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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

From stage to courtroom: NewJeans meets 3rd anniversary in legal standoff

K-pop girl group NewJeans marked the third anniversary of its debut this week, but instead of a celebration, the milestone arrived under the shadow of an unresolved legal dispute with its agency, Ador. Two days after marking its third debut anniversary, NewJeans underwent a third court hearing Thursday at 4 p.m., in a lawsuit filed by Ador seeking to confirm the validity of the group's exclusive contracts — a case that has kept the group embroiled in legal trouble for months. With the hearing falling so close to the anniversary date, fans gathered outside the Seoul Central District Court in hopes of seeing the five members — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein — but the group did not appear in person for the proceedings. The legal conflict between NewJeans and the HYBE subsidiary began back in November 2024, when the members held an emergency press conference and declared their intention to terminate their contracts with the agency citing that the trust between them had broken down. Soon after, the group revealed a new name, NJZ, via a new social media account and began prepa

Jul 24, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
From stage to courtroom: NewJeans meets 3rd anniversary in legal standoff
People & Events

Korea Times, KOFICE sign MOU to expand global reach of hallyu

The Korea Times, the nation's oldest English-language daily, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) to support the continued global spread of Korean culture. The agreement aims to establish a joint framework for cooperation, allowing both organizations to promote hallyu, or the Korean wave, worldwide and pursue mutual growth. Founded in 2003, KOFICE operates under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with a mission to introduce Korean culture to the world and foster global cultural exchanges. "KOFICE and The Korea Times share a common mission of promoting Korea to the world," The Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin said during a signing ceremony at the newspaper's headquarters in central Seoul, Tuesday. "Korean culture today is loved worldwide — people sing our songs, read our literature and enjoy our food. With a great sense of pride, our job is to help more people experience how Korean culture enriches and contributes to global diversity. This agreement marks an important step in achieving tha

Jul 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Korea Times, KOFICE sign MOU to expand global reach of hallyu
K-pop

TXT gets personal, more powerful in 'The Star Chapter: TOGETHER'

Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is back, and the band is literally bringing it all together. The BigHit Music boy band returned Monday with "The Star Chapter: TOGETHER," the group's first full-length album in nearly two years, wrapping up its "Star Chapter" series with more emotional storytelling and powerful performances. Just hours before the album drop, the five TXT members — Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai — took the stage at Kyung Hee University's Peace Hall in Seoul to talk the press through their newest work. Dressed in black leather and exuding a darker edge, the members described the album as the group's most personal project yet. "We worked really hard to make sure our colors came through this time," said Yeonjun, the group's eldest. "Since the word 'together' is part of our team name, we thought a lot about what it actually means and how to express that through the music." Beomgyu added, "Being together is at the core of who we are as a team. We've all built this together — our fans, our staff and the five of us. That made the message of this new album feel eve

Jul 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
TXT gets personal, more powerful in 'The Star Chapter: TOGETHER'
K-pop

TWICE, BLACKPINK made noise with simultaneous comebacks — but who hit harder?

K-pop witnessed a rare moment on July 11 at 1 p.m., as two of the genre's biggest girl groups, TWICE and BLACKPINK, dropped new music at the exact same time. One leaned into empowerment-pop with polished ease, while the other detonated a literal music bomb straight out of the rave scene. The result? A week of fierce fan debate, endless replays and two vastly different approaches to being a global K-pop band in 2025. TWICE, celebrating 10 years since its debut, dropped "THIS IS FOR," a full-length album packed with 14 tracks that feel like a love letter to fans and its own decade-long legacy. The eponymous title track, sung entirely in English, is an easy-listening pop anthem with retro riffs, smooth basslines and an empowering message that hits directly: "This is for all the ladies who don't get hyped enough." It's not out to reinvent, but it's a sign that TWICE — and their team — knows exactly who they are and what their global audience wants. Serving as a continuation of the group's slow but steady shift into their "grown woman" era, TWICE now carries themselves with the kind of sel

Jul 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
TWICE, BLACKPINK made noise with simultaneous comebacks — but who hit harder?
K-pop

What makes K-pop audition programs so popular?

As K-pop's global reach continues to expand, Korean broadcasters are continuously rolling out a stream of audition programs searching for the next breakout act. Mnet, known for its long-running history with televised music competitions, introduced the new elements of "BOYS II PLANET," a sequel to its "Boys Planet" series, during a press conference Wednesday. Earlier in June, broadcaster SBS also launched a new boy band audition program titled "B:MY BOYZ." Over the years, Korea has discovered emerging talent through many different audition shows, including major titles like "Superstar K" and "K-Pop Star." These shows were among the first to introduce a nationwide voting system, inviting viewers to support their favorite contestants on their path to a debut. While those earlier programs mainly debuted individual artists, the trend of forming K-pop groups through televised shows and propelling them to mainstream success began to thrive in the late 2010s with Mnet's "Produce 101" franchise. Spanning four seasons, the "Produce 101" series produced immensely popular project groups including I.

