SEVENTEEN’s ‘Soya-gok’ Achieves Gold Certification in Japan: What This Means for K-Pop Fans

The Japan Record Association announced on February 10 that the duo’s mini-album ‘Soyagok’ has been certified Gold as of January. This certification is awarded based on cumulative shipments, with Gold status requiring 100,000 units, Platinum at 250,000, and Double Platinum at 500,000.

This latest achievement marks SEVENTEEN’s third Gold Disk certification for a sub-unit project. Previously, the Jeonghan and Wonwoo single ‘THIS MAN’ and the S.Coups and Mingyu mini-album ‘HYPE VIBES’ also struck gold. As a full group, SEVENTEEN now boasts an impressive 18 Gold Disk certified albums, including singles.

‘Soyagok’ made waves upon its release, selling nearly 100,000 copies on day one and claiming the top spot on the Oricon Daily Album Ranking for January 22. The album’s popularity shows no signs of waning, as it recently reclaimed the #1 position on February 5.

The title track ‘Blue’ is also captivating Japanese listeners. It topped Spotify Japan’s ‘Daily Viral Songs’ chart on January 26 and held the position for six consecutive days. This feat is particularly noteworthy in the K-pop landscape, where high-energy performances often dominate, as ‘Blue’ is a traditional ballad.

The song’s success has been bolstered by a vocal challenge featuring artists from various genres. Fan participation in duet challenges and creative short-form videos incorporating ‘Blue’ into relatable breakup scenarios have kept engagement high. This momentum has propelled the track into the upper echelons of YouTube Korea’s ‘Weekly Shorts Popular Songs’ chart for the period of January 30 to February 5.

[Report by Han Seo-yul for TV Daily, news@tvdaily.co.kr / Photos courtesy of Pledis Entertainment]