Analysis

Pakistan’s $4.1 Billion Solar Paradox: How Import Dependency Threatens Energy Justice

Published

10 months ago

December 26, 2025

Pakistan imports 22 GW of solar panels while local manufacturing dies. This $4.1B spending spree enriches China but impoverishes the poor—here’s the hidden cost of green energy without green jobs.

The rooftops of Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad glitter with crystalline silicon—a testament to Pakistan’s renewable energy revolution. By mid-2025, solar power will provide over 25% of the nation’s electricity, surpassing any single fossil fuel source. Yet beneath this gleaming facade lies a disturbing paradox: Pakistan has become the world’s second-largest importer of Chinese solar panels, hemorrhaging $4.1 billion in foreign exchange over four years while building precisely zero manufacturing capacity at home.

This is not the story of a green transition. It’s the story of a missed industrial revolution—one where Pakistan’s energy independence is being mortgaged panel by panel, and where the poorest citizens will ultimately pay the price for the wealthy’s escape from the grid.

Table of Contents

The Import Addiction: Trading One Dependency for Another

Between July 2023 and January 2025 alone, Pakistan imported 22 gigawatts of solar capacity—enough to power nearly 15 million homes. The scale is staggering, the pace unprecedented. Walk through any upscale neighborhood in Pakistan’s major cities and you’ll see the evidence: rooftop after rooftop adorned with imported panels, each one a small declaration of independence from the dysfunctional national grid.

But zoom out, and the picture darkens. According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics trade data, the country has funneled over $4.1 billion into imported solar equipment since 2020, with China capturing nearly 95% of this market. Pakistan now ranks as China’s second-largest export destination for solar products globally, trailing only the European Union. For a country perpetually scrambling for foreign exchange, burning through billions on imports—while creating no domestic production—represents economic policy malpractice.

The employment calculus tells an equally grim story. While solar adoption has created thousands of installation and maintenance jobs, these are low-skill, low-wage positions. The high-value manufacturing jobs—producing polysilicon, wafers, cells, and modules—remain in China. Pakistan imports the finished product, screws it onto rooftops, and calls it progress. The $4.1 billion spent could have seeded an entire manufacturing ecosystem, generating skilled employment for engineers, technicians, and factory workers. Instead, it’s a one-way transfer of wealth with no multiplier effect.

Energy Justice or Energy Apartheid?

Perhaps most troubling is the equity dimension that policymakers conveniently ignore. Pakistan’s solar boom is overwhelmingly concentrated among affluent households and businesses—those who can afford the $3,000-$10,000 upfront investment in rooftop systems. These solar adopters effectively exit the grid’s financial obligations while still relying on it for backup power during cloudy days and nighttime.

The problem? The grid’s fixed costs—transmission infrastructure, substations, grid maintenance—don’t disappear when consumers generate their own power. According to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) estimates, approximately PKR 200 billion in fixed grid costs must still be recovered. As wealthier consumers defect, this burden cascades onto those who remain: the poor and middle class who cannot afford solar installations.

NEPRA has already signaled that base tariffs for non-solar users could increase by 17% to compensate for revenue shortfalls. This creates a perverse outcome where Pakistan’s green energy transition is being financed by those least able to afford it—shop owners in small towns, factory workers in Faisalabad, farmers in rural Sindh. Energy justice demands that the benefits and costs of transitions be distributed equitably. Pakistan’s current model does the opposite, creating what amounts to energy apartheid.

The Policy Architecture of Failure

Why hasn’t Pakistan developed local manufacturing despite obvious incentives? The answer lies in a toxic combination of misaligned tax policy, regulatory instability, and bureaucratic dysfunction.

“Pakistan has become the world’s second-largest importer of Chinese solar panels—a consumer, not a producer, in the very revolution meant to secure its energy future.”

Consider the case of ReneSola, one of the few companies attempting local assembly in Pakistan. The company faces an absurd tax structure: imported finished panels enter Pakistan duty-free (0% tariff), while manufacturers trying to produce locally must pay 18% sales tax on raw components and machinery. This creates what industry insiders call “structural impossibility”—it is literally cheaper to import finished products than to manufacture them domestically.

