• Song Joong Ki: "I've mostly done roles with subtle emotions, except for Descendants of the Sun"

    Actor Song Joong Ki opened up about his journey and the sense of responsibility he feels as an actor and as a person.

    Song Joong Ki made waves with his performance in the Netflix original movie 'My Name Is Loh Kiwan', which came out last March. He played 'My Name Is Loh Kiwan', a defector who embarks on a journey to Belgium, clinging onto the last hope of life.

    Despite the buzz around 'My Name Is Loh Kiwan', Song Joong Ki dismisses any talk of a career shift post the movie. He says, "If you leave out 'Descendants of the Sun', none of the works I've been in are emotionally intense. They all have a subtle emotional tone. I believe I've been consistent in choosing my projects."

    A well-known story among fans is how Song Joong Ki secretly enrolled in a cram school using his parents' credit card.

    When asked about his biggest life challenge, he says, "It was even more challenging than becoming an actor. I was a short track athlete for a long time. My dream was to represent the country in sports. The hardest challenge was when I had to give up the sport I loved so much."

    Song Joong Ki also shared his filming ritual - group dinners. He believes that a good rapport among the team greatly enhances the quality of the work. But he's mindful that not everyone might enjoy these dinners, so he goes the extra mile to make them enjoyable.

    He said, "I don't stick to the same menu. It's always nice to have a variety of tasty dishes. I love planning the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounds of group dinners. I've even developed a habit of counting the number of tables whenever I visit a new restaurant, just to see how many people it can accommodate."

    When asked how he'd like to be remembered, Song Joong Ki said, "As an actor who adds value. People watch movies with the hope that the two hours they spend will be worthwhile. Whether it's a movie theater or an airplane, an actor's job is to fill those two hours with happiness. I want to be remembered as someone who's really good at making those two hours worthwhile."

    In other news, you can catch a glimpse of Song Joong Ki's sincere side in a photoshoot and interview, where he's seen donning the Louis Vuitton 2024 Fall-Winter formalwear collection, in the May issue of 'Arena Homme Plus'.

    Source[1]

  • BTS's Jungkook Breaks Records as the First Asian Solo Artist with 70 Weeks on Two Billboard Global Charts

    BTS member Jungkook continues to prove his worldwide star power, setting another incredible record on the Billboard charts!

    As of the latest Billboard update (November 23), Jungkook’s hit solo single "Seven", which came out last July, ranked at No. 110 on the Global 200 chart. It also held strong at No. 64 on the Global (Excl. U.S.) chart, showing its lasting impact on international music fans.

    With this, Jungkook becomes the first-ever Asian solo artist to achieve 70 consecutive weeks on both the Global 200 and Global (Excl. U.S.) charts.

    That’s not all! His track "Standing Next to You", released last November, stayed on the Global (Excl. U.S.) chart at No. 140 for the 54th week, further solidifying his dominance.

    "Seven" has been making history since its release. Last year, it topped Billboard’s 2023 Global Summer Songs chart. This year, it claimed the No. 1 spot on the 2024 International Power Players chart, proving it’s a fan-favorite in over 200 countries.

    On Spotify, "Seven" became the first Asian artist’s song to surpass 2 billion streams, joining the exclusive "2 Billion Club." It also broke records by staying in Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global Chart Top 50 for more than 350 days.

    Jungkook’s achievements didn’t stop there. His debut solo album GOLDEN made him the first and longest-charting Asian solo artist to stay on the Billboard 200 for 24 straight weeks. He also holds the record for 71 consecutive weeks on Spotify’s Weekly Top Albums Global Chart.

    At the prestigious 2024 MAMA Awards, Jungkook earned a triple crown, winning Best Male Artist, Best Dance Performance Male Solo, and Fans' Choice Male Top 10.

    Jungkook’s achievements keep piling up, proving that his talent and influence know no bounds! Fans are already excited to see what he’ll achieve next.

    Source: [1]