
Welcoming 2026, interest is rising in the stars born in the Year of the Horse. From idols to actors, we have summarized the stars born in the Year of the Horse whose activities we hope to see this year. Jay, Jake, and Sunghoon of ENHYPEN, known as '02s', are loved by fans for their chemistry as they playfully interact. Like all members of ENHYPEN, they boast perfect visuals, each with different styles of beauty, captivating ENGENE (the name of their fans) worldwide. Last year, they won grand prizes at various award ceremonies, establishing their status as a hot group. Their world tour 'WALK THE LINE' attracted 676,000 people, marking their largest tour to date. On January 16, they launched a new series 'THE SIN' with their 7th mini-album 'THE SIN: VANISH', so we can expect dynamic activities from them this new year. NINGNING of aespa, whose beauty is continuously upgrading, has been officially designated as the group's 'Tetonyo' (a woman with full testosterone), capturing the hearts of fans and the general public with her cool and confident demeanor. Aespa plans to continue their third world tour in 2026, expanding their tour scale across Asia. Performances are scheduled in Hong Kong on February 7 and 8, in Macau on March 7 and 8, in Jakarta on April 4, at Kyocera Dome Osaka on April 11 and 12, and at Tokyo Dome on April 25 and 26. Aespa has proven their popularity by sweeping the top spots with 'Dirty Work' and 'Rich Man', and they are expected to showcase even more diverse charms to fans through tours and new activities in 2026. NCT's Jisung debuted as a member of NCT DREAM in 2016 and has showcased his presence with sharp dancing. Recently, he was reported to be cast in the ENA drama 'Crash' Season 2, attracting significant attention. He has been selected for the role of the youngest member Chi Dae-se in the TCI team. Known as the 'idol of the traffic department', he is skilled in taekwondo and aikido, but is said to harbor inner pain, drawing attention to his acting. Also, NCT's Shion from NCT WISH, born in 2002, is another star expected to shine this year. RIIZE's Wonbin, recognized as a visual member representing the 5th generation of K-POP, exudes overwhelming charisma on stage and has gained popularity worldwide. Last year, RIIZE achieved three consecutive million-sellers with their 1st full album 'ODYSSEY' and captivated fans during their debut world tour. This year, they will hold their first-ever Tokyo Dome concert from February 21 for three days, which the members are eagerly anticipating, raising fans' expectations. TOMORROW X TOGETHER's Taehyun and Hueningkai are also idols born in the Year of the Horse. Taehyun, armed with overwhelming vocal ability, recently participated in the large-scale project 'Change Street' commemorating the 60th anniversary of Japan-Korea normalization, performing busking in Japan and generating buzz. Hueningkai, known as 'angel' by fans for his kindness, captivates with his exotic visuals, stable singing ability, and strong dance lines, showcasing a solid presence on stage. He is steadily participating in music production, expanding his musical prowess, leading to high expectations for his activities in 2026. TOMORROW X TOGETHER will conduct a five-dome tour in Japan as part of their world tour 'ACT: TOMORROW'. Last year, they interacted with fans in Saitama, Aichi, and Fukuoka. They will hold a concert at Tokyo Dome on January 21 and 22, with performances scheduled at Kyocera Dome Osaka on February 7 and 8, further heating up the tour. IVE's Gaul captivates fans with her charisma on stage and her charm as someone who seems reliable but has a quirky side. She stands out as an artist who is steadily growing, participating in choreography production. IVE will hold their second world tour 'SHOW WHAT I AM' at Kyocera Dome Osaka on April 18 and 19, which is expected to showcase the fervor of Japanese fans once again following their solo concert at Tokyo Dome in September 2024. In 2025, they enjoyed a fruitful year with beloved songs from 'REBEL HEART' to 'ATTITUDE' and 'XOXZ', winning 20 trophies for first place on music programs. In 2026, they are expected to continue this momentum, captivating fans with limitless diverse activities. 2PM's Junho, who has joined the ranks of 'guaranteed box office actors' with the hits 'Teppun Trading' and Netflix's 'CASHERO', debuted as 2PM's 'beast idol' and has built a career in both dramas and films, continuously evolving across genres. He has also been cast in director Ryu Seung-wan's 'Veteran 3', with filming upcoming. Having become a 'complete actor' with both acting skills and box office success, expectations for his activities in 2026 are high. Choi Woo-shik, who showcased a sweet romance in 'Will You Marry Me?', will return to the screen in 2026 with the uniquely themed film 'Number One'. He will once again co-star with Jang Hae-jin, who made a strong impression in 'Parasite', raising expectations for their chemistry. 'Number One' begins with Hamin (Choi Woo-shik) discovering the shocking fact that every time he eats the food his mother makes, the number decreases by one, and when it reaches zero, his mother Eunsil (Jang Hae-jin) will die. Attention is focused on how Choi Woo-shik's realistic acting will shine in 2026 across various genres. Park Shin-hye will make her comeback in 2026 with a comedy drama. Currently starring in tvN's new drama 'Undercover Miss Hong', she plays Hong Geum-bo, an elite securities supervisor who disguises herself as a 20-year-old entry-level employee at a securities company overnight. Attention is drawn to her challenge of a new role. In 2024, Park Shin-hye received warm support from viewers in SBS's 'The Devil's Girlfriend is a Judge'. Having shown a diverse side with her wide-ranging acting, expectations are high for what kind of character she will create this time.
