagues, we performative quality, did your work through our publishers and the background in musical theatre labels. With K-Pop for instance, a label like help you?

SM Entertainment will talk to a selection of Yes, I think it did. There is a camp element publishers that they trust and the publishers and theatricality to K-pop and my instinct to in turn brief their writers on who the song is be theatrical comes through for and what type of song the label wants.

So we have to try and write a song that matches their brief, and we get a couple of Q. i know you’ve also written songs for European artists, as weeks to do it.

well as Asian artists. what were Q. who are some of the K-Pop artists the differences you found between those two industries? Did anything you’ve had a successful cut with? surprise you?

I’ve had one with Girls Generation’s Taeyeon called “Shhhh” for her Christmas mini album. Then I’ve had other cuts with Korean bands that have been Japanese releases: One with SuperJunior’s D&E subunit and three with TVXQ.

It’s hard to be definitive because the moment you think you’ve found the difference between Western music and Korean music, it changes. It really is a moving target. There is also a wide range within Korean music, you have some acts For TVXQ I co-wrote “Gold Dust”, “Fated” that are very Western in their style and and “Reboot” which was their big comeback others that sound like they belong in the single after their military service. I was 50s. actually in Tokyo for the launch of that and got to see them perform it live at the Tokyo Q. Some of the critiques of K-Pop Dome. is that it’s too manufactured,

what’s your opinion on that as a Q. how did you get into songwriting? songwriter?

I started writing songs in musical theatre, I had done some amateur musicals and songs. I thought that would be a good place to start because it’s what I knew and was interested in. However, it can also be quite hard because for every show you would have to write about twenty songs and it is a long commitment.

That sort of made me move towards Pop music because I always thought that that would be an interesting place to be. The challenge of writing music that is “popular” and that everyone will like was really exciting for me. I knew I would need help going into it, so I started working with other people who would write pop songs and learned from them.

This is something people talk about a lot and I think it’s partly because we come at this from a UK perspective, where authenticity is massively valued. This doesn’t seem to be that important with bands in Asia, but it doesn’t really matter because the fans still connect with the songs.

Therefore I think Asia is actually a really good market for songwriters, because it enables us to write songs that we think are good and can put aspects of our personal experience in those songs.

Q. ARE there any K-Pop artists you would like to get a cut with?

I would like a cut with EXO. When I see their performances, there is something very powerful about them. I would also like a cut with BTS, but I suppose everyone would because they’re so hot at the moment.

45

/hollandofficial /HOLLAND_vvv /holland_vvv

Holland PAVING THE WAY FOR LGBTQ IDOLS IN SOUTH KOREA?

46

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

J

une marks the official Pride Month for LGBTQ+ communities around the world. Pride Month not only celebrates the community and its achievements but also commemorates the Stonewall Riots in which the New York LGBT community fought against political and social oppression (June 1969).

Sadly, in South Korea oppression still exists for queer-identifying individuals, many choosing to keep their sexual identity secret from even their families. This seems unsurprising when you consider a 2016 survey saw 16.1% of the out LGBT individuals who participated had been encouraged to seek conversion therapy, of these, 94% experienced psychological trauma due to this.

Although there is an increasingly visible LGBT community in Korea, broader support for LGBT rights is less obvious, same-sex marriages and civil unions are not legally recognised in the country and the anti-discrimination laws do not specifically prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Though some local governments have chosen to enact laws that protect the LGBTQ community (including Seoul).

South Korea does not boast many LGBTQ+ role models for these, and more, reasons. Actor Hong Seok Cheon remains the most prominent openly gay celebrity since he came out in 2000, Harisu is Korea’s first transgender entertainer, Kim Chi (Shin Sang Young) though residing in America is considered ‘The First Korean Drag Queen’ due to her prominence on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’, film director Kim Jho Gwangsoo is the most known of Korea’s LGBTQ rights activists.

Other idols do lend their voices to fighting discrimination, however, Super Junior’s Heechul, 2AM’s Jo Kwon, JYJ’s Jaejoong, and actor and singer Lee Jihoon to name but a few.

Earlier this year, Holland debuted as the first openly gay (native) Kpop idol. His first release, ‘Neverland’, saw him release a love song. The lyrics of ‘Neverland’ explicitly express a queer love, with the music video serving to remove any doubt regarding the topic of a same-sex relationship.

