BTS member V (Kim Taehyung) has set another incredible record!

As of November 12, V became the first K-pop solo artist to surpass 19 million followers on Spotify, the world’s biggest music streaming platform. By November 17, his follower count had climbed even higher to 19,019,905.

This milestone makes V the most-followed Korean solo artist on Spotify and places him fourth overall among all K-pop artists, including groups.

Globally, V is ranked 107th in followers across all artists, according to Chart Masters, a platform that tracks music statistics. Among Spotify's vast list of artists, only 268 have over 10 million followers.

Even while serving in the military, V's solo tracks continue to draw massive attention. By October 30, his solo songs on Spotify had been streamed over 3.8 billion times.

As of November 14, that number had risen to 3.882 billion, spanning tracks from his solo album Layover, drama OSTs, self-composed songs, and even remixes.

Released on September 8, 2023, Layover has already accumulated 2.061 billion streams, making V the third K-pop solo artist to exceed 2 billion streams with an album.

Additionally, Layover is the first K-pop solo album where every track has surpassed 100 million streams, showcasing its immense popularity.

Meanwhile, V is preparing to add a festive touch to his musical journey. On December 6 at 2 PM KST, he will release a special duet version of the classic “White Christmas” with legendary pop artist Bing Crosby.

This marks a historic moment, as V will be the first and only artist to release a duet with Crosby, whose original 1942 release of “White Christmas” remains a timeless holiday favorite.

Congratulations to V for another groundbreaking achievement, and fans can’t wait for his magical holiday release!

Source: [1]

Lee Kyung Gyu's star-making influence goes beyond Kang Ho Dong, as Hong Jin Kyung shares how he helped her kickstart her career.

On the April 24 episode of KBS 2TV’s Problem Child in House, legendary comedian Lee Kyung Gyu appeared as a guest—and a touching story from the past was revealed.

Hong Jin Kyung surprised everyone when she said, “He’s the teacher for all of us. Personally, he’s the one who helped me debut.” She even pinned a carnation flower on his chest to show her gratitude.

Lee Kyung Gyu smiled and said, “I still remember when Hong Jin Kyung walked up the stairs onto the stage for the first time.”

Hong Jin Kyung then shared her journey to becoming a star. “I joined a supermodel contest, but only the top 3 winners were noticed in broadcasting. I got a special prize, so I had no chance to be on TV."

She continued, "At first, I was just a backup for a show. But somehow, I became a regular the next week. I never knew why."

She added, "I thought the PD gave me a shot. But then one day, I randomly met Kyung Gyu sunbae, and he told me it was actually him who recommended me.”

Kim Sook asked with a smile, “So Kyung Gyu sunbae said nice things about you to the PD?”

Lee Kyung Gyu playfully replied, “Don’t say it in such a childish way,” making everyone laugh.

He then explained more seriously, “The show was Scoop TV Entertainment, and I was pretty much the main MC. When Jin Kyung showed up, I saw her determination and passion."

He added, "While others didn’t seem serious, she really stood out. I told the PD, ‘She seems unique. Why not keep her on the show?’”

Kim Jong Kook chimed in, “So if the main MC said that, doesn’t that mean you basically got her in?”

That made Lee Kyung Gyu happy. He grinned and replied, “Exactly! You speak well. Be like him!”

He added, “After that, Jin Kyung’s career took off. She started doing shows with Lee Young Ja and just kept going.”

Fans are now calling Lee Kyung Gyu not only a top MC, but also a quiet star-maker behind the scenes!

Source: [1]