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The perverse incentives don’t end there. Local manufacturers face an 18% general sales tax on imported manufacturing equipment, while importers of finished panels enjoy streamlined customs processing and minimal documentation requirements. The government has essentially subsidized imports while penalizing domestic production—the exact opposite of every successful industrialization strategy in modern economic history.

Beyond tax policy, regulatory instability has scared away potential investors. Chinese foreign direct investment in Pakistan—once flowing robustly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework—dropped by 40% in 2024 according to State Bank of Pakistan data. Industry representatives cite inconsistent policy signals, frequent rule changes, and high perceived credit risk as primary deterrents. Solar manufacturing requires capital-intensive investments with 10-15 year payback periods. No investor commits that kind of capital in an environment where policies shift with every cabinet reshuffle.

Then there’s the institutional fragmentation. Responsibility for solar policy is scattered across the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industries, Alternative Energy Development Board, and provincial governments. Each entity has overlapping mandates, competing priorities, and limited coordination. A comprehensive solar manufacturing policy has been “under consideration” for nearly three years, perpetually delayed by inter-ministerial turf battles and bureaucratic inertia. While committees meet and draft papers, the import bill grows and the manufacturing window narrows.

The 5S Framework: A Localization Blueprint

Pakistan doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. Successful solar manufacturing ecosystems exist in India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Morocco—each offering lessons applicable to Pakistan’s context. What’s required is a coherent, multi-year strategy executed with political consistency. The “5S Framework” provides such a roadmap:

Strategy: Establish Institutional Clarity Pakistan needs a National Solar Industrialization Task Force—a dedicated body with Cabinet-level authority and representation from relevant ministries, provincial governments, and private sector stakeholders. This task force should produce a binding 10-year Solar Manufacturing Policy with clear targets, incentive structures, and accountability mechanisms. India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for solar manufacturing offers a proven template: guaranteed subsidies tied to production milestones, creating predictable returns that attract serious investment.

Subsidies & Tax Rationalization: Fix the Duty Structure The current duty structure must be inverted. Pakistan should implement a phased tariff schedule on imported finished panels—starting at 5% in year one, scaling to 15% by year three, and reaching 25% by year five. Simultaneously, all duties and sales taxes on solar manufacturing components (polysilicon, wafers, glass, aluminum frames, inverters) and manufacturing equipment should be eliminated entirely. This creates a “manufacturing advantage” that makes local production commercially viable without requiring permanent subsidies.

Standards: Build Quality Infrastructure Pakistan must establish a National Solar Certification Body modeled on India’s Bureau of Indian Standards or Thailand’s Thai Industrial Standards Institute. This body would certify both imported and domestically produced equipment against international benchmarks (IEC standards), ensuring quality while creating the regulatory foundation for future exports. Quality certification also protects consumers from the flood of substandard panels that currently plague the market.

Special Economic Zones: Create Integrated Clusters Rather than scattering investments across the country, Pakistan should develop integrated solar manufacturing clusters within existing Special Economic Zones under CPEC 2.0. The Rashakai SEZ (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Allama Iqbal Industrial City (Punjab) offer ideal locations with existing infrastructure, power supply, and logistics connectivity. These zones should offer 10-year tax holidays, subsidized land, and streamlined approvals specifically for solar value chain investments—from upstream polysilicon and wafer production to downstream module assembly and inverter manufacturing.

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Science & Knowledge Transfer: Leverage CPEC 2.0 The recently announced CPEC 2.0 includes an “Innovation Corridor” framework for technology collaboration. Pakistan should negotiate explicit technology transfer protocols with Chinese solar giants like Longi, JA Solar, and Trina Solar. The model: joint ventures where Chinese firms provide technology and management expertise while committing to gradually increasing local content over five years—from 30% in year one to 80% by year five. Vietnam successfully employed this strategy with Samsung electronics; Pakistan can replicate it in solar.

The China-Pakistan Win-Win

Skeptics might ask: why would China help Pakistan build manufacturing that competes with Chinese exports? The answer lies in changing global dynamics and mutual strategic interest.

First, Chinese solar manufacturers face growing protectionism. The United States has imposed 250% tariffs on Chinese solar products; the European Union is considering similar measures. By establishing production facilities in Pakistan, Chinese firms can bypass these restrictions, labeling products “Made in Pakistan” while accessing markets otherwise closed to them. Pakistan becomes a strategic production base—just as Mexico has become for Chinese EV manufacturers seeking U.S. market access.

