Suga, the BTS superstar, is back in the U.K. music scene with a new smash hit that is making waves in one of the biggest music markets in the world. Both his latest album and single have debuted on their respective charts, adding to his growing discography and making history once again.
"Haegeum," Suga's latest single, may have debuted at No. 77 on the U.K. singles chart, one of the lower-ranking starts of the frame, but its significance is not measured by its position. It marks his third solo hit on the U.K. singles chart, putting him in rare company.
With this new hit, Suga is now tied with his BTS bandmates J-Hope and Jimin, as well as Psy, for the most placements on the competitive tally in the U.K. among solo musicians from South Korea. The fact that all four acts have scored a trio of placements on the chart on their own is noteworthy in and of itself.
Suga's previous solo hit, "Daechwita," peaked at No. 68 in 2020. He doubled that sum in 2022 with "That That," a collaboration with Psy, which rose to No. 61, giving Psy his third win on the list. And now, with "Haegeum," Suga has advanced once again, solidifying his place in the U.K. music scene.
Psy, who has been the most successful of the four, with his breakout single "Gangnam Style" remaining the only No. 1 hit in U.K. history among any South Korean musical acts. His follow-up, "Gentleman," also broke into the top 10, reaching No. 10. However, Suga, J-Hope, and Jimin are quickly catching up to the iconic artist, with each making their own mark in the U.K. music industry.
J-Hope has been making waves with his solo smashes in the U.K. since 2019. He began his successful solo career with "Chicken Noodle Soup," featuring Becky G. He then followed it up with "More," and most recently, "On the Street," featuring J. Cole, which broke into the top 40. Fellow BTS member Jimin also earned all three of his solo hits in the U.K. in 2023, kicking off his historic winning streak as a featured act on Taeyang's "Vibe." He then returned with his own "Set Me Free Pt. 2" and "Like Crazy," with both tunes entering the top 40, including "Like Crazy," which broke into the top 10.
"Haegeum" serves as the latest single from Suga's album D-2, which itself opens at No. 41 on the U.K. charts. Both the tune and the full-length were released under the name Agust D, a name Suga often uses when releasing music outside of BTS—although not always.