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

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Today is September 24th, 2026, and we've got some incredible stories to share with you.

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Rookie Girl Group T U Y D is making major waves on the global charts, and industry reports confirm they've officially cracked the Billboard rankings in a huge way. The group snagged the number one spot on the Emerging Artists Chart, while their debut mini album, Tune and Play, landed at number three on the World Albums Chart and number eight on top album sales. They also broke into the Artist 100 chart at number 78, which is a seriously impressive feat for such a new act. Since debuting last month, T U Y I D has been on fire. With their album charting on iTunes top albums in 22 countries and selling over 110,000 copies in its first week alone, landing them among the top 10 K-pop girl group debut albums of all time for first week sales. Fans and critics are crediting their unique soultronic sound, a warm and emotionally rich style with polished production for capturing listeners worldwide right out of the gate.

The special captures a concert held last month at Inspire Arena, where Lee performed an impressive 26 songs over 150 minutes, taking fans on a nostalgic journey through hits like Hia and That Kind of Person Doesn't Exist Anymore. To match his vocal power, the stage featured his renowned backing band alongside a 30-piece string orchestra, plus around 200 speakers set up throughout the venue for maximum live sound impact. Production teams say the broadcast is more than just an anniversary tribute. It is a chance for viewers to relive the collective memories and cheers of the 12,000 fans who filled the arena that unforgettable night.

Backed by a full band for Richer Sound, 1DW rocked through a fresh rearranged version of his title track Touch Love, then kept the energy flowing with tracks like Flex on Me and the Japan exclusive song Lily, later slowing things down with softer numbers, including Walk With You and Spring Rain. He even rode a cart through the audience to get up close with fans, who sweetly cheered back in Korean, and he surprised everyone by teasing a sneak peek of his upcoming single Chak Gak dropping next month. Huanyu shared heartfelt thoughts about cherishing these bright moments with fans, saying they give him strength and remind him just how special they truly are. The 1W. The live tour isn't slowing down either, with Wanna W set to hit Taipei on October 3rd before wrapping things up with a soul run from October 30th through November 1st.

Legendary vocalist Li Song Chu is celebrating 40 years in the music industry with a special tribute duet project, and fans just got their first taste of what's coming with two teaser videos for his new track, Our Own Story. The song was actually written by the incredibly talented Woods, who penned it as a heartfelt tribute to honor Li Shuang Chu's legacy as a true icon of Korean pop music history. The first teaser shows Li Songchu lost in thought inside a car against a moody nighttime cityscape, his restrained expression and sunglasses conveying decades of artistic depth in true cinematic fashion. The second teaser flips the spotlight to Woods, whose intense and dreamy gaze, reflected in red and blue lighting, perfectly captures the emotional yearning at the heart of the song, with both teasers confirming the official release date of September 30th. Beyond this collaboration, Li Songchul is keeping busy with his nationwide The Voice Tour, which kicks off in Guangzhou this November before hitting Daeon, Daegu, Seoul, Incheon, Busan, and wrapping up at the Seoul Olympic Park KSPO Dome, giving fans across the country a chance to celebrate this incredible milestone together.

Veteran singer Sim Su Bong is facing fresh scrutiny as an old audience review from her Hidden Singer 8 recording resurfaces online, adding fuel to an already heated controversy. The renewed attention comes right after Sim publicly apologized for comments she made about rising trot star Kim Da Hun during a recent festival performance, where she reportedly said the younger singer didn't understand what music all life truly meant and asked not to be placed right after her on stage. After the backlash grew, Sim admitted her words were a mistake and personally called Kim Da Hun to apologize, with Kim confirming she received both an apology and words of encouragement from her senior. But even after the two settled things privately, online communities have been digging up older anecdotes, including claims from anonymous audience members, who described Sim as scolding or lecturing other contestants during past recordings, as well as similar past complaints involving singer Jung Miye. None of these older claims have been officially confirmed, and Sim's side has not issued any additional statement, but the timing has kept the conversation about her behaviour toward junior artists very much alive.

Players Entertainment stars are spreading some serious warmth this Chuzeok season, with Boomzu, Huang Min Hyun, and TWS all releasing heartfelt holiday greeting videos for their fans today. Bumzu, who just clinched his third consecutive win at the Comka Copyright Awards for Songwriting and Composition, encouraged fans to slow down and treat themselves to some well-deserved rest during the holiday. Huang Min Hyun thanked his fandom for their unwavering support this year and teased his upcoming fan meeting tour called Dawongkyung, which kicks off in Seoul in mid-October before heading to Tokyo, Macau, and Taipei. Meanwhile, TWS reminisced about past Chusok memories of sharing Songpion together and wished their fans a holiday filled with laughter, while also reminding everyone to stay healthy as the weather cools down. The group isn't slowing down either, with their world tour continuing in Bangkok this weekend as they connect with fans across the globe.

Mystery thriller Assassins stormed to the top spot on opening day, pulling in over 134,000 viewers and already beating out this year's Lunar New Year hit for its opening numbers, with advance booking soaring past 26% and reviews sitting at an impressive 97% audience score. Right behind it, the highly anticipated Tadza Song of the Devil also delivered strong results, drawing more than 103,000 moviegoers, despite carrying an adult-only rating, proving that its high-stakes gambling drama has serious crossover appeal. Meanwhile, the sci-fi epic, The Odyssey, is starting to cool off at the box office, adding just over 41,000 admissions on the same day, though it's still holding an impressive cumulative total of over 11 million viewers since release. With Tusok crowds flocking to theaters, it looks like Korean cinema is set to dominate the holiday season box office race this year.

