Powerful Youth (POW) concert in Pittsburgh, and concerts all throughout North America, cancelled due to visa process and unforeseen complications.

Due to visa and travel complications stemming from Donald Trump's government, promotors have cancelled Powerful Youth's US tour this summer, which included a stop in Pittsburgh on August 20. A post on social media today: 

To all fans and supporters,

We are heartbroken to announce that the upcoming POW tour set to take place this summer 2025 will no longer be moving forward.

Due to unforeseen complications & delays in the visa process, the POW tour must be canceled. We are very disappointed and will work hard to reschedule once the issue has been resolved. 

Countless hours of planning and excitement have gone into making this tour a reality. We know fans across North America were really looking forward to seeing POW perform live for the first time.

We're honored to have helped bring this tour to life, and it's devastating to see it be put on hold. 

Please know the decision to cancel this tour was not taken lightly. Every possible route has been explored with hopes of saving the tour, but ultimately the timing and circumstances made it impossible.

All tickets purchased will be fully refunded.

We remain committed to working with the POW team to bring them to North America in the future once all travel matters are resolved.

We appreciate your understanding, your support, and we look forward to sharing better news in the future.

Togyu Asian Barbecue and Bar in Cranberry eyes late-June soft-opening, early-July grand opening.

Togyu Asian Barbecue and Bar, coming soon to the Cranberry Mall spot formerly occupied by Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing (map), is aiming for a late-June soft opening, with a grand opening tentatively scheduled for the first week of July. 

Numerous all-you-can-eat Korean-style BBQ places were announced for the Pittsburgh area in 2023 and 2024, and after a series of delays, several have started to open this month, including Top Pot Hotpot in Southside Works and Shabu Shabu Hotpot & Grill in Robinson.

Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ eyes Monday, June 9, opening.

Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ is aiming to open on Monday, June 9, in the Southside Works. Top Pot is a chain with nine locations currently open---three in Pennsylvania, two in Ohio, and one each in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and Utah---and four under development, including this Pittsburgh spot first announced in December 2023.

Top Pot & K BBQ is an AYCE restaurant franchise that offers a unique and satisfying dining experience with a combination of hot pot and Korean BBQ. The menu features a wide range of ingredients, spices, and sauces to cater to different tastes, with options for meat, seafood, vegetables, and more. Customers can enjoy cooking their food at the table with a simmering pot of soup stock or grilling meat on the table with personalized dipping sauces. The restaurant also offers a well-rounded meal with a lot of delicious small side dishes, which provide a diverse array of flavors and textures. These side dishes, along with the option of both hot pot and Korean BBQ, make for a unique and satisfying dining experience.

In addition to the delicious food, Top Pot BBQ is committed to providing quality service at affordable prices. This means that customers can expect to receive not just a great meal, but also attentive service and a welcoming atmosphere. And with the restaurant's focus on using fresh ingredients, customers can be assured that they are eating high-quality food that is both delicious and nourishing.

For those looking for a unique and satisfying dining experience, Top Pot BBQ is the perfect choice. With its combination of hot pot and Korean BBQ, and commitment to quality, service, and affordability, it's sure to leave a lasting impression on all who visit and we have something for everyone regardless of your preferences.

The Monday opening will follow private tasting events this weekend. It is located at 2829 East Carson St. (map), and will be one of three new-ish Asian chains, along with Kura Sushi and Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, helping to make Southside Works a dining destination for lovers of Asian food.

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from June 14.

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 14 through August 16, after finishing its most recent session on May 17.

j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, May 31 and June 1.

The concert film j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on May 31 and June 1.

