[2026 Outlook] BTS, BLACKPINK comebacks; UNESCO World Heritage session in Busan fuel K-culture momentum

▲ This photo of K-pop superband BTS is provided by Big Hit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 26 (Yonhap) -- K-culture, which enjoyed strong global popularity throughout 2025, is expected to continue its dynamic run in 2026, the "Year of the Red Horse."

K-pop superstars leading the Korean Wave, including BTS and BLACKPINK, are set to release new albums and embark on world tours, while Big Bang, a flagship second-generation K-pop group marking its 20th debut anniversary, will resume group activities.

Top actors such as Song Hye-kyo, So Ji-sub and Byeon Woo-seok will meet audiences at home and abroad through new projects on global over-the-top (OTT) platforms. K-dramas plan to sustain their competitiveness by featuring A-list stars and leveraging proven intellectual properties (IP), including webtoons and web novels.

In July next year, Busan will host the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the first time in South Korea, bringing together some 3,000 participants, including officials from member states, in what is expected to serve as a major showcase for K-culture.

▲ K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is seen in this photo provided by YG Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

◇ BTS, BLACKPINK, Big Bang to return en masse as global stars; Rosé eyes Grammy breakthrough

The K-pop market, a key driver of K-culture’s popularity, is bracing for a wave of high-profile comebacks.

BTS will release a full-group album next spring, their first in four years since the 2022 anthology album "Proof." The group had taken a hiatus from team activities for about four years due to mandatory military service, during which the seven members pursued diverse solo careers.

In a recent group livestream on Weverse, BTS said, “Let’s make 2026 the year of BTS. Something really big is coming,” adding that recording had been completed months ago and refined repeatedly since.

Flagship girl group BLACKPINK has also confirmed the release of a new album in the first half of next year and is in the final stages of music production. It will be their first album release in about four years since their second full-length album "Born Pink" in 2022.

BLACKPINK member Rosé has raised expectations for a historic K-pop win at the Grammy Awards after her hit song "APT." earned nominations in three categories, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year, at the ceremony set to be held in Los Angeles in February.

Both BTS and BLACKPINK will meet fans through large-scale world tours. Given their global popularity, BTS’ tour is expected to take place in major stadiums worldwide, while BLACKPINK will continue its "DEADLINE" world tour next year after kicking it off in Goyang this year.

▲ This photo of BIGBANG members is screenshot from G-Dragon's Instagram post. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Big Bang, celebrating its 20th anniversary next year, will also resume group activities. The group has already confirmed its appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California in April.

G-Dragon recently said at a concert, “We’re preparing a coming-of-age ceremony for Big Bang’s 20th anniversary,” adding, “I’ll bring two more members with me next year.”

The flurry of activities has raised hopes that the K-pop market will rebound from stagnation or a mild downturn and return to a growth trajectory.

Choi Kwang-ho, secretary general of the Korea Music Content Association, said, “Many leading K-pop artists will be active next year,” adding that with the global rise in mainstream awareness of K-pop following "K-pop Demon Hunters," the market has strong growth potential.

Optimism is also being fueled by expectations of a possible easing of China’s informal ban on Korean culture, following a Korea-China summit held on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Gyeongju last month and President Lee Jae-myung’s planned visit to China next year.

“If the Chinese market reopens, member companies estimate sales could grow by as much as 25 percent,” Choi said. “Even a gradual reopening would present a tremendous growth opportunity.”

▲ This photo of actor Byeon Woo-seok is provided by CJ ENM. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

◇ Byeon Woo-seok, So Ji-sub, Song Hye-kyo return as broadcasters bank on stars, originals and seasons

The broadcasting industry is also gearing up for a slate of highly anticipated dramas led by top actors.

MBC’s "The 21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife" marks the return of Byeon Woo-seok, who sparked a craze last year with "Lovely Runner." Set in a fictional constitutional monarchy in Korea, the drama depicts a romance between a royal prince and a commoner from a chaebol family.

So Ji-sub will star in SBS’ "Chief Kim," portraying a father who risks everything to save his daughter, while Song Hye-kyo will headline Netflix’s new series "Slowly but Intensely," which portrays the Korean entertainment industry from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Seol Kyung-gu will appear in the Netflix thriller "Field Mouse," Shin Min-a in Disney+’s romance fantasy "The Remarried Empress," and Suzy in Disney+’s mystery historical drama "Delusion."

▲ This photo provided by Disney Plus shows the main cast for the OTT giant's romance fantasy series "The Remarried Empress." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Many of the upcoming titles are based on previously successful source material. "Delusion," Netflix’s "True Education" and "Field Mouse," SBS’ "Chief Kim" and MBC’s "Married Woman Killer" are based on popular webtoons, while "The Remarried Empress," TVING’s "Even a Lottery Winner Goes to Work" and "Becoming a Legend of the Cook Soldier," and MBC’s "Judge Lee Han-young" originate from web novels.

While webtoon- and web novel-based productions have become standard, the concentration of high-profile IP adaptations in the coming year stands out.

“Many of these works already have strong overseas fan bases,” a webtoon industry official said. “The biggest point of interest is whether ‘The Remarried Empress’ succeeds. If it does, more fantasy IPs are likely to be adapted.”

Sequels to previously successful titles are also slated for release, including Netflix’s "Bloodhounds" Season 2 and "All of Us Are Dead" Season 2, Disney+’s "A Shop for Killers" Season 2, TVING’s "Yumi’s Cells" Season 3, and SBS’ "Flex x Cop" Season 2.