This is a special release. She wrote, composed, produced, and even directed the animated music videos herself, marking her first project as a fully independent artist. It's a driving future house and progressive house track built around a message of resilience with a bright piano intro that explodes into pulsing synths. Let's take a listen to a preview.

Tours wished fans laughter and happiness with family and friends, and solo artist Huang Min Hun encouraged everyone to enjoy good food and quality time with loved ones. Meanwhile, Monster X dressed in colourful traditional handbug for their greeting, reflecting on a rewarding year and expressing special appreciation for their fandom. And with this four-day holiday weekend expected to see traffic increase nearly 12% on highways, it's clear the whole country, celebrities included, is ready to slow down and celebrate together.

Singer Su In Young just gave fans quite the surprising story from her birthday celebration, and it involves her fifth nose surgery. On her YouTube channel, she played a quiz game with friends about her past, asking them to guess what her doctor once told her before that fifth procedure. After a few funny guesses from her friends, Su In Young revealed the doctor's actual words were that there was nothing left to add to her nose using typical materials. The real answer left everyone stunned, as comedian Brian correctly guessed the doctor suggested taking fat from her hip area, instead, with Sam Hammington jokingly asking if they were planning to attach hip fat directly to her nose. So In Young has always been refreshingly honest about her plastic surgery journey, and this latest anecdote is turning heads all over again for how candidly she shared the behind-the-scenes moment.

Stray Kids just added another milestone to their impressive resume with their song Chick-Chick Boom. Wait, let me get this right. Their track This Isn't That music video has officially crossed 100 million views on YouTube as of September 23rd. According to JYP Entertainment, this hip-hop track from their 10th mini album showcases the group's signature cool and edgy vibe with visuals that transform a worn-down space into something fresh and stylish. This latest achievement brings Stray Kids to a total of 22 music videos that have crossed the 100 million view mark, joining hits like New Menu, Backdoor, Maze, My Pace, and Sorcerer, alongside several Japanese original tracks. Notably, all of these massive hits were produced by group member Bang Chan as part of the in-house production team Three Ratcha. And according to the Korea Music Copyright Association, he currently holds songwriting credits for a whopping 245 tracks. Adding to the excitement, Stray Kids are set to headline the brand new music festival, Stray City, in Mexico City, on September 25th and 26th.

Baby Monster just hit a major milestone, taking the stage at Kyotera do Mo Saka only two years after their debut. The girl group wrapped up their two-day run there on September 22nd and 23rd as part of their world tour called Toom, capping off a Japan leg that spanned six cities and drew an incredible 200,000 fans. Thanks to overwhelming demand, the group ended up adding extra shows, bringing their total tour count to 30 performances, with their next stop set for Hong Kong on January 10th. During the Osaka shows, Baby Monster brought the energy with hits like Sheesh, Drip, and Ghost, delivering powerful choreography that had fans buzzing, and some members even got emotional performing on what they called their dream stage. The group later shared that they felt like crying from the very first song, adding that seeing the arena packed with supporters made them truly feel the love, and they're determined to keep creating unforgettable memories together with their fans.

Coyote member Shinji is showing fans just how far she's come, sharing a sweet moment with her husband Munwon on her YouTube channel as the couple tackled self-car washing together for the first time. While struggling with the weight of the water-filled cleaning tools, Shinji proudly revealed she's been hitting the gym hard lately, confidently claiming she can now lift up to 20 kilograms, which led to some playful bickering between the newlyweds. This fitness milestone means so much more, given that back in May, Shinji opened up about her weight, dropping to a concerning 42.9 kilograms following her wedding, a change she attributed to health issues and emotional stress rather than intentional dieting. Since then she's shifted her focus away from the number on the scale and toward building strength and stamina, sharing gym sessions with a trainer back in July, with a sweet shout out, thanking her husband for the support. Now, watching Shinji push through a tough car washing session with her signature determined attitude, it's clear she's come a long way, and fans are loving this healthier, stronger chapter of her newlywed life with Munwan.

BTS just made touring history and the numbers are absolutely staggering. Industry tracking service Polestar released its third quarter report on cumulative ticket sales, and BTS's world tour A Re Rang has claimed the top spot with an incredible $465.8 million in earnings, which comes out to around $637 billion one. That massive haul came from just 38 shows across cities like Goyang, Tokyo, Tampa, Mexico City, San Francisco, Busan, Madrid, and London, drawing in over 2.3 million fans in total. What's truly wild is that BTS surpassed Beyonce's Cowboy Cata tour earnings from last year in just about four months of touring, with Las Vegas emerging as the top-selling city thanks to four sold-out shows at Allegiance Stadium that alone brought in over $66 million. The tour isn't slowing down either, with BTS set to kick off a South American leg starting October 2nd in Bogota, featuring 14 shows across five cities. All while their album A Re Rang continues its impressive run on the Billboard 200 chart for 26 consecutive weeks.

Alongside his music career, June has been busy on the big screen too, starring as lead character Su Cheng in the upcoming film Reborn, set to hit theatres October 3rd, and he's also been cast in another movie from acclaimed director Bao Jingjing, known for winning best adapted screenplay at the Golden Horse Awards. With music and film projects lining up back to back, it's clear June is having quite the breakout moment as a solo artist in the Chinese entertainment market.

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

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