BTS's V has shown his global musical power by having 8 solo songs that topped the iTunes charts in over 100 countries.

V's solo song "Love Me Again" reached the top of the iTunes 'Top Songs Chart' in Canada, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau on the 14th, bringing his total to 100 countries (regions) where the song has reached number one.

V's "Sweet Night" has topped the charts in 119 countries, "Inner Child" in 101 countries, "Christmas Tree" in 100 countries, "Slow Dancing" in 101 countries, "Rainy Days" in 103 countries, "FRI(END)S" in 102 countries, and the collaboration song "Wherever u r" in 100 countries.

With these achievements, a total of 8 songs have reached number one in over 100 countries, showing his immense solo power.

V's first solo album "Layover" also proved its strength by ranking first on the iTunes 'Top Albums Chart' in 107 countries on the 14th.

"Love Me Again" is an R&B track with gospel elements reminiscent of 1970s soul music, offering a unique vibe rarely seen in K-pop. The song highlights V's enchanting and emotionally resonant lower register and falsetto.

"Love Me Again" was chosen as the 'Most Astonishing Single' in the '2023 K-POP Yearbook' by Consequence, an American media outlet that covers news, music, movies, and TV reviews.

The media outlet stated, "V, known for his love of jazz and classical music, balanced pop-R&B sounds in his solo album 'Layover' and showcased his rich baritone in 'Love Me Again.'"

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]