'The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife' ended on a series high, recording a nationwide rating of 13.8% for its finale, according to Nielsen Korea. It was the highest-rated Korean drama to air in the first half of 2026.
The single nationwide electricity tariff maintained through 2025 will be abolished, and regionally differentiated rates will be introduced in 2026. Electricity rates in North Gyeongsang, South Jeolla and Gangwon provinces, where large nuclear, hydroelectric and thermal power facilities are concentrated, are expected to fall by roughly 30–50% from current levels, while rates in the Seoul metropolitan area are forecast to rise.
ENHYPEN will make its comeback with the release of the new album 'THE SIN : BLISS' on August 21, 2026. The group will be the second HYBE Labels act to make a comeback in August.
'Judge Lee Han-young' opened with a 4.3% rating in its first episode but built momentum through word of mouth, eventually settling into double digits and peaking at 17% at its highest moment. It finished with a final rating of 13.6% nationwide per Nielsen Korea, placing second among Korean dramas in the first half of 2026.
The Netflix original 'Our Sticky Love,' starring Jung Hae-in, premiered on Aug. 7, 2026. It is the first title in Netflix's August lineup of Korean dramas.
NCT 127 will release the full-length album 'BLINGY' on August 24, 2026. Unlike most August comebacks, which tend to be mini albums, this full release suggests a larger-scale promotional run.
Stray Kids made their comeback by releasing the new mini-album 'THIS & THAT' at noon on August 7, 2026. The group moved first among the major acts making comebacks that month, choosing an unusual time slot instead of the customary 6 p.m. release.
Red Velvet made its comeback with the mini-album 'Velvet Summer' on August 3, 2026. Stray Kids, WayV, ENHYPEN, NCT 127, and Taemin followed with successive comebacks throughout August.
Major artists from SM, JYP and HYBE—including Red Velvet, Stray Kids, WayV, ENHYPEN, NCT 127 and Taemin—packed their comebacks into August 2026. The rush appears to reflect the convergence of two factors: the resumption of fandom activity after the summer vacation season and the need to build results ahead of the year-end awards season.
The Netflix original 'Mousetrap,' starring Ryu Jun-yeol and Sol Kyung-gu, will premiere on Aug. 28, 2026. It is the second title in Netflix's August lineup of Korean dramas.
The tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Undercover Miss Hong' recorded a 13.1% rating nationwide according to Nielsen Korea, ranking third among Korean dramas aired in the first half of 2026.