Category: BTS

ARMY, mark your calendars! BTS‘s Jungkook is about to light up American television with his upcoming solo appearances. He’s set to make his late-night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on November 6, with Jimmy Fallon himself hyping up the appearance with an Instagram Reel set to Jungkook‘s single “Seven (feat. Latto).”

Jung Kook Is Making His Solo Tonight Show Debut!

In the playful teaser, Fallon marks Jungkook‘s name on the calendar for November 6, followed by Jungkook‘s voice announcing, “See you soon.” This appearance follows in the footsteps of fellow BTS members Jimin and SUGA, who have also graced Fallon‘s stage solo.

But that’s not all—Jungkook is also heading to The Today Show as part of its Citi Concert Series. He will perform new and old tracks on the November 8 episode of the show. Set your alarms, ARMY—the South Korean superstar will hit the stage at 8:00 AM ET.

Jungkook is no stranger to the spotlight

Having already performed solo on shows like the BBC’s Live Lounge, the Global Citizen Festival, and Good Morning America, Jungkook is no stranger to the spotlight. His debut solo album GOLDEN dropped today, November 3, featuring the hit “3D (feat. Jack Harlow),” clean and explicit versions of “Seven (feat. Latto),” and his new single “Standing Next to You.”

Jungkook‘s recent collaboration with The Kid LAROI, “TOO MUCH,” debuted at No. 44 on the Hot 100, tying PSY‘s record for the most Hot 100 entries by a Korean solo artist. The track also hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart and No. 25 on the Pop Airplay chart. Off the back of these achievements, Jungkook has re-entered Billboard’s Artist 100 at No. 71, His re-entry is a historic moment, marking him as the first Korean soloist to spend 11 weeks on the chart. This milestone is a clear indicator of his growing influence and the love and support of the fans.

Congratulations to Jungkook on his continued success and upcoming U.S. television appearances! – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Brace yourself, America. Jungkook is coming to a TV screen near you! Source: X/@TODAYshow.

In a stunning tribute to Michael Jackson, BTS‘ Jungkook has released a teaser for “Standing Next to You,” the title track of his upcoming solo album Golden. The teaser, which dropped at midnight on November 1 KST, features Jungkook sporting a military-style jacket adorned with metallic embellishments and tassels, reminiscent of the late pop legend’s iconic style.

The short clip is a visual feast, with Jungkook executing dance moves that echo Jackson‘s, including the legendary crotch grab. In another scene from the teaser, a pair of majestic black angel wings can be seen on Jungkook’s back. Some ARMY believe this is a callback to BTS’s 2019 hit “Black Swan.”

Fans also noticed that choreographers Brian Puspos and Ian Eastwood were dancing alongside Jungkook in the teaser. Brian is a familiar face to ARMY by now, but for the uninitiated, Ian is a former member of the dance group Most Wanted Crew. He has also worked with Taemin and VIXX.

정국 (Jung Kook) ‘Standing Next to You’ Official Teaser

What else does Jungkook have in store?

This teaser is the latest reveal from Jungkook‘s solo album. Previously, he dropped a highlight medley and two batches of track posters. Golden is an 11-song collection that includes “3D (feat. Jack Harlow,” “Seven (feat. Latto),” “Standing Next to You” and collaborations with artists like DJ Snake (“Please Don’t Change”) and Major Lazer (“Closer to You”).

Ed Sheeran (“Yes or No”) and Shawn Mendes (“Hate You”) also contributed to the album. The other tracks are “Shot Glass of Tears,” “Somebody,” and “Too Sad to Dance.” All told, Golden celebrates the golden maknae’s golden career. He helped choose and produce all the tracks.

정국 (Jung Kook) ‘GOLDEN’ Preview

Beyond the album, Jungkook is preparing to engage with his fans through various activities. He’s set to do a showcase titled Golden Live on Stage at the Jangchung Arena in Seoul, promising an up-close experience with fans on November 20.

