[Kang Il-hong's Today Entertainment] BTS, the class of JUNG KOOK... 'GOLDEN' surpasses 12 million

Day, "Busan Also Captivated"... 40 Taiwanese Media Representatives Engage in 'Fierce Reporting Competition'Monday, October 19, BTS/ Haru/ Hyun Sook/ Gong Hyung Jin/ Min Hee Jin&Bang Si Hyuk[THE FACT|Reporter Kang Il Hong] BTS JUNG KOOK's first solo album 'GOLDEN' has surpassed 12 million cumulative album sales, writing a new history for K-pop solo artists. Beyond being the golden maknae of the group, he has now established himself as a global solo artist who has proven his unique presence in the world music market.Released in November 2023, 'GOLDEN' added 2 million sales to the 10 million recorded last year, finally reaching the 12 million mark. This achievement demonstrates that Jungkook's name alone can draw the choices of global music fans.The music streaming records are also dazzling. Cumulative Spotify streams have exceeded 6.2 billion, and the album has been on the global weekly album chart for 153 weeks. It spent 25 weeks on the US Billboard 200 and 8 weeks on the UK Official Albums Chart, showcasing its long-term popularity.Notably, 'GOLDEN' was also included in the best albums of 2023 lists selected by global music media, earning recognition not only for commercial success but also for its musical competitiveness. The solo activities of JUNG KOOK are significant in that they have once again expanded the global influence of the name BTS.When with the members, he enhances the group's musical perfection as the core vocalist of BTS, and on solo stages, he imprinted his unique tone, performance, and charm as a pop artist on the world.In fact, his debut solo song 'Seven' topped the Billboard main singles chart, Hot 100, signaling a global hit, and '3D' and 'Standing Next to You' also showed a strong presence in the global market.The figure of 12 million sales goes beyond a simple sales record. It is evidence that the skills and experience accumulated within the group have led to competitiveness as a solo artist, and it is an achievement that makes us anticipate the musical possibilities that Jungkook will show in the future.From BTS's JUNG KOOK to the globally recognized solo artist JUNG KOOK, his golden record continues to be written.Who is Haru? Even Taiwanese TVBS Pays Attention... Seoul&Busan Fan Concerts a Huge SuccessHaru, a new star in the Korean trot scene, has raised the possibility of becoming a global star by successfully concluding his fan concerts in Seoul and Busan.Notably, about 40 representatives from local entertainment media, including Taiwan's TVBS News and Video News Network, visited Korea for the Busan concert, engaging in fierce reporting competition. With reports extending to Taiwan, expectations for Haru's overseas expansion are growing.Haru, who announced the successful start of his first solo fan concert at Sejong University's Daehan Hall in Seoul on October 10, completed a passionate performance with an audience of about 2,000 at the Busan BEXCO Auditorium on the 17th.At the young age of 22, Haru challenged Korean trot and gained attention by taking second place in MBN's 'Rookie Legend,' proving his strong fandom by earning over 120,000 votes on an audition program.In this concert, Haru showcased a wide range of charms, from emotional ballads to traditional trot and spectacular performances.He evoked nostalgia in middle-aged and elderly female fans with familiar masterpieces such as Lim Young Woong's 'Bulnabi', Nam Jin's 'Nest', and Na Hoon A's 'Eighteen Year Old Soon-yi'. He also exuded a friendly charm as the so-called 'King of Enka' by directly interacting with fans in the audience.His song 'Mother's Season,' which expressed longing for his mother, deeply moved the audience, and during the final encore stage, he set the venue ablaze with Cho Yong-pil's 'Mona Lisa'.The possibility of global exchange was also confirmed. Taiwanese singer and actor Chris, along with other guests, participated in the Busan concert, enriching the stage. Taiwanese media and overseas performance officials also directly watched Haru's performance.Discussions are reportedly underway regarding future expansion into Taiwan and Southeast Asia.Haru, who achieved consecutive successes in Seoul and Busan. Expectations are high whether he can capture the hearts of fans not only in Korea but also overseas with his solid vocals, emotional voice, and cross-generational stage appeal. From the King of Enka to a global trot star, attention is focused on singer Haru's new challenge."I Saved All My Life's Money and Didn't Let My Children Use It"... Mother's Last Gift, 100 Million Won DonationThere is a singer who donated 100 million won, adding her own money to the 38 million won her mother had saved under the covers without using it her entire life. That singer is Hyun Sook, the nation's filial daughter.Hyun Sook's filial piety was exceptional even when her parents were alive. Her father suffered from dementia, and her mother was physically impaired due to a stroke. Hyun Sook brought her parents with her while touring nationwide. She would lay a mat in front of the stage for her parents, ask those around her to look after them, and then sing.She sang with a smile on stage, but off-stage, she was their hands and feet. After her mother passed away, Hyun Sook discovered an unexpected memento under the covers.It was 38 million won that her mother had saved diligently without spending the allowance her children gave her, and even underwear with the price tags still attached was found. It was a testament to her mother's heart, wanting to do even more for her children.Hyun Sook added her own money to this precious sum and donated 100 million won to the hospital where her mother had been. This was to help treat and operate on young patients suffering from leukemia. She revealed that 38 children with leukemia received help as a result.However, Hyun Sook's good deeds did not end there. Even after her parents passed away, she continued to serve the elderly across the country like her own parents, donating mobile bath vehicles and personally volunteering for bathing services. She is now returning the love she gave her parents to lonely elders.Singer Hyun Sook, who comforts people's hearts with her songs and embraces lives through donations and volunteer work, turned her mother's 38 million won into hope that helped 38 young lives. True filial piety does not end even after parents pass away, and Hyun Sook's life quietly but deeply resonates with us."Bow Again" "I'm