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Today is August 5th, 2026, and we've got some incredible stories to share with you. Let's dive right in. K-pop group, Kiki, is making waves in the United States, with member Kia set to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles Angels game on August 10th at Angels Stadium in Anaheim. The appearance coincides with the release of their third mini album, Why Ki E Ki Ki E, and follows their performance at the Head in the Clouds Festival in Los Angeles on August 8th. Kiki has been riding high since their January comeback with Delulu Pack and title track 404 New Era, which topped domestic music charts and earned them three music show wins. The group has also made impressive international strides, charting on Billboard's global chart for four consecutive weeks and landing on Japan's Billboard Hot albums, Artist 100 and Hit Seeker Songs charts.

NCT Wish member Jehee brought Hometown Pride to the baseball diamond when he threw the ceremonial first pitch at Samsung Lions Park in Daigu on August 4th. The Daigu native delighted fans with a stable pitch during the game between the Samsung Lions and Hanwai Eagles, and even took time to tidy up the mound himself after his throw. Jehee shared his excitement about the opportunity, noting that he has many memories at the stadium with family and friends, and expressed hope that he could become a victory fairy for the team next time.

He becomes only the third Korean to throw a first pitch at the Iconic Stadium, following BTS member V and soccer star Sun Hyung Min last year.

Kiss of Life is proving their summer queen status once again with their third single Hewet, which climbed to number nine on Mellon's Hot 100 chart for songs released within 30 days. The electrifying comeback showcases an Afro house sound, blending electronic pop with Latin rhythms, delivering a message about not needing to prove one's efforts and anxieties to two others. The members took an active role in the album's creation, with Bell leading song selection alongside the group as they listened to hundreds of tracks to find the perfect fit. The group emphasized that while Sticky brought daytime beach vibes, sweat captures the feeling of dancing by the ocean at night, representing a more mature evolution of their sound, with what they describe as the most challenging choreography they've tackled yet.

Our featured song today is Sweat by Kiss of Life, the girl group's third single that's heating up the summer charts. This electrifying Afro House track blends electronic pop with Latin rhythms, creating a controlled yet powerfully energetic summer anthem. Let's take a listen.

Actor Yu Yoon Siok's legal battle over a 30 billion one tax assessment has hit a setback after the tax tribunal rejected his appeal. The dispute centers on his entertainment company, Forever Entertainment, which tax authorities determined did not substantially perform entertainment activity support services, leading to the initial 60 billion one tax bill that was later reduced to around 30 billion one. Yu Yun SIOK has already paid the reduced amount and now faces a decision about whether to pursue administrative litigation, with 90 days from receiving the decision notice to file a lawsuit in administrative court. His agency emphasized that the issue stems from differences in tax law interpretation and application, and stated that Yu has always faithfully fulfilled his tax obligations and will continue to respond responsibly through proper legal procedures.

Singer Lee High's World Tour has been completely cancelled just days before the scheduled start, with the first show in Singapore set for August 8th. Her agency 808. Explaining they had extended payment deadlines multiple times and requested fulfillment of contractual obligations before the organizer ultimately notified them of the tour's cancellation. Lee Hai and her team apologized sincerely to fans who had been waiting for the tour and stated they plan to proceed with necessary legal action regarding the matter.

Actor Zheng Hai In returns to romantic comedy with Netflix series This Damn Love, where he plays boxing gym coach Jiang Tai Ha, who becomes entangled with an amnesiac prosecutor. At the production presentation held on August 5th in Seoul, Jung described his character as the epitome of a pure-hearted romantic, who does his best to protect the person he loves. The series, directed by Kim Jiang Han and written by Moji Hai, follows the sticky sweet cohabitation between a prosecutor suffering from memory loss and a boxing coach who insists he's her boyfriend. Zheng praised co-star Ha Young's bright and positive energy on set, while Ha Young returned the compliment by saying his immersive acting made her worries disappear during difficult scenes. The 12-episode series premieres on August 7th, promising a blend of romance, noir elements, and the heartwarming dynamics of the Yacht Village family.

Actor Kim Wubin is heading back to television in TVN's new sports growth drama, Gift, where he'll play Jong Min Yang, a former professional baseball pitching coach who gains a special ability after an accident. Based on a web tune by author Jong Iri Iri, the series follows Jung Min Yong as he becomes the coach of a last place high school baseball team and uses his newfound power to recognize people's baseball talents at a glance. The production team expressed confidence that Kim Wubin will portray the character's growth and transformation with compelling presence, depicting the journey of someone who struggles between talent and effort while growing alongside his players. The drama is scheduled to air in the second half of 2026, marking Kim's return to the small screen with a story about redemption and mentorship.

Girl Group Tours is proving their growing popularity in Japan with their second Japanese single, Soda Soda, debuting at number one on the Oricon Daily Singles ranking, with 161,253 copies sold on its first day. The impressive first day sales already surpassed the first week's sales of their Japanese debut single, Hajime Sheet, which sold approximately 150,000 copies last year. The title track also entered Line Music's real-time Song Top 100 and reached number 12 on the K-pop Top 100 chart. Toursists will maintain their focus on Japanese promotions, with appearances on Fuji TV's music programme, Star, on August 6th, the Z100 Summer Bash on August 7th, and performances at Japan's largest music festival, SummerSonic 2026, on August 14th and 16th.

That wraps up today's episode of K Buzz.

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