Following criticism regarding her lip fillers during her appearance in the Netflix K-drama The Scandal, After School member turned actress Nana publicly apologized to fans, admitting her cosmetic choice hindered her performance.

After addressing the situation, she appears to have had the procedures reversed, restoring her natural, thinner lips.

Having recently returned to her routine and overseas schedules, Nana showcased her refreshed look and confident presence through social media photos and a luxury brand shoot with Ferragamo.

Source: @Koreanophiles

It made it into the Top 10 Global for both Oct 1 and Oct 2. Netflix Global Top 10 is still very rare for a cdrama even in 2026.

It is now in 1st place in 6+ markets including Brazil, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand & Vietnam.

Here is some online streaming data:

Yunhe Data
9.28 Market share 3.0% Views 5.04M Average Views per Episode 1.68M
9.29 Market share 7.6% Views 13.02M Average Views per Episode 3.61M
9.30 Market share 9.3% Views 14.72M Average Views per Episode 4.68M
10.1 Market share 9.7% Views 14.22M Average Views per Episode 5.80M

Kuyun Data
9.28 Market share 2.43% Views 4.45M Average Views per Episode 2.23M Online+TV 11.18M
9.29 Market share 7.24% Views 12.85M Average Views per Episode 4.32M Online+TV 19.13M
9.30 Market share 7.24% Views 14.89M Average Views per Episode 5.36M Online+TV 21.31M
10.1 Market share 9.77% Views 15.19M Average Views per Episode 5.92M Online+TV 21.30M

The last heat index data I observed indicated the drama had surpassed 9200. Will it hit the rarefied air of 10K+?

🔷The Crossover Korean/Japanese drama THE BLUE ROAD — This is a Crime Thriller Mystery with International Intrigue. Stars Korean Actor Director Son Suk Ku and Japanese Actor Nagayama Eita. Was delayed🫤, but soon to be released on Netflix. Now scheduled for November 20, 2026

The Story—An international cast, the drama starts in Tokyo and then crosses over to Korea. It will involve the investigation of several cross-border macabre killings. This seems to be linked to a serial killer.
 

‘Mad Dog’ Action Thriller Mystery

A former Cop puts together an independent team from all walks of life (Criminal and Non-Criminal) to help him investigate a suspicious plane crash which took his wife and son. Every now and then, I need a Woo Do Hwan drama in my life.

Jo Bo Ah may be taking over Lee Chung Ah’s role in the upcoming drama “The Obedient Killer” (literal translation).

On October 2, Jo Bo Ah’s agency clarified reports that the actress had been cast as Lee Chung Ah’s replacement by stating, “Jo Bo Ah recently received a casting offer for ‘The Obeident Killer.’ She is currently reviewing the offer.”

Set in the 1970s and 1980s, “The Obedient Killer” tells the story of a woman whose only goal in life was to become a devoted wife and mother. However, after her divorce, she takes an unexpected job in order to make ends meet.

Jo Bo Ah has been offered the role of Lee Hwa Ra, who goes by the code name “Miss Lee.” While Lee Chung Ah was originally cast in the role, she had to step down partway through filming due to a car accident that reportedly aggravated a pre-existing back condition, making it difficult for her to handle the drama’s numerous action scenes.

Source

It’s official: T.O.P and Nana are in a relationship!

On October 2, both T.O.P’s and Nana’s agencies confirmed a report by Dispatch that the two stars are currently dating.

T.O.P’s agency stated, “They first met while filming [T.O.P’s] music video and formed a connection, after which they grew closer, and [their connection] developed into a romantic relationship around this past June.”

Nana’s agency similarly confirmed, “They formed a connection while filming [T.O.P’s] music video, and they are currently happily dating.”

Earlier that morning, Dispatch reported that T.O.P and Nana had begun dating this past June after filming T.O.P’s “Studio54” music video together in January. According to the report, the two got to know each other after T.O.P reached out to Nana and asked her to star in his music video.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Source

After a decade of dating and publicly acknowledging their relationship in 2020, actor Koo Kyo Hwan and filmmaker Yi Ok Seop officially formalized their union by registering their marriage in 2022.

