BTS' V is showing off the power of 'TaeTaeLand' by taking the top spot in Japan's major popularity rankings!

From August 19 to August 25, V achieved an impressive 178 consecutive weeks at #1 in the male idol rankings on Japan’s top idol site, NEHAN.

During the same time, he also clinched the top spot for 27 consecutive weeks in the 'Actor Popularity Ranking' and 174 weeks in the '20s Korean Actors' category on the Korean actor popularity site BIHAN.

On K-board, a site covering K-culture, V dominated in real-time, weekly, monthly, and annual rankings for both 'K-Pop Idol Handsome Election' and 'Korean Drama Male Actor Election,' holding the #1 spot for 135 weeks straight. KPOP JUICE reported V as #1 with a total of 4.97 million votes.

V’s solo album 'Layover' LP has started pre-sales worldwide and is already a bestseller on Korean online platforms. It’s sold out at Target in the US and Amuse Ground in Canada, showing just how popular it is.

In Japan, 'Layover' has sold out twice at the Weverse official store and Universal Music Store. As of the 29th, fans are eagerly waiting for a restock as the stock has not yet been replenished.

Plus, V's drama Hwarang, which aired in 2016, is being adapted into a play in Japan. The play will premiere in January 2025 at Theatre Milanoza in Tokyo and Umeda Arts Theater in Osaka.

Although V had to step down from the production due to his overseas concerts, Hwarang remains a hit in Japan, with re-broadcasts continuing on networks like TBS.

The broadcaster is hyping up the drama with the announcement, "The drama featuring V is coming soon," and is using V’s OST '죽어도 좋아' (Even If I Die), sung with Jin, to promote the show. Hwarang has consistently ranked #1 in viewership ratings, further boosting the popularity of Korean dramas.

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Hyun Bin is finally addressing the long-standing "ddongcha" (poop car) theory surrounding his character from My Name is Kim Sam-soon—and he's not holding back!

In an interview on the 19th with Star News, the beloved actor confessed, "I was wrong," responding to the reevaluation of his iconic role as Hyun Jin-heon from the 2005 hit drama. The "ddongcha" theory has been a subject of online debate for years, with many viewers critiquing Hyun Jin-heon’s character as overly arrogant and entitled.

Hyun Bin, who first rose to fame in My Name is Kim Sam-soon, took the time to reflect on the character that made him a household name. He shared, “I was just following the script; there were no personal opinions added to the character of Hyun Jin-heon. At that time, I knew Hyun Jin-heon was portrayed as a ‘bad boy,’ and the way it was expressed was different from today’s standards.”

With My Name is Kim Sam-soon now being re-released as part of Wavve's "New Classic" project, fans are revisiting the 2005 drama, and the character of Hyun Jin-heon is under fresh scrutiny. Director Kim Yun-cheol even admitted that the "prince on a white horse" and "bad boy" tropes that once worked in 2005 don’t quite match today's sensibilities, leading to edits in the 2024 version.

Hyun Bin humbly acknowledged his gratitude for his successful career and hit works, saying, "It’s wonderful and I am grateful to have so many hit works. I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing writers, directors, and actors. Thanks to them, I’ve received a lot of attention and love." He also shared a sense of humility, noting, “But I never know when that luck will come again."

Despite the dramatic shift in perspective on his character, Hyun Bin’s charm and dedication remain strong. Fans are eager to see him in his upcoming film Harbin (directed by Woo Min-ho), set to be released on the 24th.

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