TWS (TourS) is officially a force to be reckoned with in the global music scene! The rising idol group has just earned their first-ever Gold Disc certification from the Japan Record Association, and it’s a major achievement.

On January 15, the Japan Record Association confirmed that TWS's first single Last Bell has shipped over 100,000 units as of December 2024, officially giving the group their "Gold" certification. This is a huge deal since the Gold Disc is awarded when albums reach 100,000 shipments, with higher certifications like Platinum and Double Platinum for even more sales.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Last Bell is a Korean album, and it earned this recognition even before TWS made their official debut in Japan. This speaks volumes about the strong interest from local fans and shows just how much global potential TWS has!

Released in November 2024, Last Bell took Japan by storm, topping the Oricon Weekly Single Ranking and Weekly Combined Single Ranking as of December 16. TWS also made waves by appearing on major year-end Japanese music festivals like the 2024 FNS Music Festival and Best Hit Kayosai 2024—solidifying their growing popularity in Japan.

Since their debut in January 2024, TWS has quickly gained attention for their unique sound and amazing talent, becoming one of the hottest rookie groups in K-pop. They’ve already snagged 13 major music award wins, including 7 New Artist awards, making them the top debut artist of the year!

On top of that, TWS’s debut track "First Meeting Didn’t Go As Planned" made a historic mark by topping Melon’s 2024 Year-End Chart. This is the first time in 14 years that a debut song has reached this milestone! The song also landed in the top 3 of both the 2024 Year-End Digital Chart and Streaming Chart published by Circle Chart, proving that TWS is here to stay.

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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!

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