BTS member Jungkook is making history once again, proving why he’s a true ‘mega hit icon’ on the Billboard charts!

According to the latest Billboard update on February 15, Jungkook’s smash hit “Seven” (released in July 2023) ranked No. 122 on the Global 200 chart. With this, the song has now spent an incredible 81 weeks on the chart, making Jungkook the first and longest-charting Asian solo artist in Billboard’s Global 200 history!

That’s not all! Over on Billboard’s Global Excl. U.S. chart, “Seven” landed at No. 77, extending its record as the first and longest-charting Asian solo song, now at 82 weeks and counting!

Jungkook’s dominance continues in the Philippines as well. On Billboard Philippines’ Hot 100, “Seven” ranked at No. 74 on February 15, officially setting a record as the longest-charting song by a K-pop act, with an impressive 33 weeks on the chart.

Meanwhile, Jungkook’s debut solo album “GOLDEN” is also making waves. It ranked No. 80 on Billboard Japan’s Hot Albums chart (as of February 12), securing the title of the longest-charting K-pop solo album with 26 weeks on the chart!

Previously, “Seven” made headlines when it spent nine consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Global Excl. U.S. chart and seven consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Global 200. This made it the first and longest-running Asian song to top both charts simultaneously for seven weeks—a record-breaking achievement!

Jungkook’s impact on Billboard is undeniable, with his cumulative appearances on the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts now standing at 216 weeks and 265 weeks, respectively!

And the records don’t stop there! “Seven” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 15 weeks. It also debuted at No. 3 on the UK Official Singles Chart, where it became the first K-pop solo song to chart for 14 consecutive weeks.

On Spotify, “Seven” made history again as the first Asian song to surpass 2.2 billion streams (before filtering). It was also named the 11th most-streamed song of the 2020s on the platform.

Jungkook also holds multiple Guinness World Records, including:

• Fastest song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify (before filtering)
• Highest weekly streams for a male artist track (89.74 million filtered streams)
• Fastest song to reach 100 million Spotify streams (filtered)
• Most No. 1 hits (3 songs) on the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) MENA chart

With these incredible milestones, Jungkook continues to prove that he’s not just a K-pop superstar—he’s a global music powerhouse!

Source: [1]

Director Bong Joon Ho couldn’t hold back his emotions while remembering the late Lee Sun Kyun.

On February 18, Bong Joon Ho appeared as a guest on MBC’s Son Suk Hee’s Questions and shared his thoughts on filmmaking, his reputation for being meticulous, and his deep regret over Lee Sun Kyun’s passing.

During the interview, Bong Joon Ho explained, "I never start a film thinking about social or political issues. If the storyboard isn’t finished by the morning of the shoot, I get really anxious."

He also talked about his admiration for actors, saying, "A director’s greatest luck is working with talented actors. I always stay alert while watching films, dramas, or plays, wondering if there are amazing actors quietly doing great work without getting noticed."

When asked about his ‘Bong-tail’ nickname—given to him for his extreme attention to detail—he responded, "Sometimes, I feel like it’s a label I want to escape from. Audiences analyze every little thing, looking for mistakes. While precision is important, I don’t think it alone determines a film’s value."

However, the most emotional moment came when the late Lee Sun Kyun was mentioned. Letting out a deep sigh, Bong Joon Ho said, "He was someone I worked with, and so many memories come flooding back. No matter what anyone says, he was a good person. He was a great actor." His heartfelt words left a strong impression.

Bong Joon Ho also addressed the statement he had released following Lee Sun Kyun’s passing. "As someone who worked with him, it was only right to speak up," he admitted.

However, he also expressed deep regret, saying, "I feel ashamed and sorry that I didn’t do it sooner. I kept asking myself why I didn’t act more quickly before such a tragic situation happened."

As he spoke, he became visibly emotional, shedding tears and leaving a heavy atmosphere in the studio.

Meanwhile, Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated film Mickey 17 is set to premiere first in South Korea on February 28.

The sci-fi thriller follows the story of an expendable worker, ‘Mickey,’ who is sent on dangerous missions and replaced with a new version when he dies. However, chaos unfolds when ‘Mickey 18’ is printed while ‘Mickey 17’ is still alive.

Source: [1]