Big stars are making surprise appearances in dramas and movies.

Song Seung Heon, starring in tvN's 'Player 2', has lined up special appearances that remind us of award shows. Season 1 participants like Jung Soo Jung and stars including Jeon Hyun Moo, Heo Sung Tae, Nana, Ryu Hwa Young, and Lee Soo Hyuk are grabbing attention with their significant roles.

Lately, there's a trend of top stars appearing in movies and dramas. Kim Tae Hee appeared in JTBC's 'Welcome to Sampo', while Kwon Yuri, Park Tae Hwan, and Han Seung Yeon made appearances in tvN's 'Seonjae Up and Away'.

Song Joong Ki surprised fans as lawyer Vincent Joe in tvN's 'Queen of Tears'.

Kim Tae Hee has worked with 'Welcome to Sampo' writer Kwon Hye Joo before, and Song Joong Ki with 'Queen of Tears' director Kim Hee Won on 'Vincent Joe' (2021). Their decisions to cameo were influenced by past collaborations and requests.

In movies, Jeon Do Yeon, seen in Director Byun Sung Hyun's 'Night in Paradise' on Netflix, will appear in Byun's new work 'Good News'.

Gong Yoo and Lee Jong Suk appeared in 'Wonderland' and 'Broker'. Gong Yoo played AI developer Sung Jun, deeply engaging viewers emotionally. Management SOOP talents Bae Suzy, Choi Woo Shik, and Jung Yoo Mi's roles in 'Broker' led to Gong Yoo's cameo.

In 'Broker', Lee Jong Suk played a key role alongside Kang Dong Won's character Yeong Il, handling contract killings and becoming a trusted ally, even influencing events after his death.

In 'Escape', actors like Seo Hyun Woo, Lee Sung Wook, Lee Som, and Shin Hyun Ji appeared at crucial moments, enhancing the plot's immersion. Kim Dong Wook was pivotal in 'Hijacking', anchoring the film's suspense.

With fewer productions due to recent circumstances, actors find opportunities for meaningful cameos, balancing loyalty and practicality.

Entertainment critic Jung Deok Hyun commented, "With fewer new productions, actors are finding it easier to take roles that showcase their skills. This fosters loyalty and benefits for writers, directors, and production companies." He added, "Top actors appear in well-made productions with less risk, benefiting everyone."

However, concerns about disrupting drama flow or overemphasis on cameos have emerged. Insiders note these issues arise when production goals aren't clear from the start.

A drama production company representative stated, "Even for brief cameos, there must be clear purpose and relevance. Sometimes, content relies too much on star power or introduces characters that don't fit the story. Careful planning by writers and directors is crucial."

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BTS’s Jimin is showing no signs of slowing down as a solo artist! His second album, MUSE, and its title track, Who, continue to dominate the U.S. Billboard charts, cementing his place as one of K-pop’s biggest global stars.

In the latest Billboard update (December 28), Jimin’s hit song Who ranked 47th on the Hot 100, marking its impressive 22nd consecutive week on the chart. This makes Who the longest-charting song by a Korean solo artist, surpassing the record previously set by Psy’s Gangnam Style. And it’s not just that—Who is the first K-pop solo song to spend its first 22 weeks in the Hot 100’s Top 60.

But the success doesn’t stop there. Jimin’s album MUSE, which includes Who, also continues to shine. It’s ranked 136th on the Billboard 200, securing its 22nd week on the chart. This makes MUSE the only K-pop album released in 2024 to have stayed on the chart for such a long period.

On top of that, Who has been making waves on several other Billboard charts. On the Streaming Songs chart, it holds the No. 32 spot, marking its 22nd week. This achievement makes it the second-longest-charting K-pop track, just behind Gangnam Style. The song also stays strong on the Global 200 and Global (Excluding U.S.) charts, sitting at No. 25 and No. 30, respectively.

The success of Who is also reflected in MUSE’s performance. The album recently reclaimed the No. 1 spot on the World Albums chart and is currently at No. 2. MUSE has now extended its record as the second-longest-charting K-pop solo album, just behind Jimin’s first solo album, FACE (which charted for 63 weeks).

These accomplishments have earned Jimin praise from U.S. media outlet AsianEAC, which dubbed him a “living legend.” They highlighted that Jimin achieved all these milestones despite having “no promotions in the U.S. during the Christmas season, no high-profile collaborations, and while serving his military duty.”

Jimin’s success is a true testament to his talent and global impact!

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