BOYNEXTDOOR, the rising boy group, has been recognized for their growing popularity in Japan, winning an award for their impressive buzz.

On December 4th, Yahoo Japan revealed the winners of the "Yahoo! Search Awards 2024," and BOYNEXTDOOR (Seongho, Riu, Myeongjaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, Unhak) was chosen in the "Next Break" category. They are the only overseas male artists to win this year, marking a significant achievement.

The "Yahoo! Search Awards" ranks individuals, works, and products that have seen a big jump in searches, based on data from Yahoo Japan. Known as a prestigious, nationally recognized award, it holds a lot of weight and is seen as a reliable indicator of local popularity.

The "Next Break" category is for artists who are expected to see a sharp increase in searches, based on last year’s data. Yahoo Japan explained, "BOYNEXTDOOR debuted in Japan with their single 'AND' in July and quickly gained attention at music festivals like 'SUMMER SONIC 2024.' They became popular not only through music programs and variety shows but also by appearing on many magazine covers, causing a surge in searches."

The group has seen a big rise in popularity in Japan. Their debut single "AND" earned them the Japan Record Association Gold Disk "Platinum" certification (over 250,000 copies sold).

They also topped the Oricon weekly charts with their mini-album 19.99, which was released in September, taking two number-one spots. Additionally, they are continuing to gain attention and have been included in TV Asahi's prestigious year-end program, Music Station SUPER LIVE 2024.

As the "hottest group" right now, BOYNEXTDOOR’s next big milestone is their first solo tour. They will kick off BOYNEXTDOOR TOUR 'KNOCK ON Vol.1 on December 14–15 at the Incheon Inspire Arena, and will perform in 13 cities, including six in Japan where fans are eagerly awaiting their arrival.

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BLACKPINK’s Jisoo shared a surprising story from her trainee days!

On January 29, the latest episode of Dex’s Fridge Interview was released on YouTube. During the chat, Dex asked Jisoo if she ever rebelled or broke the rules as a trainee. She confidently replied, “Not at all. The only rebellion I had as a trainee was eating.”

Dex then jokingly imitated her younger self, saying, “I’m perfect, so why are they telling me not to eat? I’m going to eat tteokbokki!”

Jisoo laughed and admitted, “Actually, I was really chubby back then. They kept telling me to lose weight, but I always said, ‘No, I need to eat. I like myself chubby.’”

She even recalled a moment with YG Entertainment’s founder, Yang Hyun Suk:
“The boss told me to lose weight, and I responded like that. He just walked away, thinking, ‘She’s a weird one.’ I literally said, ‘No! I like myself chubby!’”

Jisoo then revealed that after she debuted, she naturally lost weight. She added, “Later, after I debuted and naturally lost weight, he was like, ‘You didn’t lose weight when I told you to, but now that you debuted, you did.’”

Fans are loving Jisoo’s confidence and honesty! Meanwhile, her full interview on Dex’s Fridge Interview is now available on YouTube.

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