BTS's Jimin has once again proven his incredible popularity by taking the top spot in a Japanese poll for the 18th month in a row!

Jimin ranked first in a monthly survey held by the Japanese Korean Wave media outlet Danmee. The poll, titled “Most Popular K-pop Male Idol in August,” ran from August 20 to August 27, 2024, and Jimin shined the brightest in the results.

Jimin secured first place with 2,852 votes, making up 45.78% of the total 6,230 votes, setting a new record by winning for 18 consecutive months.

Danmee reported, “Jimin’s second solo album MUSE was released on July 19, and its title track 'WHO' continues to perform well on the UK’s Official Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100,” sharing the exciting updates alongside news of his poll victory.

Japanese fans celebrated Jimin’s ongoing success by leaving messages on the poll’s forum. Some of the comments read, “Jimin’s voice and dance bring happiness every day,” “Jimin-chan is the best, I’ll always cheer for you,” and “I’m always captivated by Jimin’s singing, dancing, and his hard work.”

The survey, which reflects the opinions of K-pop fans in Japan, allows each person to vote only once for their favorite idol to keep things fair.

Danmee selects 27 male K-pop idols for the poll based on their domestic activity, brand reputation, mentions on social media, and page views on Danmee articles.

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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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