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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

BTS to bring remastered concert films to 2,000 cinemas worldwide

K-pop juggernaut BTS will bring some of its most unforgettable moments to the big screen, with a series of live concert films set to be shown worldwide. The group on Thursday announced "BTS MOVIE WEEKS," which will screen concert films in more than 2,000 cinemas across 65 countries and regions. The project was unveiled with a main poster posted on the band's official social media accounts. The lineup includes "BTS 2016 Live 'The Most Beautiful Moment in Life' On Stage: Epilogue," the group's first show at Seoul's iconic KSPO Dome, and "BTS 2017 Live Trilogy Episode III The Wings Tour The Final," staged after their historic Billboard Music Awards win. The lineup also features "BTS 2019 World Tour 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' London," which drew 120,000 fans over two nights at Wembley Stadium, making BTS the first K-pop act to headline the venue. Rounding out the program is "BTS 2021 Muster Sowoozoo," an online fan event held for the band's eighth anniversary during the COVID-19 pandemic. BigHit Music, the group's label, said the films have been remastered in 4K ultra-high definition an

Aug 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS to bring remastered concert films to 2,000 cinemas worldwide
K-pop

Late summer goes solo as Joy, Chaeyoung, Haechan and more lead fall K-pop lineup

As the festival heat of summer fades, the K-pop spotlight is shifting as idols trade the safety of their groups for center stage through late August and September. Red Velvet's Joy already opened the solo parade and in the weeks ahead, TWICE's Chaeyoung, NCT's Haechan, MAMAMOO's Moonbyul and more will be stepping forward — with debuts, comebacks and world tours packing the early autumn calendar. Red Velvet's Joy was the first to make her move, releasing her debut mini-album "From JOY, with Love" on Monday. The six-track project threads together different shades of romance, including the bright and bubbly pop dance title "Love Splash!," which she co-wrote. The song captures the rush of first love with a fluttering beat, sweet lyrics and a melody designed to sparkle. "Releasing an album filled with my own emotions once felt vague and difficult, but thanks to the people who supported me, I was able to bring it into the world," Joy said Monday through an official release. "I wanted to capture the greatness and preciousness of love in this album. The biggest challenge was expressing such a

Aug 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Late summer goes solo as Joy, Chaeyoung, Haechan and more lead fall K-pop lineup
Music

Croatia's Jelusick joins forces with rock icon YB for epic 'Odyssey' project

When it comes to rock diplomacy, few pairings feel as unexpected and as electric as this one. Croatia's hard rock outfit Jelusick, fronted by powerhouse vocalist and keyboardist Dino Jelusick, has teamed up with Korea's legendary rock band YB, led by singer-songwriter Yoon Do-hyun, for a groundbreaking cross-cultural project. Formed in 2022, Jelusick is a four-piece band known for straddling rock, metal, funk and acoustic blues with equal ease. The band's debut album, "Follow the Blind Man," dropped in September 2023, and a follow-up album is slated for release on Sept. 19. Now, the rising European band is setting its sights on Korea. Its ongoing collaboration with YB, titled the "YB x Jelusick ODYSSEY Project," is more than just a concert series. Backed locally by the Korea Creative Content Agency, the initiative spans six shows across both countries and aims to spark broader cultural exchange through music, tourism and media. Confirmed stops include a recently concluded performance in Jeonju and Seoul, followed by Croatian dates at Spancirfest in Varazdin on Saturday and Valpovo on Aug.

Aug 20, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Croatia's Jelusick joins forces with rock icon YB for epic 'Odyssey' project
K-pop

Meet CORTIS: BigHit Music's 1st boy band since TXT

Many idols cite K-pop juggernaut BTS as their role model, but only a few can truly position themselves as the group's successors. On Monday, rookie boy band CORTIS — composed of members Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon and Keonho — debuted as BigHit Music's newest boy band, stepping into that rare space as the label's first boy group in six years since TXT and third in the 12 years since BTS debuted. That pedigree alone has fueled heavy anticipation among K-pop enthusiasts. As BigHit has turned each of its boy bands into global acts, fans were quick to focus their attention on its third project, with CORTIS amassing 1 million TikTok followers within six days of launching their official account. The music video for their debut album's intro track "GO!" landed on YouTube's trending music video charts in 11 regions, including Korea, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The group made its formal introduction at a media showcase at Blue Square in Seoul's Yongsan district, Monday. Still in their teens, the five members appeared onstage sporting young but confident energy. "Our

Aug 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Meet CORTIS: BigHit Music's 1st boy band since TXT
K-pop

Are K-pop's audition show-formed project groups headed for longer runs?

For years, project groups born from K-pop audition shows have followed an all-too-predictable script — they enjoy a burst of fame, then vanish into thin air once their short-term contracts run out. These acts, made up of trainees from multiple different agencies, were rarely meant to last. While some members went on to relaunch careers elsewhere, the group’s popularity often faded as quickly as it had arrived. That narrative, however, is apparently beginning to crack. Just last year, most members of girl group Kep1er, formed through the 2021 audition show "Girls Planet 999," renewed their contracts, becoming the first project act to break the industry's unwritten rule. More recently, boy band ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) has confirmed that talks are underway to extend its activities beyond its original end date, fueling speculation that the short-lived model for such groups could be changing. On Tuesday, ZB1's agency, WAKEONE, told multiple local media outlets that it "highly values the group's potential and growth prospects" and has been in "serious talks" with each member's agency since early

Aug 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Are K-pop's audition show-formed project groups headed for longer runs?
K-pop

