BTS member Jin is getting lots of love from international media for his second solo mini album Echo, with many saying he’s showing a deeper side of himself and proving his power as a true vocalist.

UK music magazine NME said that if Jin wasn’t a BTS member, he could totally be the lead singer of a band with his emotional voice, strong drum beats, and guitar-heavy sound.

They wrote, “With a band sound at its core, ‘Echo’ firmly establishes Jin’s place as a vocalist. He’s not staying in just the rock genre, but is continuing to explore music with a wider spectrum.”

NME also described the album’s vibe, saying, “‘Echo’ is the perfect word. It gives a familiar yet fresh sound, like an echo bouncing off a wall.” They added, “Jin is focusing on the type of music that suits him best, and he’ll keep growing and shining in his own way.”

Rolling Stone also shared high praise, writing, “Even in BTS, Jin had his own unique and romantic charm. ‘Echo’ expands that charm even more.”

The magazine added, “With this album, Jin takes his style to another level and shines with dazzling charm. He sings with confidence and ease, as if he had never left the stage.”

USA Today focused on Jin’s solo identity and said, “Through ‘Echo,’ Jin focuses on his artistry, showing deeper emotion and stronger stage presence. His love for the rock genre is clearly revealed in this album.”

Billboard described Echo as “7 tracks filled with Jin’s matured vocals and emotions,” and praised how the band-style sound lets Jin’s versatile voice shine through.

V Magazine shared similar thoughts, calling the album “a clear sign of Jin’s growth in both musicality and artistry.” They also said Jin’s expressing “real-life experiences and genuine emotions” through this new music.

Meanwhile, Jin will appear on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 22 (KST). He will perform his title track ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’, giving fans a special moment to see him back on stage.

Source: [1]

The hit drama Weak Hero 2 is taking over both streaming charts and fans’ hearts—and now it’s bringing massive attention back to the original Naver webtoon Weak Hero.

According to Netflix's Tudum Top 10 update on April 30, Weak Hero 2 pulled in a huge 6.1 million views (based on total watch time divided by full runtime) just three days after its release. It grabbed the #1 spot on the Global TOP 10 Non-English TV Series chart.

That’s not all—right after it dropped, the drama soared to the top of Korea’s TOP 10 Series and even made the TOP 10 charts in 63 countries, including Brazil, France, Mexico, Belgium, Morocco, Greece, Indonesia, and more.

This follows the success of Weak Hero 1, which previously ranked #8 and stayed on the global chart for five weeks straight.

With all eyes on the new season, fans are now rushing to read the original webtoon, leading to a massive jump in popularity.

The webtoon, which first started in May 2018 and wrapped up in November 2023, is famous for its intense storytelling and emotional depth.

It tells the story of Yeon Si Eun, a quiet and seemingly weak student who turns into a top fighter at a violent school—giving fans a unique and gripping coming-of-age story.

After Weak Hero Class 2 aired, many viewers started reading or re-reading the webtoon from beginning to end. As a result, sales of the webtoon have shot up more than 20 times compared to its average monthly sales after completion.

The series has also been turned into printed books, a mobile game, and even emojis, and has been exported to 9 countries, including North America.

When the first season of the drama premiered on Wavve in 2022, it held 45% of the platform’s total viewing share, proving its wide appeal.

Fans are now hoping for a new sequel season of the webtoon, and the franchise is being praised as a perfect example of how a strong original story can keep growing through great adaptations.

Source: [1]