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 16th, 2026, and we've got some incredible stories to share with you.

Let's dive right in.

Lay Seraphim is about to take over some of America's biggest stages, kicking off their 2026 Pureflow Tour with a huge show at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the very same venue where Taylor Swift once performed. From there, the group will hit nine major cities including Tacoma, San Jose, Phoenix, Fort Worth, Orlando, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Newark, expanding well beyond the cities they visited on last year's North American run. The members shared that they were deeply moved by the energy from their fans, known as Fear Not, during last year's tour, and said they're preparing with even more dedication to repay that love with an unforgettable experience this time around. Adding to their momentum, Les Seraphim will also make history on September 19th by becoming the first K-pop girl group ever to perform at the iHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas. With arena stages once graced by global superstars now on their calendar, Les Seraphim continues to prove just how far their international influence has grown.

Legendary singer Cho Yongpil is heading back to the stage this winter with a brand new concert in Seoul. His agency, YPC, announced that the 2026 Cho Yongpil and Great Birth concert will take place at KSPO Dome in Songpa District from November 27th through the 29th. This special show marks a rare reunion with fans, celebrating the incredible musical legacy Cho Yongpil has built since his debut back in 1968. He'll be joined by his longtime band Great Birth, which he formed in 1979, giving audiences a chance to relive iconic hits like Bounce and Song of the Wind performed live. Tickets for this milestone concert go on sale September 18th at 2 p.m. through the Yes24d ticket, so fans eager to catch this living legend in action should mark their calendars.

Korean director Heo Jin-ho's new film Assassins just made a huge splash at the Toronto International Film Festival, and international critics are already calling it one of the best movies of the year. The historical thriller had its world premiere at Scotiabank Theatre as part of the festival's gala presentation section, and reviews poured in praising its gripping storytelling and stellar cast performances. Screen Daily called it a powerfully driven thriller that completely captivates audiences, while Rotten Tomatoes named it a must-see film at the festival, suggesting it could join the ranks of Korean cinema classics. Independent Outlet The People's Movie went even further, saying the film grabs viewers from the opening scene all the way through the credits and declaring it the best movie of the year so far. The film digs into the mysterious assassination attempt on South Korea's First Lady back on August 15, 1974, and Korean audiences will get to see it for themselves when it hits theaters on the 23rd of this month.

The incident happened back in July when the pair admitted to purchasing the members' private residence information through social media before trespassing onto the property, leading to their case being referred to prosecutors without detention. Beyond this legal battle, the agency confirmed it's ramping up efforts against malicious online posts, continuously monitoring communities, portals, and streaming platforms both at home and abroad to gather evidence with help from fan reports. The crackdown extends to real-world privacy violations too, with the company citing specific cases of people using illegally obtained flight information to board the same planes as members, only to secretly film them or even attempt physical contact while they're resting. Big Hit Music is urging fans to report any violations through their dedicated Artist Protection website, emphasizing that they'll pursue every possible legal action to keep the members safe, both online and off.

The show follows the intense and passionate founding story of the Victory Wonder Dogs, and this time around, Kim Jun Kung returns not as a rookie, but as a seasoned coach with sharper instincts and bigger ambitions. A newly released poster shows her standing front and center among her team, radiating a steely determination that hints at just how much tougher this season will get. The tagline Beyond Wonder captures the show's bold new direction, following the team's journey from underdogs to wonders, and now pushing towards something even greater. Given Kim Yun Kung's legendary career on the world stage, fans can expect every match this season to bring intense high-stakes competition against increasingly formidable opponents.

Actor Park High. Il is making a strong comeback to the big screen after four years, teaming up once again with director Heo Jin-ho for the upcoming film Assassins, and this reunion marks their first project together since their acclaimed collaboration a decade ago. Park plays a determined newspaper editor in 1974 who digs into the truth behind an assassination attempt on the First Lady, and he shared that he wanted to bring a fresh sense of speed and intensity to this role, rather than repeating his signature quiet, restrained acting style. The film features an incredible ensemble cast including Jung Wu-Sung, Yu Hai Jin, Li Min-ho, Park Jungmin, and Shimun kyung, and Park spoke warmly about the powerful sense of unity on set, especially during the emotional press freedom declaration scene, where dozens of background actors matched the intensity of the moment. Looking ahead, Park revealed he is preparing for director Li Yu Junick's next project, Fireflies, which will jump between the years 1950 and 1974, and he says he is ready to pick up the pace and take on projects back to back instead of his usual slower approach. Fans can catch assassins in theaters soon, where this stacked cast promises a thrilling ride through one of Korea's most mysterious historical events.

