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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

'Mamma Mia' proves izna is more than pretty faces

Global rookie girl group izna came back Tuesday evening with its second mini-album "Not Just Pretty," a project that aims to do more than upgrade the group's already stunning visuals. It positions the six-piece as a force moving well past what initially meets the eyes, delivering a sharper, more confident edge. Born out of Mnet's audition program "I-Land 2: N/a," izna — composing members Mai, Bang Jee-min, Koko, Ryu Sa-rang, Choi Jung-eun and Jeong Sae-bi — had already proven themselves as performers before their official debut. Their journey from pre-debut buzz to their November 2024 first album "N/a" marked steady strides — the title track "IZNA" and follow-up singles "SIGN" and "BEEP" quietly but firmly positioned them on the K-pop map. WAKEONE, the group's label, calls the new release proof that izna "can no longer be defined by a single image." Instead, "Not Just Pretty" is designed to showcase the group's diverse colors that speak to both "growth and possibility." At its center is "Mamma Mia," a title track that packs a surprising punch despite its minimalist beat. Its addic

Oct 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
'Mamma Mia' proves izna is more than pretty faces
K-pop

Gugak meets K-pop: Tracks that fuse tradition with global pop sounds

Every autumn, Koreans gather under the full moon of Chuseok to celebrate harvest, family and abundance. In that spirit, K-pop has found ways to honor tradition too, by folding the sounds of gugak, Korea’s centuries-old music, into modern pop productions. From royal processions reborn as hip-hop anthems to ballads colored by traditional instruments, these six tracks showcase how gugak breathes through K-pop. And on Chuseok, when families gather beneath the harvest moon, these songs remind listeners that K-pop’s global trajectory doesn’t erase its roots — it amplifies them. BTS — “IDOL” (2018) When K-pop juggernaut BTS dropped its album, “Love Yourself: Answer,” with its explosive lead single “IDOL,” the track stood as one of the fiercest declarations of Korean identity ever made by a boy band. Driven by South African dance beats, trap grooves and EDM drops, the song gains its true punch from “jangdan,” the rhythmic backbone of traditional Korean music, and “pansori,” Korea’s age-old storytelling form. Long associated with folk performance, these sounds land

Sep 30, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Gugak meets K-pop: Tracks that fuse tradition with global pop sounds
K-pop

Are ballads still relevant in K-pop dominated era?

Not long ago, the ballad genre was Korea's national soundtrack — filling karaoke rooms, topping the charts and etching itself into the country's collective memory. Then came the K-pop boom, and with it, a slow fading of the genre's presence. However, this fall, as veterans break their silence and fresh voices emerge, the music that once defined a generation is quietly making a comeback — sparking renewed hope among fans and industry insiders that ballads are on the brink of a revival. Singer Shin Seung-hun, long revered as the "Emperor of Ballads" in Korea, made headlines Tuesday with "SINCERELY MELODIES," his first full-length album in a decade. The 11-track release features dual title tracks "Gravity of You" and "TRULY," and will be followed by two concerts at Olympic Hall in Seoul on Nov. 1-2. Singer Yim Jae-beum, who built his legacy on distinctive rock ballads, also announced a nationwide tour kicking off Nov. 29 to mark the 40th anniversary of his career, where he will also showcase his newly released track, "Insa." Another defining voice of the era, singer Kim Gun-mo, has also

Sep 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Are ballads still relevant in K-pop dominated era?
K-pop

K-pop heavyweights, rookies pack October comeback calendar

October is shaping up to be a blockbuster month for K-pop, with the industry's biggest names and rising rookies all crowding the calendar. From milestone celebrations to career-defining new records, the month promises fresh sounds that will keep fans' playlists brimming. Leading the wave is TWICE, the nine-member juggernaut celebrating its 10th anniversary. On Oct. 10, the group will release a special album, "TEN: The Story Goes On." To mark the milestone, the group will also host a fan meeting, "10VE UNIVERSE," at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium on Oct. 18. The comeback underscores TWICE's enduring stature in the genre. Now in the midst of its sixth world tour "THIS IS FOR," the group continues to cement its reputation as one of K-pop's most global acts. The group's latest career peaks came with "TAKEDOWN," featured on the soundtrack of Netflix's smash hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," and "STRATEGY" from its 14th mini-album, both tracks setting new personal bests across the Billboard Hot 100, Apple Music, Spotify and the U.K. Official Charts, proving the group's decade-lon

Sep 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop heavyweights, rookies pack October comeback calendar
K-pop

Will HYBE make K-pop model work in India?

K-pop powerhouse HYBE Labels is pushing its global ambitions further by setting up shop in India, one of the world's most populous nations, in a bid to test whether the business model that turned K-pop into a worldwide force will resonate on the subcontinent. The entertainment giant, home to juggernauts like BTS, announced the official establishment of an Indian subsidiary on Tuesday, adding a new hub after earlier expansion into Japan, the United States, Latin America and China. The company described the move as a "key addition" to its global strategic map, aimed at accelerating "the creation of a worldwide K-pop ecosystem." This move into India reflects HYBE's "multihome, multigenre" strategy, which the company's chairman, Bang Si-hyuk, has long described as essential for K-pop's survival, applying the industry's model across genres and geographies to sustain growth. In practice, HYBE has sought to build bases tailored to local culture and music industries, producing and managing artists in the typical K-pop style while extending its intellectual properties into new territories. One pr

