The Korea Times

Traveling Korea with 'KPop Demon Hunters'

What if your next trip to Korea feels like stepping into an animated blockbuster? Netflix hit "KPop Demon Hunters" is inspiring fans to follow the footsteps of fictional idol-warriors Huntrix through real-world landmarks across the country. That journey may begin — or end — with a spectacle in the sky. Last Sunday, the warm air of a September evening filled with the sound of collective awe as 1,200 drones lifted into the night sky above eastern Seoul's Ttukseom Hangang Park. Their LEDs swirled and shifted until the characters from "KPop Demon Hunters" flickered into view, neon silhouettes soaring above the river like guardians of Seoul. The show was part of the city's expanding Han River Light Performance, a nighttime program that has quickly become one of the capital's flagship tourist draws. More than 22,000 people attended each performance during its spring season and the autumn calendar promises four more shows, on Sept. 13, 20 and 26 and Oct. 18. This season's twist is a collaboration with "KPop Demon Hunters," weaving imagery from the animated film into the drone choreography.

Sep 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Traveling Korea with 'KPop Demon Hunters'

Films

Musical 'Frankenstein' makes big-screen debut, aims to expand global reach

After more than 10 years on stage, the Korean original musical "Frankenstein" is being reborn for the big screen as "Frankenstein: The Musical Live." Shot from a live performance during the musical's 10th anniversary season in summer 2024, the film captures the 19th-century tale of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who defies divine authority by reviving the dead, and the tragic fate of the Monster born from his experiment, based on the Mary Shelley novel. Over the past decade, the production has become one of Korea's best-known musicals, celebrated for drawing repeat attenders and multiple sold-out runs. The screen version's director Park Jae-seok, cast members Kyuhyun and Park Eun-tae, and EMK Musical Company's vice president and producer Kim Ji-won attended a press screening at Megabox Seongsu in eastern Seoul, Tuesday. "The greatest advantage of filming a live show for theatrical release is that once it's filmed, people can keep watching it," Kyuhyun, who plays Frankenstein, said. "On stage, actors wear down their bodies and voices with each performance, but this preserves the work for

Sep 10, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Musical 'Frankenstein' makes big-screen debut, aims to expand global reach

K-pop

CIX pushes forward as 4, steps into new era with 'GO Chapter 1 : GO Together'

In the crowded landscape of K-pop, few groups have built their identity around long-form storytelling as meticulously as boy band CIX. Since its 2019 debut, the band has used interconnected album series like "HELLO" and "OK" to explore sin, salvation and the turbulent nature of love. That story, however, faced a rupture last year when the group lost one of its most recognizable members, Bae Jinyoung, who first rose to stardom on the second season of Mnet audition show "Produce 101" and as part of project boy band Wanna One, before deciding to pursue a solo career. While the departure could have easily destabilized the group, the four remaining members were eager to make it a turning point. Reorganized as a quartet — BX, Seunghun, Yonghee and Hyunsuk — CIX doubled down on its commitment and is preparing to release its eighth EP, "GO Chapter 1 : GO Together," Monday. The record marks only the group's second project as a quartet, and its arrival signals both continuity and reinvention. The EP serves as an introduction to the new "GO" series, a trilogy that extends CIX's conceptual ambit

Sep 8, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

CIX pushes forward as 4, steps into new era with 'GO Chapter 1 : GO Together'

K-pop

DAY6 at 10: K-pop's reluctant rock band celebrates first decade

In the fiercely competitive K-pop scene, when a band's songs climb back up the charts years after their release — long after promotions have ended and members have gone quiet — it signals something rare. For four-piece rock band DAY6, that unlikely twist arrived during their mandatory military service hiatus, when songs like "You Were Beautiful" (2017) and "Time of Our Life" (2019) suddenly surged back onto streaming charts. That revival didn't just breathe new life into old tracks. Instead, it reshaped the perception of a rock band that has endured for a full decade in a K-pop landscape that seldom grants rock outfits that kind of staying power. Formed in 2015 under Studio J, an experimental label within JYP Entertainment, a company best known for sculpting polished idol groups, DAY6 never quite fit the mold. Unlike their labelmates, the original six members — Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil, Dowoon, and formerly Jae and Junhyeok — honed their craft in live clubs around Seoul, building themselves as performers and songwriters before stepping onto the mainstream stage. The band's debut

Sep 7, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

K-pop

From survival show to superstardom, ZEROBASEONE aims higher with 'NEVER SAY NEVER'

Two years ago, nine trainees stepped onto the survival show stage with little more than ambition and nerves. Now, those same boys — the winners of Mnet's "Boys Planet" — are back as grown men, armed with their first full-length album, "NEVER SAY NEVER." For K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE (ZB1), this release is not just a milestone, it's a bold attempt to prove that a project group born under temporary contracts can still command the spotlight like stars built to last. The group, comprising members Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook and Han Yu-jin, released the 10-track record on Monday. It was the band's first album since February's "BLUE PARADISE." At a press showcase held just hours before the album drop at Blue Square in central Seoul, the nine emerged in racing-core leather, trading in their rookie glow for something more sultry and stylish. "It's our first full-length release, so we're really excited," Zhang Hao said. "This one captures the growth and changes of the past two years. We wanted it to be a gift to fans who

Sep 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

From survival show to superstardom, ZEROBASEONE aims higher with 'NEVER SAY NEVER'

