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Pyo Kyung-min

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Stay tuned for Pyo Kyung-min's latest K-pop stories, where she digs into the backstories that matter. She’d love to hear from you — share your thoughts at pzzang@koreatimes.co.kr. After all, every article gets better with insights from those who love the scene, just like she does!

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K-pop

Min Hee-jin offers to forgo $18 mil. payout to stop legal conflict with HYBE

Min Hee-jin, the creative force behind K-pop girl group NewJeans and current head of Ooak Records, called Wednesday for an end to the ongoing legal battle between herself and HYBE Labels, proposing that she forgo a 25.5 billion won ($18 million) payment if all civil and criminal litigation is dropped. Speaking at a press conference in central Seoul, Min opened by reflecting on her Feb. 13 victory in a put-option lawsuit over a shareholder agreement dispute with HYBE. “I express my respect and gratitude to the court for carefully examining the essence of this case over a long period of time and confirming it through its ruling,” she said. “It was truly a long tunnel.” She said the court had determined that what she described as "sensational frames" surrounding the dispute were unfounded and recognized that her concerns about creative ethics were matters of managerial judgment. Under the ruling, Min is entitled to approximately 25.5 billion won. However, she said she intends to exchange the monetary award "for another value." The sum, she described, was "an amount one may never enco

Feb 25, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Min Hee-jin offers to forgo $18 mil. payout to stop legal conflict with HYBE
K-pop

KATSEYE faces fan division after Manon’s hiatus, parent comments spark backlash

KATSEYE, the HYBE-Geffen global girl group formed through the 2023 audition show project "The Debut: Dream Academy," is facing renewed scrutiny after member Manon announced a temporary hiatus and comments attributed to a fellow member's father fueled online backlash. What began as a routine health-related pause has quickly evolved into a broader debate over whether K-pop's tightly structured methodology can be seamlessly applied to multinational acts. On Saturday, the group confirmed through an official statement shared via fan platform Weverse that Manon, 23, would "take a temporary hiatus from group activities to focus on her health and well-being," adding that the remaining members would continue scheduled promotions while fully supporting her decision. While such temporary pauses are common in the industry, the situation escalated in the following days when social media comments widely attributed to KATSEYE member Daniela's father surfaced online. In response to fan speculation about the lineup, the account posted, "THE SHOW MUST GO ON! With or without a member. KATSEYE IS BIGGER THA

Feb 24, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
KATSEYE faces fan division after Manon’s hiatus, parent comments spark backlash
K-pop

IVE trades princess polish for powerful performance in 'REVIVE+'

K-pop girl group IVE returns Monday with its second full-length album "REVIVE+," marking a new chapter for the six-member act as it steadily reshapes itself into a generational icon and builds on its connection with younger K-pop audiences. Composed of An Yu-jin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz and Leeseo, the group held a press event at YES24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul, just hours ahead of the album's official release, offering a first look at the band's creative direction and a live performance of the key track. "It feels special to return with a full-length album after nearly three years," Gaeul said. "Rather than just showing how we've changed, we worked together to present a more evolved and grown-up version of IVE." "I'm proud that we were able to put everything we've built under the name IVE into this album," Rei added. "We'll work hard to show a wide range of charms." According to the group, "REVIVE+" is more than a declaration of a new concept. Since debuting with "Eleven" and following it with a string of hits including "Love Dive," "After LIKE," "I AM" and "HEYA," IVE has built

Feb 23, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
IVE trades princess polish for powerful performance in 'REVIVE+'
K-pop

Apink's 8th concert, 15-year run proves K-pop success is built on talent, not just virality

At its eighth solo concert, 15-year-old girl group Apink celebrated much more than longevity. The veteran five-member act delivered a blunt reminder of what still matters in the K-pop realm — live vocals, onstage effort and genuine sincerity. Apink, comprising members Chorong, Bomi, Eunji, Namjoo and Hayoung, brought “The Origin : APINK” show to Jangchung Arena in central Seoul last weekend, marking the first time a K-pop girl group has reached an eighth standalone concert. The show doubled as the group’s 15th anniversary milestone, but it never felt trapped in nostalgia. On Sunday, the closing night of the two-day show, Apink ran through a massive 30-song set backed by a full live band in front of about 5,000 devoted fans. Appearing onstage in glittering pink outfits, the group opened the event with its 2011 debut track “I Don’t Know,” instantly pulling the crowd back to the era when Apink first carved out its space in the industry. Fifteen years later, the energy felt less like a throwback and more like a quiet flex. From there, the hits arrived one after another. Tracks l

Feb 23, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Apink's 8th concert, 15-year run proves K-pop success is built on talent, not just virality
K-pop

Museums, theaters near Gwanghwamun adjust schedules for BTS' comeback show

Cultural institutions surrounding Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul are preparing temporary closures and schedule changes as safety measures ahead of K-pop juggernaut BTS' large-scale comeback concert set for March 21. The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History announced Friday that it will remain closed that day due to the event. The museum said the decision was made after considering safety concerns tied to the anticipated concentration of large crowds in the Gwanghwamun area. Nearby, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is also in discussions with concert organizers about canceling scheduled performances and exhibitions. Officials are reportedly exploring ways to open parts of the complex for fan use, potentially allowing visitors access to selected spaces and amenities. Several performances scheduled at the center that day have already been affected. The musical "Anna Karenina," originally set to be held at the Grand Theater, and the play "The Wasp" at the S Theater have been officially canceled. While decisions are still pending for The Seoul Metropolitan Ballet's dan

