BTS's Jungkook hits 20.4M Instagram followers in 9 months. Their album 'ARIRANG' tops charts and they begin a world tour.

Nam Bora, the actress, shared delightful maternity photos on Instagram, expressing her joy about creating memories with her husband and baby. She showcased her growing belly in various outfits, including a wedding dress-inspired concept. Recently married to a businessman, she is preparing for childbirth and has been featured on KBS 2TV's 'The Return of Superman.'

BTS's concert in Busan on June 12-13 sold out, highlighting their global popularity. This marks their return to the venue after 3.5 years and coincides with their debut anniversary on June 13. Fans unable to attend can watch via live streaming in Japan. The concert is part of a larger city project, 'BTS THE CITY ARIRANG', transforming Busan into a cultural hub.

Jungkook of BTS recently praised rookie singer-songwriter Noi on Instagram, leading to her rapid rise in popularity. His comments about her new song 'Typical' have garnered significant attention, making her the top search on MelOn. Fans are excited about her unique sound and the global appeal of her music, especially after Jungkook's endorsement. Noi, born in 2003, has been gaining recognition since her remake of 'Aishou no Ko no Koi' and recently released her debut album 'Inspiration'.

HYBE announced record Q1 2026 earnings of 698.3 billion won, a 40% increase from last year. Key drivers included BTS's album sales and SEVENTEEN's success. Direct sales rose 25% to 403.7 billion won, with BTS's 'ARIRANG' selling 3.98 million copies on its first day. The company expects continued growth with upcoming album releases from various artists.

During BTS's North America tour starting April 25, their songs made it to the Oricon weekly streaming chart, with 'Crystal Snow' at 1st and 'MIC Drop' at 8th. TWICE's 'THIS IS FOR' also ranked 7th, while Sakanaction's 'Yoru no Odoriko' reached 2nd, reflecting their popularity in Japan and Korea.

BTS launched their North America tour in Tampa, performing to 190,000 fans. The concerts featured songs from their new album 'ARIRANG' and included a memorable rendition of the Korean folk song 'Arirang'. Jin expressed his excitement about the venue, and the group looks forward to continuing their tour in El Paso and beyond.

The operator of the YouTube channel 'Tardok (De-Otaku) Detention Center' was ordered to pay 1.7 billion won for defaming SM Entertainment artists like aespa and EXO. The court found that the videos harmed the artists' reputations and brand value, leading to significant damages. SM Entertainment plans to continue legal action against such defamatory content.

BTS's V has proven his global influence by ranking 2nd in the HypeAuditor's top 1000 influencers and 1st on TikTok. He set records on Instagram, gaining 1 million followers in 43 minutes and 10 million in under 5 hours. Recently, he surpassed 70 million followers on Instagram and has 12.46 million on TikTok, achieving rapid growth since its launch.

BTS's album 'ARIRANG', released during their world tour, has returned to No. 1 on the Oricon weekly digital album chart after 5 weeks. It debuted at No. 1 with the highest first-week downloads for an overseas artist and has remained in the digital album top 5 for 6 consecutive weeks. The album includes 14 tracks that explore the group's identity and universal emotions, with total downloads reaching 19,432.

BTS has been awarded the 'Estimado Amigo' award in El Paso, Texas, for their positive impact on local tourism and community pride during their North America tour. The El Paso County Commission declared May 2-3 as 'El Paso BTS Weekend,' anticipating a $75 million economic boost from the concerts. BTS is set to perform at Sun Bowl Stadium, marking their first solo concert as a Korean artist in the city.