Latin Pop Star Ricky Martin to Play in Chamsil

Ricky Martin, the Latin pop idol responsible for the
International Salsa dancing boom, is scheduled to
appear in Seoul at a long-awaited concert to accompany
the promotion of his new single album "She Bangs" at
Chamsil Olympic Main Stadium on Oct. 7.

Mr. Martin is visiting Korea as part of an Asian
tour concert which began in Japan on Sep.27, said Kim Hong-gee, director of Allaccess, an agency company. Kim said Martin is planning to introduce some of the songs from his upcoming album, which will be released on Oct. 31.

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican native has been hailed as a
singer in the vanguard of Latin pop stars, along with
Jennifer Lopes, Luis Miguel, Enrique Iglesias and Chris Perez.

He achieved worldwide stardom after the release of his smash hit, "La Copa de la Vida," the 1998 World Cup theme song.

Blessed with good looks and an outstanding voice, Mr. Martin began acting in television commercials at the age of 6. In 1984, at the age of 12, Mr. Martin became a lead singer for the Latin boy group Menudo. He stayed with the group for five years and helped it gain
international popularity.

Acclaimed as the "king of Latin pop," Mr. Martin has
released many hit albums, including his self-titled debut album (1991), "A Medio Vivir"(1995), which has a harder rock edge, "vuelve" (1998), his first English pop album, and "Ricky Martin" (1999), a worldwide blockbuster which contains the singles "Livin' la Vica Loca" and "She's All I Ever Had."

In addition to his musical achievements, Mr. Martin also has a talent for acting and has appeared in the American soap opera "General Hospital,"where he played a bartender-singer in 1994.

He turned down a chance to join in a film remake of West Side Story with a star opposite Jennifer Lopez because he just wanted to be thought of as "singer forever," Mr. Martin is quoted as saying.

For more information or to buy tickets, call Ticket Park at (02) 538-3200. (No English service. Press"0"for the information desk).You may also visit www.ticketpark.com or www.ticketlink.co.kr.

by Kim Jae-seon