Credit: KQ Entertainment, CJ ENM, JTBC
Ready for ZAPZEE’s Insight? This will be the month of K-pop comebacks as MONSTA X, NCT WISH, ZEROBASEONE, aespa and ILLIT have announced their return. New K-Dramas and movies starring Song Joong Ki, Park Min Young, Kim Go Eun, Lee Byun Hyung and more will also delight fans as they wow viewers with their stellar performances! Nothing but thrills await. Don’t wait, and check out ZAPZEE’s insights now.
K-Pop Comebacks
Summer may be ending, but our favorite boy groups are keeping things hot with their stylish comebacks. Of course, we can’t forget our favorite girl groups joining the mix, but with groups like ZEROBASEONE, MONSTA X and TREASURE on stage, fans can’t help but go crazy.
ZEROBASEONE
Credit: WAKEONE Entertainment
Hot boy group ZB1 plan to make a big impression on September 1st with title track “IKONIC” for their first studio album NEVER SAY NEVER. The nine boys will surely be the highlight of the month as they set the bar for other acts to follow.
TREASURE
Credit: YG Entertainment
TREASURE’s 3rd mini-album LOVE PULSE will steal our hearts on the 1st. Alongside their various metal version teasers, the group announced the PULSE ON Seoul tour in October to follow up their September stage activities.
MONSTA X
The heartthrobs of MONSTA X beat the competition with mini-album The X. The flashy official teaser is creative and has fans wondering what sort of concept the boys will reveal. The title track drops September 1st alongside the album.
NCT WISH
Credit: SM Entertainment
Your dreams may come true with NCT WISH and their new album COLOR, releasing September 1st. After their “Surf” MV, fans wonder if they will continue the summer theme or sport a new concept.
JUN. K (2PM)
Powerful soloist and 2PM member JUN.K returns on September 1st with his 4th Mini Album, Dear My Muse . The dream-like teaser grabs fans by the hand as JUN.K seeks out his inspiration in a fairy-tale-like world.
ILLIT
Credit: BeLift Lab
ILLIT are ready to make another catchy track- this time in Japan! The song “Toki Yo Tomare” will be their first Japanese single, making September 1st the special start of their Japanese activities. Expect a cutesy signature sound from the girls.
AESPA
Credit: SM Entertainment
Popular girl group aespa, and the most awaited act of the month, drop their 6th mini-album Rich Man on September 6th and the teaser photos evoke a rowdy, loud vibe. Judging from teasers, the quartet will drop some powerful tracks and give us the rock band treatment we never knew we needed.
DAY6
DAY6 will take over our playlist as they release their 4th mini-album, The DECADE , which celebrates the group’s 10-year anniversary, on September 6th. The concept seems dark, solemn and dramatic. Can we anticipate some heartfelt ballads?
CORTIS
On September 8th, CORTIS will unveil their first EP, COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, an energetic EP that mimics American summer. The addictive beat and fun raps will be their first step into the K-pop scene as they debut under BIGHIT MUSIC, the home of BTS and TXT.
CIX
CIX will make a long-awaited return with the 8th EP ALBUM ‘GO’ Chapter 1: GO Together . The ethereal teaser poster wows with its large golden wing, emphasizing the track list and group activities. Fans can expect an elegant and mature theme from the boys on September 8th.
JINNY
Credit: Betty Music
The lovely SECRET NUMBER member JINNY is ready to go solo with her debut mini-album, Towards the Light, on September 8th. Title track “Everglow” features a bubblegum pink aesthetic that attracts and showcases JINNY’s stunning looks.
TWICE’s Chaeyoung
Credit: JYP
On September 12th, TWICE member Chaeyoung will be wowing ONCEs with music of her own. The LIL FANTASY vol.1 gilmmers and shines, with pre-order gifts announced and various teasers piquing our interest. Will Chaeyoung promote the song on their tours, too?
IDID
Seven-member boy group IDID will debut on September 15th with the album I DID IT . The notably handsome boy group teased various YouTube videos and member photos. See their pre-debut dance covers and decide which member you will fall in love with next.
FT ISLAND
Credit: FNC Entertainment
On September 17th, FT ISLAND come back with their 10th album Instinct . The teaser photo simply reveals the three members with a yellow-ish blur, leaving fans to wonder what this mysterious title track could sound like.
ORBIT
Credit: Orbit Official
ORBIT will win over Japan with their full-album ROAR on September 17th. The vibes are punk-rock, rambunctious, and stylish. The tracklist is colorful and may further boost the five-member boy group’s popularity.
ATEEZ
Credit: KQ Entertainment
Legendary act ATEEZ may be the act to outshine the others. On September 17th, the boys will drop their 2nd full album Ashes to Light in Japan. The black and white contrasting teaser photos emphasize just how alluring the members are.
K-Dramas
A plethora of K-Dramas will entertain viewers this September. The summer will come to a close with some thrillers and introspective pieces featuring familiar favorites. See which Korean stars will be appearing in these highly anticipated shows.
