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5 Must See K-dramas of 2015

January 7, 2016/in Entertainment, Television /by Anna Cheang

With the arrival of 2016, it’s another new year for K-dramas but before we look to the fresh selection of anticipated dramas such as “Cheese In The Trap” and “Moorim School,” let’s take a look back at the wide array of dramas we enjoyed in 2015. In particular, here are my top five picks.

Though there was no official criteria for my selection, these five dramas were engaging, both in their plots and in their character developments. The actors did a fine job as well and ensured that viewers cared for their respective characters. Some of them were recognised by the public through drama awards and high viewership ratings, but most of them were criminally underrated (not by international fans though) despite having strong storylines and a consistently high production quality.

1. “Kill Me Heal Me”

Perhaps my pick for drama of the year, “Kill Me Heal Me” was more than a story about a man who suffered from multi-personality disorder (MPD) and had seven personalities, as fun as they were. It was about Cha Do Hyun’s (Ji Sung) journey to find himself, even if it meant digging through his forgotten memories and painful past. Though the plot did get a bit absurd and draggy sometimes, the character development was always tight and definitely kept the show going.

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It takes some writing and acting skill for one actor to successfully portray seven different personalities, each of whom had their own moment to shine throughout the drama. I mean, I never expected to get so invested in Shin Se Gi’s (also played by Ji Sung) feelings for Ri Jin (Hwang Jung Eum), at one point I even wanted Se Gi to take over Do Hyun’s body permanently so that he could be with Ri Jin forever. It’s silly, I know, but this show made me think ridiculous thoughts, whether it was imagining Ahn Yo Na (Ji Sung…again) dating Oh Ri On (Park Seo Joon) or Perry Park (Ji Sung) being a bomb-making father.

With the exception of the villains, who were hilarious in all the wrong ways, the characters were generally fun and relatable, especially Ri Jin and her family. They shared the sweetest family bond and best family dynamic I have ever seen in a K-drama; I really enjoyed watching the scenes of them together. Through this family and the contrast made between Do Hyun’s cold family the show really drove home how important the support and love of family is, a reminder I appreciated.

Of course, the wonderful acting performances put in by the actors really made this drama, with the biggest credit given to Ji Sung, who gave life to the seven different personalities and made them really endearing. Ji Sung’s dedication and hard work was certainly recognised by MBC (he won a Daesang for the role during their Drama Awards) and by the public (he gained a lot of fans) and I can’t wait to see his next production! Hwang Jung Eum and Park Seo Joon did well too.

2. “Punch”

Probably the most melodramatic and dark drama on this list, “Punch” received lots of critical acclaim and love from viewers, and for good reason. It was heart-wrenching and sometimes painful to watch because of the injustice that takes place in the story, but it all makes for good drama.

Callous lawyer Park Jung Hwan (Kim Rae Won) is diagnosed with a brain tumor at the start of the drama and is left with a short time to live. Instead of wallowing in self-pity though, he starts to take action against his former allies and create a world in which his daughter can live safely in, a world with a trustworthy government and fair legal system. Sounds idealistic? Probably so, but that just might be the point the drama was trying to prove. Each character in this drama had a bad side to them, be it the main hero (if you can even call him that) or the various figures of authority (Minister of Defense, Prime Minister Candidate and so on) portrayed here; they were at times ruthless and got their hands very dirty, but they were also complex and layered. Take the supposed main villain for example, Lee Tae Joon (Jo Jae Hyun), though the series is essentially focused on Jung Hwan trying to take Tae Joon down, their relationship was far from what you would expect between a hero and a villain. From having virtual jajangmyeon dates to occasionally sharing touching moments, this was a pair that I always felt conflicted about; should I be hoping for them to go back to becoming friends or should I hope that Jung Hwan wins and Tae Joon gets destroyed?

This conflict could probably be extended to my feelings on the characters as well, especially with morally ambiguous ones like Jung Hwan. Contrary to popular belief, just because a character is afflicted with a terminal disease it doesn’t and shouldn’t make the character a more likeable one. While it is a common trend in K-dramas for the characters to undergo a drastic personality transformation after finding out that they have a limited lifespan, this drama didn’t go down that old route because Jung Hwan didn’t become a nicer person. He still resorted to underhanded and sometimes cruel means to get what he wanted, including using his illness to trick his ex-wife at one point, but his motives were no longer selfish. He worked so hard to clear his own name, to protect his family and all for his beloved daughter. That was perhaps the most moving part about this drama, a father’s unfailing and unconditional love for his child. It motivated Jung Hwan and kept him going even after he was defeated time and again, each time worse than the last, but he gave it all he got, even till his deathbed.

These layered characters probably worked because of the committed performances put in by the various actors, in particular Kim Rae Won. He pulled off the heartless lawyer very well, but managed to tug on viewers’ heartstrings in emotional scenes with his daughter and even in wordless scenes when he was temporarily paralyzed. This drama may not be for everyone because of its serious and constantly suspenseful nature, but I thoroughly enjoyed how it kept me on my feet while still having the time to enjoy the performances and character development shown.

Also on Kultscene: 8 Korean Shows To Cuddle Up With This Holiday Season

3. “Healer”

Another underrated drama which has quite an international fanbase, “Healer” finished airing early on in 2015 but remained as one of the standouts of the year. With a strong narrative and generally fast-moving plot, this drama was at times suspenseful and at times plain adorable.

This drama had one of the best K-drama couples of the year, or even of all time, because both the main characters, Seo Jung Hoo (Ji Chang Wook) and Chae Young Shin (Park Minyoung) helped each other to change and grow through their relationship. Their bond was so strong and they trusted each other so much that the drama was able to take a different approach to so many situations which would typically have led to a breakup or other tiresome angst in other dramas. It was this bond that allowed the couple to accomplish their ultimate goal together in the end.

I’m also glad that this drama defied K-drama norms because even with Seo Jung Hoo being the “Healer” (a night vigilante essentially) he wasn’t always the hero, just like Young Shin wasn’t always a damsel in distress. They both had moments to shine, be it through Young Shin’s earnest reporting or Jung Hoo’s fighting skills, and I really appreciated this aspect of the drama. Their chemistry was also very convincing and truly made viewers root for this couple.

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The supporting cast of this drama was fantastic as well, with Kim Mi Kyung in her best role yet as a hacker ahjumma and Yoo Ji Tae as the poor tortured Kim Moon Ho. They added a lot of depth to characters who could have easily been overshadowed by the main couple and caused viewers to be as invested in their stories as in the main story. Yoo Ji Tae in particular made me totally infatuated with Kim Moon Ho and I found myself caring about his welfare and happiness a lot more than I expected to. His complex character was also written very well, because he constantly faced dilemmas and internal conflicts between what he knew was right and the interests of the people around him, namely his brother Kim Moon Sik (Park Sang Won), who is the show’s main villain. Kim Moon Ho lived with a strong guilt within him because of past traumatic events and it is evident even through Yoo Ji Tae’s pitiful gaze and smile.

That is the great thing about “Healer”: the show balances suspenseful action with emotion and heart; even if you’re not a typical fan of thrillers (I’m not) you’ll probably be sucked into this addictive ride that leaves your heart pumping rapidly by its end.

4. “Sassy Go Go”

Now this is truly an example of an underrated drama, by Korean viewership standards at least. Ratings for this drama stayed stagnant at around 4% throughout its run, which for a show of this quality, is truly undeserved. Due to the idol appeal however, international fans from all over the world picked up on it and soon enough everyone started watching it. Although the drama was supposed to be about cheerleading, it was never the main focus of the story. This drama was what “School 2015: Who Are You” was not, a coming of age tale about a group of underdogs trying to survive in school and find success. The friendships, the betrayals, the romance, the familiar challenges posed by authoritative (and a little crazy) adults along with the constant pressure of academics, all these elements blended together to create this story that was relatable and full of heart.

The main characters were all well developed and had interesting character arcs, the most memorable of which would be the main villain, Kwon Soo Ah (Chae Soo Bin). She was perhaps the most emotionally unstable of all the characters due to the immense pressure placed on her by her mother to go to a prestigious university, and this pressure eventually drove her to commit some atrocious acts throughout the drama. Although I hated her character because of how despicable she was at times, I still found myself sympathizing with her, and I credit this to how the writers portrayed Soo Ah as a character, along with Chae Soo Bin’s breakout acting performance. The struggles that she faced in particular were ones that I could empathize with; this definitely helped me to appreciate her fall and eventual redemption better, although I did think that she was forgiven by her peers a little too easily.

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The main couple of this drama, Kang Yeon Doo (Apink‘s Eunji) and Kim Yeol (Lee Won Geun) were fantastic as well. Their romance wasn’t just adorable it was also believable and enjoyable to watch. Their relationship was not forced despite this show being only 12 episodes long and felt organic to the story. Another relationship I especially loved was the close friendship (and bromance) between Kim Yeol and Ha Joon (Ji Soo). They were always there for each other, no matter what problems they faced they knew that they had each other’s back. They were also fiercely loyal to each other and valued their friendship above everything else, refusing to even let a girl get in the way. These strong and meaningful bonds were what made me love this drama so much so that I still get teary-eyed thinking about it.

Also on Kultscene: 6 K-Drama Girl Friendship Goals We Want

5. “She Was Pretty”

This drama was highly anticipated because of the reunion of Park Seo Joon and Hwang Jung Eum after “Kill Me Heal Me.” Only this time instead of being siblings, they were first loves. The pair certainly didn’t disappoint with their chemistry in this drama though.

Set against the backdrop of fashion magazine “Most”, “She Was Pretty” was an entertaining and touching story about the reunion of two childhood friends who ended up as lovers, only with appearances vastly different from before. While it sounds superficial (and I admit to judging it as so at the beginning) it turned out to be more meaningful and heartfelt than I expected. Perhaps the best part about this whole romance was Ji Sung Joon (Park Seo Joon), who ended up loving Kim Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) all over again despite not knowing her true identity. To add a cherry on top, he loved her before she even tried to improve her own appearance (which to be fair, I never found that bad in the first place), proof of how deep and genuine his love was.

