BTS’s Jimin is proving his unbeatable power once again! His song Who has officially been named the most-streamed Korean track outside of Korea in the second half of 2024, according to Spotify’s latest Korean Music Global Impact List.

On February 25, Spotify released its Global Impact List, highlighting the top 30 Korean songs that gained the most international streams between July 1 and December 31, 2024. This ranking proves just how strong K-Pop’s global influence has become, with Jimin leading the way!

Jimin dominated the list, securing the No.1 spot with Who. Following closely behind were APT. by BLACKPINK’s Rosé and Bruno Mars at No.2, Mantra by Jennie at No.3, Chk Chk Boom by Stray Kids at No.4, and Jimin’s Be Mine at No.5.

BTS members completely took over the rankings! Jimin had five solo tracks on the list, while Jin’s Running Wild (No.6), I’ll Be There (No.8), and Super Tuna (No.23) also made waves.

V’s collaborations, Winter Ahead (with Park Hyo Shin) (No.9) and White Christmas (with V of BTS) (No.26), brought BTS members’ total entries to 10!

BLACKPINK’s Rosé also made a strong impact with three songs, while Stray Kids followed closely with four tracks on the list. aespa, KISS OF LIFE, and ENHYPEN also secured multiple spots, proving their international popularity.

While global stars like BTS and BLACKPINK ruled the rankings, rookie groups also showed impressive growth! BABYMONSTER’s FOREVER (No.11) and DRIP (No.17) made it into the top rankings, while MEOVV’s MEOW secured No.30, marking a strong debut year for these groups.

BABYMONSTER has been gaining attention through Spotify’s RADAR Korea program, which promotes rising artists through curated playlists and special events. Spotify Korea’s Head of Music, Park Jung Joo, commented, “It’s amazing to see both legendary artists and new groups achieving great results. As K-Pop continues to take over the world, Spotify will keep supporting Korean artists to shine on bigger stages.”

With Jimin’s global influence stronger than ever, fans are excited to see what records he will break next.

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Former JYP Entertainment trainee Song Minyoung recently opened up about her emotional journey as a trainee and how her long-awaited debut was suddenly canceled.

A video titled "Idol Trainee, Working Holiday Traveler, and Teacher Go on a Trip" was uploaded to the YouTube channel GwakTube, where Song Minyoung shared her story.

In the video, GwakTube went on a two-day trip with fellow Koreans he met at a Japanese language school in Hokkaido. One of them was Song Minyoung, who previously appeared on Mnet’s 2015 survival show SIXTEEN—the program that formed TWICE. Back then, she was praised for her amazing vocal skills.

During dinner, GwakTube asked, "Do trainees have to diet a lot? I never thought I’d meet a former JYP trainee here in Japan."

Song Minyoung replied, "I never thought I’d meet GwakTube here either," before adding, "Trainees have to diet a lot. I started dieting when I was in eighth grade. I trained for six years, putting my entire middle and high school life into it."

When asked about the weight requirements, she revealed, "My standard weight was 47kg (103 lbs), but I was once told to lose more, down to 44kg (97 lbs)."

Then, she shared a heartbreaking experience: "Before TWICE debuted, there was already a group called SIXMIX, and six of us were supposed to debut. We had a set debut date, filmed a music video, and even finished recording our songs. But suddenly, everything got canceled."

She continued, "Then, out of nowhere, the company announced they would be launching SIXTEEN. So I participated, but while the others debuted, I was eliminated."

Song Minyoung admitted that the experience left a lasting impact on her: "I worked so hard to never feel ashamed in front of others. I used to believe that if I gave my all, I would succeed. But after going through this, I realized that effort alone isn’t enough. Since then, I haven't been able to put my all into anything again."

Listening to her, GwakTube shared his thoughts: "I’ve had times when I worked really hard, but things didn’t go my way, and times when I didn’t try as hard, yet things worked out. I think luck plays a big role. Hard work is important, but in the end, luck has to be on your side too."

Song Minyoung’s story is touching hearts, as many admire her perseverance despite the challenges she faced.

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