My Youth
Starring Song Joong Ki, Chun Woo Hee, Lee Joo Myung, and more, My Youth is a wonderful story highlighting the beauty of our golden days. The sentimental romance drama focuses on Seonwoo Hae and Seong Je Yeon, who must shake things up in order to achieve success.
The Mantis: Original Sin
With top stars like Go Hyun Jung and Jang Dong Yoon, The Mantis: Original Sin is an eerie story as a woman imprisoned for being a serial killer long ago discovers someone begins a series of murders imitating her. A psycho-thriller out on September 5th.
Confidence Queen
Who knew a comedy mystery would be on our must-watch list! Confidence Queen stars Park Min Young, and Park Hee Soon. The three actors play infamous scammers with different charms who use bizarre methods to swindle money from others. The show will air on September 6th.
Tempest
Tempest showcases popular stars like Jun Ji Hyun, Kang Dong Won, Kim Hae Sook, and more. The story of a former diplomat named Moon Ju and special agent Sanho unfolds as a mysterious past comes to the surface. They pursue the truth hidden behind an incident in this thriller on September 10th.
To The Moon
Lee Sun Bin, Ra Mi Ran and other familiar stars come together in To The Moon . A relatable drama reflecting today’s struggles, the realistic survival story shows three women who can’t survive on their salaries alone, jumping into coin investment. Will they get rich quick or fall deeper into debt and despair? Find out on September 12th.
You and Everything Else
On September 12th, You and Everything Else airs and the producers plan on wowing us with appearances from Kim Go Eun, Park Ji Hyun and Kim Gun Woo. The story follows the humorous lives of Eun Joong and Sang Yeon, two friends who love, admire, and hate each other at every moment. Follow their web of stories on Netflix.
Hundred Memories
Kim Da Mi, Shin Ye Eun, and Heo Nam Joon will have us shedding tears in Hundred Memories . A heartbreaking first love story of a man and his destined youth. The coming-of-age story blending comedy and romance is a retro 1980s piece airing September 13th.
New Boss Project (literal translation)
The New Boss Project ( literal translation) starring Han Suk Kyu, Bae Hyun Sung, Lee Re airs on September 15th and tells a fun story viewers will easily enjoy. A former legendary negotiator becomes a chicken restaurant owner but finds himself wrapped up in a mysterious secret, solving cases.
Walking On Thin Ice
Lee Young Ae, Kim Young Kwang, and Park Yong Woo tackle the issues of drugs and youth fighting peer pressure in Walking On Thin Ice. A parent who wants to protect her family, and is entangled with a two-faced teacher, who accidentally gets involved in drugs. The show airs on September 20th.
Intimate Ripley (literal title)
Credit: First Actors Official
On September 22nd, Lee Si Ah will tug at our heartstrings in Intimate Ripley (literal title). The heartbreaking and tearful story focuses on a complicated mother-daughter relationship as they wage a war of lies to take over Geonhyangga.
First Lady (Working Title)
Credit: MBN
Yoo Jin, Ji Hyun Woo, and Lee Min Young retell history in First Lady. The series recollects the 1992 visit of King Charles III and Princess Diana in Korea. A politics-heavy plot surrounding family secrets amidst the president-elect and his wife before the presidential inauguration. The serious piece airs on September 24th.
Ms. Incognito
Credit: Genie TV
Jeon Yeo Been and Jinyoung are entangled in quite the messy story in Ms. Incognito. A female bodyguard enters a contract marriage with a sick but wealthy man. She must then change her identity and survive for three months while avoiding those seeking her vast inheritance. The thrilling comedy airs September 29th.
PICK: New Korean Dramas to Watch in August 2025
Korean Movies
With so many deaths, mysteries, and tragic story lines on the way, fans are in for some thrilling storylines that will leave them on the edge of their seat.
Murderer Report
Cho Yeo Jeong and Jung Sung Il will send shivers down your spine with the thrilling Murderer Report . Young Hoon, an unprecedented serial killer who has murdered eleven people, offers a special interview to veteran reporter Seon Ju, who is desperate for insight on his story. Is it more than Seon Ju can handle? How will their involvement change the story? Find out on September 5th.
The Ugly
If one thriller isn’t enough, The Ugly , starring Park Jung Min, Kwon Hae Hyo and more celebs, will have you on the edge of your seat. Im Dong Hwan discovers the skeletal remains of his mother, who was thought to have gone missing 40 years ago, and uncovers the truth behind her death. Will it end in tragedy or is there more to expect from this murder mystery?
NO OTHER CHOICE
Lee Byung Hun continues to grace our screen, alongside actors Son Ye Jin, Park Hee Soon, and Lee Sung Min in NO OTHER CHOICE . On September 17th Lee Byung Hun plays the role of Man Soo, an expert so content with his life that he feels he has accomplished everything. However, his sudden lay off by his company left him broken. Man Soo vows to find any job within three months for the sake of his family. Will he be met with happiness or in despair?
