Kang Daniel from Wanna One, a disbanded popular K-pop boy band, gained more than 1 million followers within 11 hours after creating his instagram account, breaking the record previously held by Pope Francis, his feed showed Thursday.

Kang reached 1 million followers at 2:30 a.m. and four of Kang’s images were displayed on the account, according to MMO Entertainment. Pope Francis had reached 1 million followers after 12 hours of creating his account in 2016. As of 4 p.m. there were 1.2 million followers for Kang.

(Kang Daniel's Instagram)

The star’s celebrity skyrocketed after he won the 2017 idol survival show “Produce 101 Season 2” by Mnet and debuted as a boy band called Wanna One, made up of 11 winners from the competition.

Kang is reportedly planning to debut as a solo artist following the team’s disbandment which lasted for 1 1/2 years.

Wanna One will perform its last concert in Gocheok Sky Dome on Jan. 27. Following the concert, all 11 members are planning to launch their own careers.

By Yoon Yeun-jung (kairos07@heraldcorp.com)