BTS’s Jungkook has once again made history, proving why he’s a true global music powerhouse!

According to the World Music Awards (WMA), Jungkook has officially surpassed 8.4 billion filtered streams on his personal Spotify account.

This makes him the fastest Asian artist to hit this milestone and the first K-pop soloist to achieve it! Recognizing his incredible impact, WMA even called him a "history maker."

Even while serving in the military, Jungkook’s Spotify streams continue to rise at an insane rate of nearly 7 million per day, showing just how strong his influence is worldwide.

Jungkook’s first solo album, GOLDEN, is also smashing records! It is now the fastest Asian solo album to surpass 5.3 billion streams on Spotify. From 2022 to 2024, Jungkook held the title of the most-streamed K-pop soloist for three consecutive years, proving his unmatched dominance.

And even in 2025, he’s still on top, gaining over 400 million new streams just this year!

Jungkook’s solo debut track Seven is rewriting history! It holds the record as the fastest song in Spotify history to reach 100 million, 900 million, 1 billion, and 1.1 billion streams.

Not only that, but it’s also the first and fastest Asian song to hit 2.26 billion streams!

As of March 18 (KST), Seven is now the 88th most-streamed song in Spotify history, proving Jungkook’s unstoppable global power.

Jungkook just became the first Asian soloist to have three songs hit 1 billion streams on Spotify!

• Seven
• Left and Right (with Charlie Puth)
• Standing Next to You

This historic feat cements Jungkook’s massive global influence and his position as a record-breaking superstar.

• Seven has remained on the Spotify Weekly Top Songs Global Chart for 87 weeks straight, the longest ever for an Asian soloist!
• GOLDEN has been on the Spotify Weekly Top Albums Global Chart for 71 consecutive weeks, making it the first and longest-charting album by an Asian soloist!

Since opening his Spotify account on February 11, 2022, Jungkook has set another record—he’s the fastest Asian artist to surpass 17 million followers! His massive global fanbase continues to grow, proving that his popularity is on another level.

Jungkook’s music transcends borders, and his achievements keep pushing new limits! Fans can’t wait to see what other records he will break next!

Source (1)

Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

Source: [1]