BTS’ Jungkook has once again etched his name in the annals of music history. On June 17, Billboard revealed that his latest fan song, “Never Let Go,” made its debut at No. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which ranks the most popular songs in the United States. This remarkable achievement makes Jungkook the first K-pop soloist to have seven different songs chart on the Hot 100.
Before “Never Let Go,” Jungkook had already made waves with several other tracks. His previous entries include “Stay Alive” (produced by Suga for the “7 Fates: CHAKHO” OST), the Charlie Puth collaboration “Left and Right,” “Seven,” “3D,” his collaboration with Kid LAROI and Central Cee “Too Much,” and “Standing Next to You.” Each of these songs has contributed to his growing legacy as a solo artist.
“Never Let Go” didn’t just stop at the Hot 100. It also soared to No. 3 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart, making it the third best-selling song in the U.S. this week. Additionally, it entered the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart at No. 12 and the Global 200 at No. 20. Jungkook himself re-entered the Artist 100 at No. 28, marking his 33rd non-consecutive week on the chart.
Jungkook, a South Korean singer, songwriter, and dancer, first rose to fame as a member of the globally renowned boy band BTS. As part of BTS, he has performed solo songs like “Begin,” “Euphoria,” and “My Time,” all of which charted on South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart. His track “Stay Alive” for the BTS-based webtoon “7 Fates: CHAKHO” also gained significant attention.
In 2022, Jungkook featured on Charlie Puth’s single “Left and Right,” which peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. He made history by releasing “Dreamers” for the 2022 FIFA World Cup soundtrack, becoming the first South Korean artist to do so. His debut solo single “Seven,” featuring Latto, broke multiple records, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Global 200, and Global Excl. U.S. charts. It became the fastest song to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. His follow-up single “3D,” featuring Jack Harlow, debuted at No. 5 on both the Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, making him the first South Korean solo artist to achieve two consecutive top-five entries on the latter.
BTS, under Big Hit Entertainment, debuted in 2013 and quickly rose to global stardom. The seven-member group—comprising RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—has captivated fans worldwide with their music, meaningful lyrics, and electrifying performances. They have broken numerous records, won countless awards, and sold out stadiums globally. Recognized by “Time” magazine and “Forbes” Korea Power Celebrity as one of the most influential groups, BTS continues to leave an indelible mark on the music industry.
The track “Never Let Go” arrives ahead of the K-pop group’s Festa event in Seoul. On June 2, the BTS star announced that he would be dropping a new single titled “Never Let Go.” The track is set for release at 1 p.m. KST on June 7 through Weverse and BTS’ official social media channels.
“Never Let Go” is a track dedicated to BTS fans, ARMY, conveying a sincere message to never let go of each other. HYBE, the agency behind BTS, emphasized this in a press release about the song. This heartfelt connection between Jungkook and his fans is evident in the song’s lyrics and the emotional delivery that has become his trademark.
“Never Let Go” is Jungkook’s first solo music since the release of his 2023 debut album, Golden, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The album showcased his versatility as an artist and solidified his position as a solo performer in the global music scene.
Jungkook’s journey from a member of BTS to a solo artist breaking records on the Billboard charts is a testament to his talent, hard work, and the unwavering support of his fans. As he continues to release new music and achieve new milestones, there is no doubt that Jungkook will keep making history and inspiring fans around the world.