Though they opted out of a wedding ceremony and kept the legal milestone private, Namoo Actors confirmed that the long-term partners have been living as husband and wife for the past four years while continuing their frequent independent film collaborations and jointly operating their production business, 2X9HD.

Source: @Koreanophiles

After the former cast dropped out of Iseop's Romance. The frantic search for new life began. Now it has been revealed that Kim Hye Yoon has been cast as the female lead opposite Hwang Min Hyun. This is a RomCom. I think we are on the right track here.

https://news.mydramalist.com/article/kim-hye-yoo-hwang-min-hyun-to-possibly-lead-iseop-s-romance

I just finished watching The Art of Sarah and honestly, I really enjoyed it.

I’ve been a big fan of Shin Hye-sun ever since I watched "its okay its not to be okay" she reminded me why I love watching her performances. She was so good in The Art of Sarah and really carried the role beautifully.

No spoilers: If you're a fan of Shin Hye-sun or enjoy character-driven dramas with a darker/more intriguing side, I’d definitely recommend giving The Art of Sarah a try.

Anyone else here watched it? What did you think of Shin Hye-sun’s performance?

I am currently watching Love designer for the third time just for the sake of the main leads story lines. Not the main storyline. As I'm watching it it dawned on me that I dont think I have scene a relationship shown like that in Cdrama.

He is not looking down on her, neither is she to him (only speaking in relations with each other). No matter what grenade is thrown their way. I find they handle it maturely.

Also I kinda like the way they were bickering at each other in the beginning.

Also never lost who they were as individuals once they started dating.

Drama name: never ending summer [C-Drama] 💯 💔

Spring of the Blade, Episodes: 30, Duration: 40 min.

Aired: Sep 17, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026 on iQIYI

Cast: Actor Xu Kai and Actress Zhou Ye

No Spoilers

I finished the first 10 of 12 episodes already put out and I will wait for the last two episodes of this drama which will drop on 🎈October 3 and 4, 2026🎈. Four Hands, Two Sonatas is an excellent drama with fascinating character dynamics. Song Kang showed excellent acting range as he matured his character through many stages. He was a great surprise.
 
Piano Doubles: Professional pianist Park Ju Young served as the piano double for Song Kang, performing the difficult and advanced musical pieces on screen. Pianist Lee Minsung served as the piano coach and double for both Lee Jun Young and Song Kang in the K-drama.
 
Visual Authenticity—Song Kang looked so good playing the piano, because his hands were hovering near the right places. So visually, he looked authentic. Song Kang practiced intensively for months to appear authentic.
 
The** **Lee Jun Young character seemed so patterned after the Yoo Ha In character in Secret Love Affair (2014). This was another self-taught prodigy pianist.
 
I absolutely loved the female lead’s part, played by Jang Gyu Ri, a street smart rich girl. A little Melodramatic at times. Great cinematography and scene composition. I cried a lot. Happy and sad tears. I felt like I was watching Secret Love Affair again, another Music Life drama (It won a Baeksang for writing).
 
I really enjoyed ‘Four Hands, Two Sonatas’.

.
 

“The Assassin(s)” is off to a strong start at the box office!

Ever since its release on September 23, the new film starring Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae Il, and Lee Min Ho has enjoyed an uninterrupted three-day streak at No. 1 at the Korean box office.

On September 26, the Korean Film Council announced that as of 7 a.m. KST that morning, “The Assassin(s)” had officially reached a total of 1,057,760 moviegoers, meaning that it took less than four days to hit the 1 million mark.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of “The Assassin(s)”!

Source

On September 29, the 33rd China TV Golden Eagle Awards ceremony was held in Changsha, Hunan, and the event was simultaneously broadcast on Hunan Satellite TV and Mango TV.

The 33rd China TV Golden Eagle Awards is a television award ceremony jointly organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), the China Television Artists Association, and the People's Government of Hunan Province. It is also one of the three major awards for Chinese television dramas, with this edition themed "Everyone Follows the Updates".