The rest of the drama was pretty simple in my opinion, but that’s not a bad thing because the romance was developed well and empathized upon. It’s nice to take a break from serious shows and watch romantic comedies like this one, especially with its numerous lovable characters, the most notable of which would be Kim Shin Hyuk (Super Junior‘s Choi Siwon). His acting ability is already recognised widely but his complete portrayal of Shin Hyuk really brought the character to another level. Even in the midst of the angst his character was a bright point of the show and never failed to bring humor to the story. He wasn’t just a comical plot device though. His cute and considerate relationship with Hye Jin gave viewers another heart-throb second lead to cry over.

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Hye Jin’s best friend, Min Ha Ri (Go Joon Hee) also had her moments to shine as her character matured and grew through the drama. From being pampered and insecure Ha Ri grew to become an independent woman who was fully accepting of herself and willing to make her own decisions in life. It was heartening to watch her find purpose in her life and work towards the goals that she set for herself. Of course, it was also sweet to watch her friendship, or more appropriately, sisterhood with Hye Jin, even if they did go through some rough patches in their relationship. Ultimately, this was a drama about inward beauty, and how important our characters are as compared to our outward appearances. You can’t really go wrong with a meaningful and hopeful message such as this, but She Was Pretty definitely did a good job in making the journey very enjoyable.

What was your favourite K-drama of 2015? What do you hope to see in the upcoming releases of 2016? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Artist Spotlight: THE ARK

January 6, 2016/in Artist Spotlight /by KultScene

By Sana Parvayz

If you’re sick of cute/sexy girl concept and those girly dance moves, which every other K-pop girl group does, then you need to dig out THE ARK. They are a rookie girl group under the management of Music K Entertainment who debuted on April 2015 with their single “The Light.” The concept and innovative logo of the group are inspired by the famous French heroine Joan Of Arc, who was a warrior and a military leader. Another term for an arc is a bow, so, ‘The ARK’ means the bow which would set a new direction in K-pop and would overcome hardships with ease.

THE ARK is a multicolor group which consists of five members and focuses on portraying various images of society.They are trying to depict what it is like to be a new icon which is not only independent, strong, and active, but also have a hidden delicate side to them. The group consists of Jeon Minju, Kim Yuna, Jung Yujin, Lee Halla, and Jane (Cheon Jaein). Before the formation of THE ARK, Minju was on “KpopStar season 2” and Yuna was on “Superstar K season 3.” Jane also auditioned for “The Voice Kids.” Later on, the entertainment company recruited them.

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Their debut single “The Light” is a contemporary R&B song with lyrical guitar riff that adds a groovy rhythm and hip-hop feel and was composed by Kim Tae Sung, who also composed “The Boys” by Girls’ Generation. This song expresses the strength for the loved ones and supports them in their difficult times. “The Light” shows the uniqueness of THE ARK as a group and their strong rapping, vocal, and performance abilities. Being a rookie group, they rapidly gained the attention of the audience. Their music video gained nearly two million views by the end of 2015.

During their pre-debut years, THE ARK covered the songs and dance choreography by various international and K-pop artists. One of the covers includes “Love The Way You Lie” by Rihanna and Eminem. This cover further proves their great singing abilities, as Yuna and Jane are good in English. So, they amazingly covered this song.

They have done various dance covers of EXO and BTS songs. Being five members, it is pretty hard to choreograph and cover those boy groups with fewer members. But they have done a great job and their dance covers were on pointe. Even, BTS complimented them on their dance cover of “Boy in Love.” This is one of their famous dance covers and got 1.7 million views on Youtube.

However, it was hard for the group to cover boy group dances and they often got ill during practice. But, they are really happy to show their charismatic side to the audience. Can you hear those fanchants?

Imagine a girl group with swag. Oh, there is no need to imagine it because The ARK has already got that and they are confidently portraying themselves as a different girl group. The powerful “INTRO” by the group really amazed the viewers and the elegant choreography for their song “The Light” perfectly shows the promising future for THE ARK.

Also on KultScene: Best December 2015 K-Pop Releases

I love the concept and the whole persona of THE ARK. Hence, I am a huge fan and I wish them success for the future. I am definitely rooting for their upcoming projects. Ending this post on a happy note, here’s a wonderful live performance by The ARK.

So, what are your views about this new rookie group? Did you like the concept and the whole attire of the group? Do you think girl groups should stick with the cute/sexy concept only? Or they should do something out of the box.
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K-Pop’s Competition: What Korea Also Listened To In 2015

January 4, 2016/in Entertainment, MUSIC /by Tamar Herman

With guyliner to spare and an abundance of autotune, one would think that all South Korea has to offer the music world is K-pop’s girl groups and boy bands. But calling everything that Korea has to offer “K-pop” is doing the world a disservice, and moving past the K-pop title opens up a whole new variety of music. So let’s take a look at what Korea also listened to in 2015.

Thriving on ingenuity and high production values, music coming out of South Korea is some of the most innovative in the world today. But between Psy and K-pop girl groups and boy bands, it is easy to overlook what else the country is producing. K-pop is phenomena, but despite its popularity K-pop isn’t necessarily what the average Korean is going to listen to day in and day out. Defining what K-pop exactly is isn’t the easiest thing, but when you see it, you know it and its not innately bad. It’s primarily dance-pop music produced by entertainment agencies, typically sung by teenagers and twenty-somethings who have trained for years to become pop stars. It’s enjoyable. And what is left is the music that we should all take notice of.

With an ample amount of soft rock, romantic ballads, retro pop, R&B, and rap thrown in for good measure, mainstream Korean music is all over the place, in part because Korean culture thrives on the new and experimental. The top tracks in Korea nowadays offer something fresh and familiar all at once. Many of the most popular songs are more mature, mellower alternatives to the feverishness of K-pop dance tracks. Indie music, which is so mainstream in other countries, struggles, but has made leaps and bounds in the past few years with songs by bands like Busker Busker and Hyukoh rising from the dust like little indie demons ready to slay acts put out by the large music companies that dominate South Korea.

Also on KultScene: Playlist Sunday: Worst Korean Singles of 2015

Meanwhile, the most popular genre of Korean music in 2015, aside from K-pop, is Korea’s take on hip hop. Hardly any singles are released nowadays without a featured rapper adding some spit to the track. Even K-pop acts incorporate hip hop, with just about every group having at least one designated rapper. Korea has been playing with hip hop for years, and prominent acts like MFBTY (Drunken Tiger) and Epik High still remain relevant amidst the onslaught of pop acts. But it was only a few years ago that hip hop gained true relevancy in South Korea’s music scene, and 2015 has seen an onslaught of hip hop releases. Rather than being anti-establishment, radio friendly hip hop songs in South Korea are largely related to the struggles of daily life and society.

With unexpected elements and a bit of something for everyone, mainstream Korean music comes off as less mainstream and more experimental. This year alone has seen great variety from both K-pop and non K-pop artists. Duets are still popular, but Korean music is able to retain its favoritism towards duet and ballads while transmuting the music to fit more modern tastes. The two worlds often collide, since K-pop is king in South Korea, but the variety and depth of music that Korean artists are putting out is something worth taking more than a cursory glance at.
[Disclaimer: It would be impossible to cover all non-K-pop songs, so I picked some of the most popular songs from Korea’s Gaon chart. Excluded from the list were songs by K-pop idol groups, although artists who explored beyond the boundaries of K-pop are featured here.]

“Fire” – Mad Clown feat. Jinsil of Mad Soul Child

One of Korea’s up and coming rappers, Mad Clown released the retro-inspired “Fire” earlier this year, straight off of his EP “Piece of Mine.” Despite only joining the mainstream Korean music scene in 2013, Mad Clown has became a mainstay with his smooth hip hop style, and “Fire” is one of his best songs to date. “Fire” tells a story of a man unable to get out of a relationship with a woman who is driving him insane with her actions. Mad Clown’s rapid, high-toned rap contrasts with Jinsil’s sultry taunts, while a big brass band provides the song’s throwback elements.

“W-ing W-ing” Hyukoh

The most surprising musical act of 2015 in South Korea is certainly the soft rock indie band Hyukoh. The shoegaze-esque music produced by the band launched Hyukoh to fame this summer, and “Comes and Goes” became one of their most popular songs overnight. “Comes and Goes,” like all of Hyukoh’s songs, are about the daily struggles that young people face in their daily lives. The lyrics revolve around growing up and finding that your parents spent their entire lives worrying, and that childhood and time in general re fleeting. The gentle strumming introand lead singer Oh Hyuk’s washed out vocals helps the song retain qualities that we’re more used to hearing from 90’s indie bands, but Hyukoh’s the biggest thing to hit Korea in recent years.

“Eat”- Zion. T

Soft spoken hip hop crooners are trendy in Korea nowadays, and 2015 has been a Zion. T’s breakout year, with multiple hit songs including the latest, “Eat.” “Take out this song, enjoy it like a piece of chocolate cake,” Zion.T says, equating his music to comfort food, offering the soft R&B tune to the listeners like a decadent sweet that will help cheer us up. The track keeps things basic, with piano and snapping sounds and not much more for the majority of the song. “Eat” is musical simplicity at its best, but as far as possible from the flash and flare that’s garnered Korean music much of its popularity overseas. Also check out his “Just” collaborative song with Crush.

“Lean On Me”- Soyou of Sistar & Kwon Jeong Yeol of 10cm

Indie and K-pop come together in this romantic duet, with Kwon of the indie duo 10cm joining with Soyou, a popular K-pop balladeer. The soft melody is an acoustic-based song meant to urge people to not give up hope in the face of today’s economy, which is the reported cause of many Koreans giving up on romantic and familial relationship and instead focusing on work. “So many numbers saved on your phone, but you can’t dial a single one up,” they sing, references Korea’s plugged-in culture, urging one another to “Lean On Me.” The Korean-ness of the song is what made it a surefire hit in South Korea: The sweet, melodious duet performed by talented, popular singers, the synth undertones, and the urging to find strength in community are all common themes in Korean music.

