Director Lee Jae Kyu, who directed "All of Us Are Dead", talked about the popularity of "Squid Game".

Director Lee Jae Kyu cautiously said in an interview with Netflix's original "All of Us Are Dead" (written by Chun Sung Il, directed by Lee Jae Kyu) on the morning of February 7th, "It is also true that the invitation of "Squid Game" is burdensome".

Director Lee Jae Kyu continued, "When 'Squid Game' was first released in September, didn't an explosive response occur after hearing worldwide favorable reviews?", adding, "At that time, I was very surprised and happy", he said.

Director Lee Jae Kyu said, "I was close to director Hwang Dong Hyuk, so I thought about texting him", adding, "As a friend, I texted him, 'My work is going out next year, but I'm dying of pressure because of the Squid Game', and he replied, 'What's the pressure, I just left the door slightly open. Don't feel pressured and just do it'".

He continued, "Rather, he told me an anecdote saying, 'Thank me', and said, 'Nevertheless, it is true that it is a burden. It is more burdensome to be compared with the Squid Game, an insurmountable four-dimensional wall. However, it seems true that many people around the world have become interested in Korean content through "Squid Game". Since the window is slightly opened, good Korean works must be delivered continuously through the open door. I think, in that sense, I hope your work will succeed the Squid Game'".

Unlike Director Lee Jae Kyu's exaggeration, "All of Us Are Dead" has topped the world at the same time as it was released and has maintained its top position for nine consecutive days already. It is 323 points ahead of "Black Desire", which is ranked second in terms of Flix Patrol.

Regarding this popularity, director Lee Jae Kyu said, "It's amazing that so many people talk positively and have fun. When I heard that I was the world's No. 1 player, two years passed by like a flash. I never expected this to happen. I was expecting that they would feel the emotions and stories contained in the work, but I didn't expect the work to go this well".

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BTS's Jin continues to shine bright with his massive popularity, securing the No. 1 spot in the MY1PICK weekly rankings for an impressive 43 consecutive weeks!

In the MY1PICK K-POP Individual Category Weekly Ranking for the third week of December (December 16–22), Jin earned a massive 6,154,905 hearts, keeping his position at the top. From the 5th week of February to the 3rd week of December, Jin has been unbeatable in the weekly rankings, proving he has an enormous fanbase and global influence.

But Jin’s achievements don’t stop there. In November, he dominated the K-POP Individual Category Monthly Ranking, topping it with 25,452,283 hearts. He has held the No. 1 spot for 11 months straight, from January to November, showing his continuous popularity throughout the year.

Jin also claimed victory in the One Pick Chart’s “November Monthly Chart K-POP (Solo)” category, holding the No. 1 position for 8 months in a row, from April to November. On top of that, he won the 2024 Season Chart K-POP (SOLO) for both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, making him the best One Pick star of the season.

The Season Chart awards honor artists who have consistently earned love from fans, with a physical trophy given to the top artist. Jin’s back-to-back victories solidify his place as one of the most beloved stars in K-pop.

Jin’s fan power doesn’t end with rankings. He’s also triumphed in numerous themed votes, taking first place in categories like “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of,” “Star You Want to See First Pitch at a Baseball Game,” “Best Cooking Genius Idol,” “Star Who Would Be the Best Child,” and “Star You Would Fall in Love With at First Sight.” His reward advertisement for the “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of” vote began airing on December 26 and can be seen at Yeoksam Station until December 30.

Meanwhile, Jin’s first solo album Happy was released on November 15 and quickly became a global hit, showcasing his talents as a solo artist. He held a special showcase, Jin ‘Happy’ Special Stage, on November 16 and 17, where fans were captivated by his beautiful vocals and flawless live performance.

Jin has also been keeping busy with appearances on popular variety shows like Salon Drip 2, Neighborhood Star K4, and Limousine Service. He’s also appeared on famous American talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Japan’s top music program Venue 101, where he impressed fans with his humor and solid live performances. His reputation as the “Vocal King” and “Live King” is stronger than ever!

As if that wasn't enough, Jin is also gaining attention globally for singing the main theme song for the new tvN drama Ask the Stars. Jin's talents continue to wow the world, and it's clear he's not slowing down anytime soon!

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