ATEEZ has hit its stride in its ninth year since debut.
The group dropped their fourteenth mini-album, GOLDEN HOUR: Part 5, on June 26. This release celebrates moments driven by instinct and sensation, showcasing ATEEZ’s pursuit of their dreams. Through the fifth installment of the Golden Hour series, ATEEZ expands their narrative universe.
The title track “Bad” is a Brazilian funk-infused banger that captures the tension of a push-and-pull relationship. With its addictive chorus and groovy beats, it’s quintessential ATEEZ – a dance anthem that’s impossible to resist. The album also features four other tracks: “MAMACITA,” “TOXIN,” “Fallin’,” and “Body,” offering a kaleidoscope of ATEEZ’s musical range.
Since its release, “Bad” has been gaining serious traction. The heart-pounding choreography in the song’s killing part has gone viral. ATEEZ’s appearances on domestic music shows and NBC’s Kelly Clarkson Show have kept the buzz alive, attracting not just K-pop aficionados but a broader audience. Fans captivated by Bad’s killer moves have jumped on the song’s challenge, leading to a surge in its popularity through social media shorts.
Riding this wave, ATEEZ has been smashing their own records on various domestic and international charts. GOLDEN HOUR: Part 5 sold over 1.88 million copies in its first week, marking the group’s best performance to date and becoming their seventh million-seller album.
ATEEZ also conquered the Billboard 200 chart for the third time with GOLDEN HOUR: Part 5, achieving the highest first-week sales for a K-pop group in the 2020s at 223,000 copies. They’ve set a record for the most entries in the Billboard 200’s Top 10 among K-pop groups this decade. The group also claimed the top spots on several other charts, including the World Albums chart and the Artist 100.
What’s particularly noteworthy is their performance on domestic streaming charts. “Bad” cracked the Melon daily chart’s Top 100 on July 6, just ten days after its release. This marks ATEEZ’s first entry into the daily chart’s Top 100 since their debut, signaling a breakthrough that extends beyond their fandom to the general public. “Bad” continues its ascent, hitting #82 as of July 9 – another career high for the group.
Since their 2018 debut, ATEEZ has been known for their powerhouse performances, gaining a massive following both at home and abroad. They’ve consistently released new music, carving out their unique sonic identity and cementing their status as top-tier idols. However, broader domestic appeal had been their white whale. With “Bad,” they’ve made significant strides in captivating not only K-pop enthusiasts but also the general public.
Discussing “Bad’s” popularity, member Yunho recently told News1 that people are saying Bad’ is incredibly addictive, and he think it’s thanks to the positive feedback on the performance. It’s just grateful for the immense love. Wooyoung added that they’ve heard that the music video is as entertaining as a movie. He’s thankful for the compliments that it pleases both the eyes and ears.
San expressed surprise at the attention the “Bad” challenge has received: It has been getting tons of challenge videos. He didn’t expect such a hot response. Every time he sees the videos from participants, he’s blown away by their creativity. He’s grateful everyone’s enjoying it. Seonghwa echoed the sentiment: He believes the creative videos from challenge participants have contributed to Bad’s immense popularity. It’s truly thankful.
ATEEZ has reached this peak after consistently delivering quality music while staying true to their identity. Leader Hongjoong remarked that he’s thrilled that our efforts to release solid albums with every comeback have led to these results. As always, it’ll strive to keep bringing the A-game as ATEEZ. Mingi added that it’ll use this achievement as fuel and continue to deliver great music without getting complacent.
Yeosang expressed gratitude to the fans: Thanks to ATINY, the greatest support, they’ve been able to keep pushing forward. The road ahead is longer than the time they’ve spent together, so it hopes for the continued support. Jongho also stated that it’ll work even harder to make ATINY proud with more fantastic stages and music. It’ll repay your love tenfold, so please stick with ATEEZ for the long haul.
ATEEZ is set to meet fans at the 2026 ATEEZ Fan Meeting ATINY’s Voyage: Tiny Mystery from July 17 to 19 at Korea University’s Hwajung Gymnasium.