The Korea Times

HYBE’s 1st Latin boy band SANTOS BRAVOS lands in Seoul as K-pop expands global push

A Latin boy band appearing at HYBE Labels headquarters in the heart of Seoul would have seemed unlikely not long ago. For SANTOS BRAVOS, the moment underscores the company’s effort to expand the K-pop production model beyond Korea. The five-member group held a media event Friday at the label’s Yongsan headquarters, introducing itself to Korean press for the first time since debut. The appearance brings the act into the center of the Korean entertainment giant that created it, highlighting the company’s push to build regionally rooted groups beyond K-pop’s home. SANTOS BRAVOS debuted in October 2025 as HYBE’s first boy band under its Latin American branch, formed through a survival program that drew trainees from across Latin America, the United States and Europe. Comprising members from different backgrounds — Mexican-American Drew, Alejandro from Peru, Gabi from Puerto Rico, Kaue from Brazil and Kenneth from Mexico — the final lineup reflects a strategy aimed at building a pan-Latin identity. The group first gained attention through its debut showcase at Mexico City’s Au

Apr 10, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

K-pop

What to know about Goyang Stadium — and why K-pop acts love it

As BTS prepares to kick off its world tour with a three-day concert run from Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at Goyang Stadium, the choice of venue may prompt a certain question among some — why not Seoul? For an act long associated with landmark stages in the Korean capital, performing outside city limits can seem unexpected. The decision, however, points to a broader shift in Korea's concert landscape, where the stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, has emerged as one of the few venues capable of meeting the scale of K-pop today. Goyang Stadium, located in the mid sized city 20 kilometers northwest of Seoul, has become the default home of large-scale live music in the Seoul metropolitan area, a transformation that has unfolded quickly and largely out of necessity. In 2025 alone, the stadium hosted 18 major concerts, drawing 700,000 attendees and generating roughly 10.9 billion won ($8.2 million) in revenue. The roster includes G-Dragon, who launched his first solo tour in eight years there in March, followed by British rock band Coldplay in April. K-pop girl group BLACKPINK opened its

Apr 9, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

What to know about Goyang Stadium — and why K-pop acts love it

Travel & Food

Young Koreans drive growing obsession with Chinese cuisine

On a recent Tuesday evening, the Myeong-dong branch of Bantianyao Kaoyu, a Chinese restaurant specializing in whole simmered fish dishes, was already filling up well before the dinner rush. Inside, large trays of whole simmered fish arrived one after another, each landing in a bath of deep red chili-laced broth, sending up a cloud of steam over the tables. Despite having arrived at 5:30 p.m., early enough to avoid the usual queue of hungry commuters, most seats had already been claimed by small groups of young diners leaning in close, adjusting burners, reaching for chopsticks and talking. What stood out was not just the food, but the sound. Orders were called out in Mandarin, replies came back in Korean and conversations moved fluidly between the two. The overlap was constant, creating a unique atmosphere that felt increasingly familiar in parts of Seoul where Chinese restaurants cluster. Scenes like this would have been rare outside a handful of neighborhoods just a few years ago. Today, they are part of a shift in how younger Koreans eat and where they choose to spend their evenings. A

Apr 9, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

Young Koreans drive growing obsession with Chinese cuisine

K-pop

WJSN's Dayoung brings new confidence to 'What's a Girl to Do'

"I really thought only my mom and I would buy my album." It's a blunt admission from Dayoung, the youngest member of K-pop girl group WJSN, but one that frames the unlikely path she’s taken over the past year. When the singer quietly made her solo debut last September with "gonna love me right?" and its viral lead single, "body," she wasn’t thinking about chart success or viral traction. If anything, she was bracing for the worst. "I didn’t have enough confidence," she said during an interview with The Korea Times at Starship Entertainment headquarters, the singer's management label, Thursday. "I was worried if I release physical albums, they would just sit in storage. I didn’t want to get heartbroken by that." Instead, "body" did the exact opposite. The track began to pick up momentum as listeners responded to both its energy and her raw delivery. What started as a cautious solo experiment quickly turned into a defining moment. "I didn’t expect that kind of love at all," the singer said. "But because of that, I got the chance to release another album. That’s something I’m r

Apr 7, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

WJSN's Dayoung brings new confidence to 'What's a Girl to Do'

K-pop

KickFlip turns flirting into full-blown concept with 'Eye-Poppin''

JYP Entertainment's seven-member boy group KickFlip returns Monday with its fourth mini-album "My First Kick" and lead single "Eye-Poppin'," once again fully leaning into the group's bright, boyish energy. The comeback follows last September's "My First Flip," which playfully captured the rush of first love, and marked the group's career high with more than 400,000 copies sold in its first week. This time, KickFlip turns the page to its twenties, framing the new release as both a prologue and a first leap into youth. Just hours ahead of the Monday release, the group met reporters at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul's Gwangjin District, greeting the press with the same loud enthusiasm that has defined the group since its debut. Amaru, who halted activities last September due to health reasons, did not attend. "Through variety shows, a lot of people have come to know us," Juwang said. "But we really want to show that we're also a strong performance group." Minje pointed to the team's chemistry as the foundation of that strength. "Our performances come from how close we are as members," he said. "I

Apr 6, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

KickFlip turns flirting into full-blown concept with 'Eye-Poppin''

K-pop

Daughter of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt appears in K-pop music video

