On April 7, 2025, Yonhap News announced that Jungkook of BTS has achieved the remarkable distinction of being the top-ranking soloist in the 2025 Overseas Hallyu Survey. This survey was organized by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, underscoring Jungkook’s immense popularity on a global scale.
In the same survey, BTS continued to shine, clinching the title of the most popular group for the seventh year in a row, garnering an impressive 24.6% of the votes. BLACKPINK followed in second place with 12.3%. Notably, while Jungkook ranked sixth overall, he triumphed as the leading individual artist, surpassing BLACKPINK’s Lisa, who secured the second position.
The survey engaged an extensive audience, comprising 26,400 participants from diverse corners of the globe, including countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Canada, Japan, the United States, China, and South Africa. Conducted between November 29 and December 27, 2024, it marked the inclusion of the Philippines and Hong Kong for the first time since its inception eight years ago.
Fans celebrated Jungkook’s latest success with fervent pride, taking to social media to express their admiration. One fan proclaimed him the “most successful soloist”on X, stating:
“Jungkook most successful soloist for a reason”
Platforms were filled with celebratory messages as fans highlighted the global recognition of the BTS maknae. Comments poured in, celebrating his reign as a leading K-pop figure:
“The way jungkook king of kpop always show in all the list and always highest that why jk king need another comeback and give fans jungkook solo second album and jungkook solo tour fighting,”a fan wrote.
“2 months more of waiting and he’s back! This time, there is no stopping him,”another fan added.
“The biggest group and biggest Asian soloist on the planet,”another fan said.
Many fans noted that the dual triumphs of BTS and Jungkook in the survey highlighted a “double”victory for the fandom, with one stating:
“So proud of #jungkook! !!! Double No.1 for him, both as a group member and a solo artist!!!”a fan remarked.
“Oh, Jungkook, you are so in demand! Everyone is waiting for his next release!”another fan added.
Jungkook’s Solo Journey: The Impact of GOLDEN
Before his enlistment, Jungkook released his debut solo album, GOLDEN, on November 3, 2023, which was met with critical acclaim. The album features standout tracks such as “SEVEN,”featuring Latto, and “3D,”featuring Jack Harlow, both of which have resonated with audiences worldwide.
Chart performance for GOLDEN was impressive, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and achieving a remarkable No. 3 on the Official Albums Chart in the UK—the highest-ever rank for a South Korean solo artist at that time. The album includes collaborations with prominent international artists like Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Major Lazer, and DJ Snake.
By August 30, 2024, GOLDEN was awarded an official BRIT Silver Certification, marking Jungkook as the first South Korean solo artist to receive this accolade. His streaming achievements have been equally noteworthy; by September 8, 2024, he was the first and only South Korean soloist to surpass 7 billion streams across all credits on Spotify.
His single “SEVEN”debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained at the top for an impressive seven consecutive weeks, a historic achievement for Korean solo artists in the industry.
In compliance with South Korea’s mandatory military service, Jungkook enlisted on December 12, 2023, alongside Jimin. Both members are anticipated to complete their service by June 11, 2025, much to the eagerness of their fans.