Second, China’s domestic solar industry suffers from massive overcapacity. Chinese firms produced 720 GW of solar panels in 2024—nearly triple global demand. This overcapacity has crashed prices and squeezed profit margins. Diversifying production to friendly markets like Pakistan allows Chinese firms to better manage capacity while maintaining market share.

Third, Pakistan offers a geographic gateway to untapped markets. With production facilities in Pakistan, Chinese solar technology can more easily penetrate the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asian markets—regions with enormous solar potential but limited current penetration. Pakistan’s location, combined with improved market access through trade agreements, makes it an ideal export platform.

For Pakistan, the calculus is straightforward. Chinese investment brings not just capital, but technology, management expertise, and access to global supply chains. The goal isn’t autarky—complete self-sufficiency is neither possible nor desirable. The goal is value capture: moving up the manufacturing chain so that more of the $4 billion currently spent on imports circulates within Pakistan’s economy, creating jobs, tax revenue, and technological capabilities.

A Crossroads Moment

Pakistan’s FY26 budget cycle, beginning in June 2025, represents a make-or-break moment. If the upcoming budget fails to include a comprehensive solar manufacturing policy with concrete incentives, the window for green industrialization will effectively close. By 2027, Pakistan’s solar market will likely reach saturation—most viable rooftops will already be covered, and growth will plateau. The import bonanza will end, but Pakistan will have nothing to show for it except a depleted foreign exchange reserve and a legacy of missed opportunities.

The alternative path requires political courage and bureaucratic competence—admittedly scarce commodities in Pakistan’s governance ecosystem. But the economic logic is irrefutable. Every successful industrial economy in modern history—from South Korea to China to Vietnam—moved from importing finished goods to manufacturing them domestically. Pakistan has natural advantages: a large domestic market providing guaranteed demand, cheap labor for assembly-stage manufacturing, and a strategic partner in China willing to invest if conditions are right.

What Pakistan lacks is not resources or potential, but policy coherence and political will. The country can either continue as a passive consumer in the global solar value chain—enriching foreign manufacturers while burdening its poorest citizens with the costs—or it can pivot to become an active partner, building the industrial base that generates employment, captures value, and secures genuine energy sovereignty.

The solar panels glittering on Lahore’s rooftops are not, by themselves, symbols of progress. They will only become so if Pakistan learns the fundamental lesson of industrialization: energy independence isn’t built on imported panels; it’s forged in local factories, designed in domestic R&D centers, and powered by the skilled hands of Pakistani workers. The choice is Pakistan’s to make—and the clock is ticking.

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Analysis

MLB Playoffs 2026: Postseason Format, Broadcast Guide and How to Track the Bracket

Published

4 hours ago

October 13, 2026

Abdul Rahman

October is Major League Baseball’s postseason month, with the League Championship Series leading toward the World Series. MLB’s official October 9 update listed league championship broadcasting arrangements and said its complete postseason schedule was subject to change. That is the appropriate basis for a service article, rather than relying on viral bracket graphics. Sources: MLB and NBA.

The important context competitors can overlook

The playoff path moves through the Wild Card Series, Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series. Series lengths differ, affecting travel planning, pitching strategies and when a potential deciding game may occur. Weather, broadcast adjustments and series ending early can all change the actual date of a matchup. A guide should therefore distinguish tentative “if necessary” games from guaranteed events. For primary-source checks and current reporting, see MLB and NFL. The key distinction is practical broadcast and bracket explainer with no fictitious results.

October baseball moves through elimination series toward the World Series. Games marked ‘if necessary’ depend on earlier series results. Research cutoff: October 12, 2026; confirm developing facts before publication.

A practical way to use this information

Use MLB’s live bracket and broadcast information for tonight’s specific matchup, while this article provides the enduring format explanation. If publishing a result, record the completed date and source. Viewers should check the network, streaming eligibility and local restrictions before paying. Avoid declaring future participants or game outcomes without an official final score.

