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 17th, 2026, and we've got some incredible stories to share with you. Let's dive right in. IT's Hong Jung is giving fans an exciting sneak peek at his upcoming solo project, dropping a music video teaser for his new track called Enough. The 41-second clip shows Hong Jung on a video call screen sharing his thoughts in multiple languages, and listeners even got a taste of the song itself, featuring a sleek melody paired with his smooth vocals and that catchy repeated hook. This latest release continues Hong Jung's impressive run as a producer, following his solo project Bay. This time around, he's teaming up with American singer-songwriter Baji, blending pop and R ⁇ B influences, and his label says fans should watch closely for the musical chemistry between these two distinctive artists. Enough officially drops on September 18th at 1 in the afternoon, so K-pop fans won't have to wait long to hear the full track.

Big news breaking out of South Korea today involving a massive ticket scalping scandal tied to BTS concerts. Police have arrested a man in his 30s who used automated bok programs to snatch up nearly 9,000 tickets over several years, reselling BTS and other top K-pop concert tickets for up to 30 times their original price, pocketing more than 2.4 billion won in the process. President Li Ji Myung didn't stay quiet about it either, taking to social media to praise the crackdown and vow that authorities will track down illegally earned profits from scalping and make sure they're returned. He made it clear that anyone trying to profit unfairly through ticket scalping for idle concerts, international artist tours, or sports events will face serious consequences going forward. This case is shining a spotlight on just how serious ticket scalping has become in the K-pop world, and fans are hoping this sends a strong warning to anyone thinking about exploiting the system for a quick profit.

Here's some exciting news for music lovers celebrating a milestone in Korean music criticism. Popular music criticism websine Ai Ze Albim is marking its 25th anniversary with a special concert next month on October 23rd at NOL Theater Hapjong Donggyang Life Hall. The stacked lineup brings together an impressive mix of generations and genres featuring veteran musician Kim Su Chul, beloved rock band Jaram, guitarist Yu Byeonggyo, and Rising Girl group 5050, alongside bands Peach Truck and Hijackers. Organizers say the show celebrates over 30,000 pieces of content created by more than 100 writers over the past two and a half decades, aiming to bring their online music criticism to life on stage. Renowned music critic and IZM founder Lim Jin Mo will host the event personally, saying he hopes fans can set aside analysis for one night and simply connect through genuine passion and shared excitement for the music.

Legendary singer Li Sung Chul just became a grandfather, and he could not be more excited about it. The veteran rocker took to social media on September 16th to share the happy news that his eldest daughter had given birth to a baby boy, writing that he became a grandfather today and welcoming his grandson to the world for the very first time. He even shared a sweet photo of the newborn, opening his eyes, quoting his own hit song lyrics to express his affection for the little one. Lee, who debuted back in 1986 as the vocalist for the band Boo Hol, and has since delivered countless classics as both a band member and solo artist, has previously gushed on various broadcasts about his son-in-law, joking that he is tall and resembles actor Park Bogum. As he celebrates this joyful family milestone, Lee is also busy marking his 40th debut anniversary with a nationwide tour concert series called The Voice, which kicked off in Chiongju back in July and continues on to cities like Guangzhou, Dejun, and Daegu this November.

Spider-Man Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland, has officially made box office history, breaking the all-time North American box office record. As of September 16th, the film has raked in over $936 million domestically, dethroning Star Wars, The Force Awakens, after 11 long years at the top. In a fun twist, the Star Wars team even sent their congratulations, quoting Darth Vader's iconic line, calling the achievement impressive most impressive. Globally, the film has now crossed $2.4 billion, landing it at number 3 on the all-time worldwide box office chart, just ahead of Avatar the Way of Water, proving once again that Peter Parker's story still has major pull with audiences everywhere.

Court is just hit a major milestone, becoming a quadruple million seller with their mini album Green Green, which has now sold over 4.1 million copies, according to the latest circle chart data. That makes it only the second K-pop album released this year to cross the 4 million mark domestically, right alongside BTS's A Ray Rung. The album debuted with first week sales of over 2.3 million copies, a massive five times jump from their previous release and kept climbing steadily, hitting 3 million by July and adding another million just two months later. Fans have been loving tracks like the title song Red Red, along with Young Creator Crew, Asai, and Blue Lips, while creative merchandise like vinyl records, Lip Balms, Dice, and Courtis branded collectibles kept collectors hooked. The group's global reach is expanding too, with Green Green landing at number three on the Billboard 200, making them the fastest K-pop group outside of Project Units to crack the top three, all while Courtis just wrapped up their debut concert tour finale in Yokohama, Japan.

