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.
One body was found during rescue and search operations in a tunnel at Nepal’s Rasuwa-based Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project. As of 11:35 UTC on August 31, 2026, the body’s nationality and identity, as well as the final status of nine South Koreans who remain unaccounted for, had not been confirmed.
Rep. Park Ji-won said on YTN Radio on August 31 that the Democratic Party would not accept Rep. Lee Jun-seok. However, this was Park’s interview statement and has not been confirmed as an official recruitment decision or party position. Lee Jun-seok announced possible legal action over rumors of joining or merging with the party, while the Reform Party denied merger rumors and is proceeding with the election of its next leadership through a national convention.
Serious Sam: Shatterverse launches on August 31, 2026. It supports PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and is described as a cooperative roguelite FPS for 1–5 players. At the time of checking, the Steam page still showed the game as unreleased.
Dolly Parton died at age 80 on August 25, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. Her publicist said she died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center after a brief battle with cancer, while Dollywood said the park would continue operating and directed people to memorial donations. Official tributes also followed from the music industry and the White House.
Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH) is recruiting tenants and prospective tenants for 1,381 units in its 51st long-term jeonse housing offering. The supply consists of 291 new units and 1,090 re-supplied units, with first-priority applications scheduled for September 14–15. Whether residents can stay for up to 20 years and whether units can later be sold are separate issues that require confirmation.
Prosecutors sought the death penalty on August 31 at the fourth hearing of defendant Jang Yun-gi before the Criminal Division 13 of the Gwangju District Court. This request reflects the prosecution’s position and does not mean that the court has issued or finalized a sentence. The first-trial verdict hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on September 30.
The Board of Audit and Inspection released the results of its regular audit of the Supreme Court, notifying officials of or requesting attention to 12 unlawful or improper matters, including ₩1.299 billion in cash incentives paid to Supreme Court justices and the head of the National Court Administration. The Board of Audit’s administrative and budget-execution assessment should be distinguished from the National Court Administration’s stated purpose for the payments and its improvement plan.
ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s second mini album, UNBREAKABLE : 少年BEAST, recorded first-week sales of 1,139,747 copies on Hanteo Chart from August 24 to 30, 2026. Following their debut mini album EUPHORIA, it is the group’s second album to surpass one million copies in first-week sales.
The 2026–27 Premier League summer transfer window closes at 11:00 p.m. BST on September 1, which is 7:00 a.m. KST on September 2. Deals with a submitted deal sheet may receive additional time for paperwork, but agreements, documentation, and registration must be checked separately.
A regular audit of the Supreme Court conducted from January 2022 through September 2025 found that the National Court Administration paid a total of ₩1.299 billion in cash incentives to 12 Supreme Court justices and its director. The Board of Audit and Inspection determined that the regular incentive payments lacked a legal basis and violated budget execution guidelines. The Supreme Court said it has been improving the payment system since July 2026.
On August 31, 2026, the Board of Audit and Inspection released the results of its regular audit of the Supreme Court, stating that it had identified 12 illegal or improper matters. Reports said that a total of 1.299 billion won in bonuses was paid to 12 Supreme Court justices, the director of the National Court Administration, and others. The board determined that regular fixed monthly payments violated budget-execution guidelines. The Supreme Court explained that the payments were intended to recognize the workload associated with adjudication and said it has been implementing a revised differential-payment plan since July 2026.
On August 30, 2026, the Presidential Office nominated lawmaker Yong Hye-in as a candidate for Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Reports indicate that Yong Hye-in and the Basic Income Party are considering keeping her parliamentary seat even if she is appointed minister. Claims about her spouse’s personal information and salary were not officially verified within the scope of this review.
Hanwha Aerospace signed an export execution contract with Spain’s Indra Sistemas on August 28 for K9 self-propelled howitzers and related products. The contract value, quantity, and term remain undisclosed. Based on the disclosure threshold, the deal was estimated at KRW 667.5 billion or more, but the actual amount has not been confirmed.
The Fair Trade Commission approved the business combination involving the acquisition of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) shares by Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems, and Hanwha Aerospace USA. The three Hanwha affiliates will hold a combined 15.89% stake, allowing Hanwha to retain its position as KAI’s second-largest shareholder. However, the approval does not by itself mean Hanwha has secured management control of KAI or that a specific business integration plan between the companies has been finalized.
Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City decided to select Suncheon National University as the candidate university for a new national medical school and recommend it to the government. After Mokpo National University was excluded, Muan County Council called for a roadmap for medical support in the southwest region and the allocation of functions to Mokpo National University. However, Suncheon National University’s selection is still at the government recommendation stage, and the establishment of a national medical school and its enrollment quota have not been finalized.
LeBron James has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers and is set to begin the first 24th season in NBA history. His scheduled debut is an away game against the New York Knicks on October 20, followed by his Philadelphia home debut against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 22.
Dolly Parton died at age 80 in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 25, 2026. Citing Luminate data, the AP reported that streaming of her catalog in the United States increased by 2,458%, while ‘Jolene’ and ‘9 to 5’ also saw major gains.
The Youth Future Savings account is a flexible-installment product requiring deposits of up to KRW 500,000 per month for three years. The maximum 19.4% is not the nominal interest rate, but the effective subscription benefit converted into a simple savings-account rate by combining the base and preferential rates, government contributions, and tax exemption. The second recruitment round is tentatively scheduled for December 2026.
TAEMIN’s EP ‘PHASE I: Soft Violence’ is scheduled for release at 6 p.m. on August 31, 2026. The album contains 11 tracks, with ‘FLOAT’ and ‘Gooey’ serving as double lead singles. Because the release has not yet occurred, chart rankings, sales, and streaming performance have not been confirmed.
RESCENE ranked first in the August 2026 star brand reputation rankings with a brand reputation index of 10,180,185. BTS ranked second with 9,495,066, while Lim Young-woong ranked third with 7,240,530. The result is a brand reputation ranking based on participation, media, communication, and community indices—not a combined ranking of music charts or album sales.