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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

Ultimate BTS pilgrimage guide: Every landmark worth visiting before, after Gwanghwamun concert

As K-pop juggernaut BTS prepares to return to the stage at Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun Square, fans from around the world are once again planning journeys that extend far beyond a single night of music. For many members of ARMY, BTS' official fandom, traveling to Korea is not simply about attending a concert. It is about stepping into the physical landscapes that shaped the group’s story, tracing the arc from uncertain trainee years to global influence. Across Seoul and beyond, buildings, cafes, coastal landmarks and performance sites have quietly evolved into a living map of BTS' rise. Some are grand symbols of the group’s transformation. Others are modest, almost hidden spaces that carry emotional resonance precisely because they reflect the ordinariness of the members’ early lives. Together, they form an unofficial pilgrimage route that continues to grow in significance each time BTS embarks on a new chapter. HYBE Labels headquarters, Yongsan District, Seoul Few places illustrate the scale of BTS' sheer impact more clearly than HYBE’s glass-and-steel headquarters in Yongsan

Mar 13, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Ultimate BTS pilgrimage guide: Every landmark worth visiting before, after Gwanghwamun concert
K-pop

What Heeseung's exit means for ENHYPEN, fans

The announcement that Heeseung of K-pop boy band ENHYPEN will leave the group and pursue a solo career sparked a wave of surprise, with fans expressing grief and confusion while speculating about what the decision means for both the singer and the group. Belift Lab, the HYBE Labels subsidiary that manages ENHYPEN, announced Tuesday that the singer would depart the seven-member act but remain with the company to pursue a solo career. Since debuting in November 2020 through the survival program "I-LAND," ENHYPEN has built a strong global following, driven by its distinctive fantasy vampire concept and polished performance style. Heeseung, widely recognized as the group's main vocalist, has been regarded as one of the musical anchors of the team by fans, known collectively as ENGENE. In a handwritten letter shared with fans on Tuesday, the singer described the decision as the result of "extensive discussions" with the agency about how to present his individual work. "The six years I have spent have been filled with moments too precious to describe," he wrote. "After sharing the results of m

Mar 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
What Heeseung's exit means for ENHYPEN, fans
People & Events

Calligrapher highlights King Sejong's 'think different' spirit behind Hangeul

The creation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, reflects Joseon-era King Sejong's willingness to "think different," calligrapher Kang Byung-in said, describing the Korean script as a writing system whose beauty lies in its structure and creative design. Kang said this as he delivered a lecture Tuesday evening at the CQ Forum held at the residence of the New Zealand ambassador in Seoul. The event was organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), a nonprofit cultural organization that promotes Korea's global image and cultural exchange. Launched in 2006, the CQ Forum invites diplomats, cultural figures and scholars to explore various aspects of Korean culture through lectures and discussions. In a talk titled "In the Spirit of the Creation of Hunminjeongeum and the Think Different of Sejong and the Beauty of Hangeul," Kang reflected on the philosophical background behind the Korean writing system and the creative mindset that shaped it. "The beauty of Hangeul does not mean it is the most beautiful script in the world," Kang said. "It refers to the originality of the system, in

Mar 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Calligrapher highlights King Sejong's 'think different' spirit behind Hangeul
K-pop

How AtHeart finds its confidence through 'Butterfly Doors'

When K-pop girl group AtHeart debuted in August 2025 with its first EP "Plot Twist," the title track captured the emotional swings of teenage life. Crushes felt mysterious, feelings were confusing and the members leaned into the carefree brightness of youth. Seven months later, the group says it has found something new — confidence. Returning with the paired singles "Shut Up," released Feb. 26, and "Butterfly Doors," set to follow Wednesday, AtHeart is presenting what the members describe as a more "self-assured side" of the group. The back-to-back releases mark the group's first comeback since its debut and form a connected story about growth. "When we debuted, all of us were teenagers, so the concept naturally reflected that youthful energy," member Arin said in an interview at The Korea Times office Monday. "This time, some of us have become adults, so we naturally wanted to show a more mature side. It feels like our atmosphere as a team has developed." The new era is also visually anchored by a symbol the group calls "The Black Heart." Ahead of its comeback campaign, AtHeart unveil

Mar 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
How AtHeart finds its confidence through 'Butterfly Doors'
K-pop

ENHYPEN's Heeseung announces departure from group

Heeseung of K-pop boy band ENHYPEN will leave the group, his agency Belift Lab announced Tuesday. In a statement posted on fan platform Weverse, the company said it had held extensive discussions with the members about the group’s future direction and goals. “Through deep conversations about each member’s vision for the future and the team’s direction, we confirmed that Heeseung has a clear musical path he wishes to pursue,” the agency said. “After careful consideration, we decided to respect his aspirations.” The HYBE Labels subsidiary said the 24-year-old singer will depart the group and ENHYPEN will continue activities as a six-member act during its upcoming promotional schedule. “Although it is difficult to explain every detail in a short statement, we want to emphasize that this decision was made after a long period of deliberation,” the company said. “We understand that this news may be difficult for fans to accept, but we hope you will understand that it was made with the future of both ENHYPEN and Heeseung in mind.” Belift Lab added that ENHYPEN would continu