“Love Mash” – MC Mong feat. Chancellor of the Channels

MC Mong is arguably one of the most controversial musicians in South Korea after he attempted to get out of mandatory military service. But the radio-friendly pop-rap hybrid “Love Mash” released earlier this year could be less loved. With a light upbeat rhythm, “Love Mash” is a foot-tapping tune that never takes itself too seriously while trying to win back an ex. The humorous take on Korean rap, like where MC Mong describes himself as “smelling like a loser,” is old hat for Korean rap making its way around the world- Psy’s “Gangnam Style” is just one of many instances where South Korean rappers use their music to make fun of themselves and their culture.

Also on KultScene: Top 20 Korean Music Videos of 2015

“Awoo” Lim Kim

Lim Kim, also known as Kim Ye Rim of the indie duo Togeworl, released the playful track early in the year, and gained attention for its multi-elemental style, meshing R&B, pop, and electronic elements. The song is a modern anthem on flirting, combining Lim Kim’s husky voice with her whimsicalness to create a modern take on crushes that compares seduction to being a cat on the prowl, leading to the song’s “Awoo” moments. EDM thumping and scratching distortion makes the song a bit eerie that adds to the song’s mischievousness in a way that keeps it lighthearted but with a twist. The quirky song is a bit off to the left field even for mainstream Korea, but it’s undeniably one of the best production of the year.

“Shouldn’t Have” Baek A Yeon feat. Young K of DAY6

Baek A Yeon’s whimsical “Shouldn’t Have” is everything that Korean music aims to be. A bit of folk, a bit of pop, and extraordinary vocal control kept “Shouldn’t Have” from disappearing into mediocrity, despite Baek A Yeon being relatively unknown in South Korea. The self-composed track is a heartfelt about the regrets and “shouldn’t haves” of a woman. Despite the meaning, the mid-tempo song is something that listeners could tap their feet or bob their head to while singing along. While the song is firmly encompassed in the pop-ballad category, Korea doesn’t go without its raps, so there’s a bit of that thrown in for good measure.

“Leon” –IU & Park Myung Soo

If Taylor Swift and Jimmy Fallon released a song for a late night show skit in Korean, this would be that song. One of the most popular music festivals in South Korea isn’t even organized by musicians, but part of the popular variety show, “Infinite Challenge.” During the span of a few episodes, prominent Korean musicians work with the show’s cast to produce tracks for the festival, including this jazzy song created by Korea’s most Korea’s most darling startle IU and the variety show host Park Myung Soo. The song is based on the 1994 French film, “Leon: The Professional,” about a hitman and the young woman, and the Parisian influences of “Leon” are audible through the delicate instrumental sections, while the song remains firmly rooted in Korean musical theory, with the rap and back and forth between the pair.

“Don’t Be Shy” –Primary feat. ChoA of AOA & Iron

Primary is the man behind the box in South Korea, a producer who has the vision to put together whatever he wants and do well while hiding his face from the public. His latest hit, sung by the captivating K-pop vocalist ChoA and underground rapper Iron, is a tropical, sleepy reggae tune with echoing acid house overtones. Repetition and ChoA’s suggestive words take the song over into the gray zone rarely heard in Korean mainstream music, and the lyrics themselves question what she’s singing about. “That risky line, should I cross it or not?” ChoA wonders as her breathiness carries over the drumbeats. Iron’s rap takes the song down a few notches, his sleepy rhymes offering a moment of relative clarity in an otherwise hypnotic tune.

“I” – Taeyeon feat. Verbal Jint

Kim Taeyeon is the lead vocalist of Girls’ Generation, the most K-pop girl group of all, but her first EP as a soloist came out in October and solidified her place as one of Korea’s most intriguing artists. ” Bringing the intensity of K-pop production while exploring other genres, “I” is one of the K-pop hybrid songs that are making waves in South Korea today. Her self-declarative tune is an ambient soft rock song that wouldn’t be out of place from a movie soundtrack. With a few quirks- starting the song off with the chorus and quickly bringing in the featured artist- “I” exploits Taeyeon’s vocals in the best way possible, layering her vocals at times while allowing the crisp sound to fly free during other moments.

“Love Again” – Lim Chang Jung

This emotional song could do no wrong in 2015. With Lim’s crisp vocals over simple piano melodies, the song starts off simply before building into a soaring, heartfelt ballad. “Love Again” is the quintessential Korean ballad of 2015, with its bare minimum musical elements and focusing primarily on Lim Chung Jang’s strong, sincere voice. Strings and a heavy beat provide a background for the majority of the song, which is all about second-chances in love, a common theme in South Korean songs.

“Boys and Girls” –Zico feat. Babylon

If Taeyeon was the K-pop singer who broke through to everyone’s heartstrings in 2015 with her solo, Block B’s Zico just can’t be ignored. His tropical, synth-y take on K-hop-hop song in “Boys and Girls” was one of the most popular songs at last year’s end. Compared to Zico’s more in your face songs (like “Tough Cookie,”) “Boys and Girls” appealed to the Korean public’s taste with its lighthearted, yet technically impressive fun-filled rap. At the end of the year, as South Koreans prepared for a cold winter and new year, Zico’s song made people smile and ensured that hip hop would still be a trend in 2016.

What do you think of what South Korea was listening to in 2015? Does our list cover all of your favorite songs? Let us know in the comments section below. Share your thoughts on the drama in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Worst Korean Singles of 2015

January 3, 2016/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

Now that 2016 is well under way, we’re definitely ready to say “goodbye” to some of K-pop’s worst singles of 2015. For this week’s Playlist Sunday, KultScene’s staff members each picked their least favorite songs of the year.

[Disclaimer: These picks are based on individual taste, so feel free to disagree in the comments.]

I get it. “Lion Heart” is the epitome of what Girls’ Generation represents: The archetype for the perfect feminine and demure woman. The song’s beat and the overall styling of the music video takes us back to the ’50s and early half of the ’60s, when young women aimed to look like their older and glamorous mothers. When the sexual revolution and women’s liberation was about to explode and a woman’s value equated to her looks and how refined she seemed. But fine, it’s a pop song, and every woman can choose to be anyone they want and dress however they want. But. That. Chorus… If you want to torture someone, just play “Lion Heart,” it’ll make their eardrums bleed. Truth is, SNSD’s latest album and singles (with the exception of “You Think”) were largely disappointing compared to their previous work. Especially considering that the album had better bubblegum pop with throwback feel contenders like “Fire Alarm.” The whole concept behind “Lion Heart” makes sense for a group like Girls’ Generation, yes, and we all like them for their girly ways. However, musically, they don’t have the vocal chops to carry that chorus, no matter how nasally and high they make Yuri sing.

— Alexis

Girls’ Generation’s “Party” makes me want to dive into the body of water that they’re filming the music video on and stay submerged for as long as humanly possible (without dying, of course). Can someone please tell SM Entertainment and Girls’ Generation to stop it with their attempts at rapping? Oh, and for Tiffany to stop it when her random ass English segments in their songs. Yeah, yeah, we get it, it’s party time. “Party” had a lot of ups and downs (emphasis on the down) moments for me; I couldn’t figure out if they were trying to make this a summer anthem or if it was an attempt of them being sensually cute by experimenting with livelier beats and adding alcoholic beverages in their lyrics but either way, I was disappointed. There were too many transitional breaks throughout the song, too many moments that had me waiting for someone to hit a higher/lower note than they actually did. Sure the music video was semi fun to watch, also very scattered, but the song just makes me want to pull out every strand of hair on my head. Can they have more concepts like “Oh!”, “Run Devil Run,” and “The Boys”?

— Tam

JYP Entertainment had a great year in terms of music. miss A released a pretty solid album, Wonder Girls finally came back, and the company even debuted two new rookie groups, both of which quickly grew in popularity. They did everything right and more… Except for one disservice. I don’t know what they were thinking with giving the green light to 2PM’s “My House,” but the song is a far cry from their usual good releases. I get that they want to spice up their sound and want to show that they are more than party boys and sex icons, but something feels lacking. Where are the interesting beats? Where is the build-up? Maybe it’s because I have been babied by fast-paced songs like “A.D.T.O.Y.” or “Go Crazy,” but “My House” feels bland. It’s very forgettable, and doesn’t add much to their already remarkable repertoire. The only saving grace was the video, which contained an underlying fairy tale thematic.
Oh well, better luck in 2016, boys.

–Shelley

Maybe I loved “Can’t Stop” way too much to have realistic expectations for anything CNBLUE could offer for their comeback but I was woefully disappointed with their 2015 release “Cinderella.” They may have achieved a lot of commercial success (as usual) for this song but while the song isn’t horrible, I’ve definitely seen (and heard) CNBLUE do so much better than this auto-tuned track that seems to only have two lines and a bridge that hardly seems like part of the same song. To make it worse, their album “2gether” actually has some great B-sides such as “Roller Coaster” and “Radio” that overshadow this title track completely. Seriously, what was going on in the heads of the album producers? In a K-pop industry with more and more popular bands (both indie and idol ones) CNBLUE really has to step up their game in 2016 to show fans what they’ve truly got.

–Anna

Let’s get one thing out there. Park Jin Young aka JYP is a great producer. But he’s a misogynist, and his hit song “Who’s Your Mama?” highlights that more so than just about everything else he’s ever said or done. The song’s funky, jazzy beat is good, and Jessi’s solo rap is nothing to sneeze at, but Park Jin Young is literally describing his perfect woman’s ass and saying that that’s all what he looks for when looking at women. I wish I could say that it’s satire a la Psy’s “Gentleman,” but that doesn’t seem the case. The song begins with Park asking a woman what her hip and waist measurements are before going into a song describing his love of big butts. “Shake that booty” is one of the most prominent lines of the song as Park diminished women as anything other than physical beings for him to oggle. “Who’s Your Mama?” is K-pop’s “Baby Got Back,” and the song did exceptionally well on charts, but that still doesn’t make it okay. 2015 was the year of the booty, but JYP took it to another level in a way that was blatantly sexist. We’re in 2016, let’s put an end to this obsession with equating women with their ass-ets.

