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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

K-pop group Oh My Girl celebrates 10-year legacy with concert of soul over spectacle

What makes a K-pop group truly successful? While major K-pop conglomerates and even minor labels strive to crack that code, a recent concert by girl group Oh My Girl offered some clear answers: an unwavering camaraderie among group members and their genuine love for performing. Held last weekend at Olympic Hall in Seoul's Olympic Park, the "2025 OH MY GIRL CONCERT 'Milky Way'" marked the group's first standalone show in more than six years. Their last show was "Fall Fairy Tales" in October 2018. The concert wasn't just a comeback — it was a celebration and tribute to a decade of Oh My Girl's music, memories and milestones since their debut in April 2015. And the celebration was filled with soulful music rather than spectacle. Born under a relatively small agency, the group didn't skyrocket to fame overnight. Instead, they took the textbook road — earning recognition through emotionally resonant tracks and performances built on harmony. That authenticity is what drew fans of all sorts to Sunday's concert — from seasoned supporters wielding enormous camera lenses to young families and

Apr 21, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop group Oh My Girl celebrates 10-year legacy with concert of soul over spectacle
Music

Sumi Jo says her path to opera began with her mother's love for Maria Callas

Long before soprano Sumi Jo stepped onto the opera stage, her future had already been decided by her mother's admiration for American-born Greek soprano Maria Callas, Jo said Saturday. "My mother said hearing Callas on the radio as a teenager shook her to the core," Jo said during a Q&A session following a screening of Pablo Larraín's biopic, "Maria," at Megabox COEX in Gangnam District, Seoul. "She even vowed that if she ever had a child, she'd raise her to be an opera singer." That vow shaped Jo's life from the very beginning. Her mother played her recordings of Callas while she was still in the womb as a form of musical prenatal care, according to the soprano. "From the moment I was born, my destiny was already set," Jo said. "By age four, I was studying vocal music, piano, ballet, Korean dance, figure skating and public speaking — my mother believed all were necessary to stand on the opera stage." Starring Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie as the legendary soprano, the film traces Callas' tumultuous career and private struggles — parallels that resonated deeply with Jo, especially t

Apr 20, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Sumi Jo says her path to opera began with her mother's love for Maria Callas
K-pop

CJ ENM unveils global music strategy as Mnet celebrates 30th anniversary

Entertainment giant CJ ENM celebrated the 30th anniversary of its flagship music channel Mnet, Tuesday, unveiling an ambitious global strategy that includes the launch of a new record label, expanded international production and a deeper push into global music commerce. At a media event in southern Seoul titled "Mnext: Worlds of Mnet Since 2025," executives laid out a roadmap for the company's music business, positioning CJ ENM to grow as a global content powerhouse. Shin Hyung-gwan, head of CJ ENM's Music Contents Division, outlined a three-pronged strategy focused on global multi-label operations, large-scale international projects and an integrated online and offline platform. The most headline-grabbing announcement was the planned launch of a new global music label this year. "By the first half of this year, we will share more details about a new global label created in partnership with some of the world's leading music forces," Shin said. CJ ENM already manages music labels WAKEONE and Japan-based LAPONE Entertainment. WAKEONE represents singer Roy Kim, Ha Hyun-sang and "Squid Game"

Apr 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
CJ ENM unveils global music strategy as Mnet celebrates 30th anniversary
K-pop

Red Velvet pushes ahead with new plans amid contractual changes

Despite some members of K-pop girl group Red Velvet parting ways with SM Entertainment, the group — especially through the subunit Irene & Seulgi — is pressing ahead with fresh activities amid the changes. SM said Monday that Red Velvet's duo unit, Irene & Seulgi, will release a new mini-album in May. The duo will also embark on an Asia tour, "2025 IRENE & SEULGI Concert Tour [BALANCE] in ASIA," visiting seven cities. The tour kicks off with a two-day show at Olympic Hall in Seoul's Olympic Park, Songpa District, on June 14 and 15. From there it continues across Asia, with stops in Singapore, Macau and Bangkok in July, Taipei in August and Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo in September. Launched in July 2020, Irene & Seulgi is a subunit featuring Red Velvet's leader, Irene, and main dancer, Seulgi. The pair debuted with their first mini-album "Monster," promoting both the title track and the tutting-infused B-side, "Naughty." Meanwhile, SM confirmed on April 4 that it ended exclusive contracts with members Wendy and Yeri. "We will always cherish the memories we've built together and sincerely sup

Apr 15, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Red Velvet pushes ahead with new plans amid contractual changes
K-pop

ENHYPEN to release new music on June 5

Cementing its global presence through appearances at major music festivals, K-pop band ENHYPEN is set to return with new music in June, after a seven-month break. The boy band's agency, Belift Lab, announced Monday that ENHYPEN will release its sixth mini album on June 5. This marks the group's first release since "ROMANCE : UNTOLD -daydream-," the repackaged version of its second studio album, which dropped in November 2024. The group teased the news during a live broadcast Sunday on the fan platform Weverse shortly after performing at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the largest music festival in the United States. Confirming the release through an official statement, Belift Lab said that "while ENHYPEN has been fully dedicated to preparing for its Coachella performance, the band has also poured great effort into working on its sixth mini album. "As ENHYPEN has established their identity through the narratives and concepts of its albums, fans can look forward to seeing the group unfold a new chapter of its music." ENHYPEN — a seven-member act consisting of Jungwon, Heeseung,

Apr 14, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
ENHYPEN to release new music on June 5
K-pop

From rookie jitters to confident steps, NCT WISH defines its sound with new release 'poppop'

