Seventeen's 'FML' Sets New K-Pop Record, Reignites Hope for Cultural Exchange"

Seventeen, the K-pop group, is making waves in China with their 10th mini album "FML". The album, released on April 24th, has garnered explosive reactions in the country and has reignited the conversation about the possibility of redeveloping K-pop's Chinese market.

 

The Korean Wave Restriction Order in China had been in place since the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in 2016. However, Seventeen's latest comeback has confirmed their position as the main players who can overcome this situation and lay the foundation for the resumption of cultural exchanges between China and South Korea.

 

 

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"FML" has set a new K-pop record with its sales. According to Hanteo Chart, a music aggregation site, the album sold 3,998,373 copies just one day after its release, surpassing the initial release of 2,067,769 copies of their fourth full-length album "Face the Sun". Additionally, "FML" has also surpassed the pre-order volume record of 3,378,633 copies set by BTS with their fourth regular album "MAP OF THE SOUL: 7". The album has received first place in Initial Chodong and is the only album to have sold over 3 million copies on the first day of its release.

 

As of the morning of April 26th, "FML" has sold over 4 million copies, making it a quadruple million seller. The Initial Chodong deadline is April 30th and the final sales volume is expected to increase.

 

The reaction to "FML" in China is particularly meaningful because more than half of the sales volume was achieved through group purchases by Chinese fans. Chinese fans' joint purchases of "FML" reached 2.15 million copies, which is over 6 times the joint purchase of "Face the Sun".

 

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K-Pop Sensation Seventeen Announces Comeback with 10th Mini Album 'FML

 

Until the beginning of this year, there was optimism about the recovery of relations between China and South Korea, with expectations for K-pop artists to receive large sums of guarantees and hold concert tours in various parts of China. However, the current relationship between the two countries is not optimistic as strong remarks from the Chinese side are emerging after President Yoon Seok-yeol's "Taiwan remarks".

 

In January, Seventeen performed the stage of "DON QUIXOTE" at the "37th Golden Disc Awards" held in Bangkok, Thailand, attracting Chinese fans and exerting an influence that could pave the way for the resumption of cultural exchanges between the two countries. With Chinese members Jun and The8, the group has already secured a fanbase in China, and the title song "HOT" of "Face the Sun" is also getting a good response.

 

 

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YouTube's own content "Going Seventeen" radiates a sense of entertainment and chemistry, and "In the Forest Seventeen Season 2", an entertainment program featuring the group's independent travel in isolation, has added friendliness to their image, creating a positive impression for Chinese fans.

 

K-content, including K-pop, is currently facing a crisis due to the economic downturn and continuous image consumption. China, blocked by the Han-Korean law, has been considered the last remaining global giant market for K-content. With the demand for K-content still existing in China and the need for cultural exchange steadily rising in the private sector, the anticipation is high that Seventeen will trigger the resumption of cultural exchanges between the two countries.