–Tamar

I could have picked any song from the many iKon released towards the end of the year, but for sheer lack of imagination, I’ll go with “Airplane.” Apart from their whole shtick being based off what’s popular in K-pop right now (rap,) iKon also come across like Big Bang-lite (so like another WINNER but even less interesting.) “Airplane” has twee synth and piano sounds that are used to make their ballad sound less like a ballad. I’m all for ballads not sounding like ballads but this screams of trying too hard, “it’s not a ballad guys, we rap, we’re cool, I was on that rap show remember?” Speaking of Bobby, I’m also not one to care too much about line distribution but this is ridiculous. It’s unfair to both B.I and Bobby who should be in a duo or going solo and to the rest of the members whom might as well not exist. Mostly I hate how YG thinks he can put a bit more rapping into a song and that makes it good enough to be recycled over and over. It was great back in 2008, but it’s time to move on.

–Joe

Best December 2015 K-Pop Releases

January 2, 2016/in Entertainment, MUSIC /by Shelley Foo

It’s December – or at least it was – which means it’s time for the big labels to churn out their holiday ballads and festive company music videos. They’re usually cute and fun to watch, but unfortunately they’re also usually nothing sensational as well. Last year, one of our writers wrote about how scarce and disappointing end of the year K-pop comebacks usually are, and with year-end preparations looming over every idols’ mind at this time of the year, it’s understandable why this would be the case.

But there’s always room for exceptions, and the exception is called the K-pop releases from December 2015. For one, they were actually good. For another, there seemed to be more of it over the seasonal content typical at the close of the year. It’s honestly a shame that we published our annual list of top songs from the year before all the songs could be release, or else the following would be some very likely contenders.

December 2015 witnessed a plethora of unusually fine hits and I am sure I missed out on a lot more. Although some were more mainstream than others, all had the final say to one of the best years in K-pop in a while.

Laboum “Aalow Aalow”

I’ll be real with you here – if you had asked me to name any one of Laboum’s songs two months ago I probably would not have been able to do it. That all changed, however, when the girl group kicked off December and captivated my attention with “Aalow Aalow;” now I can somewhat proudly list at least one. And while I still cannot explain the meaning behind the title (as far as I see it, it’s “Hello Hello” with a flair), I do know that the fresh single and its accompanying music video totally nailed the ‘80s Cyndi Lauper feel they were going for. Very retro, very colorful, they almost remind me of a younger Wonder Girls. The set may not be as elaborate or run on as high of a budget as the seniors’, but the minimalism completes the pastel confectionary aesthetics. The vintage styling is something out of the time period as well, which ranges from knee-length skirts, pinned up bobs, thick headbands and plaid patterns. Everything about this video is super modest, but definitely not the kind that would take away from quality or from being enjoyable.

And of course to complete the comeback is the song itself, which was released five days after the music video was uploaded. The piano glissando at the opening wastes no time to introduce the synth-y pop track about a girl who becomes excited over a boy. Sugary sweet, like its visuals. It’s catchy, with a clear structure and one heck of a build up and hook. It probably takes the cake for one of the year’s peppiest songs because there is just no way that these girls’ fruity voices won’t brighten your mood. What makes the song all the more unique is the instrumentals; the aforementioned synths blare like a horn and the ch-ki-tas from the backing vocal track accents the song as a drum and cymbal set would. There’s never a dull moment and hopefully with this stellar comeback these rookies will finally see the recognition they deserve. If anything, they now have an extra pair of eyes watching them.

Also on Kultscene: Top 5 K-Fashion Moments of 2015

EXO “Sing For You”

So I have complained about winter and holiday ballads in the past and by including EXO’s “Sing For You” here it might defeat the purpose of a list of comebacks that are not seasonal, but it’s simply too good not to add it in. Compared to any of their other songs, this has got to be the boy group’s most stripped down release. That is, the entirety of the track is simply vocals sung over an acoustic guitar. No rap, no “E-X-O”s. Just pure, unprocessed, breathy vocals. Ultimately, this creates for a very reassuring track to listen to on those blistering, cold nights. It’s a song all about being unable to express true feelings to a lover, so instead they will do it through song. It’s as if we are the girl in question because that is what they are literally doing – singing for us. Even if there is no climax, this song wonderfully brings out all the members’ voices (including Sehun who seldom sings), and that in itself is enough.

Like the song, the monochromatic music video is also pretty romantic and bittersweet. Member Kai is doing what he does best again here – contemporary dance. And there is no missing the elephant in the room, or rather whale in space, either. The marine mammal in the video alludes to the “loneliest whale in the world,” or a real life 52-hertz whale that emits at a different frequency from that of other whales. The miscommunication and failure to convey its heart goes back to the theme of the lyrics, which again is about one’s inability to articulate. This is even more credible when we consider how whales, like humans, sing to their mates as a form of communication. Pity that the 52-hertz whale feels so isolated when it has all these South Korean boy bands (BTS, too, devoted an entire song to the solitary creature) crooning about it.

Zizo “Diving”

Probably the least well-known on this list, “Show Me the Money 2” contestant Zizo’s “Diving” is a song that every Korean hip-hop fan should pay attention to. Something about it just feels so old-school to me. Whether it’s the synths or the children singing innocence in the addicting chorus (which you might expect to be cheesy but is actually not), it works. Zizo’s raps have a unique timbre as well, nothing I’ve seen from other rappers. It’s playful and chill, yet also full of personality. I would not expect anything less from the artist, since his roots are deeply planted in the underground. “Diving” is just one of the products of his journey to remain creative, even if it might mean struggling financially.

Personally, the song also has a special place in my heart as its music video was shot in my native New York City. Zizo takes us on a tour of the Big Apple while shamelessly singing along to his own song. It definitely feels more like a summer tune than a winter release. The editing and the low lighting filter, in addition to the various shots of the city’s most famed landmarks (the Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, Times Square), really hits home and only adds to the nostalgia factor.

Also on Kultscene: Top 20 Korean Albums of 2015

Turbo “Again”

Exactly 20 years after their debut, Turbo is reunited again – and this time as a full unit – with their ‘90s revival hit “Again.” With this entertaining and upbeat dance number, the trio brings us back to a time when electric sounds, MC intros, and post-dystopian music videos ran rampant as they sing about love and taking opportunities. And although the title “Again” refers to a rekindling in the context of relationships, it can also best describe their comeback and speak to their newfound youth. If I did not know any better, I really would have believed that the track was something from their debut days. Singer Kim Jongkook’s signature mosquito voice is still as high as ever, while rappers Kim Jungnam and Mikey prove to us that they still got flow. If I as a listener can feel nostalgic listening to a group who debuted when she was still a couple months old, then I can only imagine how it must feel to for them to relive their teen years.

The video is not much help either. Everything is a hark to the past, whether it is the train station reminding us that it’s their 20^th anniversary or the futuristic sterilized tunnels or the room bedecked with all the titles of the group’s greatest hits. Fans are probably even more excited that the middle-aged men are up and dancing again, even if the choreography is not as intricate as it was in the past (but how about that whip during the hook though?). Just make sure to stick around until the end for a hilarious cameo from Kim Jongkook’s “Running Man” cast mate Lee Kwangsoo and best friend actor Cha Taehyun. Indeed, for those who are new with ‘90s K-pop, Turbo’s “Again” is as close of a modern day representation as you are going to get and makes for a fantastic introduction to the group and to the genre.

iKON “What’s Wrong”

Here we go. They say you save the best for last, and this is it. Their past releases might have been lackluster, but with iKON’s latest single “What’s Wrong,” the boys concluded the year on a final sound note. The guitar heavy, gravelly rock song is something out of the pages of their senior group, Big Bang, and whether that is a good or bad thing…

Just kidding, it’s always a good thing. The song itself has a Big Bang circa 2010 sound to it, before trap and other modern genres was a thing, yet retains a fun party vibe that the group of rowdy boys is known for. The song opens with a crescendo that in turn transitions into the catchy chants that will start and close the song. The song is all about fickle, problematic relationships, and the resentment that one feels while being in one is portrayed through the accusatory “What’s wrong?” of the choruses. There is not only variety in the contour of the piece but also in the line distribution. A real Christmas miracle! Yes, it’s no longer Bobby and B.I. featuring their backup dancers; it’s iKON as seven individual members with seven individual voices.

The music video was thoroughly enjoyable as well, though only if you are down for a hot mess. The boy versus girl emotional feud inspired from the lyrics is literally duked out here in a less than friendly game of dodgeball, with the boys of iKON on one team and masked female antagonists on the other. There’s rioting, there’s paper being thrown everywhere, there’s enlarged hands. Everything is anarchy and it feels liberating, especially gratifying for a song that paints a stuffy picture. This is exactly the kind of content that fans need to see more of from the rookie group if the group wants to grow their fanbase.

For a group that only made its debut less than half a year ago, they’ve worked hard to show off a variety of sides with a whopping seven music videos, which is more than some groups who have been around for years. “What’s Wrong” is a step in the right direction, and if this keeps up it won’t be long before the group dominate the K-pop music scene.

What other December 2015 releases did you enjoy? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Top 20 Korean Albums of 2015

December 31, 2015/in Entertainment /by KultScene

While a lot of the intrigue behind K-pop is the glitz and glamour of the songs and music videos, it’s the whole albums what makes listeners stay and creates fans. As we stated on the best songs of 2015 list, this year shined for its superb releases by Korean artists. 2015 was also a great year for the full album, since many more artists ventured out to release more material. The mini albums, for their part, gave us solid songs that can’t be considered fillers, since many stand on their own. Everyone released material this year: big acts had long awaited comebacks and smaller acts became true stars, which made this list hell. However, someone has to make the tough decisions, and here are our favorite 20 albums of the year.

