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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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Arts & Theater

Razzle-dazzle from Seoul to Broadway as Ivy lands lead in 'Chicago'

Musical actor and singer Ivy, 43, is taking her signature role across the Pacific. After 15 years owning the part of Roxie Hart in the Korean production of "Chicago," she will make her Broadway debut in the role this August. "Chicago" is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history, having won Tonies in six categories, including Best Revival of a Musical in 1997. Set in 1920s Chicago, the show satirizes the era's justice system and a culture obsessed with fame. The story follows Roxie Hart, a woman imprisoned for killing her lover, and Velma Kelly, who is locked up for murdering her unfaithful husband and her sister. In Korea, the musical has been staged regularly since Seensee Company's original 2000 production. Ivy holds the record for the longest run as Roxie Hart in a Korean production — an experience she will bring with her to the Ambassador Theatre in New York from Aug. 17 to Sept. 7. Since first taking the stage in 2012, she has performed the role in nearly 600 shows, a run that helped transform her public image from singer to leading musical theater actor. Landing t

Jun 23, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Razzle-dazzle from Seoul to Broadway as Ivy lands lead in 'Chicago'
K-pop

Hearts2Hearts projects full summer energy with new release 'Lemon Tang'

K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts is officially in its summer era. SM Entertainment's buzzy rookie group dropped its new minialbum "Lemon Tang" Monday, ready to take over summer playlists with a sound as sweet and tangy as the title suggests. The eight-member group debuted in February 2025 and has been racking up hits ever since, channeling the same girlish, slightly mysterious charm that made label seniors Girls' Generation and f(x) icons, this time through tracks like "The Chase," "STYLE" and "FOCUS." Then came "RUDE!" in February. Powered by its fizzy production and a scene-stealing part from member Stella, the single turned into a global hit. Just hours before "Lemon Tang" dropped, all eight members — Jiwoo, Carmen, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian and Ye-on — sat down with press at Blue Square in Yongsan District, Seoul, all smiles about following up the success of "RUDE!" "I'm still so thankful for how much love 'RUDE!' got. The first half of this year was a lot, but a good kind of a lot," Stella said. "Hitting our goal of topping the rookie charts last year meant everything. I really

Jun 22, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Hearts2Hearts projects full summer energy with new release 'Lemon Tang'
K-pop

Recognition or sidelining? Reactions mixed as Grammys unveil Asian pop category

The Grammy Awards will add a Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, a move read as recognition of Asian music's global reach after years of criticism that the show favored English-language acts and lagged behind the times. The Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys, announced the rule change on its website Tuesday (local time). The new category takes effect at the 69th Grammy Awards next year, alongside four others — Best Latin Song, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance and Best Traditional Folk Album. For Korea, the Asian pop category was the most welcome news of the bunch. BTS and other K-pop acts have topped Billboard's main chart and sold out world tours for years, yet the Grammys remained the one stage they could not crack. Because Grammy wins were especially hard to come by, some saw the change as a milestone cracked open by years of persistent knocking from K-pop music. "Now that there is finally a category where K-pop artists can be officially recognized, it opens the door for far more artists to enter the conversation t

Jun 18, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Recognition or sidelining? Reactions mixed as Grammys unveil Asian pop category
K-pop

USPEER returns with revamped lineup on 1st mini album

Rookie K-pop girl group USPEER dropped its first mini album, "BITE DISTRICT," Wednesday, about a year after debuting with "SPEED ZONE." The six-member group — Soee, Sian, Seoyu, Daon, Chaena and Roa — met with press just hours before the release at Myeonghwa Live Hall in Yeongdeungpo District, southern Seoul, to talk about the new album and behind-the-scenes stories. "It's been a year, so this feels less like a comeback and more like a redebut," Chaena said. "We worked hard to show a different side of ourselves that fits the new concept." "I want to thank everyone who waited for us," Daon said. "I'm excited and a little nervous." The girl group debuted last June as a septet, but the lineup changed to six in May when the group's former leader, Yeowon, left the team. Agency MW Entertainment said Yeowon had been taking time to rest and recover since the second half of last year, and the two sides agreed she would end her activities with USPEER. "Yeowon left for personal reasons," Sian said. "I was elected leader right after she stepped down, and it was difficult at first. I thought that

Jun 17, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
USPEER returns with revamped lineup on 1st mini album
K-pop

Former Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram pursues acting career

Kim Ga-ram, who departed girl group Le Sserafim four years ago amid school bullying allegations, is pursuing an acting career. According to Management Koo, it has signed an exclusive contract with Kim, who aspires to become an actor. “We have watched Kim’s YouTube activities and were deeply impressed by her sincere attitude and potential as an actor,” the agency said in a statement. “Her relentless daily efforts toward her dream played a major role in our decision.” Kim, 21, debuted as a member of Le Sserafim in May 2022 but suspended activities two weeks later after school bullying allegations surfaced. A school violence review committee found her to have been a perpetrator and issued a Level 5 disciplinary measure, which required the student to complete a special disciplinary program geared toward correcting violent behavior. Kim left the group in July 2022, and her contract with her then-agency Source Music, under HYBE Labels, was terminated. Management Koo said Kim has been training to sharpen her acting skills and has shown notable growth in a short period. It added that sh

