BTS' Jungkook is continuing to make waves with his debut album GOLDEN, achieving another historic milestone.

His album has just been awarded a "Silver" certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling over 60,000 copies in the UK.

This makes GOLDEN the first album by a K-Pop solo artist to earn this certification.

But that’s not all—GOLDEN has also achieved "Gold" certification from the Italian Music Industry Association (FIMI) for selling more than 25,000 copies in Italy, setting another record for K-Pop solo artists.

Previously, GOLDEN received Platinum certification from the Japanese Record Association (RIAJ), Gold certification from the French Record Association (SNEP), and Gold Album certification from Music Canada (CRIA), showcasing its massive global success.

With 8.4 million sales, GOLDEN is the best-selling debut album by a male artist in the past decade and holds the title of the top-selling debut album by a male artist globally.

It also set a record as the fastest-selling album by an Asian solo artist in the US, surpassing 900,000 sales.

All tracks from GOLDEN have each sold over 100,000 units in the US. The album spent 24 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, a record for an Asian solo artist, and racked up an impressive 4.2 billion streams on Spotify, the highest for an Asian solo artist.

On iTunes, GOLDEN topped the album charts in 106 countries/regions, holding the number one spot on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart for 14 days and leading the European iTunes Album Chart for over 7 days.

In May, GOLDEN made history as the first and only K-Pop solo artist album to remain on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart for over 200 days.

Jungkook is also gearing up for the release of his first solo documentary film, JUNG KOOK: I AM STILL, set to hit Korean CGV theaters and approximately 120 countries/regions on September 18.

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Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

Source: [1]