Holland hopes to be able to become a role model for his community and fans, and one can’t help but wonder whether he will be able to pave the way for other idols to be more open about their sexuality. It is, after all, those in the spotlight who are most able to preach acceptance and make an impact. Though it is doubtful a presence like Holland’s will make much, or any, impact on an older generation of idols who may have hidden or repressed their sexual identity, he may well be able to pave the way for younger idols - but only if South Korea can accept him.

Holland has topped this year’s Dazed 100 list through his international reach, but at home in Korea, his openness about his sexuality means he has been unable to find a record label willing to sign him, so he is working independently. If a company is willing to risk the initial backlash that singing a queer-identifying artist will bring, along with Holland they could become the catalyst for change that South Korea needs.

Opposition to homosexuality is slowly decreasing, especially amongst those under thirty. If today’s leaders cannot be pushed towards tolerance it is more likely tomorrow’s leaders will have grown up with more tolerance than their predecessors. Artists like Holland, if given the right platform, can only help that.

BY LORE WALSH 47

A

RTLOVER has seen critics priase her debut single ‘Want U Back’. As she produces her upcoming, first EP, we wanted to learn more about the London-based Korean native musician.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am from Seoul, and I’m currently based in London.

I have a background as a make-up artist and recently I started my career as a musician with my debut single “Want U Back”.

What were the highs and lows of working as a make-up artist?

I was great to get to work with clients such as Elle and Vogue because of their professionalism and the high level of creativity.

It allowed me to travel and to collaborate with some of the most talented people. At times the publisher forgot to give me a credit which was frustrating so there are downsides to the work.

What’s an essential item for your makeup bag?

I always do my own make-up and I would say that Vaseline is my essential item, you can use it for skin, lips, front teeth, eyelashes and hair for protection and to get the glow.

Why did you choose to base yourself in the UK? I came to London in 2010, I think England is a good place for young artists because of the many opportunities.

48

The first thing I noticed was the vastly different architecture. The things I miss the most is my family, friends and the traditional Korean food.

Is music a new venture for you, or have you always had an interest in music?

I have always had an interest in music. I started singing and playing piano covers about 4 years ago, and sometimes I even improvised with classical sounds. I don’t know musical theory or and my skills on the piano are very basic. When I started to compose music it was just based off pure instinct.

How would you describe your sound?

I would say that it’s very 80’s and very retro. There are some influences of Rock, Jazz and Hip-Hop. How have you found the process of creating your upcoming EP? We’re currently just finishing it up and it’s been a fun and creative process. I have worked a lot with “Everywhere” frontman Max Billion. He has a background in a lot of electronic music, such as Cazzette, Paris Blohm, Violet Skies and Lisa Ajax, in a lot of ways its very different from what I do but funny enough, it’s a great match!

lifetime. It’s a nostalgic and bittersweet song. I wanted to express strong feelings and colors that would fit the theme. Regarding the music video, I love retro fashion and I styled myself with mixed and matched European vintage pieces from all different eras. The idea behind the video was to make sure it had a fashion feeling.

Why did you choose the name ARTLOVER? I have called myself ARTLOVER for a long time outside of music, and the reason is because I used to draw a lot as a child.

This is something I still do today, for example I drew the boots on my record cover. My interest as a kid followed me into adult hood and I love impressionism art and the way they capture feelings.

Musically I’m very inspired by 80’s artists such as Madonna and Michael Jackson.

Will you be promoting your EP in Korea too?

Where can we expect to see artlover in the future?

K-pop fans are everywhere in the world and I know London so well so I wanted to start there, I will probably promote my EP in Korea eventually.

My music is a mixture of European and Korean sounds so I hope that feels very fresh.

Are you surprised by the number of Kpop fans outside of Korea?

Since K-Pop has been so big globally I feel that there is an Indie market starting to grow now. I have many foreign friends who love K-pop in London, especially since Gangnam Style was a hit. I think the music has been amazing in promoting Korea out in the world.

Is there anything else our readers should know about you and your music?

For me it is very important to communicate with the audience through my music. I want to make them feel better when they hear it, and really try to bring out positive emotions. I really hope your readers will enjoy the music video for “Want U Back”!