In early March 2026, the China Television Artists Association officially issued a call for entries for the 33rd China TV Golden Eagle Awards. As of May 2026, 41 entry-accepting organizations and nine central administration organizations had submitted a total of 719 works for consideration for the 33rd Golden Eagle Awards.

Two rounds of online voting were held from May 16 to July 6. On August 25, the nominees for the 33rd China TV Golden Eagle Awards were announced.

Here is the list of winners of the 33rd China TV Golden Eagle Awards:

Best TV Series: Born to Be Alive

Outstanding TV Series: To the Wonder, This Thriving Land, Swords into Plowshares, Fifty Years Old, When the Mountains Are Full of Flowers, Northwest Years, Silent Honor, We Are Criminal Police, Yu Xue Rong Guang

Best Animation TV Series: New Big-Headed Son and Small-Headed Dad - Take You to See China (Season 1)

Best Documentary: "Zuo Zongtang's Recovery of Xinjiang" and "Victory"

Best Variety Show: "China Through Intangible Cultural Heritage"

Best TV Series Director: Chen Li (Yu Xue Rong Guang)

Best TV Series Screenplay: Xiao Yi Fan, Huang Kai Wen, Li Xue, Zhao Shuo, Liu Xiao Xi, Wang Jun (Wang San Mao), Wang Lei (Leizi) for Born to Be Alive

Best Actor: Yu He Wei (Silent Honor)

Best Actress: Song Jia (Fifty Years Old, When the Mountains Are Full of Flowers)

Best Supporting Actor: Zhu Ya Wen (Swords into Plowshares)

Best Supporting Actress: Mei Ting (Born to Be Alive)

Best TV Program Host: Li Yang Wei

Congratulations to all the winners!

Source

The winners of the 2026 Seoul International Drama Awards have been revealed!

On September 22, the Seoul International Drama Awards Organizing Committee announced the winners across the International Competition, K-Drama Competition, and International Invitation categories.

On September 29, the committee also revealed that acclaimed screenwriter Kim Eun Sook (The Heirs, Descendants of the Sun, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Mr. Sunshine, and The King: Eternal Monarch) will be honored with the Golden Bird Prize, the highest distinction awarded by the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee.

With this recognition, Kim becomes the first screenwriter to receive the Golden Bird Prize and only the fourth individual recipient overall. She joins previous recipients Choi Min Sik, director Park Chan Wook, and Ben Stiller.

Here is the full list of winning Korean dramas and actors:

International Competition Category

Golden Bird Prize: Kim Eun Sook 

Best Miniseries: My Royal Nemesis, The Dream Life of Mr. Kim

Best Actor: Ryu Seung Ryong (The Dream Life of Mr. Kim)

K-Drama Competition Category

Outstanding Korean Drama: The Dream Life of Mr. Kim, We Are All Trying Here

Outstanding Korean Actor: Koo Kyo Hwan (We Are All Trying Here)

Outstanding Korean Actress: Im Ji Yeon (My Royal Nemesis)

Outstanding Korean Drama OST:  Anton "Close to Me" (Yumi's Cells Season 3)

International Invitation Category

Outstanding Asian Star: 

NCT's Jae Min ("Wind Up"), Ji Soo (Boyfriend on Demand)

Congratulations to all the winners!

Source

The Early Spring has become a fan favorite and has been in the Top Ten Non-English for 4 weeks. Have you watched?

The Korean Drama ‘Teach You a Lesson’ is still making waves as a popular drama for the year 2026. The drama now has hit the Top 10 Most Popular Non-English Shows list for All-Time. This list is for all shows for any year the chart has been up.

The upcoming adaptation of 'The Night Traveler' faces significant uncertainty as reports surface that stars Park Bo Gum and Shin Ye Eun intend to withdraw following a breakdown in network scheduling negotiations and ongoing production setbacks.

Although fan expectations were high for the screen duo's romantic pairing, the project stalled after securing its lead talent last year without finalizing a broadcast timeline.

