Jungkook makes history with massive 'Golden' sales

BTS member Jungkook made history as his solo album, "Golden," sold over 2.5 million copies. Jungkook is the first solo K-pop artist to achieve this milestone. He celebrated with a showcase for his fans, performing all twelve of the album's songs.

BTS' Jungkook performs at his showcase, ″Golden,″ on Monday at Jangchung Arena in Jung District, central Seoul [BIGHIT MUSIC]

BTS' Jungkook sold 2.5 million copies of his latest album, “Golden,” becoming the first-ever soloist to do so in K-pop.

“Golden,” which is Jungkook's first full-length solo album, had sold 2,501,158 copies as of Friday since its Nov. 3 release, according to Hanteo Chart.

Jungkook's album was marked the first to surpass 2.5 million copies in sales as a K-pop solo artist after 13 years since Hanteo Chart renewed its sales tracking system in 2010.

The album sold a million copies within three hours of its release and surpassed 2 million after five hours. It sold 2,147,389 in just a day, also being the most-sold album within a day.

“Golden” sold 2,438,483 copies in the first week after its release, making Jungkook the highest-selling K-pop solo artist within a week.

The artist's first full-length album also broke records overseas.

“Golden” has become the first K-pop album from a solo singer to sell more than 200,000 copies in the U.S. within a week. It also sat at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart as of Nov. 18, marking Jungkook one of the highest-ranking K-pop solo artists in the chart.

BTS' Jungkook performs at his, showcase ″Golden,″ on Monday at Jangchung Arena in Jung District, central Seoul [BIGHIT MUSIC]

The artist celebrated the success with his fans on Monday at Jangchung Arena in Jung District, central Seoul with a showcase also titled “Golden.”

The showcase lasted for two hours. Jungkook performed 12 songs. The set list included every song from his album “Golden,” including lead track “Standing Next to You” and “Yes or No.”

“This is my first time carrying on a long performance by myself,” he said. “I feel quite nervous, but I'll do my best for the fans.”

The artist also performed “Still With You,” which he wrote and released in 2020.

BTS' Jungkook performs at his showcase, ″Golden,″ on Monday at Jangchung Arena in Jung District, central Seoul [BIGHIT MUSIC]

RM, a fellow member of BTS, was in the audience watching the group's maknae — youngest member — fill the stage alone, according to BTS's agency, BigHit Music.

“I'm so proud [of Jungkook],” RM said. “I always learn from Jungkook, even though he is the youngest of the group.”

The showcase was also streamed live for global fans who couldn't attend through global fandom platform Weverse.

Jungkook, whose real name is Jun Jung-kook, debuted as a member of boy band BTS in 2013. He released his first solo single, “Seven,” on July 14 and is actively pursuing his solo career with this new full-length album.

The artist won Top Global K-pop Song for his track “Seven,” featuring American rapper Latto, at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday. He was the only K-pop soloist to take home an award.

To find out more about Jungkook and BTS, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]