Category: KPOP NEWS

BTS‘ Jungkook secured the No. 1 spot on SBS’ Inkigayo with his single “Seven.” The song has not only topped the charts in Korea but also made a grand entrance on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 1.

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230730 인기가요 – 정국 INTERVIEW CUT pic.twitter.com/MxS23LjSKu

— 브리이에.mp4 (@BRILLER__MP4) July 30, 2023

When he was on Inkigayo, Jungkook interacted with his juniors from HYBE Labels. Woonhak from BOYNEXTDOOR and Yeonjun from TOMORROW X TOGETHER are two of the show’s MCs. Rising actress Park Jihu is the third. They interviewed Jungkook, which began with Jihu saying how happy she was to meet him in person.

“It’s my first time meeting you in person. It’s an honor. You two are his junior colleagues in the same company,” Jihu gushed, referring to her fellow MCs, who nodded. 

Jung Kook(정국) – Seven (feat. Latto) @인기가요 inkigayo 20230730

“Yes, I’ve seen him often at the company,” Yeonjun confirmed.

Woonhak shared that he had introduced himself to Jungkook earlier, to which Jungkook responded with a warm smile, saying, “That was cute. I’m proud.” Jihu then congratulated him on his solo single “Seven.” It recently went to No. 1 on Billboard, and she asked how he felt about that achievement.

Jungkook expressed gratitude towards his fans, stating, “I had confidence in this song. But I think I earned this valuable result thanks to ARMY’s love and support, not just my own dream.” He called “Seven” a summer song that has already made significant achievements despite being released just over two weeks ago.

정국 ‘Seven (feat. Latto)’ (Jung Kook FullCam)│@SBS Inkigayo 230730

What Jungkook’s “Inkigayo” win means

When asked to introduce “Seven” to those who haven’t heard it yet, Jungkook said it’s a charming summer song that listeners won’t tire of. He urged everyone to give it a listen.

Woonhak mentioned that Jungkook‘s performance on Inkigayo was prepared to repay the love fans showed him and his debut solo single. In response, Jungkook expressed how much his fans mean to him. “I came because I missed you after finishing my overseas promotions. I prepared for today’s performance really hard, so I’d appreciate it if you enjoyed it.”

As the interview drew to a close, Woonhak expressed his excitement for Jungkook‘s performance, stating, “We want to see it seven days a week.” Meanwhile, Jungkook responded by thanking those who shower him with love 24/7 and asking them to stay tuned for his performance.

Jungkook‘s win on Inkigayo is the cherry on top of a fantastic promotional period for his hit single. He’s reportedly working on more new material, so here’s hoping he’ll get to interact with his HYBE juniors on the show again. – K-Pop News Writer

정국 ‘Seven (feat. Latto)’ (Jung Kook Encore Fancam) | @SBS Inkigayo 230730

Featured Image: Seeing Jungkook on a music show with his HYBE juniors amused ARMY to no end. Source: Twitter/@BRILLER_MP4.

BTS‘ Jungkook‘s hit single “SEVEN” has been making waves on the charts, but the song’s producers are now facing backlash for some comments they made. BTS’ fans, collectively known as ARMY, are calling out Andrew Watt and Cirkut, the producers of “SEVEN,” for their offensive and xenophobic remarks about Jungkook.

The controversy began when Forbes published an interview with Watt and Cirkut about the success of “SEVEN.” While they had many positive things to say about Jungkook, some of their comments didn’t sit well with ARMY.

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FORBES on Jungkook,
"The success of SEVEN marks a historic moment and sets him apart from his group BTS & other K-pop Artists. Normally South Korean Acts don't dominate outside of the nation but Jungkook proves he can stand shoulder to shoulder with any world-class pop star." pic.twitter.com/os7gFLNNm8

— Daily jk praise  (@dailyjkpraise) July 22, 2023

First, Cirkut referred to ARMY as “rabid,” a term that many feel perpetuates negative stereotypes about K-pop fans. He commented on the overwhelming response from Jungkook‘s followers on social media, stating, “It’s amazing how fans of BTS and Jungkook are just so supportive and loyal. It’s just pretty crazy.”

Jeon Jungkook, American superstar?

However, what really rubbed ARMY the wrong way was Watt’s comparison of Jungkook‘s release of “SEVEN” to Justin Timberlake‘s solo career. Timberlake was a member of *NSYNC until 2002, the year he went his own way, an implication that did not go unnoticed by fans. Many fans took to social media to express their concerns about the insinuation that Jungkook might leave BTS.

In the same vein, Watt referred to Jungkook as a “superstar” but distinguished between his career before and after the release of “SEVEN.” Watt stated that Jungkook has now reached the level of an “American superstar.” Fans interpreted this as an attempt to downplay his previous success as a Korean superstar. It seemed to them that Watt wanted to emphasize Jungkook’s American success as if it were more important.

