According to the official accounts “About Music” and “Pop Planet,” Jungkook has recently taken the No. 1 spot on the list of the most-searched male group idols on YouTube in South кσяєα in 2026. Previously, even during his military service in 2024, he had already maintained the top position in this category.
Not only in his home country, Jungkook also set a record by ranking No. 1 among the most-searched male K-pop idols on YouTube in the United States for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025). At the same time, he holds the record as the most-searched K-pop idol on YouTube globally for five consecutive years.
On the world’s largest search engine, Google, Jungkook has also ranked No. 1 among K-pop idols for five straight years. Similar achievements have been recorded on Tumblr. Notably, on the short-form video platform TikTok, his personal hashtag #jungkook became the first by a solo artist in the world to surpαѕѕ 300 billion views. He is also the first and only individual in TikTok history to exceed 40 million posts.
Notably, these achievements of Jungkook are no longer just reported on social media but are now also included in U.S. educational books to be taught to children!
According to industry sources on the 6th, Jungkook once again affirmed his status as a global icon by being selected as the main figure in the educational book series for elementary school students in the United States, “Brain Candy Books.” This series is produced by the U.S.-based educational publisher Capstone, which selects the most influential figures and ideal role models for children today in the fields of music and sports, helping them absorb information in an engaging way.
The list of figures featured in this series always attracts attention. Previously, legendary figures across various fields such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and Lionel Messi were chosen as main characters. This year, Jungkook is honored alongside other notable names including Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, and football star Cristiano Ronaldo. In this context, Jungkook becoming the first кσяєαn singer selected and the central figure for the upcoming installment shows that he stands as a key pillar among global stars spanning both music and sports.
In the book, Jungkook’s life philosophy, iconic titles, growth journey, and solo activities are described in detail. He is introduced as a multi-talented artist with astonishingly precise control over pitch. He has also been selected by the prestigious music magazine Rolling Stone as one of the “Greatest Singers of All Time.” The book further notes that he is the first кσяєαn solo artist to have seven songs enter the Billboard Hot 100, as well as the first кσяєαn artist to perform an official soundtrack at the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Notably, the book also refers to Jungkook as an “SNS Superstar” and calls him the “Sold Out King”—someone capable of creating mαѕѕive demand and selling out any items he uses, such as lip balm, clothing, and shoes. This serves as proof that his influence has expanded from music into lifestyle.
Various social media records are listed in detail:
- Most searched K-pop idol on Pinterest (2024).
- Second most searched K-pop idol on Google (2024).
- Most searched K-pop idol across all platforms in 2022.
- Record for the most-watched individual livestream on Weverse, attracting 20.2 million real-time viewers in just 3 hours (2024).
Other indicators include the most-viewed Instagram Reel by a male artist within 24 hours, being named Tumblr’s Top K-pop Star for five consecutive years, inclusion in X’s (formerly Twitter) most-liked tweets list, the most-viewed solo artist hashtag in TikTok history, and the most searched idol on YouTube for five consecutive years.
Beyond simply listing biographical details, the book also includes contextual information and insights into his mindset—from his trainee days to his growth into a world-clαѕѕ artist—positioning him as an educational and inspirational figure for young readers.
Reactions from the online community have been explosive: "Jungkook, the first кσяєαn featured, truly a world star," "Jungkook is famous beyond imagination," "An educational book for elementary students? His recognition is insane," "He’s in a different league," and "Jungkook is a role model for U.S. kids" and more.
Through his inclusion in the “Brain Candy Books” series, Jungkook has moved beyond music and fame to become a figure in educational material for younger generations in the United States, affirming his current position in global popular culture. This event also once again demonstrates the status and influence of BTS.
On the other hand, this milestone is not only about his or his group’s fame, but also symbolic—reflecting the position of K-pop and the growing influence of кσяєαn culture. While Western figures once dominated educational content, кσяєαn artists are now being introduced to children as role models. It shows that the global cultural landscape is changing: K-pop is increasingly being recognized as a cultural standard and an educational influence, far beyond a pαѕѕing trend.
