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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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People & Events

UK’s top K-beauty retailer notes differences in Korean, global top sellers

Sheet masks are old news in Korea. While they remain a staple on many K-beauty vanities, newer products and faster-moving trends have long begun to push them to the back of the shelves. In the United Kingdom, however, they remain the trendiest, top-selling K-beauty product. "It's actually our bestselling product category," Gracie Tullio, co-founder and creative director of PURESEOUL, one of Britain's largest K-beauty specialist retailers, told The Korea Times in a video call, April 7. "Which is funny, because sheet masks are kind of not a thing anymore in Korea." That disconnect sits at the heart of K-beauty's international expansion. Despite its growing global footprint, K-beauty does not travel as a finished product. It arrives delayed, reshaped and, in many cases, reinterpreted to suit local preferences. PURESEOUL began in 2019 as an online platform with a straightforward premise — British consumers wanted Korean cosmetics but had no reliable way to get them. Today, the company carries more than 2,000 products from over 70 Korean brands, including AMUSE, milktouch and LADOR, and oper

May 6, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
UK’s top K-beauty retailer notes differences in Korean, global top sellers
K-pop

Boy groups from audition shows stage back-to-back comebacks in May

May is shaping up to be a significant month for K-pop boy groups whose origins trace back to survival shows. Three acts are returning within weeks of each other, each navigating a different kind of transition as they look to establish or redefine their place in the market. Leading the charge is ZEROBASEONE, which debuted through Season 1 of Mnet's survival audition show "Boys Planet" and has since reorganized as a five-member group. Originally a nine-member act, the team wrapped up its original formation following a concert at KSPO Dome on March 15, before reconstituting with members Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Kim Tae-rae, Matthew Seok and Park Gun-wook. The group will release its sixth mini-album, "Ascend-," on May 18, featuring seven tracks including the title song "TOP 5," B-sides "Intro.," "V for Vision," "Customize," "Exotic," "Changes" and "Zero to Hundred." With six consecutive million-selling albums to its name, the question now is whether the slimmed-down lineup can sustain that momentum. In a notable coincidence, May 26 will see four former ZEROBASEONE members — Zhang Hao,

May 6, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Boy groups from audition shows stage back-to-back comebacks in May
K-pop

DAY6's Wonpil goes 'Unpiltered' at wide-ranging Seoul concert

Rock band DAY6's Wonpil held a concert bearing the same name as his March album "Unpiltered" last weekend, living up to its title with a performance that left nothing hidden. From reinventing himself as a dancer to showcasing delicate piano skills, the singer filled his second solo concert, "WONPIL SOLO CONCERT 'Unpiltered,'" with a charm that swung between extremes at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in southeastern Seoul. The Sunday show marked the final night of a three-day run that began Friday, and came roughly four years after his first solo concert in March 2022. A few minutes past 5 p.m., the singer opened the evening with high energy solo tracks "Toxic Love" and "Already Grown Up." Having fully displayed his credentials as DAY6's keyboardist and vocalist, he closed the opening set with a promise to show fans who he is — unfiltered. "You'll be seeing a lot of new sides of me tonight," he said. "What 'My Day' (DAY6's official fandom) knows of me isn't the whole picture." He drew laughter from the crowd as he added, "I'm actually a pretty rough person. I'm not someone who's always smiling o

May 4, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
DAY6's Wonpil goes 'Unpiltered' at wide-ranging Seoul concert
K-pop

How NAZE brings multinational lineup, real-world experience to May debut

There is a particular kind of calm that comes from having already been through it. Walking into a room with NAZE, the seven-member K-pop boy group set to make its official Korean debut on Monday, that calm is the first thing you notice. These are not nervous trainees counting down the moments before their debut — they are young men who have already stood on stages in Japan, filmed a primetime TBS drama, recorded four original soundtracks and gone on a showcase tour before most Korean fans even knew their names. "We've already experienced music shows, morning live broadcasts, variety programs and meeting fans in person," said Ato, one of the group's Korean members during a predebut interview at The Korea Times headquarters in central Seoul, April 16. "So compared to a group debuting out of nowhere, we have a certain level of experience. There's a natural ease that comes through, and a comfort with cameras. That's what sets us apart," he said. NAZE, formerly known as C9ROOKIES during its predebut rollout, is the first new boy band from C9 Entertainment in five years, following labelmates

May 4, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
How NAZE brings multinational lineup, real-world experience to May debut
K-pop

K-pop Report Card Highs, lows, hard passes of crowded March–April release calendar

March and April arrived with an unusually wide spread, spanning solo debuts, long-awaited comebacks, rookie bets, unexpected bops and a handful that somehow felt like contractual obligations. More volume does not always mean more substance. This edition tries to figure out which ones were worth the noise. As always, strong reactions in either direction are welcome. Your taste is entirely valid, even if this review just happens to disagree. Yena — "Catch Catch" from "LOVE CATCHER," released March 11 Verdict: Worth replaying If you grew up on Orange Caramel or T-ara, "Catch Catch" will feel like running into an old friend. The electronic beat at the song's core is about as far from current K-pop trends as it can get, and that is precisely the point. In a landscape where groups are rushing toward house, then EDM, then whatever the next cycle demands, Yena has quietly built something that belongs only to her. Leaning into retro as a deliberate identity is harder to pull off than it looks. Here, it works smartly. ITZY's Yuna — "Ice Cream" from eponymous solo debut album, released March 23 Ve

May 4, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
[K-pop Report Card] Highs, lows, hard passes of crowded March–April release calendar
K-pop