What does love mean to NCT WISH, the youngest stars in SM Entertainment's powerhouse roster? For these bright-eyed K-pop rookies, whose oldest member is just 22 and the youngest only 17, the answer is crystal clear — their official fandom, NCTzen, lovingly called Czennie, is their "first love." No matter how the question was phrased, the members— Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo and Sakuya — never strayed from this heartfelt devotion. "The thing that makes our hearts 'pop' the most is Czennie!" the group exclaimed in unison during an interview Thursday with The Korea Times at a studio in Seoul's Yongsan District. Since their debut a little over a year ago, every stage has been a love letter to their fans. "Whenever we catch a glimpse of Czennie's faces and their reactions from the stage, it fills us with happiness," Riku said. Sakuya, who remained thoughtful and serious throughout the interview, chimed in. "Whenever Czennie cheer us on, we gain so much energy," he said. NCT WISH is the youngest addition to the sprawling NCT roster, which boasts both one of K-pop's largest fandoms and it

Apr 14, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
From rookie jitters to confident steps, NCT WISH defines its sound with new release 'poppop'
K-pop

Momoland to regroup under new management after 2-year hiatus

Two years after stepping away from the spotlight, the members of K-pop girl group Momoland are reuniting under a new agency. According to multiple reports Thursday, all six Momoland members — Hyebin, Jane, Nayun, JooE, Ahin and Nancy — have signed an exclusive contract with Inyeon Entertainment for group activities. The agency also represents actors Kim Ji-ho and Kim Hee-jung, along with singer ONLEE. Momoland debuted in November 2016 as a seven-member group. The group later expanded to nine with the addition of Taeha and Daisy, quickly gaining popularity with energetic, feel-good hits like "Boom Boom," "BAAM," and "I'm So Hot." But challenges began to mount in 2019, when members Taeha and Yeonwoo announced their departure from the group, followed by Daisy's exit in 2020. Struggling to regain momentum amid lineup changes, Momoland reached the end of its standard seven-year exclusive contract in January 2023, officially bringing its time with its former agency, MLD Entertainment, to a close. The group spent the next two years in effective hiatus, with no official word on future activiti

Apr 11, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Momoland to regroup under new management after 2-year hiatus
  • Who owns rights to K-pop group names?
K-pop

Sunny of Girls' Generation joins Lee Soo-man's agency as K-pop producer

Sunny of Girls' Generation has signed an exclusive contract with A2O Entertainment, the new agency founded by her uncle and former SM Entertainment chief producer Lee Soo-man. The label confirmed the deal Wednesday, saying the K-pop star is currently undergoing undergoing training as a producer under SM's former producer Yoo Young-jin. The agency added that Sunny is also taking an active role in shaping its next generation of talent — from mentoring trainees and designing training programs to offering psychological support, overseeing styling and choreography and appearing in video content. “We are always grateful for the love and interest in Sunny,” A2O said. “We hope to show her in [an] even better light going forward.” Speculation about her involvement in the company began earlier this week after A2O posted a behind-the-scenes video showing Sunny observing a trainee's recording session. The footage was released as A2O trainees were attending a training camp in the U.S. Sunny, 35, debuted in 2007 as a member of Girls' Generation. Her exclusive contract with SM ended in August

Apr 10, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Sunny of Girls' Generation joins Lee Soo-man's agency as K-pop producer
K-pop

K-pop taps French songwriters to broaden its reach

What happens when Korean precision meets French flair in the music studio? The answer played out in Seoul, where the first-ever "Atelier K-pop" songwriting camp brought together music professionals from both countries for six days of creative collaboration. The camp, which ran March 24 to 29, marked a rare partnership between the French government and top K-pop publishing players, including LEEway Music & Media, Amplified Corporation and JYP Publishing. Jointly organized by the Embassy of France in Korea and the Centre National de la Musique (CNM), the initiative brought four French composers — Poppy Fusée, Jean-Noël, Robin Peret and Ugo — to Seoul, for a deep dive into K-pop's unique production process. "It was more than just sharing music," Jake Lee, CEO of LEEway Music & Media, one of the main hosts, said in an interview with The Korea Times, April 4. "It was about bringing fresh perspectives to K-pop and creating songs with global appeal." While countries like the U.S., the U.K., Sweden and the Netherlands have long been regular sources of international songwriting talent for Ko

Apr 10, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop taps French songwriters to broaden its reach
Travel & Food

Spirituality gets trendy: Why Korea's younger generation vibes with Buddhism

Among young Koreans, a meme-ish phrase loosely translated as "Buddhism is having fun without me again," has been making the rounds — and it's not just a joke. From increasing visibility in pop culture to large-scale public events, Korea’s Buddhist institutions are actively engaging a younger audience — many of whom are seeking spiritual or emotional relief from modern-day stress. The most recent example came at the 2025 Seoul International Buddhism Expo, which ran April 3-6 at COEX in southern Seoul's Gangnam District. The expo, held in coordination with nearby Bongeun Temple, was designed as a comprehensive celebration of religion, art and industry — with both heartfelt spirituality and light-hearted fun on display. This year’s event featured more than 360 companies and continued the buzz from last year’s viral sensation “NewJeansNim” — the playful Buddhist name adopted by comedian-turned-DJ Youn Sung-ho, which combines the name of the K-pop girl group NewJeans with "seunim," the Korean word for monk. Under this year's theme “Find Your Enlightenment,” the expo leane

Apr 9, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Spirituality gets trendy: Why Korea's younger generation vibes with Buddhism
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