BTS members are taking over global charts this year with their solo projects.

On July 19, Jimin released his second solo album, ‘MUSE.’ By 9 AM on July 20, the title track ‘Who’ had topped the iTunes 'Top Songs' chart in 112 countries/regions.

The song also made a splash on Spotify, landing at No. 3 on the ‘Daily Top Songs Global’ chart on July 19 and staying strong at No. 4 the next day. In South Korea, it topped the 'Daily Top Songs' chart for two days and climbed to No. 14 on the U.S. 'Daily Top Songs,' up four spots from the previous day. These feats were achieved without any official broadcast promotions.

This year, BTS has showcased several solo projects: Jimin’s ‘MUSE,’ Jungkook’s fan song ‘Never Let Go’ in June, RM’s second solo album ‘Right Place, Wrong Person’ in May, V’s digital single ‘FRI(END)S’ in March, and J-Hope’s special album ‘HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1.’ Each release has performed well on global charts, showing their growing popularity.

The boost in popularity comes from their diverse musical styles. Jimin helped produce 6 out of 7 tracks on ‘MUSE’ and took on the role of producer for 2 tracks. He aims to continue making music with honest emotions and growth.

RM explored alternative genres and collaborated with new artists like Silica Gel’s Kim Han Joo, band Hyukoh’s Oh Hyuk, and British rapper Little Simz, adding fresh elements to his music.

J-Hope focused on street dance and presented music with depth and authenticity. Fans are drawn to their solo works because of the members' genuine emotions and development.

The members also kept fans engaged with plenty of content. RM and Jimin created a video review of their albums, ‘Exchange Album MMM (Mini & Moni Music),’ covering album production and future plans, which fans loved. RM made music videos for almost half of the tracks on his solo album, providing a ‘content bombardment.’

V planned a reaction video for ‘FRI(END)S,’ adding more fun for fans. J-Hope released a documentary with his album, and the members held pop-ups themed around each album, offering unique fan experiences.

These pop-ups were a hit, offering more than just merchandise. They included themed scents and interactive programs like dance workshops. J-Hope’s integration of music, videos, and pop-ups allowed fans to fully experience the album’s message.

Lastly, BTS’s thoughtful gestures, like V’s sweet song ‘FRI(END)S’ and Jungkook’s fan song during ‘2024 FESTA,’ show how much they care about their fans.

BTS’s solo albums have been hugely successful, with RM, V, and J-Hope setting new records on the UK Official Album Chart, Spotify’s ‘Daily Top Songs Global,’ the U.S. Billboard 200, and the UK Official Singles Chart.

Jungkook also set a new record for the most chart entries by a K-pop solo artist with ‘Never Let Go’ on the U.S. Billboard ‘Hot 100’ and the UK Official Singles Chart. Past releases like Suga’s ‘D-DAY’ and Jin’s ‘Super Tuna’ continue to be popular.

BTS’s solo achievements highlight their strong presence and raise excitement for their future group activities. Fans are eagerly awaiting the next steps for the members who have continued to grow through their solo albums.

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Singer Steve Yoo (Yoo Seung Jun), who has been banned from entering South Korea for over two decades, continues to express his love for the country and his desire to return.

On March 21, Yoo Seung Jun posted a video on his personal account along with a cryptic caption, saying, “When one door closes, another opens. When one door opens, another closes.”

He continued, “Just because a door has opened doesn’t mean I should leave, and just because one is closed doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to open it. I am simply walking the path my father told me to take. Whether people acknowledge it or not no longer matters to me.”

His hashtags also caught attention, as he included “I love you,” “Bless you,” “South Korea,” “Loved ones,” “Everything will be okay,” and “Korea.” Fans couldn’t help but wonder if he was once again hinting at his hope to return.

Just a few days earlier, on March 18, Yoo Seung Jun had also posted a nostalgic message about his time in South Korea.

He wrote, “December 7, 1989—13 years old (1st year of middle school). The school I attended until the day before I immigrated to the U.S. in Songpa-gu, Oju Middle School, is still the same.”

Along with his message, he shared a video of the school's walls and playground, revealing, “One of my fans filmed my middle school, which I attended until I left for the U.S., and sent me the video.”

The clip also showed scenes of his elementary school, making fans reminisce about his past in Korea.

Yoo Seung Jun was one of the most popular artists in South Korea during the 1990s, but his career took a sharp turn in 2002 when he unexpectedly left for the U.S., renounced his Korean citizenship, and became a U.S. citizen.

This led to widespread backlash, as many saw it as an attempt to evade mandatory military service. As a result, the South Korean government banned him from entering the country.

Since then, he has repeatedly taken legal action in hopes of lifting the ban. Now, with his continued efforts and heartfelt messages about Korea, many are wondering—will he finally be allowed back after 23 years?

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