BTS simultaneously graced the covers of both 'Vogue Korea' and 'GQKorea,' wearing the 'Louis Vuitton' spring/summer 2022 collection for the January New Year issue. This was the result of the first-ever collaboration between the two highly reputable magazines, leading to the publication of this special edition issue. The issue would consist of a group cover and individual covers for all seven members. Pre-orders for the issue are ongoing, and Jimin's individual cover has topped the best-seller charts on three different online platforms in South Korea and also became the only individual cover to earn the 'popular' label on Yahoo Japan official online store for its high sales figures.
In South Korea, Jimin's cover was the first to sell over 1500 copies on Gmarket, and the only one as of December 10, 10 pm KST. His popularity and brand power were already in play just hours after pre-orders for the magazine were officially opened in the country.
As reported on December 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th, his individual cover has consistently been topping the best-seller charts on three of the biggest official Korean online bookstores, namely Yes24, Aladdin, and Kyobook, making it a bestseller for four days straight on all three of the major online stores. Jimin's domination of the best seller charts in these platforms has been reported on by Korean media outlets, mentioning it
The three stores account for close to 70% of the total market share, with Yes24 accounting for 40% as the most significant market share, Kyobo Bookstore and Aladdin account for 10~15% each, and Interpark has less than 10%. In the store with the biggest market share, Yes24, Jimin's individual cover recorded the highest sales numbers among all the eight cover types.
Jimin is undoubtedly the top idol in South Korea, given his domination of the brand reputation rankings for individual boy group members. He has now ranked #1 for 35 consecutive months and 37 months in total as of November 2021, and his brand power, as is being witnessed, explains why he has been at the top for this long. The same brand power has been seen with his domination of the sales charts for previously released magazine covers such as the WSJ magazine's innovator's issue released in 2020. He topped sales rankings on various websites for several days, such as the Kyobo Bookstore, Yes24, Interpark, and Aladdin, all of which make up South Korea's top four main bookstores.
The same cover also recorded impressive sales numbers on the Yahoo Japan official online store as seen on December 6, having been available for pre-orders earlier on in Japan.
As of December 13 at 10 am KST, Jimin's individual cover was the only one labeled as 'popular' on the website, implying more robust sales figures compared to any other cover, including the group cover. It has continued to be the only popular cover as of December 14, 10 pm KST as seen here, making it the only popular cover for the third day in a row. Such high sales only specific to him demonstrate his brand power and popularity in the country, which has been witnessed over the years as documented here.
Ordered mine and can't wait to read it & put it on my JIMIN shrine 😍💕