The Korea Times

From survival show to superstardom, ZEROBASEONE aims higher with 'NEVER SAY NEVER'

Two years ago, nine trainees stepped onto the survival show stage with little more than ambition and nerves. Now, those same boys — the winners of Mnet's "Boys Planet" — are back as grown men, armed with their first full-length album, "NEVER SAY NEVER." For K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE (ZB1), this release is not just a milestone, it's a bold attempt to prove that a project group born under temporary contracts can still command the spotlight like stars built to last. The group, comprising members Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook and Han Yu-jin, released the 10-track record on Monday. It was the band's first album since February's "BLUE PARADISE." At a press showcase held just hours before the album drop at Blue Square in central Seoul, the nine emerged in racing-core leather, trading in their rookie glow for something more sultry and stylish. "It's our first full-length release, so we're really excited," Zhang Hao said. "This one captures the growth and changes of the past two years. We wanted it to be a gift to fans who

Sep 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

From survival show to superstardom, ZEROBASEONE aims higher with 'NEVER SAY NEVER'

K-pop

'Rich Man,' real power: aespa's 3-day Seoul spectacle makes big statement

When the four members of K-pop powerhouse aespa descended from gleaming metallic orbs in blood-red leather Sunday night, they didn't just look like pop stars — they looked like warriors materializing from another dimension. It was a theatrical entrance that set the tone for "SYNK : aeXIS LINE," the group's third concert series and one of the beloved SM quartet's most ambitious productions yet. Across three sold-out nights from Friday through Sunday at Seoul Olympic Park's KSPO Dome, 30,000 fans packed the arena to witness aespa's new spectacle. Anticipation buzzed outside on the final night as fans filmed themselves in the moment, all while clutching the band's newly unveiled official light stick glowing in shades of magenta and cyan. Even before the first note, the staging spoke volumes upon initial entrance. Curved LED walls wrapped the arena in ethereal light, the stage rose and fell like a living machine, and curtains cascaded to reset the atmosphere between acts. Even the camerawork became part of the drama, zooming in so tightly that the audience gasped at every glint of sweat a

Sep 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

'Rich Man,' real power: aespa's 3-day Seoul spectacle makes big statement

K-pop

IVE dives into darkness with 'IVE SECRET,' in test of group's identity

K-pop megastar girl group IVE is back in the spotlight with "IVE SECRET" and its moody title track "XOXZ," with the band's first release in seven months already creating an undeniable buzz. Fans rushed to streaming platforms, with the single debuting at No. 32 on Melon within an hour of its release on Aug. 25. The official music video also racked up nearly 5 million views in less than one day to top YouTube's trending music chart. But hype doesn't tell the full story. What IVE offers in the new work is a daring image shift that sounds good on paper, yet leaves room to question whether the group itself is ready to embrace it. From the beginning, the six-piece group — consisting of Ahn Yu-jin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Won-young, Liz and Leeseo — have been carving a lane of their own. The group's opening trilogy — "ELEVEN," "LOVE DIVE" "After LIKE" — built a glittery, modern spin on Y2K under the banner of self-love. Instead of leaning on K-pop's fierce "girl-crush" archetype, the members focused on delivering a princess-like elegance, presenting themselves as confident young women with a to

Aug 31, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

IVE dives into darkness with 'IVE SECRET,' in test of group's identity

Films

Director Kwon Han-sl on why AI filmmaking is new genre, not gimmick

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a new tool for filmmakers, but the next great cinematic shift, says director Kwon Han-sl. "From black-and-white to color, from theaters to streaming — our medium has always evolved with technology," he said during a media interview Wednesday. "AI filmmaking is the next turning point. If you embrace it, you become a pioneer. If you don't, you fall behind." Kwon speaks about AI with keenness and optimism. For him, AI is not simply another tool in the filmmaker's kit, but a technological inflection point on par with the invention of the camera or the arrival of streaming platforms. Kwon is the founder and CEO of Studio Freewillusion, launched in June 2023 as Korea's first AI video tech studio. Within its first year, the company made international waves when its debut project, "One More Pumpkin," earned the Grand Prize at the inaugural Dubai International AI Film Festival in March 2024. Most recently, Kwon visited Gyeongju to deliver a keynote at the APEC 2025 High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Indus

Aug 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Director Kwon Han-sl on why AI filmmaking is new genre, not gimmick

Foreign Affairs

APEC holds first high-level talks on cultural industries in Gyeongju

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Senior officials from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies gathered in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, for the group's first high-level talks on cultural and creative industries, underscoring their growing role in economic growth and innovation. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosts the APEC 2025 High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries from Tuesday to Thursday, chaired by Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young. The meeting, held under the theme “CCIs: New Horizons for Prosperity,” marked the first time since APEC’s founding in 1989 that culture was formally placed on the bloc’s agenda. Representatives from 20 of APEC's 21 member economies attended the talks, with Mexico the only absence. Participants included Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Toshiko Abe, Chilean Culture Minister Carolina Arredondo, Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon, Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Tiong King Sing and Peruvian Culture Minister Fabricio Valencia. Opening the pl

Aug 27, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

APEC holds first high-level talks on cultural industries in Gyeongju

K-pop

Sunmi to release new digital single 'BLUE!' after yearlong hiatus

Sunmi, one of K-pop's most distinctive solo artists, will release her new digital single "BLUE!" Tuesday at 6 p.m., her first music in more than a year since the release of "Balloon in Love" in June 2024. Sunmi's comeback was initially announced on Aug. 7 through the teaser video "SUNMI Comeback Trailer: Bass(ad)" on her official YouTube channel. The clip features a bass line performed by Sunmi herself, hinting at a new direction in sound. The teaser also introduced a striking visual shift. Sunmi appeared with short blonde hair and black nails for a punk-inspired concept, drawing attention for its contrast with her previous work. Anticipation grew on Monday with the teaser for "BLUE!" The clip opened with the question, "What would you do if your boyfriend became a cockroach?" before cutting to Sunmi in a red outfit, her sharp styling amplifying the moody rock star vibes. Since embarking on her solo career, Sunmi, 33, has solidified her place as one of K-pop's leading individual artists by self-producing a string of hit songs. The singer debuted in 2007 as a member of the now-iconic second