What to verify before making a decision

The right next step is to identify the source, timestamp and applicable market or jurisdiction. Check whether a number is a historical observation, official announcement, target, forecast or scenario. If you intend to act financially, legally or commercially, use the relevant provider’s current terms and obtain professional advice where appropriate. The sources cited here establish context; they are not a substitute for live prices, individual eligibility checks or binding agreements.

Reader questions

Where is the authoritative 2026 playoff schedule? MLB publishes and updates it at MLB.com/postseason.

Why are some dates marked if necessary? Best-of-series matchups end once a team wins the required number of games.

How the MLB postseason bracket works

Major League Baseball’s postseason includes division winners and wild-card teams, followed by a sequence of elimination series that eventually determines each league champion and the World Series participants. The rounds use different series lengths; that affects pitching strategy, bullpen workload and how quickly a team can be eliminated. A single-game result in a best-of-series contest is important but not always decisive. Readers should consult MLB’s official postseason hub for the bracket rather than rely on an old graphic that may not reflect completed games.

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Home-field advantage, seeding and tiebreaking rules add context to the matchup schedule. Those details can vary by competition edition, so the official rules should be checked instead of recycled from a prior year. When a postseason series has not yet finished, the next opponent remains conditional. An article should say “winner of Series A will face…” rather than assign a future opponent before the result exists.

Why starting pitching changes a short series

Starting pitchers often shape the first half of a game, but playoff success requires bullpen management, defense, baserunning and timely hitting. A team may start its most experienced pitcher in the first game and then adjust the rotation based on rest, health and earlier results. Managers must also decide when to use their strongest relief pitchers. Those choices can matter more in a short series than in a long regular season where roles and workloads can be smoothed across many games.

Baseball statistics need sample-size discipline. A hitter’s performance over ten postseason plate appearances tells less about underlying ability than a much longer period of play. Analysts can compare strikeout rates, on-base production and matchup tendencies while avoiding exaggerated claims drawn from one home run or one defensive error. Recent injuries and announced starting lineups can change the outlook quickly.

Broadcast rights and local time differences

A game carried by a U.S. broadcaster may require a different provider for an international audience. Some streaming services include blackout restrictions and authenticated subscriptions. Before directing readers to a platform, check the league’s official listing for the game, region and date. A schedule can shift because of series outcomes or weather; do not assume every potential Game 6 or Game 7 will occur. Conditional games should be clearly labeled so viewers do not subscribe or travel based on a nonexistent fixture.

Fans outside North America should verify dates carefully. A game beginning late at night in U.S. Eastern Time can appear on the following morning in Pakistan or elsewhere. A credible global article uses time-zone labeling and, where practical, provides local conversions while directing readers to official confirmations.

Planning a trip to a postseason game

Buy tickets through the team’s verified ticket office or a recognized authorized resale route. Read what happens to a ticket for an “if necessary” game that is never played. Lodging and transportation may be nonrefundable even when the ticket itself is refunded under a particular policy. Stadium entry rules, bag restrictions and transport can vary by venue. Travel budgets should include potential schedule shifts, especially when the identity of the next opponent is not yet known.

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Reseller offers that look dramatically cheaper than the going rate can be fraudulent. Confirm seat location, transfer method and the platform’s buyer-protection terms. Never assume an image of a barcode sent by a stranger proves a usable ticket. The simplest defense is to purchase through verified channels and retain the order record.

A bracket-tracking method that stays accurate

For each series, maintain the teams, seeds, current games-won tally, next confirmed game time, probable or announced starters, broadcaster and a direct MLB link. Update each row only after official results. Distinguish “clinched” from “leads series.” If a matchup concludes earlier than its maximum length, remove unused dates or mark them canceled; otherwise a static editorial calendar can appear inaccurate within hours.

The purpose of a postseason guide is not to predict every winner. It is to make a fast-moving bracket understandable and give fans reliable answers on what happens next, where to watch and which details remain uncertain.

Baseball postseason questions answered

Does every potential game on a postseason schedule occur?

No. A best-of-seven series ends when one team reaches four wins. Games listed as “if necessary” do not take place if the series has already been decided. Ticket buyers and travelers should understand refund or cancellation policies associated with those conditional dates before arranging flights and hotels.

Why do playoff teams use pitchers differently?

A shorter series changes the cost of saving an elite relief pitcher or spacing starting assignments. Managers may make aggressive substitutions to protect a narrow lead, while maintaining enough arms for a possible next game. Such choices can look different from regular-season strategy, when teams plan around a longer schedule and broader workload management.

