BTS's Jungkook is proving once again why he’s called the "Global Pop Star"! His first solo album, GOLDEN, is making history on Spotify, setting a new record for the longest run by an Asian solo artist on the Weekly Top Albums Global chart!

According to Spotify’s latest update (Feb 28 – Mar 6), Jungkook’s GOLDEN, released in 2023, ranked 57th on the Weekly Top Albums Global chart. But the most impressive part? It has stayed on the chart for 70 consecutive weeks!

With this, GOLDEN becomes the first and longest-charting album by an Asian solo artist in Spotify history. Jungkook continues to prove his massive impact in the global music scene, and fans couldn’t be prouder!

Jungkook’s solo single 'Seven' is also showing no signs of slowing down! The song ranked 102nd on the Weekly Top Songs Global chart, staying there for a whopping 86 weeks! This proves that not only his album, but also his singles are dominating worldwide.

On Spotify, GOLDEN has reached over 5.2 billion streams (unfiltered), making it the first album by an Asian solo artist to hit this milestone! Every single track on the album has surpassed 100 million streams, showing just how much fans love it.

Tracks With Massive Stream Counts:

• 'Seven' – 2.24 billion+
• 'Standing Next to You' – 1.14 billion+
• '3D' – 892 million+
• 'Yes or No' – 250 million+
• 'Please Don’t Change' – 160 million+
• 'Hate You' – 140 million+
• 'Closer to You' – 130 million+
• 'Somebody' – 120 million+
• 'Too Sad to Dance' – 110 million+
• 'Shot Glass of Tears' – 110 million+

With these numbers, Jungkook is rewriting history for K-pop soloists!

Jungkook’s record-breaking doesn’t stop with Spotify!

GOLDEN debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and became the first Asian solo album to chart for 25 consecutive weeks!
It also made history as the first K-pop solo album to stay on the UK Official Top 100 Albums Chart for 8 weeks—one of the toughest music charts alongside Billboard!

At the 2024 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), GOLDEN won Top K-Pop Album, proving its dominance in the industry. Even in the U.S. market, GOLDEN was the best-selling K-pop solo album for three consecutive years!

With record after record, Jungkook continues to make history, and fans can’t wait to see what he’ll do next! Will he drop another hit soon? Stay tuned!

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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]