ACTO! No Jay Wan is stepping into the spotlight with his first leading role in a commercial film, taking on the complex character Park Tae Young in Taza Belzebub's Song, the latest chapter in the beloved gambling franchise. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the series' 20-year legacy, No Jay Wan focused on bringing depth to his character, exploring how admiration for a close friend can twist into jealousy and ultimately betrayal. The actor revealed that an emotional outburst in the film's climactic scene was actually unscripted, an improvised line that came from deeply understanding his character's pain. Working alongside actor Bjun Johan, who plays his onscreen best friend Turned Rival, No Jay Wan described their dynamic as one filled with genuine competitive fire, with Bjun Johan pushing him to bring his absolute best to every scene. Looking ahead, No Jay One will soon take the stage in a solo play called Everything That Shines in My Life, a personal project that lets him step away from his character's dark world and explore life's brighter everyday moments.

Singer Bobby Kim is showing fans a whole new side of himself these days, trading the spotlight for a cafe apron as he adjusts to life as a first-time dad at 53. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bobby Kim revealed he has developed cold sores and even patches of hair loss from the stress of caring for his newborn daughter, Hayami, though he laughed it off while praising his wife for handling things even better than him. Determined to provide for his family, he took on a cafe job earning 11,000 one per hour, working a four-hour shift to earn 44,000 one, which he used to buy diapers and formula for his daughter. Before starting his shift, he made a video call to his baby girl, promising her he would work hard so she could grow up healthy and never go without. The heartwarming video comes after Bobby Kim also opened up about his past struggles, including the 2015 incident on a flight to San Francisco that led to legal trouble, saying he is ready to rise again now that he has a daughter who gives him a reason to keep moving forward.

The agency shared a heartfelt message on social media, thanking both artists for their long journey and expressing full support for whatever comes next. WJSN debuted back in 2016 with a fresh, youthful image and gave fans beloved tracks like Catch Me, Secret, La La Love, Happy, and Butterfly. Yunseo has already been branching out into acting, appearing in projects like Amoeba Girls and School Ghost Stories, Anniversary and Ghost, and is expected to focus more on her acting career moving forward. Siola also penned an emotional note to fans, calling her 15 years with the company a time of growth and learning, thanking the staff and fandom for their unwavering support, and promising to take her next steps with sincerity as she promises to return with an even better version of herself.

Rise just hit another major milestone with their track Love119, officially surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify. This makes it the group's second song to reach that impressive number, following their earlier hit Get a Guitar. Released back in 2024, Love119 quickly became known for its catchy 119 chant and equally addictive choreography, even earning Ryze their very first music show win at the time. The track has since become a beloved anthem for fans worldwide, consistently inspiring massive sing-alongs at concerts and live performances. Looking ahead, Ri's fans have even more to look forward to, as the group is set to drop a brand new single on October 26th.

Legendary actress Nay Moon-Hee is bringing some serious star power to the music video world, teaming up with fellow veteran actress Kim Young OK for Aiyu's brand new track called Dear My Crazy Soulmate. The heartwarming video kicks off with Kim Young Okei, causing a bit of a scene and getting picked up by a police officer played by Aiyu herself, which leads viewers straight into the prison where Namoon He's character works, unraveling this beautiful story between the two. What makes this collaboration extra special is that the song itself was inspired by Ai Yu's real life 60-year friendship with actress Yu Inna, and these two acting legends brought their own genuine 60-year bond to bring that same magic to life on screen. Namoon He actually first connected with Ai Yu last year on the Netflix hit When Life Gives You Tangerines, where she played the grandmother to Ai Yu's character, and she shared how touched she was that Ai Yu, once her on-screened granddaughter, called on her again like a true director this time around. Looking ahead, fans can catch more of Namoon-Hee later this year in the upcoming Netflix series Move Slowly, Strike True, followed by the film Culinary Class Wars hitting theaters sometime next year.

Today's featured song comes from Kiki with her playful track Candy Pink Magic Hole Flip Phone, a standout from her mini album Y Ki. This track blends nostalgic Y2K energy with electronic synths and hyperpop flair, crafted by Gucci Caliente, the same producer behind Ive's massive hit Kitsch. Let's take a listen. Now let's dive into more headlines.

