Author Min Jin Lee returns to Pittsburgh November 16 for Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures series.

Author Min Jin Lee will return to Pittsburgh on November 16 as part of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Ten Evenings lecture series.

At last, the National Book Award finalist and NYT bestselling author of Pachinko returns with a breathtaking contemporary epic: Min Jin Lee has written a masterpiece by turns sweeping and intimate, one that reckons with ambition and moderation, lust and loyalty, personal dreams and familial loyalty.

In schools and churches, hotel rooms and nail salons, law firms and fried-fish shops; in cramped, dingy apartments and luxury, gated communities, the men, women, and children in American Hagwon struggle to find satisfaction and meaning in a world that seems to grow less forgiving with each passing year.

Korean pansori pop band Leenalchi (이날치) in Pittsburgh, November 2.

The Korean pansori pop band Leenalchi (이날치) will perform in Pittsburgh on November 2, part of its world tour spanning Canada, the US, Europe, and an August show in Incheon. A brief biography, from the band's official site:

Imagine a musical version of Hamlet set to a juicy, tripped-out bass hook.

The psychedelic riffs are courtesy of Jang Young Gyu (that’s Mr. Jang to you), Leenalchi’s enigmatic leader. Born in 1968, Mr. Jang has witnessed the unprecedented popularity of Korean culture reach every corner of the planet from within. Even on this EP, you’ll find evidence of that reach in their cover of “Let’s Live for Today” by Los Angeles rock band, The Grass Roots. Leenalchi’s version was originally recorded for Kagonada’s acclaimed adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s bestselling novel, Pachinko, and was used as the theme song in the final episode.

In a landscape dominated by the K-pop industry, Mr. Jang represents the country’s small but dedicated indie music scene; he is also a prestigious film composer, scoring soundtracks for some of Korea’s most celebrated movies like Train to Busan, The Wailing, and The Good, the Bad, the Weird.

The band performs at 8:00 pm at the Warhol Museum, part of its Sound Series. Tickets are available online. The Andy Warhol Museum is located at 117 Sandusky Street on the North Shore (map).

Korean Liberation Day Celebration at Carnegie Museum of Art, August 15.

Photo by Sunni Park, via brookstakahashi.com.

The Carnegie Museum of Art will host a Korean Liberation Day Celebration in Perilla People’s Garden on August 15.

Korean Liberation Day (Gwangbokjeol) commemorates the liberation from Japan’s colonial rule of 35 years. To celebrate Korean Liberation Day, we will host an ice cream party in the garden. The ice cream features the flavors of perilla seeds.

The event starts at 6:00 pm and is free and open to the public.

The Perilla People's Garden is an exhibit in the 59th Carnegie International by Pittsburgh artist Ginger Brooks Takahashi,

whose Perilla People's Garden is an expression of her intersecting interests in gardening, culinary arts, ethnobotany, colonial histories, and contemporary conditions of migrations.

More information about the garden and its progress is available on the artist's website.

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from June 20.

via the Republic of Korea's Flickr page.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from June 20 through August 29, after its most recent session concluded on May 9. 

Korean bluegrass band Country Gongbang in Pittsburgh, June 13.

The Korean bluegrass band Country Gongbang will play in Pittsburgh on June 13, part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Country Gongbang is South Korea’s first and only bluegrass band, pioneering a distinctive blend of contemporary bluegrass with K‑pop sensibilities. Singing in both English and Korean, the group bridges musical cultures while carving out a unique voice in the global bluegrass scene.

In 2023, Country Gongbang received the International Band Performance Grant from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), recognizing their groundbreaking artistry. The award led to their historic 2024 U.S. tour, where they performed at major venues and festivals, including the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville—becoming the first Korean band to perform on its iconic stage.

In 2025, the group was nominated for the IBMA Momentum Awards for Band of the Year and Vocalist of the Year, marking a historic milestone for a Korean bluegrass ensemble.

The band features Yebin Kim (mandolin, lead vocals), Hyunho Jang (banjo), Jongsu Yoon (fiddle), Sunjae Won (guitar), and Keeha Song (bass).

Blending tradition with bold innovation, Country Gongbang brings a vibrant new perspective to bluegrass music.

“South Korea’s Country Gongbang demonstrates that the basics of bluegrass aren’t limited exclusively to the realms of the western world.”
— Bluegrass Today

 The show runs from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Dollar Bank Stage @ Arts Landing.

Longtime Squirrel Hill Korean grocery, New Young's Oriental Grocery, to close June 10. 50% off sale while supplies last.

New Young's Oriental Grocery, a Korean grocery in Squirrel Hill for nearly 40 years, is closing June 10. It is holding a 50% sale while inventory lasts. Young's is located at 5813 Forward Ave., behind the GetGo gas station (map).

BTS World Tour 'ARIRANG' in Busan: Live Viewing in Pittsburgh, June 13.

BTS World Tour 'ARIRANG' in Busan: Live Viewing will play throughout the Pittsburgh area on June 13.

