BTS member Jimin has made waves on the UK Official Charts with his pre-release track from his upcoming second solo album 'MUSE'.

According to the UK Official Charts released on the 5th (local time), Jimin's track 'Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)', dropped on June 28th, secured the 46th spot on the Official Singles Chart. This achievement marks Jimin's fifth entry into the Official Singles Chart with his solo works.

Jimin initially debuted on the Official Singles Chart with 'VIBE (feat. Jimin of BTS)' alongside Taeyang in 2023, entering at 96th place. Subsequently, he continued his streak with 'Set Me Free Pt.2' (30th) from his first solo album 'FACE' and the title track 'Like Crazy' (8th). He also charted with 'Angel Pt. 1 (Feat. Jimin of BTS, JVKE & Muni Long / FAST X Soundtrack)' (82nd), featured in the movie 'Fast & Furious 10: Ride or Die' OST.

'Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)' not only made waves on the Official Singles Chart but also topped 'Single Downloads' and 'Single Sales' charts.

The track blends a vibrant marching band performance with hip-hop elements, showcasing Jimin's refreshing vocals complemented by rapper Loco's agile rap style, enhancing its appeal.

In other news, BTS's official SNS released mood photos for the second concept of 'MUSE', titled 'SERENADE', on the 6th at midnight. Following the floral-themed 'BLOOMING' concept, the new photos highlight guitars as the main motif. Jimin is elegantly dressed in a black suit, posing beside a vintage-style guitar on a pedestal. More concept photos and clips for the 'SERENADE' version are set to drop on the 7th.

Source [1]

A recent KBS drama shoot starring Girls' Generation's Seohyun and 2PM's Taecyeon has sparked controversy after accusations of damaging a UNESCO World Heritage site.

On January 2, architect Min Seo Hong took to Facebook to criticize the production of the upcoming drama I Took the Male Lead's First Night, which used Byeongsan Seowon, a historic Korean Confucian academy, as a filming location.

His post, titled "An Account of What I Witnessed at Byeongsan Seowon," detailed shocking allegations about the crew's actions.

Min shared that he visited Byeongsan Seowon on December 30, only to find the site bustling with drama staff.

"As I approached, I saw crew members moving around. At first, I didn’t realize it was a filming set, but when I entered the seowon, I felt uneasy knowing this historic site was being used this way," he wrote.

What he saw inside was alarming. According to Min, props were scattered throughout the seowon, and staff were hammering nails into wooden pillars to hang lights.

When he confronted them, they reportedly dismissed his concerns, saying, "We already have permission from Andong City. If you’re curious, contact them."

Determined to take action, Min contacted Andong City’s Cultural Heritage Department. A city official admitted they had approved the filming but appeared unaware of the damage being done.

"When I asked if they knew about the nails in the wooden pillars, they seemed flustered and promised to order their removal immediately," Min shared.

Experts later informed Min that incidents like this aren’t uncommon, with some modern heritage sites even being dismantled for filming. "People might think hammering nails is minor, but in traditional Korean houses, it’s a big deal to even drive in one nail. For cultural heritage, this should never happen," he said.

Min’s biggest concern is the decision to allow such a valuable site, designated as Historic Site No. 260 and a UNESCO World Heritage site, to be used for filming at all. "This was a KBS drama production, and it’s deplorable that they showed such little care for cultural heritage," he added.

The drama, I Took the Male Lead's First Night, is already drawing backlash before its release, with many netizens expressing anger over the alleged damage to the historic site. Comments online include:

"Why are cultural heritage sites being used as filming locations in the first place?"

"If this is true, KBS owes an apology not just to viewers but to the nation."

"Respect for cultural heritage should come before making a drama."

Neither KBS nor the drama's production team has released an official statement regarding the allegations.

However, the issue has sparked heated debate, with many calling for stricter regulations on the use of heritage sites for filming.

Source: [1]