Sep 25, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Will HYBE make K-pop model work in India?
Music

German cellist Daniel Muller-Schott brings solo recital to Seoul after 7 years

Renowned German cellist Daniel Muller-Schott will return to Korea this fall for his first solo recital in seven years, performing Oct. 12 at the Seoul Arts Center with a program that spans centuries of German classical music. The evening centers on two milestones of the cello repertoire — Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 3 and Brahms' Cello Sonata No. 2. Together they chart the instrument's growing presence, from Beethoven's balanced dialogue with the piano to Brahms' symphonic weight condensed into chamber form. Austrian composer Anton Webern's compact yet explosive Three Little Pieces, Op. 11 will add a jolt of modernist intensity, while Schumann's lyrical Fantasy Pieces, Op. 73 will close the program with fairytale warmth. Muller-Schott will be joined by pianist Cho Jae-hyuck. Praised by global outlets including The New York Times, Muller-Schott has performed with leading ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra. Known for his expressive bowing, refined phrasing and rich tone, he is regarded as one of today's foremost interpreters o

Sep 23, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
German cellist Daniel Muller-Schott brings solo recital to Seoul after 7 years
Music

'Emperor of Ballads' Shin Seung-hun returns with first album in decade

Dubbed Korea's "Emperor of Ballads," singer Shin Seung-hun is finally back where he belongs — at the center of the genre he helped define. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, the veteran singer-songwriter will unveil his 12th studio album, "SINCERELY MELODIES," his first full-length work in 10 years and a project he says was written as if it might be his last. Since his 1990 debut, Shin has been one of Korea's most cherished voices, his delicate tenor earning comparisons to icons such as Cho Yong-pil. His hits, including "Reflection of You in Your Smile" (1990), "Invisible Love" (1992) and "I Believe" (2002), became cultural touchstones, resonating across generations as the soundtrack to heartbreak and nostalgia. The new album, released under his own Dorothy Company, features 11 tracks that Shin wrote, composed and produced himself. While his label called it "the culmination of a master musician's decades of craft," Shin himself described it more intimately during a press conference held in Seoul's Gangnam District on Monday, where he spoke directly with reporters. "It's called 'SINCERELY MELODIES' beca

Sep 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
'Emperor of Ballads' Shin Seung-hun returns with first album in decade
K-pop

KickFlip leans into first-love pop-punk on 'My First Flip'

K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment's newest boy band KickFlip released its third mini album "My First Flip," Monday, extending the group's rapid global rise by bottling the butterflies and jitters of first love. The record and its lead single "My First Love Song" drops as the group presses ahead with only six members, as Amaru temporarily suspended activities just days earlier due to anxiety symptoms. Despite the sudden lineup change, the group projected confidence at their Monday morning showcase at Seoul's YES24 Live Hall, delivering the same high-energy spirit they displayed when they met The Korea Times backstage at Lollapalooza Chicago in August. "It's such a shame not being able to promote with Amaru," Donghyeon said. "We and the fans are waiting for him to come back healthy. We'll fill the void with as much energy as we can." That energy carries into "My First Love Song," a new pop-punk track built on punchy synths and guitar riffs that frame the nerve-racking rush of a romantic confession. "Through this song's performance, I wanted to share the thrill of first love with everyone,"

Sep 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
KickFlip leans into first-love pop-punk on 'My First Flip'
K-pop

ITZY secures full-group contract renewal, strengthens global ambitions

High-energy performances and unapologetic confidence have carried K-pop girl group ITZY through six years of global recognition. Now, as their contracts reach the K-pop industry's critical seven-year threshold, the five members — Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna — have chosen to stay with JYP Entertainment by renewing their exclusive contracts with the label. JYP confirmed the renewal in a press release Saturday, describing the deal as the product of "mutual trust" with a group celebrated for its "commanding performances and international reach." The agency also pledged full support for ITZY's future as a world-class girl group and said it would continue securing platforms for the members to highlight their individual strengths. The announcement came first from the stage at the group's fourth official fan meeting, "ON AIR," at the KBS Arena in western Seoul, Saturday. According to the agency, the group thanked MIDZY, its official fandom, for sustained support and promised to move forward together toward "a brighter tomorrow." ITZY debuted in February 2019 under JYP, a company

Sep 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
ITZY secures full-group contract renewal, strengthens global ambitions
Music

J-POP.ZIP 2025 brings Japanese music, culture to Seoul

Seoul's Seongsu-dong, one of the capital's trendiest neighborhoods, is about to get a heavy dose of Japanese pop culture this weekend. From Friday to Sunday, an event dubbed J-POP.ZIP 2025 will take over Space S50, packing the sounds of Japan into a three-day festival hosted by Universal Music Japan, the powerhouse label behind some of the country's biggest acts. The three-day festival is billed as a music-and-culture campaign that "zips" the essence of J-pop for its Korean fans. Visitors can explore listening corners spotlighting J-pop, game zones featuring titles from renowned game developer SEGA and booths introducing Japanese travel destinations and regional specialties. On Thursday, organizers previewed the festival at a media day held one day before its official kickoff. Tamotsu Asai, directing manager at Universal Strategic Marketing (USM), emphasized its role in connecting audiences. "J-POP.ZIP is an experiential festival designed for Korean fans to engage with Japanese music. Last year's debut received an enthusiastic response, and this year we are able to expand with support fr

Sep 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
J-POP.ZIP 2025 brings Japanese music, culture to Seoul
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