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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

BLACKPINK sets Goyang ablaze with historic stadium tour kickoff, debuts new track 'JUMP'

Nearly two years after their last group concert, BLACKPINK proved they've still got unmatched star power — together and solo. The global superstars — Jennie, Jisoo, Rose and Lisa — reunited as a full group over the weekend for a long-awaited concert, marking their first group performance in nearly two years. In the time since, each member has soared to individual superstardom, building global fan bases that only heightened anticipation for their return. With scorching solo momentum behind them and a new song in their pocket, the quartet set Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, ablaze with their signature blend of style, power and show-stopping visuals. Billed as the kickoff to their new "DEADLINE" tour, the Goyang concert made history on multiple fronts. BLACKPINK became the first K-pop girl group to perform at the stadium, setting a new attendance record — some 78,000 fans for two concerts — for the venue. Fans arrived hours early on Sunday, decked out in signature colors black and pink, filling the area outside with chants and cheers. As the summer heat began t

Jul 7, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BLACKPINK sets Goyang ablaze with historic stadium tour kickoff, debuts new track 'JUMP'
  • Tetra Pak draws BLACKPINK fans to recycling mission in Goyang
  • BLACKPINK kicks off long-awaited tour with sizzling shows in Goyang
K-pop

BLACKPINK kicks off long-awaited tour with sizzling shows in Goyang

Expectations were sky-high for one of K-pop's most iconic quartets as BLACKPINK gave its first full-group performance in nearly two years, judging by the sea of fans who braved a scorching heat wave to see them in Ilsan. The K-pop supergroup — Jennie, Rosé, Jisoo and Lisa — kicked off its "DEADLINE" world tour over the weekend at Goyang Sports Complex in Ilsan, just west of Seoul, becoming the first K-pop girl group to do so at one of the capital area's largest concert venues. Fans swarmed the venue Sunday, the final show of the two-day performance, despite temperatures soaring to about 33 degrees Celsius and a heat wave advisory in effect. Armed with mini electronic fans and parasols to escape the heat, the throngs of fans could be heard complaining here and there, but their faces collectively lit up with excitement when asked for a brief interview. "It's so hot and I'm sweating like crazy, but the thrill of getting to see the four perform together again is the only thing keeping me on my feet right now," said Liu Wen, a Chinese fan in her 20s who arrived hours early, clutching the

Jul 6, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BLACKPINK kicks off long-awaited tour with sizzling shows in Goyang
  • BLACKPINK sets Goyang ablaze with historic stadium tour kickoff, debuts new track 'JUMP'
K-pop

Korea's water-soaked festivals offer splashy escape from summer heat, reality

In the blistering heat of a Korean summer, few things offer relief like getting drenched in water — and if it’s while singing along to your favorite artist, even better. That’s the appeal behind Korea’s booming summer water festivals, which continue to draw massive crowds with their combination of high-octane performances, celebrity appearances and plenty of splash. Among those who can’t forget the experience is an office worker surnamed Lee, who marked the end of her 20s with a wet and wild day at Seoul's WATERBOMB festival in June 2022. Even now, she says, the memory resurfaces every summer. "It was so hot and humid and then it started raining," she recalled. "Everyone was dragging their feet, but maybe that's why we were all more willing to embrace the streams of water at the festival. I probably couldn't do it again now, but ending my 20s with something that intense made that summer really unforgettable." These events are built on exactly that kind of intensity. Taking place at the height of Korea’s monsoon season, water festivals embrace the heat, replacing sweat with c

Jul 4, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Korea's water-soaked festivals offer splashy escape from summer heat, reality
K-pop

BTS confirms full-group comeback for next spring, world tour also planned

K-pop megastars BTS thrilled fans worldwide Tuesday with the announcement of their full-group return next spring, featuring a new album and world tour, during a surprise livestream. The seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — appeared together on the fan platform Weverse, marking the band's first full-group livestream since September 2022. The 30-minute broadcast drew more than 7.3 million views. During the livestream, the members shared that they will begin preparing the new album starting this month. "It will include everyone's ideas. We're going back to our roots for this one," they said. They added that a world tour is in the works following the album release. "We'll be visiting places around the world, so please look forward to it," they said. The upcoming tour will be the group's first in four years, since the "'Yet to Come' in Busan" concert back in 2022. That performance marked the group's final activity as a full group before taking an extended hiatus for Korea's mandatory military service. In the meantime, the members have pursued successful solo ventu

Jul 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS confirms full-group comeback for next spring, world tour also planned
K-pop

From BLACKPINK, TWICE to NCT, TXT: Big names lead K-pop's July jam session

K-pop is turning up the heat this July as top-tier acts BLACKPINK, TWICE, NCT DREAM, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) and more gear up for high-profile releases in what's shaping up to be a jam-packed summer lineup. The month begins with a faceoff between two of the genre's most iconic girl groups: BLACKPINK from YG Entertainment and TWICE from JYPE. BLACKPINK will unveil a new song during the group's upcoming "DEADLINE" world concert tour, slated for Saturday and Sunday at the Goyang Sports Complex, Gyeonggi Province. This marks the group's first release as a full unit in two years and eight months, following its 2022 studio album "BORN PINK." Expectations are sky-high, especially as all four members have risen to global A-list status during the hiatus — from Rosé’s “APT” and Jennie’s “Mantra” to Lisa’s “Rockstar” and Jisoo’s “Amortage.” Details about the new song remain under wraps, though its music video was reportedly filmed in Korea. TWICE will release its fourth full-length album, "THIS IS FOR," on July 11, the band's first studio album since "Formula of Love: O