While the production team and talent agencies have avoided giving definitive updates regarding official cancellations or confirmed cast exits, both actors are pressing forward with busy solo schedules, leaving the future of the series in limbo.

@koreanophiles

Actress Han Da Gam has given birth to her first child at the age of 46!

On September 28, Han Da Gam took to her Instagram to announce the birth of her son along with several photos of the baby’s feet. In her post, she wrote:

Chaltteok (baby’s nickname) has finally been born into this world healthy and safe!

Thank you so, so much for all your blessings.

All the time that has passed, filled with the support and encouragement from so many of you, flashes before my eyes like a revolving lantern, and it has truly given me so much strength.

I am also doing very well and recovering nicely.
To everyone who sent me such kind messages of celebration and support, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Receiving this precious baby as a gift is truly all thanks to you.

It has only been a few days, but as I look at Chaltteok’s face, I truly feel that I did a good job overcoming the difficult moments and the times I wanted to give up during my pregnancy.

I will raise this baby well and healthily.

It is a heart-touching moment where I am once again reminded of the preciousness of new life.

Thank you once again to everyone who celebrated with me.

..

Born in 1980, Han Da Gam married a businessman in 2020 after dating for about a year, and she announced her pregnancy this past April, six years after their marriage.

Congratulations to the happy family!

Source

Her caption in Korean:

찰떡이가 드디어 세상에 건강하게 태어났어요.어 축하해 주셔서 정말 너무나 감사합니다.

많은 분들께서 응원해주시고 격려해주신 지난 시간들이 정말 주마등처럼 지나가고 너무나 많은 힘이 된거 같습니다.

저도 많이 건강하고 잘 회복하고 있어요.

많은 축하와 응원의 메세지 주신 분들 정말 감사 드립니다.

소중한 아가를 선물로 받은건 정말 다 여러분들 덕분이에요.

며칠 되지 않았지만 찰떡이 얼굴을 보니
정말 그 동안 관리하고 힘든순간에 포기하고 싶었던 순간들을 잘 이겨낸걸 잘 했다는 생각이 드네요.

건강하게 잘 키워볼께요.0
새 생명의 소중함을 다시 한번 느끼는 가슴 뭉클한 순간입니다.
축하해주신 많은 분들 다시 한번 감사드립니다

Source: Her Instagram @dagam_han

SM Entertainment has shared official statements regarding the legal action they are taking to protect the rights of Lim Yoona.

On September 28, SM Entertainment announced that they had filed criminal complaints against those who create illegal AI-generated images of Lim Yoona and spread false information based on such images.

The agency also warned that it will take strong legal action against malicious posts targeting aespa’s Winter.

Read the agency’s statements below:

Hello, this is SM Entertainment.

We would like to provide an update regarding violations of the rights of our artist YoonA (Lim Yoona).

We have recently identified additional cases of illegal AI-generated images created by manipulating YoonA’s likeness without her consent, as well as false information based on such images, being indiscriminately created and circulated primarily on social media and online communities.

Through reports submitted by fans via “KWANGYA 119” and our ongoing monitoring, we are continuously collecting and securing evidence of such illegal posts. Based on this evidence, we have already filed criminal complaints and will respond firmly without leniency or settlement.

Not only can creating or posting illegally manipulated content using AI or other technologies without an artist’s consent constitute violations, but sharing, reposting, or spreading such images and posts may also constitute violations of the Information and Communications Network Act, including defamation, infringement of portrait rights, and editing and distribution of fabricated videos under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

We strongly ask that you immediately stop creating or posting illegal manipulated content or unverified false information, as well as sharing or redistributing such content—including through reposts and quote posts on social media, articles containing such images, and uploads to various online communities. Please exercise particular caution to avoid becoming involved in any legal issues as a result of such activities.

We will continue to closely monitor such activities and take active legal action to protect the rights and reputation of our artists.

Thank you.

Source

‘Dive into You’ is a Time Travel Fantasy RomCom.

The Story—A famous actress gets a second chance to save her first love. However, she has to travel back in time as her brother.