20. MBLAQ – “Mirror”

Although they are now left with just three members, MBLAQ’s craft hasn’t been lost. If anything, they’ve only grown and gotten better. There’s more room for their individual talents to truly shine through; G.O’s tender voice, Seungho’s hypnotic transitions, and Mir’s sweet raps. It was a brilliant idea to have a mirroring short introduction track prior to each song on the album. The short intro sets the mood and gets you ready for what’s to come. “Mirror” displays a number of different emotions and feelings; it depicts a story. A story that starts out with the feeling of loss, anger, pain, and longing, which later on transcends into the feelings of love, hope, and strength. And oh, how about those heart-rending piano intros and interludes? Swoon. This album was MBLAQ’s way of saying, “We’re doing just fine,” and it shows.

19. FTISLAND – “I Will

Eight years after their debut onto the K-pop scene, the idol rock band FTISLAND finally came into their own with “I Will.” The self-composed album is a symphonic take on the band’s style. The album is split into three parts, broken down by “Intro,” “To The Light,” and “Find The Light,” to guide the listeners through FTISLAND’s album, which is a little bit insightful, a little bit dark, and a whole lot of fun. There’s a story to tell, starting with the bombast of songs like single “Pray” and “Black Chocolate” taking us into a world of aggressive alt rock, to more earnest simple rock songs like “BPM69” and “Do You Know Why?” Lead singer Lee Hongki is very much the backbone of FTISLAND, but “I Will” features the other members’ voices and instrumental solos throughout, exploring the group’s dynamic as band first, idols second. Don’t miss out on upbeat tracks like “Time To” and “Shadow,” which show a side to FTISLAND that’s previously been kept mostly to their Japanese language albums. In fact, don’t miss out on anything and just listen to this excellent album from start to finish. “I Will” is the zenith of FTISLAND’s career, and we couldn’t be happier to see this idol band grow into their own.

18. GOT7 – “Just Right”

GOT7 has had a swell year both in terms of the music they produced and their surge in popularity. This mini-album that they released in the middle of the year is full of fun yet diverse songs, from the chill “Before The Full Moon Rises” to the more sensual “My Reaction.” Each member’s talents are showcased in this album, be it their amazing vocal colors or their rapping skills. Their continuous artistic growth is also evident in “Just Right,” as they continue to discover their identity as a group and as musicians.

17. Dynamic Duo – “Grand Carnival”

Dynamic Duo can never seem to disappoint. Every track on their “Grand Carnival” album has such a melodic feel good vibe. Each song makes one want to kick back, relax, chill, and simply groove to each dulcet beat. This album is a great mix of old and new school hip-hop, with heavy reminisces of Nujabes, Tupac, Nas, and Talib Kweli. And oh, what’s with rappers featuring their kids in their songs? Like how Gaeko had his son in “How Are You.” It’s as if they know I have a tremendous soft spot for cuteness overload. The duo, Gaeko and Choiza, are truly a rap pair made in heaven; their flows effortlessly bounce off one another and in return make for great music. “Grand Carnival” really is dynamic.

16. Lim Kim – “Simple Mind”

Ever since her appearance on Superstar K, Lim Kim has been going from strength to strength with every release. “Simple Mind” is her best to date, exemplified by the glorious one-two punch opening of single “Awoo” and “Love Game,” both of which showcase a perfect combo of indie and pop. Her use of synths in those are some of the best of the year but she offers more than just that. The rest of the album is more expected of a solo female artist, but Lim Kim imbues it with an eccentric edge. Her whispery voice elevates ballads and helps a song like “Upgrader” become more than album filler by adding slight inflections here and there. “Simple Mind” is a short sharp run through a not so simple mind.

15. Brown Eyed Girls – “Basic”

One of the best things about K-pop is that groups can release albums with the weirdest concepts and no one makes a big deal about it. This year, Brown Eyed Girls did it best with an album about astrophysics. The songs on “Basic” deal with a range of ideas from wormholes to fractals. Where the lyrics span worlds, the music of “Basic” spans genres. It covers a lot of what we know and love from Brown Eyed Girls, acid jazz, bossa nova, motown, disco, and more. Always ones to push boundaries the music equals the otherworldly nature of the lyrics in many cases. The country and orchestral oddity that is “Atomic” especially boggles the mind. “Wave” is another highlight with its silky groove and biting beat that comes and goes to create quiet but beautiful climaxes. With only one misstep (the generic “Light”), “Basic” proved that Brown Eyed Girls can still be edgy while maintaining a supremely impressive quality.

Also on KultScene: 6 INFINITE Songs That Will Prepare You For INFINITE Effect

14. Day6 – “The Day”

JYP Entertainment’s newest boy band Day6 made a remarkable name for themselves through their debut album “The Day,” which showcased different sides of themselves, from playful and fun to heartfelt and sincere. They defied conventional K-pop band standards by having almost all the members sing in the songs while still playing their various instruments. This cohesive album is proof of their potential and they’re definitely up and coming stars we can look forward to in the future.

13. SHINee – “Odd”

When SHINee released their “Misconceptions” series, it was hard to think that they were ever going to top those albums. But they proved us wrong when they released “Odd.” The album had Shawols (SHINee’s fans) reminiscing about past tracks with “Love Sick,” a track that is a continuation of their first track, “Replay.” Moreover, their first single “View” became an instant hit, making the listeners feel like it’s an up-tempo ballad, but then the chorus hits, and that deep house bass converts the whole thing into a fun and dancy tune. The album takes you in a rollercoaster of emotions that’s full of ‘90s inspired hip-hop, deep house, electro, and classic pop that we are used to hearing from the group.

12. MFBTY – “WondaLand

The hip-pop album from some of the most talented hip-hop artists in South Korea today is one of the best things out of Korea this year. MFBTY, which consists of Korean hip hop’s royal couple Yoon Mi Rae and Tiger JK’s and rapper Bizzy, is all about experimentation and trying new things out. “WondaLand” is an whirlwind journey through MFBTY’s eyes, beginning off with the airport invoking “Welcome to WondaLand.” The group keeps it straddling K-pop and K-rap, but no two songs share the exact same musical style. “WondaLand” gives all three members of MFBTY, and their varied guests including Yoon Mi Rae and Tiger JK’s son Jordan, a chance to express their own styles of music, no matter how broad they are. Singles like “Buckubucku,” with its wild variety of featured artists including experimental group EE and BTS’ Rap Monster, and “Bang Diggy Bang Bang,” are bangers that draw the whole album together. But it’s in meaningful songs like “Hollywho” and “Rebel Music” where the listeners are offered real insights into MFBTY’s world outlook. “Let It Go,” featuring BEAST’s Yong Junhyung, takes the melodic elements of Yoon Mi Rae’s ballads and combines it with Kelis’ “Milkshake” to to create one of the most stimulating Korean songs of 2015.

11. GOT7 – “MAD”

Just as “If You Do” was the song that made us all realize GOT7 matured, the album, “MAD,” reiterated just that. Compared to “Just Right,” “MAD” is less colorful, but it still gives us upbeat songs with a smoother, dance hip-hop sound. Moreover, this mini album is way more flavourful than any of their previous releases, with rap-driven songs like “Raise Your Hands” or the funky, signature Youngjae-JB vocal slayage in “Tic Tic Toc” and “Good.” “MAD” reminded listeners that while they pull off the cute and lively concept well, they’re artistic men whose creativity is also evolving — and we’re definitely buying it and here for it.

10. Wonder Girls – “Reboot”

To go with their perfect throwback single “I Feel You,” Wonder Girls releases an album full of ‘80s style stompers. As a complete album, it works so well as the concept is stuck to with every song and they progress naturally and satisfyingly. It plays like the soundtrack to the most amazing ‘80s film you’ve never seen. The dreamy slow burn of “Rewind” even references films. Even Yubin and Hyelim’s “Back” which at first sounds like an embarrassing hip-hop pastiche becomes not only great but an honest throwback. The instrumentals throughout the whole album give it this honest edge, from the twinkly synths to the guitars that ground everything. This was a true reboot of the highest order.

9. Kim Sung Kyu – “27”

INFINITE’s Sung Kyu made his comeback as a soloist this year with album “27” to significantly more commercial success than with his debut, and for good reason. The album was unique, varied, and yet extremely cohesive. He experimented with a few genres and collaborated with different artists, but still managed to make these sounds his own. With addictive title tracks such as “Kontrol,” to reflective duets such as “Reply,” there were no songs in this album that were sub-par and all served to show Sung Kyu’s wonderful ability as a vocalist.

8. G.Soul – “Dirty”

I don’t know why G.Soul had to be a JYP trainee for 15-long-years, but if working on your craft for that long enables someone to put out something like “Dirty,” then we better start shipping a lot of idols back to the studios. Especially considering that a cohesive album, or mini-album, for that matter, seems to be a lost art in K-pop. Not in G.Soul’s case though, even if he’s not really K-pop per se. This year, K-pop groups like SHINee and f(x) also gave dance music a try, but when you have “soul” in your name and you come from the company of Asia’s Soul, you know you’re in for something good. In mere five songs, the singer took us through a deep house journey full of eroticism, embellished with his high-pitched R&B vocals. Because just as the title suggests — sorry, kids — this album is freaky and it makes you want to get your freak on with someone. Having debuted only this year and “Dirty” being only his second mini-album, we can expect great things from G.Soul.

7. EXO – “Love Me Right 2nd Album Repackage”

This year, SM Entertainment decided to appeal to a more broader audience with Western sounds such as house and funk, and EXO’s repackaged album for “Love Me Right” is proof. A long departure from the teeth-baring wolf boy images from yesteryear, the boys came back with a more polished look and sound. This may come off as daunting at first, especially for the veteran fans, but for a group with some of the strongest vocalists in the K-pop genre, it works. The colorful voices of each member complements the brasses and riffs in the title “Love Me Right” and B-side “Tender Love” well, while also enabling them to take us back to our ‘90s boy band days in “Call Me Baby.” The album also features something that the group does best — R&B and ballad tracks. The smooth “What If..” and slow “My Answer” is testament that the group never forgot their roots, so long-time fans should not have to worry. Best of all, the album saw the debut of “Beautiful” and “El Dorado,” two tracks that were kept under wraps ever since their features in the boys’ individual debut teaser videos back in 2011/2012. “Love Me Right 2nd Album Repackage” offers the group an opportunity to recruit new fans, while maintaining their already large and well-established fanbase. As their company’s most prized act, we can always expect great things from EXO no matter what their next experiment may be.

