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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

Boy band xikers channels chaos, confidence in 'SUPERPOWER (Peak)'

For K-pop boy band xikers, chaos isn't something to tame; it's the group's fuel. Formed in 2023 under KQ Entertainment, the label behind global sensation ATEEZ, the 10-member act — Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Hunter, Yujun and Yechan — quickly made its mark with raw, energetic stages. The group's debut project, "HOUSE OF TRICKY: Doorbell Ringing," introduced xikers as time-traveling adventurers leaping through eras — a fitting metaphor for its own rapid rise. That strong start quickly propelled the group onto Billboard's Top Album Sales and World Albums charts, and across global stages as they completed a North American and European tour, earning praise for a strong stage presence reminiscent of their label seniors. Now, the group returns to write another chapter. With its sixth mini album, "HOUSE OF TRICKY: WRECKING THE HOUSE," featuring title track "SUPERPOWER (Peak)," out Friday, xikers is stepping into its boldest era yet, ready to turn chaos into power. "Through this new album, we wanted to really break out of the box and show what makes us us," sai

Oct 31, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Boy band xikers channels chaos, confidence in 'SUPERPOWER (Peak)'
K-pop

HYBE's 1st global boy band &TEAM comes 'Back to Life' with Korean debut

Almost three years after rising to prominence in Japan, HYBE Labels' multinational boy band &TEAM officially made its Korean debut with the release of "Back to Life" Tuesday, a project that marks both a homecoming and a new chapter for the nine-member act. Formed in December 2022 under HYBE's Japan-based subsidiary YX Labels, &TEAM is the first group to emerge from the company's overseas branch. The lineup includes six Japanese members, along with one each from Korea and Taiwan, and one German-Japanese citizen. The group's rise in Japan was almost instant. The group's debut EP, "First Howling : ME," shot straight to No. 1 on Japan's Oricon chart, while its third single, "Go in Blind," exceeded one million shipments, earning an official certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Despite this success, the group’s decision to re-debut in Korea — the birthplace of the very system that trained them — feels like a full-circle moment. On Monday evening, the group unveiled "Back to Life," the eponymous title track for the Korean debut album, followed by an official alb

Oct 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
HYBE's 1st global boy band &TEAM comes 'Back to Life' with Korean debut
K-pop

Mnet Plus turns K-pop fans into stakeholders, 40 mil. users already on board

CJ ENM, one of Korea's leading entertainment and media powerhouses, announced Tuesday that its global K-pop content platform, Mnet Plus, has surpassed 40 million cumulative app users and more than 20 million monthly active users — both milestones achieved within just three years of its launch. Mnet Plus is a mobile-based platform that blends streaming, fandom and commerce into one ecosystem. Mnet Plus allows global fans to watch CJ ENM's original variety programs, music shows from the company's music broadcaster Mnet' livestream major events such as KCON and the MAMA Awards, join fan votes and different in-app missions, and collect digital merchandise — all in a single, integrated experience. Comparable platforms in the same category include Weverse, DearU Bubble and Fromm. "Mnet Plus is more than a streaming service. It's a space where global fans take the initiative to shape their own K-pop experience," said Kim Ji-won, senior vice president of Mnet Plus, during CJ ENM's Culture Talk session held Tuesday at the company's headquarters in Seoul's Mapo District. Since its launch in 2

Oct 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Mnet Plus turns K-pop fans into stakeholders, 40 mil. users already on board
Travel & Food

What to taste, shop for in Gyeongju, from Hwangnam bread to crown-inspired souvenirs

With the APEC summit bringing visitors from all over the globe to Korea's historic southeast, Gyeongju is ready to show that its charm goes beyond royal tombs and stone pagodas. Once the seat of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE), the city in present-day North Gyeongsang Province remains a living showcase of history — but it's also a place where travelers can enjoy regional flavors, trendy souvenirs and creative reinterpretations of the past. Sweet beginnings No visit to Gyeongju begins without its signature Hwangnam-ppang, also known as Gyeongju-ppang, a golden, round pastry with a thick filling of sweet red bean paste. Chalbori-ppang, a kind of sticky barley bread also filled with the same bean paste, is another popular local treat. The pastries were developed by local family-run bakeries in the first half of the 20th century, but their popularity has endured and expanded with time. Now sold almost everywhere in the city, from train stations to boutiques to rural shops, these sweet treats offer visitors a simple way to sample the region's identity. The treats come packaged for

Oct 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
What to taste, shop for in Gyeongju, from Hwangnam bread to crown-inspired souvenirs
K-pop

K-pop girl groups face off — who takes the crown?

K-pop's "Big Four" entertainment powerhouses are at it again, and this time it's their girl groups taking center stage. SM Entertainment's Hearts2Hearts, YG Entertainment's BABYMONSTER, JYP Entertainment's NMIXX and LE SSERAFIM from HYBE Labels all dropped new releases this fall, sparking a surge of competition that has put the K-pop scene into overdrive. Each group mirrors the sound and spirit of its label, and together they're shaping what the upcoming phase of K-pop power may look like. SM's study in control SM's eight-member rookie group Hearts2Hearts released its first mini-album "FOCUS" on Oct. 20, and its arrival was nothing short of explosive. The record sold 408,880 copies in its first week, the highest-ever debut-week sales for a girl group's first album. The title track "FOCUS" carries SM's signature sheen: a sleek house rhythm, a vintage piano riff and an addictive looping melody that feels as precise as it is hypnotic. The vocals are layered and atmospheric, exactly the kind of refined sound that's defined SM's lineage from Girls' Generation to SHINee. Longtime hitmaker KENZI

