Latest news with #Korean-Canadian
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Happy Father's Day: From BIGBANG's Taeyang to EXO's Chen — Active K-pop idols balancing the stage and fatherhood
On June 15, the world celebrates Father's Day — a time to honour dads for their love, hard work, and dedication. It's also the perfect moment to shine a light on K-pop idols who have embraced fatherhood while continuing to captivate fans across the globe. Balancing demanding schedules, worldwide fame, and parenting responsibilities, these artists prove that it's possible to succeed both on stage and at home. Their dual roles offer fans a deeper, more personal connection, revealing a heartfelt side of the stars they've admired for years. Taeyang (BIGBANG) The second-generation idol is well-known for his powerful voice and stage presence, but he is also a devoted family man. He married actress Min Hyo-rin in 2018 and welcomed their first child, a son, in December 2021. Fans have consistently praised Taeyang for skillfully balancing his music career and fatherhood. Tablo (Epik High) The creator of the indie music label Highgrnd, which housed the bands Hyukoh and The Black Skirts, is the Korean-Canadian rapper and group leader Epik High is Tablo. On October 26, 2009, he married the Korean actress Kang Hye-jung and and May 2, 2010, their daughter, Haru, was born. Chen (EXO) Be the Next: 9 Dreamers 긴 여정이 끝났습니다! 💛🩷 데뷔의 기회를 얻은 연습생분들 너무 축하드려요🎉 앞으로도 파이팅!! #첸 #CHEN In 2020, Chen shocked everyone by announcing that he was married to a non-celebrity and that their first child had been born. The couple's second kid was born in early 2022, making Chen a joyful father of two. Although he did faced initial backlash, many later applauded him for accepting responsibility and supporting his family. Bobby (iKON) Bobby made waves in August 2021 when he revealed that he was getting married and would soon have a child. He and his fiancée welcomed a boy later that year. Many people respected him because of his open letter to fans, which demonstrated his honesty and sense of duty. Changmin (TVXQ) #최강창민의프리허그프블리는 밍스트와 프리허그 맘 속에 영원히❤그동안 사랑해주셔서 감사합니다!덕분에 따뜻했습니다 🫶그리고 밍스트 사랑합니다 ! #프리허그 #NOW온에어 Known for his peaceful and serene manner, the superstar has accepted fatherhood while pursuing his career as a performer and artist. After Changmin married his non-celebrity fiancée in 2020, the couple delivered their first child in October 2022. Chansung (2PM) In 2021, Chansung made a public announcement about his impending marriage and the news that his fiancée was expecting their first kid. After becoming a parent, he has been content with his new family life and continued performing and musical endeavors. Sungmin (Super Junior) While little is known about his child, Sungmin is a dad. He has been married to actress Kim Sa-eun since 2014, and while he has kept his personal life pretty secret, admirers occasionally express their appreciation for his family-oriented lifestyle. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Winnipeg Free Press
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘You cannot game it': Celine Song unpacks algorithm-era love with ‘The Materialists'
For Celine Song, some things in life can't be strategized; they must play out on their own terms. The Korean-Canadian filmmaker says 'The Materialists,' the star-studded follow-up to her Oscar-nominated debut 'Past Lives,' wasn't the product of a calculated career move. She'd already begun writing it before her first film even hit theatres. 'I wish I could game it like, 'Oh man, I made 'Past Lives,' what's my next move?'' Song says on a virtual call from her New York home. But the writer-director says the new A24 rom-com was born out of restless energy while waiting for 'Past Lives' to premiere at Sundance in 2023. 'There was a funny six-month period where I was going a little bit crazy. I thought, 'I actually need to use this time to do something productive with my life' because I was just waiting for my movie to come out. So I wrote this thinking about the time that I was a matchmaker.' In her early 20s, while trying to make it as a playwright in New York, Song worked at a matchmaking agency to pay the bills. What started as a side gig became an unexpected window into the spreadsheet logic of modern love. 'When you're talking about dating and who you're looking for as your partner, the list is about height, weight, income, job — all the things you can imagine that are in the specs,' says Song. 