Jun 17, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Former Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram pursues acting career
K-pop

Seoul 'melting pot' for global music talent, says producer behind BTS hits

A Swedish music producer who has worked with the biggest names in K-pop — BTS, SuperM, Tomorrow X Together, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM and ATEEZ — said Seoul has become a "global melting pot" for music talent, surpassing creative hubs like Stockholm and Los Angeles, as top songwriters worldwide increasingly look to Korea for the best opportunities. "I saw an opportunity that seemed more impactful by coming to Seoul rather than going to the States, and not by a small margin," Alex Karlsson said at a music industry conference hosted by the French Embassy in Seoul, June 8. Karlsson was speaking at "From K-pop to Global Pop: Rethinking Music Without Borders," the opening panel of "Fête de la Musique+ 2026," a Korea-France cultural exchange event held in Seoul. For Karlsson, Korea's appeal as a creative base comes down to access and structure. He said the country draws top-tier global talent at a scale unmatched by European music hubs, while its systemized approach to music production offers a creative framework he finds valuable rather than limiting. "Koreans love their systems, and I think t

Jun 16, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Seoul 'melting pot' for global music talent, says producer behind BTS hits
Foreign Affairs

Lee meets pope

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, Monday (local time). During their private meeting, Lee formally asked the pope to visit North Korea during his expected trip to Seoul for World Youth Day in August 2027, urging the Catholic Church to play a role in advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Holy See reaffirmed its unwavering support for inter-Korean peace efforts. Courtesy of Vatican Media

Jun 15, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Lee meets pope
K-pop

As virtual idol groups multiply, can any match PLAVE's success?

The virtual idol market is expanding fast, and the field is getting crowded. A string of new groups have debuted in recent months, staking a claim in a space that one act has come to define — and none of them are close to catching it yet. OWIS, a five-member girl group under All My Anecdotes, the label founded by Kiss of Life creative director Lee Hae-in, debuted on March 23 with EP "Museum." While the real identities behind the virtual avatar members — Serene, Haru, Soi, Summer and Yuni — have not been officially confirmed, it is widely reported to include former NMIXX member Jini, former Lovelyz member Ryu Su-jeong, BigHit Music producer Adora, "Produce 101" contestant Lee Ruri and Lee Hae-in herself. B:DAWN under Duri Entertainment followed on May 6 with debut single "Beom." The group's five members — Dojin, Ion, Kangho, Woorim and Hansol — are built around the concept of former competitive athletes. The latest entry is MiiWAN, a five-member boy group under Abyss Company, whose debut album "Middle.i" drops Tuesday. A pre-release track, "Pluma," is already out. Emulating PLAVE

Jun 15, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
As virtual idol groups multiply, can any match PLAVE's success?
K-pop

EVAN drops snippets of debut solo single 'RIDE OR DIE'

Former ENHYPEN member EVAN dropped snippets of his upcoming debut solo single "RIDE OR DIE" on his official social media channels Saturday, giving fans their first listen ahead of the June 22 release. The digital single includes two tracks, "Ride or Die" and "Overflow." Through an official press release Sunday, his label Belift Lab said EVAN wrote, composed and produced both songs and took part in visual creative work across the project. "Ride or Die" is an alternative rock track that blends pop-rock and hyperpop elements. The song deals with longing and overwhelming emotion directed at another person. Belift Lab said the track also carries a message to fans. The single's second track, "Overflow," is a quieter indie-pop song. The title refers to the image of water brimming at the edge of a glass, which EVAN used as a metaphor for layered, complex emotions. Belift Lab said the song leaves its emotional direction open, allowing listeners to interpret it as comfort, sadness or empathy depending on their own circumstances. The single's title, "RIDE OR DIE," is an English idiomatic expression

Jun 14, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
EVAN drops snippets of debut solo single 'RIDE OR DIE'
K-pop

BTS celebrates 13th anniversary with return to Busan

BUSAN — K-pop juggernaut BTS marked its 13th anniversary with a massive celebration, bringing the group's ongoing "ARIRANG" world tour to Busan's Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday for a two-night run that felt much bigger than a concert. The timing was no accident. The second show landed squarely on June 13, the group's debut anniversary, sending fans worldwide into a frenzy well before the first note dropped. Busan, too, carries deep meaning for the group — it is the hometown of members Jimin and Jung Kook, and the site of "Yet to Come," the sprawling farewell concert that preceded the members' hiatus due to mandatory military service in 2022. The group's return had been anticipated for weeks. "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN," a large-scale urban festival running since early June, transformed the city's landmarks into extensions of the "ARIRANG" album's themes, stretching from a grand welcome at Busan Station to a drone light show above Gwangalli Beach. By Saturday evening, 55,000 fans packed the stadium. The crowd had already endured a roughly 75-minute delay the night before a

Jun 13, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS celebrates 13th anniversary with return to Busan
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