An industry insider noted that films such as "Ode to My Father 2" and "Tazza 4," as well as the return of "Show Me the Money 12," are also highly anticipated, suggesting sequels will dominate the film and TV landscape next year.

Cross-border collaborations are expected to intensify, with Disney+ preparing a Korea-Japan co-produced series tentatively titled "Mary Very Love," and tvN set to release the Korea-Japan variety show "Synchro Game."

▲ The 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on July 15, 2025 (local time). During the session, South Korea was confirmed as the host country for the next meeting, with the 48th session scheduled to take place in Busan from July 19 to 29, 2026. (Yonhap)

◇ UNESCO World Heritage Committee to heat up Busan; focus on North Korea participation, sensitive Japan issues

The roots of K-culture are also set to take center stage globally.

In July next year, Busan will host the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the largest international meeting dedicated to the inscription, conservation and protection of World Heritage sites.

It will mark South Korea’s first time hosting the event since joining the World Heritage Convention some 38 years ago. The meeting will run from July 19 to 29, chaired by former South Korean Ambassador to UNESCO Lee Byung-hyun.

The government views the session as an opportunity to showcase Korea’s past, present and future on the global stage.

Typically, the committee brings together the UNESCO director-general, ambassadors from the 21 committee member states, delegations from convention signatories, academics and nongovernmental organizations.

The Korea Heritage Service expects around 3,000 visitors and is preparing side events such as a national heritage visit campaign, special media art exhibitions, royal guard changing ceremonies and K-goods showcases.

Attention is focused on whether the Busan session will highlight Korea’s role internationally. The government is considering adopting an international declaration, dubbed the “Busan Declaration,” conveying messages of reconciliation and cooperation based on key heritage issues.

Heritage Service Administrator Huh Min has also expressed his intention to invite North Korea to the session.

As chair, South Korea will also face scrutiny over how it addresses sensitive issues related to Japan, including Hashima Island, also known as “Battleship Island,” and the Sado mine, both sites linked to the forced labor of Koreans during Japan’s colonial rule.

6 in 10 Koreans satisfied with leisure life; paid leave usage hits record high

South Koreans’ satisfaction with their leisure lives has reached its highest level since 2016, with more than six in 10 expressing contentment.

According to the "2025 National Leisure Activity Survey" released Thursday by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, 64.0 percent of respondents said they were “very satisfied,” “satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with their leisure activities. The figure rose 2.4 percentage points from the previous year, marking the highest level since the survey began.

Leisure satisfaction stood at 56.4 percent in 2019 before declining to 49.7 percent in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, then rebounding steadily each year.

The rise is attributed to improvements in the quality rather than the quantity of leisure. The average number of leisure activities participated in at least once per person fell from 16.4 to 15.7, while the proportion of activities pursued on a regular basis rose from 38.5 percent to 43.2 percent. Average monthly leisure time also increased slightly, and participation in sports and cultural activities grew.

More than half of respondents, or 56.6 percent, said they enjoyed leisure activities alone, up 1.7 percentage points from a year earlier. Leisure with family or close acquaintances declined, while activities with social groups such as clubs or colleagues rose slightly.

The main purpose of leisure was “personal enjoyment” at 39.8 percent, followed by “mental stability and rest” at 23.5 percent.

A separate Worker Vacation Survey showed that paid leave usage reached a record high. Workers used 13.2 days, or 79.4 percent, of the 16.7 days of paid leave granted per person, the highest rate since the survey began in 2018. The share of workers taking vacations of five days or longer rose to 9.8 percent.

Travel was the most common reason for taking leave at 35.0 percent, followed by rest at 28.6 percent and household chores at 16.0 percent. August recorded the highest monthly leave usage at 15.3 percent, followed by July and December. Average spending during leave reached 2.212 million won, continuing an upward trend.

Meanwhile, the National Cultural and Arts Activity Survey showed that direct attendance at cultural events fell 2.8 percentage points to 60.2 percent, with the average number of attendances declining to 2.4 per year. Movies accounted for the largest share at 50.6 percent, followed by popular music and entertainment at 15.0 percent and musicals at 5.8 percent.

The ministry said detailed survey results will be posted on its official websites. Vice Minister Lee Jung-woo said the findings show Koreans are increasingly favoring more self-directed cultural and leisure activities.

Familiar appeal of K-rom-com shines as "Dynamite Kiss" ends with 6.9 percent rating

SBS romantic comedy "Dynamite Kiss," starring Ahn Eun-jin and Jang Ki-yong, wrapped up on a cheerful note with ratings in the 6 percent range.

According to Nielsen Korea, the final episode aired Wednesday posted a nationwide viewership rating of 6.9 percent.

In the finale, Gong Ji-hyeok, played by Jang, loses his memory of Go Da-rim, portrayed by Ahn, after being hit by a car and falls back into his former disbelief in love. The two reunite a year later at a party, where a kiss restores Ji-hyeok’s memory, leading him to propose and marry Da-rim.

The final scene featured the entire cast dancing freely to upbeat music, including shots of staff members, underscoring the drama’s playful tone.

Though potentially predictable, the series won viewers with its comforting, familiar brand of romantic comedy. It debuted at 4.5 percent and steadily hovered between 5 percent and 6 percent before setting a personal best in its finale, with a peak rating of 8.1 percent.

Reflecting global demand for K-rom-coms, the show also performed well overseas, ranking first among non-English shows on Netflix for two consecutive weeks and staying within the top four throughout its run.

Meanwhile, TV Chosun’s "Miss Trot 4" Episode 2 recorded double-digit ratings, posting 14.0 percent nationwide and a peak of 14.8 percent.

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