BTS member Jin is making waves worldwide with his debut solo album, Happy, and it's clear that the album is a global hit!

Released on November 15, Happy and its title track Running Wild have received massive love from fans and music lovers across the globe, especially in Japan.

According to the Billboard Japan Year-End charts for 2024, which cover the period from November 27, 2023, to November 24, 2024, Jin's Happy ranked 19th on the Billboard Japan - Hot Albums Year-End 2024 chart, making it the highest-ranking K-pop solo album.

Not only did Happy break records, but it also secured a top 20 spot in the annual chart, proving just how much the album resonates with listeners.

Jin claimed the #1 spot for K-pop soloists and #3 globally on the year-end chart, with only legendary Japanese artists Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada ahead of him. This is a huge accomplishment for the BTS member, who just released his solo album in November.

But that’s not all! Happy also made waves on the Billboard Japan - Top Albums Sales Year-End 2024 chart, where it ranked #20 overall and again claimed the #1 spot for K-pop soloists. Jin ranked #3 globally, right behind Yonezu and Utada, solidifying his place in the music world.

The album's success in Japan is staggering, with Happy selling 219,241 copies on its first day and 223,938 copies in its first week. This earned Jin the #3 spot on the all-time first-week sales chart for solo K-pop artists on the Oricon album chart!

Jin's Happy has continued to make history, with his pre-release track I’ll Be There and the title track Running Wild both topping Oricon charts.

His collaboration with ONE OK ROCK’s lead vocalist Taka on the track Nege Dwal Ttakjiman also topped the Oricon Daily Digital Single Chart on November 27, making Jin the second K-pop artist to hold multiple #1 positions on this chart!

Not stopping there, Running Wild achieved #1 on the Spotify Japan Daily Top Songs Chart on December 21, 2024, setting a new record for the highest streaming numbers by a K-pop artist, including both group and solo. It also ranked #6 on the global Spotify Top Songs Chart on the same day.

Jin’s Happy is taking the world by storm, and with these impressive achievements, it's clear that the BTS member is only just getting started on his solo journey!

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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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