Latest news with #36thInfantryDivision
Tatler Asia
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
BTS is back: what each member accomplished during (and after) military service
J-Hope (Jung Hoseok) Above J-Hope's 'Hope on the Street Vol 1' debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200. (Photo: / Instagram) J-Hope returned in October 2024 after exemplary service as an assistant drill instructor in the 36th Infantry Division, earning the prestigious Special Class (Elite) Warrior title. But Hobi's true genius lay in his strategic content release— Hope on the Street Vol 1 dropped during his service, debuting at number 5 on the Billboard 200. The accompanying six-part docuseries offered a candid look at his dance roots, striking a chord with global fans. His immediate post-discharge momentum continues with the Hope on the Stage world tour launching in February 2025, while the recent single 'Killin' It Girl' featuring GloRilla showcases his evolving artistic palette. RM (Kim Namjoon) Above The leader of BTS premiered his documentary 'RM: Right People, Wrong Place' at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival. (Photo: / Instagram) BTS's eloquent leader will be discharged on June 10, 2025, after serving in the 15th Infantry Division's military band, a role that merged his artistic identity with national service. His mid-service album Right Place, Wrong Perso n showcased RM's remarkable vulnerability, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard 200, with its alternative soundscape exploring themes of alienation and self-discovery. His documentary RM: Right People, Wrong Plac e premiered at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival, while his performance of 'Spring Day' with military bandmates at the 2024 Family Love Concert became a standout moment, connecting his BTS legacy with his military service. V (Kim Taehyung) Above V's jazz-influenced 'Layover' album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200. (Photo: / Instagram) Perhaps the most intriguing service story belongs to V, who chose the elite Special Duty Team of ROK Military Police, an anti-terrorism unit requiring exceptional physical and mental fortitude. Graduating as an elite trainee while simultaneously releasing the jazz-influenced Layover album (which sold over 2.2 million copies and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200) showcases his remarkable duality. His digital single 'FRI(END)S', released in March 2024, became a cultural phenomenon, while the mysterious still-to-be-released Rêve project announced in January 2025 has fans speculating wildly. His choice of demanding military service while maintaining artistic output demonstrates the complexity of his identity: equally comfortable in combat training and creating soulful R&B. Jimin (Park Jimin) Above Jimin is the first Korean solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 with 'Like Crazy'. (Photo: / Instagram) Jimin's historic achievement as the first Korean solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 with 'Like Crazy' occurred just before his December 2023 enlistment alongside Jungkook via the companion soldiers system. His strategic dual-album approach— Face and Muse —provided substantial content for fans throughout his service. 'Who' from Muse spent an unprecedented 33 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, setting new K-pop records. His pre-recorded Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon performance, aired during his military service, shows how idols can maximise content impact. In January 2025, Jimin penned a heartfelt Weverse letter sharing his military experiences and candid thoughts about returning to performing. Jungkook (Jeon Jungkook) Above The 'Jung Kook: I Am Still The Original' documentary series featured intimate behind-the-scenes content. (Photo: / Instagram) The golden maknae's service as a military cook alongside Jimin has provided endless content, with his 'I'm cooking well' Weverse updates delighting fans worldwide. His pre-enlistment Golden album strategy was masterful—the all-English pop record with 'Seven' hitting number 1 on Billboard Hot 100 established him as a global solo artist. His Jung Kook: I Am Still The Original documentary series featured intimate behind-the-scenes content, while his fan song 'Never Let Go', released during service, maintained that crucial connection with fans. His February 2025 letter expressing constant thoughts about ARMY demonstrates how military service, rather than creating distance, can deepen artist-fan relationships. Suga (Min Yoongi) Above 'Suga | Agust D D-Day The Movie' showcased the artistic depth of Suga's performances. (Photo: / Instagram) Suga, the final BTS member to return, will complete his alternative service as a social service agent on June 21, 2025. His strategic pre-enlistment content release was particularly savvy: Suga's album D-Day peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200, while his highly successful world tour spanned 28 shows, from New York City to Seoul. The Agust D persona reached full cinematic glory with Suga | Agust D D-Day The Movie , which showcased the artistic depth of his performances. Meanwhile, his Suchwita talk show, with pre-recorded episodes maintaining his presence, demonstrates how K-pop idols can sustain relationships with fans even during physical absence. Credits This article was created with the assistance of AI tools
Forbes
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
J-Hope Earns His First Solo Top 10, Joining (Most) Of His BTS Bandmates
