BTS, the globally renowned K-pop group, has achieved a significant milestone by securing the top spot in Japan's prestigious Oricon Reiwa Era Rankings, as announced by their management company, Big Hit Music, on April 21.

This achievement marks the first time a foreign artist has topped the overall rankings since the Reiwa era began in May 2019.

The rankings were determined by total sales from May 2019 to January of this year, encompassing various formats such as singles, albums, music DVDs, Blu-rays, digital singles and albums, and streaming.

BTS emerged as the leader with a diverse portfolio, making significant contributions across all formats.

Their sales were predominantly driven by albums (36.6%), followed by music DVDs and Blu-rays (33.8%), and streaming (25%).

BTS's success extends across multiple categories, securing the top position among foreign artists in eight different sectors, including combined singles, albums, individual formats, and streaming. Their album 'BTS, THE BEST' made history by selling over 1.05 million copies, becoming the only album by a foreign artist to achieve million-seller status in Japan during the Reiwa era.

This accomplishment highlights BTS's rising influence and popularity in the global music industry, particularly in Japan, where they continue to break records and set new benchmarks for success.

Congratulations to BTS on this remarkable achievement!

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Hyun Bin is finally addressing the long-standing "ddongcha" (poop car) theory surrounding his character from My Name is Kim Sam-soon—and he's not holding back!

In an interview on the 19th with Star News, the beloved actor confessed, "I was wrong," responding to the reevaluation of his iconic role as Hyun Jin-heon from the 2005 hit drama. The "ddongcha" theory has been a subject of online debate for years, with many viewers critiquing Hyun Jin-heon’s character as overly arrogant and entitled.

Hyun Bin, who first rose to fame in My Name is Kim Sam-soon, took the time to reflect on the character that made him a household name. He shared, “I was just following the script; there were no personal opinions added to the character of Hyun Jin-heon. At that time, I knew Hyun Jin-heon was portrayed as a ‘bad boy,’ and the way it was expressed was different from today’s standards.”

With My Name is Kim Sam-soon now being re-released as part of Wavve's "New Classic" project, fans are revisiting the 2005 drama, and the character of Hyun Jin-heon is under fresh scrutiny. Director Kim Yun-cheol even admitted that the "prince on a white horse" and "bad boy" tropes that once worked in 2005 don’t quite match today's sensibilities, leading to edits in the 2024 version.

Hyun Bin humbly acknowledged his gratitude for his successful career and hit works, saying, "It’s wonderful and I am grateful to have so many hit works. I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing writers, directors, and actors. Thanks to them, I’ve received a lot of attention and love." He also shared a sense of humility, noting, “But I never know when that luck will come again."

Despite the dramatic shift in perspective on his character, Hyun Bin’s charm and dedication remain strong. Fans are eager to see him in his upcoming film Harbin (directed by Woo Min-ho), set to be released on the 24th.

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