BTS’s V has once again shown his massive star power by ranking as the highest K-Pop solo artist on Japan’s prestigious list of 'Top 10 Most Shared Artists on SNS' for 2024!

According to Oricon News, V achieved an impressive 6th place in the 'Most Shared Artists on SNS in Japan' category in the '2024 Annual Rankings' by Spotify Japan. This marks the highest position ever for any K-Pop solo artist on this list, showcasing just how popular V is, even while he is currently on hiatus for his military service.

Spotify Japan’s annual ranking covers various categories like 'Top 10 Most Streamed Songs in Japan' and 'Top 10 Most Streamed Japanese Artists Overseas.' The rankings consider the popularity of artists across major social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Despite being on a break, V stands out as the only K-Pop solo artist to make the list, solidifying his unique presence and influence.

V wasn't the only K-Pop artist to make the list. Boy group ZEROBASEONE also earned a spot, ranking No. 1 on Japan's '2024 Bestselling K-Pop Top 20.' However, V continues to dominate in Japan, holding the title as the highest-ranking Korean celebrity on X and consistently topping Google Trends in Japan since BTS’s debut.

In addition, V has been ruling Japan’s idol rankings. From December 2 to December 8, he claimed 1st place in the 'K-Pop Male Idol Ranking' on the Japanese site 'NEHAN,' holding the top spot for an astounding 193 consecutive weeks. He also topped the 'Korean Male Actor Popularity Ranking' by 'BIHAN' for 42 straight weeks, and stayed No. 1 in the '20s Male Actor Ranking' for 189 weeks.

V’s influence goes beyond idol rankings. He also dominated the 'K-Pop Idol Handsome Guy Election' and 'Korean Drama Male Actor Election' on 'K-board,' holding the top spot for 149 weeks. On 'KPOP JUICE,' V set a new record with a total of 5.32 million votes, keeping 1st place throughout the entire voting period.

V’s continued success in Japan proves his immense popularity and influence, making him one of the most beloved and talked-about stars in the K-Pop world!

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Actor Song Kang Ho shocked fans by revealing the surprising reason he initially turned down the iconic role in Joint Security Area (JSA).

On February 4, the movie JSA was celebrated as a "Visionary" work at a special GV (Guest Visit) event for CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. The event was attended by director Park Chan-wook and stars like Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae, Kim Tae Woo, and Ko Kyung Beom, who shared stories from the making of the film.

Joint Security Area, a groundbreaking film by director Park Chan-wook, tells the story of North and South Korean soldiers caught in a tragic incident at the border, highlighting the human side of the divided nations. The film has been widely praised for changing the perception of inter-Korean relations and is seen as a key moment in Korean cinema.

During the event, Song Kang Ho admitted that he turned down the JSA script at first, saying, "The script was just too perfect. It was so well-written and tightly woven that I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Is this really Korean cinema at this level?’ I felt it was too good, and I figured the movie wouldn’t live up to the script."

He also mentioned that at the time, Park Chan-wook’s previous films hadn’t done well, which made him even more doubtful. "But after meeting the director, I started to trust him," Song Kang Ho added.

Reflecting on the film 20 years later, Song Kang Ho joked, "I was flipping through channels and watched JSA again. I thought, ‘There was a time when I wasn’t envious of Lee Byung Hun,’ but he looked so handsome and cool back then." He continued, laughing, "One thing about Park Chan-wook's films is that they have a depth and elegance that you just can’t forget. It’s probably why his new movie is called I Can’t Help It."

Song Kang Ho also spoke fondly of reuniting with his JSA co-stars after 25 years. He shared, "We didn’t watch the film together, but we had a cozy two-hour dinner. After all this time, it felt nostalgic. It was heartwarming to sit together again and reminisce about the past. It really made me realize how meaningful these moments are."

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