Jungkook Rolling Stone UK Cover 2025: BTS Star Breaks K-pop History
Jungkook landed the December 2025 cover of Rolling Stone UK, becoming the first K-pop solo artist to achieve this distinction. The announcement on December 1 marked an unprecedented collaboration between Rolling Stone's UK, Korea, and Japan editions.
Historic Global Magazine Project
The project spans eight international Rolling Stone editions. Print covers will appear in the UK, Korea, and Japan on December 8, while digital editions launch simultaneously in France, India, Brazil, the Philippines, and China. Each of the three print versions features exclusive variant photography.
This represents Rolling Stone's first-ever tri-country collaboration for a single cover subject. The magazine has featured only a handful of Asian artists on its covers throughout its 68-year history, making Jungkook's solo achievement particularly significant.
Streaming Dominance Fuels Recognition
Jungkook's Rolling Stone feature comes on the heels of extraordinary commercial success. His 2023 single "Seven" featuring Latto made Spotify history by reaching 1 billion streams in just 108 days-the fastest ever recorded. The track now exceeds 2.6 billion streams, making it the first K-pop song to cross 2.5 billion.
"Seven" debuted at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 and held the position for consecutive weeks. It also topped both Billboard Global charts and spent seven weeks at number one on the Global Excl. US chart.
As of November 2025, Jungkook's complete solo catalog surpassed 10 billion Spotify streams, establishing him as the first K-pop solo artist to reach this benchmark. His debut album "Golden" alone has accumulated nearly 6 billion streams since its November 2023 release.
From Military Service to Comeback
Jungkook completed South Korea's mandatory military service in June 2025 after enlisting in December 2023. With all seven BTS members now discharged, the group reunited in July 2025 and immediately began recording their first album in six years.
BTS confirmed a spring 2026 comeback with a new album and world tour. Reports suggest the tour could span 65 dates globally, potentially becoming their largest to date.
Rolling Stone Legacy
While BTS appeared on Rolling Stone's cover as a group in 2021-the magazine's first all-Asian cover act-Jungkook's solo feature represents a new milestone for individual K-pop artists. Rolling Stone previously named him among the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time" and recognized "Golden" among 2023's best albums.
The December 8 release positions Jungkook alongside music legends who have graced Rolling Stone covers, from The Beatles to contemporary stars like Harry Styles and Bruno Mars. His achievement demonstrates both his individual artistry and K-pop's expanding influence in mainstream Western media as BTS prepares for their highly anticipated 2026 reunion.
