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

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

Today is August 25th, 2026, and we've got some incredible stories to share with you.

Let's dive right in.

The Korean Music Copyright Association has reversed its controversial AI music registration policy following government intervention. The organization announced it will withdraw regulations that would have restricted AI-generated music from copyright registration, responding to calls from the National Assembly and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for broader public discussion. The association emphasized this doesn't mean they'll allow 100% AI-generated content without human creative input, and they'll continue monitoring and preventing fraudulent registrations. The decision came after the association initially introduced guidelines requiring substantial human involvement in the creative process for AI-assisted music to qualify for copyright protection, sparking debate about how to handle AI in the music industry.

With original member Mark's Departure and members Doo Young and Jung Woo currently serving in the military, the group chose to double down on their signature experimental sound rather than pursue mainstream appeal. The title track, Blingy, features distorted synths, heavy drum beats, and dubstep elements that showcase the group's most distinctive colour, with member Hei Chan calling this configuration a limited edition that fans should treasure. Industry observers note the group is treating their reduced lineup not as a weakness, but as an opportunity to prove their musical identity can shine through any formation, with the album emphasizing their 10-year foundation rather than compromising their artistic direction.

A lyrical controversy surrounding rookie group chordis has sparked important questions about hip-hop conventions in K-pop contexts. Member Gun Ho's lyrics in the unreleased track Money Money Money referenced singer-songwriter Han Roro's song Zero Plus Zero in a money-making context, which some fans interpreted as disrespectful since the original song dealt with youth struggling with existence and finding meaning through connection. The situation was resolved when both Gun Ho and Han Roro posted messages clarifying mutual respect, with Gun Ho explaining he's a genuine fan of Han Roro's lyricism and Han Roro accepting the reference as artists communicating through music. However, the incident highlighted the challenge of translating underground hip-hop's name-dropping culture to K-pop's mainstream audience, where most listeners don't share those interpretive frameworks, and the group's young creator crew identity means their lyrical choices are read as direct team statements.

The music video features Retro 2000s, flash animation style, with characters violently chopping vegetables. And the restriction appears to be a witty self-imposed decision, referencing both the brutal vegetable cutting scenes and potential negative influence on children's eating habits. Soyon, known industry-wide as someone who genuinely dislikes vegetables to the point of eating kimchi pancakes without kimchi, has channeled her authentic food preferences into lyrics like I hate vegetables, but dumplings are delicious, and Yang Bai Chu is a name even Joe Seho doesn't use anymore, referencing the disgraced comedian's old stage name. The track is part of her first full solo album, dropping in early September, about five years and two months since her last solo release.

Such a powerful track showcasing the group's authentic creative vision and collaborative songwriting style. Now back to more news. Tang.

Director Lee Chang Dong's Netflix film, Possible Love, has been selected as South Korea's official submission for the 99th Academy Awards International Feature Film category. The film received high praise from the 15-member selection committee for its craftsmanship, clear directorial message, excellent mise enseine, and Lee's signature deep humanism in portraying layered characters and relationships. Starring John Doyun, Sul Kyung-gu, Joe Insung, and Joe Yo-Jung, the film has already been invited to compete at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and will screen at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival's special presentation section. The movie will have a theatrical release on September 23rd, before streaming on Netflix from November 6th, with the Academy's preliminary candidate announcement expected at year's end.

Li Cheng Dong revealed the eight-year journey behind Possible Love at the film's production briefing, explaining he originally wrote a screenplay about mass layoffs at a major corporation over ten years ago, but couldn't finish it because he'd lacked conviction about why he needed to make it. Regarding his decision to work with Netflix during a challenging period for Korean cinema, Li acknowledged the industry's structural changes are unstoppable and that theatrical releases and streaming services must coexist, though he noted Netflix honored their promise of a two-week theatrical run before the streaming release.

Netflix has confirmed that the series Scandal, starring Son Ye-jin and Ji Chiang Wuok, will premiere on September 18th with newly released teaser materials building anticipation. Based on the French novel Dangerous Liaison, which was previously adapted into a Korean film in 2003, the series relocates the story to the Joseon era, with director Zhuung Ji Wu offering a modern reinterpretation of the original narrative. The teaser poster presents the three main characters in traditional Korean painting style. With Sun Yi-jin as Lady Joe sitting in a courtyard of blooming red flowers, Ji Chang Wuk as Jo Won surrounded by admiring women befitting his reputation as Joseon's romantic, and Nana as He Yoon looking forlorn among plum blossoms, hinting at her unwitting role as the object of their dangerous wager. The preview footage shows Lady Joe proposing the bet and Jo Won accepting with desire-filled eyes, while He Yun's fearful expressions suggest the high stakes of their game against Joseon's strict social codes.

Blackpink's Jisoo is making her solo comeback on September 4th with the new single Click, announced through mysterious teaser content on her agency, Bly Su's social media. The teaser poster features hot symbols and the song title with minimal information, while the countdown page reveals an eerie amusement park setting with time taking toward 1 p.m. on September 4th. A teaser video shows an amusement park ticket followed by unsettling character dolls, suggesting a dark mood that marks a departure from her previous work. This will be Jesus' first solo release in about one year and seven months since her second solo album, Amotage, which achieved number one on iTunes, top albums charts in 45 countries and regions worldwide, with the title track Earthquake, topping Billboard's World Digital Song Sales Chart and its music video surpassing 100 million views on YouTube. Until then, stay tuned to All Things Korean Entertainment, and we'll catch you tomorrow.