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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

K-pop’s premature disbandments rise among smaller labels

Several K-pop groups managed by relatively smaller entertainment agencies have disbanded or announced indefinite suspensions of activities in recent months, all without completing the industry-standard seven-year exclusive contracts. This trend of early breakups has not only sparked disappointment among fans, but also reignited debate over whether only major K-pop companies can sustain a band's ultimate success. On Aug. 4, RBW, the agency behind six-member girl group PURPLE KISS, issued a statement announcing the group will conclude activities in November. “The company and the members engaged in long and sincere discussions about how to move forward. Ultimately, we reached a conclusion based on mutual respect for each other’s opinions and with the desire to support each member’s individual dreams,” the agency said. RBW added that although the group will officially end activities, all scheduled events will proceed as planned — beginning with the release of an English-language album at the end of this month, followed by promotions in Japan and a tour in the Americas. Since debutin

Aug 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop’s premature disbandments rise among smaller labels
K-pop

Wave to Earth brings Korean indie rock to forefront with stirring Lollapalooza Chicago debut

CHICAGO — Under the unforgiving August sun in Chicago's Grant Park on Sunday, the air shimmered with heat as Lollapalooza festivalgoers slowly drifted toward the Tito's Handmade Vodka Stage. At first, the scene was relatively quiet. But by the time Korean indie rock band Wave to Earth struck their final chord, an enthusiastic crowd was locked in, singing along and roaring with the kind of fervor usually reserved for global rockstars. "We didn't expect that many people to show up," bassist Cha Soon-jong told The Korea Times during a backstage interview just minutes after the band's set, his face still beaming in the afterglow. "But as the set went on, more and more came to see us perform. It was almost kind of overwhelming." Wave to Earth may not be a household name among fans of the flashier, performance-driven side of K-pop, but they've quietly become one of the country's most exciting musical exports. Their music trades in atmosphere over spectacle — hazy lo-fi guitar lines, soft jazz-inflected drumming and melancholy lyrics. The Seoul-based trio, made up of frontman-guitarist Kim

Aug 6, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Wave to Earth brings Korean indie rock to forefront with stirring Lollapalooza Chicago debut
K-pop

KATSEYE, BOYNEXTDOOR close out Lollapalooza Chicago with showmanship, industry promise

CHICAGO — Under the blazing sun in Chicago’s Grant Park, two of HYBE Labels’ fastest-rising acts stepped up to the plate, making it clear they intend to stay there. KATSEYE and BOYNEXTDOOR, both rising stars in the global music scene, delivered high-impact sets that closed out the four-day festival with a vibrant mix of flashy showmanship and industry promise. Though still in their nascent years, both groups demonstrated different strengths through their respective Sunday performances: KATSEYE brought theatrical flair and cross-cultural buzz, while BOYNEXTDOOR grounded their set in a powerful command of the stage. For KATSEYE, the performance at Lollapalooza’s main T-Mobile Stage — the group’s first-ever major festival appearance — was a pivotal career moment. Formed through the 2023 HYBE x Geffen global girl group audition program "Dream Academy," the six-member act — Manon, Daniela, Sophia, Megan, Lara and Yoonchae — has already cultivated a devoted international fan base. But according to the six members, stepping onto the Lollapalooza stage was something else entirel

Aug 4, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
KATSEYE, BOYNEXTDOOR close out Lollapalooza Chicago with showmanship, industry promise
K-pop

From TWICE to KickFlip: JYP doubles down at Lollapalooza Chicago

CHICAGO — As fireworks exploded above Grant Park and thousands of lightsticks danced below, TWICE closed out Saturday night at Lollapalooza Chicago with a bang — a spectacle that reaffirmed K-pop’s global power. But the spotlight wasn’t theirs alone. Just hours earlier, rookie boy band KickFlip stepped onto the same stage for their U.S. debut, wide-eyed but with enough raw energy to win over a sea of curious festivalgoers. Together, they turned JYP Entertainment’s presence at the festival into a generational double bill, painting a vivid portrait of both legacy and emergence on a global stage. TWICE dances night away Headlining Saturday night, TWICE, arguably one of K-pop's most globally celebrated girl groups, didn't just take the stage; they commanded it, unleashing a performance charged with the full force of K-pop's signature spectacle. Opening their set on the Bud Light Stage with a thunderous rendition of "The Feels," the nine-member group launched into a tightly choreographed run of fan favorites including "More & More," "Dance the Night Away" and "What is Love?" Tens of

Aug 4, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
From TWICE to KickFlip: JYP doubles down at Lollapalooza Chicago
Music

How Bae Chul-soo broadcasts iconic radio show from Lollapalooza Chicago

CHICAGO — Inside a white container studio in Grant Park, tucked just steps from the thundering stages of Lollapalooza Chicago, Korea’s most iconic radio voice leans into the mic — not in Seoul, but in the middle of America’s wildest summer music festival. What’s Bae Chul-soo, the legendary host of Korea's longest-running radio program, "Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp," doing 10,000 kilometers away from his familiar Seoul studio, where he has helmed Korea’s most beloved pop music show for over three decades? To celebrate the 35th anniversary of his program, Bae and his team flew across the globe for a first-of-its-kind recording project, bringing "Bae Camp" to life from the heart of the Windy City. Surrounded by festival frenzy, the crew set up a makeshift studio in Grant Park, determined to capture the global pulse of pop music in real time. This milestone moment of Korea's most enduring radio show promised something historic for fans and industry insiders alike, but its journey was far from seamless. After a grueling 12-hour flight, even catching an Uber into downtown proved chal

Aug 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
How Bae Chul-soo broadcasts iconic radio show from Lollapalooza Chicago
Music

