Singer Kim Hyun Joong has occupied the #1 spot on the Japanese Oricon Weekly Chart.

Kim Hyun Joong's second Japanese single album 'HEAT' which dropped on July 4th sold 140,000 copies on the first day of it's release, causing it to soar to the #1 spot on the Oricon Daily Chart.

And in the first week, the album sold a total of 183,000 copies, also making it's mark on the top of the Oricon Weekly Chart.

This success is quite meaningful, as his Japanese debut album 'KISS KISS/Lucky Guy' released on January 25th sold 122,000 copies the first week and secured the #2 spot on the Oricon Weekly Chart. Music insiders are praising the singer saying, "In just a few short months, his music has matured significantly."

Kim Hyun Joong is only the fifth foreign artist to seize the #1 slot with a single on the first week of it's release, and he is garnering more attention as he is in the #3 spot for most album sales in the first week.

The singer who traveled to Japan on the 2nd to kick off promotions for 'HEAT' has been participating in Japanese television broadcasts and interviews, handshake events, and more, proving that he is one of the leading icons of the Hallyu wave.

On July 3rd, Kim Hyun Joong held a handshake event with 5,000 fans in Odaiba, as well as another handshake event with 5,000 more fans in Osaka July 7th. The singer also put on surprise 'Let's Party' performances on July 4th and 8th, earning the cheers of the audience.

In related news, the singer will also be greeting 6,000 more fans at the Saitama Super Arena July 14th and 15th to commemorate his second single album with a free live show. He will be putting on a collaboration performance with Japanese musician Naoto Inti Raymi.

Source & Image: ChosunIlbo via Nate