[K-enter] Lee Byung-hun to receive Tribute Award at Toronto Int'l Film Festival

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Bella, let's start off with an exciting story on Korean actor Lee Byung-hun.

Lee Byung-hun is set to receive a Tribute Award at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (also known as TIFF). The Toronto Film Festival announced on its website the four honourees of the 'TIFF Tribute Awards.' Lee Byung-hun was named alongside Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, Japanese filmmaker HIKARI, and American actress Jodie Foster.

Lee was praised as a "global star who has achieved significant success in both Korean and Hollywood films and series."

Along with Lee's award, his latest film, "NO OTHER CHOICE," directed by Park Chan-wook, has also been invited to the festival.

This year's TIFF will run from September 4th to 14th in Toronto, Canada.

Congratulations to Lee Byung-hun! We will now talk about two K-pop groups doing amazing on Billboard charts?

First off, TOMORROW X TOGETHER have swept the U.S. Billboard charts with their latest release. According to the latest Billboard charts, the group's fourth full-length album, "The Star Chapter: TOGETHER," has topped three charts -the 'Top Album Sales,' 'Top Current Album Sales,' and 'World Albums' charts. The album also made an impressive debut at No. 3 on the 'Billboard 200.'

Meanwhile, TOMORROW X TOGETHER will kick off their fourth world tour "TOMORROW X TOGETHER WORLD TOUR" on August 22nd and 23rd at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

The other group is a girl group doing great on Billboard, with a great "strategy", right?

TWICE's "Strategy" has climbed to a new peak of No.74 on the Billboard 'Hot 100.' The song, originally released back in December 2024, debuted at No.92 on the chart last week after being included on the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack. Notably, this achievement broke their own best record on the Billboard 'Hot 100.'

Additionally, "Takedown," an original "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack, sung by Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung also rose to No.67 on the 'Hot 100.'

Finally, a K-pop artist who's been on Billboard for months, Rosé. BUT today's news is something else?

Rosé has secured eight nominations at this year's MTV Video Music Awards (also known as VMAs).

According to the list of nominees announced by MTV VMAs on its website, Rosé is up for 'Video of the Year,' 'Song of the Year,' 'Best Collaboration,' 'Best Pop,' 'Best Direction,' 'Best Art Direction' and 'Best Visual Effects' with her hit song "APT." featuring Bruno Mars.

She also received a nomination for the 'Best K-pop' category with her solo track "Toxic Till the End."

Rosé posted on Instagram saying that she is "beyond shocked" and "absolutely speechless."

EIGHT nominations! Please keep us updated with the result as well. Thank you Bella for today's stories.

Let's now go over to our AI anchor Ari, for more on the culture front. Ari!