Xdinary Heroes light up Lollapalooza Chicago

CHICAGO — The sun blazed down on Grant Park as waves of music lovers flooded through the gates Thursday, the opening day of Lollapalooza Chicago 2025. Under the sweltering heat, festivalgoers embraced the vibrant atmosphere, dressed in lightweight, expressive fashion — cowboy hats, bikini tops and jean cutoffs were common, while some attendees even braved the summer heat shirtless. Cans of beer and guava margaritas in hand, the crowd floated between stages at the park, most of them drenched in sweat while diving into equally filthy beats. One of the most influential music festivals in the world, Lollapalooza offers a strikingly different landscape from its Korean counterparts, not just in its massive scale, but in its overall vibes, genre diversity and sheer cultural breadth. Held annually at Chicago's Grant Park, the four-day festival draws nearly 400,000 attendees and continues to serve as a global touchpoint for contemporary music. This year's edition, running from Thursday to Sunday (local time), showcases more than 170 acts across eight stages, spanning pop, hip-hop, rock, EDM

Aug 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Xdinary Heroes light up Lollapalooza Chicago
K-pop

Stray Kids circles globe 7 times in stadium-packed world tour

K-pop boy band Stray Kids will conclude its largest-ever world tour, "Stray Kids World Tour 'dominATE'," with a final concert at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy, on Wednesday, marking the end of a global run that spanned five continents, 34 cities and 54 performances in nearly a year. Kicking off at Seoul's KSPO Dome in August 2024, the tour took the eight-member group across Asia, Oceania, Latin America, North America and Europe. According to its agency, JYP Entertainment, the group traveled an estimated 285,000 kilometers during this tour, roughly equivalent to circling the Earth seven times, highlighting the tour's expansive scale. The tour was named after the band's ninth EP "ATE," released back in July 2024, and the word "dominate," a nod to the group's ambition to conquer the global music scene. The group performed in 34 venues in total, including 31 for the first time. Twenty-seven of the venues were open-air stadiums, marking a dramatic expansion from their previous tour, "MANIAC," which featured just one stadium show in Los Angeles in 2023. Through a press release on Monday, the a

Jul 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Stray Kids circles globe 7 times in stadium-packed world tour
K-pop

BOYNEXTDOOR goes big but not bold in Seoul finale of 1st world tour

BOYNEXTDOOR, the boy band under KOZ Entertainment and part of HYBE's ever-expanding K-pop empire, officially wrapped its first-ever tour with a sold-out three-day finale in Seoul. Backed by the full force of the K-pop conglomerate, the production successfully delivered on scale, but flashes of déjà vu dimmed the finale's impact. Familiar visuals and staging choices echoed past K-pop spectacles, raising questions about KOZ's creative direction and the group's evolving identity. Launched in December 2024 in Incheon, "BOYNEXTDOOR TOUR 'KNOCK ON Vol.1'" spanned 23 shows across 13 cities, including Tokyo, Singapore, Manila, Taipei and Jakarta, ending with three finale performances that ran Friday to Sunday at KSPO Dome in southeastern Seoul. Sunday's show, the final evening of the run, offered a glimpse into the group's young but devoted fanbase. Students made up much of the crowd — some with hair still in curlers, others casually dressed in checkered shirts. But once inside, the fans all became a single, unified voice, erupting in thunderous cheers as the lights cut out and they were plu

Jul 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BOYNEXTDOOR goes big but not bold in Seoul finale of 1st world tour
K-pop

MBC's 'Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp' to broadcast from Lollapalooza Chicago for 35th anniv.

MBC Radio's long-running show "Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp" will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a special broadcast in August from Lollapalooza Chicago, one of the largest and most influential music festivals in the United States. The festival will run from July 31 to Aug. 3 and the program will broadcast live-recorded performances and interviews from the festival site between Aug. 1 and 6. Seoul and Chicago have a 14-hour time difference. As part of the anniversary broadcast, the program is expected to spotlight K-pop artists performing at the festival. This year's Lollapalooza lineup includes several Korean acts, such as TWICE, KickFlip, Xdinary Heroes, BOYNEXTDOOR and the rock band Wave to Earth. First aired in 1990, "Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp" has become one of Korea's most respected music shows. Known for its focus on Western pop and rock, the program is hosted by Bae Chul-soo, a former rock musician recognized for his iconic voice and deep knowledge of the genre. In celebration of the 30th anniversary in 2020, the show aired a special episode from BBC studios in London and invit

Jul 27, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
MBC's 'Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp' to broadcast from Lollapalooza Chicago for 35th anniv.
Travel & Food

Soaked in summer: Korea's hottest festivals to cool off, snap photos, dive headfirst into season

As the unforgiving monsoon rains fade and summer heat takes hold, Korea is transforming into a vibrant playground of culture, nature and celebration. From bustling city plazas to tranquil riversides and scenic mountains, the country’s summer festivals bring together locals and travelers in search of joy, beauty and, most importantly, relief from rising temperatures. Whether you want to dive into a giant mud pit, wander through endless flower fields or dance beneath the stars, there's always a festival to match your vibe. The Korea Times curated Korea's best summer events into three categories: water festivals, photo-friendly escapes and hands-on adventures. Pack your waterproof gadgets, charge your camera and prepare for a Korean summer you'll never forget. Dive head-first into summer When it comes to escaping the sweltering sun, nothing beats a full-body plunge into water. Across Korea, a wave of water-themed festivals is giving locals and tourists alike a reason to get wet, dance and escape the heat. From the heart of Seoul to the coastal charm of South Jeolla Province, here are some

Jul 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Soaked in summer: Korea's hottest festivals to cool off, snap photos, dive headfirst into season
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