Aug 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Sunmi to release new digital single 'BLUE!' after yearlong hiatus

K-pop

Super Junior’s 20-year journey shows what K-pop longevity looks like

In K-pop, the seven-year contract has long been seen as a finish line. For many groups, it's the point where its members either decide to renew or part ways, with only a handful surviving beyond it — and even fewer managing to thrive. Yet Super Junior, SM Entertainment's first-ever large-scale boy band which debuted in 2005, has not only repeatedly renewed its commitment to stay together, but also set benchmarks for K-pop's global rise. Two decades on, the group now stands as one of the rarest acts to endure the industry turbulence, cementing its place as a model of K-pop longevity. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Super Junior recently released its 12th studio album, "Super Junior 25," in July, before launching the 10th edition of its long-running concert series, "SUPER SHOW." Having opened last weekend with three nights in Seoul, the tour now heads to 16 cities across Asia, Europe and the Americas, running through March 2026. Since its launch in 2008, the series has drawn more than 2 million fans, making it the longest-running concert brand in K-pop. Super Junior's origins trace bac

Aug 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

K-pop

TXT kicks off 4th world tour in Seoul with surprise BigHit contract renewal

K-pop boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) marked the start of its fourth world tour with two explosive nights at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome and a surprise announcement that all five members have renewed their contracts with BigHit Music, the label behind the group's formation. The group drew about 33,000 fans across Friday and Saturday for the opening leg of "TOMORROW X TOGETHER WORLD TOUR 'ACT: TOMORROW,'" with the shows streamed live on fan platform Weverse for global viewers. The group kicked off both nights with "LO$ER=LO♡ER," driving the momentum through fan-favorites like "Wishlist," "Blue Hour" and "Blue Orangeade" as the crowd sang along with every lyric. "We won't be stopping for the rest of the show, so please keep up with our energy," the members urged during the show, according to BigHit's official release, before moving into a setlist that charted the group's journey from their 2019 debut EP "The Dream Chapter: STAR" to this summer's "The Star Chapter: TOGETHER." The two-day concert also spotlighted new solo performances from the band's latest album, each offering a distinct

Aug 24, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

TXT kicks off 4th world tour in Seoul with surprise BigHit contract renewal

K-pop

Stray Kids celebrates global reign with triumphant new album 'KARMA'

K-pop juggernaut Stray Kids is back, and the group is making its return into a victory lap. On Friday at 1 p.m., the K-pop powerhouse unveiled their long-awaited full-length album "KARMA," a project that celebrates the group's hard-earned achievements and the global career they have built. Just two hours before release, the group addressed the press at a conference at a hotel in Seoul. Clad in sharp black suits, the eight members — Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N — entered the conference hall with the poise of artists well aware of their stature on the world stage. "This is our first comeback of the year, and we poured ourselves into it even while touring for 11 months," leader Bang Chan said. "We think of this as a big gift to STAY (the group's official fandom) and we're curious how people will respond. I'm already happy knowing we prepared without regrets." "KARMA" marks Stray Kids' first studio album in two years since 2023's "★★★★★ (5-STAR)." Once again, the producing trio 3RACHA — Bang Chan, Changbin and Han — took the reins, wr

Aug 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Stray Kids celebrates global reign with triumphant new album 'KARMA'

K-pop

SM's rookie Min Ji-woon finds her colors with debut EP 'Pink, then grey'

A new name under K-pop conglomerate SM Entertainment is ready to stake her place, this time in R&B. Min Ji-woon, the rising singer-songwriter under the company's contemporary R&B label, KRUCIALIZE, is set to drop her first EP, "Pink, then grey" Friday. KRUCIALIZE, launched in May 2024, was created to widen K-pop's musical scope with a sharper focus on R&B. Its name fuses "crucial" with the "-ize" suffix, reflecting its mission to push K-pop's boundaries. As KRUCIALIZE's first breakout artist, Min has been carving out her sound since her debut single "Sentimental Love" last October, followed by "Someone" and "If You Were The Rain (feat. Crush)." Each release spotlighted her uniquely emotive voice, which is well-suited for R&B, while also showcasing her producing abilities. The story behind her discovery had already raised eyebrows in the industry, as Min was reportedly scouted after an SM producer slid into her DMs. "I had been uploading covers and original songs on my personal social media account before debut and then SM reached out asking to meet," Min recalled at a press event at a th

Aug 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Pyo Kyung-min

Read more

From survival show to superstardom, ZEROBASEONE aims higher with 'NEVER SAY NEVER'

'Rich Man,' real power: aespa's 3-day Seoul spectacle makes big statement

IVE dives into darkness with 'IVE SECRET,' in test of group's identity

Director Kwon Han-sl on why AI filmmaking is new genre, not gimmick

APEC holds first high-level talks on cultural industries in Gyeongju

Sunmi to release new digital single 'BLUE!' after yearlong hiatus

Super Junior’s 20-year journey shows what K-pop longevity looks like

TXT kicks off 4th world tour in Seoul with surprise BigHit contract renewal

Stray Kids celebrates global reign with triumphant new album 'KARMA'

SM's rookie Min Ji-woon finds her colors with debut EP 'Pink, then grey'

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