SEVENTEEN continues to make waves in Japan, securing a remarkable position among K-pop groups on major music charts.

On the 7th, Billboard Japan unveiled its rankings for the first half of 2024, covering the period from November 27th of the previous year to May 26th.

SEVENTEEN clinched an impressive 2nd place on the ‘Hot Albums’ chart—an all-encompassing album ranking—thanks to their stellar best album, ‘17 IS RIGHT HERE.’

In the Billboard Japan tally alone, a staggering 503,691 physical albums flew off the shelves. Notably, they also dominated the first-week sales, with 404,245 albums sold upon the album’s initial release.

But that’s not all. SEVENTEEN’s 11th mini-album, ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN,’ secured the 5th spot overall, amassing an impressive 359,838 copies sold.

What sets SEVENTEEN apart? They’re the only artist with more than two works in the top 10, solidifying their status as the highest-ranking K-pop group.

Their reign extends to the ‘Top Album Sales’ category, where both their best album and 11th mini-album secured 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN is gearing up for unit activities. Keep an eye out for Jeonghan and Wonwoo’s 1st single album, ‘THIS MAN,’ set to drop on the 17th.

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Actor Song Kang Ho shocked fans by revealing the surprising reason he initially turned down the iconic role in Joint Security Area (JSA).

On February 4, the movie JSA was celebrated as a "Visionary" work at a special GV (Guest Visit) event for CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. The event was attended by director Park Chan-wook and stars like Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae, Kim Tae Woo, and Ko Kyung Beom, who shared stories from the making of the film.

Joint Security Area, a groundbreaking film by director Park Chan-wook, tells the story of North and South Korean soldiers caught in a tragic incident at the border, highlighting the human side of the divided nations. The film has been widely praised for changing the perception of inter-Korean relations and is seen as a key moment in Korean cinema.

During the event, Song Kang Ho admitted that he turned down the JSA script at first, saying, "The script was just too perfect. It was so well-written and tightly woven that I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Is this really Korean cinema at this level?’ I felt it was too good, and I figured the movie wouldn’t live up to the script."

He also mentioned that at the time, Park Chan-wook’s previous films hadn’t done well, which made him even more doubtful. "But after meeting the director, I started to trust him," Song Kang Ho added.

Reflecting on the film 20 years later, Song Kang Ho joked, "I was flipping through channels and watched JSA again. I thought, ‘There was a time when I wasn’t envious of Lee Byung Hun,’ but he looked so handsome and cool back then." He continued, laughing, "One thing about Park Chan-wook's films is that they have a depth and elegance that you just can’t forget. It’s probably why his new movie is called I Can’t Help It."

Song Kang Ho also spoke fondly of reuniting with his JSA co-stars after 25 years. He shared, "We didn’t watch the film together, but we had a cozy two-hour dinner. After all this time, it felt nostalgic. It was heartwarming to sit together again and reminisce about the past. It really made me realize how meaningful these moments are."

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