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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 year-end concert calendar: Where to close out 2025 with music

As winter settles in and holiday lights begin to take over city streets, Korea's live music scene is gearing up for one of its busiest stretches of the year. Dome-scale finales, world tour homecomings and intimate ballad concerts are all on the calendar, giving fans plenty of ways to close out 2025. From viral K-pop groups to more low-key acts, here is a look at some of the key year-end shows from late November through December. PLAVE Virtual boy band PLAVE will wrap its first Asia tour with "2025 PLAVE Asia Tour 'DASH: Quantum Leap' Encore," a two-night finale at the iconic Gocheok Sky Dome — one of Korea's biggest venues — on Friday and Saturday. The concerts serve as the last chapter of the "DASH: Quantum Leap" run, which has helped establish the five-member act as a leading virtual presence in K-pop. For the dome encore, the group is expected to scale up its visuals and staging to match the venue, turning the shows into a high-impact send-off for the group's landmark tour. DAY6 DAY6, the four-piece rock band under K-pop giant JYP Entertainment, is scheduled to mark their return to

Nov 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop's year-end concert calendar: Where to close out 2025 with music
K-pop

First K-pop-inspired Latin boy band SANTOS BRAVOS steps into global arena

If HYBE Labels' "multi-home, multi-genre" strategy has already begun reshaping pop through its U.S. and Japan branches with acts like KATSEYE and &TEAM, the company is now extending that blueprint to Latin America with its newest project, SANTOS BRAVOS. Formed through a televised reality series of the same name that aired from August to October, the five-member boy group — Drew, Alejandro, Kaue, Gaby and Kenneth — represents HYBE's most ambitious localization effort yet. The band's launch suggests the strategy is paying off: SANTOS BRAVOS debuted with a concert in Mexico, selling out every seat and positioning themselves as early global contenders. Its debut builds on the momentum of HYBE's overseas units. U.S.-based global girl group KATSEYE has surged to the forefront of pop, dominating international charts and securing two nominations at the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards, while Japan's &TEAM has climbed to million-seller status in both Korea and Japan. HYBE Latin America aims to carve out its own lane, pairing the region's rhythmic traditions with the performance-driven precision

Nov 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
First K-pop-inspired Latin boy band SANTOS BRAVOS steps into global arena
Trends

Why Spotify is betting big on Korea's new listening culture

In Korea, music streaming is no longer just about listening — it’s becoming a lifestyle. As Korean pop culture continues to expand its global influence and Gen Z turns playlists into tools of self-expression, music platforms are racing to keep up. What used to be a straightforward choice between a few domestic services has shifted into a multi-platform habit: one app for chart voting, another for discovery, another for mood playlists. In this new landscape, Spotify is trying to move from "just another app" to something closer to a lifestyle brand, embedding itself into daily routines both online and offline. An ordinary stretch of street in Seoul’s trendy Seongsu-dong took on a different energy earlier this month. Past crowded cosmetic stores and the stream of office workers and students, a three‑story building pulsed with music loud enough to spill onto the sidewalk. Inside was Spotify House Seoul, a pop-up venue where the streaming giant staged its largest offline event in Korea to date from Nov. 13 to 15. The installation was more than a temporary attraction. Through interacti

Nov 20, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Why Spotify is betting big on Korea's new listening culture
K-pop

INFINITE's Jang Dong-woo turns alarm into anthem with 'AWAKE'

Jang Dong-woo is starting his days with an alarm — literally. He wakes up at 7 a.m. every day to upload content tied to alarm-themed promotions for his new solo album and monitor fan reactions. He has always been the loudest spark in the second-gen K-pop boy band INFINITE — the group's kinetic rapper, dancer and resident live wire, but on a chilly Monday morning during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul's Yongsan District, he leaned forward with the urgency of someone who has rebuilt himself piece by piece. "This album is made out of my own money and thus falls entirely under my responsibility," Jang said, half laughing at the weight of it. "I finally understand why entertainment CEOs get so stressed." A whopping six years and eight months after his first solo project, the INFINITE rapper-performer returns Tuesday with "AWAKE," a self-made, six-song mini-album designed to jolt listeners out of emotional autopilot. The concept fits him. His energy fires fast, his words tumble out and even his jokes land with precision. But beneath that positivity was the steely resol

Nov 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
INFINITE's Jang Dong-woo turns alarm into anthem with 'AWAKE'
People & Events

Warm potluck marks Howdy Korea's Silver Button milestone

Inside a softly lit party room in Seoul's Mapo District on Thursday evening, steaming Korean dishes, bursts of laughter and a spirited chorus of "Howdy Korea!" set the tone for a warm celebration. Creators and contributors to The Korea Times' YouTube channel, Howdy Korea, gathered for what felt less like a formal event and more like a reunion, sharing homemade dishes, chatting in Korean and English and taking part in lighthearted activities to mark the channel's newest milestone: receiving YouTube's Silver Button award. Launched in July 2024, Howdy Korea has quickly built up a dedicated following by spotlighting Korean culture through approachable, fun and engaging storytelling. Its videos have introduced viewers from around the world to local topics and issues ranging from shamanism and traditional cuisine to face reading and multiculturalism, often featuring a rotating cast of scholars, expats and artists. Several episodes have gone viral, helping the channel surpass 100,000 subscribers earlier this year. That momentum paved the way for Thursday’s gathering, where the on-screen warmt

Nov 14, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Warm potluck marks Howdy Korea's Silver Button milestone
Trends

