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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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Music

'Emperor of Ballads' Shin Seung-hun returns with first album in decade

Dubbed Korea's "Emperor of Ballads," singer Shin Seung-hun is finally back where he belongs — at the center of the genre he helped define. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, the veteran singer-songwriter will unveil his 12th studio album, "SINCERELY MELODIES," his first full-length work in 10 years and a project he says was written as if it might be his last. Since his 1990 debut, Shin has been one of Korea's most cherished voices, his delicate tenor earning comparisons to icons such as Cho Yong-pil. His hits, including "Reflection of You in Your Smile" (1990), "Invisible Love" (1992) and "I Believe" (2002), became cultural touchstones, resonating across generations as the soundtrack to heartbreak and nostalgia. The new album, released under his own Dorothy Company, features 11 tracks that Shin wrote, composed and produced himself. While his label called it "the culmination of a master musician's decades of craft," Shin himself described it more intimately during a press conference held in Seoul's Gangnam District on Monday, where he spoke directly with reporters. "It's called 'SINCERELY MELODIES' beca

Sep 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
'Emperor of Ballads' Shin Seung-hun returns with first album in decade
K-pop

KickFlip leans into first-love pop-punk on 'My First Flip'

K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment's newest boy band KickFlip released its third mini album "My First Flip," Monday, extending the group's rapid global rise by bottling the butterflies and jitters of first love. The record and its lead single "My First Love Song" drops as the group presses ahead with only six members, as Amaru temporarily suspended activities just days earlier due to anxiety symptoms. Despite the sudden lineup change, the group projected confidence at their Monday morning showcase at Seoul's YES24 Live Hall, delivering the same high-energy spirit they displayed when they met The Korea Times backstage at Lollapalooza Chicago in August. "It's such a shame not being able to promote with Amaru," Donghyeon said. "We and the fans are waiting for him to come back healthy. We'll fill the void with as much energy as we can." That energy carries into "My First Love Song," a new pop-punk track built on punchy synths and guitar riffs that frame the nerve-racking rush of a romantic confession. "Through this song's performance, I wanted to share the thrill of first love with everyone,"

Sep 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
KickFlip leans into first-love pop-punk on 'My First Flip'
K-pop

ITZY secures full-group contract renewal, strengthens global ambitions

High-energy performances and unapologetic confidence have carried K-pop girl group ITZY through six years of global recognition. Now, as their contracts reach the K-pop industry's critical seven-year threshold, the five members — Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna — have chosen to stay with JYP Entertainment by renewing their exclusive contracts with the label. JYP confirmed the renewal in a press release Saturday, describing the deal as the product of "mutual trust" with a group celebrated for its "commanding performances and international reach." The agency also pledged full support for ITZY's future as a world-class girl group and said it would continue securing platforms for the members to highlight their individual strengths. The announcement came first from the stage at the group's fourth official fan meeting, "ON AIR," at the KBS Arena in western Seoul, Saturday. According to the agency, the group thanked MIDZY, its official fandom, for sustained support and promised to move forward together toward "a brighter tomorrow." ITZY debuted in February 2019 under JYP, a company

Sep 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
ITZY secures full-group contract renewal, strengthens global ambitions
Music

J-POP.ZIP 2025 brings Japanese music, culture to Seoul

Seoul's Seongsu-dong, one of the capital's trendiest neighborhoods, is about to get a heavy dose of Japanese pop culture this weekend. From Friday to Sunday, an event dubbed J-POP.ZIP 2025 will take over Space S50, packing the sounds of Japan into a three-day festival hosted by Universal Music Japan, the powerhouse label behind some of the country's biggest acts. The three-day festival is billed as a music-and-culture campaign that "zips" the essence of J-pop for its Korean fans. Visitors can explore listening corners spotlighting J-pop, game zones featuring titles from renowned game developer SEGA and booths introducing Japanese travel destinations and regional specialties. On Thursday, organizers previewed the festival at a media day held one day before its official kickoff. Tamotsu Asai, directing manager at Universal Strategic Marketing (USM), emphasized its role in connecting audiences. "J-POP.ZIP is an experiential festival designed for Korean fans to engage with Japanese music. Last year's debut received an enthusiastic response, and this year we are able to expand with support fr

Sep 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
J-POP.ZIP 2025 brings Japanese music, culture to Seoul
Music

Coachella 2026 lineup features BIGBANG reunion, Taemin, KATSEYE

K-pop's global footprint will extend further next year, with BIGBANG, SHINee's Taemin and multinational girl group KATSEYE all set to appear at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California in April. Launched in 1999 in the desert city of Indio, Coachella has grown into one of the most influential festivals in the United States, drawing more than 200,000 attendees annually with its wide-ranging lineup of rock, hip-hop, electronic and pop music. The 2026 festival is set to take place over two weekends: April 10-12 and April 17-19. Among the most anticipated appearances is BIGBANG, widely regarded as one of K-pop's defining second-generation boy bands. The group will return to the global stage as a three-member act — G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung — performing April 12 and 19 to mark its 20th anniversary. BIGBANG had been slated to play Coachella in 2020, which would have made it the first K-pop boy band on the bill, but the performance was canceled due to the pandemic. The Coachella appearance will mark BIGBANG's first official group activity since the release of their 2022

Sep 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Coachella 2026 lineup features BIGBANG reunion, Taemin, KATSEYE
Music

