Global HYBE group &TEAM has officially solidified its presence in the heart of K-pop, breaking its own first-week sales record with its Korean debut album.
According to Hanteo Chart on November 4, &TEAM’s first Korean mini album “Back to Life” sold a total of 1,222,022 copies within its first week of release (October 28–November 3). This marks the highest first-week sales among Korean-language albums released in October, and ranks among the top performances of the entire year. Notably, the album sold 1,139,988 copies on its first day alone, immediately earning million-seller status. Following their previous Japanese single “Go in Blind,” &TEAM has now achieved two consecutive million-seller albums, underscoring the group’s explosive growth trajectory.
On the same day, “Back to Life” also topped the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking (dated November 10, covering October 27–November 2). This achievement makes &TEAM the first Japanese artist ever to reach No. 1 on the Oricon Weekly Album Chart with a Korean-language album, marking a significant milestone in cross-border success.
&TEAM’s remarkable performance goes beyond impressive sales numbers—it represents a new symbol of cultural convergence and mutual growth across global music markets. The group’s success also reflects the maturity of HYBE’s “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy, which expands K-pop’s production system and influence on a worldwide scale.
“Back to Life” encapsulates &TEAM’s strengthened unity and evolution as artists. Rooted in their signature “wolf DNA” identity and infused with HYBE’s “global DNA,” the album channels instinctive and daring energy that has drawn praise from both fans and critics alike.
The six-track album includes the title song “Back to Life,” along with “Lunatic” (a rhythmically playful track), “MISMATCH” (a sweet confession song), “Rush” (highlighting powerful vocals), “Heartbreak Time Machine” (a deeply resonant rock ballad), and “Who am I” (featuring sincere lyrical messages). The album’s quality was further enhanced by contributions from Bang Si-hyuk, Soma Genda, and a roster of world-renowned hitmakers.
Having debuted in Japan in 2023, &TEAM has been actively appearing on Korean music shows, entertainment programs, and various content platforms, steadily building a strong presence in both countries. With major achievements now in both Korea and Japan, anticipation is growing for &TEAM’s next chapter as they continue to expand their global reach.
Written by Kim Su Jin
Translated by Lee So Yun