6. BTS – “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2”

Continuing BTS’s two-part album project is “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2,” which quickly became as popular, if not more, than the first part of the installment. Whereas the first part underscored the anguish and grief in its title song “I Need U,” this expressed a more daring and reckless side to youth with the hit “Run.” From the start, the rapper Suga’s intro “Never Mind” catapults us into an aggressive sermon about why the youth should ignore the critics. There is more of an edge to this album, as evident in the use of more traditional rock instrumentals in some of its songs. But an album that is all grit could potentially get boring fast, which thankfully is something that the group does not have to worry about. There’s practically a song fitting for every genre. From the body-roll worthy chorus of “Dead Leaves” to the soothing “Butterfly,” there is no limit to what the boys can do. Perhaps this is why the album did so well not only in their native Korea, but also internationally as reflected in its title as the highest ranked album worldwide for an Asian act on the iTunes chart. Indeed, with solid releases such as “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2,” it won’t be long before BTS becomes a common household name (if not already).

Also on KultScene: Let’s Discuss: TC Candler’s List, Nana, & Why It’s Bad For K-Pop Fans

5. Hyukoh – “22”

2015 was Hyukoh’s year, and the release of the EP “22” was one of the best things any Korean indie band has ever done. The album keeps Hyukoh’s soft rock, tropical feel that the band introduced in debut album “20,” but goes on to explore deeper messages. The meaning of Hyukoh’s music is extremely accessible, with songs like bouncy first track “Settled Down” being completely sung in English. The EP, which contains a total of six songs, shows off Hyukoh’s artistic style at its best, taking the listeners off into the deep end with mood-maker “Mer” and the slightly aggressive (at least for Hyukoh) “Hooka.” And there’s no way we can overlook Hyukoh’s hit song, “Comes and Goes.” The song, ostensibly the one that rocketed Hyukoh to fame, is a soft take on the what it’s like to be in love and growing up. Oh Hyuk’s voice and the rest of the band’s instrumentals are melodious rock at its very best and the song deserves to be replayed over and over again.

4. Primary – “2”

Primary’s “2” album showcased a lot of diversity. Everything ranging from all the various artists that featured on his tracks, to the different beats he played, whether it was some good ole funk, slow disco, jazz, and reggae. “2” offered the best of both worlds; a great selection of unique singers and rappers, paired with addictive bass lines. Lyrically, each song sends out a strong message; anxiety of a new found relationship, how appearance shouldn’t matter when one is out to have a fun night, the excitement of breaking out of their adolescent years, finally growing up and getting paid, and knowing that sometimes you just have to get away. It makes me wonder what Primary’s thought process was in order to sort out who would be great for what, and what it might’ve been like if the artists had done different tracks than the ones they ended up on. Regardless, “2” was a wonderful album and we can only anticipate to see what else he has up his sleeve for 2016.

3. Red Velvet – “The Red”

Ever since debut, it was clear SM Entertainment’s newest girl group Red Velvet was somewhere between the two spectrums of the uber feminine Girls’ Generation and the experimental f(x). However, “The Red” finally allowed the quintet to come out of their sunbaes’ shadow and shine for their own talents and charms. “The Red” showcased Red Velvet’s, well, red side: lively, hip-hop pop dance hybrids. For this album, we didn’t get any velvet songs, meaning the sultrier alternatives, but we do get glimmers of it in songs like “Oh Boy,” “Campfire,” and “Time Slip.” Their first full-length album showed that Red Velvet’s concept and forte indeed is the quirky, lively release like “Ladies’ Room” and “Red Dress.” f(x) is no longer the only experimental group in SM, but where the quartet is always fresh and are maturing into grown women, Red Velvet picks up where they left off and exudes youth and an addictive vibe.

2. BIGBANG – “MADE”

Even if we didn’t get a proper full album from BIGBANG this year (we’re lumping them all together though), their “MADE” series was worth the long wait. BIGBANG’s comeback came with eight new tracks that showed us different and new sides of the group. From classic a la “Fantastic Baby” hits like “Bang Bang Bang,” to the new and experimental track like “Sober,” and more mature outlook with “If You,” the group surprised with incredible music. With this compilation, we got to hear more from each member; we got to hear T.O.P. sing more in the tracks, a comeback from GD & T.O.P., and Seungri exploring more of his vocal range. Not only did they deliver great tracks, but each song came with amazing visuals. From the movie posters for each track and the stunning music videos, every piece continued the cinematic theme of this whole era for BIGBANG. An excellent album to dance to and get crazy, and even to just burst into tears. It was definitely worth the wait.

1. BTS – “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1”

2015 was a busy (yet successful!) year for BTS as they embarked on a two part album adventure with their “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life” series centering on the subject of youth. The first part of the series, which featured the title “I Need U” and its follow-up “Dope,” marks the first album in which all the members participated in either the composition, production, or lyric-writing process. And, well, for a first, it is pretty impressive to say the least. From member V’s self-written “Hold Me Tight” to the youngest Jungkook’s own outro “Love is Not Over,” the album nicely displays the group’s well-groomed individual talents. Not to mention it also showcased their usual lively personalities as well, with tracks such as “Boyz With Fun” and “Converse High,” the latter of which was a literal song about a shoe. Seriously, who thinks of these things? Through “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1″ the boys tell us personal stories that the youth can relate to, whether it be about moving on from a chapter of one’s life, a hopeless love, or an article of clothing that drives one mad. Besides the catchy tunes and gorgeous aesthetics, it’s an album with a purpose and meaning, which is exactly why it has landed itself on the top of our list.

Top 5 K-Fashion Moments of 2015

December 31, 2015/in Fashion /by Alejandro Abarca

Fashion is always an important part in the Hallyu wave. It not only inspires fans around the globe but it also sets trends and makes an impact in Korea’s fashion industry and even abroad. Without a doubt, Korean fashion in 2015 had amazing moments. From tour wardrobes to dramas with amazing styling, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to give you our top five K-fashion moments of 2015.

Red Velvet went retro for “Automatic”

The ‘70s had a revival this year, from bell bottoms to trumpet sleeve blouses, Red Velvet surprised us in their music video for “Automatic” with amazing styling influenced by this particular era in fashion. The girls’ stylist not only incorporated vintage clothing, but they also added modern pieces to the styling like Moschino by Jeremy Scott’s Barbie inspired collection. The whole look from head to toe (even their hair was perfect!) was very successful, it didn’t feel like a costume, it looked very fresh and modern but still very reminiscent of the ‘70s.

Also on KultScene: Top 20 Korean Music Videos of 2015

GOT7 went from boys to men with “If You Do”

GOT7 is one of the most fun and distinctive boy groups in K-pop today. Through their short but successful career, they managed to stay with their innocent, young, and fresh look. But when it came to the music video for “If You Do,” the boys looked like sexy men, some might say even look like men they’d like to see on websites similar to teeni.xxx (https://www.teeni.xxx/). With “If You Do,” GOT7 took on a mature sound and also look, which the stylists executed very well. They kept the boys in beautiful fitted suits that had different textures and prints combined. Those dancing scenes with the all black outfits made the boys look extremely sexy. And the best part of the styling are Bam Bam’s chokers, they look incredible and very edgy. Yes, we have seen this look on many other idols and you might ask why we featured it in the top K-fashion moments. Well, that’s simply because it marks GOT7’s path into becoming the sexy men that they are.

CL & 2NE1’s return at the 2015 MAMA Awards

For this years MAMA Awards, we where only expecting CL to perform. When it was CL’s turn on stage, no one could take their eyes off her. Her sexy ensemble not only looked fierce, but it matched perfectly with her ferocious persona and her warm-up American single “Hello Bitches.” Her dragon embelished red pants and bomber jacket paired with that mesh unitard and the infamous Alexander Wang creepers she also wore in the music video for “Hello Bitches” made an incredible outfit. Moreover, Parris Goebel and her ReQuest crew just added to the incredible girl power of the performance. But that wans’t all, we weren’t ready for what was next. CL dissapeared from stage and one by one Dara, Minzy, Park Bom, and finally CL appeared again in matching military outfits marking the return of 2NE1 to the stage. All the girls looked flawless and it was and incredible performance full of female empowerment. It was surely an epic moment, it felt like we were watching the Spice Girls return.

Irene Kim becomes an ‘It’ Girl

Irene Kim is a Korean-American model, host, and entrepeneur who gained recognition in several fashion media outlets around the world, naming her the next fashion ‘It’ Girl. Her presence in every fashion week around the globe and her fun personality seen in her YouTube show “K-Style” made everyone pay close attention to her. She first started to appear in many street style blogs, and when people started finding out more about her, the obssession with her was instant. Irene is not only knowledagble in fashion, but she’s also an expert on Korean beauty products, that made her land a job as the global embassador of Estee Lauder. She appeared in ALDO’s fall/winter campaign and walked many fashion shows around the world, but the most special and iconic was the CHANEL Resort show in Korea. Moreover, at this year’s KCON, she had a panel about beauty and fashion trends, where many fans and even KultScene staff members were able to meet her. Irene’s distinct style has made her an influencer, which could be lucrative for her as brands will approach her to promote their products (click here for more information if you own a brand and are wondering how influencers could help you). She will be the go-to person when everybody wants to know all the new trends that are coming from Korea, from her fashion choices to her inspiring beautiful rainbow hair, Irene is part of our K-fashion moment for this year. We can’t wait to see what’s next for her in 2016.

