BTS' Jimin extends record stay on Billboard 200
Jimin of BTS demonstrated staying power on Billboard charts with his second solo album 'Muse.'
The album ranked No. 109 on the Billboard 200, leaping 23 rungs from the previous week, and extended his own record for the longest stay on the main albums chart for a K-pop solo singer to 31 weeks. The album debuted on the chart at No. 2 when it was rolled out in July last year.
The main track from the album, 'Who,' slid down four rungs to No. 44 on Billboard's Hot 100. The single — his first-ever solo English-language single — has spent 30 weeks on the chart, raising expectations for it to bump down Psy and BTS, who stayed on the chart for 31 and 32 weeks, respectively.
'Who' ranked No. 37 on the UK's Official Singles Chart Top 100, down 20 rungs, in its 25th week on the chart, maintaining his record streak as a K-pop soloist.
SF9 to return with EP
SF9 will return on March 11 with its 15th EP 'Love Race,' announced agency FNC Entertainment Wednesday.
The mini album comes about seven months after the group's previous EP 'Fantasy' and will be the second installment in the 'Your Fantasy' series.
The upcoming album will feature seven members of the octet, however, as Dawon started his mandatory military service last year. The 14th EP featured only five members, with Jaeyoon and Dawon enlisted and Juho unable to work out schedule conflicts due to him being with a different agency.
The band reorganized into an eight-member act when Rowoon withdrew to pursue an acting career. The remaining members also have expanded into individual activities: Hwiyoung dropped his first solo album 'Traveling Fish' last year while Chanhee appeared in movies and TV dramas. Taeyang, Inseong and Jaeyoon are starring in musicals.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Thai K-pop idol Natty opens up on identity and ambition as Kiss of Life returns with ‘224'
Girl group to thank fans with special encore gigs in Seoul next month Natty of Kiss of Life, one of the most prominent Thai idols in the K-pop scene today, said she hopes to be a source of inspiration for aspiring artists in her home country and beyond. 'As a Thai artist in Korea, this means a lot to me,' said Natty during a media showcase for her group's new EP '224' held in Seoul on Monday. 'Just like the Thai artists who came before me, I want to become a positive influence on people in Thailand and international trainees who dream of becoming K-pop idols. That's why I'm working hard to grow as an artist.' Thailand has long served as a key gateway for Southeast Asian talent entering K-pop, dating back to Nichkhun of 2PM, who debuted in 2008. Since then, artists like BamBam of GOT7, Ten of NCT and Minnie of I-dle have followed suit — though none have reached the global popularity of Blackpink's Lisa. K-pop is also massively popular in Thailand, where it has become one of the mainstream cultural genres. T-pop, or Thai pop, has also drawn significantly from K-pop in its visuals, choreography and production style. Natty pointed out that the two genres, nevertheless, have differences, especially in their sound. 'What makes T-pop unique, I think, is the use of traditional Thai instruments. That's the charm that really sets T-pop apart,' she said. A different kind of summer: Kiss of Life drops '224' Kiss of Life's fourth EP '224' marks a shift from the group's previous hit 'Sticky,' presenting a completely different flavor of summer music. The new title track 'Lips Hips Kiss' captures the intense and sensual emotions of a magnetic attraction, wrapped in early 2000s R&B and hip-hop vibes. Its sleek melody and bold lyrics highlight the group's energy. 'Compared to the refreshing vibe of 'Sticky,' this song brings out a stickier, hotter feeling,' Natty said. 'I hope people enjoy this different side of us.' Belle said the group faced a pleasant dilemma in choosing the lead single. 'All our members are capable of handling a wide range of genres, so we had so many good options,' she said. 'It was a happy kind of struggle deciding which one to go with.' 'We wanted to surprise people with a summer song that no one expected,' added Julie. 'It's a new challenge, but we chose this track because we're confident in our skills and in the genre.' Following the release of '224,' Kiss of Life is gearing up for an encore concert to wrap up their first world tour. The group began their tour in October in Seoul and traveled through North America, Europe and Asia, finishing in Osaka in May. Now, they are set to take the stage again at Seoul's Jangchung Arena on July 19 and 20. 'Our first world tour was a huge milestone, especially just one year into our debut,' Belle said. 'It was a precious and meaningful experience, and we knew we had to prepare an encore performance to return the love we received from our fans, the Kissys," Belle continued, referring to Kiss of Life's fandom.
Korea Herald
13 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Which exhibition will pique RM's interest?