Jul 17, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
What makes K-pop audition programs so popular?
K-pop

Monsta X looks ahead after decade in K-pop, teases September comeback

Having weathered all the highs and lows that come with spending a decade in the turbulent K-pop industry, nothing seems to rattle boy band Monsta X and its sheer confidence. That was clear on Wednesday afternoon, as the six Monsta X members — Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney and I.M — gathered at a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, for a press conference marking the group's 10th anniversary. Rather than treating it as a routine media event, the members filled the room with easy laughter, trading jokes about their military service and even dropping unannounced hints about new music. Monsta X made its official debut on May 14, 2015, under Starship Entertainment, with its first mini album, "Trespass." Since then, the group has built an impressive catalog of hits, including "DRAMARAMA," "Shoot Out" and "GAMBLER," winning over fans in Korea and abroad with its signature masculine charisma. Looking back on the decade together, Minhyuk said the milestone finally felt real. "I didn't really feel it until today," he said. "Being congratulated like this makes it sink in. It feels both moving

Jul 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Monsta X looks ahead after decade in K-pop, teases September comeback
  • Timeline: Monsta X's 10 years of grit, global growth
K-pop

What Min Hee-jin's breach of trust clearance means for her, NewJeans

Min Hee-jin, the ousted former CEO of Ador, has been cleared of breach of trust allegations filed by HYBE, reigniting debates over her future and the uncertain status of NewJeans, the chart-topping girl group she helped create. In a statement released Tuesday, Min’s legal team said "the breach of trust allegations filed by HYBE in April last year were found to lack sufficient grounds for criminal charges," adding that the police concluded their investigation after determining there was "no evidence of wrongdoing." This follows a year-long probe that began after HYBE accused Min of attempting to seize control of Ador, a subsidiary in which it holds an 80 percent stake. Min denied the allegations. In response to the decision, HYBE announced it would file an appeal with the prosecution. "Following the police investigation, new developments have occurred, including the NewJeans members' declaration of contract termination, and numerous new pieces of evidence have been submitted in related court proceedings," the label told reporters the same day. Min was dismissed from her position at Ador

Jul 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
What Min Hee-jin's breach of trust clearance means for her, NewJeans
K-pop

Timeline: Monsta X's 10 years of grit, global growth

From fierce rookies to global stars, K-pop boy band Monsta X marks its 10th anniversary this year. Over the past decade, the Starship Entertainment powerhouse has carved out a unique path, one built on fiery performances and international aspirations. Here's a look back at how Monsta X shaped each year into a milestone. 2015 Formed through Mnet's survival show "NO.MERCY," Monsta X officially debuted on May 14 under Starship Entertainment as a seven-member act with their first EP "Trespass." The group's aggressive sound and performances made an immediate impression, earning them multiple rookie awards within months of debut. In September, they also announced their official fandom name: Monbebe. 2016 Monsta X launched its "The Clan" series with its third EP, "Pt.1: Lost," which landed on Billboard's World Albums chart. The group also held their first solo concert in Seoul and closed the year with the release of "Pt.2: Guilty." 2017 The group's first studio album, "The Clan Pt.2.5: Beautiful," arrived in March, followed by its first world tour, "Beautiful," with stops across Asia, Europe and th

Jul 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Timeline: Monsta X's 10 years of grit, global growth
K-pop

SHINee's Onew taps into animal instincts with new album 'PERCENT'

SHINee's iconic vocalist Onew returned as a soloist with a breezy new track that calls on listeners to return to their animal instincts this summer. The singer dropped his second full-length album, "PERCENT," on major streaming platforms Tuesday, marking his solo comeback about five months after his fourth EP, "CONNECTION." Onew, dressed in a crisp white jacket, introduced the album during a media showcase at Myunghwa Live Hall in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District Tuesday afternoon, a few hours before the album release. "I wanted to express my different emotions in numbers, and that's why I came up with the current title," he said. "Even when we're happy, there's always that little percentage of anxiety, and even when things are tough, there's still some hope. I tried to interpret those everyday feelings exactly as I experience them in this album." The title track, "ANIMALS," is a song about finally setting those feelings and instincts free. Its refined bass line and acoustic guitar drive the track, while Onew's trademark soaring vocals add a burst of energy, making it a perfect fit for the

Jul 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
SHINee's Onew taps into animal instincts with new album 'PERCENT'
K-pop

ASTRO's Yoon San-ha goes 'EXTRA VIRGIN,' extra confident on new solo album 'CHAMELEON'

Yoon San-ha isn't here to play it safe, especially not when he's naming his new solo title track "EXTRA VIRGIN," after premium olive oil. Nearly a year after going solo, the youngest member of K-pop boy band ASTRO returns with "CHAMELEON," a vibrant second mini-album that blends playful charm, summer vibes and a newfound level of confidence. "These 11 months, I had time to grow deeper and more solid," Yoon said during an afternoon interview on July 3 with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul's Gangnam District. "It may seem long or short depending on how you look at it, but it gave me the courage to return solo. That's really thanks to the support and patience of my fans." Set for release on Tuesday, "CHAMELEON" shows off a broader artistic palette than his first solo work. Its lead track, "EXTRA VIRGIN," stands out with its blend of country-inspired chords and punchy hip-hop rhythms. Its title, in particular, reflects his desire to take risks. The name "EXTRA VIRGIN" came from the demo stage, and while the lyrics were initially full of references to olive oil, the singer said something abou

Jul 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
ASTRO's Yoon San-ha goes 'EXTRA VIRGIN,' extra confident on new solo album 'CHAMELEON'
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