ARTLOVER is currently adding the finishing touches to her debut EP, due out in the coming weeks.

Find out more about ARTLOVER and keep up to date with her EP and other news by following her on social media.

/mynameisartlover Tell us about the music video for Want U Back.

What was your inspiration or thinking behind it?

“Want U Back” is about lost love and passion so strong that it could only be experienced once during a

Which other artists would you like to collaborate with?

So many, The Weeknd would be amazing!

/artlovermusic /artlovermusic

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

INTERVIEW

ARTLOVER

BY DONNA SHEFFIELD

49

t R a n Fa r e n r o C 50

Works from the UKP Team

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

t r o f f E m Tea

MAMAMOO

by Beni Instagram @beni_the_onion

Elli Humphreys (@ellih_art)

Thea Constantinou (@moonmix) Thea Constantinou (@moonmix)

YOUJIN KNK

by Hannah Louise Kirkup

BAEKHYUN EXO

LUNA F(X)

Instagram

by Jakub Wisniewski / Designer @hanaz_art Instagram @jakbtime Twitter

by Emily Stewart / Designer Instagram Deviantart @constellux constellux

@tinkidding DeviantART Hanazart

SUNGJONG INFINITE

Elli HumphreysInstagram (@ellih_art)

by Melody @melolusion

JUNGKOOK BTS Instagram @monimu Twitter @monimu

to ur work Email yo kpop.com ited mag@un

51

UKP Magazine //UKP 055Magazine

TOP BIGBANG

by Ari

r u o y t Ge e th n i t ar g a m t x ne

52

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

An interview with

UJJN

BY SOPHIA TANG

UJJN are a female K-POP cover dance group consisting of 4 members: Dani, Nicole, KG and Chunseo. Over the past 4 years, their YouTube channel has accumulated over 10,000 subscribers and is still growing. The group is known to mainly produce a range of K-POP dance covers as well as K-POP dance games which are performed in public.

Overall, UJJN has also developed recognition with the K-POP community, particularly in the UK. They have come across opportunities to perform at the likes of London Comic Con, the KBS K-POP World Festival Finals in London as well as the Kingston Korea Festival.

Furthermore, two of their members had the chance to perform alongside South-Korean singer, MiSO. She is best known as a member of GIRLSGIRLS, as well as for her solo tracks such as ‘KKPP’ and ‘Pink Lady’.

/officialUJJN @Official_UJJN @official_ujjn /channel/UCQTvAIiAPC3WPXxagtmmD5Q /channel/UCIH_aa5BSkU28Z623JH5DTQ

L-R: NICOLE, DANI, CHUNSEO, KG

53

Please introduce yourself, including your name; and any particular roles you have within the group.

All: Hello, we are UJJN consisting of our leader Dani, energiser bunny Nicole, visual KG and maknae Chunseo.

How did the members all meet each other?

All: We originally started as 2 duos. It was Chunseo and Nicole known as Bestknith, and Dani and KG as UJJN. Dani and Nicole met through the process of organising a flashmob for the Korean Festival in 2015. We both thought it would be an amazing idea to fuse our teams together as covers look better and more fun when there’s more people.

What is the meaning behind your name UJJN? All: UJJN (유진) pronounced “Yu-Jin” stands for “우리 제 일 잘 나가” which means “we are the best” in terms of “we are the best when we are together” which in Korean would be “우리 같이 제일 잘 나가”. But UGJJN doesn’t exactly have the same ring to it…

Do any of your members have previous dance experience?

All: Dani and Nicole have some background training in contemporary, jazz and street dance, whereas Chunseo and KG are new to the dancing scene. For them, K-POP was their where they first began dancing.

Do you have any particular inspirational figures you look up to in regards to dance? E.g. Choreographers, artists, etc.

KG: I look up to many choreographers, both Western and Asian, but there is too many to name.

Chunseo: Sori Na (choreographer at 1MILLION Dance Studio) is my favourite!

Nicole: As for me, my biggest inspiration has always been Choi Junhong (Zelo) from B.A.P. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have started dancing again. I also admire Lia Kim (choreographer at 1MILLION Dance Studio) for her diversity in all styles.

Dani: I have way too many…

54

Are you hoping to continue doing dance as a career?

