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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

ITZY looks ahead with 'TUNNEL VISION'

K-pop girl group ITZY is gearing up for another high-profile comeback, signaling a new chapter after its members renewed contracts with their agency, JYP Entertainment. The five-piece act will release its new mini-album, "TUNNEL VISION," on Monday, marking its first release in five months since "Girls Will Be Girls" in June. JYP unveiled the first teaser for the "TUNNEL VISION" music video on its official social media channels earlier this week, followed by a second clip on Wednesday. Though brief, the videos highlight ITZY's signature, sharp choreography, underscoring the group's reputation for performance. According to the label, the lead single, "TUNNEL VISION," leans into a hip-hop-driven groove, layered with brass sounds for extra intensity. The song features production by acclaimed U.S. hitmaker Dem Jointz, whose resume includes collaborations with some of K-pop's biggest names. The EP will feature a total of six tracks: "Focus," "DYT," "Flicker," "Nocturne" and "8-BIT HEART," along with the title track. Behind the scenes is an all-star lineup of producers including veteran hitmake

Nov 5, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
ITZY looks ahead with 'TUNNEL VISION'
K-pop

AHOF explores growth in fairytale-inspired new album 'The Passage'

K-pop boy band AHOF is leaning into the turbulence of youth with its latest release, a fairy-tale-infused project that turns confusion, pain and hope into a coming-of-age soundtrack. The nine-member group — Steven, Jeongwoo, Woongki, Shuaibo, Han, JL, Juwon, Chih En and Daisuke — dropped its second mini-album, "The Passage," Tuesday evening, only four months after its ambitious dive into the K-pop industry. Member Chih En will sit out current promotions due to health issues, leaving AHOF to perform as an eight-piece for the time being. The group, initially formed through broadcaster SBS' survival audition show "Universe League," turned heads in July with "WHO WE ARE," a debut effort that ranked fifth among all-time first-week sales for a boy group's debut. Its lead single "Rendezvous," a sweeping rock anthem soaked in nostalgia, earned three music-show trophies within just 10 days, signaling the rise of a new powerhouse rookie act. At a press showcase held Tuesday afternoon at Seoul's YES24 Live Hall, the members appeared dressed completely in white, describing the new album as a cha

Nov 4, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
AHOF explores growth in fairytale-inspired new album 'The Passage'
People & Events

Super Vibe Korea to bring global hip-hop, R&B acts to Incheon in December

Billing itself as Korea's "hottest" hip-hop and R&B festival, Super Vibe Korea will bring together leading artists from around the world for a concert at Inspire Arena on Incheon's Yeongjong Island on Dec. 6 and 7. Hosted by public broadcaster MBC, the two-day event will feature performances from international stars Trey Songz and Timbaland, who will both make their first appearances in Korea. Organizers said the festival aims to "close out 2025 with a showcase of talent spanning generations and genres" within the hip-hop and R&B scene. Trey Songz, known for his smooth R&B hits "Can't Help But Wait" and "Slow Motion," will headline alongside Timbaland, the Grammy-winning producer behind Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" and Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks. Their performances are expected to highlight the event's international scope. The lineup also includes Korean rapper E SENS, winner of the Korean Music Awards Album of the Year in 2016, and American rapper Mims, who topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "This Is Why I'm Hot." Joining

Nov 4, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Super Vibe Korea to bring global hip-hop, R&B acts to Incheon in December
Arts & Theater

Musical 'Death Note' returns with new faces, sharper moral edge

Ten years after its premiere in Korea, the musical version of "Death Note" still remains one of the most eerily relevant stage works. Currently back at D-Cube Link Art Center in southwestern Seoul, the production transforms a simple "what if" into a haunting reflection on justice, morality and the unspoken human temptation to play god. Adapted from the acclaimed Japanese manga and anime of the same name, the production has remained a steady fixture in Korea's musical theater scene. Since its 2015 debut, the musical has continued to draw strong ticket sales under OD Company, which took over production in 2022. The story closely mirrors the original manga, following Light Yagami, a brilliant yet disillusioned high school student who discovers the Death Note, a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. Convinced he can rid the world of evil, Light begins executing violent criminals with a flick of his pen, only to be challenged by L, a young detective whose intellect rivals his own. What stands out most in the current 10th-anniversary run is a bold shift in its l

Nov 4, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Musical 'Death Note' returns with new faces, sharper moral edge
K-pop

Miyeon of i-dle returns solo with heartfelt album 'MY, Lover'

K-pop girl group i-dle's powerhouse vocalist Miyeon returned this fall with her second solo mini-album, "MY, Lover," a wistful yet elegant collection that deepens her musical identity outside of the fierce five-piece act. The new release marks Miyeon's first solo comeback in three and a half years, since releasing "MY" in 2022. Featuring seven tracks, the album highlights Miyeon's growth beyond her presence as the main vocalist of i-dle, presenting a new portrait of her as an independent artist. Now 28, Miyeon first drew attention years before her debut when it was revealed that she had trained alongside BLACKPINK members in YG Entertainment's pre-debut lineup. Eventually making her debut in 2018 under Cube Entertainment, Miyeon has since built a reputation as a solid K-pop vocalist. Last year, Miyeon officially released "Sky Walking," a self-written track she first performed during i-dle's world tour. Ahead of the new album, she dropped the prerelease track "Reno (Feat. Colde)" on Oct. 28, which drew attention for its deeper tone. A few hours before the official album release on Monday,

Nov 3, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Miyeon of i-dle returns solo with heartfelt album 'MY, Lover'
K-pop

