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 first hearing in the case against Kim Myung-soo, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, over charges including performing an important role in the December 3 emergency martial law insurrection was held at the Seoul Central District Court on September 1. Kim denied all charges, and the next hearing is scheduled for September 15, YTN reported.
A Korail employee died while performing shunting work at Uiwang Station on August 29, 2026. Railroad police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor are analyzing CCTV footage and radio communications, while the ministry decided on September 1 to conduct supervision of Korail equivalent to a special inspection.
The September 2026 K-pop comeback schedule begins with CHUNG HA on September 1, followed by MONSTA X and TEN on September 4, MINHO on September 7, DOH KYUNG SOO on September 8, and BOYNEXTDOOR on September 28. The releases include digital singles, EPs, single albums, mini albums, and a repackaged album.
The BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ shows at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium are officially scheduled for September 1, 2, 5 and 6, 2026. Each local show begins at 8:00 p.m., with online live streaming also announced through Weverse.
ProbablyMonsters’ Crimson Moon launches on September 1, 2026. The PlayStation 5 release has been officially announced, while PC version information is listed on Steam and the Epic Games Store. The game supports single-player and two-player online co-op. The Standard Edition is listed at $19.99 and the Deluxe Edition at $29.99.
The KBO announced eight candidates for the August 2026 Monthly MVP. The candidates include four pitchers and four position players, with the Doosan Bears and Samsung Lions each providing two candidates. Fan voting will run from 10 a.m. on September 1 through midnight on September 6.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) explained at a closed-door briefing to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on September 1 that it assesses Kim Ju-ae as having effectively entered the stage of being designated as successor. This does not mean North Korean authorities have officially confirmed her as successor. Likewise, a North Korea–U.S. summit has not been scheduled; the possibility reflects the NIS’s assessment of the situation.
The Korea Football Association has appointed Roberto Moreno as interim coach of the South Korea men’s national football team. Moreno is scheduled to lead the team in its next six international matches, including four confirmed fixtures in September and October, under a contract running through November 27, 2026. Whether he will continue in a permanent role through the 2027 Asian Cup may be decided after autumn performances and a follow-up evaluation.
A Tesla passenger car and a 25-ton truck reportedly collided near Anseong Rest Area on the Seoul-bound Gyeongbu Expressway in Wongok-myeon, Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, on the night of August 31, 2026. One woman in her 50s was killed and two people were injured. Traffic in lanes 2–5 was restricted for about three hours during accident recovery and truck towing. The current traffic situation and exact cause of the crash require further official confirmation.
JISOO’s solo single album “CLICK” is scheduled for release at 1 p.m. KST on September 4, 2026. The Photobook and CLICK BABY BEAR NFC versions will be released the same day, while the vinyl version will be released separately on November 30.
Following the release of their 20th-anniversary digital single ‘BiiiG,’ BIGBANG launched the ‘XX : COSMOS’ world tour in Goyang. According to YG’s official tour page, the schedule includes 19 cities and 33 shows, with the next performances listed for Oakland on September 4–5, 2026.
The Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry’s proposed 2027 budget and fund expenditure totals KRW 25.7319 trillion. Of this, KRW 1.9351 trillion is allocated to electricity and water infrastructure for advanced industries, including semiconductors and AI data centers. The proposal is expected to be finalized in December after deliberation and approval by the National Assembly.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered will launch on September 29, 2026. Existing owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S are expected to receive a free upgrade, with Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine also available at no additional cost. The new paid expansion Songs of the Past is planned for 2027, but its exact release date and price have not yet been announced.
Global Citizen has officially announced TOMORROW X TOGETHER as part of the 2026 Global Citizen Festival lineup. The event will take place on September 26 at Central Park’s Great Lawn in New York, with gates opening at 2 p.m. and music beginning at 4 p.m. Attendees can enter a free ticket lottery after completing campaign actions or secure a ticket by donating $25 per ticket after meeting the eligibility requirements.
The government announced that it has set total spending in the 2027 budget proposal at KRW 820.9 trillion. The reported year-on-year increase is 12.8%, alongside a KRW 162.3 trillion Future Response Fund and plans to invest more than KRW 200 trillion in national R&D over the next five years. However, the proposal remains subject to submission, review, and approval by the National Assembly.
The Korea Football Association has officially appointed Robert Moreno as interim coach of the men’s national football team. His contract has been reported to run through November 27, 2026, and Moreno is expected to lead six A matches from September through November.
On September 1, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency published the name, age, and facial photograph of Jung Chang-seong, a suspect in the murder of a Chinese international student in Gyeongsan, on its website. The information is scheduled to remain public for 30 days, and police said they plan to refer him to prosecutors by September 4 at the latest. However, identification disclosure does not mean a guilty verdict, so he must continue to be described as a “suspect.”
In August 2026, Anyang and Goyang conducted on-site adaptation drills simulating fires involving electric buses, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles. The verified materials describe preventive exercises checking vehicle identification, high-voltage power shutoff, firefighting equipment, and coordination among relevant agencies—not actual fires.
The Korea Institute of Energy Research reportedly achieved a certified efficiency of 26.7% for perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells. The figure is 0.4 percentage points higher than the previous 2025 record, but a research-cell record does not by itself mean that commercial modules or products are ready for market. GIST has separately launched a council to promote commercialization and begun discussions on technology, certification, standards, industrialization, and investment.
An officer from Jeju Western Police Station was investigated in custody on suspicion of falsely closing two missing-person reports by processing them as if contact had actually been made. The Jeju Provincial Police Agency announced that the officer would be referred to prosecutors on September 1, with a briefing on the investigation, while all 298 missing-person cases the officer handled and closed are being reviewed.