The historic journey continues. Following the record-breaking opening of the ‘ARIRANG’ world tour, pop royalty BTS returns to the iconic Busan Asiad Main Stadium for a monumental homecoming, broadcast live to cinemas around the world. This marks their poignant return to the very venue where they shared their final full-group performance before enlistment in 3 years and 8 months. Spanning 34 cities with 85 shows, this tour sets a new pinnacle as the most extensive tour ever by a Korean artist. Most notably, the performance falls on June 13—BTS’s debut anniversary—adding a profound layer of symbolism as the group celebrates their legacy and future. Please note that broadcasts in some territories are scheduled later to accommodate local time zones.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson; tickets for the AMC Loews screening are available online. Live viewings of ARIRANG tour shows in Goyang and Tokyo have already played here.

Pitt hiring Teaching Assistant Professor of Korean for a Fall 2026 start.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh is hiring a Teaching Assistant Professor of Korean for a Fall 2026 start.

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for a Teaching Assistant Professor position in Korean language and linguistics, pending budgetary approval. The successful candidate should possess primary disciplinary training in Korean linguistics, Korean as a Second Language, Language and Literacy, and/or a closely related discipline. A Ph.D. in Korean Studies or a related field is required by the time of appointment. 

The appointment starts on August 15, 2026. The teaching load is six courses per year. The appointee will teach current undergraduate courses in our Korean language program, develop new courses in the area of their specialization, help develop a new Korean major, and participate in the department’s interdisciplinary MA program. The successful candidate must demonstrate strengths as a teacher at all levels. The candidate must have a native or near-native user of Korean and English in all language skill areas. In addition, the new hire should be willing to take an active leadership role in the vigorous growth of the Korean program and collaborate closely with the established Korean language program.  

The intellectual environment at the University of Pittsburgh provides ample opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation, and the successful candidate is expected to interface with colleagues in the Department of Linguistics as well as language faculty in other departments.  

Applicants should send a letter of application; CV; a sample of scholarly work; evidence of teaching ability (e. g., student teaching evaluations); a sample syllabus for one course; a statement of teaching philosophy addressing the applicant’s commitment to and leadership in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching, mentoring, and/or outreach and engagement; and a document with three names of referees (one of which must explicitly address the candidate’s teaching ability) and their contact information to Pitt’s Talent Center. For more information, contact Kelly Britcher at ksb85@pitt.edu. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. 

GNARLY: A K-pop Dance Night, May 22 at Bottlerocket Social Hall.

Bottlerocket will present "GNARLY: A K-pop Dance Night" on May 22.

🤔 They could describe this dance party with one single word... you know?

Calling all 💖INTERNET GIRLS💖 to the dance floor because everything’s GNARLY at this dance party! It’s a KPOP and global pop night heavily featuring your favorite LADIES OF KPOP!

DJ Rodeo Starr spins....KATSEYE, JENNIE, BLACKPINK, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, BABYMONSTER and MORE!!!! 💞

It’s only $5 to party, but you must be 21+.

Don’t be so out of TOUCH.... see you at GNARLY!🤮

The 21+ event starts at 10:00 pm and tickets are available online. Bottlerocket Social Hall is located at 1226 Arlington Ave. in the Allentown neighborhood (map).

GOLDEN: A K-Pop Kids Party at Jergel's with two shows on June 21.

Jergels & Drusky Entertainment Presents GOLDEN: A K-Pop Kids Party for two shows on June 21.

Prepare yourselves for a family-friendly dance party featuring remixes inspired by familiar soundtracks, K-Pop songs, and iconic pop anthems from the hit movie. Costumes, dancing, and shining bright are encouraged

Tickets for the all-ages shows at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm are available online. (Tickets can also be purchased directly at Jergel's to avoid the ~20-25% online processing fee.) Jergel's Rhythm Grille is located at 103 Slade Lane in Warrendale (map).

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from June 20.

Photo via the Korea Tourism Organization.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from June 20 through August 29, after its most recent session will conclude on May 9. 

KPop Demon Hunters at Row House Hollywood, June 16.

The 2025 movie KPop Demon Hunters will play at the Row House Hollywood on June 16.

When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren’t selling out stadiums, they’re using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats in this Netflix super smash.

The Row House Hollywood is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. (map), one block south of the Potomac T Station. Tickets are not yet available. This is in addition to the KPop Demon Hunters A Sing-Along Event at select local theaters on June 15, 17, and 18.

2026 TXT MOA CON IN JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, May 24.

2026 TXT MOA CON IN JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on May 24.

'2026 TXT MOA CON IN JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING’ is coming to cinemas worldwide! A special concert prepared exclusively for MOA to celebrate TOMORROW X TOGETHER's 7th debut anniversary, [2026 TXT MOA CON]. Experience a powerful live band performance and special solos, showcasing each member’s unique talent. Following the exciting concerts in Seoul, the tour heads to Nagoya, marking the opening of 2026 TXT MOA CON IN JAPAN. You can experience all the intensity and excitement of the concert in your local cinema! Feel the energy of five members transformed into powerful rock stars, brought to life on the big screen. Join us on May 24th for a live viewing from the Aichi’s IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan, to cinemas worldwide!

