BTS Sweeps Russia Voted #1 Most Beloved K-pop Artists — NewJeans' Disappearance Leaves Fans in the Dark
Russia is not an easy place for K-pop to make it big, but some stars still do well there.
It is the world's biggest country, with about 144 million people. Its music market is also doing very well, with heavy rock and rap being the most popular styles there.
But K-pop is also popular in the cold country, and shows by B.A.P., DAY6, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, and MONSTA X have been held there.
Statista says that Yandex Music had 46% of the Russian music market in 2022, making it the biggest streaming service in the country.
After looking at how many likes and monthly listeners each artist got on Yandex, here are the K-pop acts that Russians love the most:
It's strange that popular girl groups like NewJeans and IVE didn't make the list. This is probably because they just started out.
BTS is the only K-pop group to make it to the Top 20 of the overall chart for foreign acts. They are in the same group as Eminem, Imagine Dragons, Queen, Billie Eilish, The Beatles, and many more big names.
Lee Kyung Gyu secretly helped Hong Jin Kyung debut on TV and she didn’t even know for years
Lee Kyung Gyu's star-making influence goes beyond Kang Ho Dong, as Hong Jin Kyung shares how he helped her kickstart her career.
On the April 24 episode of KBS 2TV’s Problem Child in House, legendary comedian Lee Kyung Gyu appeared as a guest—and a touching story from the past was revealed.
Hong Jin Kyung surprised everyone when she said, “He’s the teacher for all of us. Personally, he’s the one who helped me debut.” She even pinned a carnation flower on his chest to show her gratitude.
Lee Kyung Gyu smiled and said, “I still remember when Hong Jin Kyung walked up the stairs onto the stage for the first time.”
Hong Jin Kyung then shared her journey to becoming a star. “I joined a supermodel contest, but only the top 3 winners were noticed in broadcasting. I got a special prize, so I had no chance to be on TV."
She continued, "At first, I was just a backup for a show. But somehow, I became a regular the next week. I never knew why."
She added, "I thought the PD gave me a shot. But then one day, I randomly met Kyung Gyu sunbae, and he told me it was actually him who recommended me.”
Kim Sook asked with a smile, “So Kyung Gyu sunbae said nice things about you to the PD?”
Lee Kyung Gyu playfully replied, “Don’t say it in such a childish way,” making everyone laugh.
He then explained more seriously, “The show was Scoop TV Entertainment, and I was pretty much the main MC. When Jin Kyung showed up, I saw her determination and passion."
He added, "While others didn’t seem serious, she really stood out. I told the PD, ‘She seems unique. Why not keep her on the show?’”
Kim Jong Kook chimed in, “So if the main MC said that, doesn’t that mean you basically got her in?”
That made Lee Kyung Gyu happy. He grinned and replied, “Exactly! You speak well. Be like him!”
He added, “After that, Jin Kyung’s career took off. She started doing shows with Lee Young Ja and just kept going.”
Fans are now calling Lee Kyung Gyu not only a top MC, but also a quiet star-maker behind the scenes!