'And then you realize none of those things actually have anything to do with what it's like to be in love. I wish it did so that you could game it like you game everything else, but the truth is you cannot game it. Love is just going to be something that happens to you. It's as ancient and holy as it always has been.' In 'The Materialists,' out Friday, Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, a matchmaker catering to wealthy New Yorkers with hyper-specific criteria. When she meets Pedro Pascal's Harry, a rich, charming private equity manager, she sees a dream match — for someone else. But Harry sets his sights on Lucy, wining and dining her with extravagant ease. Things get complicated further when her ex, Chris Evans' John, a struggling actor who still understands her deeply, reenters the picture. Song says the film is partly a commentary on today's swipe-driven approach to dating. 'It's scary!' she exclaims about dating apps. 'It's getting more gamified by the day.' Song sees herself as an old-school romantic. She explains 'The Materialists' explores the tension between checkbox compatibility and that deeper, inexplicable feeling that says, 'I think this is a person that I want to grow old with.' 'Love is the one great mystery of human life that we cannot solve, and we cannot turn it into an algorithm no matter how hard we try.' Song was born in South Korea and moved to Markham, Ont., with her family when she was 12. She relocated to New York in 2011 to pursue an MFA in playwriting, and says she was struck by the city's straight-shooting dating scene. 'The culture of New York City dating is just different than Canada's. And I loved it. It is very blunt and it's not very polite,' she says. Turns out that no-filter attitude was right up her alley. 'I was not polite and it got me into a lot of trouble when I was in Canada,' she laughs, noting she had a propensity for swearing. 'Everybody was like, 'You should watch your language.'' In New York, she not only found the freedom to curse — she also found her husband, screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes, whom she met at 24. She recalls feeling like an outlier among her career-focused circle of friends in the city. 'I was the youngest person in my friend group to get married. And it was years before the second wedding. Most of my friends were having their first child approaching 40,' says Song, now 36. 'In New York, because of how hard it is to pay rent here, I think it is just not tenable to have a casual relationship with your work. It has to be that your work is your life.… Lucy is so obsessed with her work, too, which I think is relatable for so many working people.' Beyond depicting a hustle-happy bachelorette in her mid-30s, Song says 'The Materialists' reflects real life by placing financial considerations at the heart of modern dating. Lucy speaks directly about being money-conscious. 'I feel like so much media is so polite about money, so it was really important to me that in the movie we know what everybody makes, and what kind of place they own,' she says. 'Those numbers are there so that we can talk in the way that modern people actually talk.' Still, despite the film's title, Song views the materialistic approach to love as ultimately 'flawed.' 'There's no amount of money you can throw at it. It's an impossible situation in a way. The only thing that works is the same thing that works in religion, which is it's got to be a leap of faith,' she says. 'You have to jump every day. And it is just a completely beautiful and very brave thing that a person can do.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
Hype Malaysia
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Korean-Canadian R&B Singer slchld To Hold First Concert In KL This July
You've heard his music on streaming platforms and social media, and now's your chance to listen to him live! Korean-Canadian R&B singer slchld has announced his new Asia tour – and he's coming to Malaysia! The singer, known for viral hits like 'she likes spring, i like winter' and 'camelia', will embark on his Asia tour in July. His Kuala Lumpur concert will take place at The Exchange Hall on 15th July 2025 (Tuesday). slchld will also perform in Jakarta, Singapore, Manila and Bangkok. Seating plans for the KL show have been announced, with Banyak Bagus Entertainment serving as concert organiser. Born in Seoul and based in Canada, slchld is an R&B artist whose work blends soulful vocals with lo-fi and alternative sounds. He's best known for his emotionally honest lyrics that explore topics like love, heartbreak and personal growth. The talented singer has over 400 million streams, showcasing his popularity amongst music lovers. He has also collaborated with artists like HYBS and eaJ, redefining the indie R&B scene. While this isn't slchld's first time in Asia, this upcoming concert will be his debut performance in Malaysia. Fans at his KL show can expect an unforgettable night of soulful music and emotional vocals. VIP ticket packages are also available, which include a group photo session with the singer. If you want to be serenaded by slchld and his smooth vocals, here are the details for the concert: shchld Live In Malaysia Date: 15th July 2025 (Tuesday) Time: 8pm Venue: The Exchange Hall, OUG Organiser: Banyak Bagus Entertainment Ticket Prices: VIP: RM450, Premium General Admission: RM270, General Admission: RM180 Ticket Sales: Tickets are available from 1st May 2025 (Thursday) onwards via Ticketmelon For more information on the concert and the ticketing, please reach out to Banyak Bagus Entertainment or Ticketmelon via their website or social media. Are you excited to catch slchld live in KL? Source: Instagram
