We take an in-depth look at trending issues in entertainment, broadcasting, film, OTT, performances, and sports, focusing on the latest verified facts and official schedules and viewing information.
The government plans to supply 183,000 tons of Chuseok essentials over the three weeks before the holiday, with discounts of up to 40% on agricultural and livestock products starting September 3 and up to 50% on major seafood products starting September 9. From September 16–20, shoppers at 300 traditional markets by sector will receive approximately 30% of their purchase amount back in Onnuri gift certificates. The maximum discount rates are caps subject to conditions by product and retailer.
Chipotle Gangnam is scheduled to officially open on September 2, 2026. Located at 423 Gangnam-daero in Seocho-gu, Seoul, near Exit 10 of Gangnam Station, the 96-seat restaurant will be Chipotle’s first location in Korea and Asia.
Jensen Huang was reported to have delivered a message on August 31, 2026, saying that AI could revive U.S. manufacturing, drive investment in the power grid, and create construction and manufacturing jobs. NVIDIA’s latest results and its AI factory plans with the U.S. and LG show that the remarks emerged in a business context linking data centers with manufacturing, robotics, and power infrastructure. Madison Huang’s public role has been confirmed, but no succession designation or inheritance plan has been verified.
Konami’s official game showcase KONAMI PRESS START will stream live for approximately 30 minutes on September 3, 2026 in North America and Europe, beginning at midnight KST on September 4. SILENT HILL: Townfall, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, and Rev. NOiR were named among the latest lineup, while an announcement about a remake of the original SILENT HILL has been excluded from this broadcast.
Hee-chan Hwang has joined FC Schalke 04 on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers for the 2026–27 season. The loan runs through June 30, 2027, and includes an option to convert to a permanent transfer next summer.
Apple has officially announced a special event for September 9, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT. However, whether the iPhone 18 Pro and a foldable iPhone will be revealed, along with their prices and release dates, has not been officially confirmed. Pickle Plus’s pre-order notice is also a third-party notification signup, not an official Apple reservation.
Kim Shin-young will step away from her DJ role on MBC FM4U’s ‘Noon’s Hope Song’ for approximately three months starting September 1, 2026. The break is reportedly temporary, not a permanent departure, and several special DJs will host the program during her absence. Lee Guk-joo participated in the first broadcast.
Reports related to the YouTube variety show ‘Alttalttalhan Chamgyeon’ and its ‘Season 3: Unfinished Advice’ video revealed that Jung Jun-ha discussed Ji Sang-ryeol’s drinking. However, there is no official confirmation that Ji Sang-ryeol is currently facing a health problem or that a new incident has occurred based solely on the broadcast remarks.
President Lee Jae-myung submitted the confirmation motion for Supreme Court justice nominee Kim Seong-su to the National Assembly on August 31. The nominee reported approximately 580 million won in assets, and review by the Assembly’s Special Committee on Personnel Hearings and subsequent consent procedures remain pending.
Kim Soo-hyun has been announced as a presenter at TMA 2026 in Busan on September 19, 2026, and as an attendee in the acting category at AAA 2026 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on December 5–6. Reports also said police decided not to forward the case, but the event appearances and investigation outcome should not be interpreted as confirmation that every controversy has ended or that a next-project contract is finalized.
Kim Soo-hyun officially resumed activities in July 2026 with a Bench advertising video and pictorial shoot, about one year and four months after his previous official activity. Following his planned appearance as a presenter at the 2026 The Fact Music Awards on September 19, his attendance in the actor category at AAA 2026, held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on December 5–6, was also announced. However, the title, casting, and release date of his next project have not been confirmed.
Fiji’s Tourism Services Tax (TST) took effect at a 5% rate on September 1, 2026. It applies to eligible tourism services provided or consumed by businesses with annual turnover exceeding FJD 2 million. Bookings finalized by August 31 are excluded from TST, even if the services are provided afterward.
NS Food Festa 2026 will take place October 16–17 at Harim First Kitchen in Hamyeol-eup, Iksan, Jeonbuk. The family cooking competition is open to teams of one parent and one elementary-school child, with 60 teams selected. Applications for the family division close September 15.
Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 1-0 away on August 31, 2026. Bukayo Saka scored the winning goal in the 59th minute of the second half, giving Arsenal six points from two opening matches. Their next league match is against Chelsea on September 6.
Little Big Town released its 12th studio album, It's A Dying Art, featuring 13 tracks and a total runtime of 49 minutes, through MCA Nashville on August 28, 2026. On September 1, the group is scheduled to perform at TODAY Plaza in New York and hold an in-store signing at Rough Trade. TODAY Plaza fan-pass holders must check in by 5:15 a.m.
Of the 2,376 applicants for special appointments to the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (SCIA), 615 withdrew, bringing the final applicant count to 1,761. This represents 61.3% of the agency’s 2,874 authorized positions. The government plans to proceed with additional special appointments alongside competitive career-based recruitment of external specialists.
In May 2025, the Supreme Court overturned the appellate court’s acquittal in the Public Official Election Act case involving then-Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung and remanded the case to the Seoul High Court. In June 2025, the Seoul High Court changed the date of the first hearing in the remand trial to be designated later. Interpretations differ over whether Article 84 of the Constitution applies to ongoing trials, so neither the timing of a trial’s resumption after the presidential term nor its outcome can be determined in advance.
The Kia Sorento sold 6,397 units in South Korea in August 2026, ranking first among Kia’s domestic models. Compared with July’s 6,153 units, sales increased by 244 units, or about 4.0%.
The Blood of Dawnwalker, developed by Rebel Wolves and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, is scheduled to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on September 3, 2026. The official page also lists pre-orders and the Standard, Eclipse, Day 1, and Collector’s Editions.
Lee Min-jung’s YouTube channel, “Lee Min-jung MJ,” released a video of a three-generation family trip to Dalian, China, joined by both sets of parents and her two children. Lee Byung-hun did not accompany them because of filming, and the travel group was described as numbering about 14–15 people.