Korean art world keeps eyes on which exhibitions the celebrity will visit following his military discharge The art circle has been desperate for an opportunity to liven up the mood amid the Korean art market slump, and, at long last, here comes BTS' RM with the star power to create a buzz in the scene. RM, known as an avid art lover, was discharged from mandatory military service on Tuesday, and now many are interested in what his next move may be where the arts are concerned. Before joining the military, he was often spotted at exhibitions across the country. He collected art and donated to a museum. A photo on social media or a rumor of a visit to a certain exhibition often resulted in long lines at the museums and galleries as fans made visits, following their heartthrob. 'When he visited us, he would do so without giving us prior notice. He would quietly come to the gallery to see art when it is not too crowded,' said a gallerist in Seoul, adding that an influencer like RM is unprecedented in the art world. 'No other idol has fans like this — they seem quite serious about art. They do not simply come and take photographs. They purchase brochures and study the artists. It seems his fans consider art a way to get to know the celebrity better — his tastes and thoughts,' he said. The idol singer embarked on an art tour ahead of his discharge, posting a couple of photographs from his visit to Kukje Gallery in Seoul for the exhibition 'Next Painting: As We Are' that features young Korean painters and another show, 'A Faraway Today,' which both kicked off last week. 'He has shown quite a lot of interest in Korean art with in-depth knowledge. People often say there has been no influencer or celebrity who can bring such a big interest to an exhibition like RM. Many people in the art circle have been waiting for his discharge from military service,' said an official from an auction house. 'We do not think that his visits to exhibitions will directly lead to sales, but we expect that his comeback will definitely bring a fresh mood to the art scene that has been in a downturn,' he said. When RM uploaded a photo from the exhibition 'Kwon Jin Kyu Centennial: Angel of Atelier' at the Seoul Museum of Art in 2022, where a 45-centimeter-tall terracotta sculpture 'Horse" RM had collected was on display, the museum saw a huge influx of visitors, many of them RM's fans, according to the city-run museum. 'RM has contributed to the art scene by breaking the perception that art is something difficult and complex for the general audience,' said Han Hee-jean, curator from the Seoul Museum of Art. 'Even during his service in the military, RM visited the museum to see 'Turbulent Times: Women, Life, Art' last year.' Another gallerist in Seoul said that while she acknowledges that RM's influence in the Korean art scene has been huge, she was cautious to place too much anticipation on his activities bringing about a change in the arts sector. 'The art market consists of many layers and has different factors behind it. It would not be proper to say that a single celebrity could lead a revival of the art scene, but it is true that people are curious about what exhibitions he will visit from now on,' the gallerist said.
Korea Herald
13 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Where do Korean celebrities stand in politics?
In politically charged Korea, celebrities walk tightrope of neutrality Following South Korea's presidential election on June 3, a seemingly innocuous act by one of the nation's most celebrated actresses ignited a storm. Actress Song Hye-kyo pressed 'like' on now President-elect Lee Jae-myung's then-election campaign video on his HR policy. The simple gesture came under fire, drawing fierce backlash from those accusing her of breaking an unspoken rule: Celebrities in South Korea must remain politically neutral — or even near-total political abstinence. The controversy underscores a long-standing tension in Korean pop culture, where public figures in the fields of entertainment and culture are expected to suppress even the slightest hint of political affiliation. During the June election, numerous celebrities, from K-pop idols to comedians, were compelled to apologize or explain their actions for reasons as mundane as wearing red or blue, the symbolic colors of the rival People Power Party and Democratic Party of Korea, respectively. In one widely discussed case, League of Legends esports team Gen.G abstained from their usual 'V for victory' gesture after setting a historic win streak, fearing it could be mistaken as a political statement for candidate No. 2, Kim Moon-soo. Similarly, popular figures like Karina of aespa, entertainer Hong Jin-kyung and rapper Beenzino faced criticism for wearing red clothing, widely associated with Kim's People Power Party during the campaign period. Others, like comedian Park Sung-kwang and actress Ahn So-hee, were accused of showing political bias simply by posting images with blue rooftops or red roses. This hyper-vigilant policing of neutrality has left many wondering: Why are Korean celebrities held to such extreme standards? Idol as 'cultural blank slate' 'Korean celebrities, particularly idols, are not merely entertainers. They are seen as projections of fan ideals — cultural blank slates,' said cultural critic Kim Heon-sik. 'This makes any personal expression — political or otherwise — subject to public interpretation and judgment.' The term "idol" in Korea has come to denote more than admiration. As The Independent put it, idols are expected to embody fan fantasies while remaining void of personal beliefs that may challenge that image. In this framework, political neutrality is not just preferred, it is mandatory. 'Fans don't see idols as individuals with agency. They are shaped, controlled and even owned — emotionally — by their followers. A 'like' on a campaign post can be perceived as betrayal if it's not in line with what the fan thinks,' Kim added. This leads to K-pop idols often avoiding using primary colors, hand gestures or even certain numbers during election periods. Some go so far as to post black-and-white photos to preempt controversy, a trend that was lauded as 'socially aware' during the most recent campaign. South Korea's hypersensitivity to political expression has deep historical roots. As a country marked by ideological division and rapid democratic transition, political affiliations have long carried career-altering consequences. Even now, expressing support for one party or another can result in social ostracism, economic repercussions or online attacks. Bae Sang-hoon, a sociology professor at Chungbuk University, explained, 'South Korea's political environment is emotionally charged, and people project these tensions onto public figures.' "The issue is compounded by the country's deepening culture of fan attachment. The emotional investment that fans place in idols, often described as 'parasocial relationships,' can blur the lines between admiration and control. That emotional ownership has only intensified as fans use celebrities as a proxy to process their own social anxieties," Bae added. Some observers suggest that intense attachment to celebrities serves, in part, as an emotional coping mechanism. 'In a highly competitive society, where people feel disconnected and under pressure, celebrities serve as emotional anchors,' Bae added. 'This can turn into a toxic dynamic when fans begin to expect moral purity and political conformity from people who are essentially strangers.' Calls are growing for a more mature fan culture — one that allows room for artists to engage as citizens without fear of professional ruin. But such a change will require a fundamental reevaluation of the role celebrities play in society and the emotional needs they are often expected to fulfill. 'If we want to continue celebrating the rise of K-pop and Korean soft power, we must also ask whether we are granting our stars the same freedoms we expect in a democratic society," said a 31-year-old surnamed Kim who is active in fandom activities.