Mar 10, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ENHYPEN's Heeseung announces departure from group
  • What Heeseung's exit means for ENHYPEN, fans
K-pop

RIIZE ends 1st world tour with high-voltage Seoul finale

K-pop boy band RIIZE ended its first world tour the way every rising group dreams of — loud, confident and fully in command of the stage. At the finale concert of its "RIIZING LOUD" tour at KSPO Dome in Seoul's Songpa District Sunday, the six-member act delivered a two-and-a-half-hour performance that showcased a level of cohesion that felt striking for a group still early in its career. With relentless choreography, polished live vocals and production that rarely slowed for breath, RIIZE turned the final stop of the tour into a convincing case for why the group is worth following. The Sunday performance marked the third and final night of the Seoul concerts, wrapping up a global tour that drew roughly 420,000 fans across 21 cities. The group also performed at Tokyo Dome in February — a milestone venue for any K-pop act — just two years and five months after debut, setting a record for the fastest entry to the venue by a K-pop boy band. The Seoul finale reflected the group's rising momentum. All available seats sold out, filling the arena with roughly 32,000 fans across three nights

Mar 9, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
RIIZE ends 1st world tour with high-voltage Seoul finale
K-pop

BLACKPINK's Jennie celebrates 'Ruby' anniversary with Seoul pop-up

Jennie of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is celebrating the first anniversary of her debut solo album, "Ruby," with a pop-up store in Seoul. According to her agency ODD ATELIER, Jennie opened the pop-up "A Year in Ruby" on Thursday at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, one of the capital’s busiest retail complexes. The pop-up will run through Wednesday. The exhibition revisits the year since "Ruby" was released in March 2025, offering fans a chance to experience the album’s visual world in person. It features a range of official merchandise originally released alongside "Ruby," including items that had not previously been available in Korea. They include T-shirts, socks, beanies, crewnecks, hoodies and other apparel, as well as accessories such as key chains, cups and physical albums. Accoridng to visitors, anniversary content has also been displayed across the department store. A celebratory video marking the album’s one-year milestone is screened on the venue’s large digital display, while additional themed installations appear throughout the building. Several costumes worn by the singer

Mar 8, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BLACKPINK's Jennie celebrates 'Ruby' anniversary with Seoul pop-up
K-pop

At 30, YG Entertainment looks ahead with BIGBANG return, new debuts

YG Entertainment is preparing a slate of major projects as it marks its 30th anniversary in 2026, signaling both a return to legacy acts and a push toward the next generation of K-pop. In a video titled “2026 YG PLAN | YG ANNOUNCEMENT” released through the company’s official social media channel Wednesday, executive producer Yang Hyun-suk outlined the label’s upcoming activities. The most notable reveal was the return of K-pop boy band BIGBANG. Marking its 20th debut anniversary this year, the group has agreed to hold concerts with YG, according to Yang. Although the three remaining members — G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung — are currently signed to different agencies, they plan to reunite under the BIGBANG name for the performances. YG also confirmed plans for intensified activities from its current roster. Rookie girl group BABYMONSTER is set to release two albums this year alongside a large-scale world tour, while boy band TREASURE will launch the next phase of its career with a mini album in June. Yang said the group would return with a sound rooted in what he described as

Mar 5, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
At 30, YG Entertainment looks ahead with BIGBANG return, new debuts
K-pop

Female producers redefine K-pop’s creative blueprint

International Women's Day arrives each March 8 with the usual flood of tributes. In K-pop, the more interesting story is what has been quietly changing the other 364 days of the year. The industry's power structure was, for a long time, easy to describe. While men and women equally shared the spotlight on stage as idols, the creative and managerial authority behind the scenes largely remained in the hands of men. For decades, the industry’s defining architects were figures such as SM Entertainment producer Lee Soo-man, JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young and YG Entertainment’s Yang Hyun-suk, later joined by HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk — producers whose creative direction and corporate leadership helped shape the modern K-pop system. In recent years, however, that balance has begun to shift. A growing number of women producers are stepping into roles that extend far beyond contributing songs or onstage choreography. Increasingly, they oversee narrative direction, overall aesthetics, branding and marketing strategy, shaping not only individual artists or groups but also the broad

Mar 5, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Female producers redefine K-pop’s creative blueprint
Music

Rapper Changmo to bring hip-hop to Sejong Center stage with orchestral concert

Rapper Changmo will bring hip-hop to one of Seoul's most prominent classical stages this spring, marking an unusual crossover between genres long associated with different cultural spaces. The artist is set to perform "CHANGMO: The Emperor," part of the 2026 Sejong Concert Series, at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' Grand Theater on May 9 and 10. The roughly 3,000-seat venue, traditionally home to classical performances, will host a large-scale concert combining rap with a live orchestra. Speaking at a press conference held Wednesday at the Sejong Center in central Seoul's Jongno District, Changmo said performing at the venue carried personal significance. "I never imagined the name 'Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' would appear in my career," he said. "When I was young, I played piano and once dreamed about performing in a place like this. After that dream fell apart, I moved on and focused on hip-hop. To return here feels like a great honor." The concert will unfold in four narrative chapters designed to merge classical and hip-hop elements. The opening section, "The Dre

Mar 4, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Rapper Changmo to bring hip-hop to Sejong Center stage with orchestral concert
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