K-pop legal feuds highlight power of contracts as NewJeans, EXO members lose disputes

As K-pop's global influence continues to grow, disputes over exclusive contracts between idols and their management agencies are once again shaking the industry at home. Recent court rulings against EXO members Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin, collectively known as CBX, and girl group NewJeans have reignited the debate over how Korea's star-making system governs artists' careers and their rights. EXO-CBX vs. SM Tensions between SM Entertainment and the three EXO members have recently deepened, with both sides issuing conflicting statements. The latest flare-up began when SM announced plans for a full-group EXO comeback in December that excluded the trio, which had launched individual activities under their new agency, INB100. The dispute dates back to June 2023, just five months after the three renewed their group contracts with SM. They informed the agency that they intended to terminate the deals, citing a lack of transparency in profit settlements. SM denied the allegations. While speculation also arose that a third party had tried to lure the members away from SM, the conflict was eventuall

Nov 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop legal feuds highlight power of contracts as NewJeans, EXO members lose disputes
K-pop

Boy band xikers channels chaos, confidence in 'SUPERPOWER (Peak)'

For K-pop boy band xikers, chaos isn't something to tame; it's the group's fuel. Formed in 2023 under KQ Entertainment, the label behind global sensation ATEEZ, the 10-member act — Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Hunter, Yujun and Yechan — quickly made its mark with raw, energetic stages. The group's debut project, "HOUSE OF TRICKY: Doorbell Ringing," introduced xikers as time-traveling adventurers leaping through eras — a fitting metaphor for its own rapid rise. That strong start quickly propelled the group onto Billboard's Top Album Sales and World Albums charts, and across global stages as they completed a North American and European tour, earning praise for a strong stage presence reminiscent of their label seniors. Now, the group returns to write another chapter. With its sixth mini album, "HOUSE OF TRICKY: WRECKING THE HOUSE," featuring title track "SUPERPOWER (Peak)," out Friday, xikers is stepping into its boldest era yet, ready to turn chaos into power. "Through this new album, we wanted to really break out of the box and show what makes us us," sai

Oct 31, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Boy band xikers channels chaos, confidence in 'SUPERPOWER (Peak)'
K-pop

HYBE's 1st global boy band &TEAM comes 'Back to Life' with Korean debut

Almost three years after rising to prominence in Japan, HYBE Labels' multinational boy band &TEAM officially made its Korean debut with the release of "Back to Life" Tuesday, a project that marks both a homecoming and a new chapter for the nine-member act. Formed in December 2022 under HYBE's Japan-based subsidiary YX Labels, &TEAM is the first group to emerge from the company's overseas branch. The lineup includes six Japanese members, along with one each from Korea and Taiwan, and one German-Japanese citizen. The group's rise in Japan was almost instant. The group's debut EP, "First Howling : ME," shot straight to No. 1 on Japan's Oricon chart, while its third single, "Go in Blind," exceeded one million shipments, earning an official certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Despite this success, the group’s decision to re-debut in Korea — the birthplace of the very system that trained them — feels like a full-circle moment. On Monday evening, the group unveiled "Back to Life," the eponymous title track for the Korean debut album, followed by an official alb

Oct 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
HYBE's 1st global boy band &TEAM comes 'Back to Life' with Korean debut
K-pop

Mnet Plus turns K-pop fans into stakeholders, 40 mil. users already on board

CJ ENM, one of Korea's leading entertainment and media powerhouses, announced Tuesday that its global K-pop content platform, Mnet Plus, has surpassed 40 million cumulative app users and more than 20 million monthly active users — both milestones achieved within just three years of its launch. Mnet Plus is a mobile-based platform that blends streaming, fandom and commerce into one ecosystem. Mnet Plus allows global fans to watch CJ ENM's original variety programs, music shows from the company's music broadcaster Mnet' livestream major events such as KCON and the MAMA Awards, join fan votes and different in-app missions, and collect digital merchandise — all in a single, integrated experience. Comparable platforms in the same category include Weverse, DearU Bubble and Fromm. "Mnet Plus is more than a streaming service. It's a space where global fans take the initiative to shape their own K-pop experience," said Kim Ji-won, senior vice president of Mnet Plus, during CJ ENM's Culture Talk session held Tuesday at the company's headquarters in Seoul's Mapo District. Since its launch in 2

Oct 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Mnet Plus turns K-pop fans into stakeholders, 40 mil. users already on board
Travel & Food

What to taste, shop for in Gyeongju, from Hwangnam bread to crown-inspired souvenirs

With the APEC summit bringing visitors from all over the globe to Korea's historic southeast, Gyeongju is ready to show that its charm goes beyond royal tombs and stone pagodas. Once the seat of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE), the city in present-day North Gyeongsang Province remains a living showcase of history — but it's also a place where travelers can enjoy regional flavors, trendy souvenirs and creative reinterpretations of the past. Sweet beginnings No visit to Gyeongju begins without its signature Hwangnam-ppang, also known as Gyeongju-ppang, a golden, round pastry with a thick filling of sweet red bean paste. Chalbori-ppang, a kind of sticky barley bread also filled with the same bean paste, is another popular local treat. The pastries were developed by local family-run bakeries in the first half of the 20th century, but their popularity has endured and expanded with time. Now sold almost everywhere in the city, from train stations to boutiques to rural shops, these sweet treats offer visitors a simple way to sample the region's identity. The treats come packaged for

Oct 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
What to taste, shop for in Gyeongju, from Hwangnam bread to crown-inspired souvenirs
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