a Much Senior"... Controversy Over Remarks Towards Cha Ji YeonEven among close friends, there are boundaries that must be maintained. Furthermore, at official events where numerous audience members are watching, one must be cautious with every word and action.Remarks made by actor Gong Hyung Jin during an official event with musical actress Cha Ji Yeon have sparked heated controversy. On the 17th, at the special performance commemorating the 70th anniversary of Far East Broadcasting's founding held at Hanyang University in Seoul, Cha Ji Yeon bowed and politely greeted Gong Hyung Jin, saying, "Hello, senior."But what was the response? "Bow again, since you're my junior." Cha Ji Yeon bowed again. Of course, it could have been a joke based on their friendship. However, demanding another bow from a colleague who had already shown courtesy was not pleasant for the onlookers.The controversy did not end there. When Cha Ji Yeon clenched her fists and exclaimed "Amen," he said, "Are you going to hit me soon?" and when Cha Ji Yeon's photo appeared on the stage screen, he said, "Why isn't my picture there? I'm much more senior than her."He even criticized Cha Ji Yeon's hosting by saying, "Why are you acting?" and "That was originally my line, but she did it. I'll let it slide today because Cha Ji Yeon is the main character." Should these scenes be seen merely as a prank between seniors and juniors?The core issue is not the use of informal language itself. It is how one treats the other person and how those words are conveyed in a public setting. Even with a long-standing friendship, repeatedly belittling someone or making remarks that seem to reprimand them during a performance can make viewers and the audience feel uncomfortable.Indeed, online criticism emerged, stating, "It was uncomfortable to watch," and "It was inappropriate behavior for an official event."Of course, we cannot definitively say whether Cha Ji Yeon felt uncomfortable at the time or what circumstances existed between the two. However, even if the person involved laughed it off, it does not make all remarks appropriate. A host of an official event should not be someone who makes themselves stand out, but rather someone who makes their colleagues on stage shine and makes the audience comfortable.The status of being a senior is not a privilege that allows one to demand more bows from a junior. Rather, true seniority is revealed when one respects and considers their juniors. Gong Hyung Jin's hosting attitude, his inappropriate words and actions on the official stage with a microphone in hand, were undeniably rude and disrespectful to anyone watching.In the age of social media, celebrities' words and actions are captured on numerous cameras at the scene and recorded. Just like the case of Shim Soo Bong, who was recently disgraced after targeting Kim Da-hyun with inappropriate remarks, if one claims "I was the only one who didn't know" about such a well-known reality, it can be said that their sense as a host is lacking.The scene where Min Hee Jin, former CEO of ADOR, and Bang Si Hyuk, Chairman of HYBE, dance side-by-side, and Lee Soo Man, former General Producer of SM, and composer Yoo Young Jin form a team and showcase choreography, the so-called 'Single&Non-Married' dance challenge, which is currently heating up social media, has become a controversy over copyright infringement. /Online CommunityAI Synthesis Frenzy... Copyright Infringement and Personality Rights Issues Hidden Behind the Fun"Single&Non-Married~!" This is the so-called 'Single&Non-Married' dance challenge that is currently heating up social media.Min Hee Jin, former CEO of ADOR, and Bang Si Hyuk, Chairman of HYBE, dance side-by-side, and Lee Soo Man, former General Producer of SM, and composer Yoo Young Jin form a team and showcase choreography. People laugh and get excited by the combination of figures that would normally be unimaginable.However, there is an issue here that we must not overlook. These videos are not actually the individuals dancing. They are fake videos created by AI.With just one photo and a dancing video, it is possible to create a video that makes the person in the photo appear to be actually dancing in just a few minutes. The online mentions of the AI video creation platform Hixks.ai have increased by about 54 times in one year. This indicates the rapid spread of technology.The problem is not the technology itself, but rather to what extent one can freely use another person's face. In particular, Min Hee Jin and Bang Si Hyuk are parties involved in an actual legal dispute. What if a video is created and distributed showing the two dancing as if they were of one mind?Of course, most people consume it as a joke or for humor. However, those who only see the video might misunderstand that the two have reconciled or that their relationship has changed. The danger of AI-synthesized content is that actions that did not actually happen are disguised as real-life stories of the individuals.The bigger problem is whether the consent of the parties involved was obtained. Is it acceptable to freely use someone's face just because they are famous and create images of them doing things they would not want to do?Another person's face and identity are not public domain on the internet to be used freely by anyone. Depending on the content of the video, the purpose of use, and the method of distribution, legal issues such as infringement of portrait rights or personality rights, and defamation may arise.AI technology is rapidly advancing, but our responsibility and social standards for using that technology have not yet caught up. Videos created for laughter can become unwanted images for someone, leave a false impression, and lead to serious harm.The ability to create something and the permission to create it are entirely different matters. What is needed in the AI era is not to unconditionally ban technology, nor to allow everything for the sake of fun. When using another person's face, consent must be respected, and if it is a synthesized video, it must be clearly indicated that it was produced by AI, and responsible standards must be established to prevent false information and infringement of personality rights.In an era where anyone can be made to dance with just one photo, is this a new form of play, or a dangerous prank that threatens the faces and identities of others? As technology advances, what becomes more important is not the speed of the technology, but the ethics of the person using it.eel@tf.co.kr