BTS member V (Kim Taehyung) has done it again! His solo track Love Me Again has officially earned RIAA Gold certification after surpassing 500,000 units sold in the United States.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) gives Gold certification to songs that sell over 500K units, while Platinum is for 1 million+ units, and Diamond is for a whopping 10 million+ units! The numbers include physical and digital sales, plus streaming counts.

According to Chart Data, Love Me Again hit 500,000 units in the U.S. as of February 18. This makes it V’s second RIAA Gold-certified song, following his Itaewon Class OST Sweet Night.

Love Me Again, which comes from V’s first solo album Layover, has already been making waves. The track entered Spotify’s Billions Club on December 14, 2023, after crossing 1 billion streams—a massive milestone!

Even American music media is recognizing V’s impact. Consequence of Sound named Love Me Again the "Most Jaw-Dropping Single" in its "The 2023 K-Pop Yearbook", praising the song’s "perfect mix of pop and R&B with V’s rich baritone voice."

The Love Me Again music video also made history! It became the first K-pop artist MV to top the UK’s 'TIDAL Top Video' chart, and also dominated iTunes, Apple Music, and YouTube charts worldwide.

Meanwhile, V’s Layover set another record by becoming the first K-pop solo album where every track surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify. In the U.S., it also became the first Asian solo album where every track sold over 100K units!

British music magazine NME couldn’t stop praising V’s work, calling Layover an "alluring result that prioritizes artistic choices over commercial ones." They also added, "The long wait was more than worth it."

With another RIAA Gold certification under his belt, V continues to prove his unstoppable global impact as a solo artist!

Source: [1]

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!

Source: [1]