'Super Junior' Donghae Local clothing brand Bench is seriously going K-Pop as it celebrates 25 years in the fashion industry. Fresh from their confirmation that top Korean actor Lee Min Ho ("City Hunter", "Boys Over Flowers") is the newest addition to their growing international endorsers, Bench prepares another big event for K-Pop fans.

After selling the Super Junior inspired "Sorry Sorry" shirts by the truckload, Bench fulfills their promise of bringing in the much-loved Korean idols Siwon and Donghae from Super Junior.

The Everlasting Friends (E.L.F.), Super Junior fans, welcomed Siwon and Donghae when they arrived in Manila for a Bench fashion event at the Trinoma Activity Center on August 15. Due to the huge demand for tickets, Bench had to run a raffle where 700 lucky fans got a chance to have an up-close view of the boys.

For those who were not so lucky, Bench CEO Ben Chan tweeted to encourage fans to attend since they can still enjoy the event from the upper floors of the venue.

Upon arrival, the two

The T-ARA controversy has been the recent talk of K-Pop town. The termination of the contract of one of T-ARA's members Hwayoung resulted in a ripple effect on T-ARA and has halted their career progress.

Core Contents Media (CCM), T-ARA's management, was not shy is stating that the reason for Hwayoung's termination: complaints about her professional behavior. Hwayoung, of course, did not take this sitting down as she openly expressed her viewpoints as well.

News about bullying within T-ARA exploded, prompting the outcry of fans to ban T-ARA from shows, damaged endorsement deals, and even a cancelled concert.

There are many lessons to be learned from the unfolding T-ARA drama. Here are some of them.

1. The consequences of bad blood are vile indeed.
The very open manner CCM chose to terminate Hwayoung's contract shows the existence of bad blood among the staff, T-ARA members and Hwayoung. The dismissed member may very well have been unprofessional and fans may never know the extent of

Boyfriend (Publicity photo)Earlier in 2012, I posted a blog titled "K-Pop wishlist for 2012". In this particular blog, I wished that my list of K-Pop artists will release albums in locally. Little did I know that I will get more than that for one of the artists I listed--Boyfriend!

To celebrate its anniversary, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines brought in Boyfriend to the Philippines. The six-member idol group boasts several YouTube records and won an impressive number of awards within less than a year of their debut. Boyfriend is composed of Youngmin, Kwangmin, Minwoo, Donghyun, Hyunseong, and Jeongmin.

As if bringing Boyfriend in the Philippines was not enough to get the Best Friends (Boyfriend fans) going, the organizers delivered more than what was expected. At the very start of the "Hallyu Fest 2012" program, the Boyfriend members greeted their screaming fans and took their seats at the judges' table. The boys served as judges for the K-Pop Cover Dance Festival which featured 12 talented local

Jung Yong Hwa (SportsKorea)First of all, I have to say for the record that I am not a card carrying Boice (CNBLUE fan). I like CNBLUE but I don't love love love them (Got the pun?) Still, there is much to be said about CNBLUE's leader Jung Yong Hwa. Objectively speaking, I believe he is an example of a "K-Pop Idol Marvel". Here are some of the reasons why this young man is a hot property in K-Pop land.

Good Looks

Just looking at photos of Jung Yong Hwa and hearts of girls (and women!) go aflutter. Those familiar with the definition of beauty using "The Golden Ratio" or "The Phi" would be interested to know that a doctor actually declared that Jung Yong Hwa has superior genes. His face defined by a sharp jaw line and proportional features was analyzed and found to characterize "The Golden Ratio".

His good looks may not be totally "natural" as Jung Yong Hwa has been known to take oral medication to maintain his skin. His uneven teeth seem to add to his charm. These days, Jung Yong Hwa is working on his physique as

Hallyu stars 2NE1 has unleashed their newest single entitled "I Love You" and it is HOT!

"I Love You" combines the quintessential vocal and rap style of CL, Minzy, Dara and Bom in a refreshing mid-tempo track.

YG Entertainment, 2NE1's management, described it as an electro-pop track characterized by "an experimental new sound, combining a sensual new melody, with fresh new lyrics and finds 2NE1 singing (about) a sweet love for the first time since their debut."

1.7 million views

The music video features the girls in their element singing and performing the hot new track wearing fierce colorful fashions and sexy smoky eye make-up that's sure to enthrall their male and female fans.

The Blackjacks, as 2NE1 fans are known, has welcomed the comeback of their favorite idols with great enthusiasm. The video has already registered 1.7 million views in less than 24 hours.

Experience 2NE1's new track "I Love You" by viewing the video here.

2NE1 "I Love You" music video

Global tour

The release

Almost a year after their last release "Mr. Simple" and its repackaged incarnation, "A-CHA," Super Junior is back and this time, they are showing a sexier style.

Super Junior's latest single "Sexy, Free and Single" is the title track of their much awaited sixth full length album.  Fans are also extra excited as this is the first release where Kangin comes back to join the group after completing military service.

The music video has already registered over a million views in less than half a day of its release.

No surprise since Super Junior fans like the Everlasting Friends (E.L.F.) are unwavering in their support.  It also helped that SM Entertainment piqued their interest with the idols' teaser photos and the revelation that choreographer Devin Jamieson, who worked with Michael Jackson and Britney Spears, did the choreography.

The Super Junior formula

So, did the new single satisfy high expectations?

Here are some of my observations about Super Junior's latest release.

The track

K-pop idol group SHINee pose for the media during a showcase to promote the movie "I AM" at a theatre in Seoul April 30, 2012. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)SHINee, one of today's top Hallyu stars, recently released their fourth mini album entitled "Sherlock". "Sherlock" follows the success of the idols' Japanese release "The First" which broke records in Japan. Returning to their K-Pop roots, SHINee releases a curiously interesting album, both musically and conceptually, in "Sherlock".

Groundbreaking sound

SHINee's fourth mini album contains a total of 7 tracks including an experimental "combined track" which had the honor of being the album's title "Sherlock". The complete track list is as follows:

1. Sherlock (Clue+Note)
2. Clue
3. Note
4. Alarm Clock
5. The Reason
6. Stranger
7. Honesty

Musically, the album is incredible. SHINee boasts of having two of the strongest and most recognizable voices in young K-Pop--Onew and Jonghyun. The strength of these two vocals is already good enough to produce a worthwhile album. However, in "Sherlock", the vocal work is balanced among the five members highlighting their unique vocal strengths.

Jayesslee (Publicity photo)YouTube sensations Janice and Sonia Lee, better known to their thousands of subscribers as Jayesslee, paid homage to the pop music of their Korean heritage at the press conference and concert held during their recent visit to Manila.

"K-Pop is taking over the world," Sonia said, grinning. "It really is. I think it's so catchy, their music. A lot of our fans request K-Pop covers."

Known for their exquisite harmonies and girl-next-door looks, Janice and Sonia have covered a few K-Pop tracks, giving their own acoustic flavor to songs like "Nobody" by the Wonder Girls and "Lonely" by 2NE1. The sisters admitted, though, that it wasn't easy selecting songs to cover.

'Songs reflect our heart'

Asked how they choose songs, the Jayesslee twins playfully replied, "We do not choose songs, they choose us!"

Turning serious, Sonia said, "Song choice is very important to us because the song affects our hearts as well. If it's something that reflects our hearts, something that we can relate to,