ENHYPEN shows no gaps after lineup change at Seoul concert

A K-pop group's main vocalist typically carries outsized weight. The role shapes not only the quality of the music, but also the level of satisfaction a live performance delivers. When that pillar disappears, a group's stage presence, as expected, tends to take a hit. That was the biggest concern on this reporter's mind heading into ENHYPEN's Saturday concert in Seoul. On March 10, the group faced a major rupture when main vocalist Heeseung announced his departure, revealing plans to pursue a new musical path. His exit, from a position central to both ENHYPEN's sonic identity and its long-running vampire lore, sent shockwaves through the group's global fandom. Staged from Friday to Sunday at KSPO DOME in Seoul's Olympic Park, "ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR 'BLOOD SAGA'" marked the group's first large-scale homecoming performance after the shake-up. It also served as a litmus test of whether ENHYPEN could hold its ground without one of its defining members. On the Seoul leg's second day, fans in coordinated black-and-red dress code filled the arena, while members of the press gathered as the group s

May 3, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
ENHYPEN shows no gaps after lineup change at Seoul concert
K-pop

May is K-pop's biggest month for girl groups' releases in years

A crowded slate of K-pop girl group releases is set to define May, with BABYMONSTER, NMIXX, ITZY, LE SSERAFIM and aespa all returning within weeks of one another. Adding to the momentum is a long-awaited reunion by I.O.I, nearly a decade after its disbandment, setting up one of the most competitive release windows. YG Entertainment's youngest act BABYMONSTER opens the month May 4 with its third mini-album, "CHOOM." Positioned as an heir to the company's girl group lineage that includes BLACKPINK and 2NE1, the group has similarly built global attention since debut through performance-focused releases. According to YG, the new album spans hip-hop, dance and R&B, with the lead track and B-sides “MOON,” “I LIKE IT” and “LOCKED IN” aimed at showcasing the group's range. Girl group NMIXX under JYP Entertainment follows May 11 with its fifth mini-album, "Heavy Serenade." The title track was reportedly co-written by singer-songwriter Hanroro, known for sentimental hits "0+0," "1111" and "Let Me Love My Youth." After debuting with its self-described "MIXX-pop" genre in 2022 to mixed r

May 1, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
May is K-pop's biggest month for girl groups' releases in years
K-pop

SM launches 1st official K-pop merch store in China amid thaw signals

SM Entertainment opened its first official merchandise store in China, marking a notable step in the K-pop powerhouse's push into a market where cultural ties with Seoul have long been strained. The company launched the SMTOWN STORE Shanghai, Wednesday, at Xinliubai YOUNG in Shanghai’s Xujiahui District, as part of a broader effort to expand its global retail footprint. Spanning about 335 square meters, the store offers official merchandise from SM artists — aespa, the NCT subunits, RIIZE, Girls' Generation, Red Velvet and more — alongside a light stick display zone, album photo walls and large multimedia screens, positioning the space as more than a conventional retail outlet. Located near the city's Xujiahui Station, which serves subway lines 1, 9 and 11, the site benefits from steady foot traffic and proximity to major universities such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University, drawing a young, trend-driven consumer base. According to an SM press release, interest was strong ahead of the opening, fueled by social media buzz. A themed pop-up tied to the label's boy b

May 1, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
SM launches 1st official K-pop merch store in China amid thaw signals
Trends

Drinking no longer default for Korea’s Gen Z

On a recent weeknight near Seoul's Hongdae area in Mapo District, a group of students gathered at Yeokjeon Halmaek, a familiar bar franchise. They ordered cans of zero-sugar Coke and a single highball, splitting one shot among four glasses. No one asked for soju. For bar owners, scenes like this now feel routine. "Alcohol is usually where the margins are," a worker at the Hongdae bar told The Korea Times on the condition of anonymity. "So now when a table orders a lot, I can't help but notice. They feel like a VIP." For Korea's younger generation, drinking is no longer the default social currency it once was. But the shift is not a simple turn toward abstinence, it's something more interesting — a renegotiation of what alcohol means, who it is for and how much of a life it deserves. Among the Korean Gen Zs, the frequency of drinking is falling sharply, while the nature of consumption is tilting toward lighter, more deliberate choices. Highballs with modest proof, craft low-alcohol beers and other nonalcoholic alternatives are gaining ground, reshaping not just what Koreans drink, but wh

Apr 28, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Drinking no longer default for Korea’s Gen Z
K-pop

For TWS, love is 'NO TRAGEDY' on new mini-album

K-pop boy band TWS is learning to talk about love. The six-member act under HYBE subsidiary Pledis Entertainment returned Monday with its fifth mini album, "NO TRAGEDY," its most emotionally direct work to date. The six-member group — Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin — introduced the album at a press showcase held hours ahead of its release at YES24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul's Gwangjin District, describing it as a project that captures a more self-directed approach to love. "If we previously showed fresh, youthful energy, this time we wanted to be more honest, more bold, expressing feelings more directly," Youngjae said. Since debuting in January 2024, TWS built its identity on its members' bright, boyish charms. "NO TRAGEDY" doesn't abandon that, but it complicates it. The album's lead single, "You, You," is where that conviction lands most clearly. A house-driven confessional layered with R&B textures, it gives a direct declaration to a dreamlike love interest. "It's the first time we've really talked about love in depth," Jihoon said. "We discussed what love m

Apr 27, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
For TWS, love is 'NO TRAGEDY' on new mini-album
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