Today’s Fresh Drops

From Lisa's Comeback to a ₩200K Youth Pass [NewsTainer]

NewsTainer 2026. 10. 23. 14:07


Oct 23, 2026 [NewsTainer] 9 Things Worth Knowing Today — From Lisa's Comeback to a ₩200K Youth Pass

 

▸ 30-second summary
① Lisa's "PRESS PLAY" and BABYMONSTER's "DESERVE" drop on the same day, today · IVE, ILLIT and RIIZE return on the 26th
② Korea's Youth Culture & Arts Pass for people born in 2006–2007: up to ₩200,000, apply by Nov 30 · Culture Nuri Card balances vanish at year's end
③ This weekend: the free Seoul Music Festival and Daegu Tteokbokki Festival · Aero K sale up to 98% off ends on the 25th


▶ Watch the episode — Techne & Arte (Korean audio, English subtitles)


Hi, this is NewsTainer. Today we picked nine things worth knowing before the weekend, from your favorite artists to money that disappears if you miss it, weekend plans and travel.

1 · K-pop — Lisa and BABYMONSTER release on the same day 10.23 BLACKPINK's Lisa releases her first mini album, "PRESS PLAY," today. It has six tracks, including "SaWaDiKa," a song titled after the Thai greeting that came out early in September. At 1 p.m. the same day, BABYMONSTER releases the digital single "DESERVE," its first new music in about four months, which YG's Yang Hyun-suk describes as a slow song with more intense energy than before. Lisa now releases solo music through her own company, LLOUD, so it's effectively a same-day face-off between a former YG senior and her juniors. i-dle's Minnie also releases a digital EP, "i love you to the moon and back," today (Sports Kyunghyang, K-pop Is Music). Why it matters · Release times can show differently by platform and country. Turn on notifications in your music app.

2 · K-pop — IVE and ILLIT both return Monday the 26th, plus RIIZE 10.26 IVE returns with its fifth mini album, "Looks Can Kill," and ILLIT with its fifth mini album, "BREAK EVEN," on the same day. IVE is introducing a new "girl hero" concept and pre-released its title track on the 19th. ILLIT's title track is "I'll Arrest You" ("체포하겠어"), on an album that ranges from electro pop to baile funk and speed garage (OSEN via Korea Daily). RIIZE also drops the digital single "Insomnia" that day (K-pop Is Music). Why it matters · Comeback weeks bring music shows and pop-ups. Check official social accounts first.

3 · Youth — Korea's Youth Culture & Arts Pass for those born in 2006–2007, apply by Nov 30 Apply by 11/30 If you were born in 2006 or 2007, you can get Korea's Youth Culture & Arts Pass for performances, exhibitions and movies: ₩150,000 in the Seoul metropolitan area and ₩200,000 elsewhere. Second-round applications are first come, first served until Nov 30 and may close early if local budgets run out. The money must be spent by Dec 31; movies are limited to two (metro area) or four (elsewhere) uses, and books to ₩50,000 or ₩70,000. You can't get it again if you used it last year, or received it in the first half of this year and didn't use it by July 31 (Aju Business Daily). Why it matters · Apply on the official pass website. Unused money simply disappears.

4 · Benefits — Culture Nuri Card and Hometown Love donations before year's end 11/30 · 12/31 The Culture Nuri Card gives people aged 6 and up in low-income households ₩150,000 a year (₩160,000 for ages 13–18 and 60–64). Apply or top up by Nov 30 and spend it by Dec 31; balances don't carry over and go back to the treasury. Under Korea's Hometown Love donation program, giving ₩100,000 this year to a local government other than where you live gets you the full ₩100,000 back as a tax credit, plus a gift worth about ₩30,000. Donate on the Hometown Love e-Eum site or at NongHyup Bank (Aju Business Daily). Why it matters · Many eligible parents and neighbors miss the Culture Nuri Card. Please pass it on.