'KPop Demon Hunters' comes to Seoul with December pop-up

A pop-up store for Netflix's smash hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" will open in Seoul next month, extending the movie's momentum offline with a full range of official merchandise and character-themed attractions. The "KPop Demon Hunters Official POP-UP — SEOUL" will run from Dec. 4 to 28 in the Seongsu-dong area, a major retail hub for pop-up events. The project is a collaboration between Netflix and B.stage, the Korea-based fan-commerce company which produces and globally distributes the film's merchandise. The pop-up will feature items based on popular characters from the film, including members of the fictional K-pop groups Huntrix and the Saja Boys. The merchandise lineup includes plush dolls, keyrings, apparel, accessories and K-pop-themed collectibles such as photocards and binders designed for photocard collectors. Several items will be sold exclusively at the Seoul event. Fans can get early access through an online pre-order from Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. to Nov. 30 at midnight via the film's official fan community website. A Netflix spokesperson gave an official statement sayin

Nov 13, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
'KPop Demon Hunters' comes to Seoul with December pop-up
K-pop

All 5 NewJeans members to return to Ador

All five members of K-pop girl group NewJeans — Minji, Danielle, Hanni, Haerin and Hyein — have expressed their desire to resume activities under Ador. Following Haerin and Hyein's confirmed return to the music label, the other three members released a statement Wednesday evening expressing their desire to return to their old agency. "After careful discussions, we have decided to return to Ador. One of our members is currently in Antarctica, so the communication was delayed and since Ador has not yet responded, we had no choice but to share our position separately," a statement released by Minji, Danielle and Hanni said. In response, Ador said it is “in the process of verifying the authenticity” of the three members’ decision. Earlier this afternoon, the HYBE subsidiary released a statement announcing the return of the two members. "Haerin and Hyein have expressed their intention to continue working with Ador," the label said in an official statement. "After careful consideration with their families and sufficient discussions with the agency, they decided to respect the court's

Nov 12, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
All 5 NewJeans members to return to Ador
K-pop

Can ITZY find focus with 'TUNNEL VISION'?

"Know yourself, know your enemy," wrote Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu. The advice still fits modern K-pop, where a group's self-defined image and confidence can determine whether it survives in the cutthroat scene. For girl group ITZY, a team built on unapologetic self-belief, the saying feels more timely than ever. The five-member act under JYP Entertainment returned Monday with "TUNNEL VISION," its 11th mini-album and first since June's "Girls Will Be Girls." It also marks their first project since renewing their contracts with the label, creating an opportunity to showcase their artistic evolution. For years, ITZY has embodied confidence. From the bold announcement of "DALLA DALLA" (2019) to the glossy self-assurance of "WANNABE" (2020), the group became a symbol of fearless energy. But after defining its early years with empowering hits, ITZY has struggled to recapture that spark. Recent projects like "GOLD" and "Girls Will Be Girls" leaned too much on the same formula, with bold declarations and chant-heavy hooks, but lacking impact. Unfortunately, "TUNNEL VISION" arrives in the shado

Nov 12, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Can ITZY find focus with 'TUNNEL VISION'?
K-pop

2025 MAMA Awards returns to Hong Kong, brings K-pop spirit to global stage

The 2025 MAMA Awards is set to return to Hong Kong later this month, staged at the city's new cultural landmark, Kai Tak Stadium. The event aims to spotlight both the growing global influence of K-pop and the awards' decades-long legacy. Launched in 1999 by Mnet, a music channel under CJ ENM, the MAMA Awards have evolved alongside K-pop as it rises in global recognition. Since its first overseas edition in Macau in 2010, the ceremony has become a traveling showcase, held in cities such as Singapore, Tokyo and Los Angeles. This year's two-day event, set for Nov. 28 and 29, marks MAMA's return to Hong Kong after seven years. The city hosted the event from 2012 to 2018, serving as one of its longest-running international venues. "In 2018, we held the show in a 10,000-seat venue," said Park Chan-uk, head of live entertainment at CJ ENM's music content division, during a press premiere event at CJ ENM headquarters in Seoul's Mapo District, Tuesday. "This year, we're hosting it at Hong Kong's new landmark, the Kai Tak Stadium, with over 70,000 seats, across two days." Park described the upcomi

Nov 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
2025 MAMA Awards returns to Hong Kong, brings K-pop spirit to global stage
Arts & Theater

Star vocalists dazzle at The Korea Times musical gala

Under the soaring ceiling of Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul's Songpa District on Monday evening, three of Korea's finest vocalists gathered for a night of theatrical brilliance. The Korea Times marked its 75th anniversary with its gala concert, "The Musical." Guided by veteran music director and conductor Kolleen Park, soprano Kang Hye-jung and musical theater stars Michael K. Lee and Choi Jae-rim turned the night into a sweeping celebration of theatrical artistry and the newspaper's lasting legacy. Anticipation was palpable long before the curtain rose, as concertgoers — some affiliated with the English daily but many simply drawn by the promise of great music — began crowding the gates hours ahead of showtime. As the High Tone Symphony Orchestra opened the performance with the "Titanic Suite," Kang appeared in a green gown, the newspaper's symbolic color, her crystalline voice filling the hall as she sang "My Heart Will Go On." The opening unfolded like a history of modern musicals, with Broadway passion meet orchestral splendor. Lee first took the stage for "Out There" from "The Hunc

Nov 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Star vocalists dazzle at The Korea Times musical gala
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