Can a postseason match move after its first announcement?

Yes. Broadcast planning, prior series results and circumstances such as weather can affect schedules. MLB’s official game page and league notices should be checked shortly before travel or viewing. An editorial table that fails to update conditional games can easily mislead readers as the bracket advances.

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Analysis

Elon Musk Calls Mukesh Ambani the “Real Boss of India” Over Alleged Monopoly Concerns

Published

3 days ago

October 11, 2026

Abdul Rahman

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has escalated a public dispute over Starlink’s delayed commercial launch in India, sarcastically addressing Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani as “Prime Minister Ambani” and questioning whether he holds outsized influence over the country’s telecom landscape. The remarks, posted on X in early October 2026, center on claims that entrenched interests—particularly around Reliance Jio—are slowing satellite broadband approvals to protect market dominance. Indian authorities have rejected the accusations as baseless, emphasizing a uniform regulatory process for all licensed satellite operators. Bloomberg

Musk’s Escalating Posts and Arguments for Starlink

Musk first accused unnamed “oligarchs” of blocking Starlink to maintain a “monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people,” describing the situation as “a crime against the people of India.” He followed by asking, “Is Ambani the real boss of India?” after noting that Starlink is licensed in over 165 countries and has spent five years complying with Indian requirements. In a subsequent post addressed as “Dear Prime Minister Ambani,” he offered a “humble apology” for not recognizing Ambani’s role and urged him to allow competition, arguing that satellite internet could connect underserved areas. Times of India

Musk highlighted potential benefits: improved access for children to education, opportunities for small businesses to reach global markets, and life-saving connectivity during natural disasters when terrestrial networks fail. He later pushed back against critics, stating that competition would benefit Indian consumers with more choices, that Ambani “is not going out of business,” and that Starlink would need affordable pricing to gain traction. Times of India

Government Position: No Monopoly, Uniform Rules for All Licensees

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has directly addressed the claims, stating that “India does not allow a monopoly in any sector.” He confirmed that three companies hold Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licences: Starlink, Reliance’s Jio Satellite Communications, and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb. All three are at a similar regulatory stage and can begin commercial services only after each individually completes security clearances (assessed primarily by the Ministry of Home Affairs) and the government finalizes the revenue-based spectrum charging framework. CNBC TV18

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Dear Prime Minister Ambani,

Please accept my humble apologies for not realizing that you are the real boss of India.

Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 9, 2026

The Department of Telecommunications has described suggestions of discriminatory treatment as “baseless and misconceived.” Security requirements include data localization, lawful interception capabilities, Indian gateways, and related technical demonstrations—conditions that apply equally across licensees. Spectrum assignment is set to be administrative rather than auction-based, with a usage charge of around 5% of adjusted gross revenue (lower for rural/remote areas) nearing finalization with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Business Standard

Starlink’s Approval Timeline and Remaining Hurdles

Starlink received its GMPCS licence from the Department of Telecommunications in June 2025 and IN-SPACe authorization for its Gen-1 constellation in July 2025, following years of engagement that began with an application around November 2022. Provisional spectrum for testing has been available in some cases, but commercial operations require the outstanding security clearances and spectrum assignment. OneWeb and Jio Satellite secured earlier licences but face the same final milestones. Amazon’s Project Kuiper has also expressed interest and is under review. Business Standard

India’s Telecom Landscape and Connectivity Gaps

Reliance Jio remains India’s largest wireless operator, with roughly 500–530 million connections and about 39% market share as of mid-to-late 2026 data, closely trailed by Bharti Airtel at around 38%. Together the two private players dominate the market, with Vodafone Idea and BSNL holding smaller shares. Jio has driven significant growth in 5G adoption and fixed broadband. TelecomLead

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Despite high overall coverage, a digital divide persists. TRAI and related data show India with over 1.09 billion internet subscriptions as of early 2026, but rural penetration stands at about 48 subscriptions per 100 people versus roughly 127 in urban areas. Large numbers of people live within mobile broadband footprints yet do not use the internet, with rural-urban gaps remaining notable. Satellite services are positioned by regulators as particularly suited for remote, border, hilly, and island areas that are harder to serve with terrestrial infrastructure. Government programs such as BharatNet continue expanding fiber and mobile coverage in villages. The Policy Edge