Morning Coffee's signature emotional vocals really shine here, starting off soft and wistful before building into powerful, soaring high notes that pull listeners deeper into the story. With their history of delivering touching ballads and OST contributions, Morning Coffee continues to prove why they're such a beloved voice in Korea's emotional music scene.

The honor comes from her special connection to the region through her song Come to Tayen, a tribute to local folklore that she wrote alongside her husband, composer Kim in Hyo, marking the first Thai in themed pop song in over 50 years. After enduring nearly three decades in obscurity before breaking through with a trot competition win, Nami A has been busy expanding her career from holding a solo concert in Seoul earlier this year to building a devoted following of over 168,000 subscribers. On her YouTube channel, where she performs beloved classics live. Adding even more buzz, KBS is set to feature Nami A and her husband's story on the documentary program Human Theatre this November, giving fans a closer look at their life together. With the ambassadorship and special concert marking her latest milestone, Nami A's journey from underappreciated artist to beloved hometown voice continues to inspire.

In one striking example, he purchased a BTS concert ticket for just around $110 and resold it for a jaw dropping $3 million, while a Bruno Mars ticket bought for around $250,000 was flipped for $1.2 million, with his illicit earnings totaling roughly $2.4 billion one. He reportedly used the money to purchase an apartment and two commercial properties despite having no steady job at the time. Authorities have since frozen around $1.2 billion in assets, and this case comes just as South Korea's newly revised laws targeting ticket scalping went into effect last month.

Director Park Hoonyung is celebrating another big win, this time on the international stage. His latest film, Melancholy of the Sad Tropics, just took home the top prize, the Nouveau Genre Grand Prize, at the 32nd Etrange Film Festival, in France, one of the country's most respected genre film festivals held annually in Paris. This isn't the movie's first taste of international glory either, having already picked up the Silver Raven Award at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, plus invitations to major festivals in Sitge's and the Fantasy Film Fest. Festival programmers praised the film's explosive, opera-like intensity, comparing its stylish action and gritty melancholy to the golden age of Hong Kong cinema in the 80s and 90s. The film follows a group of assassins raised by a single master as they pursue a bloody path of revenge, and with post-production currently underway, fans can expect even more buzz as its release draws closer.

Actor Chu Yang Woo is trading his charming leading man image for something a little more nerdy, stepping into the role of a socially awkward engineering grad student in ENA's upcoming drama Love Doctor. The new series from acclaimed director An Panseok and writer Min Hyo Jung follows Chu's character Park Minjai, a former swimmer who lost a leg to illness and rebuilt his life through robotics research as he crosses paths with Kim So-hyoon's character, a grad student finding her own new direction after switching majors. Chu shared that he was drawn to the script's quiet, grounded tone, saying he loved how two people who each lost their way find the strength to move forward together rather than relying on big dramatic twists. He also opened up about playing Minjae's emotional complexity, explaining that he thought carefully about how and when the character's buried pain would surface, wanting to portray those inner struggles authentically for viewers. Love Doctor is set to premiere next month on October 5th, airing Monday and Tuesday nights on ENA, with streaming available on KTG TV and Disney Plus.

Today's featured track comes from Infinite with their brand new digital single, Uri Gejol, also known internationally as I Still Remember. The song beautifully captures a message of enduring love. No matter how many seasons change, the heart stays devoted to that one special season together. And it's made even more special since members Sunggyol and Wuyun co-wrote the lyrics themselves. Let's take a listen to a preview.

