This month, we’re launching Seoul Journal’s top K-pop picks – A list of tracks every K-pop fan should have on their playlist! Every month, we’ll be rolling out a list of songs to die for, songs that can’t be forgotten. We’re mixing it up, giving you new chart-toppers, classic hits and some surprise additions. So if you haven’t heard these, click on the link below each name. If you have, hit replay!

What are your favorite things about Korea and Korean culture?

You vote. You decide!

Over the course of 2016, we have asked readers of Seoul Journal to vote for their favorite Korean music, television, and movie talents. We were happy to see that Seoul Journal fans from all over the world were able to partake in our very first Top 10 Rankings! Listed below are the results and stay tuned for 2017 rankings in the coming weeks.

Categories

Korean Music / Korean TV & Movies

Korean Music

Best Korean Girl Group

1. AOA

2. WJSN/Cosmic Girls

3. Lovelyz

Best All Time Korean Girl Group

1. SNSD/Girl's Generation

2. Apink

3. EXID

Best New Korean Girls Group

1. BLACKPINK

2. Matilda

3. Bloomy

Best Korean Male Group

1. BTS

2. iKon

3. EXO

Best All Time Korean Boy Group

1. SHINee

2. Super Junior

3. TVXQ

Best New Korean Male Group

1. SF9

2. KNK

3. Pentagon

Best Korean Female Solist

1. Hyolyn

2. Ailee

3. Taeyeon

Best Korean Male Solist

1. K. Will

2. G Dragon

3. DEAN

Best Korean Male Rapper

1. Zico

2. Simon D

3. Jooheon

Best Korean Female Rapper

1. Jessi

2. Jimin

3. Yezi

Go Back to the Categories

Korean TV & Movies

Best Korean Actor

1. Song Joong-ki

2. Lee Min Ho

3. Kim Woo-bin

Best Korean Actress

1. Park Shin Hye

2. Song Hye-kyo

3. Moon Geun-young

Best K-Drama of All Time

1. Winter Sonata

2. The Heirs

3. Boys Over Flowers

Go Back to the Categories

The TrickEye Museum in Hongdae recently had 60% of their artwork revamped and I, along with some friends, was invited out to have some fun and see what they had to offer. Visitors can step into the exhibits and are invited to touch and photograph the artwork to see how the 2D paintings become 3D optical illusions while becoming part of the artwork themselves. The floors, ceilings and walls have been painted with vibrant colors, and arrows are placed on the floor where the photographer should stand to get the full effect on camera, allowing them to capture these “trick of the eye” techniques.

A special screening of the Korean film Operation Chromite, hosted by CJ Entertainment, the Korean Cultural Center, and the American Legion Hollywood, was held on August 4th before its American box office release. People poured into the Hollywood American Legion Post 43, including many veterans who had served in the Korean war and their companions. Though the Korean War is quite memorable for the Korean people, it is often called the Forgotten War by Americans, as many veterans who served are unrecognized for their part in defending the South Korea that exists today. The night served as an opportunity to remember and commemorate their sacrifices.

Walking into the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, one is immediately met with crowds of people, waiting in line for tickets with palpable excitement. This year, KCON LA saw over 76,000 attendees - the largest turnout since KCON’s beginnings five years ago. All fans of Hallyu - the Korean wave of traditional and pop-culture - could enjoy different pop-up shops at the exhibition hall, which included everything from Korean beauty products, to cafes where customers could be whisked away in a fantasy straight out of a Korean drama as they are served coffee and tea by beautiful flower boys. KCON goers eagerly received makeovers to look just like their favourite K-pop stars, while next door there was a dance floor where everyone could show off the choreography of famous Kpop songs. At the same time, Youtube stars such as LeenaDproductions, JREKML, and Clothesencounters conducted meetups with fans. The entire hall buzzed with energy. Outside of the hall, fans with premium tickets lined up to high-five famous K-pop singers; the smiles of their favourite idol groups provided them with the energy to beat the LA summer heat.

What are your favorite things about Korea and Korean culture?

You vote. You decide!

Online voting for Seoul Journal’s Top 10 Rankings will be held from April 15th, 2017 through 11:59 pm Korean Time (GMT+9) on December 31st, 2017. Voting is limited to one vote per day per category. The total number of votes submitted during the Voting Period will be tabulated and winners will be chosen in accordance with the rules and regulations. If, for any reason, the online voting is interrupted, is found to have been tampered with in any way, or for any other reason that Seoul Journal believes in its sole discretion to be reasonably necessary, Seoul Journal reserves the right to select the winners at its discretion and may take into consideration the number of votes received up until the time of the interruption or cancellation of the Online Voting.

Click here to see the results of Seoul Journal's 2016 rankings!

Vote now for the 2017 Seoul Journal Top Ten Rankings:

What are the best Korean movies and TV shows?
You vote. You decide!

Click here to continue voting

What is the best music coming from South Korea?
You vote. You decide!

Click here to continue voting

Hera Seoul Fashion Week [SFW] 2015 was held in October 2015. What better place to hold SFW than Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) where thousands of millennials from all over Asia anticipated catching a glimpse of their favorite K-Pop stars in the latest Hallyu (Korean Wave) fashion?