Jul 2, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
From BLACKPINK, TWICE to NCT, TXT: Big names lead K-pop's July jam session
K-pop

New K-pop boy band AHOF steps into spotlight with big dreams, global roots

Yet another survival audition show has given rise to the next K-pop hopefuls — a nine-member boy band called AHOF, who say they're aiming for nothing less than a spot in the genre's hall of fame. Formed through SBS audition program "Universe League" (2024), the group features a lineup that spans the globe: Jeongwoo, Woongki, Han and Juwon from Korea; Steven from Australia; Shuaibo from China; JL from the Philippines; Chih En from Taiwan; and Daisuke from Japan. The name AHOF stands for "All-time Hall of Famer," but in Korean it also translates to the number nine, hinting at the idea of being "unfinished" and the group's desire to keep growing. AHOF officially took its first step into the industry Tuesday with the release of its debut album, "WHO WE ARE." Just a few hours earlier, the group hosted a media showcase at YES24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul to celebrate the launch. The show hit a brief snag when a stage lighting glitch delayed the start by about 10 minutes, but the AHOF members appeared unfazed as they each shared their hopes for the debut. "I'm so happy and thrilled that my dre

Jul 1, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
New K-pop boy band AHOF steps into spotlight with big dreams, global roots
Shows & Dramas

Can AI content be truly original? CJ ENM says yes

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM laid out an ambitious roadmap Monday to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) across its creative operations and premiered an original animation series created entirely with AI. The company hosted the "2025 CJ ENM CULTURE TALK: K-Content Meets AI" at its Talent Studio in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, sharing how the company envisions using AI to transform its future content creation. The speakers of the Monday event emphasized that it has become "more critical than ever" for entertainment companies like CJ ENM to develop AI capabilities tailored to a global audience. "We are currently applying AI across the entire content value chain, including planning, production, distribution and marketing to expand AI content production across genres and formats, allowing us to secure next-generation intellectual property (IP)," said Shin Keun-sup, chief strategy officer at CJ ENM. Noting the company's ambitions to become a global top AI studio, Shin added that the company aims to develop tech-savvy talents for the upcoming generation. "

Jun 30, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Can AI content be truly original? CJ ENM says yes
K-pop

Australian rapper threatens lawsuit against K-pop's ALLDAY PROJECT, trashes genre

Australian rapper Allday, whose real name is Tomas Henry Gaynor, threatened legal action against K-pop band ALLDAY PROJECT, claiming trademark infringement and dismissing much of the genre as "shit." In a social media post on June 24, the rapper shared a screenshot of a news article about the group, defending his ownership of his name and taking a swipe at K-pop. "People keep asking me about this," he wrote. "I have a trademark on the name Allday. Maybe I don't have 20 billion streams like that kpop shit which mostly sucks by the way. But I do exist and own the trademark to my name. Prepare for the greatest legal battle of all time." According to The Music, an Australian music outlet, the rapper registered the trademark for his stage name in Australia in June 2021. The filing reportedly covers digital music, recordings, vinyl, merchandise, live entertainment and related content. He claimed online that the trademark extends to the United States. Despite his sweeping insults, Gaynor followed up with a video offering a bizarre concession, Saturday, stating that he would drop the lawsuit if

Jun 29, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Australian rapper threatens lawsuit against K-pop's ALLDAY PROJECT, trashes genre
Travel & Food

Instant naengmyeon kits to enjoy cold noodles at home

When it's too hot and humid to budge, let alone cook, instant naengmyeon (cold noodles) is a quick, refreshing fix you can enjoy without leaving home. Korea's naengmyeon meal kit market is no small niche. The market is estimated to be worth around 80 billion won ($58 million), reflecting strong demand for ready-made options that deliver both flavor and ease. On the shelves of a supermarket near Seoul Station, rows of naengmyeon kits from major food brands were front and center, catching the eyes of sweaty, weary shoppers in search of something cool and quick. Pulmuone, one of Korea's top food companies, recently expanded its lineup beyond its classic options like Pyongyang naengmyeon, dongchimi (watery kimchi with radish) naengmyeon and Hamhung-style spicy naengmyeon. New on the shelves this summer are hanwoo mul naengmyeon (cold noodles with Korean beef broth), Sokcho-style kodari (half-dried pollack) naengmyeon and a spicy arrowroot noodle version, offering more variety for fans of the dish. CJ CheilJedang, the market leader in instant naengmyeon, also offers crowd favorites through it

Jun 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Instant naengmyeon kits to enjoy cold noodles at home
Arts & Theater

How musical 'Frida' turns legendary artist's pain into riveting farewell performance

If you were standing at the edge of life's final curtain with just one last chance to host a show of your lifetime, what story would you choose to tell and how would you like to be remembered? The Korean musical "Frida: The Last Night Show," which opened at Nol Uniplex in central Seoul on June 17, answers this haunting question with theatrical flair and emotional precision. Framed as a fictional talk show titled "The Last Night Show," the musical stages the final moments of legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-54), who revisits her turbulent life alongside three fictional personas — Reflejar, Destino and Memoria — in a meta-theatrical performance that is as imaginative as it is affecting. The Mexican artist herself, the inspiration behind the production, led a life riddled with pain. At age 6, polio left one of her legs impaired, and at 18, a catastrophic traffic accident crushed her spine, nearly killing her. Her injuries would never fully heal, and her attempts at motherhood ended in tragedy due to lasting internal injuries. Her husband, muralist Diego Rivera, was notorious f

Jun 27, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
How musical 'Frida' turns legendary artist's pain into riveting farewell performance
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