Singer songwriter Anye un is bringing her signature historical drama vibes to a very special stage this week. According to her agency DSP Media, Anye Un will perform a celebratory concert on September 19th at the National Museum of Korea's Open Plaza in Seoul, marking the finals of the 2026 Museum Dress Up Play Nationwide Edition event. Since rising to fame through SBS's K-pop Star V back in 2015, Anye Yayun has built a unique musical identity blending Korean folklore, ghost stories, and historical themes into hits like Sang Sawa, Hong Yon, and Changhui. She's also lent her voice to numerous historical drama soundtracks, and last year she even teamed up with the Korean Folk Village for their Midnight Horror Village Summer Festival. For this upcoming performance, her agency says fans can expect a set list centered around historical style ballads, showcasing her distinctive tone and lyrical emotional depth in a stage that perfectly complements the museum's artifact-inspired costume and performance theme.

Play fans! Mark your calendars because a comeback is officially on the way. The group just revealed they're dropping their fifth mini album, titled Hyper Drive, on October 12th, with a full promotional schedule already rolling out, featuring concept films, visual samplers, and highlight medleys. This marks their first domestic comeback in about six months, following the strong showing of their previous release, Caligo Part 2, back in April. In the meantime, Plave has been busy internationally, releasing a Japanese single called Flame in collaboration with singer-songwriter Milette, and continuing their very first world tour, Keep It Manic, which is taking them across Asia to cities like Kanagawa, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei, and Macau, with a Los Angeles stop also on the calendar for mid-November. Pre-orders for the new album open today, with the digital release landing October 12th, and the physical album following just one day later on the 13th.

Big news out of Busan today as legendary Chinese director Zhang Yi Mu has been named jury president for the 31st Busan International Film Festival's competition section. This is a huge honor, considering Jiang Yi Mu is one of the rare filmmakers to have swept all three major European festivals, taking home top honors at Berlin, Venice, and Cannes. He'll be joined by an impressive international jury including director Bigan from China, actress Samal Yeslyamova from Kazakhstan, director Kei Ishikawa from Japan, and producer Tran Thi Bichung from Vietnam. Korea is well represented too, with director Juhung Ju Ri, known for the film A Girl at My Door, and actress Choi Hiseo also joining the judging panel for what's called the Busan Award, which just launched last year with five categories including Best Picture and Best Director. Mark your calendars because this year's festival runs from October 6th through the 15th around the Busan Cinema Center.

Huasa just made major waves on the global stage, proving once again why she's considered K-pop's top diva. Brazilian Outlet G1 released their ranking of the best performances at Rock in Rio 2026, and Huasa landed at number two, trailing only legendary pop icon Elton John. She made history as the first K-pop female solo artist to ever grace this iconic festival stage, delivering an incredible one-hour set with 13 live songs in front of 80,000 fans at Rio's Olympic Park. Following her showstopping performance, Huasa expressed how deeply she understood the weight and history behind Rock in Rio, sharing that she'd been longing for this moment and was overwhelmed by the love from fans around the world. This international triumph comes on the heels of another huge win for Huasa, as her track Good Goodbye, recently surged back up the charts to achieve a perfect all kill domestically.

Here's an update that's sure to target fans' hot strings. Former ARC member Park Hyunbin, known by his stage name Hyunmin, is opening up about life after his group's disbandment, and honestly, his dedication is inspiring. In a recent interview, the artist revealed he's currently juggling four different part-time jobs, including construction work and a logistics center gig, just to make ends meet while staying grounded. In an incredibly personal moment, he also shared that he recently completed a solo six-day 155 kilometer walking journey from Seoul to Jekyen, describing it as an attempt to empty himself out and start fresh. Despite the tough grind, Hyunmin has found an unexpected creative outlet on YouTube, where his very first videos unexpectedly racked up 700,000 views, and he's now planning to build out that channel further. Through it all, his passion for performing hasn't faded one bit, as he powerfully stated that even while carrying boxes or eating a meal, he feels his true places on stage and he's determined to make his comeback happen.

