"King things!" — BTS's V Makes History with 'FRI(END)S' as First Song Surpassing 100 Million Spotify Streams in 2024
Even amid his military service hiatus, BTS's V, also known as Kim Taehyung, continues to make waves in the music world.
His song 'FRI(END)S' has become the first track released by a K-pop artist in 2024 to achieve 100 million streams on Spotify. This marks Taehyung's 7th solo song to reach this milestone.
Not only has 'FRI(END)S' seen success in streaming, but it has also sold over 100,000 units in the US within three weeks of its release, making it his 8th song to achieve this feat.
As of April 2024, 'FRI(END)S' holds the record for the biggest debut in both first-day and first-week streams among Korean soloists and K-pop acts in 2024.
The song itself, a pop soul R&B track, delves into the theme of elevating a friendship to a deeper level, cleverly hinted at by its wordplay in the title.
If you haven't listened to 'FRI(END)S' yet, be sure to check it out!
Hyun Bin Apologizes for the 'Ddongcha' Theory After 20 Years: "I Was Wrong" - Actor Clears the Air About Iconic Role
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.
