On the 28th of this month, multiple media outlets simultaneously reported that four of V’s solo tracks are continuing to achieve meaningful milestones in the North αмєяι¢αn music market. According to Music ¢αиα∂α (the Canadian Recording Industry Association), V’s songs — “Christmas Tree,” “Slow Dancing,” “Love Me Again,” and “FRI(END)S” — have all received Gold certification in the Singles category.
This achievement has drawn attention as it demonstrates that V’s solo career continues to maintain steady sales power, regardless of the release date of the songs or whether he is actively promoting at the time. This also means that he and his music are being consistently embraced by listeners worldwide.
Beyond music, together with the other BTS members, V is one of the most beloved K-pop superstars around the world, with outstanding fame and wide-ranging influence across various fields. His stage name is frequently mentioned by the public on social media every hour, every day, and any content related to him on social platforms tends to attract high levels of engagement.
Notably, according to the resource platform Jagran Josh, V recently ranked fourth on the list of the “Top 10 Most Googled People of 2025.” The list includes figures from various fields such as politicians, sports stars, and pop artists. In terms of global interest, V ranked behind only three other well-known figures: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Taylor Swift.
Even more impressive is that V surpαѕѕed major names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar. While Taylor Swift was the most searched female pop star, V held the position on the male artist side, proving his status as a global superstar.
Jagran Josh analyzed that V secured the 4th spot as the most searched person because "he remains at the center of attention in over 70 countries, thanks to his solo tracks, his explosively popular Instagram, and his unique fashion sense that captivates fans." This is particularly notable considering that his solo songs were released years ago and that V had been absent for half a year due to military service, only returning in the last six months of the year — without having carried out any official music activities yet.
One example that illustrates why fourth place is well deserved: after being discharged, V’s first activity — traveling to Paris to attend CELINE’s fashion show as a Global Ambαѕѕador — caused social media to erupt. News about him immediately became headlines across domestic and international media outlets. On Google Trends, keywords related to V topped search rankings in more than 40 countries, including South кσяєα, the United States, fяαи¢є, the United Kingdom, and Israel. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT TAEHYUNG” ranked No. 1 worldwide, and the four most trending topics at the time all revolved around him.
In addition to the above ranking, V also placed sixth in the “Top 7 Most Searched Male Artists Born After 1990,” becoming the only K-pop star included in the list. Justin Bieber (who debuted in 2009) topped the list of male artists born in the 1990s. The following positions went to Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, The Weeknd, Zayn Malik (former One Direction member), V, and αмєяι¢αn rapper Travis Scott in seventh place.
Previously, the well-known influencer analytics company HypeAuditor also ranked V third on its list of the “Top 1000 Most Influential Global Influencers”. In terms of regional influence, he ranked No. 1 in the United Kingdom, surpαѕѕing both Messi and Ronaldo. He even topped the “Music” category, outperforming many US-UK artists.
On January 13 (KST), the idol reached 70 million followers on his personal Instagram account, becoming the fastest person on the platform to do so. Remarkably, in just 25 days after his military discharge, V gained 1.22 million new followers, marking the fastest growth rate among K-pop stars. According to influencer marketing platform SocialBook, V’s Instagram engagement rate in the first 60 days after his discharge reached an impressive 20.6%. Even though comments on V’s account are restricted, he still maintains the highest engagement rate among global stars.
These figures continue to reflect fans’ dedication and enthusiasm for V, reaffirming his position as one of today’s leading global stars!