Nicole: Yes, I am training as a performer and study many styles of dance which includes contemporary, commercial, jazz, tap, ballet and recently, pointe work.

Chunseo: Yes I want to continue doing dance as a career.

KG: For more, if there is an opportunity to pursue it, then I wouldn’t mind continuing.

Dani: I’m currently studying Graphic Design, but like KG if the opportunity came, I would definitely go for it.

Do you find it difficult to perform in public for covers?

If so, how do you overcome it?

All: Not really, I think we are all used to it now. When we first started, we were around 15/17 years old. We were in school and had no jobs, so rehearsing outside with windows as mirrors became the norm as we didn’t have money to book a studio. As long as we are together, it’s okay. You just have to ignore everyone around you and have fun!

Do you take careful consideration into creating your covers e.g. special effects, choice of background, outfits etc?

All: We try to take it into consideration and try to match the music video or style for the covers as best as we can with our limited budget.

You have already accumulated over 10K subscribers on your group’s YouTube channel. How do you plan to expand on your current YouTube channel?

All: Our main intention was just to have fun with it and see how it goes. We want to keep putting out content that we enjoy and hope that others can enjoy it with us.

We also want to perform on as many stages as we can and prepare some K-POP events. So keep your eye out for updates!

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

If you could pick one cover to suggest for UnitedKpop readers to watch, which would it be?

Nicole: My favourites are Hobgoblin (CLC), Likey (TWICE) and Peekaboo (Red Velvet).

Chunseo: Our covers of Hobgoblin (CLC) and Likey (TWICE)!

KG: Probably our most recent cover of Peekaboo (Red Velvet).

Dani: I’d have to agree with the others, but our collaboration with SJ Han for Likey (Twice) is probably my favourite!

What funny experiences have you had whilst attempting to record a cover for UJJN? All: There are too many to count… We’ve had ripped trousers, dying cameras and speakers and bumping into each other during routines. Our second channel, UJJN TV has some of our best bloopers.

What are your future plans as a group?

All: We just made it into the regionals for the KBS K-POP World Festival and will be performing on the 7th of July.

In terms of our channel, we want to keep putting out new covers and games that we enjoy!

And finally, if you could describe UJJN in a few words to UnitedKpop readers, how would you describe yourselves?

All: Hardworking, passionate and a little bit crazy!

Don’t forget to support UJJN at the upcoming KBS K-POP World Festival finals in London! To obtain your free tickets for the event, simply email info@kccuk.org. uk and let them know your details (age, name, and email address) followed by the total number of tickets (max 3 per person) you would like! Tickets are limited, so grab them ASAP!

55

WHO WORE IT

BEST?

THE CLOTHES BRAND: Yves Saint Laurent ITEM: Collar Oversized Shirt in Multicolour Hawaiian Printed Viscose PRICE: 635 GBP ($850)

56

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

THE COMPETITION Bam Bam styles it out at the airport, bringing that holiday vibe to his travel attire.

Meanwhile Suga borrows fellow band member Yoongi’s Fire look for a stage performance.

Fashion foward G-Dragon wore the shirt to the 2015 MAMAs, bringing ocean cool to the main stage.

THE WINNER 55% of UKP readers voted for stylista GD!

Who do you think rocked this look best?

24%

Got7 Bam Bam

21%

BTS Suga

55%

BIGBANG G-Dragon 57

BEAUTY

PRIMARK’S ‘K-POP’ BEAUTY RANGE 58

2

3

4

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

1

We take a look at Primark’s recent ‘K-POP’ beauty range - a selection of affordable K-beauty inspired products.

1. BUBBLE BLUSH CUSHION BLUSHER £4

3. JELLY BELLE JELLY LIPSTICK £1.50

First impression: The product appears opaque on your finger, but appears to blend well on the face for a subtle glow.

First impression: Like the highlighter, not very pigmented but very moisturising. Acts more like a tinted lipbalm than a lipstick.

2. AFTER GLOW LIQUID HIGHLIGHTER £2.50

4. SUGAR RUSH EYESHADOW PALETTE

First impression: More watery than expected, and not extremely pigmented.

But does leave a nice shimmer.

First impression: The palette is cherry scented and brightly coloured, which comes across as a younger product. Not very pigmented but does the job.

