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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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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
K-pop

'Boys II Planet' top 8 finalists debut as ALPHA DRIVE ONE with 'EUPHORIA'

After months of global competition, the top eight finalists from Mnet's audition show "Boys II Planet" officially stepped into the K-pop industry Monday as ALPHA DRIVE ONE (ALD1), releasing its debut mini-album, "EUPHORIA." ALD1, consisting of members Junseo, Arno, Leo, Geonwoo, Sangwon, Xinlong, Anxin and Sanghyeon, marked the occasion with a media showcase at Blue Square SOL Travel Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District ahead of the album's 6 p.m. release. "I'm happy and deeply moved to be able to debut," Sangwon said. "This moment feels incredibly precious and I want to show many good sides of ourselves going forward. Right now truly feels like a moment of euphoria, just like our album title." The group name combines "Alpha," symbolizing the pursuit of the best, "Drive," meaning passion and momentum, and "One," representing unity as a team. Geonwoo said the group shared a clear sense of purpose from the start. "We all thought the name had a strong meaning," he said. "We want to become a team that lives up to it and continues moving toward the top." During the event, Arno appeared on stage us

Jan 12, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
'Boys II Planet' top 8 finalists debut as ALPHA DRIVE ONE with 'EUPHORIA'
K-pop

Why 'Gnarly' worked for KATSEYE, but 'Internet Girl' didn't

A joke usually lands best the first time it is told. When it is repeated too quickly, especially in an obvious attempt to get the same laugh, it usually falls flat. What once felt unexpected is now starting to feel forced. That dynamic sits at the heart of the mixed fan response to "Internet Girl," the latest single from global girl group KATSEYE, released Jan. 2. The song follows last year's smash hit "Gnarly," a divisive track that went from a rocky start to viral success. While "Gnarly" eventually worked in the group's favor, "Internet Girl" shows how hard it is to recreate that kind of polarizing buzz and momentum on demand. KATSEYE announced the news of its release just hours before the New Year, surprising fans with a message promising "one more surprise before this year ends." The track had previously been teased as a surprise during the group's "The Beautiful Chaos" live show in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in November 2025, where it had already begun generating excitement online. According to HYBE Labels, which co-created the group alongside American record label Geffen Records, "Int

Jan 11, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Why 'Gnarly' worked for KATSEYE, but 'Internet Girl' didn't
K-pop

Why K-pop albums are increasingly resembling merchandise

After years of growth driven by physical album sales, the K-pop industry is now undergoing a major structural shift. While album sales have declined from their peak, overall revenue continues to expand as companies diversify into concerts, merch sales and paid fan services, reshaping the role of physical albums. Rather than signaling a downturn, industry officials describe the change as a move away from volume-based sales toward participation-driven consumption, where albums function less as music carriers and more as gateways to fan engagement. According to the Circle Chart, cumulative album sales for the top 400 releases in 2025 reached about 90.9 million units through November, down roughly 2.56 million from the same period a year earlier. The long-cited benchmark of 100 million albums sold annually, once treated as a symbolic marker of K-pop’s expansion, has now fallen short for a second consecutive year. Boy band Stray Kids led album sales with nearly 7 million units, followed by Seventeen, NCT Wish, ENHYPEN, BOYNEXTDOOR and ZeroBaseOne. While leading acts continue to post multim

Jan 9, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Why K-pop albums are increasingly resembling merchandise
Shows & Dramas

'Gimbap and Onigiri' turns shared meal into cross-border romance

Food is the starting point for romance in "Gimbap and Onigiri," a new Japanese drama pairing Japanese actor Eiji Akaso and Korea's idol-turned-actor Kang Hye-won. Set to premiere Jan. 12 on TV TOKYO, the upcoming series follows two young adults as they navigate uncertainty in their lives and experience romance despite their different cultures. Rather than centering on cultural clashes, the story unfolds through quiet encounters, creating a story of intimacy that is gradual and relatable. Akaso stars as Hase Taiga, a former college track athlete who loses direction after a major setback. With his confidence shaken, Taiga drifts through daily life without a clear vision for the future, working part time at a small restaurant in Japan. "Taiga meets Park Rin through his part-time job and the show centers on how he grows after that," Akaso said at a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday afternoon. "When I first saw the title, I was curious about what kind of story it would be. The characters are as warm and approachable, as the title suggests. It is a story about people who live sincerely and

Jan 7, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
'Gimbap and Onigiri' turns shared meal into cross-border romance
K-pop

Hopes for easing hallyu ban remain muted after Seoul-Beijing talks

Cautious talk of possibly easing China's unofficial restrictions on Korean pop culture resurfaced this week following a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, but government officials and industry insiders alike cautioned that any tangible change would likely be slow and limited. The two leaders held talks in Beijing on Monday, marking Lee's first official visit to China since taking office in June 2025. In a briefing afterward, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said the leaders agreed to gradually expand cultural exchanges, starting with less politically sensitive fields such as sports. However, Wi stressed that China still does not officially acknowledge the existence of the so-called “hallyu ban,” a tacit restriction that has limited the activities of Korean entertainers in China since Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense deployment in 2016. “China maintains that it does not recognize the policy as formally existing,” Wi told reporters about the hallyu ban. “In today's dialogue, there were comments questioning whether it was even ne

Jan 6, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Hopes for easing hallyu ban remain muted after Seoul-Beijing talks
K-pop

K-pop group idntt expands to 15 members with launch of new unit yesweare

While an increasing number of K-pop groups are choosing to debut quicker and leaner under smaller lineups, Modhaus’ mega boy band project idntt is moving in the opposite direction. The expanding boy group project officially scaled up to 15 members on Monday with the launch of its second unit, yesweare, taking another step toward its final lineup. Developed by Modhaus, the company behind girl group tripleS, idntt is designed as a gradual rollout toward its final 24-member lineup. The structure began taking shape last August with the debut of unevermet, a seven-member unit that served as the introduction to idntt. This week, the project moved into its next chapter as the eight-member yesweare joined idntt’s lineup, bringing the group to 15 members ahead of a still-unrevealed final unit, itsnotover, which will complete the full roster. To mark the expansion, idntt released the album “yesweare” on Monday, beginning its promotions as a 15-member team. Hours before the album drop, all 15 members gathered at Blue Square SOL Travel Hall in Yongsan District, Seoul, for a press event intro

Jan 5, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop group idntt expands to 15 members with launch of new unit yesweare
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