Pop star Jung Kook (Jeon Jung-kook), a member of the globally renowned group BTS, shattered records with the release of his inaugural solo album, "GOLDEN," surpassing 2 million copies in sales on its debut day. This achievement stands as the highest daily sales ever recorded by a K-pop solo artist.
According to the Hanteo Chart, a site aggregating record sales, "GOLDEN" sold 2,027,759 copies within five hours of its release at 1 p.m. Sales were divided into 1.58 million general versions and 440,000 Weverse versions. Anticipated to be finalized by 11:59 p.m. on the same day, the sales figures are expected to rise further.
Jung Kook holds the distinction of being the first K-pop solo artist to achieve double million sales on the day of an album's release. Consequently, BTS members now claim the top four spots in first-day sales among K-pop soloists.
V's solo album "Layover" secured second place with 1,672,138 copies, followed by Suga (AgustD) with "D-DAY" at 1,072,311 copies in third place, and Jimin's "FACE" at fourth with 1,021,532 copies. Singer Lim Young-woong's debut full-length album "IM HERO" ranked fifth with 94,624 copies.
"GOLDEN" celebrates the "Golden Moment" of solo artist Jung Kook, also known as the "Golden Youngest" of BTS. The album's title track, "Standing Next to You," was a product of Jung Kook's creative involvement, handpicking 11 tracks and notably including English songs to target a global audience.
In a preview video released by his agency Big Hit Music, Jung Kook described "Standing Next to You" as a groovy retro-funk song, stating, "As the title suggests, I will always be with you no matter what." Confident in their preparation and performance, he expressed eagerness to share the music, inviting anticipation from fans.
Addressing his aspiration as a "global pop star," Jung Kook shared, "I fused recent singles with an old-school or retro rhythm in the title track, presenting it in a novel way. I aimed to create a song appealing to both old pop sentiment enthusiasts and those fond of a more contemporary beat." Despite the weight of the title "Global Pop Star," he seeks to offer performances that uphold this designation.
Celebrating BTS's 10th anniversary this year, Jung Kook reflected, "I haven't quite grasped the significance of our 10th debut anniversary yet. The journey was intense as we strived together as a group." Emphasizing the ongoing creation of "golden moments" with the members, he affirmed the journey is far from over.
Looking ahead, Jung Kook expressed expectations for a robust comeback after the members' military service in 2025, noting, "Our solo ventures have contributed to our collective strength as BTS. I am confident that we will reunite in 2025, continuing our journey together."
The spotlight now rests on whether Jung Kook will achieve his first No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard main album chart, "Billboard 200," as a K-pop solo artist. Additionally, anticipation is high for "Standing Next to You" potentially reaching the summit of the Billboard main single chart, "Hot 100," following the success of Jung Kook's initial official solo track, "Seven."
Setting Records and Embracing Global Pop Stardom
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