BTS' V has taken the world by storm once again! His first solo LP, Layover, has completely sold out across multiple countries, showcasing his unmatched global popularity.

Pre-orders for the Layover LP, announced on BTS’s official account on August 20th, flew off the shelves at record speed. By September 3rd, major U.S. online retailers like Tower Records and Record Stop (NYC) had already sold out, while Target saw Layover gone as early as August 25th. It wasn’t just the U.S. either—V’s fans in the UK were quick to grab the album, selling it out at physical retailers such as the BTS Official UK Store, Polydor, Record Store UK, and The Sound of Vinyl by September 1st.

The sellout frenzy didn’t stop there! Canadian fans snatched up all available copies at Amuse Ground and Lightup Bookstore on September 3rd, followed by Kplaytwon on September 4th. In Japan, pre-orders began on August 21st and sold out in just one day at the BTS Official Japan Store and Universal Music Japan.

After a restock, it sold out yet again. Meanwhile, in South Korea, Layover took the #1 spot in real-time bestsellers in the CD/LP category on Yes24 and dominated the overall bestsellers chart on Aladin.

Layover brings a fresh sound to K-pop, blending pop R&B with vintage influences like jazz and soul, giving listeners a glimpse into V’s unique artistic vibe. It’s no wonder critics are raving about the album’s bold departure from current trends! Multiple international music magazines have hailed Layover as one of the best albums of 2023.

In fact, the UK’s Time Out listed Layover among the "30 Best Albums of 2023," while Billboard ranked it 2nd on their "25 Best K-pop Albums of 2023" list, saying, "It shows a significant departure from BTS's albums, highlighting V’s distinct artistic realm."

V’s solo achievements are soaring! Layover hit #2 on Billboard’s Billboard 200—the highest rank for a K-pop solo artist—and its tracks "Slow Dancing" and "Love Me Again" both entered the Hot 100 singles chart.

V’s solo era is unstoppable!

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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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