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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 May 21, 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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The NBC drama 50% held its production press conference, showcasing what promises to be a well-crafted black comedy featuring powerhouse performances from veteran actors Shin Ha kyon, O Jung-si, and Heo Sung Tai. The series follows three middle-aged men, a former National Intelligence Service agent, a North Korean operative, and a gangster, who team up for a human rebooting project after life has worn them down. Director Han Donghua revealed that these three actors were specifically chosen during the planning stage, with the casting falling into place immediately due to their perfect fit for the gritty comedy genre. The drama premieres on May 22nd at 9.50 p.m., with the production team expressing confidence in achieving double-digit viewership ratings thanks to the exceptional acting chemistry and unique blend of action, comedy, and human drama.

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The controversial drama, 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife, is facing scrutiny after it was revealed that the production received nearly $2 billion, one in government funding from the Korea Creative Content Agency, a subsidiary organization under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The May 15th broadcast episode sparked outrage by depicting the Korean Empire as a vassal state of China, with the protagonist wearing a nine-tier crown used by tributary states instead of the twelve-tier crown worn by independent emperors, while court officials shouted Cheonze instead of manz, terminology associated with subordinate nations. Critics, including Professor Su Kyungduk, have warned that neighboring countries could exploit the drama as a tool for historical distortion, particularly in relation to China's Northeast project claims. The Korea Creative Content Agency has announced plans to mandate the submission of historical consultation and verification plans from the application stage and strengthen implementation inspections to prevent similar controversies in the future.

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Virtual Idol Group Skins announced the recruitment of their first official fan club Q Kindi through the fandom platform Vstage, marking a significant milestone as they recently celebrated their first debut anniversary. The group, which debuted in April of last year with their first digital single, Young and Loud, has shown impressive growth by charting on both the US Billboard Pop Airplay chart and MediaBase Top 40 pop radio chart. With their first mini album, Skins is Skins released this past March. Their agency stated that the official fan club launch will serve as a catalyst for more active global fan communication, with members planning to begin a new project in June. Skins continues to demonstrate the expanding potential of virtual idol groups in the K-pop industry.

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Alpha Drive One's agency, Wake. One Entertainment has taken decisive legal action against malicious commenters, filing formal complaints in April and May after months of monitoring online communities and social media platforms. Wakewan emphasized that this legal response aims to correct distorted information and protect their artists from malicious slander and rights violations, while also preventing confusion and harm to fans caused by false information. The group is preparing for their comeback on May 26th with the prologue single No School Tomorrow, featuring the title track OMG.

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Our featured song today is Bumper by Bibi, the unstoppable multitainer who's taking over May with her fierce new single. Known for her natural, unfiltered charisma and infectious energy, Bibi delivers a track with a playful point choreography that's impossible to resist. Here's a preview.

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Starship Entertainment's new boy group IDID is heating up comeback anticipation with their film style special content, a film by ID, showcasing a striking contrast to their previous bright concepts. The special video shot by the members themselves in camcorder format captures the seven-member group on a building rooftop at night, displaying their natural chemistry through playful moments and spontaneous dance battles against a backdrop of rough film texture and dark tones. The group will release their single album, Fly, on May 27th at 6 p.m., featuring the title track Fly, and the B-side Attent On, promising to deliver both refreshing and powerful charms. Following the release of various promotional content, including trailer films, track lists, comeback photos, and concept photos, iDid is building excitement for their musical and visual transformation. Sonyo and his own girl group.

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Miao unveiled an intriguing title poster for their second EP, Bite Now, set for release on June 1st at 6 p.m. The 10-second video features Bach's classical piece, Takata, and Fugue in D minor, playing over sheet music that gradually becomes distorted before a sharp cat claw tears through the paper, reinforcing the group's feline identity. This marks Meow's comeback approximately one year after their debut with the first EP My Eyes Open Wide in May of last year, during which they captivated K-pop fans with their distinctive dual charm of sharpness and softness, flawless stage performances, and striking styling. The agency expressed anticipation that Miao will showcase a fresh transformation through this new album.

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BTS will attend the American Music Awards for the first time in approximately five years, with the award ceremony confirming their appearance at the 2026 AMA on May 20th. The group is nominated for the prestigious Artists of the Year Award alongside pop stars Bad Bunny, Bruno Maas, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga. And they're also competing in the Best Male K-pop artist category and Song of the Summer with their fifth full-length album title, track Swim. BTS has an impressive history at the AMAs, having won a total of 12 trophies, including their historic first-ever Artist of the Year win by a Korean Act in 2021, along with multiple wins in categories like Favorite Social Artists, Tour of the Year, and Favorite Pop Duo or Group. The 2026 AMA ceremony will take place on May 26th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

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Courtis has achieved remarkable streaming success on Spotify, surpassing 100 million cumulative streams with their second mini-album, Green Green, just 15 days after release, doubling the speed of their debut album's achievement. The group's monthly Spotify listeners have exceeded 11.85 million, ranking them in the top four among all K-pop boy groups in history, with the number continuing to break their own records daily. The title track Read Red has maintained its position on Spotify's Daily Top Songs Global Chart for 28 consecutive days, and recently claimed the number one spot on Mellon's Daily Chart, making them only the second boy group this year after BTS to top the chart with a newly released song. Additionally, Green Green debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart, cementing Cortis's status as one of fifth generation K-pop's most successful acts.

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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. Don't forget to subscribe to stay updated on all the latest happenings in the K Pop and K-drama world.

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We'll be back tomorrow with more exciting stories and updates, so make sure to tune in for the next episode of K-Buzz.

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Until then, stay tuned to all things Korean Entertainment, and we'll catch you tomorrow.