CBC
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Mark's K-pop domination may finally be complete with his new solo album
One of the biggest names in K-pop music at the moment is Mark Lee, known to his millions of fans simply as Mark. The Korean-Canadian K-pop star is with SM Entertainment, one of the biggest K-pop labels in the industry. He is best known for debuting in the group NCT nine years ago. But now, after almost a decade in the business, he has released his first solo album called The Firstfruit. Today on Commotion, culture writer Lucy Ford talks with Elamin about the album, and why fans have been eagerly awaiting NCT Mark's debut solo record. We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube (this segment begins at 15:00): Elamin: Mark's new solo album is very autobiographical, and there are songs inspired by every city he's lived in. That includes Toronto, where he was born, Vancouver, where he grew up. He was involved in the writing of every song on this album. For a debut solo K-pop record, how unusual is that? Lucy: It's pretty unusual, especially for SM Entertainment, which is the label he's under. There are a few K-pop groups that are known for being self-producing — BTS, Stray Kids, Seventeen are ones you might've heard of. But very few SM groups or artists are. And I think it's just because they're a little bit more controlled. SM has a sound that it sticks to. So for Mark to have so much creative freedom is really interesting. I think it speaks to maybe the pull he has in SM just by virtue of being the backbone of multiple groups. I imagine it was a conversation that was had, like, "I will do all these things if I'm able to have such creative freedom when it comes to finally being a solo artist." He debuted nine years ago; he's only 25. Elamin: He's been at this for a long time. Lucy: Yeah, it's kind of crazy. I have described this album as sort of a magnum opus, which is a bizarre thing to say to someone who is 25. It's an incredibly nostalgic album. It's so autobiographical. Again, crazy to say as someone who's 25 to be nostalgic about their life, but he's packed a lot in, in that time. Elamin: The idea of your magnum opus arriving at 25 is a wild and kind of stunning thought…. You said [ Righteous ] is your favorite track off the album. Why is this one your favourite? Lucy: I think this is my favorite variant of Mark Lee. Like I said, he does a lot. But I love Mark Lee when he's being sort of propulsive, when there's a real fight to his energy. I think it is a cathartic song to listen to, and also feels like probably a cathartic song to perform. Sonically it is very similar to NCT 127, which is probably the NCT unit that I personally like the most as a sound. But I think the reason I like it so much and what I gravitated towards with it when I first heard it is, it really encapsulates the ethos of the album really succinctly. The album is about his faith, his parents and just how confident he is. And that's all in this song. Every lyric is just about those three things, and it's just very neatly packaged — like, the thesis statement is there. LISTEN | Mark's song Righteous on YouTube: Elamin: You've been covering K-pop for a while. When you look at Mark's new solo album in the context of his general career as a K-pop idol, someone who's been a member of all these different groups, what's your takeaway? Lucy: I think what I've always been so interested in in K-pop is just the way that it tries to strike a balance. And what I mean by that is ultimately, it's a huge experiment in capitalism. It is constantly trying to find ways to make money out of fans, but also it has a product that people need to be emotionally invested in and have some level of authenticity to it. So balancing that is really difficult. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. Mark is a really good litmus test of how much you can make someone a workforce before people start demanding a union for him, you know? And so I think with him, we've been waiting to see when he's not being splintered across all these groups, sort of forced to be doing different sounds, who is he? What is him as a whole, complete being? And I think this album is really successful in doing that, probably because he had so much creative freedom, but he clearly has been thinking about it for a long time.
