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.
Cho Kuk said that a prosecution withdrawal in President Lee Jae Myung’s case would first require confirmation that the indictment was fabricated, and predicted a very high chance of a guilty verdict in the second trial if it resumes after Lee’s term. However, this is a politician’s opinion, and a final guilty verdict has not been established solely by the Supreme Court’s remand or Cho Kuk’s remarks.
Kim Shin-young will step away from the DJ position on MBC FM4U’s ‘Midday Hope Song with Kim Shin-young’ for three months starting September 1, 2026. After hosting the program for approximately 14 years, she will use the break for self-reflection and reorganization. Lee Guk-joo will host as a special DJ during the first week of September.
In the second-stage examination for the 61st Certified Public Accountant examination in 2026, 1,150 of 4,368 candidates passed. The pass rate was 26.3%, down 1.6 percentage points from the previous year. Hyun Woo-jin was the top scorer, while Cho Seong-woo was the youngest successful candidate.
The 2027 government budget proposal includes plans to reorganize marriage support, child-rearing support, and the basic child allowance. However, it remains a government proposal pending National Assembly review and legislative amendments, and retroactive application to children born in January 2027 is still under consideration.
The Ministry of Education selected Pusan National University, Chonnam National University, and Chungnam National University as the first universities to receive package support under the 2026 “Making 10 Seoul National Universities” initiative. Support is expected to continue through 2030, with this year’s package-based support reported at approximately KRW 70 billion per university. Additional funding compared with the previous year, including support for shared universities, is separately estimated at around KRW 100 billion per university.
The Premier League 2026 summer transfer window will close at 11:00 p.m. BST on September 1, or 7:00 a.m. KST on September 2. Deals for which a deal sheet is submitted shortly before the deadline may receive additional time to submit paperwork, but submitting a deal sheet alone does not mean the player’s registration is complete.
According to Celine Dion’s official website, her 2026 Paris concert run will comprise 16 shows from September 12 through October 17. The schedule was initially announced as 10 shows but was later expanded. It will be her first planned long-term concert series since 2020, distinct from her one-off performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
At gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live, ANANTA’s global release date was confirmed as January 15, 2027. The Witcher 3 Remastered is scheduled for September 29, SILENT HILL: Townfall for September 24, and Gears of War: E-Day for October 6.
The PanStar Acro entered Arctic waters at around 8 a.m. Korea Standard Time on August 31, 2026. The 2,758-TEU container ship departed Busan carrying cargo and is now sailing the Northern Sea Route, but this trial voyage alone does not establish the launch or economic viability of a regular commercial service.
Shim Yu-jin defeated Song Shuoyun 21-9, 21-13 in the women’s singles round of 32 at the 2026 LI-NING China Masters. She went on an 18-0 scoring run in Game 2, secured the 2-0 win in about 32 minutes, and advanced to the round of 16.
PanStar Acro호 is conducting a pilot round trip along the Northern Sea Route carrying 737 TEU of actual cargo and 100 empty containers, for a total of 837 TEU. The vessel entered Arctic waters on August 31, 2026. This voyage does not confirm the regular, year-round commercialization of the Arctic route; it is a demonstration phase to assess distance, duration, fuel consumption, costs, and safety preparedness.
The government has incorporated a 3.9% increase in public-sector compensation into the 2027 budget proposal. The ₩3 million monthly figure for a first-year Grade 9 civil servant refers to total compensation, including salary and allowances, rather than base pay alone. The final pay tables and individual take-home amounts will need to be confirmed through subsequent procedures.
The 2027 government budget proposal includes a lifetime marriage grant of ₩1 million for couples who register their marriage, regardless of income, along with proposed changes to childbirth and child allowances. The Child Welcome Grant and Basic Child Allowance reforms are expected to apply to children born on or after July 1, 2027, but the proposal is still subject to National Assembly review, so final implementation and detailed procedures may change.
The Hanwha Eagles and KT Wiz will meet for the 12th time this season at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 at Suwon KT Wiz Park. Before the game, Hanwha is in eighth place on a six-game losing streak, while KT is second. The final winner and score have not yet been determined.
Liverpool drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest at Anfield on August 29, 2026. After falling behind twice, Liverpool leveled through goals from Alexander Isak and Víctor Muñoz, who scored his first club goal in the 82nd minute of his home debut. Liverpool’s next Premier League match is scheduled away at Ipswich Town on September 4.
The Democratic Party of Korea nominated Representative Kim Eui-kyeom as the ruling-party secretary of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee on September 1, and reports said the appointment was also approved at a full committee meeting. The move follows Representative Kim Seung-won’s nomination as a ministerial candidate, with the required committee reassignment procedures expected to proceed. The People Power Party protested, citing issues including the so-called ‘Cheongdam-dong drinking party allegation’ previously raised by Kim Eui-kyeom.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance has revised its plan to reduce the comprehensive real estate holding tax basic deduction for nonresident single-home households from KRW 900 million, deciding to keep it at KRW 1.2 billion. However, the final tax revision bill still must be submitted to, reviewed by, and passed by the National Assembly, so immediate implementation is not yet confirmed.
The Military Manpower Administration selected 1,837 KATUSA soldiers scheduled to enlist in 2027 through a public computerized lottery on September 1. A total of 16,240 people applied, producing an average competition ratio of 8.8 to 1. The results were scheduled to be published on the Military Manpower Administration website at 5 p.m. that day. Searches related to the Jeonbuk Regional Military Manpower Administration’s active-duty enlistment culture festival were also recorded the same day.
At 10 a.m. on September 1, rainfall of 79.0 mm per hour was observed in Mallipo, Taean, while flooding reports, resident evacuations, and road controls were confirmed in Wonbuk-myeon. As of the noon advisory update, a heavy rain warning remained in place for Dangjin and a heavy rain advisory for Seosan, so check active alerts and controlled areas again before traveling.
Woo-Suk Go has reportedly expressed his intention to return to the LG Twins and is expected to return to Korea on September 1. However, as of the time of verification, the contract terms and whether it will be a multiyear deal remain undecided. KBO registration and eligibility to play in games will also require separate procedures.