Get ready for an exciting twist on a beloved story! Kakao Entertainment is bringing the hit webtoon Itaewon Class to life as a musical, with its world premiere set to take place in Japan this June at Tokyo’s Brillia Hall.

After captivating audiences through a Korean drama, a Japanese drama, and even an HBO adaptation in Taiwan, Itaewon Class is now ready for its next big leap—on stage as a musical! This new adaptation will star popular Japanese actor and singer Kotaki Nozomu, a member of the idol group WEST. Nozomu will take on the role of Park Sae-ro-yi, a character known for his strong principles and belief in justice.

The original webtoon Itaewon Class, written by Gwangjin and serialized from 2016 to 2020, has already amassed over 430 million views in Korea by January 2025. It tells the story of Park Sae-ro-yi, a young man who faces immense challenges but never strays from his moral compass. The musical adaptation will see a team of talented creators from Korea, Japan, and the U.S. join forces to bring this iconic story to life.

Notable names behind the musical include Lee Hee-jun, known for his work on Darwin’s Origin of Evil, as the lyricist and composer. Rico Sakaguchi, famed for her work on The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, is responsible for the script, while music will be composed by Helen Park, the first Asian woman to be nominated for a Tony Award for Best Composer. The director is Yuuna Koyama, who won Best Director at the Yomiuri Theater Awards.

Kotaki Nozomu, who’s getting into character by cutting his hair to match Park Sae-ro-yi’s iconic look, has fans already buzzing with excitement. Webtoon creator Gwangjin shared his thoughts on the musical, saying, "I’m so happy to hear that Itaewon Class is becoming a musical. I’m confident Kotaki Nozomu will be a great fit for Park Sae-ro-yi, bringing both his serious justice and gentle side to the stage."

This highly-anticipated musical promises to offer a fresh take on the familiar story, blending drama, music, and unforgettable performances. It’s an event fans of Itaewon Class won’t want to miss!

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BTS’s Jimin is once again proving his global dominance, especially in Japan, where his solo music continues to break records!

Jimin's hit song "Who", from his second album MUSE, has just been awarded the prestigious Gold streaming certification from the Japan Record Association (RIAJ).

This honor comes after "Who" surpassed a remarkable 50 million streams in February, making it the first solo song by Jimin to receive this certification in Japan!

The Japan Record Association certifies music based on total streams, with Gold for 50 million streams, Platinum for 100 million, and Diamond for a massive 500 million.

This achievement adds another significant milestone to Jimin’s growing solo career.

Previously, Jimin also earned a Platinum certification for his first album FACE (for 250,000 units shipped) and a Gold certification for MUSE (for over 100,000 units shipped).

With the Gold streaming certification for "Who", Jimin now holds a total of three prestigious certifications from the Japan Record Association, solidifying his place as a solo artist.

Not only that, but "Who" made waves on the Billboard charts, staying on the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive 33 weeks, setting a record for the longest-charting K-pop solo song! It also spent 32 weeks on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, showing just how much love fans have for his music.

Jimin’s solo success doesn’t stop there, as GOLDEN also spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart, and Jimin continues to dominate the Billboard Japan Artist 100, where he has now charted for 47 weeks! Clearly, Jimin’s popularity is unstoppable!

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