• ITZY’s Ryujin: “Thank You for Making an Ordinary 20-Year-Old Like Me Feel Special”

    ITZY has wrapped up their second world tour with a bang.

    On August 10, ITZY held their final concert of the 'ITZY 2ND WORLD TOUR (BORN TO BE)' at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Arena.

    This marked their first solo show in Hong Kong since their first world tour, '(CHECKMATE)' in March 2023. The concert sold out quickly after tickets went on sale.

    Before the big night, ITZY held a press conference on August 9 to talk about their tour and their excitement for the Hong Kong show.

    They also shared messages with their fans, MIDZY, in the local language. To celebrate their visit, Windsor House, a major shopping mall, displayed ITZY photos on large screens, and fans filled the mall with cheers and excitement.

    The concert was an electrifying finale. ITZY opened the show with a high-energy performance of "BORN TO BE," and kept the energy up with songs like "RACER," "Mr. Vampire," "SWIPE," "Psychic Lover," and "Kill Shot."

    They also performed fan favorites like "WANNABE," "LOCO," "Not Shy," "CAKE," and "SNEAKERS," all live with a band. The audience sang along and cheered for every song, making it a truly interactive experience.

    The solo stages from the members were a highlight. Chaeryeong gave a dreamy performance of "Mine (Chaeryeong)" with a mirror, Ryujin rocked out during "Run Away (Ryujin)" in a leather jacket, Yuna shined with "Yet, but (Yuna)," and Yeji delivered a powerful "Crown On My Head (Yeji)." Fans loved each solo performance, and the members surprised everyone with an encore.

    Throughout the concert, ITZY kept their energy high during the 25-song setlist, connecting with fans and engaging them throughout.

    They even added a special touch by dancing to "Call My Name!" by local group COLLAR during a segment called "WHAT MIDZY WANT."

    As the tour ended, the members shared their gratitude. Yuna said, "I felt like the happiest person thanks to MIDZY, who sang along and cheered for us. I’ll cherish these memories forever." Chaeryeong added, "MIDZY pushes us to give our best. I won’t forget the emotions and gratitude from this tour. Thank you for always being with us."

    Ryujin expressed her heartfelt thanks, saying, "Thank you for making an ordinary 20-year-old like me feel special. I promise to come back even better." Yeji reflected, "The tour seemed like it would take forever, but now it’s over. I felt all the love from MIDZY, which made me give my best on stage. I’ll treasure every moment."

    Fans celebrated by preparing a video message and filling the arena with blue banners that read, "WE TRUST ONE ANOTHER, Thank you for coming to us." ITZY responded with heartfelt thanks in the local language.

    Source: [1]

  • BTS's Jimin Makes History by Winning 'Fan’s Choice Grand Prize' at the 2024 MAMA Awards

    BTS member Jimin made history at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the prestigious Visa Fan’s Choice of the Year award.

    On November 22, Jimin was honored with the Fan’s Choice of the Year award at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This marks a huge milestone in his career, especially considering his ongoing military service.

    Jimin made history as the first solo artist to win the Fan’s Choice of the Year award, a category that BTS had dominated for six years since its debut in 2018.

    In addition to this achievement, Jimin also took home the Fan’s Choice Grand Prize, making him a two-time winner at this year’s awards.

    Although Jimin couldn't attend the ceremony due to his military service, his name was met with loud cheers from fans when announced.

    His incredible win continues to prove his global influence as a solo artist. Jimin had also won Best Male Artist at the 2023 MAMA AWARDS, marking back-to-back wins at the event.

    The MAMA AWARDS praised Jimin for his groundbreaking achievements, saying, “As the first K-pop solo artist to reach 4 billion streams and set the longest-running #1 record for a Korean artist, Jimin has proven his influence as a world-class artist and global pop star.”

    Jimin's win also made him the first solo artist to claim a grand prize at the MAMA AWARDS in 10 years, with his achievement sparking excitement worldwide.

    On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “CONGRATULATIONS JIMIN” topped the trends, while “우리지민이상받았네” (Our Jimin Got the Award) reached the #1 spot in Korea.

    Jimin’s ongoing success continues to shine even during his military service. He was also recently named Best K-pop at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards and continues to be recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of 100 million KRW to the National Defense Soldier and Veteran Love Fund.

    Source: [1]