Following its February kickoff in Seoul and spanning across North America and Asia, j-hope’s first solo world tour has captivated audiences with 31 concerts in 15 regions. Now, the grand finale of ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ will be broadcast live in cinemas worldwide! Witness the powerful moment of j-hope sharing his hopes, wishes, and dreams with audiences through his debut solo tour. Don’t miss this long-awaited opportunity to see ‘j-hope on stage’! Experience his electrifying performances, including title tracks from his solo albums - MORE,’ ‘Arson,’ and ‘NEURON (with Gaeko, yoonmirae)’ - as well as recent releases unveiled during the tour like ‘Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)’ and ‘MONA LISA’! Broadcast live exclusively in cinemas worldwide - experience j-hope’s inspiring solo performances on the big screen.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theater in Robinson and tickets are available online.

Korean boy band POW in Pittsburgh area, August 20.

The Korean boy band POW (파우) is scheduled to perform in the Pittsburgh area on August 20. Tickets for the show at The Oaks Theater in Oakmont will go on sale May 30.

Pittsburgh! K-pop boy group POW are coming on their debut tour 2025 POW TOUR: POWERFUL YOUTH IN NORTH AMERICA! See them live this summer at The Oaks Theater! 

POW (파우) is a 5 member boy group consisting of Jungbin, Yorch, Hyunbin, Dongyeon, and Hong.

Tickets for 2025 POW TOUR: POWERFUL YOUTH IN NORTH AMERICA will go on sale Friday May 30 at 10:00AM CST.

General Admission: $50 - This is a first come first serve ticket to see POW on their debut tour.



"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from June 14.

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 14 through August 16, after finishing its most recent session on May 17.

Kpot now coming to Pittsburgh . . . never.

The "coming soon" sign has come down from the former Eat n' Park in Squirrel Hill, where the highly-anticipated Kpot was supposed to open a while ago. It has been replaced by a For Lease sign. I actually had a post set to publish on May 28 to mark the second anniversary of "coming soon" signage with absolutely no updates or movement, so I've needed to modify that now.

While driving to work on May 28, 2023 I passed by workers putting up a "Kpot Coming Soon" sign on the old Eat n' Park in Squirrel Hill. (You may have seen the photo when other local news sites lifted it without attribution.) Over the last two years, however, almost no activity has taken place in the large Murray Avenue restaurant space, which led most people to doubt whether Kpot would ever open at all.

The "Pittsburg" location was long listed as "coming soon" on the website as well, but all my inquiries to Kpot always received the same response:

At this time we do not have a definitive date as to when this location will be open. All new location openings will be announced on our FB and IG, stay tuned!

In 2023 and 2024, a number of all-you-can-eat Hot Pot and Korean BBQ places were announced with great fanfare: besides Kpot there was Hong Hot Pot & BBQ on McKnight Road, Korean BBQ in Oakland, Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ on the South Side, Running Dish at the Waterfront, and Shabu Shabu Hot Pot and Grill in McCandless and Robinson, plus a couple others announced this year. Hong Hot Pot & BBQ is the only one to open so far, while the others remain in various stages of (in)completion, months and sometimes years after initial target opening dates. To editorialize for a moment, I have to wonder if the growing costs of construction and ingredients---which will only continue to climb under Trump---paired with adminsitrative delays have made owners second guess the feasibility of these restaurant concepts. While Korean BBQ is of course popular throughout the US, one of the appeals to these places in Korea is how cheap and ubiquitous they are; families may bristle at spending $150-$200 for a night out, particularly as we enter an economic recession or depression.

j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING in Pittsburgh, May 31.

The concert film j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING will play in Pittsburgh on May 31.

Following its February kickoff in Seoul and spanning across North America and Asia, j-hope’s first solo world tour has captivated audiences with 31 concerts in 15 regions. Now, the grand finale of ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ will be broadcast live in cinemas worldwide! Witness the powerful moment of j-hope sharing his hopes, wishes, and dreams with audiences through his debut solo tour. Don’t miss this long-awaited opportunity to see ‘j-hope on stage’! Experience his electrifying performances, including title tracks from his solo albums - MORE,’ ‘Arson,’ and ‘NEURON (with Gaeko, yoonmirae)’ - as well as recent releases unveiled during the tour like ‘Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)’ and ‘MONA LISA’! Broadcast live exclusively in cinemas worldwide - experience j-hope’s inspiring solo performances on the big screen.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, with more theaters likely to be announced later; tickets are not yet available.

Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival, May 11 at Heinz History Center.

The third annual Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival will take place on May 11 at the Heinz History Center. The three-hour festival will feature food from numerous restaurants plus cultural performances and other attractions. 

Experience Asian culture and flavors at the Taste of Asia program.

Join the History Center on a cultural and culinary journey to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Taste of Asia.

Presented in partnership with the Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh, the program will highlight Asian American contributions of the past and present in Pittsburgh.

Indulge in delicious bites from an assortment of local Asian restaurants, explore the history of Pittsburgh’s Asian American community with the Detre Library & Archives, and watch live performances to learn about cultural celebrations.

Engage with local chefs and expand your palette by sampling food from participating restaurants, including:

• Chengdu Gourmet 2
• Sushi Fuku
• Senyai Thai Kitchen
• 1:11 Juice Bar
• Bombay to Burgh
• Charm Thai Pittsburgh
• Grapow
• Hungry Panda
• Kung Fu Chicken
• Mango Mango
• Modern Filipino Cuisine
• Nan Xiang Dumpling
• Nepali Community of Greater Pittsburgh
• Sumi’s Cakery
• Sushi Too
• WeiLai Dim Sum
• Yotea Yoka Kitchen

Restaurant vendors will also have takeaway food available to purchase.

Don’t miss the chance to discover and celebrate the incredible diversity of Asian food culture in Pittsburgh!

The event runs from 12:00 to 3:00 pm, and the Heinz History Center is located at 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District (map).

Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ prepares to open soon in South Side.

Top Pot Hotpot & Korean BBQ is preparing to open soon in the Southside Works, according to management. Top Pot is a chain with nine locations currently open---three in Pennsylvania, two in Ohio, and one each in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and Utah---and four under development, including this Pittsburgh spot first announced in December 2023.

Top Pot & K BBQ is an AYCE restaurant franchise that offers a unique and satisfying dining experience with a combination of hot pot and Korean BBQ. The menu features a wide range of ingredients, spices, and sauces to cater to different tastes, with options for meat, seafood, vegetables, and more. Customers can enjoy cooking their food at the table with a simmering pot of soup stock or grilling meat on the table with personalized dipping sauces. The restaurant also offers a well-rounded meal with a lot of delicious small side dishes, which provide a diverse array of flavors and textures. These side dishes, along with the option of both hot pot and Korean BBQ, make for a unique and satisfying dining experience.

In addition to the delicious food, Top Pot BBQ is committed to providing quality service at affordable prices. This means that customers can expect to receive not just a great meal, but also attentive service and a welcoming atmosphere. And with the restaurant's focus on using fresh ingredients, customers can be assured that they are eating high-quality food that is both delicious and nourishing.

For those looking for a unique and satisfying dining experience, Top Pot BBQ is the perfect choice. With its combination of hot pot and Korean BBQ, and commitment to quality, service, and affordability, it's sure to leave a lasting impression on all who visit and we have something for everyone regardless of your preferences.

It will open at 2829 East Carson St. (map), and will be one of three new-ish Asian chains, along with Kura Sushi and Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, helping to make Southside Works a dining destination for lovers of Asian food.

Concert film ATEEZ WORLD TOUR [TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER] IN CINEMAS in Pittsburgh, from May 14.

The concert film ATEEZ WORLD TOUR [TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER] IN CINEMAS will play in Pittsburgh from May 14 through 18.