What we do know is that the couple insists this choice was made with their family in mind, and they're committed to staying on good terms for the sake of their two children. The pair first crossed paths back in 2015 while co-starring in a stage play, got engaged the following year, and tied the knot in 2017, welcoming daughter Nina shortly after and son Thomas Jr. in 2020. Seyfried, who got her start as a child model before breaking into film with Mean Girls, has since built an impressive career with roles in Mamma Mia, Chloe, Les Miserables, and Scoob, and fans are sending support as she navigates this new chapter both personally and professionally.

Reconciled with the Empress, and things are looking deliciously complicated. Sheen Minai, Juji Hoon, Lee Jong Suk, and Lee Si Young headline this tangled love story set against a royal backdrop, with the poster teasing a complex square relationship that has everyone talking. The story kicks off with the seemingly perfect marriage between Empress Navia and Empress Sovishu. But everything changes when a new woman named Rashta enters the picture and cracks start to show. Just when things couldn't get more dramatic, Prince Heinle from a neighbouring kingdom shows up and offers the heartbroken Empress a completely new path forward. Industry insiders are teasing quite a whirlwind once the Emperor's shocking divorce announcement leads the Empress to demand her own remarriage approval. So mark your calendars because this royal roller coaster premieres November 4th.

Rapper Kim Gamjon, a 22-year-old artist signed to Swings' label Indigo Music, has been placed under arrest after allegedly smoking marijuana again while still serving a suspended sentence for a previous drug offense. According to industry reports, a Seoul Court approved the arrest warrant on concerns he might flee or destroy evidence, with police saying he's accused of using liquid cannabis. This isn't his first brush with the law on this front either, since he was originally convicted last December for smoking marijuana in the parking lot back in 2024. A case that saw his sentence reduced on appeal to eight months with two years probation just this past April. Remarkably, this new arrest comes only about a year and five months into that very probation period. The situation adds another layer of drama to what's already been a turbulent year for the rapper, who made headlines back in April for his fiery diss track aimed at fellow artist Big Naughty amid a heated feud connected to swings.

Pyongchang County has just named trot singer Gu Su Gyung as its official honorary ambassador, honouring her rising popularity and warm public image. County Chief Shim Je Guk personally presided over the appointment ceremony, expressing hope that her star power will help boost tourism and showcase the Olympic host city's charms to audiences nationwide. Gu Su Gyeong first caught the public's attention back in 2019 on the K-Trot survival show Golden Mike, and has since built a steady music career with releases like her 2021 mini-album and tracks, and including The Night the Stars Shine and I'll Give You Everything. Most recently, she turned heads on MBN's competition series Real Men, Real Singers Season 3, delivering powerful vocals that earned her fourth place overall and a coveted spot among the show's top seven national representatives. With her growing fanbase and proven stage presence, Pyongyang officials are betting she'll be the perfect voice to elevate the county's brand as it continues its journey toward becoming a truly global destination.

Actor Ku Kyo Huan is trading his usual intense dramas for some pure comic book fun, and fans are already buzzing about it. At a press conference in Seoul, Ku along with co-stars Shin Sung-ho, Kang Ki-yang, and Kim Xiao introduced their upcoming fantasy action flick called The Resurrected Man The Red, hitting theaters on September 30th. The story follows an ordinary job seeker named Suc Huan, who gains superpowers every time he dies and comes back to life, battling a corporate conspiracy while protecting his family. Ku plays the hero known as Red, while Xin Sung ho takes on the villain role called Black. And get this, Shin's all black look with long hair and a deep voice, had reporters in the room literally calling him sexy, leaving the actor blushing all the way to his ears. Director Baik described the film as pure entertainment, with heavy VFX-driven action. And Koo teased that if the movie becomes a franchise, he would love to explore other characters, like the blue persona played by Kim Yoo Jung, so it sounds like this could be the start of a whole colorful superhero universe.

