my timesThe Korea Times
pzzang

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!

Go to Email

Read more

Travel & Food

How memory shapes food at Singapore's Michelin-starred restaurant Meta

SINGAPORE — At Meta Restaurant, dinner begins before you recognize it as Korean. The first clue arrives quietly, not with kimchi or gochujang, but with temperature. A dish meant to be warm arrives unmistakably warm. A sauce carrying the sea tastes of a winter coast, deep and composed. Nothing declares intent, yet the food does ask the diner to pay attention. By the time "gyeran jjim," a Korean steamed egg custard, arrives with smooth fish milt sourced from Japan’s Hokkaido and a sauce reminiscent of "haemultang," the often spicy Korean seafood stew, the recognition has already settled in. Nothing on the table at Meta announces itself outright, yet by the end of the meal, the flavors carry the weight of memory, unmistakable but difficult to name. That recognition had begun earlier that afternoon, during a conversation with Meta's chef Sun Kim, even before dinner was served, on Jan. 21. Meta is a two-Michelin-star fine dining restaurant in Singapore, known for tasting menus that resist easy classification. Led by Kim, the Korean-born chef-owner, the restaurant draws loosely from Korean

Jan 28, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
How memory shapes food at Singapore's Michelin-starred restaurant Meta
K-pop

KiiiKiii frames freedom, fantasy in 2nd mini-album 'Delulu Pack'

Rookie K-pop girl group KiiiKiii returned Monday with its second mini-album, "Delulu Pack," framing "delusion" as a playful expression of youthful freedom. Released under Starship Entertainment — home to K-pop acts IVE and CRAVITY — the album builds on the confident tone of the group’s breakout debut single "I DO ME." According to the agency, "Delulu Pack" explores KiiiKiii’s identity by "layering the world with colors and narratives unique to the group." The quintet introduced the album during a media showcase held Monday at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul's Gwangjin District, just hours before its official release at 6 p.m. Appearing in white fur-accented outfits, the five KiiiKiii members — Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum and Kya — performed new songs and shared behind-the-scenes stories from the album's production, Jiyu, the group's leader, said the album's title was inspired by the term "delulu," a shortened, online meme-derived form of the word "delusional." "We wanted to share KiiiKiii's own playful and lighthearted fantasies through this album," Jiyu said. "Delulu Pack" consists of s

Jan 26, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
KiiiKiii frames freedom, fantasy in 2nd mini-album 'Delulu Pack'
Arts & Theater

Korean artists, curators expand footprint at Singapore Art Week 2026

SINGAPORE — From a resort ballroom on Sentosa Island to a former port warehouse at Tanjong Pagar, Korean artists and curators are appearing across Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2026, reflecting their growing involvement in Southeast Asia’s contemporary art platforms. Organized annually by Singapore’s National Arts Council, SAW is one of the region’s largest contemporary art events, bringing together exhibitions, performances and art fairs across the city each January. The week draws international curators, collectors and institutions and runs alongside the region’s leading art fair, ART SG, as well as S.E.A. Focus, a curated platform dedicated to Southeast Asian contemporary art. This year, Korean participation appears across several official programs of SAW, spanning a group exhibition, a solo gallery show and large-scale public exhibitions. Rather than forming a single national showcase, these projects are distributed across different sites and formats, highlighting how Korean artists and galleries are engaging with Singapore’s role as a regional art hub. One of the most visibl

Jan 24, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Korean artists, curators expand footprint at Singapore Art Week 2026
Arts & Theater

Singapore Art Week opens as forums, museums, public art take over city

SINGAPORE — Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2026 officially kicked off on Wednesday with a full day of forums, exhibition previews and an opening party at the National Gallery Singapore, setting in motion a 10-day visual arts season. Organized by Singapore’s National Arts Council, SAW unites museums, galleries, art fairs and public art projects across the country. Now in its 14th year, the event runs through Jan. 31 and features more than 100 exhibitions, talks, performances and programs, highlighting the its role as one of Southeast Asia’s key hubs for contemporary art and regional exchange. The opening day began in the auditorium of the National Gallery Singapore with Singapore Art Week Forum 2026, the event’s main conference platform. Under the theme “FORCE•FIELDS,” this year’s edition focused on the systems that shape contemporary artistic practice, from institutional frameworks to broader social and political forces. At the opening session, Singaporean Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Baey Yam Keng urged the audience to rethink the phrase “force field.

Jan 22, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Singapore Art Week opens as forums, museums, public art take over city
People & Events

'KPop Demon Hunters' leaves its mark on 2026 Korea Image Awards

Netflix’s global animated sensation "KPop Demon Hunters" took center stage at the 22nd Korea Image Awards held Thursday in Seoul, tying for two of the three top honors, highlighting how pop music, heritage and food continue to shape Korea's cultural presence on the global stage. Organized annually by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), the awards honor individuals, objects and organizations that shaped Korea’s global image over the past year, highlighting the continued resonance and evolution of Korean culture worldwide. The Stepping Stone Award, presented to individuals or companies that have contributed to promoting Korea's image overseas, went to K-pop agency The Black Label. The label's in-house production team helped produce the soundtrack for "KPop Demon Hunters," including the smash hit "Golden" and other viral tracks such as "How It's Done," "Soda Pop" and "Your Idol." Agency CEO Jeong Kyung-in accepted the honor on behalf of the company and its executive producer Teddy, who was unable to attend. In his acceptance speech, Jeong noted the company signed onto the p