Ahead of their comeback, RIIZE released a trailer for their 2nd mini-album 'II', featuring highlights from the song 'SOAR'. They celebrated their 1000th day since debut with a fan party, where they engaged with fans and performed covers. The members expressed gratitude to their fans and previewed their new title track 'Do your dance'. The album is set to release on June 15.
LIZDA, a skincare-focused makeup brand, has appointed IVE's Iso as its new muse, aligning with its vision of healthy, radiant skin. Known for its 'idol prep' primer line, LIZDA plans to launch a global campaign featuring Iso, enhancing its brand message. The brand recently succeeded in an offline project at 'AZIP Seongsu,' aiming to strengthen its unique market position in global beauty.
RIIZE unveiled a personal trailer for their upcoming album, showcasing Sohee exploring a city guided by an unknown voice. The cinematic trailer highlights her unique charm. Their 2nd mini-album 'II', featuring 6 tracks including 'Do Your Dance', will be released on June 15. Additionally, they will share special content from a summer camp on YouTube starting June 2.
On the morning of the 30th, IVE departed Gimpo International Airport for an overseas schedule. Their agency reported 99 accounts for malicious posts and rights violations, stating they would submit evidence of post deletions and ID changes. Additionally, members Wonyoung and Minhyun attended a 'Tommy Hilfiger' event.
On the afternoon of the 29th, a photo call event for the bag brand TUMI took place at the Shinsegae Department Store in Gangnam, Seoul, attended by IVE's Liz and fromis_9's Lee Chaeyoung. However, Lee Chaeyoung was unable to attend another scheduled event due to stomach cramps and dehydration, as reported by her agency.
Ji Chang-wook has been announced as the MC for the Asia Artist Awards 2026, his first hosting role at an awards ceremony since his debut. The event will take place on December 5-6 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, following last year's 10th anniversary. The AAA honors K-culture stars and features a lineup including IVE's Wonyoung as a co-MC.
RIIZE is set to return with their 2nd mini-album 'II', featuring a trailer that highlights Sonchang's stunning visuals and personal growth. The trailer, released on their YouTube channel, shows Sonchang reflecting on his interests. Additionally, he will debut as a solo MC with a new interview series, 'Sonchang's Interview', launching on June 4. The mini-album releases on June 15.
On the afternoon of the 29th, the CARLYN flagship store opened in Donggyo-dong, Mapo District, Seoul, attended by celebrities including BTOB's Sungjae, IVE's Iso, Red Velvet's Wendy, and Thai actors Emmy & Bonnie. Sungjae expressed admiration for Lee Dong-wook, his co-star in 'Goblin', and Iso from IVE made a cute appearance at the opening event.
aespa has released the music video for their title track 'LEMONADE' from their 2nd full album. The video features a vibrant mood and captures the members' unique charm. The song combines a trendy electronic sound with a positive message about turning challenges into opportunities, promising to captivate global listeners with its refreshing summer vibe and diverse musical styles.
On the morning of the 29th, a Tommy Hilfiger pop-up store opened at Lotte Department Store in Seoul's Songpa district. Attendees included IVE's Wonyoung, Minhyun from Wanna One, and members from ALLDAY PROJECT and CRAVITY. The article notes that photos may vary due to local media coverage.
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