Young Posse channels 'Growing Pain' into fierce, hip-hop driven new EP

In a scene where girl groups dedicated to true hip-hop are a rarity, K-pop act Young Posse has doubled down on what they do best. The five-member group drops its fourth EP, "Growing Pain pt.1 : FREE," Thursday at 6 p.m., delivering a fresh round of hard-hitting hip-hop. The new project arrives five months after the group — Sunhye, Yeonjung, Jiana, Doeun and Jieun — released its special album, "COLD." According to the group's agency, DSP Media, the record explores the "growing pains" that come with searching for one's true self, a theme reflected in its title. To mark the release, the members hosted a media event at YES24 Wanderloch Hall in Seoul's Seodaemun District, just a few hours before the actual release. Rather than presenting a conventional comeback showcase, the band branded the gathering a "Media Mini Festival." True to its reputation for dynamic live performances, the group opened the event with their signature hits "XXL" and "ATE THAT" before launching straight into the new title track with unrelenting energy. Since debuting in 2023, the five Young Posse members have consi

Aug 14, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Young Posse channels 'Growing Pain' into fierce, hip-hop driven new EP
K-pop

Rookie K-pop girl group AtHeart enters scene with big name-backing, global roots

Global K-pop startup TITAN CONTENT officially introduced its first girl group, AtHeart, Wednesday, marking the seven-member act's debut with the release of its first EP, "Plot Twist." The rookie group — Michi from Hawaii, Katelyn from the Philippines and Korean members Arin, Bome, Seohyeon and Nahyun — held a media showcase at Blue Square's SOL Travel Hall in Seoul, just hours before the 6 p.m. release of their debut EP. "I've waited so long for this, and it's such an honor," Nahyun said. "I'm happy to finally be on stage, and I'll work hard so people can watch me grow." Japanese member Aurora, currently recovering from health issues, was not able to join the event, with the group performing as a six-piece for now. Bome added, "Aurora is diligent and hardworking. I know she'll show something great when she joins us in our next album." The group's label, TITAN CONTENT, may be young, but its leadership team includes some of the most influential names in the field — chairperson Han Se-min, former CEO of SM Entertainment; CEO Katie Kang, former SM casting director; chief performance off

Aug 13, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Rookie K-pop girl group AtHeart enters scene with big name-backing, global roots
Arts & Theater

ABBA anthems, heartwarming story keep musical 'Mamma Mia!' thriving in Seoul

More than two decades after its West End debut, the smash-hit musical "Mamma Mia!" is still packing theaters in Seoul with audiences enjoying the sounds of ABBA's greatest hits. Its current run at LG Art Center Seoul shows that the mix of nostalgia, humor and heart can still move audiences to their feet — even if the production may have begun to show the slightest signs of aging. First premiering in London in 1999, "Mamma Mia!" has since been staged worldwide, including a long run on Broadway. Its Korean rendition opened back in 2004 at the Seoul Arts Center and surpassed 2 million cumulative viewers by 2019. Built around the legendary Swedish pop group's anthems, the musical follows Donna, an independent single mother running a small hotel on a Greek island, and her daughter Sophie, who is preparing to marry her boyfriend at the young age of 20. The plot unfolds as Sophie finds Donna's old diary, then proceeds to invite three men from her mother's past — each of whom might be her father — to the wedding, hoping to learn the truth about her parentage. What follows is a lighthearte

Aug 12, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
ABBA anthems, heartwarming story keep musical 'Mamma Mia!' thriving in Seoul
K-pop

SHINee's Key embraces urban legends, darker sound on 'HUNTER'

SHINee's Key is diving into the horror realm with "HUNTER," his third full-length solo album released Monday. Drawing on the eerie allure of urban legends, the 10-track project pairs dark, theatrical imagery with his years of K-pop experience. The new release marks Key's first studio album in three years, following "Gasoline" in August 2022. SM Entertainment, the SHINee singer's longtime label, described it as "an album that weaves a variety of stories about the self," blending multiple genres and anchored by its eponymous title track. Speaking to reporters at a hotel in Seoul’s Gwangjin District just hours before the release, Key said he built the album with the stage in mind. "I chose the title track and the B-sides while picturing myself performing," he said. "It's an album that's really just fun to hear from the opening track straight through." Its lead single, "HUNTER," pairs a deep bassline and kick drums with deepening guitar riffs, while its lyrics explore the uneasy thrill of a painful relationship. The song was crafted with longtime SHINee collaborator KENZIE, who has written

Aug 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
SHINee's Key embraces urban legends, darker sound on 'HUNTER'
K-pop

THE BOYZ push past bomb threat, member scandals to launch new world tour

K-pop group The Boyz launched its fourth world tour over the weekend with a three-night run in Seoul, overcoming a fake bomb threat that delayed the final performance and a string of controversies surrounding members' private lives. The 10-member group opened their world tour, titled "THE BLAZE," from last Friday to Sunday at KSPO Dome in Songpa District of southeastern Seoul. The final show on Sunday was initially set to begin at 4 p.m., but at around 1:50 p.m., police received a report claiming explosives had been planted inside the arena. The report prompted an evacuation of the audience and a full security sweep. Authorities searched the venue for about two hours before confirming the threat was false. According to a press release from the group's agency, One Hundred, police, fire officials and venue staff "convened a joint safety review after the search and determined the concert could proceed." Audience entry resumed at 4:45 p.m. and the performance started at 6 p.m. Once onstage, The Boyz performed a mix of tracks including "Stylish," the title track of the band's latest album rel

Aug 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
THE BOYZ push past bomb threat, member scandals to launch new world tour
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