VERDICT: Primark’s ‘K-POP’ range is very basic. The products don’t perform to their fullest potential and comes across targeted at a very young audience. The make-up is more of a gimmick than a serious K-beauty inspired range. Not a make-up bag essential by any means, but the products are still fun.

59

S

ummer is here and what better time than now to shake up your beauty routine. Say goodbye to the layers of moisture needed in the winter months and say hello to a look that is as fresh and fun as you are! Here are our ultimate tips, tricks and products to keep you looking your best in the sun.

If foundation is the knitted jumper of winter makeup, BB cream is the crop top. Light, wearable and effortless. For an easy and beautiful base our pick is a multiuse product that will protect the skin in hot climates. The Perfect cover bb cream by Missha M is ideal for an on the go look and has an impressive SPF 42 and PA+++ meaning that not only will you be looking great but also feeling great. Bye, bye sunburn!

TOP TIP: For an even lighter, dailylook use a pressed powder instead of a cream base. This will help with oil control and still give you a decent amount of coverage. A personal favourite is Babyface petit pact by It’s Skin which retails at around £5 which means you won’t be breaking the bank either.

60

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

The great thing about eyeshadow is that it’s a reliable product all year round, meaning that you can go as subtle or as crazy with colour as you want – after all makeup is art so don’t be afraid to experiment.

We will be focusing on a particular product however, that has gained a lot of interest from the online beauty community. The 16Brand Eye Magazine by Chosungah is a product that allows you to create two tone eyeshadow looks with the swipe of a brush.

The look is a brown, smokey eye that focuses the darker colour towards the lash line which transitions into a coral tone towards the crease. A fair warning though, this product may be difficult to master in one go! But once you get the hang of it you’ll be able to create a glamourous eyeshadow look in less than a minute.

The good thing about most lip tints is that they can also double up as a cheek stain to give you a sun kissed glow. A product like Etude House Dear Darling Water Tint is the ultimate summer product to add to your makeup bag due to the light, water-based formula of the product. This means that you can easily blend the product out with your fingers and will have a blush that compliments your lip colour perfectly.

61

Get the Look Casual

Peek-a-boo

Jack Wills / £19.95

EXID’s Lady was a throwback to 90’s fashion. But maknae Junghwa’s sporty-chic style is a simple look easily replicable.

Victoria’s Secret / £25.15

Get yourself a neon-coloured slouch jacket, hike up those high-waisted jean shorts, tuck your ankle socks into industrial-type boots and you’ve got yourself a look!

Black Peach / $17.00

62

Cropped bralettes with statement logos can be a great addition underneath a flowy crop-top.

Just like WJSN, why not pair them neutral, breezy crop-top and a cute, pleated skirt for a bold splash of colour? Curl your hair and layer dainty necklaces and pretty rings and bracelets for a completed, fresh look.

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

A SPORTY BRALETTE FOR THOSE SUMMER VIBES

BY TANIA TAVARES-PINTO

Sporty crop-tops or bralettes have been a staple in the idol fashion repertoire for a long time.

You might have caught sight of more than a fair few. From EXID’s Up & Down stage outfits, to Twice’s Tzuyu and Momo’s distinctive Like Ooh-Ahh looks, these fashion favourites have been immensely popular.

Although they can seem daunting at first, these bralettes can be the perfect finishing touch to a casual, cool outfit for the summer. They’re versatile, colourful and mega-easy to style no matter the look you’re going for or your budget.

Still looking for inspiration? Here are four easy styles to get you started:

Fun and Flirty

Match-MAker

H&M / £8.99

Oversized mesh-tops are becoming all the rage and it’s great news for anyone wanting to rock a sports bra but still keep covered up!

Play with pops of colour, and contrasts in fit and texture just as Tiffany did in I Just Wanna Dance.

This is a look that requires minimum effort but looks polished and drips with oodles of casual confidence.

Iris & Lilly / £14.99

Cropped bralettes are a great option even for those who want to stay looking clean and matched.

Hyolyn shows us how cool and relaxed they can look, even when they’re carefully coordinated. With so many matching separates in the market, you’ll be spoiled for choice in pattern and fit.