BIGBANG “MADE” World Tour Wardrobe

Hedi Slimane’s (a french fashion designer, now creative director of Saint Laurent) influence in fashion is undeniable, not only did he challenge the norms in men’s tailoring and create a slim fit for suits, but thanks to him we have skinny and low waisted jeans (his creations in his time as creative director for Dior Homme). Why are we talking about him? Well, the BIGBANG members are no strangers to wearing SAINT LAURENT, or any pieces that have been inspired by Hedi Slimane. For the whole tour the boys sported skinny jeans with classic chelsea boots, slim fit blazers, animal prints, and bomber jackets, that one can’t deny that their whole look for the tour had a lot to do with Hedi’s influence. BIGBANG, being one of the most influential groups in K-pop, had all their fans wanting to emulate their looks. You could see during the tour how the fans dressed like them to attend their concerts. And yes, the fans might not have been wearing Saint Laurent or Versace or Neighborhood like the band did on stage, but it was a very easy look to copy. The complete looks are very sharp and modern, and gave BIGBANG a very sexy and chic attitude for their “MADE” World Tour.

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Perfect Styling on “She Was Pretty”

Every drama in Korea has really good stylists. The viewer can’t help but feel inspired by the outfits each character wears, but on “She Was Pretty,” the whole cast was styled to perfection. I’ve never seen a drama where there was so much attention to detail in the styling. The main characters played by Park Seo-Joon, Super Junior’s Siwon, Hwang Jung-Eum, and Koh Jon-Hee, had very distinct looks that matched perfectly with each character’s personality.

Park Seo-Joon had the typical flower boy outfits, but they styled him in ways we hadn’t seen before, like wide legged pants with a skinny blazer, or a trench coat with a puffy vest over, and the best part was his signature scarfs. On another note, Hwang Jung-Eum’s styling started very tomboyish and she grew into loving fashion; her style evolved into a boyfriend chic look. The wide pants she always wore created a statement, and who will forget the white socks and black Dr. Martens dress shoes that made Siwon’s character call her Jackson (because of Michael Jackson of course).

Siwon’s character had the most avant-garde pieces in the bunch, his statement pieces were always amazing jackets and his hats. His styling matched perfectly and created a great contrast of looking tough on the outside while being one of the nicest characters we have seen in a Korean drama. However, Koh Jon-Hee’s character was my favorite in the cast. The way they styled her with men’s dress shirts that made it look like she was wearing an off shoulder blouse was incredibly smart. The drama’s stylist must have had a lot of fun coming up with outfits for her character. All those cute chokers she wore were to die for, and who could forget all the mini skirts that became her character’s fashion statement.

Even the secondary characters were styled always on point. A character in particular that had always over the top styling and sometimes it even looked trashy but it completely worked was Hwang Suk-Jun’s character. I couldn’t wait to see her each episode just to see what crazy look she was going to wear, and once again, it matched perfectly with her personality.

Did we miss any of your K-fashion moments of 2015? If so, let us know in the comments section below. Share your thoughts on the drama in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

‘Splash Splash Love’ is a Refreshing Take on Fusion Sageuk

December 30, 2015/in Entertainment, Television /by Anna Cheang

MBC’s latest mini-series “Splash Splash Love” premiered this month and concluded after a course of two episodes. Though the drama was short, it garnered a lot of attention, both locally and internationally – and for good reason. There were several factors as to why this drama was so special, despite the fact that it was another fusion sageuk (a period drama with a modern touch, most of the time involving some form of time travel) and had a pretty predictable storyline.

[Disclaimer: There are some spoilers ahead!]

As alluded to in the title, this drama had a lot to do with rain. Heroine Jang Dan Bi (played by Kim Seulgi) is a modern day high school student who wanted to escape her college aptitude tests desperately. When she discovered a magical puddle on a rainy day she decided to jump through it and found herself in the Joseon period, right in the middle of a three year drought. Ruler at the time, Lee Do (played by Beast’s Yoon Dojoon) is an enthusiastic and curious learner who was immediately attracted to Dan Bi, not because of her physical appearance but because of her knowledge from the future. Right from the get-go, the chemistry between these two leads was natural and extremely adorable; I thoroughly enjoyed their progression from having a master-servant relationship to becoming firm friends and finally passionate lovers. It wasn’t rushed despite the fact that this drama was only two episodes long, rather it was fast paced and well-developed. Both actors also acted very well together which made the watch very enjoyable because of how believable their romance was.

taken from @uaena-vip from tumblr

This drama was aplenty with K-drama cliches, but that doesn’t mean that it was boring or typical. It turned out to be very refreshing, because the drama kept adding fun twists to each cliche that it utilized. For example, for a good part of the drama Dan Bi was cosplaying as a male eunuch. While this cliche can be seen in several other dramas, both modern and period ones, it was a slightly different situation here. She didn’t intend to disguise herself at the start, rather it was her use of the term “go-sam” (in modern day context it means a high school senior but in a historical context it actually refers to eunuchs) in her self-introduction that led to this whole misunderstanding. While she did continue the cosplay after realising its benefits, the continued use of this pun served to inject humor in the storyline and created some hilarious scenes, especially between Dan Bi and Lee Do.

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Another cliche that appears very often in time travel dramas is the use of reincarnated characters, especially for the two main leads (think “Rooftop Prince”). This drama was no exception, as each modern character had its historical counterpart. The adorable part of it was that the historical characters shared the same characteristics and personality as their future selves, like Queen Sohun’s (Jin Ki Joo) love for midnight snacking and instant food. Although I enjoyed the parallels and found myself laughing because of them, I did get worried that this drama would give the romance a trashy ending by letting Dan Bi meet and fall in love with future Lee Do, just because he was also played by Dojoon. I got even more worried when they did reunite at the end of the drama and he said (in a swoony way, admittedly): “We’ve met before, a long time ago.”

taken from @sufbb on tumblr

I assumed immediately (as did Dan Bi, I’m guessing) that he meant during the Joseon period, but thankfully he clarified that he had actually met her on her way to school, at the first part of the drama. It was a twist that I didn’t expect but loved, simply because it defied K-drama norms and was something new.

That leads me to another point that I loved about the show, every minute of the show, every scene, no matter how insignificant it seemed turned out to be useful in the end. When I finished it I felt like I had just watched a movie rather than a drama because of how all the plot points fitted together. The writing was so tight that there was purpose in every event that occurred. For instance, a simple scene showing Dan Bi lying on the couch and watching an episode of “Mask Singer” could be used later on as evidence of her ability to recognise voices. For such a short drama it sure made full use of its time.

At the core of the drama it was the strong message that no matter how insignificant we may feel because of our bad grades or lack of talent, we still have a part to play in this world. Dan Bi was such an underachiever at school that she lost confidence in herself and her worth, but going back to the Joseon times and being able to share her knowledge with the king helped her to realise that she was valuable after all. Even when she failed, Lee Do was there to encourage her and help her to carry on.

The struggles that Dan Bi faced were so relatable even to people who weren’t students that it made this message all the more encouraging and inspiring, a big reason why this drama succeeded.

That being said, this show wasn’t perfect and there were many illogical plot lines which led to some confusion for me as I watched the drama. Yes, the entire premise of the show was absurd but there has to be some logic, especially between scenes. For one thing, there never was a “big reveal” for Dan Bi who had been masquerading as a male eunuch but all of a sudden all the characters in the show (including the court ministers) knew that she was actually a female and she was nominated to be a concubine. I’m sorry but what? From other historical dramas and the scant information that I know about the Joseon dynasty I’m pretty sure that there’s a penalty for intentionally deceiving the court, let alone the King. Even if we ignore the legislature, I was surprised at the lack of reaction from the ministers because what is the point of cosplaying if there are no stakes involved?

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Another problem I had with the plot was what happened one particular day, when Dan Bi escaped the city after an attempt made at her life. She literally spent the whole night out with the king at a beach, while the queen spent her whole night out at her childhood friend’s house. Even better, when she tried to go back to the palace, the gates were locked. For the queen. It’s simply crazy to imagine that when both rulers are out of the palace no one would be looking for them or even be alarmed. I mean, what are all the servants and soldiers for if not to keep the rulers safe?

At the end of it all however, “Splash Splash” Love never took itself seriously and this helped viewers to focus more on the heartfelt storyline rather than the sometimes gaping plot holes as we watched the drama. There were so many adorable moments that I enjoyed from this show (Lee Do reciting the times table was fantastic) that made me forget the parts I disliked about it and this makes it a winning drama in my books. I would tell you more, but I hope you’ll watch it yourself. I won’t spoil the magic for you!

taken from @uaena-vip

Did you watch Splash Splash Love? Share your thoughts on the drama in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Let’s Discuss: TC Candler’s List, Nana, & Why It’s Bad For K-Pop Fans

December 29, 2015/in Features, Let's Discuss /by Tamar Herman

This may be a crazy idea, but here goes: K-pop will only become a viable, long-term music scene when the industry no longer seeks validation from Western media. The reason? Because it means that the people behind K-pop will finally respect its fans as something more than just a money making machine, but actually the target of Korea’s artistic pop culture.

You may wonder what brought along this thought, but after this week’s annual “freak out over a totally random blog’s ranking of the most beautiful people in the world” (this one,) I just felt like there was something to discuss here.

It’s not that I personally care that many foreign-language articles written about Korean celebrities and pop culture are ignored by Korean media outlets. That doesn’t matter, because they don’t need validation from Korea to talk about Korea. It’s about the fact that TC Candler, a film critic with little to no pull in the entertainment world, garners attention year after year for a list of physical rankings solely because Candler lacks any apparent connection to the Korean entertainment world and so is seen as a validating figure separate from “K-pop bloggers.”

Essentially, the less connected you are to K-pop, the better you are to the Korean entertainment industry. The Korea Herald’s K-pop site went further than usual and not only highlighted After School’s Nana as the clear winner, but also used the list to declare that TWICE’s Tzuyu is the prettiest face in China.

