BTS member Jimin shone as a perfect idol who captured both fandom and mainstream audiences with his debut solo activities in the first half of 2023.
Recently, the Korean Music Contents Association officially categorized male idols' performances in the first half of 2023 into three groups: 'Fandom-centric idols' with high album sales, 'Mainstream idols' with strong streaming results and unique listeners, and 'Complete idols' who received acclaim for both albums and streaming. Among these categories, four male idol groups were classified as 'Complete idols' in the first half of the year. Among them, Jimin was the only solo artist to be recognized, reaffirming his immense solo power that combines a massive global fandom and widespread popularity.
His release 'FACE,' which came out on March 24th, embodied his authenticity as he participated in both lyrics and composition. The album sold 1.28 million copies in the first half of the year, topping the charts as the best-selling solo artist album. In addition, the Weaver version in QR code format also sold over 1.6 million copies. With over 900 million streams on Spotify, he also achieved the best solo artist album performance this year in terms of streaming.
Furthermore, shortly after its release, 'FACE' topped the Billboard Hot 100 main singles chart and reached the 2nd place, the highest rank for a Korean solo artist, on the Billboard 200 album chart. He also achieved a triple crown on Japan's Oricon album chart and showcased impressive performance on album charts worldwide. With 18 weeks of unwavering popularity, he continues to enjoy a global long run of success.
Written by Mun Wan SikTranslated by Lee So Yun