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i don't know which part of this i hate most – calling armys "rabid", trying to create a wedge between bts and jungkook by referring to him as the JT of bts (not to mention JT is problematic), the blatant xenophobia, or the producers trying to take credit for seven's success 🤮 https://t.co/DhtuoNSaNU

— hema⁷ ♡ hope on the street (@hemabangtanarmy) July 30, 2023

ARMY asserted Jungkook’s identity as a Korean artist and criticized the song’s producers for their comments, which some said smacked of xenophobia. They disliked the Western media’s attempts to claim Jungkook’s success as their own and strip him of his Korean identity.

This issue underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity and respect for artists’ identities and backgrounds. Despite the ruckus, “SEVEN” continues to set records, proving Jungkook’s undeniable talent and global appeal. – K-Pop News Writer

정국 (Jung Kook) ‘Seven’ Recording Film

Featured Image: Jungkook’s time with Watt and Cirkut was featured in a video about the recording process. Source: YouTube/BANGTANTV.

BTS‘s Jungkook recently graced the set of bandmate SUGA‘s talk show, Suchwita. His appearance was a delightful mix of in-depth discussions, lighthearted moments, and surprises. Here are five of our favorite moments from the episode.

[슈취타] EP.15 SUGA with Jung Kook

SUGA’s Close Call with “SEVEN”

In June 2022, BTS announced a temporary hiatus from group activities, allowing members to enlist in the South Korean military and work on solo projects. That led to a slowdown in Jungkook‘s public appearances, sparking concerns among fans about his lack of schedules, particularly after his FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 performance in November.

Jungkook confessed to SUGA that he thoroughly enjoyed his break. Part of him wanted it to go on for a little longer. But listening to “Seven” for the first time prompted Jungkook to get back on the horse. He admitted that he might’ve continued to lie low if it weren’t for the song. SUGA playfully remarked that he would have sung the song himself if Jungkook hadn’t taken it.

The Story Behind Jungkook’s World Cup Performance

Last November, Jungkook became the first Korean artist to perform at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 opening ceremony. Behind-the-scenes videos of Jungkook‘s preparations for the performance revealed a challenging situation. He received the choreography for the opening ceremony only after arriving in Qatar.

On Suchwita, Jungkook revealed the reason for the last-minute choreography. He arrived in Qatar several days before the event and learned he wasn’t supposed to dance during the show. But feeling it would be weird if he didn’t dance, Jungkook asked for the choreography video. He taught himself the routine and then collaborated with the dancers. He changed parts of the choreography, guiding them through different formations. And, as the old saw goes, the rest is history. SUGA expressed his admiration for Jungkook‘s resourcefulness and talent, labeling him a “total superstar.”

A Touching Revelation about Jin

Jungkook and SUGA opened up about longing for live performances. But they also acknowledged the unfortunate reality that doing concerts as a whole group isn’t possible for them right now. 

The most touching revelation came when SUGA mentioned Jin‘s feelings. Despite being away from the group due to his military service, Jin shares their yearning to perform. SUGA shared that Jin called him, expressing his desire to be on stage. Jungkook confirmed SUGA‘s statements, revealing that Jin had said as much in their group chat.

Jungkook’s Future Plans

Jungkook also shared his future plans during the episode. He disclosed that he has another single ready to go, followed by the release of a mini album in November. Fans were pleased to hear about the golden maknae’s projects. Although Jungkook admitted that he has yet to start working on the songs for the mini album, his dedication to delivering quality music reassures fans that the wait will be worth it.

Discussing the success of his debut single, “Seven,” and his aspirations for the next one, Jungkook expressed his desire to find a song his fans will love as much as they loved “Seven.” While he hasn’t found it yet, knowing his perfectionism, fans can expect another musical masterpiece.

Jungkook’s Noraebang Session

SUGA prepared a karaoke machine for his dongsaeng. Known for his passing for singing, on and off stage, Jungkook often treats fans to impromptu karaoke performances through late-night Weverse lives. When he was on Suchwita, Jungkook showed off his chops by covering Sung Si Kyung‘s “The Road To Me” and “That That,” a song SUGA did with PSY.

As the episode ended, it was revealed that SUGA went straight home after filming while Jungkook stayed behind. He made the most of the karaoke machine his hyung set up. The staff later released a 15-minute “noraebang” (“karaoke” in Korean) clip to treat ARMY to more of Jungkook‘s delightful covers as the youngest member of BTS had fun singing his heart out.

[슈취타] Jung Kook Noraebang Clip

Jungkook‘s appearance on Suchwita gave fans entertainment and a peek at the other side of BTS. From SUGA‘s near miss with “Seven” to Jungkook‘s future plans, this episode had many memorable moments that fans will cherish for a long time. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: For Jungkook, this episode was a long time coming. Source: Twitter/@bts_bighit.