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 September 15th, 2026, and we've got some incredible stories to share with you. Let's dive right in. FT Island's Lee Honki is making headlines once again with his dramatically transformed appearance following a 14 kilogram weight loss. The vocalist appeared on KBS2's variety show, The Boss's Ears Are Donkey Ears, to support his junior band N Flying, showcasing a noticeably slimmer face with a more defined jawline and striking blonde hairstyle. Viewers were quick to notice the change, with some even comparing his bold new look to singer Kim Jong-hoon's signature style. Lee Honki originally shed the weight to portray a cross-dressing character in the musical Sugar, demonstrating his dedication to fully embodying the role beyond just losing pounds.

Blackpink's Jenny has made K-pop history on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with her collaboration Dracula alongside Australian artist Tame Impala. The track maintained its number six position this week, marking an impressive 16 consecutive weeks in the chart's top 10. This achievement surpasses BTS's Butter, which previously held the record at 15 weeks, making Jenny the K-pop artist with the longest top 10 streak in Hot 100 history. The song, originally released as a tame, Impala solo track in October of last year, gained massive momentum after Jenny's remix version dropped in February, going viral on short-form video platforms.

The legal battle between EXO subunit Chembayak Chi and their agency INB 100 has reached a significant turning point. The Seoul Central District Court granted an injunction to suspend the exclusive contracts between the three members and the agency, citing unpaid settlement fees and a fundamental breakdown of trust. The court ruled that INB 100 failed to fulfill its contractual obligations and prohibited the agency from interfering with the artists' independent activities or signing contracts with third parties on their behalf. Notably, INB 100's CEO Cha Gawon and his legal team did not appear in court, submitted no defense documents, and failed to appoint legal representation throughout the proceedings.

StrayKids member Felix celebrated his birthday with an extraordinary act of generosity, donating 300 million one to various charitable causes. The donations were distributed across multiple organizations, with 100 million one each going to Samsung Seoul Hospital and Seoul National University Children's Hospital to support pediatric cancer patients and underprivileged children. An additional 50 million one went to Books International for cultural education programs and picture book creation, while another 50 million went to UNICEF Korea to aid disaster victims in Nepal. Felix expressed his hope that the contributions would bring warmth and hope to children's lives, continuing his pattern of consistent charitable giving since his debut.

This mysterious strategy paid off, with some of their masked content garnering millions of views on their official Instagram before they revealed their actual faces on September 13th. The group is managed by Lef Entertainment, with the CEO directly overseeing all aspects of planning and promotion for this unique debut strategy.

Today's featured song comes from Higher Music's brand new compilation album, Pink Tape, and we're spotlighting the double title track Ghost. It's led by Lee Boy's irresistibly catchy hook, layered over crisp, glossy synths that perfectly capture the ache of unrequited love. Let's take a listen to this preview. Now let's dive into more headlines.

Netflix is expanding global access to acclaimed director Lee Chang Dong's filmography following his recent Venice Film Festival success. The streaming platform announced it will offer Lee's masterworks including Secret Sunshine, Peppermint Candy, Greenfish, and Oasis to international audiences, with poetry and burning set to follow later. This move comes after Lee's latest film, Possible Love, won the Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, his first feature in eight years since Burning. The film will receive theatrical releases in multiple countries starting September 23rd in Korea before streaming on Netflix, and has been selected as South Korea's entry for the 99th Academy Awards International Feature Film Category.

Actress Juhung Chai Yoon is taking on her first ever triple role in the upcoming T'Ving series M Reboot, a reimagining of the 1994 drama M that originally starred Shim Unha. Juheng will portray high school ballet prodigy, Marie Genius Surgeon Jenny, and a mysterious personality known as M in this psychological thriller about a ballerina with multiple personalities and the detective pursuing the truth. Actor Jung Gun Ju joins her as Detective Ji Siok, who becomes entangled in the case after encountering a recurring green light that triggers memories from a decade ago. The series is directed by Lim Dai Wong, known for his expertise in horror thriller genres, and is set to premiere on Tiving next year.

Actress Huang Bora received a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare for her outstanding contributions to promoting life-sharing culture in Korea. The award was presented at the 9th Life Sharing Week ceremony on September 14th, recognizing her active work as a life sharing ambassador since 2025. Huang has been dedicated to organ donation advocacy since registering as an organ donation hopeful in 2012, participating in cornea donation campaigns in 2017, and engaging in interviews, photo shoots, bazaars, and regular donations. She expressed that the honor of the award pales in comparison to the profound value of sharing hope for new life with others.

The star-studdied cast of the upcoming film, The Assassins, has been unveiled, featuring some of Korea's most acclaimed actresses. Um Ji-won, Roo Hei Young, Choi Yuri, Shim Unkyung, and Shin Heonbin will appear in director Heo-jin-ho's mystery thriller about the 1974 assassination attempt on the First Lady that was broadcast live nationwide. Um Ji-Y Won plays the warm-hearted wife of Yu Hai-jin's character, while Roo Hei Young portrays a sharp junior reporter who helps uncover hidden truths behind the incident. The film, which explores the courage and solidarity of those who lived through that era, is set to open in theaters on September 23rd.

The group released 40 concept photos and films for the Hayes version, showcasing the members in a gritty outdoor restroom setting that captures the raw energy of a wild night out. The title track Animal embodies their relentless determination to surpass themselves, with the group having already garnered attention through a virtual documentary-style teaser inspired by the song's concept. Additional concept materials for Overdrive and Spark versions will be revealed on September 15th and 16th, with a sneak peek of the new music coming on the 21st.

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

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.

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

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