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

Let's dive right in.

NFlying is getting ready to warm up your autumn playlist, with the band announcing their ninth mini-album still is set to drop on October 8th. According to industry reports, this comeback follows an incredible run of chart success with tracks like Rooftop, Blue Moon, and This Year's Flashback, all pulling off surprise chart revivals long after their original release. Interestingly enough, even a track called Autumn Trim from their 2019 album unexpectedly climbed real-time charts again just this past August, proving N Flying's music has serious staying power. For this new era, the members previewed the title track Jan Bull and another song called Space Dust during their ongoing tour, with Jan Bull touching fans deeply through its purely Korean lyrics about holding on to that same burning heart, even as time changes, how others see you. Before the full album arrives, NFLing will drop a pre-release single, titled Known Ending, on September 28th. So keep an ear out for that teaser before the main event next month.

A brand new film called Cheol Dol Mu Raiop, or roughly translated as When We Grow Up, is winning praise from critics for its refreshingly honest take on family caregiving, earning a solid three and a half star review. Directed by Juung Sung, the movie follows a daughter named Juhang Mi, played by Ha Yun kyung, as she cares for her ailing father Cheel Taek, portrayed by Kiju Bong, while other family members navigate their own tangled duties of looking after aging parents and young children. Rather than leaning into melodrama, the film blends humor and heartbreak seamlessly, showing characters who get exhausted, snap at loved ones, and even feel resentment, arguing that this complicated messiness is actually the truest face of family love. Industry reports highlight standout performances, especially from Ha Yun Kyung and Ki Ju Bong, whose subtle shifts in tone and expression bring incredible depth to their strained father-daughter relationship. The story wraps up on a surprisingly light note, featuring a powerful moment where the grandmother, Oknam, finally declares her wish to live for herself after a lifetime of sacrifice. Closing out with the Song Moon by Han Yang E. As a gentle reminder that it is okay to embrace imperfection and choose your own path in life.

Singer Steve Yu is marking a huge milestone this week, celebrating his 22nd wedding anniversary with a heartfelt message for his wife. Taking to social media, the singer looked back on how they first met 34 years ago at Teha Chapi Middle School, sharing that he never realized back then he was looking at the person he would spend his life with. He opened up about weathering both beautiful days and unexpected storms together, thanking his wife for standing by him, even when he felt lost or like the world had turned against him. Steve Yu got emotional, thanking her for staying with someone who isn't easy to live with, and expressing how grateful he feels looking at the family she built, for them, promising to be the person she can always lean on, and calling her his queen for life. The anniversary post comes as the singer continues living in the United States, still barred from entering South Korea since 2002, due to the ongoing controversy over his military service evasion.

The footage, playing twice every hour, shows the veteran singer delivering a soulful piano performance at a scenic chapel on Debu Island, promoting a luxury resort campaign with the simple but powerful message you'll understand once you've lived here. What makes this appearance especially touching is that Lee took part completely free of charge, driven by his decade-long friendship with the resort and shared passion for charitable causes like helping children in Africa. This global spotlight comes during an incredibly busy stretch for the artist, who recently rapped a special Chusok performance for a major broadcaster and is gearing up to release a collaborative single with rising singer-songwriter Woods this month, followed by an anniversary album and a nationwide tour called The Voice Hitting Major Cities starting in November. Reflecting on his motivations, Lee shared that even after four decades in the industry, he still approaches his career with a rookie's humility, hoping his music continues to spread positive influence to everyone who hears it.

Sad news to share from the K-pop dance world today, as talented young performer Yamada Rhea has passed away at just 16 years old. Fans will remember Rhea from her standout performance on MNET's Street Dance Girls Fighter 2, where she competed as an individual dancer before joining the Crew Jam Republic and helping them claim the championship title. Her family shared the heartbreaking news on social media, revealing that Rhea had been fighting a serious immune-related illness for over a year, undergoing chemotherapy and requiring a bone marrow transplant in her battle for recovery. Despite her courageous fight, including sharing an emotional update last summer when she cut her hair before starting treatment, Rhea lost her battle with the illness. Her family expressed deep gratitude to everyone who danced alongside her and supported her, saying they hope her love for dance and her beautiful smile will continue to live on in the hearts of everyone who knew her.