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

ENHYPEN Immersion in Cinemas in Pittsburgh, May 13.

The concert film ENHYPEN Immersion in Cinemas will play in Pittsburgh on May 13.

Captured with cutting-edge VR technology, the film surrounds fans with sweeping visuals and a heightened sense of presence that mirrors every beat, movement, and moment. The result is not just a concert – it’s a front-row, all-access experience that blurs the line between audience and artist. Featuring powerhouse performances of global hits like “Bite Me” and “XO (Only If You Say Yes)”, alongside the emotionally charged fan anthem “Highway 1009”, ENHYPEN delivers a dynamic set fueled by precision, intensity, and connection. This is more than a show. It’s a new level of immersion-only in theatres.

The 53-minute experience plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Korean bluegrass band Country Gongbang in Pittsburgh, June 13.

The Korean bluegrass band Country Gongbang will play in Pittsburgh on June 13, part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Country Gongbang is South Korea’s first and only bluegrass band, pioneering a distinctive blend of contemporary bluegrass with K‑pop sensibilities. Singing in both English and Korean, the group bridges musical cultures while carving out a unique voice in the global bluegrass scene.

In 2023, Country Gongbang received the International Band Performance Grant from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), recognizing their groundbreaking artistry. The award led to their historic 2024 U.S. tour, where they performed at major venues and festivals, including the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville—becoming the first Korean band to perform on its iconic stage.

In 2025, the group was nominated for the IBMA Momentum Awards for Band of the Year and Vocalist of the Year, marking a historic milestone for a Korean bluegrass ensemble.

The band features Yebin Kim (mandolin, lead vocals), Hyunho Jang (banjo), Jongsu Yoon (fiddle), Sunjae Won (guitar), and Keeha Song (bass).

Blending tradition with bold innovation, Country Gongbang brings a vibrant new perspective to bluegrass music.

“South Korea’s Country Gongbang demonstrates that the basics of bluegrass aren’t limited exclusively to the realms of the western world.”
— Bluegrass Today

 The show runs from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at Dollar Bank Stage @ Arts Landing.

KPop Demon Hunters A Sing-Along Event returns to Pittsburgh, from June 15.

The KPop Demon Hunters A Sing-Along Event movie returns to Pittsburgh on June 15, 17, and 18.

We're goin' up, up, up — and now it's YOUR moment! Back by popular demand on Halloween weekend, seal the Honmoon and sing your favorite "KPop Demon Hunters" songs with HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys in this full-length, sing-along version of the Netflix hit film.

It last played in Pittsburgh in August and October 2025. It is scheduled to play, so far, at the Cinemark theater in McCandless and Monroeville, and tickets are available online.

Dozens of "teen time" events at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branches for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has planned lots of "teen time" creativity events for many of its branches for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in May 2026, featuring programs on Japanese book binding, shadow puppets, ceramics, Korean schoolyard games, and paper folding.

Laser K-Pop Demon Hunters at Kamin Science Center's Buhl Planetarium, from May 2.

The Kamin Science Center's Buhl Planetarium will present Laser K-Pop Demon Hunters from May 2 through June 26.

Dazzling lasers, harmonic melodies, and catchy lyrics you can’t help but sing along to. You know we’re going to be golden to protect the fans and seal the Honmoon! Inspired by the hit movie “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”

Opening weekend for the 25-minute show will be Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 pm. It plays weekdays from May 4 through June 26 (except May 13) at 2:00 pm, and weekends during that span at 1:00 pm. Tickets are available online. The Kamin Science Center, formerly known as the Carnegie Science Center, is located at 1 Allegheny Ave. on the North Shore (map).

2023 film Past Lives in Pittsburgh, May 3 and 6.

The 2023 Celine Song film Past Lives will return to Pittsburgh May 3 and 6.

Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life, in this heartrending modern romance.

It plays locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and tickets are available online.

Life as a K-Pop Idol: A Conversation with Seungyeon Chang, April 21 at Carnegie Mellon University.

Carnegie Mellon University's Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics will present "Life as a K-Pop Idol: A Conversation with Seungyeon Chang" on April 21.

Join the Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics for an exciting and candid conversation with Seungyeon Chang, former leader of CLC and now a professional K-pop choreographer.

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to be a K-pop idol?

From trainee days to debut stages, world tours and transitioning into choreography, Seungyeon will share her personal journey in the K-pop industry. Learn about the challenges, rewards, behind-the-scenes realities and what it truly takes to succeed as an idol.

This is your chance to:

• Ask questions about idol life and training
• Hear firsthand stories from the stage and studio
• Gain insight into the K-pop industry from someone who has lived it

Whether you’re a longtime K-pop fan or simply curious about the industry, don’t miss this unique opportunity for an engaging and inspiring conversation.

It runs from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in Hamerschlag Hall B103 (map). There is another lecture with Chang at the University of Pittsburgh on April 22.