K-pop stars are making waves around the world, and Korean pop music has grown bigger than ever. Artists are now focusing on global fans, aiming for success in markets like the U.S. Billboard charts. Many K-pop stars have made it to the Billboard 'Hot 100,' showing just how powerful K-pop has become.

The genre has expanded beyond idol music to include hip-hop, ballads, rock, and more, with artists exploring new styles and breaking out of traditional molds.

Female solo artists have especially seen big changes. While in the past they often focused on 'sexy' concepts, they now showcase both performance skills and strong vocals. As 2024 begins, we’re spotlighting these solo artists who continue to push forward in the competitive music industry.

Lee Chaeyeon, who was active with IZ*ONE, now feels like a senior when she goes to music show recordings.

She shared, "With so many new artists coming up, it feels like time is flying by. Even though I’ve been active for seven years, I haven't had much chance to show my solo side. It feels good to be in my third year," and laughed, "I was born in 2000, but being around people born in the '90s, I sometimes feel older. I even call them 'kids,' even though they’re my age."

What challenges has Lee Chaeyeon faced in her solo career? She talked about her unique style, saying, "I wanted to be known for my own color, not just compared to others. I knew it wouldn’t be easy from the start. I studied how other solo artists, including my IZ*ONE members, did their solo debuts."

She added, "Going from a group to solo felt like starting over. It was scary, and I was nervous even on stages where I wasn’t before. I had to build everything up again from scratch."

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BTS's Jin continues to shine bright with his massive popularity, securing the No. 1 spot in the MY1PICK weekly rankings for an impressive 43 consecutive weeks!

In the MY1PICK K-POP Individual Category Weekly Ranking for the third week of December (December 16–22), Jin earned a massive 6,154,905 hearts, keeping his position at the top. From the 5th week of February to the 3rd week of December, Jin has been unbeatable in the weekly rankings, proving he has an enormous fanbase and global influence.

But Jin’s achievements don’t stop there. In November, he dominated the K-POP Individual Category Monthly Ranking, topping it with 25,452,283 hearts. He has held the No. 1 spot for 11 months straight, from January to November, showing his continuous popularity throughout the year.

Jin also claimed victory in the One Pick Chart’s “November Monthly Chart K-POP (Solo)” category, holding the No. 1 position for 8 months in a row, from April to November. On top of that, he won the 2024 Season Chart K-POP (SOLO) for both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, making him the best One Pick star of the season.

The Season Chart awards honor artists who have consistently earned love from fans, with a physical trophy given to the top artist. Jin’s back-to-back victories solidify his place as one of the most beloved stars in K-pop.

Jin’s fan power doesn’t end with rankings. He’s also triumphed in numerous themed votes, taking first place in categories like “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of,” “Star You Want to See First Pitch at a Baseball Game,” “Best Cooking Genius Idol,” “Star Who Would Be the Best Child,” and “Star You Would Fall in Love With at First Sight.” His reward advertisement for the “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of” vote began airing on December 26 and can be seen at Yeoksam Station until December 30.

Meanwhile, Jin’s first solo album Happy was released on November 15 and quickly became a global hit, showcasing his talents as a solo artist. He held a special showcase, Jin ‘Happy’ Special Stage, on November 16 and 17, where fans were captivated by his beautiful vocals and flawless live performance.

Jin has also been keeping busy with appearances on popular variety shows like Salon Drip 2, Neighborhood Star K4, and Limousine Service. He’s also appeared on famous American talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Japan’s top music program Venue 101, where he impressed fans with his humor and solid live performances. His reputation as the “Vocal King” and “Live King” is stronger than ever!

As if that wasn't enough, Jin is also gaining attention globally for singing the main theme song for the new tvN drama Ask the Stars. Jin's talents continue to wow the world, and it's clear he's not slowing down anytime soon!

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