Roy Kim is stepping into the big leagues, and we mean that literally, as the singer-songwriter is set to hold his first ever concert at the massive KSPO Dome this coming November 21st and 22nd in Seoul. This venue is often called the Dream Stage for Artists, and Roy Kim is more than ready to fill it after four straight years of sold-out year-end concerts, including last year's show that sold out completely in just seven minutes. Fan club pre-sales kick off today at 8 in the evening, with general ticket sales opening tomorrow at the same time so fans will want to act fast. Before hitting the stage, Roy Kim will drop a brand new single, titled Cry Out Loud, on October 6th, giving fans a fresh taste of his emotional sound ahead of the big night. And the excitement doesn't stop in Seoul, because right after his KSPO Dome Show, Roy Kim is taking his artistry across Asia, with stops in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Taipei, and Tokyo throughout January and February of next year.

Looks like the honeymoon period for Epic High's brand new leadership didn't last long. Just three days after member Tukask officially took over the leader role from Tableau, for the first time in the group's 23-year history, chaos has already broken out. Tableau took to social media to expose his successor's antics, joking that Tukask sends way too many texts, tells stories nobody asked for, still sleeps in late, and leaves the morning duties to everyone else. It all started when Tukask dropped a bold new rule book after winning the fan vote, demanding lunchboxes from Mitra Jin, wake-up calls from members, and mandatory praise on Tableau's own podcast, prompting Tableau to ask fans if this was really the world they wanted. With Mitra Gin now chiming in, calling the situation hopeless, it's safe to say Epic High's playful power struggle has fans both laughing and wondering if the group's new leader is going to survive his first six months in charge.

Plave leads the pack after their mini album, Caligo Part 2, sent every single track into the top 100, with title song Bon Savage, landing at number one on the hot 100. Rise isn't far behind, scoring their fourth ever million seller with two and topping the global K chart that combines rankings across Korea, China, and Japan. NCT Wish also had a breakout moment with their first full album Ode to Love, pulling in over 1.8 million copies sold in the first week alone, while rookie group Alpha Drive 1 stunned everyone by hitting number one on the Hot 100 with their debut title track and crossing 1 million album sales in just over 14 hours. Rounding out the lineup is Jay Park's newest project, Long Shot, who proved debut groups can still make noise on the charts, and fans can catch all the action when MMA 2026 takes over Soul's Go Chuck Skydome on November 14th and 15th, running as a two night show for the very first time.

Lightsome's Chawan is opening up about the secret behind her viral goddess fan cam moment, and it turns out the credit goes straight to Mom. On a recent episode of the YouTube channel. Hosted by Tuk Jeehoon, Chawan revisited the buzz that followed her fan cam from the Tuxion Han River Park Volunteer Festival, where fans crowned her a total goddess. She shared that her own mother watched the viral clip and immediately said Chawan looked just like her, prompting Tuk Jee Hoon to joke that her mom must be quite the beauty herself. Chaoan laughed as she recalled her mother's exact reaction, quoting her as saying something like, Why did you have to take after me? The idol also gave fans a peek into her dating life, confessing that she once had a crush on someone whose face and body were great, but whose fashion sense left a lot to be desired, joking that it was a tricky situation since she couldn't exactly criticize his outfit choices.

This marks his first release in about six months, following his digital single from this past April, which showcased his growing skills as a singer-songwriter who handled writing, composition, and even guitar work himself. For this new single, Kim Je Huan is stepping into the role of what fans are calling a love storyteller, exploring the many different stages of romance from its very beginning to its bittersweet end, all through his own unique perspective. The track will be available on all major music platforms starting 6 p.m. on release day. And industry sources confirm he already has a solo concert lined up to celebrate the new music. Fans are excited to see this fresh musical direction from the artist, as he continues to evolve since his return from military service.

Cat's eye just hit a major career milestone, and it's proof their global star power keeps climbing. Their song Animal, released back on July 24th, blew past 100 million views on YouTube in just 54 days, making it the fastest music video to reach that mark in the group's history, beating out their previous record holder, Gabriella, which took 98 days. The sleek suspense style video, directed by Cody Criccholo, even features a surprise cameo from Hollywood star Demi Moore, adding extra buzz to the group's already captivating performance. With this achievement, Catsai now boasts seven videos with over 100 million views each, and a few more releases like Gabriela and their Pinky Up choreography version are closing in on that milestone too. As the group continues their debut arena tour, the Wildwood Tour, it's clear Katseye, Hype's ambitious multi-genre girl group, is only just getting started on the global stage.

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

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