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It doesn’t matter that there are countless international news sites dedicated to K-pop for K-pop fans. It doesn’t matter that Billboard has people writing about it regularly. It doesn’t matter that 2015 alone has seen more K-pop concerts outside of Asia than ever before. To Korean entertainment related-agencies and individuals, K-pop fans are nothing when compared to validation from the outside.

Never-mind the fact that K-pop fans around the globe cough up millions of dollars each year to sign up for K-drama streaming services and to buy merchandise, albums, and concert tickets. Or that there are multi-million websites dedicated to K-pop and Korean entertainment. These fans don’t matter, because they’re already fans.

As long as a random English website says that a K-pop star is the most beautiful person in the world, that is newsworthy.

Forget the fact that TC Candler’s list is unimportant to anyone outside of K-pop, and that TC Candler has no credibility outside of his own website (which is seemingly devoted to film reviews, not beauty ranking).

Forget everything. Just think about the fact that After School’s Nana is now receiving a title that, had it been from a K-pop related website, would have been ignored.

If a K-pop outlet such as AllKPop or KpopStarz, both of which are read by thousands around the globe each day, or drama purveyors like DramaFever or Viki, which have brought K-dramas and films to millions of people, decided to release a list of this sort, it would be ignored. (And don’t even get me started on what would happen if KultScene released it. We’re a small fish amongst a big sea of K-pop literature, and we wouldn’t even register a blip in South Korea).

More so than the fact that “The Most Beautiful List” is a silly way to determine Nana’s overseas popularity (I’m going to guess here that maybe, maybe one out of every thousand Americans would know who Nana is), the list is an interesting point of contention for K-pop fans because it seeks credibility for Korean celebrities from an outside, non K-pop related media outlet. Regardless of what that outlet is or who writes for it.

I reached out to Candler via email to get a statement regarding the popularity of the list and received no response. The list is in its 26th year, but there is still little information about Candler or what the criteria for the Most Beautiful List is. I’m not honestly clear about why the Independent Critics List is, other than it being a website that reviews film. There is nothing appearance related other than the yearly Beautiful/Handsome lists.

Korean entertainment is widely popular. It is a solid genre of its own. But as long as the Korean entertainment industry and K-pop as a whole looks to receive validation from the outside with no regards credibility, the fans that K-pop and Hallyu as a whole have become the butt of a joke. These fans, and their opinions, are diminished and viewed as crazy fanatics rather than the supporters of K-pop.

Not only does Korean media and entertainment companies not value the opinion of Korean fans, but so do K-pop fans themselves. It’s as if K-pop hasn’t made it yet, so we need to know it’s cool, rather than being a pretty solid industry that is recognized around the globe.

The K-Pop industry’s reaction to non-K-pop media looks like a child crying because there’s no pink M&Ms in a bag, even though that’s not the normal color found in M&M’s bags; it’s something nice, but it’s not needed and doesn’t make K-pop better. It just looks juvenile.

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Psy is a perfect example. Back in 2012, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, and Big Bang were everywhere. The rapper? Less so. Psy had always been more controversial than popular in South Korea, but international fans hardly noticed the musician before his hit song. I was in Seoul after the song was released, but pre-craze, and it was pretty popular. But people were already sick of the song and the horse dance. The craze would have died down, and it would have been a summer hit.

Then “Gangnam Style” went viral and it was suddenly cool to like Psy. Which is great, he is a talented musician. But that doesn’t mean that Korean music itself isn’t innately valuable as a genre of music for the fans of it.

Belittling outlets devoted to K-pop as “fansites” and not valuing them in Korea is fine; but blowing a tiny blog’s list out of proportion year after year because it is not a solely Korea-oriented site is obnoxious. Not just to the writers who painstakingly create year end lists, but to all K-pop fans who are really devoted to the genre. This attitude of preferring a non-outwardly K-pop related site to one dedicated to Korean entertainment is akin to saying “K-pop fans aren’t good enough for us.”

If Korean entertainment purveyors want K-pop to become popular, it has to happen naturally. Jumping on something rather unimportant year and year again, while ignoring the adoration of those fans it already has, would be akin to rock stars turning their back on the fans have supported them since the start just in order to appeal to seemingly higher-class classical music audiences.

K-pop, you’ve made it. You’re a multi-million dollar genre of music with fans around the globe. Grow up and stop looking for validation. Not everyone likes, or talks about, metal. That doesn’t mean it’s not a real thing. But it doesn’t mean that bigtime metal musicians snatch up the most random bit of publicity from whatever outlet that doesn’t usually cover metal.

It’s 2015. The World Wide Web is older than I am (by about 50 days). There’s a lot on it. That doesn’t mean that anything about K-pop anywhere is something to get excited about. Google “K-pop” or “Nana” or “Beautiful Face” or “After School” or, I don’t know, “Turbo’s Again.” There will be thousands, if not millions, of hits.

We have to stop micro analyzing K-pop for what we want it to be (which, I think, most K-pop fans would agree, would be a mainstream genre of music worldwide) and start noticing the fact that it’s already here and we like it for what it is.

So, yes, good list TC Candler. No, I’m not going to link to it because it’s not any more reputable than me making a list.

You know what? Here goes:

KultScene Most Beautiful Faces List of 2015

Nah, I’m just joking.

What do you think about the situation?Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Happy New Year

December 27, 2015/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

With 2015 coming to a close next week, we’re dedicating our final Playlist Sunday of the year to 2016. We’re celebrating the new year with Korean songs about new beginnings and leaving the past in the past. We hope all our readers have a happy new year and enjoy our picks!

Scraping off the romantic aspects of the song, I’m with Verbal Jint on his view on how to spend New Year’s: with a few close friends and not at a party. “Good Start” is a song about starting off the new year fresh, leaving that someone in the past in order to move forward. It’s a final adieu to a significant other you spent the year with, acknowledging that you’re not that sad about it anymore and that you’ll be completely over it come spring. While mellow and the rap not being as laid back as Verbal Jint normally does, “Good Start” has that happy-sad vibe that makes you feel hopeful. It’s a mature song for people who are aware of the things they need to let go of and the fact that it must be done so the future is better.

— Alexis

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Seo In Guk may be apologizing and asking for a new beginning in “Brand New Day,” but the singer-turned-actor is at his best in this song. While the song is very safely in Seo In Guk’s realm of comfort (an upbeat love song), the experimental electronic elements and a rap in the middle of the song add extra depth to the otherwise saccharine song. A break up song, or maybe something with a bit more meaning, “Brand New Day” is all about beginnings and the perfect thing to listen to when trying to break up with 2015 and begin anew in 2016.

— Tamar

As the saying goes, “new year, new me” and that’s exactly what Ailee is all about in her post-breakup song “I Will Show You.” Just like a bad year, the soloist wants to leave all her memories with her former lover behind and get back up on her feet. She makes resolutions to herself that she will “show a completed change [her]” and a “way prettier [her]” who will meet someone better for her. Even the glitzy fashion pieces, which includes colorful sequined dresses and large statement jewelry, in the music video seems New Years Eve party appropriate. With her signature power vocals, Ailee’s “I Will Show You” is perfect in every way to brave a fresh 2016.

— Shelley

Also on KultScene: Top 50 Korean Songs of 2015

The New Year makes me think of beginnings. After School, true to their name and concept, have through many new beginnings in their career. Also, I want them to have another new beginning because it has been far too long. Their last Korean single charts the beginning of love. “First Love” not only features the greatest choreography concept in K-pop history but also was a ‘90s throwback long before that became cool. It mixes slinky R&B with trap beats to create something akin to the confusion of young love. That’s not to say it’s a mess, the song marries these elements beautifully thanks to Brave Brothers’ laid back approach to the production. After School’s soft melancholic vocals help bridge the gap between the simultaneously smooth and edgy song.

— Joe

What was your favorite new year themed song? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

1. “Kill Me Heal Me”

2. “Punch”

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3. “Healer”

4. “Sassy Go Go”

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5. “She Was Pretty”

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“Fire” – Mad Clown feat. Jinsil of Mad Soul Child

“W-ing W-ing” Hyukoh

“Eat”- Zion. T

“Lean On Me”- Soyou of Sistar & Kwon Jeong Yeol of 10cm

“Love Mash” – MC Mong feat. Chancellor of the Channels

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“Awoo” Lim Kim

“Shouldn’t Have” Baek A Yeon feat. Young K of DAY6

“Leon” –IU & Park Myung Soo

“Don’t Be Shy” –Primary feat. ChoA of AOA & Iron

“I” – Taeyeon feat. Verbal Jint

“Love Again” – Lim Chang Jung

“Boys and Girls” –Zico feat. Babylon

Laboum “Aalow Aalow”

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EXO “Sing For You”

Zizo “Diving”

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Turbo “Again”

iKON “What’s Wrong”

20. MBLAQ – “Mirror”

19. FTISLAND – “I Will

18. GOT7 – “Just Right”

17. Dynamic Duo – “Grand Carnival”

16. Lim Kim – “Simple Mind”

15. Brown Eyed Girls – “Basic”

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14. Day6 – “The Day”

13. SHINee – “Odd”

12. MFBTY – “WondaLand

11. GOT7 – “MAD”

10. Wonder Girls – “Reboot”

9. Kim Sung Kyu – “27”

8. G.Soul – “Dirty”

7. EXO – “Love Me Right 2nd Album Repackage”

6. BTS – “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2”

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5. Hyukoh – “22”

4. Primary – “2”

3. Red Velvet – “The Red”

2. BIGBANG – “MADE”

1. BTS – “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1”

Red Velvet went retro for “Automatic”<img data-lazy-fallback="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" src="https://38.media.tumblr.com/e89c459d23cbdddc1b9fa3e7c9c289e2/tumblr_nl7g7hFm0e1t7rvrjo1_500.gif" alt="" width="500" height="281" />

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GOT7 went from boys to men with “If You Do”

CL & 2NE1’s return at the 2015 MAMA Awards

Irene Kim becomes an ‘It’ Girl

BIGBANG “MADE” World Tour Wardrobe

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Perfect Styling on “She Was Pretty”

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Red Velvet went retro for “Automatic”