The Korea Times

Mnet reboots 'Unpretty Rapstar' as 'HIP POP Princess,' aims to create cross-cultural girl group

Nearly a decade after redefining the image of women in the Korean hip-hop scene, Mnet's beloved "Unpretty Rapstar" franchise is back — and bigger than ever. The network behind Korea's numerous game-changing audition programs is rebooting the survival series as "Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess," a Korean-Japanese collaboration that aims to create a girl group blending the grit of hip-hop with next-generation pop sounds. The new series receives the torch from the original, which aired from 2015 to 2016 and catapulted unapologetic women rappers like Jessi, Heize, Cheetah and i-dle's Soyeon into the spotlight. But this time, the stage goes global. A total of 40 contestants — 20 from Korea and 20 from Japan — will compete not only for a debut spot, but also for the chance to bridge two cultures through a shared rhythm. During a press conference held Wednesday at a hotel in Seoul's Gangnam District, Mnet unveiled the project's creative direction and lineup of mentors, describing the reboot as "a cultural dialogue through music." The program's main producer, Jeong Min-seok, said the goa

Oct 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Mnet reboots 'Unpretty Rapstar' as 'HIP POP Princess,' aims to create cross-cultural girl group

K-pop

10 years on, Taeyeon still stands out in K-pop for range, vocal prowess

When Taeyeon first stood on stage as part of Girls' Generation in the late 2000s, few could have predicted that she would one day become one of K-pop's most enduring solo voices. Over the past decade, the singer has broken away from the image of a typical girl group member to carve out a career defined by vocal prowess, stylistic range and emotional honesty. Now, after officially marking her 10th solo debut anniversary on Oct. 7, Taeyeon stands as a rare figure in the cutthroat industry, one who effortlessly bridges commercial success and artistic credibility. Taeyeon's journey began with K-pop giant SM Entertainment's flagship girl group, whose hits like "Gee" (2009), "Genie" (2009), "Oh!" (2010) and "I Got a Boy" (2013) became cultural milestones during the genre's global ascent. As the group's lead vocalist, Taeyeon's clear tone and emotive delivery helped shape Girls' Generation's signature sound, cementing the singer as one of the era's most powerful performers. Thanks to her standout vocal talent, Taeyeon's solo potential surfaced early. Barely six months after her Girls' Generation

Oct 10, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

10 years on, Taeyeon still stands out in K-pop for range, vocal prowess

Shows & Dramas

K-beauty craze sparks new wave of reality shows

K-beauty's global momentum is now reshaping prime-time entertainment. As the nation's cosmetics exports continue to reach new heights, peaking at a cumulative $8.5 billion through the third quarter of 2025, broadcasters are responding with beauty-themed variety shows that bring the industry's creativity to the screen. From a makeup competition hosted by K-pop icon Lee Hyo-ri to a New York-based reality show about opening a cosmetics store, the genre is currently undergoing a stylish global transformation. Korean streaming service Coupang Play combines two fan-favorite elements — beauty and survival — in its new reality series "Just Makeup," which premiered Oct. 3. Hosted by Lee Hyo-ri, the program brings together some of Korea's most prominent makeup artists, including Jung Saem-mool, Seo Ok and Risabae, who serve as judges. Positioned as the first Korean show to turn the beauty industry into a survival competition, "Just Makeup" breaks new ground by treating makeup artistry as a test of technique and creativity. In its opening episode, contestants were randomly paired with models an

Oct 9, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

K-beauty craze sparks new wave of reality shows

K-pop

The Boyz, QWER's clash over light stick designs exposes K-pop's gray areas

In K-pop, a light stick is more than just a glowing accessory — it’s a symbol of fan identity. But a fight over two nearly identical megaphone-shaped designs has recently ignited one of the fiercest fan wars of the year, drawing battle lines between boy group The Boyz and rookie girl band QWER. What began as a disagreement over K-pop merchandise has since snowballed into something far more harmful, with online clashes escalating into real threats of violence and growing calls for the industry to set clearer standards. On Sept. 25, The Boyz’s agency One Hundred stepped in amid the mounting uproar with a formal statement, acknowledging the “confusion and discomfort” fans had experienced. The company said it had raised the issue with QWER’s management and requested design changes, but said no resolution had been reached. It added that legal action was now under review. The conflict first erupted Sept. 16, when QWER unveiled its first official light stick ahead of its debut world tour. The design — a white megaphone with the group’s logo in the speaker — immediately drew co

Oct 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

K-pop

'Mamma Mia' proves izna is more than pretty faces

Global rookie girl group izna came back Tuesday evening with its second mini-album "Not Just Pretty," a project that aims to do more than upgrade the group's already stunning visuals. It positions the six-piece as a force moving well past what initially meets the eyes, delivering a sharper, more confident edge. Born out of Mnet's audition program "I-Land 2: N/a," izna — composing members Mai, Bang Jee-min, Koko, Ryu Sa-rang, Choi Jung-eun and Jeong Sae-bi — had already proven themselves as performers before their official debut. Their journey from pre-debut buzz to their November 2024 first album "N/a" marked steady strides — the title track "IZNA" and follow-up singles "SIGN" and "BEEP" quietly but firmly positioned them on the K-pop map. WAKEONE, the group's label, calls the new release proof that izna "can no longer be defined by a single image." Instead, "Not Just Pretty" is designed to showcase the group's diverse colors that speak to both "growth and possibility." At its center is "Mamma Mia," a title track that packs a surprising punch despite its minimalist beat. Its addic