5 · This weekend — Free Seoul Music Festival on Nodeul Island, Sat Oct 24 Free · 10.24 Seoul holds a free Seoul Music Festival on Nodeul Island on Oct 24. The 5–9 p.m. main concert features Paul Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, Oksang Dalbit, the Kim Chang-wan Band, Chudahye Chagis and Nerd Connection. Reserved seats sold out in about a minute when booking opened on Sept 30. From noon, anyone can enjoy a record exhibition and listening zone, busking, a music talk show, a photo booth and karaoke with no reservation. The main concert streams live on Live Seoul. Nearest station: Nodeul on Line 9 (Seoul Metropolitan Government, Namane Card). Why it matters · No seat? The daytime program is open to all, and you can stream the main show from home.

6 · Festival — Daegu Tteokbokki Festival, today through the 25th 10.23 – 25 The 2026 Tteokbokki Festival runs Oct 23–25 around iM Bank Park in Buk-gu, Daegu. Out of 85 applicants, 37 shops from nine regions were chosen, including Seoul's Tteoksan from Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars," Busan's 45-year-old Darijip, snow crab tteokbokki from Sokcho and Jeju's Myeongnang Snack. There's no celebrity show or opening ceremony; the concept is "tteokbokki is the celebrity," with festival-only menus (Kyungbuk Maeil). Why it matters · Popular booths get long lines. Avoid the lunchtime peak.

7 · This weekend — Seoul Market Fair at Cheonggye Plaza and WeMake Fest in Seongsu 10.24 – 25 On Oct 24–25, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., the 2026 Seoul Market Fair at Cheonggye Plaza showcases and sells products from traditional markets and shopping streets (Seoul Metropolitan Government). The same days, the 2026 WeMake Fest at Pubg Seongsu offers a makers' flea market, a rooftop exhibition, six workshops such as mug decorating, glass plate making and scrap keyrings, yoga and a Seongsu local tour. Workshops and tours have limited spots, so sign up on Eventus first (PPSS). Why it matters · Rain is forecast in many areas this weekend (FestivalHub). Bring an umbrella and a tote.

8 · Travel — Aero K sale up to 98% off, book by Oct 25 Book by 10/25 Aero K is selling discounted fares on 15 international routes to Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines until Oct 25. Travel runs from Oct 25, 2026, to Mar 27, 2027, excluding Dec 24–28, Dec 31–Jan 4, Feb 4–10 and Feb 25–Mar 2. One-way fares start in the ₩70,000 range including October fuel surcharges and airport fees, and website members get an extra 5% off. Seats are limited and may sell out early (New Daily). Kyoto's autumn leaves usually begin in mid-November (Japan National Tourism Organization, via News-wa). Why it matters · "Up to 98%" applies to some seats. Compare fares by date before paying.

9 · Abroad — BTS's "ARIRANG" world tour reaches Asia in November From 11.19 After South America, BTS's "ARIRANG" world tour comes to Asia next month: Kaohsiung National Stadium on Nov 19, 21 and 22; Bangkok on Dec 3, 5 and 6; Kuala Lumpur on Dec 12 and 13; Singapore on Dec 17, 19, 20 and 22; and Jakarta on Dec 26 and 27 (Bandwagon, JamBase, Trip.com). Why it matters · Hotels near the venue get pricey on show days. Buy tickets only from official sellers and watch out for "cheap ticket" scams.

NewsTainer's Take: "Keep up with what you love, and claim what's yours. Deadlines don't wait."

🗓 This week (KST)

Fri 10/23 Lisa "PRESS PLAY" · BABYMONSTER "DESERVE" (1 p.m.) · Minnie EP
10/23 – 25 Daegu Tteokbokki Festival (iM Bank Park)
Sat 10/24 Seoul Music Festival (Nodeul Island, free)
10/24 – 25 Seoul Market Fair (Cheonggye Plaza) · WeMake Fest (Seongsu)
Sun 10/25 Aero K sale booking ends
Mon 10/26 IVE & ILLIT 5th mini albums, RIIZE "Insomnia"
Mon 11/30 Youth Culture & Arts Pass round 2 · Culture Nuri Card apply/top-up deadline
Thu 12/31 Spend-by date for both cards · Hometown Love donations for 2026

Sources — same as the Korean list above.