The teaser for “Standing Next to You” not only stirs excitement for the upcoming album but also solidifies Jungkook‘s place as an artist capable of bridging generations and genres. His nod to Michael Jackson is a powerful reminder of the enduring influence of pop legends on today’s music scene. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Jungkook’s ‘Standing Next to You’ teaser stirred excitement for the album. Source: X/@charts_k.

Busan, famous for its beautiful views and culture, is also where BTS member Jimin was born. Every year, as Jimin‘s October 13 birthday approaches, the city becomes a place of celebration, with fans starting the party in September, calling it “Jimtober.” Fans from Korea and all over the world plan birthday events for Jimin.

ARMY have also made it a tradition to visit Jimin‘s father’s café, Magnate. Located in Busan’s Nam district, they go there to offer birthday greetings and leave gifts. As BTS’s popularity grows, the number of attendees increases. In fact, this year’s turnout was so large that the local fire and police departments were called upon to assist with safety measures.

In light of this, the Busan city government is forming a special task force for next year’s events. This team will include trained police and officials who will look after the crowds and make sure everything goes well. Their goal is to keep Jimin‘s fans safe and make sure the celebrations are successful and safe for everyone. The “Like Crazy” singer is probably the only K-pop star whose birthday led to such a major safety effort.

Jimin is Busan’s pride

Busan’s task force will probably ramp up security measures, including an increased police presence, security checks, and surveillance. Traffic control measures will be implemented to manage the influx of visitors, with designated parking, rerouting, and maybe even shuttle services. The task force will also work to prevent overcrowding and ensure that medical services are on standby for any emergencies.

The task force will collaborate with local businesses, event organizers, and community leaders to support the local economy while ensuring everything runs smoothly. They’ll keep everyone updated on event details and safety measures. They’ll also ensure Busan is ready to welcome ARMY from all over the world.

Jimin is Busan’s pride, and the city government’s efforts show how much the idol’s birthday means to them. When next year’s “Jimtober” begins, the safety of all attendees will be a top priority, ensuring that the occasion is marked with festivity and peace of mind for everyone involved. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: BigHit Music posted this in honor of his birthday this year. Source: X/@BIGHIT_INFO.

The BTS fandom recently celebrated a major milestone as Map of the Soul: 7, the album by the world-renowned boy group, has achieved a million pure sales in the United States as of October 26, 2023. This accomplishment marks BTS as the first Asian act and the first K-pop group to reach this level of sales on American soil.

It’s particularly noteworthy considering BTS‘s current hiatus from group activities due to their military service obligations. In the music industry, “pure sales” refers to the actual number of physical copies of an album or single sold. With Map of the Soul: 7, BTS has not only set a new benchmark for themselves but also for K-pop as a whole, being the first in the genre to register over a million physical sales in the U.S.

Released on February 21, 2020, by BigHit Entertainment, Map of the Soul: 7 is BTS‘s fourth studio album. It serves as a sequel to their 2019 EP, MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA. The album has five songs and draws on the group’s growth and experiences since their 2013 debut. It blends pop, R&B, and hip-hop, incorporating elements of urban genres including rock, trap, and EDM. The lyrics delve deep into themes of contemplation, introspection, and self-acceptance.

BTS Global Press Conference ‘MAP OF THE SOUL : 7’

Fans heaped praise on BTS

The album clinched top honors from several award-giving bodies in 2020. These included the Genie Music Awards, Melon Music Awards, Mnet Asian Music Awards, and the People’s Choice Awards. Before it dropped in February 2020, the album’s stock pre-orders skyrocketed, surpassing 3.42 million copies in six days. This broke the record set by the septert’s own MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA, which had 2.68 million pre-orders. A Forbes report from February 6, 2020, highlighted that Map of the Soul: 7 received more than 4 million pre-orders globally, with over 4.02 million album pre-orders placed by February 18, 2020.

