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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 BLACKPINK, TWICE to NCT, TXT: Big names lead K-pop's July jam session

K-pop is turning up the heat this July as top-tier acts BLACKPINK, TWICE, NCT DREAM, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) and more gear up for high-profile releases in what's shaping up to be a jam-packed summer lineup. The month begins with a faceoff between two of the genre's most iconic girl groups: BLACKPINK from YG Entertainment and TWICE from JYPE. BLACKPINK will unveil a new song during the group's upcoming "DEADLINE" world concert tour, slated for Saturday and Sunday at the Goyang Sports Complex, Gyeonggi Province. This marks the group's first release as a full unit in two years and eight months, following its 2022 studio album "BORN PINK." Expectations are sky-high, especially as all four members have risen to global A-list status during the hiatus — from Rosé’s “APT” and Jennie’s “Mantra” to Lisa’s “Rockstar” and Jisoo’s “Amortage.” Details about the new song remain under wraps, though its music video was reportedly filmed in Korea. TWICE will release its fourth full-length album, "THIS IS FOR," on July 11, the band's first studio album since "Formula of Love: O

Jul 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
From BLACKPINK, TWICE to NCT, TXT: Big names lead K-pop's July jam session
K-pop

New K-pop boy band AHOF steps into spotlight with big dreams, global roots

Yet another survival audition show has given rise to the next K-pop hopefuls — a nine-member boy band called AHOF, who say they're aiming for nothing less than a spot in the genre's hall of fame. Formed through SBS audition program "Universe League" (2024), the group features a lineup that spans the globe: Jeongwoo, Woongki, Han and Juwon from Korea; Steven from Australia; Shuaibo from China; JL from the Philippines; Chih En from Taiwan; and Daisuke from Japan. The name AHOF stands for "All-time Hall of Famer," but in Korean it also translates to the number nine, hinting at the idea of being "unfinished" and the group's desire to keep growing. AHOF officially took its first step into the industry Tuesday with the release of its debut album, "WHO WE ARE." Just a few hours earlier, the group hosted a media showcase at YES24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul to celebrate the launch. The show hit a brief snag when a stage lighting glitch delayed the start by about 10 minutes, but the AHOF members appeared unfazed as they each shared their hopes for the debut. "I'm so happy and thrilled that my dre

Jul 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
New K-pop boy band AHOF steps into spotlight with big dreams, global roots
Shows & Dramas

Can AI content be truly original? CJ ENM says yes

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM laid out an ambitious roadmap Monday to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) across its creative operations and premiered an original animation series created entirely with AI. The company hosted the "2025 CJ ENM CULTURE TALK: K-Content Meets AI" at its Talent Studio in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, sharing how the company envisions using AI to transform its future content creation. The speakers of the Monday event emphasized that it has become "more critical than ever" for entertainment companies like CJ ENM to develop AI capabilities tailored to a global audience. "We are currently applying AI across the entire content value chain, including planning, production, distribution and marketing to expand AI content production across genres and formats, allowing us to secure next-generation intellectual property (IP)," said Shin Keun-sup, chief strategy officer at CJ ENM. Noting the company's ambitions to become a global top AI studio, Shin added that the company aims to develop tech-savvy talents for the upcoming generation. "

Jun 30, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Can AI content be truly original? CJ ENM says yes
K-pop

Australian rapper threatens lawsuit against K-pop's ALLDAY PROJECT, trashes genre

Australian rapper Allday, whose real name is Tomas Henry Gaynor, threatened legal action against K-pop band ALLDAY PROJECT, claiming trademark infringement and dismissing much of the genre as "shit." In a social media post on June 24, the rapper shared a screenshot of a news article about the group, defending his ownership of his name and taking a swipe at K-pop. "People keep asking me about this," he wrote. "I have a trademark on the name Allday. Maybe I don't have 20 billion streams like that kpop shit which mostly sucks by the way. But I do exist and own the trademark to my name. Prepare for the greatest legal battle of all time." According to The Music, an Australian music outlet, the rapper registered the trademark for his stage name in Australia in June 2021. The filing reportedly covers digital music, recordings, vinyl, merchandise, live entertainment and related content. He claimed online that the trademark extends to the United States. Despite his sweeping insults, Gaynor followed up with a video offering a bizarre concession, Saturday, stating that he would drop the lawsuit if

Jun 29, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Australian rapper threatens lawsuit against K-pop's ALLDAY PROJECT, trashes genre
Travel & Food

Instant naengmyeon kits to enjoy cold noodles at home

When it's too hot and humid to budge, let alone cook, instant naengmyeon (cold noodles) is a quick, refreshing fix you can enjoy without leaving home. Korea's naengmyeon meal kit market is no small niche. The market is estimated to be worth around 80 billion won ($58 million), reflecting strong demand for ready-made options that deliver both flavor and ease. On the shelves of a supermarket near Seoul Station, rows of naengmyeon kits from major food brands were front and center, catching the eyes of sweaty, weary shoppers in search of something cool and quick. Pulmuone, one of Korea's top food companies, recently expanded its lineup beyond its classic options like Pyongyang naengmyeon, dongchimi (watery kimchi with radish) naengmyeon and Hamhung-style spicy naengmyeon. New on the shelves this summer are hanwoo mul naengmyeon (cold noodles with Korean beef broth), Sokcho-style kodari (half-dried pollack) naengmyeon and a spicy arrowroot noodle version, offering more variety for fans of the dish. CJ CheilJedang, the market leader in instant naengmyeon, also offers crowd favorites through it

Jun 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Instant naengmyeon kits to enjoy cold noodles at home
Arts & Theater

