The Year of the Blue Snake has passed and the Year of the Red Horse has begun. The entertainment industry flared up with various incidents and accidents late last year, but the mood at the start of the new year appears to have calmed somewhat.

In the first week of the year, singers and actors who have signalled future activity are drawing attention. Viewers are also focusing on “bromance” chemistry that helped audiences immerse themselves in various Korean works. A photo featuring visuals identical to Jinwoo, a member of the Lion Boys in the animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters” that shook the world last year, also drew fans’ attention.

· 'Rom-com king' Jang Ki-yong to take on a relatable character in 'Law of the Line'...a political noir drama

News has been reported that actor Jang Ki-yong, who drew attention for the SBS drama “Kiss Was a Mistake!” with Ahn Eun-jin, has confirmed his next project.

Jang will star as the lead in the new drama “Law of the Line”. It is an office political noir that depicts a person with no connections and no backing overturning the power game of office mafias with only an innate political sense and bringing down the “line”.

If Jang finalises his appearance in “Law of the Line”, expectations are growing that he will show another new acting transformation through a character that draws realistic empathy from office workers.

· Irene, Hearts2Hearts, EXO...SM unveils first-quarter 2026 comeback lineup · Ahn Hyo-seop holds HUNTRIX and Lion Boys light sticks in 'KDH'...'Jinwoo' himself

SM Entertainment, or SM, has unveiled an artist lineup to mark the start of the year.

SM’s third-quarter 2025 earnings release said that in the first quarter of 2026, from January to March, EXO and Red Velvet member Irene will release full-length albums. NCT U and NCT TEN will release mini albums, and NCT WISH will release a Japanese mini album.

Hearts2Hearts and Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon (HYO) will also return with single albums. RIIZE, NCT WISH, Super Junior, aespa and NCT DREAM are also expected to continue meeting fans worldwide through various concert tours.

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop, who voiced Jinwoo from the Lion Boys in the Netflix animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters”, showed off visuals that closely resemble the character he played.

Ahn posted on Instagram, “Please make every moment count. Happy New Year,” along with photos of himself holding light sticks for HUNTRIX and the Lion Boys, groups featured in “KDH”.

Fans responded with comments such as “a live-action Jinwoo”, “Jinwoo exists holding HUNTRIX and Lion Boys light sticks” and “top-tier male idol visuals”.

· [Drama CLIP] Can't forget 'Weak Hero'...gather here for 'bromance' chemistry

As Korean works across various genres are released, drama fans are enjoying more to watch and hear. Amid that, fans are focusing on the bickering bromance chemistry between two male actors in the works.

A 대표 example is the tvN drama “Goblin”. Along with the sweet romance chemistry between Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun, the chemistry between Gong Yoo’s “Goblin” and Lee Dong-wook’s “Grim Reaper” captivated viewers. While bickering, the two portrayed a deep friendship between men and won favorable reviews.

tvN’s “Mr. Sunshine” is also hard to leave out. In the drama, Lee Byung-hun, Yoo Yeon-seok and Byun Yo-han each played characters who like Kim Tae-ri in their own ways, delivering bittersweet melodrama acting. In particular, Yoo’s Gu Dong-mae and Byun’s Kim Hee-sung brought laughter at key moments in an otherwise heavy atmosphere, drawing praise from drama fans.

The characters most often cited as the “best bromance” are Yeon Si-eun (played by Park Ji-hoon) and Ahn Su-ho (played by Choi Hyun-wook) in “Weak Hero Class 1”. In the action coming-of-age drama about a weak boy fighting back against numerous acts of violence, the top 1 percent model student Yeon Si-eun, his first friend Ahn Su-ho and Oh Beom-seok (played by Hong Kyung) stood out with distinct chemistry.

If the works mentioned above featured chemistry with “yearning” as the keyword, Ju Ji-hoon and Choo Young-woo in “Severe Trauma Center” and Jang Hyuk-jin and Bae Yoo-ram in “Taxi Driver” caught the public’s attention with bromance chemistry keyed to humor.

■ This week’s main K-snapp news?

· Ahn Sung-ki to be remembered on screen...three 'legendary works' that became his last · [OTT ranking] Korean hero series 'Cashero' stays firm despite mixed reactions, as does 'The Great Flood'

Actor Ahn Sung-ki died on Jan. 5 at the age of 74. Ahn, who was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 and continued treatment, was declared cured in 2020, but the illness recently returned and he had been receiving treatment again. On Dec. 30, his health suddenly worsened at home and he was transferred to the intensive care unit at Soonchunhyang University Hospital, but he did not recover.

Born in 1951, Ahn appeared in about 150 works, starting with the 1957 film “Twilight Train”, and took on major roles. In a filmography as long as the history of Korean cinema, Ahn remained a face that “works in any era”. Among the many works he left behind, this piece looks back at three that left a particularly strong impression on the public.

As Netflix series and films continue to find success in global markets, domestic works are also earning public support by placing in the rankings.

Starting with “The Great Flood”, which ranked No. 1 in 54 countries including South Korea, Spain, Brazil and Qatar immediately after release, the Netflix series “Cashero”, starring Lee Junho and based on a day-to-day hero concept, also entered the rankings and drew strong reactions at home and abroad.

“The Great Flood” depicts the inner conflict of Anna (played by Kim Da-mi), the last hope for humanity amid a major disaster, as she stands at a crossroads between survival and the continuation of humankind. Immediately after release, reactions were split across online communities and social media.

It drew favorable reviews for its fresh premise with AI as a core theme and for dealing with science-fiction elements rarely seen in domestic works. Some reactions also expressed disappointment that it was perceived as a disaster film during promotion but in fact had a different genre texture.

In the TV show category, the Netflix series “Cashero”, which is ranked 8th and has steadily remained in the rankings, is drawing attention.

The series, which drew attention as Lee Junho’s next project after “Typhoon Company”, was released on Dec. 26 and is based on a webtoon of the same name. It tells the story of a salaried worker, Sang-ung (played by Lee), struggling with wedding money and housing costs, who gains an ability that grows stronger in proportion to the money in his hand, and then wrestles between living expenses and superpowers.

The acting transformation of Lee Chae-min, who is taking on a villain role for the first time since debut, is also receiving favorable reviews. His intense villain performance, strong enough not to recall his character in “The Tyrant’s Chef”, has raised immersion and captured viewers’ attention.

In the second week of January 2026, the music scene is expected to draw listeners with a diverse lineup, from veteran groups to spirited rookies.

Apink, marking its 15th anniversary, signalled a smooth start on domestic and overseas charts with its 11th mini album. Rookie group IDENTITY, which made a comeback on Jan. 5, unveiled a drastic transformation by expanding from a seven-member group to a 15-member group and showed performances not seen before. As news of a Wanna One reunion was reported, member Ha Sung-woon is stepping out first as a soloist, further raising fans’ expectations.

· [New song hot clip] Monsta X’s Jooheon → '15th anniversary' Apink...'ear candy' ready

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