Introduction
SEVENTEEN, a remarkable K-pop group that started as an underdog boy band of 13 members and emerged as one of South Korea’s greatest success stories, has achieved a significant milestone that sets them apart from their peers.
In its debut week, SEVENTEEN’s latest EP, titled “FML: The 10th Mini Album,” sold a staggering 4,550,214 physical copies worldwide, according to South Korea’s real-time album sales website, Hanteo Chart. This extraordinary achievement establishes SEVENTEEN as the only artist in the history of the chart to surpass four million album sales in a single week.
Unprecedented Success
Even before its official release, SEVENTEEN’s “FML” was breaking records. The EP sold over 3.9 million units within the first 24 hours, making SEVENTEEN the first artist ever to surpass the three-million mark on Hanteo’s chart in a single day.
Furthermore, “FML” now holds the title of the best-selling album in the history of the Hanteo Chart, surpassing BTS’ 2020 album “Map of the Soul: 7,” which has sold a total of 4.2 million copies worldwide since its release, with approximately 3.4 million copies sold in its first week.
Impressive Sales History
SEVENTEEN had already established a strong presence on the Hanteo Chart prior to the release of “FML.” Their 2022 full-length album, “Face the Sun,” has sold over 2.2 million copies to date, while their 2021 EP, “Attacca,” surpassed the two million mark.
The Continuing Relevance of Physical Products
In a year of groundbreaking achievements by K-pop artists, including BTS’ Jimin becoming the first solo star to sell over a million copies in a single day, the immense sales figures for SEVENTEEN’s “FML” underscore the enduring significance of physical albums in South Korea. The country boasts the seventh-largest music industry globally, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. As is customary for K-pop albums, “FML” was released in multiple versions, each featuring special goodies such as exclusive photos and trading cards featuring the individual members. With SEVENTEEN’s large fanbase of devoted followers, the demand for different versions and merchandise showcasing each member further heightened the anticipation surrounding this latest release by S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Hoshi, Jun, Wonwoo, DK, Woozi, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino.
Following its outstanding first week, SEVENTEEN’s “FML” will undoubtedly claim the title of Korea’s best-selling album of 2023, surpassing the current leader, Tomorrow X Together’s “The Name Chapter: Temptation,” which reported over 2.5 million sales as of March. The EP’s popularity was fueled by the group’s decision to promote it with two lead singles: the energetically dynamic team anthem “Super” and the moving, uplifting hip-hop track “F*ck My Life.”