BTS just added another milestone to their incredible run, with the mic drop music video officially crossing 1.6 billion views on YouTube. This makes it the fourth video from the group to hit that massive number, joining Dynamite, Boy with Love, and DNA in that exclusive club. For those who remember, this remix version featuring Japanese American DJ Steve Ayoki dropped back in November 2017, and it's known for that iconic ending where Sugar drops the mic straight at the camera, delivering the song's message in the most powerful way possible. The track actually made real waves back in the day too, debuting at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying on the chart for 10 weeks straight. As for what's next, the boys are currently in the middle of their Rung World Tour, with their next stop taking them to Bogota, Colombia for shows on October 2nd and 3rd.

Highlight member Young Yoseob is once again pleading with fans to respect his personal space after discovering that some supporters keep showing up at his home. On September 16th, the singer took to social media with a heartfelt message asking people to please stop coming to where he lives, even pointing out that details about his home have already been shared on a variety show called Yotzeotgo, so he's asking fans to just watch that instead of visiting in person. This isn't the first time Young Yo Seop has had to speak out about this issue, as he revealed back in November of last year that someone had figured out even the exact floor of his apartment and showed up late at night, leading to an uncomfortable encounter. His agency stepped in to handle that situation at the time, but since similar incidents kept happening, Yang Yo Seob felt he needed to address it directly himself once again. This growing concern highlights an important conversation happening across the K-pop industry about maintaining a healthy boundary between artists and fans, especially when it comes to protecting a celebrity's basic right to privacy at home.

That impressive debut allowed it to dethrone Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which had been dominating theaters for an incredible 43 straight days since its release last month. It marks the first time in 50 days that a Korean film has claimed the number one spot, breaking a long streak where international titles held the crown. The film itself is a workplace comedy that flips the script on hierarchy, following a seasoned 37-year-old intern who joins a fashion company run by a rising young female CEO. And it's actually a remake of the beloved Hollywood original by Nancy Myers. Leading the Korean version are Choi Min Sikh as the veteran intern and Han So-hi as the ambitious young CEO, and based on this opening weekend, audiences are clearly here for their office chemistry.

The film Assassins just had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, and it was a massive success, with all four public screening tickets completely selling out. Director Heo Jin-ho attended alongside stars Yu Heijin, Park Haeil, and Lee Minho, and the team was overwhelmed by the passionate response from audiences after the screening. Yu Heijin shared how special it felt watching the film with fans on the big screen, while Park Haeil and Lee Minho both expressed how meaningful it was to connect with international audiences ahead of the Korean release. Industry reports noted that renowned filmmaker Peter Chan, known for Comrades, Almost a Love Story, praised the movie as a bold and successful departure from familiar territory, and festival programmers described the theater as so quiet during the screening you could hear a pin drop. Assassins follows the mystery behind the 1974 assassination attempt on Korea's First Lady, tracking the missing bullets from that fateful day, and it's set to hit theaters in Korea on September 23rd.

Stray Kids delivered a heartfelt tribute after a devastating loss struck their recent tour stop in Argentina. During their Stray City concert at the San Isidro Race Course in Buenos Aires, the group paused before the show to honor a teenage fan who had tragically passed away the previous night after collapsing at the venue. A moving memorial message appeared on the big screen, followed by a solemn minute of silence, as the members expressed how no words could truly ease the family's grief. According to industry reports, the group also personally reached out to comfort the grieving family, even sending a handwritten letter in Korean, along with flowers, promising never to forget that the fan had come to see them out of love for their music. The touching gesture shared publicly by the fan's mother has since resonated deeply with fans worldwide, showing the emotional bond between stray kids and their global fan base, as the Stray City tour continues later this month in Mexico.

Big news out of the Busan International Film Festival, where actress Kim Minha's latest film is already generating serious buzz ahead of its debut. The movie, titled Day and Night Belong to Each Other and directed by Kim Jong quan, sold out completely the moment tickets went on sale, marking a huge win for the festival's opening film. Set as a world premiere, the story unfolds over the course of a single season, capturing the quiet conversations shared inside one cafe between day and night. Festival organizers praise director Kim Jong quan for reaching a mature and refined point in his signature cinematic style, and the opening ceremony will bring out an impressive lineup including Kim Min-ha, Ju Jong Hyuk, Han Sunhua, Zhang Lu, Shim Unkyung, Li Hee Jun, Jon Soo Young, and Kim Donghui, with additional G V sessions planned throughout the festival. The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs from October 6th through the 15th, and moviegoers everywhere can catch this buzzworthy film when it hits theaters this November. Until then, stay tuned to All Things Korean Entertainment, and we'll catch you tomorrow.