LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 03: Suga of BTS poses during the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand … [+]
BTS superstar Suga is back on the U.K. music charts with a new smash hit that is making waves in one of the biggest music markets in the world. Both his latest album and song debut on their respective charts, adding to his growing discography and helping him make history once again.
“Haegeum,” Suga’s latest single, may have earned one of the lower-ranking starts of the frame—it debuts at No. 77 on the U.K. singles chart—but its significance is not measured by its position. The tune marks his third solo trip to the U.K. singles chart, which puts him in rare company.
With this new hit, Suga is now tied with his BTS bandmates J-Hope and Jimin, as well as Psy, for the most placements on the competitive tally in the U.K. among solo musicians who hail from South Korea. The fact that all four acts have scored a trio of placements on the chart on their own is noteworthy in and of itself.
Suga’s previous solo hit, “Daechwita,” peaked at No. 68 in 2020. He doubled that sum in 2022 with “That That,” a collaboration with Psy, which rose to No. 61, giving Psy his third win on the list. And now, with “Haegeum,” Suga has advanced once again, solidifying his place in U.K. music history.
Psy, who can be called the most successful of the four, started off this trend with his breakout single “Gangnam Style.” The cut remains the only No. 1 hit in U.K. history by a South Korean musical act—too or otherwise. His follow-up, “Gentleman,” also broke into the top 10, reaching No. 10.
J-Hope has been making waves with his solo smashes in the U.K. since 2019. He began his successful solo career with “Chicken Noodle Soup,” featuring Becky G. He then followed it up with “More,” and most recently, “On the Street,” featuring J. Cole, which broke into the top 40 earlier this year.
Fellow BTS member Jimin earned all three of his solo hits in the U.K. in 2023 alone, kicking off his impressive winning streak as a featured act on Taeyang’s “Vibe.” He then returned with his own “Set Me Free Pt. 2” and “Like Crazy,” with both tunes entering the top 40, including “Like Crazy,” which broke into the top 10.
“Haegeum” serves as the latest single from Suga’s album D-2, which itself opens at No. 41 on the U.K. chart. Both the tune and the full-length were released under the name Agust D, a moniker Suga often uses when releasing music outside of BTS—although not always.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2023/04/28/btss-suga-ties-jimin-and-j-hope-for-solo-k-pop-history-in-the-uk/