Jan 16, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
'KPop Demon Hunters' leaves its mark on 2026 Korea Image Awards
K-pop

ENHYPEN expands vampire saga with new mini album 'THE SIN : VANISH'

Six years after debuting through "I-LAND," a global audition program that put competitors' fate in the hands of viewers around the world, K-pop boy band ENHYPEN finds itself at a turning point. What began as a survival show experiment has grown into a tightly bonded team with its own mythology, international reach and a string of milestones, including a sweep of major year-end awards in 2025. That growth feeds directly into the group's seventh mini album, "THE SIN : VANISH," set for release Friday. The record continues ENHYPEN's long-running "vampire narrative" through a story of forbidden love between a vampire and a human. "For us, every comeback means trying something new," Jay said during an interview with The Korea Times at a small cafe in Mapo District, Seoul, Wednesday. "This time, from the prerelease promotions to the way the album is structured as a story, we really tried to make everything feel fresh." At the center of "THE SIN : VANISH" is its title track "Knife," a hip-hop-driven song built on trap beats and sharp synths that frame a message of resolve. While familiar to the

Jan 16, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ENHYPEN expands vampire saga with new mini album 'THE SIN : VANISH'
Shows & Dramas

Hip-hop survival program 'Show Me the Money' returns with star producers, global contestants

Mnet's "Show Me the Money" franchise is returning with its 12th edition after years of hiatus, with a renewed focus on music, high-profile lineup and expanded pool of contestants. Launched in 2012, "Show Me the Money" is widely credited with cementing hip-hop as a mainstream music genre in Korea after producing numerous hit rappers and songs over the years. Its latest season marks the show's first new installment in over three years and is expected to once again energize the local hip-hop scene. A press conference for the new season was held Thursday morning at a hotel in Seoul's Gangnam District. Attendees included chief producer Choi Hyo-jin and this season's star producers — Zico, Crush, GRAY, Loco, J-Tong, Hukky Shibaseki, Lil Moshpit and Jay Park — who will be divided into four teams to judge and mentor contestants. Park is returning to the program for the first time in nine years, while Loco previously won the competition as a contestant. Choi explained that the production team spent considerable time rethinking the program's structure ahead of its return. "Because it's been a l

Jan 15, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Hip-hop survival program 'Show Me the Money' returns with star producers, global contestants
Arts & Theater

AI subtitle glasses bring Korean musicals closer to global audiences

For years, Korea’s booming musical theater scene has drawn foreign visitors with its polished productions and emotionally charged performances. Yet for many non-Korean speakers, the experience often came with a degree of frustration. The music and choreography landed, but the story itself remained somewhat out of reach. That gap is now beginning to narrow. At several theaters in Seoul, subtitle glasses powered by artificial intelligence (AI) have entered commercial use for general audiences, marking the first time the technology has been made available at major Korean theaters. One such example is the ongoing run of “Kinky Boots” at Charlotte Theater in Seoul’s Songpa District, which shows how the subtitle glasses enable international audiences to follow Korean dialogue without losing sight of the stage. The musical, one of entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM's flagship global co-production projects, is based on the success story of a struggling shoe factory in England. Facing bankruptcy, the factory survives by reinventing itself through the production of flashy, unconventional boo

Jan 14, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
AI subtitle glasses bring Korean musicals closer to global audiences
K-pop

Jay Park says K-pop lost its romantic spirit, introduces LNGSHOT as his answer

R&B singer Jay Park says K-pop has lost some of its "romantic spirit" and "authenticity," and his answer is LNGSHOT, a four-member boy band that made its debut Tuesday with the release of its first mini-album, "SHOT CALLERS." Introduced under Park’s label, More Vision, LNGSHOT consists of Ohyul, Ryul, Woojin and Louis. The group’s name refers to a "long shot," a decisive play with slim odds that can flip the game entirely. Just hours before the album’s release, the group held a debut showcase at MyungHwa Live Hall in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo District, where they performed tracks from the album and spoke about its production process. Woojin admitted that the group name initially felt unfamiliar. “It wasn’t a term commonly used in Korea, so it felt strange at first,” he said. “But as we started promoting, I realized there isn’t another word that could replace LNGSHOT or capture its meaning. Now I’m very attached to it.” The band's debut album, "SHOT CALLERS," is mainly built on hip-hop and R&B foundations, reflecting Park’s long-established musical tastes. The album incl

Jan 13, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Jay Park says K-pop lost its romantic spirit, introduces LNGSHOT as his answer
K-pop

‘I fought until the end’: Danielle breaks silence after NewJeans departure via livestream

Former NewJeans member Danielle said she "fought until the very end" to stay with the group during a livestream Monday, marking her first public message since her agency, Ador, announced the termination of her exclusive contract. Speaking directly to the group’s official fan base, known as Bunnies, via YouTube and Instagram Live, the singer said she had made every effort to remain with the group. “I can say one thing very clearly. I fought until the very end to be together with the members,” she said. While circumstances have placed her in a different position, she said her feelings toward the group have not changed. The remarks came after Ador's statement last month that it had concluded it would be difficult to continue working with Danielle amid an ongoing contract dispute involving the group. The label said members Haerin, Hyein and Hanni agreed to return to the agency, while discussions were continuing with Minji after a court ruling requiring all five members to honor their exclusive contracts through 2029. Confirming her departure from the group, the agency later filed a law

Jan 12, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
‘I fought until the end’: Danielle breaks silence after NewJeans departure via livestream
previous page
1516171819
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.