Billboard Revisits Jimin's Historic Hot 100 Record: The Only Korean Solo Song to Reach Number One

Billboard has revisited one of the most significant milestones in Korean music history, shining a fresh spotlight on BTS member Jimin and his record-setting achievement with "Like Crazy." In a comprehensive article published on February 18 examining every non-English-language song to crack the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, the American music publication reaffirmed the singular place Jimin holds in the chart's 68-year history.

Only Three Korean Songs Have Ever Reached Number One

According to Billboard's analysis, just 39 non-English-language songs have reached the Hot 100 Top 10 across nearly seven decades of chart history. Of those, only 10 managed to claim the number one position. Among them, Korean-language tracks account for exactly three: BTS's "Life Goes On," the BTS and Coldplay collaboration "My Universe," and Jimin's solo debut title track "Like Crazy" from his first album "FACE."

What makes Jimin's position uniquely historic is the dual nature of his achievement. He is the only Korean artist to have reached number one on the Hot 100 both as a member of a group and as a solo performer. As part of BTS, he contributed to the chart-topping runs of "Life Goes On" and "My Universe." As a solo artist, he accomplished the feat entirely on his own with "Like Crazy" — a Korean-language track that topped the chart in April 2023.

The Only Korean Solo Song at Number One

"Like Crazy" carries additional weight as the only Korean-language solo song to have ever reached the number one position on the Hot 100 in the chart's entire existence. While K-pop groups have broken through the language barrier multiple times, Jimin remains the sole Korean solo artist to have stood at the absolute summit of America's most authoritative singles chart.

During that same chart week, Jimin also topped the Billboard Artist 100 — a ranking that measures overall artist activity across all Billboard charts. He became the first and, to date, only solo artist to reach number one on that chart, a distinction that remains unbroken in 2026.

Streaming Numbers Reflect Lasting Impact

The significance of these chart achievements extends well beyond their initial moment. Jimin's Spotify profile recently surpassed 8 billion total streams as a solo artist, a figure that underscores the enduring global appetite for his music. "Like Crazy" alone has accumulated over 1.42 billion streams on the platform, while "Who" — the title track from his second solo album "MUSE" — has amassed 2.25 billion streams and spent an impressive 33 weeks on the Hot 100.

These streaming milestones, combined with his chart records, paint a picture of an artist whose commercial impact has proven remarkably durable. Even during Jimin's military service period, his music has continued to perform strongly across global platforms, demonstrating the kind of audience loyalty that transcends promotional cycles.

Looking Ahead to BTS's Return

Billboard's decision to revisit these records comes at a particularly timely moment. BTS is set to release their fifth studio album "ARIRANG" on March 20, marking the group's highly anticipated reunion as a complete seven-member act. With all members having completed their military service obligations, the comeback is expected to generate massive global attention.

For Jimin, the return to group activities adds another chapter to a career that has already rewritten the rules of what a Korean artist can achieve on the world's biggest music charts. As Billboard's retrospective makes clear, the records he set with "Like Crazy" are not merely impressive — they are, for now, entirely without precedent.