Broader Implications

The exchange underscores tensions between global satellite broadband ambitions and national regulatory, security, and competitive frameworks in one of the world’s largest telecom markets. Proponents of faster Starlink entry argue it could accelerate connectivity in hard-to-reach areas and introduce pricing and service competition. Authorities maintain that the process prioritizes security, data protection, and a level playing field among multiple licensed players rather than favoring any single incumbent. As of mid-October 2026, commercial satellite broadband services from any of the three licensees have not yet launched, pending the completion of remaining individual clearances and spectrum finalization.

Musk’s posts have drawn responses from opposition figures, including Rahul Gandhi, but the core dispute remains centered on the pace and nature of regulatory approvals for satellite internet in India. Further clarity is expected once security assessments conclude and the spectrum pricing regime is formally implemented.

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Analysis

Min Ah: The Global Impact and Rising Popularity of the K-Drama Star

Published

2 weeks ago

October 2, 2026

Abdul Rahman

“Min Ah” is one of the most searched names in Korean drama, and it points to more than one actress. The one driving the biggest buzz right now is Shin Min-a.

Key Takeaways

Biggest news: Shin Min-a stars as Empress Navier in Disney+’s The Remarried Empress, which premieres November 4, 2026, per Soompi.
Cast: Ju Ji-hoon plays Emperor Sovieshu, Lee Se-young plays Rashta, and Lee Jong-suk plays Prince Heinrey.
Scale: the story is based on a web novel and webtoon that recorded about 2.97 billion cumulative global views as of July 2026, and it is Disney+’s first K-romance fantasy (SBS Star).
Name confusion: other well-known “Min Ah” performers include Kang Min-ah and Minah (Bang Min-ah) of Girl’s Day. This article explains who is who.

Name	Known for	Latest news
Shin Min-a	Leading roles in major dramas and films	The Remarried Empress (Nov 4, 2026)
Kang Min-ah	Actress represented by H&Entertainment	Drama Sympathetic Cells with Kim Myung-soo; premiere date announced June 2026 (MyDramaList)
Minah (Bang Min-ah)	Former Girl’s Day member turned actress	Born May 13, 1993; Girl’s Day debut in 2010 (Dramabeans)

Shin Min-a’s Next Big Role: The Remarried Empress

Disney+ confirmed on August 26 that the series would premiere on November 4, releasing a teaser and character posters (Soompi). The story follows Navier, the “perfect empress” of the Eastern Empire, who is told by her husband that he wants a divorce after he falls for a runaway slave, Rashta. Instead of accepting defeat, Navier asks permission to remarry, choosing the prince of a rival kingdom.

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Release plan

According to industry coverage, the ten-part series will debut with a four-episode drop and then release two episodes each Wednesday through a November 25 finale, and it streams on Hulu in the U.S. (Resonate). The same report says the first three episodes will screen at the Busan International Film Festival, which runs October 6–15.

Why it matters

This is the clearest sign of how K-drama has become a global asset. Platforms are paying for fantasy adaptations of internet-born stories with huge built-in audiences, and they are casting established leads to carry them.

Why Shin Min-a’s Popularity Travels

Longevity. She has worked consistently in Korean drama since the early 2000s, and her credits on MyDramaList span more than two decades (MyDramaList).
Genre range. From romantic comedy to Netflix thriller Karma and a 2026 film, The Eyes, in which she plays dual roles (MyDramaList).
Global platforms. Disney+, Netflix, and Hulu give Korean series simultaneous worldwide releases.

The Other “Min Ah” Actresses

Kang Min-ah

A Seoul-born actress with credits since the 2010s. MyDramaList lists a 2026 drama, Sympathetic Cells, with Kim Myung-soo, whose premiere date was announced in June (MyDramaList).

Minah (Bang Min-ah)

She debuted with Girl’s Day in 2010, made her acting debut on the tvN variety program Roller Coaster, and later won a Best New Actress trophy at the 2013 Gwangju International Film Festival for the film Holly. She led the 2020 film Snowball, which earned a Screen International Rising Star Asia Award at the New York Asian Film Festival (Dramabeans).