Oct 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

'Mamma Mia' proves izna is more than pretty faces

K-pop

Gugak meets K-pop: Tracks that fuse tradition with global pop sounds

Every autumn, Koreans gather under the full moon of Chuseok to celebrate harvest, family and abundance. In that spirit, K-pop has found ways to honor tradition too, by folding the sounds of gugak, Korea’s centuries-old music, into modern pop productions. From royal processions reborn as hip-hop anthems to ballads colored by traditional instruments, these six tracks showcase how gugak breathes through K-pop. And on Chuseok, when families gather beneath the harvest moon, these songs remind listeners that K-pop’s global trajectory doesn’t erase its roots — it amplifies them. BTS — “IDOL” (2018) When K-pop juggernaut BTS dropped its album, “Love Yourself: Answer,” with its explosive lead single “IDOL,” the track stood as one of the fiercest declarations of Korean identity ever made by a boy band. Driven by South African dance beats, trap grooves and EDM drops, the song gains its true punch from “jangdan,” the rhythmic backbone of traditional Korean music, and “pansori,” Korea’s age-old storytelling form. Long associated with folk performance, these sounds land

Sep 30, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

K-pop

Are ballads still relevant in K-pop dominated era?

Not long ago, the ballad genre was Korea's national soundtrack — filling karaoke rooms, topping the charts and etching itself into the country's collective memory. Then came the K-pop boom, and with it, a slow fading of the genre's presence. However, this fall, as veterans break their silence and fresh voices emerge, the music that once defined a generation is quietly making a comeback — sparking renewed hope among fans and industry insiders that ballads are on the brink of a revival. Singer Shin Seung-hun, long revered as the "Emperor of Ballads" in Korea, made headlines Tuesday with "SINCERELY MELODIES," his first full-length album in a decade. The 11-track release features dual title tracks "Gravity of You" and "TRULY," and will be followed by two concerts at Olympic Hall in Seoul on Nov. 1-2. Singer Yim Jae-beum, who built his legacy on distinctive rock ballads, also announced a nationwide tour kicking off Nov. 29 to mark the 40th anniversary of his career, where he will also showcase his newly released track, "Insa." Another defining voice of the era, singer Kim Gun-mo, has also

Sep 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

K-pop

K-pop heavyweights, rookies pack October comeback calendar

October is shaping up to be a blockbuster month for K-pop, with the industry's biggest names and rising rookies all crowding the calendar. From milestone celebrations to career-defining new records, the month promises fresh sounds that will keep fans' playlists brimming. Leading the wave is TWICE, the nine-member juggernaut celebrating its 10th anniversary. On Oct. 10, the group will release a special album, "TEN: The Story Goes On." To mark the milestone, the group will also host a fan meeting, "10VE UNIVERSE," at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium on Oct. 18. The comeback underscores TWICE's enduring stature in the genre. Now in the midst of its sixth world tour "THIS IS FOR," the group continues to cement its reputation as one of K-pop's most global acts. The group's latest career peaks came with "TAKEDOWN," featured on the soundtrack of Netflix's smash hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," and "STRATEGY" from its 14th mini-album, both tracks setting new personal bests across the Billboard Hot 100, Apple Music, Spotify and the U.K. Official Charts, proving the group's decade-lon

Sep 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

K-pop

Will HYBE make K-pop model work in India?

K-pop powerhouse HYBE Labels is pushing its global ambitions further by setting up shop in India, one of the world's most populous nations, in a bid to test whether the business model that turned K-pop into a worldwide force will resonate on the subcontinent. The entertainment giant, home to juggernauts like BTS, announced the official establishment of an Indian subsidiary on Tuesday, adding a new hub after earlier expansion into Japan, the United States, Latin America and China. The company described the move as a "key addition" to its global strategic map, aimed at accelerating "the creation of a worldwide K-pop ecosystem." This move into India reflects HYBE's "multihome, multigenre" strategy, which the company's chairman, Bang Si-hyuk, has long described as essential for K-pop's survival, applying the industry's model across genres and geographies to sustain growth. In practice, HYBE has sought to build bases tailored to local culture and music industries, producing and managing artists in the typical K-pop style while extending its intellectual properties into new territories. One pr

Sep 25, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Will HYBE make K-pop model work in India?

Music

German cellist Daniel Muller-Schott brings solo recital to Seoul after 7 years

Renowned German cellist Daniel Muller-Schott will return to Korea this fall for his first solo recital in seven years, performing Oct. 12 at the Seoul Arts Center with a program that spans centuries of German classical music. The evening centers on two milestones of the cello repertoire — Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 3 and Brahms' Cello Sonata No. 2. Together they chart the instrument's growing presence, from Beethoven's balanced dialogue with the piano to Brahms' symphonic weight condensed into chamber form. Austrian composer Anton Webern's compact yet explosive Three Little Pieces, Op. 11 will add a jolt of modernist intensity, while Schumann's lyrical Fantasy Pieces, Op. 73 will close the program with fairytale warmth. Muller-Schott will be joined by pianist Cho Jae-hyuck. Praised by global outlets including The New York Times, Muller-Schott has performed with leading ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra. Known for his expressive bowing, refined phrasing and rich tone, he is regarded as one of today's foremost interpreters o

Sep 23, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Pyo Kyung-min

Read more

Mnet reboots 'Unpretty Rapstar' as 'HIP POP Princess,' aims to create cross-cultural girl group

10 years on, Taeyeon still stands out in K-pop for range, vocal prowess

K-beauty craze sparks new wave of reality shows

The Boyz, QWER's clash over light stick designs exposes K-pop's gray areas

'Mamma Mia' proves izna is more than pretty faces

Gugak meets K-pop: Tracks that fuse tradition with global pop sounds

Are ballads still relevant in K-pop dominated era?

K-pop heavyweights, rookies pack October comeback calendar

Will HYBE make K-pop model work in India?

German cellist Daniel Muller-Schott brings solo recital to Seoul after 7 years

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