Upon release, Map of the Soul: 7 debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 422,000 album-equivalent units, of which 347,000 were pure album sales. This marked BTS‘s fourth number-one album in the U.S. and boasted the most significant first-week sales of any of their albums to date. Before the release of The Weeknd‘s After Hours on March 20, it also set a record for the highest album debut week sales in 2020. The album sold more copies overall than the next six top-ranking albums on the Billboard 200 combined.

As news of the group’s latest achievement spread online, fans took to social media to heap praise on BTS. The success of Map of the Soul: 7 is a testament to BTS‘s appeal and their output’s stellar quality. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: They sold this much somewhere other than their homeland. Source: Variety.

In a recent conversation with Elle Korea, BTS’ Jimin pulled back the curtain on his personality, his passion for what he does, and his camaraderie with the other BTS members. The interview, conducted by Bang Ho-kwang, offers fans an intimate look into the life of this icon.

On confidence and perfectionism

The “Like Crazy” hitmaker isn’t usually a perfectionist—except when he’s performing. He believes that while other things can be imperfect, the stage must always be flawless. This belief has been a driving force in his career, making Jimin go beyond his limits and grow as an artist and an individual. While promoting his debut solo album, FACE, he confronted one of these limits. 

“Doing so much on my own, I realized once again how shy I am,” he confessed. “I realized how much more I need to grow beyond myself. You have to be prepared to act with confidence. I’m ashamed. I’m really ashamed that I’m still at this level. But I don’t want to run away, I want to prove that I can do well too.”

That’s why he released FACE even if part of him didn’t want to. “FACE was an album I made when I was under a lot of personal stress, so I was scared to even release it. I can’t forget the feeling of relief after finishing the songs. I’m always working on songs and I really want to try various genres. I would be happiest if you enjoyed my music.”

Jimin exists because of the team

Reflecting on BTS‘ decade-long journey, he reminisced, “No one knew who we were back then. Still, I wondered, ‘How do these people know and support us?’ I remember giving my best on stage for them. The pandemic was a time when we felt the preciousness of interacting with the audience on stage and on-site. Thanks to that, we realized that performers exist because of them.”

Jimin’s bond with his members is unbreakable. Whether it’s supporting their individual activities or sharing a friendship tattoo, he emphasized, “We often talk among ourselves. I exist because of the team. Now I’m more comfortable with the members than ever.”

He feels most at home in a concert hall with the other six members and the fans. When asked about his favorite stage performance, Jimin didn’t hesitate, “Personally, I really love and cherish the stages we’ve shown as a team. There are many memorable stages, but if I had to choose one, it would be ‘ON.’ Especially the ‘ON’ stage, which was the opening song of the concert, I think was cool.”

A singer who does well

He also touched on his stint as a Tiffany & Co. ambassador, which took him to New York and the reopening of The Landmark. Jimin described the experience as surreal. “I was very nervous. It was my first time attending a big event alone. There was beautiful jewelry and numerous celebrities. Looking back, everything was so new and amazing; it felt like I was in a scene from a movie.”

Finally, he left his fans a heartfelt message: “Please wait. I will become a singer who does well.” 

This in-depth interview with Jimin offers a profound understanding of the artist behind the superstar, making it a must-read for every ARMY member and K-pop enthusiast. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Adorned in Givenchy, Gucci, and Tiffany & Co.’s finest jewels, Jimin is elegance redefined. Source: Elle Korea.

Kim Taehyung, also known as V of BTS, recently joined forces with Seoul Tourism as their honorary tourism ambassador. The outcome? The “Seoul Edition 23” campaign video series. Launched by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Foundation, it quickly amassed 500 million views across platforms within its first three weeks.

This rapid success outpaced the previous year’s record by two months. A significant factor behind this achievement is the escalating global interest in Hallyu, the Korean Wave, and the city of Seoul itself. The campaign portrays Seoul as a “limited edition,” setting the tone for Seoul Tourism’s 2023 initiatives.