How musical 'Frida' turns legendary artist's pain into riveting farewell performance

If you were standing at the edge of life's final curtain with just one last chance to host a show of your lifetime, what story would you choose to tell and how would you like to be remembered? The Korean musical "Frida: The Last Night Show," which opened at Nol Uniplex in central Seoul on June 17, answers this haunting question with theatrical flair and emotional precision. Framed as a fictional talk show titled "The Last Night Show," the musical stages the final moments of legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-54), who revisits her turbulent life alongside three fictional personas — Reflejar, Destino and Memoria — in a meta-theatrical performance that is as imaginative as it is affecting. The Mexican artist herself, the inspiration behind the production, led a life riddled with pain. At age 6, polio left one of her legs impaired, and at 18, a catastrophic traffic accident crushed her spine, nearly killing her. Her injuries would never fully heal, and her attempts at motherhood ended in tragedy due to lasting internal injuries. Her husband, muralist Diego Rivera, was notorious f

Jun 27, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
How musical 'Frida' turns legendary artist's pain into riveting farewell performance
K-pop

Controversy-hit rapper Jessi to drop new music under independent label

Rapper Jessi is stepping back into the music scene with a new digital single, "Newsflash," set for release Friday, marking her first major move since launching her own independent label, UNNI Company. Framed around a breaking news concept, "Newsflash" is described as a hip-hop track that delivers "a raw and confident message reflecting Jessi's trademark unfiltered style," according to a statement Thursday. A teaser video released Wednesday also features Jessi under spotlights with the lyrics, "Don't believe all the hype" — seen as a pointed nod to recent media scrutiny. The single arrives nearly a year after Jessi stepped away from the music scene amid a legal controversy that briefly stalled her career. Last September, the rapper became embroiled in a public dispute after a fan alleged they were assaulted by someone in her entourage while seeking an autograph in southern Seoul. At the time, Jessi was investigated by the police as a suspect in the case, facing accusations of assault and harboring a criminal. She was recently cleared of all charges. "Newsflash" marks her first release fo

Jun 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Controversy-hit rapper Jessi to drop new music under independent label
K-pop

H1-KEY chases summer queen status with new release 'Lovestruck'

While many are packing for vacations or curating their ultimate summer playlists, K-pop girl group H1-KEY is welcoming the season a little differently — by dropping a new, summer-themed album and aiming straight for the crown. The group's new project, "Lovestruck," marks its first comeback in a year, and according to its four members — Seoi, Riina, Hwiseo and Yel — it sets the tone for what they hope will be their most vibrant chapter yet. "This is a comeback we've all been looking forward to," said Seoi, the group's leader and eldest member, during an interview Friday with The Korea Times at a cafe in southern Seoul. "It's exciting, and we're all hoping this summer song will really connect with more people." Packed with energy, emotion and a splash of bittersweet charm, the five-track release, set to drop Thursday afternoon, depicts young love and fleeting summers. In particular, the lead single, "Summer Was You," taps into something a little deeper than K-pop's typical summer anthems, which are usually full of sweltering party vibes. "The lead single is not just about the fun part

Jun 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
H1-KEY chases summer queen status with new release 'Lovestruck'
K-pop

What 'KPop Demon Hunters' gets right, wrong about K-pop industry

After spending a few years covering the fast-paced, high-gloss K-pop industry, a reporter inevitably starts to see through the glitter. You get familiar with the ins and outs — from the hot "tea" fans usually crave to the industry's darkest lore you wish you never knew. Yet, in fan-driven fiction and spin-offs made to celebrate the K-pop fantasy, those insider truths rarely surface. The industry's smallest details often remain a secret, carefully concealed under K-pop's golden rule: Faults and fears must never be seen. If that phrase rings a bell, you might already be on your way to becoming a K-pop trendsetter yourself. This is the exact mantra followed by Huntrix, the fictional K-pop girl group at the center of "KPop Demon Hunters," the new animated film that dropped last Friday on Netflix. The movie — the first internationally produced animated feature to focus on K-pop — reimagines K-pop stars as demon slayers. Huntrix's trio of members — Rumi, the leader and main vocalist; Mira, the main dancer; and Zoey, the rapper and lyricist — use the power of K-pop to fight evil spirit

Jun 25, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
What 'KPop Demon Hunters' gets right, wrong about K-pop industry
  • ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ takes world by storm, combining K-pop energy with Korean heritage
K-pop

Baby DONT Cry enters K-pop scene with bold image, big-name backing, early backlash

What happens when PSY, the iconic "Gangnam Style" songster, launches his first K-pop girl group, with music produced by i-dle's hitmaker Soyeon? That question took a step toward an answer Monday, as rookie girl group Baby DONT Cry officially debuted through a media showcase at Blue Square in Yongsan District, Seoul. The four-piece act is the first girl group to be launched under P Nation, the agency led by Psy and home to artists like Hwasa, Heize and Crush. Comprising two Korean members, Yihyun and Beni, and two Japanese members, Kumi and Mia, the group said it sets itself apart with a bold and mischievous attitude that breaks from the conventional image of most K-pop girl groups. Leader Yihyun, visibly nervous but firm in tone, explained the meaning behind the group's name. "The 'baby' in our name isn't about being fragile," said Yihyun. "It stands for innocence, but also strength. We're not someone you need to protect. We represent our own pure and confident image." Kumi added her own perspective in her still-developing Korean. "We're like popping candy. Sweet and cute, but strong and f

Jun 23, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Baby DONT Cry enters K-pop scene with bold image, big-name backing, early backlash
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