People & Events

1. Which Korean celebrities caused a storm over their social media posts – showing them mask-free and hanging out in Bali, Paris and New York during the coronavirus pandemic?

   The coronavirus took off in South Korea early in March after a mass infection at a church in Daegu under the Shincheonji sect, where one infected member managed to pass on her illness to thousands more as she refused to undergo treatment and testing multiple times, insisting that her religion made her impervious to disease.The infected members continued their daily life, travelling around the country, resulting in a sudden spike in numbers over the course of a few days. Numbers hit 7,400 on…

2. From Disney’s Girl Meets World to unlikely LGBT icon – the sudden transformation of feminist Instagram activist Rowan Blanchard

   Rowan Blanchard, New York City’s most precocious 18-year-old, is already well-known for two seemingly opposing things – her intense activism and support for LGBTQ+ and feminism, as well as her brief stint on Girl Meets World.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Rowan Blanchard (◕‿◕) (@rowanblanchard) on Sep 15, 2019 at 5:58pm PDTProduced by the Disney Channel, the show was a coming-of-age sitcom about Riley Matthews (played by Blanchard), a typical tween navigating New York City and…

3. Despite coronavirus, K-pop continues with new releases from Kang Daniel, Exo’s Suho, (G)I-dle, Stray Kids and more

   K-pop concerts, showcases and various other promotional events have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. But that does not mean the industry is at a total standstill.Many established and rising K-pop artists, including Kang Daniel and Exo leader Suho, are ready to drop new albums in coming weeks, according to their management agencies.Kang's first EP, “Cyan”, dropped on March 24, officially bringing him back to the music scene after he suspended his show business career in December,…

4. Who was Tina Leung – Ti Na – the Hong Kong movie star who regretted a nude scene and worked as a spy for communist China?

   Often referred to as an enigma in Hong Kong’s entertainment world, Tina Leung Kwok-hing – widely known as Ti Na – led a colourful life both on and off screen. She passed away at the age of 65 in the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on March 31, 2010, due to multiple organ failure.Throughout Leung’s cinematic career, mainly in the 1960s and 1970s, she made 54 films. Although she later left showbiz and engaged in different businesses both in Hong Kong and mainland China, her performances are…

5. Friends star Matthew Perry’s Los Angeles penthouse is for sale priced US$35 million – take a look inside

   The actor Matthew Perry, one of six millionaire stars of the era-defining sitcom Friends, has listed his Los Angeles penthouse for an eye-watering US$35 million.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Matthew Perry (@mattyperry4) on Mar 2, 2020 at 4:47pm PSTPenthouse 40, also known as the “Mansion in the Sky”, sits on the 40th floor of The Century – a 42-story luxury condominium in Los Angeles. According to Money, Perry bought the penthouse in 2017 for US$20 million.The 9,290-square-foot…

6. 5 things to know about Korean drama actress Kim Tae-hee, star of Hi Bye, Mama! and wife of K-pop star Rain

   Kim Tae-hee, the Korean actress known for her goddess-like beauty, incredibly turned 40 on March 29.Despite being in the entertainment industry since 2001 – rising to fame when she starred in Stairway to Heaven (2003) – she’s succeeded in keeping a relatively low profile.So, it’s always exciting when we get titbits about her personality and personal life here and there. Time to get to know her a bit better.View this post on Instagram[#김태희] 진짜 '태쁘'가 돌아왔다️ 태희 배우는 좋겠다, 맨날 김태희 얼굴봐서 존재만으로 빛이난다 ▶️…

7. Will Mukesh Ambani donate to fight coronavirus? India’s richest man faces criticism for ‘ringing a bell’, while billionaires Bill Gates and Jack Ma dig deep

   Mukesh Ambani, one of the richest men in Asia, has been in the news a lot as Covid-19 cases in the region and his own home country continue to grow. While some have criticised what he and his family have and haven’t done in the wake of the global pandemic, there are also reasons to praise his actions and the potential they have to save lives.Jack Ma vs Mukesh Ambani – who’s the richest man in Asia now?The Ambani tradition of helpingAmbani’s firm, Reliance Industries, is the largest firm in…

8. ‘Candy girl’ no more: K-drama finally embraces feminism – led by Her Private Life and The Beauty Inside

   The “candy girl” used to be a stock character for many a famous K-drama. Referring to the unfortunate, but oddly optimistic, hardworking poor girl that is swept off her feet and into a limo by a rich Prince Charming, the “candy” is a common set-up. A perfect example would be in K-drama staple, Boys Over Flowers, where the poor Cinderella character Geum Jan-di attracts the attention of resident spoilt brat, Gu Jun-pyo, who falls for her after she throws ice-cream in his face while standing up…

9. Itaewon Class: get the Tiffany & Co. and Montblanc styles your favourite K-drama characters wear on the Netflix series

   The coronavirus has already taken away our chill, but thankfully we still have Netflix to see us through this pandemic. Fans of K-Drama have plenty to binge on, including Itaewon Class, the new hot series to follow the popular series Crash Landing on You. But the show isn’t renowned for just the plots; luxury watches and jewellery worn by characters in Itaewon Class have sparked fans’ interest as well. Let’s take a look at the best designs we spotted on the show.Why BTS and other K-pop bands…

10. Leslie Cheung – 7 things you didn’t know about the Canto-pop icon, actor and LGBT pioneer

    It has been 17 years since Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing passed away, tragically killing himself after suffering from depression. Although he was only 46 when he died, Cheung lived an incredible life – he was a Canto-pop icon, an award-winning actor recognised around the world and an LGBTQ+ pioneer.On the anniversary of his passing, April 1, it is fitting to pay tribute to this incredible Hongkonger. Whether you’re a diehard fan who knows every word to every song or someone who only recognises him…