Sports Direct / £10.00

63

HOLIDAY PRODUCT HIT LIST Holiday season is upon us! It always feels like a good time to revitalise your makeup bag, especially if you are travelling. You want your skin to feel fresh. There is a golden opportunity to venture out and try something new to really refresh your look with these Korean beauty products. Here is our list of essential Korean beauty products for summer 2018 which are great for travelling.

This is a great product to moisturise your lips. It comes with a cobenient applicator to get a fruity dose of Vitamin C and intense hydration when your lips need the extra TLC. You can use it along with your skin regimen, making your lips as soft as your skin.

It’s formulated with antioxidant-rich berry extracts like gojiberry, cranberry, blueberry, and Hunza apricot. It will leave your lips smelling amazing and soft. Available at YesStyle.com

This is a moisturising sleeping mask that works overnight to brighten the look of skin, leaving it looking more radiant. You don’t need to wash it off and it delivers benefit ingredients into to skin. Using this mask will hydrate your skin following a long-haul flight.

Available at Amazon.co.uk

64

If you are constantly a person who is on the go, this brow pen does an excellent job. The pen allows you to tint your brows at home for five to seven days. Once applied to the eyebrows, the feather like pigment gives that natural effect. Available at YesStyle.com

(Morihata Binchotan Charcoal Eye Mask) This is a special eye mask as this one is infused with micro-fine charcoal powered in organic cotton that goes over the eye. This mask helps relive tension and promotes circulation around the eyes, preventing dryness. The mask is softly padded with a satin front which helps to block the light. It used daily for relaxation, stress relief, and most importantly, a good night’s sleep. Available at Liberty London

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

if you are looking for a mask which is able to reduce nose and cheek pores appearance, I suggest using this mask. This mask is a 6 in 1 clay mask that helps to mineralise pores, exfoliate, deep cleanse and brighten the skin tone. It contains “Super Volcanic capsules� that burst open upon application, removing dead skin as it pampers your face with its goodness. It is very small and compact for to fit in your handbag. It great for T-Zone, as it visibly draws out the dirt and minimise pore. It is great product to use to when you face needs a bit of detox. Available at YesStyle.com

This must have product for the summer. The product is a waterproof sun protection which lasts on your skin.The consistency is like milk and it offers full UVB protection without leaving a white cast. When applied it does not fell like regular sunblock, it feels like more a light moisturiser that absorbs easily, which leaves to of matt matte finish, making it the perfect sun protection product to wear under makeup. Available at YesStyle. com

This is an essential cleanser you need to have. It uses rose stem cell and soothing rosewater to revel clearer, youthful skin. This cleaner will leave your skin mist and cleared from dirt. This is not a liquid-type cleaner and therefore will be perfect travel companion. This cleanser is spill-proof and SLS-free, which makes for a gentle wash when skin can be a bit more sensitive due to dryness. Available at peachandlily.com

If you have tightness and dry skin, this oil is great for relieving the dryness and tightness. This is a type of oil is great way to keep your skin hydrated during long flights. It is a wonderfully light yet hydrating which you can use alone or on top another one to seal in the moisture You can use it around your eyes to reduce the fine lines. The consistency of the product is very light and does not fell greasy or shiny skins. You will be left with healthy, refreshed skin if you use this product.

Available at YesStyle.com

65

Contributors Writing Ann Amarawansa Lerah Barcenilla Freya Bigg Keeley Burridge Amy Furney Jenny Nguyen Donna Sheffield Katy Small Holly Smith Tania Tavares-Pinto Lore Walsh

STAY TUNED FOR OUR SUMMER MAG GIVEAWAY A lucky reader will win an exclusive printed copy of this magazine!

Design Angela Bauer Freya Bigg Emily Stewart Chelsea Visda Lore Walsh Special Thanks ARTLOVER Christopher Wortley

Contact Us Comments/Suggestions mag@unitedkpop.com Advertising ads@unitedkpop.com Press press@unitedkpop.com General Enquiries info@unitedkpop.com 66

AUTUMN EDITION OCT 1ST

UKP MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2018

O: HOW T I DDAKJ ake and ow to m Learn h kji, as seen on a play Dd Man! g Runnin

IEW: LEY INTERV PHER WORT O T IS R CH r te ongwri of to the s s We talk its for the like h behind d Taeyeon. n TVXQ a

+ NEWS S REVIEW

ER 2018

SUMM

E

67

68