BTS's Jimin has once again claimed the title of the most popular Korean male idol in 2024, as chosen by Japanese fans, proving his massive and unwavering popularity!

In the 2024 Year-End Summary! Korean Male Idol Popularity No. 1 survey, conducted by the Japanese Hallyu media outlet Danmee, Jimin secured the top spot with an impressive 2,508 votes. This marks his second consecutive year at number one, following his victory in 2023.

Jimin’s dominance in Japan is undeniable, and his popularity continues to soar with no signs of slowing down!

Earlier in the year, Jimin also triumphed in the "November K-Pop Male Idol Popularity Contest" with a record-breaking 3,335 votes, marking an incredible 21 consecutive months at number one. His consistent success highlights his strong and lasting impact on fans across Japan.

The survey, aimed at reflecting the voices of K-pop fans, took into account various factors like Jimin's activities in Korea, his brand reputation (BRAND REPUTATION_INDEX), his monthly mentions on X (formerly Twitter), and related articles and music videos from Danmee. A total of 28 well-known K-pop male idols were featured in the survey.

He also ranked 53rd on the Billboard Japan Artist 100, 47th on the Streaming Chart, and 42nd on the Album Chart, further proving his immense influence in Japan.

Jimin’s popularity in Japan isn’t just based on surveys—his solo work continues to dominate! His second solo album MUSE and its hit song "Who" charted at 70th on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 as of January 8, marking an impressive 23 consecutive weeks on the chart.

On top of his musical achievements, Jimin’s solo exhibition The Truth Untold: Fanne Gruit IN JAPAN has been a huge hit. Since opening in Tokyo on January 10, the exhibition has captured the attention of fans, showcasing his solo album activities, stage costumes, props, and trophies.

The exhibition has even been featured on Japan's Fuji TV, further fueling excitement for Jimin's work.

Jimin’s reign as the top Korean male idol in Japan is far from over, and his growing success is setting new standards for K-pop idols worldwide.

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The upcoming SBS drama Love Scout, starring Han Ji Min and Lee Jun Hyuk, is already making headlines—but for all the wrong reasons.

Recent revelations about the show’s co-director, Ham Joon Ho, have sparked controversy. It was revealed that Ham Joon Ho had faced legal issues in 2020 for assault and defamation while intoxicated.

This incident led to disciplinary action within SBS and has raised questions about his involvement in the new project.

On January 13, the production team of Love Scout released an official apology, saying, "We deeply regret causing concern with unpleasant news related to PD Ham Joon Ho."

They confirmed the allegations, stating, "It is true that PD Ham Joon Ho was accused of assault and defamation while intoxicated in early 2020. However, he sincerely apologized to all victims, and the matter was resolved through forgiveness and mutual agreement."

They added, "He also received legal punishment for the incident. Additionally, reports about his prior criminal record from five years ago are unrelated to this case, as they involve a misdemeanor."

The team explained that Ham Joon Ho was suspended from his duties following the incident and spent three years reflecting on his actions before returning to directing. They added, "We kindly ask for viewers’ understanding."

The controversy began after online posts brought up the 2020 incident, sharing a news article from that time. The article described an SBS drama department employee, referred to as “A,” causing a disturbance in Hannam-dong, Seoul, while intoxicated. Police booked “A,” and due to their prior criminal record, an arrest warrant was requested but later denied.

It was later confirmed that “A” was PD Ham Joon Ho. After serving his suspension, he made his directorial comeback with the SBS drama Payback before taking on Love Scout.

Despite the production team's apology, the controversy has cast a shadow over the highly anticipated drama, leaving viewers wondering how it will impact the show’s reception.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds!

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