The promotional content presented Seoul from two perspectives: “New Tradition” and “Nature in the City.” The former emphasizes the city’s fusion of retro and modern elements, while the latter delves into its lush green spaces. In all, ten videos of diverse formats, such as teasers, shorts, and main videos, were unveiled. On YouTube, these videos garnered overwhelmingly positive reactions from domestic and international viewers, amassing over 10,000 comments and 500,000 likes.

[SEOUL X V of BTS] Seoul Edition23 – New Tradition (Official Video)

A tremendous success

The “Seoul Edition 23” hashtag event was also held and proved to be a tremendous success. Participants used the designated hashtag to share posts, recommending various attractions in Seoul. Five locations highlighted in V‘s campaign are DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza), Ikseondong, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Sebitseom (Sebit Islets). 

To further promote Seoul tourism, large outdoor advertisements were displayed in major cities worldwide. Since September 18, videos of V taking selfies at iconic Seoul spots graced billboards in cities like New York, Tokyo, Taipei, and Bangkok.

Gil Ki-yeon, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organization, expressed, “Through this Seoul Edition campaign introduced by V, we will share with people around the world the unique retro charm of Seoul and the contrasting allure of nature within the city, reminding them of why they should visit Seoul immediately.”

[SEOUL X V of BTS] Seoul Edition23 – Nature in the City (Official Video)

More new music from V

In related news, the K-pop idol recently released two remixes of “Slow Dancing,” a track from his debut solo album Layover. One remix, crafted by FRNK, a producer from the Korean hip-hop duo XXX, gives the song an Afrobeat twist. The other, by soul artist Cautious Clay, enhances the romantic R&B elements of the original track.

V‘s debut solo album also features the songs “Rainy Day,” “Love Me Again,” “Blue,” and “For Us.” Upon its release, “Slow Dancing” secured the No. 51 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: V’s charisma enhanced the allure of Seoul as a tourist destination. Source: X/@v_hotrends.

On October 18, BTS‘ leader, RM, went on Weverse Live. During this broadcast, not only did he give fans a glimpse into his life, but he also gave them valuable advice. The time he spent with ARMY illuminated his empathetic nature, serving as a beacon of inspiration for all who tuned in. RM talked about his favorite movie, his upcoming projects, and much more.

Dressed in a gray hoodie and showing off his new hair color, RM engaged with fans’ comments. A particularly touching moment arose when a fan asked how he copes with loneliness. In a moment of raw honesty, RM admitted to feeling lost and lonely at times. He said, “What do I do when I feel lost and lonely? I’ve been feeling that way these days and always try to find my grip, but it’s really hard. The only answer is to enjoy the calm and try to be friends with myself because nobody can save you except you.”

This profound statement struck a chord with many, because it emphasized the significance of self-love and inner resilience during tough times. 

RM displayed genuine concern

Another profound moment took place when another ARMY confessed to feeling like they no longer wanted to live. RM, displaying genuine concern, responded with deep empathy. He shared his own struggles with similar feelings, emphasizing the shared human experience in such situations. He told the fan, “You feel like you don’t want to live anymore? I’ve felt that way too, once. I don’t know what you’re doing, where you’re from, or your age, but believe me, life is truly worth living.”

Adding warmth to this live session was the surprise appearance of another BTS member. Jimin left uplifting comments on RM’s broadcast, reflecting the tight-knit bond the members have. The “Like Crazy” hitmaker wrote, “Even in this frustrating world, we and the ARMY exist. I love you. Hyung, spend a good time with ARMY. I’ll contact you again. I love you.” His words showcased the group’s support for each other.

This Weverse Live broadcast, marked by RM‘s open-hearted discussions and Jimin‘s supportive presence, left an indelible mark on the BTS ARMY. It served as a poignant reminder that despite life’s challenges, one is never truly alone. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: RM displayed a strong sense of empathy in his broadcast. Source: X/@uarmybehope.