After a year in which expansion and slowdown coexisted across Korean pop culture, 2026 is shaping up to be a potential rebound period for K-culture.
While the animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” helped push K-pop further into everyday life beyond fan communities, album sales declined for a second consecutive year, fueling a sense of crisis. In broadcasting, “When Life Gives You Tangerines” and “Squid Game” Season 3 drew major attention, but the growing dominance of Netflix further weakened terrestrial networks. Korean cinema endured one of its toughest years, with only one film — “My Daughter Is a Zombie” — surpassing 5 million moviegoers.
As the Year of the Red Horse begins, anticipation is rising that blockbuster projects across K-pop, television, and film may breathe fresh energy into the industry. From the long-awaited comeback of BTS and BLACKPINK to large-scale film productions such as “Hope,” which has a total budget of 100 billion won ($77 million), key figures seen as drivers of a K-culture resurgence are preparing to step forward.
The biggest storyline in K-pop this year is the return of BTS. With all members having completed their military service and finished album production, the group is set to release a new album this spring and embark on a large-scale world tour — their first studio album and concert tour in four years. Leader RM recently told fans, “Let’s make 2026 the year of BTS. Something really big is coming,” showing strong confidence ahead of their comeback.
BLACKPINK, who met fans through a world tour last year, will also release a new album in the first half of the year — their first full album in four years since “Born Pink” in 2022. EXO, one of the leading third-generation K-pop groups, will return to the stage for the first time in more than two years with a new album on the 19th, following the completion of military service by all members. BIGBANG, marking its 20th debut anniversary, will resume activities as a three-member group with an appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April in the United States.
Rising rookie groups that debuted last year — including Cortis, Hearts2Hearts, KickFlip, AllDay Project, and Kiikii — are also drawing attention. Among new acts set to debut in 2026, interest is especially high in boy bands. While HYBE and SM, JYP and YG Entertainment have not yet revealed concrete debut plans, Alpha Drive One, formed through the Mnet audition program “Boys II Planet,” will debut on Jan. 12. A2O Entertainment, founded by Lee Soo-man, also plans to launch a new boy group this year, and YUHZ, formed through the SBS program “Be My Boyz,” is preparing for its official debut.
In broadcasting and streaming, a wave of new dramas based on webtoons, novels and films — along with follow-up seasons of hit series — is preparing for release. Studios are increasingly investing in stories that already have strong recognition and fan bases in order to reduce the risk of failure. Highly anticipated titles include the Disney+ romance-fantasy series “The Remarried Empress,” the SBS drama “Manager Kim” starring So Ji-sub and Netflix adaptations such as “True Education” and “Field Mouse.” Returning seasonal series include “Yumi’s Cells” on Tving, “A Shop for Killers” on Disney Plus, “All of Us Are Dead” on Netflix and “Good Partner” on SBS.
Viewers will also see more diverse historical settings and genres. The Netflix drama “Slowly and Intensely,” written by screenwriter Noh Hee-kyung, explores the fiercely competitive world of Korean entertainment from the 1960s to the 1980s, while MBC will present the romantic comedy “Perfect Crown,” set in an alternate constitutional monarchy. The project is one of the most anticipated terrestrial dramas of the year, starring Byeon Woo-seok and IU. KBS will continue its tradition of historical epics with “Munmu,” which focuses on the unification narrative of the Silla Dynasty, and baseball-themed dramas such as “Gift” on tvN, “Your Ground” on MBC and “Full Count” on SBS are already drawing early interest.
The Korean film industry, which has been enduring a prolonged slump, is pinning hopes on director Na Hong-jin’s “Hope,” scheduled for release this summer. Featuring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon, alongside Hollywood actors Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender, the film marks Na’s first feature in 10 years following “The Chaser,” “The Yellow Sea” and “The Wailing.” Set in an isolated village near the Demilitarized Zone, the film follows residents as they confront a mysterious extraterrestrial being. It is expected to compete at the summer box office with “Odyssey,” director Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of Homer’s classic “The Odyssey.”
Director Ryoo Seung-wan’s new film “Humint” is also drawing attention. Set near the Russian city of Vladivostok, it depicts a clash between a South Korean intelligence officer, played by Zo In-sung, and a North Korean security agent portrayed by Park Jung-min. “Swarm,” starring Jun Ji-hyun and Koo Kyo-hwan, marks director Yeon Sang-ho’s return to the zombie genre 10 years after “Train to Busan,” depicting the struggle of survivors trapped in a quarantined building as infected victims evolve in unpredictable ways.
Actor Yoo Hae-jin will appear in two major releases this year. “The Man Who Lives With the King,” directed by Jang Hang-jun, tells the story of a village head who forms a friendship with a deposed young king. Yoo will also star alongside Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho in “The Assassins,” directed by Hur Jin-ho, which deals with the incident involving the death of Yuk Young-soo.
Sequels to past box-office hits are also on the way, including director Yoon Je-kyun’s “Ode to My Father 2” and the fourth installment in the “Tazza” franchise, “Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub.” Director Lee Chang-dong’s new film “Possible Love,” starring Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong, is expected to premiere on Netflix and is considered a strong candidate for the Venice International Film Festival.