Kicking off in Seoul in January 2024, ATEEZ’s monumental world tour, TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER, ignited Japan, North America, Europe, and beyond with unstoppable energy. Now, its breathtaking opening chapter returns, reborn on the big screen. From powerful performances of signature hits like "WONDERLAND (Symphony No.9 “From The Wonderland”)”, "Crazy Form", "Say My Name", and "Guerrilla" to mesmerizing unit and solo stages showcasing each member’s unique color, ATEEZ’s overwhelming energy takes over SCREENX, 4DX, and ULTRA 4DX where available. The voyage towards the light sets sail once again! ATEEZ WORLD TOUR [TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER] IN CINEMAS

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Togyu Asian Barbecue and Bar in Cranberry eyes June opening.

Togyu Asian Barbecue and Bar, coming soon to the Cranberry Mall spot formerly occupied by Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing (map), is aiming for a June opening. Ownership has recently opened an online survey to help inform the Togyu loyalty program.

Togyu is Pittsburgh’s newest destination for premium Korean and Japanese barbecue.

We’re opening this June, and as we prepare to launch, we’re building a loyalty program inspired by the spirit of community, ritual, and discovery — and we want your input.  

Share your thoughts below to help us create rewards, challenges, and experiences that you’ll actually be excited about.

Your feedback will directly influence the Togyu Scroll and the Togyu Warrior journey🔥(Only takes 5 minutes!)

Bonus: One lucky respondent will win a free appetizer and early access invite during our opening month!

The Pittsburgh apartment in Korea.

When I started laying the foundation for this site around 2009 I was living and writing in South Korea, and taking note of the growing intersections of Pittsburgh and Korea: Hines Ward, Hwang Woo-suk, a Pittsburgher-owned bar in Incheon, and the Seoul church built to resemble PPG place, among other things. There were also a handful of random "Pittsburgh"s there, too: a bar called Pittsburgh in Siheung, a pizza place called Pittsburgh in Ansan, a Cafeteria Pittsburgh in Seoul, a hamburger placed called 피츠버거 (which is how Pittsburger [sic] would be hangeulized), and a Pittsburgh Hall at a university.

While following up on some of these this week I came across the latest Koreayinzer artifact: a Pittsburgh house in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The apartment in Chilgok-gun is a four-story, 15-unit apartment building ; three floors of five units each sit atop a ground floor parking garage. The exterior has black and yellow trim, with "Pittsburgh" in along the side, and a Pittsburgh Pirates P marks.

The photos in this post were taken from Kakao Map's Road View around the apartment's address, 경북 칠곡군 석적읍 남중리2길 17.


The black and yellow theme was applied sometime after the next-to-last Road View look in August 2020:

2016 Korean film The Handmaiden (아가씨) in Pittsburgh, from April 11.

The 2016 Korean film The Handmaiden (아가씨) will play at the Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville from April 11 through April 17, part of its Erotic Thrillers series.

Park Chan-wook’s visually stunning and suspenseful South Korean psychological thriller that weaves a tale of deception, betrayal, and forbidden love. In 1930s Korea, a swindler and a young woman pose as a Japanese count and a handmaiden to seduce a Japanese heiress and steal her fortune.

Tickets and showtimes are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

Korean film Fanatic (성덕) and Zoom Q&A with director, April 9 at Carnegie Mellon.

The Carnegie Mellon University Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics will host a screening of the 2021 Korean film Fanatic (성덕) followed by a Zoom Q&A session with director Oh Seyeon on April 9.

Organized as part of LCAL's 82-253 Korean Society through Film and Literature course, this event offers a unique opportunity for the CMU community and beyond to experience this acclaimed documentary with English subtitles.

Don't miss out on Korean snacks and insights into a film celebrated at prestigious festivals like Busan International Film Festival and Udine Far East Festival, not yet available in U.S. theaters or on English-language streaming platforms!

A synopsis from the Far East Film Festival:

In Oh Se-yeo’'s Fanatic, the filmmaker follows former fans of Korean stars accused of crimes who are “suffering more because they loved them.” A former fan herself, Oh started the project out of spite, which eventually became therapeutic, revealing conversations with friends and other friends that are ultimately heartfelt, contemplative and, at times, hilarious.

