BTS’s Jimin is proving once again that his influence goes way beyond music—he’s now being named alongside Kimchi and Samsung as a symbol of South Korea!

Recently, a foreign social media user posted a guessing game where people had to figure out a country based on three hints. For South Korea, the clues given were "Kimchi, Jimin, Samsung", showing just how iconic Jimin has become worldwide. The post quickly went viral, with fans and netizens reacting with excitement.

Many people commented, "Of course, it's Jimin!", "Jimin's global power is insane!", and "Kimchi, Jimin, Samsung—yes, that’s South Korea!", proving that he is now recognized as a national treasure.

Jimin’s name has been coming up in similar situations for years. In a past YouTube video, an Australian was asked what they thought of first when hearing "South Korea," and their answer was Jimin.

The same thing happened in a Japanese broadcast, showing his global reach.

Since debuting with BTS in 2013, Jimin has gained massive popularity, especially in Western countries, attracting fans from all over the world.

Everything he does turns into a trending topic, whether it’s his powerful performances featuring traditional Korean fan dances or his love for Korean foods like tteokbokki, spicy chicken ramen, and yuzu tea.

Many believe Jimin has played a huge role in introducing Korean culture to the world.

His influence became even more undeniable in 2023 when he made history as the first Korean solo artist to top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with Like Crazy. The achievement was covered by major global media, further proving his star power.

Even though he’s currently serving in the military, Jimin’s impact hasn’t faded at all. His song Who has stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 27 weeks, showing that his popularity is stronger than ever.

With his name being mentioned alongside South Korea’s most famous cultural and business icons, Jimin is truly a global ambassador for K-pop and his country.

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The new OTT series Newtopia has faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.

Released on the 7th, Newtopia on Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.

The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.

Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.

Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”

Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.

The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopia also struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopia spent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.

On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.

Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.

The remaining six episodes of Newtopia will air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!

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