Rock ballad legend Yim Jae-beum finds his voice anew, 40 years in

In Korean music, few voices carry the weight of singer Yim Jae-beum's. For four decades, Yim, 62, has lived between the fire of rock and the ache of ballads, shaping the country's soundtrack with a voice so explosive and resonant that it set the bar for generations of Korean singers. Now, after almost three years away, the singer is back, celebrating his 40th anniversary with a new song, "Insa," and a nationwide tour that promises to remind audiences why he's been called a living legend. Yim first debuted in 1986 as the vocalist with hard rock outfit Sinawe, but it was his solo career that carved him into history. Songs like "Soaring" (1997), "Confession" (1998) and "For You" (2000) became generational rock ballad anthems in Korea, carried by his raw power and emotional depth. Now, his latest chapter begins with "Insa" — a Korean term which roughly translates to "salutation" or "greeting" — a pop-gospel track released Wednesday. The song arrives as the first of several singles that will roll out into his eighth studio album, whose full release date has yet to be confirmed. Just hours

Sep 17, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Rock ballad legend Yim Jae-beum finds his voice anew, 40 years in
K-pop

LUN8 weathers lineup chaos, returns with 'LOST'

In K-pop's cutthroat landscape, rookie bands almost never get a second chance, as even a minor lineup shift can derail the most promising acts. LUN8, a boy band under K-pop label Fantagio, seemed headed for that fate just two years after its 2023 debut. But the group is now back with "LOST," a new three-track album that insists the group is not just surviving, but recalibrating. In January, LUN8 members Dohyun and Ji Eunho temporarily stepped away from the group, citing health concerns, while another member, Eunseop, announced his formal exit. What began as an eight-piece unit quickly collapsed to five, threatening to cut short Fantagio's ambitious return to the boy band market after ASTRO. However, instead of folding, the group added Yuma, a Japanese performer who appeared on MBC audition show "Fantasy Boys," as LUN8 stages a comeback as a six-member act. At a rain-soaked media showcase in Seoul's Gwangjin District on Wednesday, the members — Jinsu, Chael, Takuma, Junwoo, Ian and Yuma — seemed intent on putting the lineup turbulence behind them. "I've prepared for so long to finally

Sep 17, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
LUN8 weathers lineup chaos, returns with 'LOST'
K-pop

These K-pop idols are changing the game as producers

Unlike the Western pop market where artists are generally expected to write and shape their own music, the K-pop industry has traditionally developed as a performance-driven, high-gloss industry built on tightly managed systems of production. Here, most idols active in groups usually spend their careers performing songs created by professional composers and refined by agency's artist and repertoire (A&R) teams, with their vocals laid over tracks either purchased externally or crafted by in-house producers who guide the group's sound and style. But a new generation is pushing beyond those boundaries. A growing number of K-pop idols has begun to elevate their game, stepping up not just as performers but as self-producing artists. Not only do these acts deliver onstage, they also shape their music in the studio — a rarity that is redefining what it means to be an idol in today's K-pop. The following list focuses on idols currently shaping their groups from within, excluding globally established acts who have built successful solo careers. One of the clearest examples is Woozi of K-pop boy

Sep 17, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
These K-pop idols are changing the game as producers
K-pop

Balladeer Lee Hyun on being HYBE's 1st artist, finding his voice again with 'A(E)ND'

Today, HYBE Labels is synonymous with global K-pop domination, home to superstar acts like BTS and a sprawling network of agencies and producers. Before the company became a cultural powerhouse, its first step into the industry came not with an idol group, but with a balladeer. Lee Hyun, a vocalist known for his emotionally resonant tone, was BigHit Music's very first artist, long before Bang Si-hyuk became a household name in K-pop. As the main singer of the coed trio 8eight, Lee introduced BigHit's early sound with ballads like "Without a Heart" (2009) and "Goodbye, My Love" (2009). He later cemented his presence as a soloist with the 2011 chart-topping hit "You Are the Best of My Life," and went on to become a familiar voice through original soundtracks for K-dramas. Now, after 13 years and eight months, Lee is breaking his silence with the new six-track mini album "A(E)ND" and its title track "Let You Go," set for release Tuesday. His comeback is more than a nostalgic return — it's a reminder of the voice that anchored BigHit before it built its empire. "I honestly didn't even real

Sep 16, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Balladeer Lee Hyun on being HYBE's 1st artist, finding his voice again with 'A(E)ND'
K-pop

2PM's Jang Woo-young talks teamwork, overthinking, solo return with 'I'm into'

Sleepless nights, tight deadlines and endless edits. For Jang Woo-young of K-pop boy band 2PM, the road to his first solo release in seven years wasn’t smooth, but it was worth every step. At a quiet cafe in Seoul's Gangnam District Wednesday, Jang could hardly contain himself. Sitting forward in his chair for an interview with The Korea Times, the singer spoke with a flood of energy about his long-awaited return as a solo artist. "To exaggerate," the JYP singer said with a laugh, "these days I feel so busy it's almost hard to breathe." On Monday, Jang is set to release "I'm into," his third mini-album and first since 2018. It's a comeback seven years in the making, delayed by mandatory military service, the COVID-19 pandemic and, according to Jang, his own tendency to overthink. "The most personal reason it took so long is that I thought too much," he said. "After I was discharged, the pandemic hit. Still, because I wanted to do well, I kept hesitating." Despite the long road, he spoke of the process with a sense of gratitude, especially the camaraderie built with his production team.

Sep 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
2PM's Jang Woo-young talks teamwork, overthinking, solo return with 'I'm into'
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