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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

All aboard birthday bridge: Seventeen takes over Seoul with epic concert celebration

Even for a K-pop juggernaut that has conquered stages around the world, breaking new ground can still be a daunting challenge. That seemed to be the case for Seventeen on Sunday night, right before the 13-member boy band's show "B-DAY PARTY: BURST Stage @Jamsu Bridge" — the first-ever held on a bridge over Seoul's Han River. The event began in disarray as the unusual layout of the elongated venue led to confusion among attendees trying to find their assigned seats. Yelling matches broke out among some fans, and a few were even moved to tears, delaying the performance by more than 20 minutes. But the moment Seventeen burst onstage, fireworks erupting, jets of water crashing down from above, the chaos vanished. It was a moment of pure K-pop awe, a thunderous wave that swept over the bridge, the river and the entire city. The performance capped a three-day celebration, "B-DAY PARTY," held from Friday through Sunday across the Some Sevit islets and around Jamsu Bridge in Seoul's Seocho District. With the concert staged directly over the Han River, it brought the genre closer than ever to d

May 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
All aboard birthday bridge: Seventeen takes over Seoul with epic concert celebration
K-pop

Seventeen bedazzles Seoul at 10th debut anniversary celebration

Drawing approximately 100,000 fans, K-pop powerhouse Seventeen turned Seoul into a sprawling celebration of its 10th anniversary, marking the boy band's journey since it burst onto the scene a decade ago. The large-scale event, titled "B-DAY PARTY," kicked off Friday around the city's Seom Sevit islets at Jamsu Bridge in Seocho District, spanning three days of exhibitions, performances and interactive experiences. Despite the early summer heat on Sunday, the final day of the event, fans arrived in droves — some dressed in the group's colors of rose and soft blue, while others clutched the group's official light sticks. Among them were longtime Korean fans, international visitors who traveled to see Seventeen and families simply taking in the festive atmosphere. "I've been a fan of Seventeen for nearly six to seven years," said Samantha, a 25-year-old fan from Canada. "It feels weird to be here celebrating. I want to say happy birthday and thank them for working so hard. I love everything they do and will keep supporting them." Another fan, Bree from the Philipines, said she flew all the

May 25, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Seventeen bedazzles Seoul at 10th debut anniversary celebration
K-pop

Seventeen to throw concert on Han River bridge Sunday; city ramps up security measures

A landmark K-pop concert by boy band Seventeen will take place on Sunday on the Jamsu Bridge in Seoul, marking the first K-pop concert on a Han River bridge. The concert, titled "B-DAY PARTY: BURST Stage" and held to celebrate the band's 10th anniversary, is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans to the bridge and a nearby park. "This anniversary concert is a great opportunity to showcase the beauty of the Han River and Jamsu Bridge to fans around the world," a Seoul city official stated through the Thursday release. The concert is part of a larger weekend festival in the area, and officials anticipate approximately 100,000 visitors over the three-day period. Meanwhile, the city is ramping up safety measures ahead of the concert. The city government announced Thursday that access restrictions will be in place on the Jamsu Bridge in Seoul's Seocho District before and after the concert, which will start at 7:30 p.m. While seating on the bridge is limited to 6,000 and requires advance reservation, a first-come, first-served live viewing area will be open to the public at nearby Banpo Han

May 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Seventeen to throw concert on Han River bridge Sunday; city ramps up security measures
  • Seventeen bedazzles Seoul at 10th debut anniversary celebration
K-pop

SHINee celebrates 17-year legacy with new single, 3-day concert

K-pop boy band SHINee is set to release a new single album titled "Poet | Artist" at midnight Sunday, marking the 17th anniversary of its debut, SM Entertainment announced Thursday. The digital single includes two tracks — the eponymous title song and a B-side, "Starlight." According to SM, the new title track was written and composed by late member Jonghyun, who died in 2017. An electro-pop song, it features lyrics that "encourage embracing creativity in life," urging listeners to "live as poets and artists, not only through art but also through how they navigate the world." The second track, "Starlight," is a medium-tempo dance track that likens the feeling of getting to know someone to being illuminated by starlight in darkness. The band will also debut both songs live during its upcoming concert series, "SHINee WORLD VII 'E.S.S.A.Y,'" which will have a three day run, from Friday to Sunday, at the KSPO Dome in Songpa District, Seoul. The concert will be a retrospective journey that traces SHINee's 17-year musical legacy. Alongside SHINee's biggest hits, the group will perform fan-favo

May 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
SHINee celebrates 17-year legacy with new single, 3-day concert
Arts & Theater

Adoptee artist brings Korean textile tradition to life in live Seoul performance

Minnesota-based Korean adoptee bojagi artist Dawn Tomlinson recently concluded a 10-day live performance at Kwanhoon 1 Pyung Gallery in the traditional streets of Insa-dong, central Seoul, where she crafted Korean textile art in front of a live audience. Bojagi, a traditional Korean wrapping cloth once used for everyday storage or gift-giving, has evolved into a contemporary art form featured in fashion, interior design and global exhibitions. From May 12 to 21, Tomlinson worked in full view of the public, her process visible through the gallery's large street-facing window. Visitors were also invited to step into the small but welcoming studio to ask questions and engage with the artist as she stitched each day's piece. Each day, Tomlinson completed a small bojagi, and on the final two days, she assembled the individual pieces into a larger patchwork, tying the entire performance together in a single textile work. An award-winning artist currently based in Minnesota, Tomlinson shared that she brought a personal layer to the traditional practice, using bojagi to explore themes of identit