Oct 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop girl groups face off — who takes the crown?
K-pop

With 'Beat-Boxer,' NEXZ returns to home turf to prove its power

A year after their ambitious debut, boy band NEXZ evolved from promising rookies into one of the most dynamic new forces bridging K-pop and J-pop. Formed through a collaboration between JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan, the seven-member act — Tomoya, Yu, Haru, So Geon, Seita, Hyui and Yuki — have spent the past year performing across both countries, earning a significant fandom with their bilingual charm and powerful performances. Now, with their new mini-album, "Beat-Boxer" set for release Monday evening, NEXZ are heading back to Korea, bringing with them a year's worth of growth and a clearer vision. "It's been six months since our last work," said Hyui, reflecting on the Korean comeback during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul's Seongdong District, Thursday. "We worked really hard to show a cooler and more mature side." The five-track release marks another step in their creative evolution, according to NEXZ. Members Tomoya, Yu and Haru took part in choreographing both the title track and pre-release single "I'm Him," continuing their hands-o

Oct 27, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
With 'Beat-Boxer,' NEXZ returns to home turf to prove its power
Korean Heritage

Newly discovered Silla-era tomb in Gyeongju yields armor, crown, human remains

Archaeologists in the city of Gyeongju, once the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE), have uncovered a wooden-chamber tomb beneath a major burial mound that is emblematic of burials for the era's elites. The discovery in Hwangnam-dong of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province includes human remains buried with a full set of armor and a helmet, along with earthenware, fragments of a gilt-bronze crown and protective gear for a horse. Gyeongju will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) and the city government of Gyeongju held a joint press conference at the site Monday, announcing that a wooden-chamber burial had been found, located beneath the previously excavated Hwangnam-dong No. 120 mound site, which consists of a stone-mound wooden-chamber tomb. "The area had been damaged by farming, but we have been steadily excavating the site since 2018," an official from the Silla Cultural Heritage Research Institute, a foundation established by the local city government, said. "Six wooden

Oct 20, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Newly discovered Silla-era tomb in Gyeongju yields armor, crown, human remains
K-pop

K-pop 'Season's Greetings' explained: Holiday merch that's more than a gift set

Every winter, as the K-pop calendar fills with award shows and comeback announcements, another ritual quietly takes over fandom timelines — the release of a special line of year-end merchandise known as "Season's Greetings." What began as a simple holiday gift has grown into a unique K-pop tradition — a blend of pop culture and commerce that shapes how fans celebrate the season and stay connected to their favorite idols. The K-pop version of Season's Greetings generally refers to a yearly merchandise bundle, often packed with calendars, diaries, postcards and exclusive photo cards, reimagined each year around a new concept or theme that reflects a group or idol's identity. Typically released as early as October and through December, the merch bundle has come to represent a way for fans to look back on the year and step into the next one with their favorite idols. On the surface, they might seem like simple desk accessories, but in spirit, they're almost tokens of belonging. For entertainment companies, the winter merch tradition is considered a pillar of revenue. Unlike albums, which

Oct 20, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop 'Season's Greetings' explained: Holiday merch that's more than a gift set
K-pop

K-pop eyes historic breakthrough at 68th Grammy Awards

As first-round voting for the 68th Grammy Awards concluded Wednesday, anticipation is rising over whether K-pop — a growing global music force previously snubbed by the Recording Academy — could finally break its losing streak at the ceremony. Hosted by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences since 1959, the Grammys have long stood as the highest honor in the American music industry, symbolized by its golden gramophone trophy. No K-pop act has yet claimed one of the awards. This year, however, hopes are high. The eligibility window for the 68th Grammys, covering releases from Aug. 31, 2024, to Aug. 30, 2025, has produced some of K-pop’s most globally successful records to date. Among the notable contenders are BLACKPINK vocalist Rosé and Bruno Mars’ hit single "APT." and "Golden," the standout track from Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." Both songs will compete for nominations in two of the Grammys’ most coveted general categories: Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Their respective albums — "Rosie" and "KPop Demon Hunters" — are also in contentio

Oct 17, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop eyes historic breakthrough at 68th Grammy Awards
Travel & Food

Korea’s bread pilgrimage: From bagel queues to city pride

Leaning against Jeju's serene beaches, a bustling line forms not for the view but for a single, somewhat unexpected purpose: to buy bagels from the island's famed branch of London Bagel Museum. Here, the scent of freshly baked bread drifts through the sea air as visitors hold empty trays in anticipation. For many, the first bite into the bagel is less about hunger than the reward of patience — chewy, fermented dough wrapped around thick, salty cream cheese. The craze doesn’t stop at Jeju. The brand, with branches in Seoul’s popular areas of Anguk, Jamsil, Yeouido and more, draws equally long lines wherever it goes. The name itself combines the founder’s favorite words, evoking both nostalgia and a sense of gravitas. Scenes like this now play out across Korea. From the southern island of Jeju to the hipster streets of Seoul's Seongsu-dong and the mid-sized city of Daejeon, bakeries have become destinations as familiar as cafes or galleries. Queuing for bread has turned into a modern ritual, and the term "ppangji sullye," the Korean word for "bread pilgrimage," has entered everyday

Oct 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Korea’s bread pilgrimage: From bagel queues to city pride
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