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Welcome to K-Buzz, your daily source for the latest Korean entertainment news.

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We're your hosts bringing you all the hottest updates from the K-pop and K-drama world.

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Today is March 24th, 2026, and we've got some incredible stories to share with you.

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Let's dive right in.

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Hybe is launching a major talent search in India with large-scale auditions across 10 major cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. The company plans to apply its proven K-pop training methodology to the Indian market, combining Hybe's global production system with local creative expertise to develop the next generation of South Asian stars. With India's population exceeding 1.4 billion and an average age of just 28 years, the country presents enormous potential for entertainment expansion. Major brands including Samsung, Nong Shim, HM, and Snapchat have already partnered with Hybe India for this unprecedented audition project, which aims to establish South Asia as a cultural hub while globalizing K-pop's production standards.

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A new controversy has emerged in the Korean music industry after a government audit revealed that over 60% of songs registered for royalties in 2024 may have been created using artificial intelligence. The audit examined 81 creators who registered more than 200 songs last year, finding that 5,200 out of 8,540 tracks showed signs of AI involvement. However, the Korea Music Copyright Association failed to verify whether these songs included meaningful human creative contribution or to track the percentage of AI involvement. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had previously issued guidelines in 2023 stating that copyright protection only applies when human creative contribution is present, creating an urgent need for clearer standards in the age of generative AI music.

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Hearts to Hearts wrapped up their first North American showcase tour with sold-out performances in New York and Los Angeles, marking a successful launch of their global activities. The SM Entertainment Group performed at Brooklyn Paramount on March 19th and The Wilton in LA on March 22nd, delivering hit tracks like Rood and Focus alongside special cover stages of legendary SM artists, including Girls Generation, FX, and Red Velvet. The members expressed gratitude for the warm reception, noting how meaningful it was to connect with fans up close during their first solo concert in the United States. Following the showcase, the group performed at the Grammy Museum in LA and will continue their international momentum with a fan meeting in Jakarta on March 28th.

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The horror film Salmukji is generating buzz as a terrifying new entry in Korean cinema, delivering 95 minutes of relentless scares without a single break in tension. Director Lee Sangmin's feature debut draws inspiration from the legendary reservoir location featured on NBC's Late Night Ghost Talk. Though the film's story takes a completely different direction, focusing on the ominous meaning of the name itself, which translates to Land of Dead Trees. The cast, including Kim Hei-yoon, Li Jong won, and Jang Da', recalled genuinely frightening experiences during night shoots at the actual reservoir, with staff members reporting eerie sightings and unexplained sensor light activity. The film opens on April 8th, strategically timed just before midterm exams when students traditionally seek stress relief through horror movie experiences.

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Now back to more news.

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Baby Don't Cry is launching a new Tears trilogy concept with their first mini album After Cry, marking a significant evolution from their previous bold girl energy to a more mature and emotional narrative. The five-track album explores the journey of shedding tears, processing pain, and ultimately growing stronger, with title track Bittersweet, featuring bright, upbeat sounds contrasted with bittersweet lyrics about fleeting memories. All four members challenged themselves with emotional crying scenes in the music video, drawing on personal memories of school struggles and friendship conflicts to deliver authentic performances. The group, now nine months into their career, expressed newfound confidence in voicing their opinions and emphasized that while they may seem small offstage, they unleashed powerful energy when performing together as a unit.

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Blackpink's Jenny electrified Hong Kong at ComplexCon with a headline performance that sold out instantly upon ticket release. The March 22nd show at Asia World Expo featured 10 songs including Mantra, Love Hangover, and Extra L, but the highlight came with the world premiere of Jenny's remix of Tame Impala's Dracula from their fifth album, Dead Beat. The rhythmic remix combined with Jenny's signature performance style drew thunderous cheers from the crowd, cementing her reputation as a festival queen. Jenny will continue her festival dominance with upcoming appearances at the Governor's Ball Music Festival, Lollapalooza Chicago, and Mad Cool Festival in Spain throughout 2026.

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Cat's Eyes brought the heat to Brazil with an explosive performance at Lollapalooza Brazil, captivating approximately 100,000 attendees at Interlagos Racetrack on March 23rd. The Hybe Geffen Records group kicked off with debut and immediately sparked massive crowd sing-alongs while adding special dance breaks to Gabriela and Nali to amplify the energy. Member Lara expressed being moved to goosebumps hearing the audience sing along so loudly, calling it an unforgettable experience, while Latin member Daniela addressed fans in Portuguese to emphasize the group's love for their supporters. The group will next take the stage at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on April 11th and 18th.

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BTS reunited with American fans for the first time in four years at a special Spotify event in New York, performing for 1,000 of their most dedicated listeners who streamed their music the most. The Spotify XBTS Swimside showcase on March 24th at South Street Seaport Rooftop featured live performances of new tracks from their fifth album A Ray Ra Hung, including title tracks Swim 2.0 and Normal. RM performed with minimal movement due to an ankle injury, sitting in a chair for swim while carefully navigating the stage for other songs. The members shared heartfelt messages about the song's meaning of swimming forward through emotional waves, with RM forming a heart with both hands and thanking fans for being amazing supporters, while the album has already surpassed four million copies sold just three days after release.

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It's his Yuna is stepping into the solo spotlight with her debut album Ice Cream, describing the experience as both thrilling and nerve-wracking, comparable to her original debut with the group seven years ago. The mini album features four tracks showcasing Yuna's versatile charm, with the bubblegum pop title track encouraging listeners to enjoy sweet moments like melting ice cream, making it perfect for driving or commuting. Yuna actively participated in every detail of the album production, from concept to styling, and managed pre-debut stress by writing daily journal entries that helped her maintain a positive mindset despite fluctuating confidence levels. The album drops at 6 p.m. on March 23rd, with fellow ITSI member Yeji visiting the music video set to provide emotional support that moved Yuna to tears.

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That wraps up today's episode of K-Buzz.

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Thanks for tuning in to get your daily dose of Korean entertainment news. Until then, stay tuned to all things Korean Entertainment, and we'll catch you tomorrow.