Project Group. The seasons is bringing summer energy straight into your ears with their brand new single End the Summer, dropping September 27th at noon on all major music platforms. This energetic pop dance track is designed to transport listeners straight to a midnight festival under a sky full of stars, blending punchy cakes and bass with soaring vocals that stretch across the night sky. The production layers in wide synthesizer textures and explosive choruses that build immersion, creating that breezy late-night coastal drive feeling fans are going to love. This marks the season's third release in their seasonal music project, following their earlier summer tracks, and this time they're exploring a fresh vibe centered around starlight and beachside festival energy to expand their musical range. Composer Jung Wu Sik, known for hits like Hong Jin Yong's That Day You Come and Ju Hyun Mi's I Call For You, joined the songwriting team this time around, adding extra polish to a track that promises to deliver a truly liberating summer night experience for anyone looking to escape the everyday. Blowing past the same period numbers of previous hits like 12.12, The Day, and The King's Case. The film, which follows the investigation into the shocking assassination attempt on South Korea's First Lady back in 1974, is earning major praise thanks to its gripping storyline and the powerhouse acting lineup of Yu Hai Jin, Parkai il, and Li Min-ho. With real-time reservation rates still leading the pack at over 31% heading into the rest of the holiday, it looks like Assassins is set to keep its winning streak alive.

The Idol just opened additional Macau show dates for his 2026 Dino Ex Picheolin Guildboard Show, and every single seat sold out immediately, forcing organizers to add extra performances on September 9th and 11th that also vanished in a flash. This solo tour follows Dino's mini album, Guildboard, released last month under his alter ego Picholin, which showcased his versatility across multiple music genres and even landed him spots on major stages like Waterbomb Guangju. His recent soul concert run drew an impressive 15,000 fans over three days, with online streams pulling in viewers from 71 countries and regions worldwide. With this kind of momentum, Dino's Macau finale is shaping up to be an unforgettable blend of his main persona and his playful alter ego sharing the same stage.

The episode featured Tukutz recalling how Crush once got roped into a last-minute studio session, mid-road trip, while Tableau joked he owed karmic debt after doing the same thing to Crush years earlier. Things got even funnier when the members called their moms live, with Mithrin's mother gushing over her son, while Kotkunst's mom bluntly admitted she favors his younger brother for being sweeter. The biggest laugh though came from Tableau, who revealed that Kotkunst's upcoming new track, set for release this November, was so good it left him temporarily blanking on his own identity, his marriage, and even his house door code, forcing him to text his wife Kang He Jung and earn a scolding for forgetting the password after years of marriage. The heartfelt reunion wrapped up with Epic Hai, handing out holiday cash to their honorary younger brothers, proving that even in K-pop, family bonds and good-natured teasing never go out of style.

The idol took to social media to share backstage photos from her solo stage, thanking Gucci for creating a special gown made just for the performance. The stunning tube top gown featured sheer organza detailing with a boustier top that highlighted her collarbones, paired with a daring sheer skirt with shimmering stripes that gave a subtle glimpse of her legs, all finished off with sparkly glitter boots for a fairy tale-like finish. As a global ambassador for the brand, Ningling proved once again why she's considered a top fashion icon in the industry. Meanwhile, Esper is currently in the middle of their new world tour called Sync Complexity, connecting with fans across the globe, and fans can't wait to see what Ningling brings next, both on stage and in the fashion world.

JYP Entertainment and Park Jin Young are making headlines across Mexico after their generous charitable contribution caught the attention of major local media outlets. Leading newspaper Excelsior featured the donation story on its front page, highlighting how JYP Entertainment and Park Jin Young together donated 550 million won, roughly 7.5 million pesos, to support medical treatment for sick children in Mexico through their EDM charity initiative, partnering with World Vision Mexico and World Vision Corea. The Mexican outlet praised Park Jin Young as one of the most significant figures in K-pop history, exploring his values as chief creative officer and his belief that the true meaning of an artist's success comes from turning fan love and support into meaningful help for others. Local television news program Milenio also covered the story, showing Park Jin Young visiting partner hospitals and meeting with medical teams, where he explained that as a father of two daughters and as the leader of this project, he feels it's simply his duty to give back the love fans have shown him and his artists. Since 2020, JYP Entertainment's EDM initiative has supported nearly 4,500 sick children across 10 countries with over 10 billion one in aid, while Park Jin Young has personally donated 1 billion won annually since 2022 to continue this mission of turning global fan support into real change for children in need.

Big news for Korean television as actress Park Ji Heon has just made history. Becoming the first Korean actress ever nominated for Best Actress at the International Emmy Awards. She earned the nod for her powerful performance as Cheon Sang-yoon in the Netflix series Unju Hung and Sang Yoon, where she impressed audiences by portraying the character across decades, from her twenties all the way to a terminally ill woman in her forties. She'll be up against strong international competition, including actresses from Belgium, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. In more exciting news for Korean content, the Disney Plus medical thriller Hyperknife, starring Pa Kun Bin and Soul Kyunggu, also scored a nomination in the TV movie or miniseries category. Fans will find out how these Korean productions fare when the 54th International Emmy Awards ceremony takes place this November 23rd in New York.

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.