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!
NCT's Mark is setting the stage for his solo debut with the release of "+82 Pressin (Feat. Haechan)," a prerelease duet that serves as the long-awaited collaboration with fellow member Haechan.
An upcoming K-pop audition show has drawn criticism from fans worldwide, with many condemning its premise of recruiting girls — all under the age of 15 — to compete for a spot in a new idol group. Experts argue the show exposes minors to potential exploitation and sexualization under the guise of entertainment. The program under fire, broadcaster MBN's "UNDER15," features 59 young girls born after 2009 as contestants, labeling itself as the "world's first K-pop prodigy discovery project for contestants under 15." The show is spearheaded by Seo Hye-jin, CEO of Crea Studio, known for producing the popular trot show franchises, "Miss Trot" and "Mister Trot." "We are aiming to select members who can lead the K-pop scene, chosen directly by our viewers," Seo reportedly said while announcing the show's launch. "I might get criticized for saying this, but our goal is to create an 'underage BLACKPINK.'" If Seo's remarks weren't enough, teaser videos and promotional images for the show display the young contestants wearing heavy stage makeup and revealing outfits. Footage also captured them s
Daesung, a member of K-pop icon BIGBANG, is set to return to the music scene with a new solo release over a year after his last single.
For K-pop lovers, the name STAYC is best known for its signature sound — vibrant, bubbly melodies that simply scream teen spirit.
If one were to ask anyone with even the slightest amount of K-pop knowledge who the hottest girl group on the scene is right now, the answer is unanimous — aespa.
Some griped about the skimpy outfits, others balked at the sky-high ticket prices. But just as the top star herself remarked through her self-love anthem, a piece of art is incomplete without some framing action.
After weathering a rollercoaster year, Hybe Label's adored girl group Le Sserafim is blazing back onto the K-pop scene with its newest release, "HOT."
Two rookie K-pop girl groups, Hearts2Hearts from SM Entertainment and KiiiKiii from Starship Entertainment, entered the industry with a shared debut timeline — and an emerging rivalry.
Big Ocean, the world's first K-pop group composed entirely of deaf members, is set to embark on its first European tour since debuting, the group's agency announced Wednesday.