The event runs from 6:30 t0 9:00 pm in Posner Hall Room 153 (map) and is open to the public.

Concert film SEVENTEEN [RIGHT HERE] WORLD TOUR IN CINEMAS in Pittsburgh, April 2 and 5.

The upcoming concert film SEVENTEEN [RIGHT HERE] WORLD TOUR IN CINEMAS will play in Pittsburgh on April 2 and 5.

SEVENTEEN RIGHT HERE! Experience the unforgettable moments of SEVENTEEN [RIGHT HERE] WORLD TOUR on the big screen, starting with the electrifying kickoff concert in Goyang! From the special concert version of "Fear" to exclusive live performances of "LOVE, MONEY, FAME (feat. DJ Khaled)" and "Ash", the full setlist—available only at the concert—will be screened in its entirety! Get ready to be immersed in the dynamic charm of SEVENTEEN’s three iconic units—Hip-hop Unit, Performance Unit, and Vocal Unit—as well as a thrilling relay of their biggest title tracks, showcasing SEVENTEEN’s A to Z! A legendary moment, created by SEVENTEEN, for SEVENTEEN, and with SEVENTEEN, comes to life once again!

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival, May 11 at Heinz History Center.

The third annual Taste of Asia Asian Food Festival will take place on May 11 at the Heinz History Center. The three-hour festival will feature food from 15 restaurants plus cultural performances and other attractions. The restaurant and vendor line-up includes, so far: Bombay & Burgh, Chengdu Gourmet, Hungry Panda, HK Dim Sum, Kung Fu Chicken 2, Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, Pho Van, Szechuan Spice House, Sushi Fuku, Tous les Jours, Yujian Bao, and 1:11 Juice Bar, with a few others set to be announced soon.

The event runs from 12:00 to 3:00 pm, and the Heinz History Center is located at 1212 Smallman St. in the Strip District (map).

Concert film ZEROBASEONE The First Tour: Timeless World in Pittsburgh, from March 28.

The concert film ZEROBASEONE The First Tour: Timeless World will play in Pittsburgh March 28, 29, and 30.

ZEROBASEONE's first world tour concert movie is coming to cinemas worldwide! Achieving significant milestones in their first year of debut and captivating 140,000 fans across 8 cities on their first world tour, ZEROBASEONE’s journey with ZEROSE takes center stage on the big screen. From iconic songs such as "In Bloom", "Feel the POP", and "GOOD SO BAD" to “Say My Name” and “Here I Am” from the show Boys Planet, behind-the-scenes footage that can only be found in the movie, to intimate interviews brimming with heartfelt feelings for ZEROSE. ZEROBASEONE’s groundbreaking performance is coming to the big screen. The time ZEROBASEONE spent with ZEROSE that will forever be remembered as the best day ZEROBASEONE THE FIRST TOUR [TIMELESS WORLD] IN CINEMAS.

It it scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

"Visiting Artist Lecture Series: Joan Kee," April 15 at CMU School of Art.

The Carnegie Mellon University School of Art will host Joan Kee on April 15, parts of its Visiting Artist Lecture Series.

Joan Kee is Judy and Michael Steinhardt Director of the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. A specialist in modern and contemporary art, her books include Contemporary Korean Art: Tansaekhwa and the Urgency of Method (2013), Models of Integrity: Art and Law in Post-Sixties America (2019), and The Geometries of Afro Asia: Art beyond Solidarity (2023) which was awarded the 2024 Robert Motherwell Book Award for a publication in the history and criticism of modernism in the arts. A contributing editor to Artforum and an editor-at-large for the Brooklyn Rail, Kee’s work has appeared in numerous venues including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, LACMA, and the Guggenheim Museum.

The talk runs from 5:30 to 7:00 pm in Kresge Theatre (map).