It’s been years since we first heard of him. Finally Nichkun (นิชคุณ) is debuting as a member of a proper Korean boy band!

 

 

 

2PM is a seven-member group of boys from JYP entertainment (a music label possibly best known in Thailand for launching the careers of Rain and Wonder Girls. The members have all spent time as trainees under the guidance of JYP himself so there’s surely a lot to be expected from them.

 

Download the video here.

 

 

Right, I just got back to Thailand yesterday after a long, hellish exam term which thankfully had gone better than expected.  While I always look forward to returning home in the summer (rainy season in Thailand), the internet quality in the country is probably the one thing that irritates me the most. And a moment ago when I checked out Veoh, where I can always enjoy the latest Kpop videos, what came up on the screen was this:

 

 

Thanks MICT. Not that online videos would load quickly with the Internet speed I have anyway.

 

As usual, the guys over at Not The Nation are doing a very good job satirising Thai society and its people. It's true that some of their attempts at being funny have come up short but I still admire their creativity and their willingness to explore the normally 'untouchable' issues in the country (you know what I mean).

 

The story today is to do with how we Thais tend to deflect criticisms from the foreign press by claiming that they don't truly understand the Thai culture and way of life. Here's an excerpt:

 

 

Foreign Reporter Finally Understands Thailand

 

BANGKOK - After reporting on Thailand for 36 years, Roger Snerdley, a foreign correspondent for Asia Weekly, was welcomed by the Bangkok media elite into the Journalists Allowed to Cover Thailand Association (JACTass).

 

The club's members, commonly referred to as JACTasses, pride themselves in their near cryptic understanding of the Land of Smiles . "We understand this place," said Ted Hacker, the club's president. "A lot of people think they can come in here and figure out what's going on, but it's not that easy. Thailand is a mystery that only the members of our special club can really comprehend. And we will ruthlessly criticize those who we say don't really understand this country."

 

 

Head here for the full story.

 

Madonna and Justin! Can there be any better combination?

 

Epik High is a popular Korean hip-hop group consisting of three members: Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz. They have found some remarkable success with their previous four studio albums and now they're back with a fifth album, entitled "Pieces Part One". The MV of the first single "One"  features Jung Ryeo Won from the drama Kim Sam Soon and ex-kpop group, Chakra. Personally I think this video is brilliant and you should check it out.