Kim Woojin, formerly of Stray Kids, recently made headlines with his debut album under Kustomade, a new sub-label of SM Entertainment.

Since departing from Stray Kids in late 2019 amidst allegations of sexual assault, Kim Woojin has faced challenges.

Despite denying the accusations and receiving support from his company at the time, the handling of the issue in a documentary drew criticism for its insensitivity.

Nevertheless, Kim Woojin continued his career, releasing music, embarking on a world tour, and even securing a role in HBO Max's series "My Magic Closet," making history as the first Korean actor cast in the global project.

Expectations were high for his debut under the new label, with many hoping for a fresh start.

On April 22, Kim Woojin released his album featuring the title track "I Like The Way." Initial sales data from Hanteo revealed that he sold 853 copies on the first day, with a total of 2,646 by the fourth day, surpassing his previous release.

However, despite this improvement, some netizens expressed disappointment with the sales figures, indicating that lingering effects from the earlier controversy may still be influencing perceptions.

Source: [1]

BTS member Jimin made history at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the prestigious Visa Fan’s Choice of the Year award.

On November 22, Jimin was honored with the Fan’s Choice of the Year award at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This marks a huge milestone in his career, especially considering his ongoing military service.

Jimin made history as the first solo artist to win the Fan’s Choice of the Year award, a category that BTS had dominated for six years since its debut in 2018.

In addition to this achievement, Jimin also took home the Fan’s Choice Grand Prize, making him a two-time winner at this year’s awards.

Although Jimin couldn't attend the ceremony due to his military service, his name was met with loud cheers from fans when announced.

His incredible win continues to prove his global influence as a solo artist. Jimin had also won Best Male Artist at the 2023 MAMA AWARDS, marking back-to-back wins at the event.

The MAMA AWARDS praised Jimin for his groundbreaking achievements, saying, “As the first K-pop solo artist to reach 4 billion streams and set the longest-running #1 record for a Korean artist, Jimin has proven his influence as a world-class artist and global pop star.”

Jimin's win also made him the first solo artist to claim a grand prize at the MAMA AWARDS in 10 years, with his achievement sparking excitement worldwide.

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “CONGRATULATIONS JIMIN” topped the trends, while “우리지민이상받았네” (Our Jimin Got the Award) reached the #1 spot in Korea.

Jimin’s ongoing success continues to shine even during his military service. He was also recently named Best K-pop at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards and continues to be recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of 100 million KRW to the National Defense Soldier and Veteran Love Fund.

Source: [1]