J-Hope earns his first solo top 10 hit on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart with 'Mona Lisa,' as ... More it debuts at No. 9, raising his personal best showing. WONJU, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 17: J-Hope of BTS reacts after being discharged from military service at the army's 36th Infantry Division on October 17, 2024 in Wonju, Gangwon-do province, South Korea. J-Hope is the second BTS member to complete the 18-month mandatory military service, which is required for all able-bodied male citizens in South Korea before they turn 28. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images) Jung Hoseok — better known to the world as J-Hope — is having a spectacular year. The South Korean superstar has racked up wins left and right throughout 2025, adding to an already-impressive collection of accomplishments both as a soloist and a member of BTS. While he's collaborated with some major names recently, his new release sees him pushing a tune on his own… and with 'Mona Lisa,' he doesn't just earn another hit, he scores one of his biggest solo placements yet on the global stage. 'Mona Lisa' opens in impressive positions on both of Billboard's worldwide song rankings this week, and its better showing comes on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. The tune enters that competitive chart at No. 9, instantly becoming J-Hope's highest-charting solo release. This win also marks the first time one of his solo offerings has reached the top 10 on the Global Excl. U.S., which ranks the most-consumed songs each week across the planet, minus data from the United States. According to Billboard, 'Mona Lisa' debuts with more than 30 million streams on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. On top of that sum, the track sold 18,000 copies around the world in its initial frame. J-Hope is now the latest BTS member to break into the top 10 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. as a soloist. That leaves RM as the only one still waiting for a top 10 smash. Jung Kook leads the pack with seven solo appearances inside the region, followed by Jimin with five, V with four, and Jin with three. As 'Mona Lisa' lands between Nos. 1 and 10, J-Hope now ties Suga, who also claims just one top 10 solo hit on the chart. As a group, BTS has already collected 11 top 10 smashes on the Global Excl. U.S. throughout the years – though not for some time. Over on the Billboard Global 200, 'Mona Lisa' comes close to breaking into the highest tier, but ultimately falls just short. The single opens at No. 14, which is still a stellar showing for J-Hope, who adds another entry to his solo discography. This tune marks his eighth solo appearance on the Billboard Global 200. 'Mona Lisa' represents a special career milestone for J-Hope, as it outperforms all his previous solo releases on the Global Excl. U.S. He's come close to the top 10 before, but never quite made it, until now. Both 'More' and 'Sweet Dreams' with Miguel peaked at No. 12, missing the highest tier by just a few spaces. That second track was released in March, and debuted only a few frames ago. 'On the Street' with J. Cole, another favorite featured in J-Hope's solo catalog, reached No. 16 in 2023.
Forbes
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
J-Hope's New Single Blocked From No. 1 As It Starts Strong
J-Hope's new single 'Mona Lisa' debuts at No. 2 on iTunes, sandwiched between two new Morgan Wallen ... More hits as fans rally to push him to the top. WONJU, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 17: J-Hope of BTS reacts after being discharged from military service at the army's 36th Infantry Division on October 17, 2024 in Wonju, Gangwon-do province, South Korea. J-Hope is the second BTS member to complete the 18-month mandatory military service, which is required for all able-bodied male citizens in South Korea before they turn 28. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images) J-Hope's fans know what to do whenever he drops new music. The BTS member has built a strong solo career by steadily sharing singles that often dominate digital sales rankings, usually going straight to the top. He's continued his selling streak throughout the past few weeks with multiple new drops. His latest release, 'Mona Lisa,' arrived on Friday (March 21), and while it hasn't yet hit No. 1 on iTunes, it's come very, very close – and it's just beginning its journey. 'Mona Lisa' ranks as the second-bestselling track in the U.S. on the iTunes Top Songs chart as of the time of writing. That list, which tracks the most-purchased songs on the country's most prominent digital platform, serves as a reliable barometer of sales popularity. It also forecasts how well a tune may perform on the Billboard charts in a few days, as powerful sales usually equate to a lofty debut. The only title ahead of 'Mona Lisa' comes from another superstar. Morgan Wallen's 'Just in Case,' the latest single from his upcoming album I'm No Problem, currently sits at No. 1. Wallen actually occupies two of the top three slots right now, with another new track, 'I'm a Little Crazy,' debuting at No. 3. That positions J-Hope squarely between the country juggernaut's newest releases, though this ranking could change as more fans of the South Korean powerhouse wake up and begin pressing purchase. 'Mona Lisa' is the third single J-Hope has shared so far in 2025, and it arrives on the heels of a pair of releases that have already earned him some chart victories. He kicked off the year by featuring on 'LV Bag,' a collaborative effort led by Don Toliver and Speedy. That cut, which also includes Pharrell Williams, debuted at No. 83 on the Hot 100. This week, 'Sweet Dreams' opens on the Hot 100 at No. 66, making it J-Hope's highest-debuting solo single of 2025 so far. The Miguel-assisted track is also a true standout on the sales front, launching at No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart. J-Hope hasn't formally announced a new album or EP, but the release pattern is certainly suspicious. 'LV Bag' may belong to a future Toliver project, but both 'Sweet Dreams' and 'Mona Lisa' appear to be true solo efforts. If more music is coming soon, it could signal the start of a new full-length era.