Shiloh Jolie, the 19-year-old daughter of Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, appeared as a background dancer in a music video teaser for K-pop singer Dayoung, drawing widespread attention online after fans recognized her striking resemblance to her mother. The 30-second teaser, released Thursday by the singer's label, Starship Entertainment, shows Jolie in a choreographed sequence with other dancers, sporting a slicked-back hairstyle, hoop earrings and a lacy brown top. Jolie was reportedly cast through an open audition held in the United States. Starship told a local media outlet that the production team selected her based on her dancing and did not know her identity until after filming had concluded. Jolie's interest in dance has surfaced publicly before. In May 2024, choreographer Lil Kelaan Carter shared a video of her dancing solo on Instagram, writing, "Her movement is crazy." Jolie legally dropped "Pitt" from her surname when she turned 18 in 2024. Angelina Jolie and Pitt, who share six children, separated in 2016 after two years of marriage. Meanwhile, Dayoung, a member

Apr 5, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

K-pop

Global push is fueling English boom in K-pop, but at what cost?

After BTS, one of the biggest names in K-pop, returned last month with its fifth studio album wrapped in Korean cultural symbols, one detail drew particular attention beyond the music — how much of the songs were sung, partly if not entirely, in English? The group's latest release, "ARIRANG," takes its title from Korea's best-known folk song and threads Korean identity through its visuals, sonic references and even its recent comeback stage at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. But behind the scenes, the album reflected a tension that is becoming increasingly visible across the K-pop industry. In a recently unveiled Netflix documentary tied to the project, BTS' leader RM was seen raising concerns about the album's heavy use of English lyrics, questioning whether a project centered on Korean identity could remain "authentic" if much of it was not in Korean. Fellow member Suga also suggested increasing the number of Korean lines. Their label executives, however, emphasized a different priority — global reach. That exchange landed at a moment when English has become more prominent tha

Apr 3, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

Global push is fueling English boom in K-pop, but at what cost?

Travel & Food

How texture is shaping Korea's current food trends

On a recent weekend afternoon, Hwang In-woo, a university student in his 20s, found himself standing in line for something called “Butter rice cakes” — yet another trending dessert he never intended to try. Hwang said he has been eating his way through Korea’s latest food crazes largely at the urging of his girlfriend, who regularly discovers new items on social media and insists they try them together. “I wouldn’t usually go out of my way to buy these if it weren’t for her,” he told The Korea Times. But as he found himself unintentionally following the trends, he began to notice they all shared something in common beyond just flavor. “Most of them are chewy or soft, so you really don’t need much stress or strength to enjoy them,” he said. “The Dubai-style cookie was the most surprising. It looks soft, but then you get these crispy bits inside. That feeling really stayed with me.” Hwang’s observation points to a quiet but decisive shift in Korea’s food culture, where texture — how something stretches, resists, collapses or melts in the mouth — has become

Apr 2, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

How texture is shaping Korea's current food trends

K-pop

K-pop fans trade ticket wars for VR concert rush

As K-pop's global fandom continues to expand, one reality has become increasingly clear: Getting a concert ticket has become harder than ever. For 18-year-old student Lee Se-min, that challenge feels all too familiar. A longtime fan of K-pop boy band SEVENTEEN, she has also been closely following their label junior group TWS since debut. But even with strong interest, attending a live show is not a simple decision. "Of course I'd want to go in person, if I just had that much money," Lee said. "But I already have a favorite group, and there's no guarantee I'd even manage to get a ticket for TWS." Instead, she opted for a different kind of concert experience, one that is quickly reshaping how fans engage with their favorite idols. Virtual reality (VR) concerts, once seen as experimental, are steadily gaining ground as a viable alternative to traditional live shows. Lee recently attended "TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD," which premiered at Megabox Coex on March 4 and has since extended its run through April due to strong demand. "I went in expecting lower quality," she said with a laugh. "But th

Apr 1, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

K-pop

How DAY6 Wonpil's inner struggles shaped 'Unpiltered'

On a quiet Tuesday morning in a cafe tucked inside Seoul's Gangnam district, Wonpil sits in a camel-colored jacket, his wide, expressive eyes flickering between excitement and visible nerves. Known to fans as the spirited keyboardist and vocalist of K-pop band DAY6, the 31-year-old singer is preparing to introduce a more vulnerable side of himself through his upcoming solo mini-album, "Unpiltered," set for release Monday. "It still feels surreal," Wonpil told The Korea Times with a soft laugh. "Even doing this interview feels unbelievable. Preparing this album made me realize once again that music can never be created by one person alone." The new project comes a whopping four years after his first solo release, "Pilmography" in February 2022. The seven-track release features the emotionally charged lead single "Highs and Lows," alongside songs like "Toxic Love," "Up All Night" and "Step by Step." While DAY6 has long been associated with youthful K-band anthems and uplifting pop-rock, Wonpil says he reached a turning point around the band's 10th anniversary. "I kept thinking about the ima

Mar 30, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

Pyo Kyung-min

Read more

HYBE’s 1st Latin boy band SANTOS BRAVOS lands in Seoul as K-pop expands global push

What to know about Goyang Stadium — and why K-pop acts love it

Young Koreans drive growing obsession with Chinese cuisine

WJSN's Dayoung brings new confidence to 'What's a Girl to Do'

KickFlip turns flirting into full-blown concept with 'Eye-Poppin''

Daughter of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt appears in K-pop music video

Global push is fueling English boom in K-pop, but at what cost?

How texture is shaping Korea's current food trends

K-pop fans trade ticket wars for VR concert rush

How DAY6 Wonpil's inner struggles shaped 'Unpiltered'

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