K-pop

'Rich Man,' real power: aespa's 3-day Seoul spectacle makes big statement

When the four members of K-pop powerhouse aespa descended from gleaming metallic orbs in blood-red leather Sunday night, they didn't just look like pop stars — they looked like warriors materializing from another dimension. It was a theatrical entrance that set the tone for "SYNK : aeXIS LINE," the group's third concert series and one of the beloved SM quartet's most ambitious productions yet. Across three sold-out nights from Friday through Sunday at Seoul Olympic Park's KSPO Dome, 30,000 fans packed the arena to witness aespa's new spectacle. Anticipation buzzed outside on the final night as fans filmed themselves in the moment, all while clutching the band's newly unveiled official light stick glowing in shades of magenta and cyan. Even before the first note, the staging spoke volumes upon initial entrance. Curved LED walls wrapped the arena in ethereal light, the stage rose and fell like a living machine, and curtains cascaded to reset the atmosphere between acts. Even the camerawork became part of the drama, zooming in so tightly that the audience gasped at every glint of sweat a

Sep 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

'Rich Man,' real power: aespa's 3-day Seoul spectacle makes big statement

K-pop

IVE dives into darkness with 'IVE SECRET,' in test of group's identity

K-pop megastar girl group IVE is back in the spotlight with "IVE SECRET" and its moody title track "XOXZ," with the band's first release in seven months already creating an undeniable buzz. Fans rushed to streaming platforms, with the single debuting at No. 32 on Melon within an hour of its release on Aug. 25. The official music video also racked up nearly 5 million views in less than one day to top YouTube's trending music chart. But hype doesn't tell the full story. What IVE offers in the new work is a daring image shift that sounds good on paper, yet leaves room to question whether the group itself is ready to embrace it. From the beginning, the six-piece group — consisting of Ahn Yu-jin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Won-young, Liz and Leeseo — have been carving a lane of their own. The group's opening trilogy — "ELEVEN," "LOVE DIVE" "After LIKE" — built a glittery, modern spin on Y2K under the banner of self-love. Instead of leaning on K-pop's fierce "girl-crush" archetype, the members focused on delivering a princess-like elegance, presenting themselves as confident young women with a to

Aug 31, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

IVE dives into darkness with 'IVE SECRET,' in test of group's identity

Films

Director Kwon Han-sl on why AI filmmaking is new genre, not gimmick

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a new tool for filmmakers, but the next great cinematic shift, says director Kwon Han-sl. "From black-and-white to color, from theaters to streaming — our medium has always evolved with technology," he said during a media interview Wednesday. "AI filmmaking is the next turning point. If you embrace it, you become a pioneer. If you don't, you fall behind." Kwon speaks about AI with keenness and optimism. For him, AI is not simply another tool in the filmmaker's kit, but a technological inflection point on par with the invention of the camera or the arrival of streaming platforms. Kwon is the founder and CEO of Studio Freewillusion, launched in June 2023 as Korea's first AI video tech studio. Within its first year, the company made international waves when its debut project, "One More Pumpkin," earned the Grand Prize at the inaugural Dubai International AI Film Festival in March 2024. Most recently, Kwon visited Gyeongju to deliver a keynote at the APEC 2025 High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Indus

Aug 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Director Kwon Han-sl on why AI filmmaking is new genre, not gimmick

Foreign Affairs

APEC holds first high-level talks on cultural industries in Gyeongju

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Senior officials from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies gathered in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, for the group's first high-level talks on cultural and creative industries, underscoring their growing role in economic growth and innovation. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosts the APEC 2025 High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries from Tuesday to Thursday, chaired by Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young. The meeting, held under the theme “CCIs: New Horizons for Prosperity,” marked the first time since APEC’s founding in 1989 that culture was formally placed on the bloc’s agenda. Representatives from 20 of APEC's 21 member economies attended the talks, with Mexico the only absence. Participants included Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Toshiko Abe, Chilean Culture Minister Carolina Arredondo, Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon, Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Tiong King Sing and Peruvian Culture Minister Fabricio Valencia. Opening the pl

Aug 27, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

APEC holds first high-level talks on cultural industries in Gyeongju

K-pop

Sunmi to release new digital single 'BLUE!' after yearlong hiatus

Sunmi, one of K-pop's most distinctive solo artists, will release her new digital single "BLUE!" Tuesday at 6 p.m., her first music in more than a year since the release of "Balloon in Love" in June 2024. Sunmi's comeback was initially announced on Aug. 7 through the teaser video "SUNMI Comeback Trailer: Bass(ad)" on her official YouTube channel. The clip features a bass line performed by Sunmi herself, hinting at a new direction in sound. The teaser also introduced a striking visual shift. Sunmi appeared with short blonde hair and black nails for a punk-inspired concept, drawing attention for its contrast with her previous work. Anticipation grew on Monday with the teaser for "BLUE!" The clip opened with the question, "What would you do if your boyfriend became a cockroach?" before cutting to Sunmi in a red outfit, her sharp styling amplifying the moody rock star vibes. Since embarking on her solo career, Sunmi, 33, has solidified her place as one of K-pop's leading individual artists by self-producing a string of hit songs. The singer debuted in 2007 as a member of the now-iconic second

Aug 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Pyo Kyung-min

Read more

Traveling Korea with 'KPop Demon Hunters'

Musical 'Frankenstein' makes big-screen debut, aims to expand global reach

CIX pushes forward as 4, steps into new era with 'GO Chapter 1 : GO Together'

DAY6 at 10: K-pop's reluctant rock band celebrates first decade

From survival show to superstardom, ZEROBASEONE aims higher with 'NEVER SAY NEVER'

'Rich Man,' real power: aespa's 3-day Seoul spectacle makes big statement

IVE dives into darkness with 'IVE SECRET,' in test of group's identity

Director Kwon Han-sl on why AI filmmaking is new genre, not gimmick

APEC holds first high-level talks on cultural industries in Gyeongju

Sunmi to release new digital single 'BLUE!' after yearlong hiatus

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