Feb 22, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Museums, theaters near Gwanghwamun adjust schedules for BTS' comeback show
K-pop

Legal victory opens new chapter for Min Hee-jin as HYBE, NewJeans face next test

A Seoul court’s ruling ordering K-pop conglomerate HYBE Labels to pay former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin about 25.5 billion won ($17.5 million) in a put option dispute has begun reshaping the next phase of one of K-pop’s biggest corporate battles. While the Feb. 12 decision clarified key legal questions surrounding Min’s shareholder agreement and creative autonomy, it also left a complex web of appeals, ongoing lawsuits and artist negotiations unresolved, placing renewed focus on how Min, HYBE and girl group NewJeans will navigate the months ahead. What court decided The central question in the case was whether Min had committed a substantial breach of her shareholder agreement with HYBE that would allow the company to terminate the contract and block her put option. HYBE argued that Min’s conduct, including efforts to pursue independence for sub-label Ador and her public remarks tied to internal disputes, amounted to a “serious violation” that destroyed mutual trust. Min countered that her put option was valid under the contract terms and that her actions did not meet the legal thr

Feb 19, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Legal victory opens new chapter for Min Hee-jin as HYBE, NewJeans face next test
K-pop

How K-pop turned lore into production system

In K-pop, idols can be superheroes, werewolves, vampires and pirates, all inside elaborate fictional worlds rich with their own lore. These self-made universes showcased the genre’s imagination, framing each comeback within a larger narrative that stretched across music videos, lyrics and visuals. Albums started feeling less like isolated releases and more like chapters in a continuing story, with cryptic teaser films and hidden clues turning world-building into one of K-pop’s most playful creative endeavors. Over time, however, that lore grew into something bigger than just storytelling. What began as a fun narrative layer expanded into a production framework linking music with webtoons, games and wider branding strategies. As labels positioned idol groups as long-term intellectual properties (IPs), world-building became more systematic — even as a new wave of artists began stepping away from overt storylines to keep the focus on the music itself, reflecting K-pop’s ongoing evolution as a comprehensive art form. Birth of lore The roots of fictional universes in K-pop trace back t

Feb 16, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
How K-pop turned lore into production system
K-pop

What to expect from BTS' free Gwanghwamun concert

K-pop juggernaut BTS is preparing to return as a full group with a large-scale free concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square next month, transforming one of the capital’s most symbolic public spaces into a rare open-air performance venue. As anticipation builds around the group’s first complete lineup concert since October 2022 — nearly three years and four months ago — official announcements and industry sources are offering a clearer picture of what fans can expect from the upcoming comeback event. Titled “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” the Gwanghwamun concert will take place March 21 at 8 p.m., a day after the release of the group's fifth studio album, “Arirang.” The concert will serve as the live launch for the new record. According to HYBE Labels, the group's agency, the show will run for roughly an hour, presenting a compact stage centered on the new work alongside several of the group’s well-known hits. Rooted in Korean heritage The staging concept of the show draws directly from Korea’s cultural legacy, combining historical symbolism with large-scale contempor

Feb 13, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
What to expect from BTS' free Gwanghwamun concert
K-pop

BLACKPINK teams up with National Museum of Korea to launch new EP 'DEADLINE'

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is expanding its upcoming album rollout beyond music, launching a collaborative project with the National Museum of Korea (NMK) that blends the band's global influence with Korean cultural heritage. According to the museum and the group's label, YG Entertainment, the “National Museum of Korea X BLACKPINK” initiative will run from Feb. 27 to March 8 to coincide with the release of the group’s third EP, “DEADLINE.” The project marks the first time a K-pop act has undertaken a large-scale collaboration with the state-run museum, with global audio streaming platform Spotify joining as an official partner. As part of the event, the museum's exterior and outdoor plaza will be illuminated in pink lighting — the group's signature color — daily from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering a nighttime viewing experience for the public. Inside the museum, a dedicated listening zone will be installed along a “Path to History,” located in the east wing of the museum, allowing visitors to hear the full album starting on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m., the moment of its official re

Feb 12, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BLACKPINK teams up with National Museum of Korea to launch new EP 'DEADLINE'
K-pop

Why BTS is returning to Korean identity in new album 'Arirang'

When BTS, one of K-pop’s most globally recognized groups, returns as a full seven-member act in March, it will mark more than just the end of a hiatus. The comeback has been interpreted as a deliberate statement about identity and belonging, at a time when fans and observers are debating whether K-pop is evolving into something more culturally neutral, often described by its biggest producers as "global pop." Scheduled for March 20, BTS’ return is defined by two closely linked choices: a new album titled "Arirang," named after one of Korea’s most enduring folk songs, and a large-scale free outdoor performance the following day at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. Thus, the K-pop juggernaut is positioning its comeback as a return home, centering the members' Korean heritage rather than displacing it. "Centering an album on 'Arirang' reflects BTS’ confidence in placing Korean heritage at the core of their global identity," Kim Hee-yon, an assistant professor of strategy at Cornell University, told The Korea Times in a written interview. Adding that the move aligns with BTS’ l

Feb 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Why BTS is returning to Korean identity in new album 'Arirang'
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