• BTS’s Jimin Breaks K-pop History with 'Who' — 500 Days at No. 1 on Spotify Korea's Daily Chart! Here's How He Made it Happen

    BTS’s Jimin has just made history on Spotify Korea, and it's a milestone no one saw coming!

    On January 31, Spotify revealed that Jimin’s track Who has now spent an incredible 500 days at No. 1 on the Daily Top Songs chart, setting a new record no other song has reached. It's the first song to ever stay at the top for so long, making K-pop history.

    Since its release, Who, the title track from Jimin’s second solo album MUSE, debuted at No. 1 on the chart and has held the top spot for a staggering 200 consecutive days by February 3, even without any official promotions. Talk about staying power!

    But that’s not all—Jimin’s first solo track Like Crazy also spent a remarkable 268 days at No. 1, giving it the longest streak ever on the Spotify Korea Daily chart.

    In total, Jimin has now hit No. 1 with five different songs—Who, Like Crazy, Set Me Free Pt. 2, Angel Pt. 1, and the English version of Like Crazy. Together, these songs have totaled 504 days at the top, further proving Jimin's unstoppable digital streaming power.

    When Who reached its 500-day milestone, it also became the most-streamed song in Spotify Korea’s history, surpassing Like Crazy after holding the previous record for 16 months. Now, Jimin is the first and only artist with two songs surpassing 40 million streams on the platform!

    And it doesn’t stop there—Jimin is also the first and only artist to hit 500 No. 1 rankings on Spotify Korea’s Daily Top Artists chart, with a total of 558 No. 1 spots. He’s also topped the Weekly Top Artists chart 81 times, proving once again why he’s one of the biggest solo stars in Korea right now.

    Source (1)

  • Director Kim Hyung Joo calls Yoo Ah In's drug scandal "irresponsible" as 'The Match' finally hits theaters after 4 years

    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]