May 22, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Adoptee artist brings Korean textile tradition to life in live Seoul performance
K-pop

TWICE to drop 1st full-length album in nearly 4 years this July

K-pop powerhouse TWICE is set to release its fourth full-length album, "THIS IS FOR," on July 11, the group's agency JYP Entertainment announced Wednesday. It will be the group's first full-length album in nearly four years. The label shared the news along with a teaser video on the group's official social media channels. Filmed in a single take, the video features all nine members with visuals centered around the mysterious theme of "FOUR." The upcoming release marks their first studio album in three years and eight months, following their third album, "Formula of Love: O+T=<3" in November 2021. TWICE, made up of members Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu, debuted in October 2015 with the breakout hit "Like OOH-AHH." The group quickly rose to prominence as a leading third-generation girl group, releasing a series of chart-topping tracks including "CHEER UP," "What is Love?," "Likey" and "Feel Special." The group's 13th EP, "With YOU-th," released last year, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking a major milestone in their internat

May 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
TWICE to drop 1st full-length album in nearly 4 years this July
K-pop

K-pop's boundaries tested again: Irene & Seulgi spark debate over sexual symbolism, queerbaiting

As Red Velvet's subunit Irene & Seulgi gear up to release their second mini album, teaser images promoting the comeback have sparked controversy, with critics raising concerns over the use of overt sexual symbolism and queerbaiting in the promotional visuals. The debate ignited wider discussions about whether explicit content in K-pop demands greater introspection or whether it falls within the realm of creative freedom. SM Entertainment, the agency behind the duo, released teaser photos for the album, "TILT," starting at midnight on May 12, ahead of its scheduled release on Monday. The teasers were rolled out in three parts, each conveying a different emotional or narrative arc. The label described the visuals as capturing "subtle tension" between the two artists, "a moment of confrontation and a final state of balance," portraying "not a destructive rivalry, but a relationship of mutual uplift." Initial reactions from fans were enthusiastic. Many praised the dramatic and stylized portrayal of Irene and Seulgi as near-mirror images, fueling online speculation that the concept was rooted

May 20, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop's boundaries tested again: Irene & Seulgi spark debate over sexual symbolism, queerbaiting
K-pop

No more (G): i-dle rebrands, roars back with 'We are'

K-pop girl group i-dle, formerly known as (G)I-DLE, is starting a new chapter with its latest album "We are," out Monday, marking its first release since the group renewed contracts with its agency and officially changed its name. The five-member act — Soyeon, Minnie, Yuqi, Miyeon and Shuhua — debuted in 2018 with the breakout hit "LATATA." Now in its eighth year, the group reaffirmed its future with all members renewing their contracts with Cube Entertainment last year. Then, on May 2, the band sent another wave through the K-pop landscape by announcing it would drop the "(G)" from its name in time for its seventh anniversary. "The group will no longer be defined by 'girl,' 'gender' or any other label," Cube had said in a statement, promising "limitless" music and concepts moving forward. The members say the change was long overdue. Miyeon recalled during a press conference at a hotel in Seoul's Gangnam District, just hours before the album's release on Monday, that the members had long discussed the name change. "From the start, we were all a bit confused about why the '(G)' was the

May 19, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
No more (G): i-dle rebrands, roars back with 'We are'
K-pop

RIIZE charts its 'ODYSSEY' with first full-length album

After 11 months of preparation, K-pop boy band RIIZE is making a return with "ODYSSEY," an album tracing the path the team has walked since its debut, packed with 10 tracks and ambition to match. The "ODYSSEY" release, slated to drop on Monday at 6 p.m., marks a special milestone for the group, as its first-ever studio album since entering the scene in 2023. This is a notable move in an industry where fast-paced cycles often favor shorter mini-albums and singles, and full-length record releases are becoming increasingly uncommon. RIIZE held a press premiere on Monday, just hours before the official drop, to celebrate the occasion. Dressed in preppy outfits, the six members — Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton — reflected the kind of confidence that comes naturally to a boy band in their early 20s. Greeting reporters, the members made it clear how much pride they take in the record. "We prepared these songs to show the kind of sound only we pursue," said the group's youngest member, Anton. "I hope you enjoy listening and watching the performance." "If someone asks what

May 19, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
RIIZE charts its 'ODYSSEY' with first full-length album
K-pop

Nitpicking or fair critique? Backlash brews over i-dle Yuqi's concert ticket remarks

Yuqi, a Chinese member of K-pop girl group i-dle, is facing criticism after expressing frustration over having to personally pay for concert tickets to invite acquaintances, drawing attention to sky-high ticket prices in the K-pop industry. The comment came during an episode Tuesday of the YouTube variety show "Salon Drip 2," in which Yuqi appeared alongside her Thai bandmate Minnie. During the episode, host Jang Do-youn brought up reports that Minnie had spent 10 million won ($7,140) of her own money to invite roughly 100 acquaintances to a concert. Responding on Minnie's behalf, Yuqi explained that during concerts in Thailand, Minnie's family, friends and other acquaintances are usually seated together in one section. She then added, "It's our concert, but we have to buy tickets with our own money," explaining that each member receives four complimentary tickets and must pay for any additional ones. Her remarks, delivered with a hint of frustration, were perceived by some fans as insensitive, considering how difficult it is to secure tickets through competitive sales and the steep pric

May 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Nitpicking or fair critique? Backlash brews over i-dle Yuqi's concert ticket remarks
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