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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

World's 1st deaf K-pop act Big Ocean turns prejudice into power in 'The Greatest Battle'

The world’s first deaf idol group, Big Ocean, returned Tuesday with its third mini album, “THE GREATEST BATTLE,” a release that channels the group’s experience of perseverance into its most intense statement yet. While earlier Big Ocean releases leaned into brightness and hope, “THE GREATEST BATTLE” sharpens its tone. The group embraces a more restrained, powerful atmosphere that reflects the realities they have faced as a K-pop group with hearing impairments. At a media showcase at the Showking K-pop Center in Seoul's Mapo District Tuesday, members PJ, Chanyeon and Jiseok unveiled the new performances and shared the meaning behind the new project. “The theme of this album is a great battle won after a difficult fight,” Jiseok said. “We have lived fiercely while fighting prejudice against our disability. But it’s not just us. Everyone is fighting their own battles. We wanted to send support to all of them.” The album features a total of eight tracks, including double title songs “One Man Army” and “Cold Moon,” B-sides “Alive” and “Back,” and instrume

Mar 3, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
World's 1st deaf K-pop act Big Ocean turns prejudice into power in 'The Greatest Battle'
K-pop

K-pop Report Card What landed, what didn't and what to skip from Jan.-Feb.

K-pop wasted little time setting the tone for 2026. January and February arrived packed with heavyweight comebacks from the genre's biggest names alongside ambitious debuts from new acts eager to claim their place. LNGSHOT — "Moonwalkin'" from "SHOT CALLERS," released Jan. 13 Verdict: Surprisingly good While the rookie boy band's predebut release, "Saucin'," made it easy to assume that LNGSHOT would fall neatly into a hip-hop rivalry narrative with HYBE Labels' CORTIS, “Moonwalkin’,” the official title track of the four-member band's debut album "SHOT CALLERS," arrived and quietly refused that storyline. Where CORTIS leans playful, LNGSHOT chooses a more grounded, groove-heavy lane, almost like rookies deciding they would rather age well than trend fast. Handling accessible R&B and hip-hop without sounding like an industry plant is harder than it looks, and the group clears that bar with ease. There are also obvious nods to pop icons Michael Jackson, Destiny’s Child and even early Justin Bieber, especially in one member’s vocal tone that feels tailor-made for global pop ears.

Feb 28, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
[K-pop Report Card] What landed, what didn't and what to skip from Jan.-Feb.
People & Events

The Korea Times appoints students from 34 countries as global supporters

The Korea Times officially launched the fourth cohort of its Global Supporters program Friday, welcoming 50 students from 34 countries to serve as ambassadors for the English-language daily over the next six months. More than 150 applicants competed for spots in this year's program, reflecting growing interest in the initiative. The final group represents a wide geographic spectrum, including Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, India, Korea, Russia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, China, Myanmar, Germany, Australia, Finland, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, Colombia, Canada, Cambodia, Cameroon, Japan, Iran, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, El Salvador, Argentina, Armenia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Belarus, Bangladesh, the United States, Mongolia, Romania and Nepal. The participants bring diverse levels of experience in Korea. Some have lived in the country for just two months as newly arrived international students, while others have resided here for more than a decade. Korean nationals are also part of the cohort. Running until August, the six-month initiative aims to strengthen the paper's global engagement by le

Feb 27, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
The Korea Times appoints students from 34 countries as global supporters
K-pop

BLACKPINK turns Korea’s flagship museum pink for ‘DEADLINE’ comeback

The National Museum of Korea (NMK) is designed to protect and showcase centuries of the nation's history. For nearly two weeks, its monumental “Path of History” is doing something else entirely: pulsing to the beats of K-pop icon BLACKPINK's new release. Ahead of the girl group's third mini-album "DEADLINE," which drops Friday at 2 p.m., BLACKPINK partnered with the country's flagship museum for a special project running through March 8. The collaboration opened with a prerelease listening event held inside the museum's main ground floor atrium, Thursday, marking the first time the institution has allowed its symbolic central space to be used for a K-pop partnership. Beneath an eight-meter digital rendering of the Gwanggaeto Stele, a towering monument commemorating the Goruryeo era's (37 BCE-668 CE) King Gwanggaeto the Great, guests formed a loose but eager circle as the album's five new tracks filled the vast hall. From the viral prerelease single "JUMP" to its widely-anticipated title track "GO," the music reverberated against stone and glass surfaces more accustomed to the quiet

Feb 27, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BLACKPINK turns Korea’s flagship museum pink for ‘DEADLINE’ comeback
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
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