BTS’s Jungkook is once again proving his global star power, this time by taking the top spot on Oricon’s all-time K-Pop male solo artist sales ranking in Japan!

According to Pop Core and Pop Flop, real-time music chart platforms, Jungkook’s sales in Japan have skyrocketed, earning him first place among all-time K-Pop male solo artists. This ranking includes his total sales from CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and digital downloads as of 2024.

Despite not releasing any songs in Japanese, Jungkook’s impressive sales figure of ¥2.445 billion (about ₩22.8 billion or over $17 million USD) helped him secure the No. 1 spot. His success came after the release of his singles "Seven" and "3D," followed by his debut album GOLDEN, which became a global hit in 2023.

Jungkook’s achievements don’t stop there—he ranked second overall among K-Pop solo artists in Japan, only behind BoA, the "Goddess of Oricon." When you consider both group and solo artists, Jungkook ranked 23rd, showcasing his extraordinary success.

Jungkook’s tracks have been breaking records on Oricon’s charts. His songs "Seven," "3D," and "Standing Next To You" all hit No. 1 on Oricon’s Daily Digital Singles Ranking. His album GOLDEN also debuted at No. 1 on Oricon's Daily Album Chart with 205,961 copies sold, later earning a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) by surpassing 250,000 copies in shipments.

The vinyl version of GOLDEN also made waves, selling 3,391 copies and breaking the record for the highest debut sales by a K-Pop solo artist on Oricon’s Daily Album Chart for vinyl.

Jungkook made history with seven No. 1 songs on Oricon’s Daily Singles Chart, the most ever by a K-Pop solo artist, solidifying his immense popularity in Japan.

In addition to his chart-topping success, Jungkook’s song "Seven" won "Song of the Year by Download" in the Asia category at the 38th Japan Gold Disc Awards, marking his second year in a row winning this prestigious honor.

Jungkook also reached major streaming milestones, earning three Platinum certifications from RIAJ for his songs "Seven" (both clean and explicit versions) and "Euphoria," each surpassing 100 million streams. He also received six Gold certifications for songs reaching 50 million streams.

On the Billboard Japan Year-End Charts, Jungkook was the only overseas solo artist to appear on the "Hot 100" for two consecutive years.

He also claimed the highest rankings for overseas solo artists on both the "Streaming Songs" and "Artist 100" charts for two years in a row.

Jungkook consistently dominated the "Download Albums" chart, proving his global influence in streaming and album sales.

Jungkook’s remarkable success in Japan highlights his unbeatable impact and proves that his popularity knows no borders.

Source (1)

Actress Lim Ji Yeon is finally opening up about the unexpected backlash she received after showing support for actor Jung Woo Sung during his controversial return to the public eye.

In an interview on January 23rd, following the end of her drama The Tale of Lady Ok, Lim Ji Yeon spoke candidly about the situation that caused a stir at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards in November last year.

At the event, Jung Woo Sung made his public return after facing controversy surrounding an “illegitimate child” with model Moon Ga Bi. While Jung Woo Sung took the stage to apologize, Lim Ji Yeon was seen clapping and cheering for him.

Reflecting on that moment, Lim Ji Yeon shared, "It was a brief moment, so it’s hard to say whether it was right or wrong." She added, "I didn’t expect the public’s reaction. On the other hand, I was cautious since The Tale of Lady Ok was airing at the time."

For those who missed it, Jung Woo Sung and Moon Ga Bi, who had been in a relationship since 2022, revealed last year that they were expecting a child.

The actor took full responsibility for the situation and issued an apology during the awards ceremony, saying, "I’m sorry for causing concern and disappointment to everyone who has shown me love and support. I will bear all the criticism, and I promise to take full responsibility as a father to my son".

However, while Jung Woo Sung addressed the controversy, it was Lim Ji Yeon’s show of support that sparked controversy.

She cheered enthusiastically for Jung Woo Sung, while actress Hye Ri, who was seated next to her, kept a neutral, expressionless face. This led to a wave of criticism from some netizens who questioned Lim Ji Yeon’s reaction.

It’s worth noting that Lim Ji Yeon’s agency, Artist Company, was co-founded by Jung Woo Sung and actor Lee Jung Jae, both of whom currently serve as directors.

Could this connection have influenced Lim Ji Yeon’s public display of support? She’s still processing the response, and fans are curious to know how she’ll handle the fallout moving forward.

Source: [1]