TWS turns viral dance challenges into million-selling momentum

K-pop boy group TWS poses in this promotional image as its latest dance challenge gains traction online. Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment

Propelled by the back-to-back viral hits of its social media dance challenges, K-pop boy band TWS has hit a career peak amid a period of sustained growth.

TWS first drew widespread attention with its debut song "Plot Twist," which helped shake up the fifth-generation boy group market. Since its "Angtal" dance challenge went viral last year, the six-member group has gained momentum with its new "Ddarum" challenge, linking online traction to album sales, larger concert venues and an established musical identity.

The group is now trying to prove that its appeal reaches beyond short-lived online trends. Its fifth mini-album, "NO TRAGEDY," became its first million-selling album, giving the group a major milestone.

According to local album sales tracker Hanteo Chart, "NO TRAGEDY" sold 1,112,770 copies in its first week, setting a record for TWS. The number marks a sharp rise from its debut mini-album, "Sparkling Blue," which opened with about 260,000 copies in first week sales. Sales of subsequent releases "SUMMER BEAT!," "TRY WITH US" and "play hard" rose steadily before crossing the 1 million mark with their latest single album.

The group’s concert scale has grown as well. TWS held its first solo concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium last year and sold out all 16,000 seats. This year, it secured KSPO Dome for its concerts, putting the group in one of K-pop’s prominent arenas two years after its debut.

K-pop boy group TWS performs during the third day of its 2025 TWS Tour "24/7:WITH:US" in Seoul at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Songpa District, Seoul, June 22, 2025. Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment

The sales and venue growth give weight to what began as viral challenge momentum. One turning point was the "Angtal" challenge during promotions for "OVERDRIVE," the lead track from the group’s fourth mini-album. Dohoon’s playful choreography and finger-biting dance move spread across social media, helping imprint TWS’ fresh, youthful energy and boyish charm on a wider audience.

That momentum carried into "You, You," the lead single from "NO TRAGEDY." The "Ddarum" dance challenge, built around the hook in the chorus, uses a simple move that suggests following another person.

Its easy choreography and catchy hook helped it gain traction online. Challenge videos uploaded to TWS’ official social media accounts drew more than 24.1 million views, with 11 clips surpassing 1 million views.

The larger question is whether TWS can turn those viral moments into lasting impact. Since its debut, the group has maintained its self-described "boyhood pop" sound, rooted in bright youthfulness, everyday emotions and coming-of-age themes.

Songs such as "Plot Twist," "If I’m S, Can You Be My N?", "Last Festival" and Isn’t It Cool to Follow Your Heart?" have helped the group succeed on music charts while keeping their identity intact. Meanwhile, the "Angtal" and "Ddarum" challenges helped the group reach beyond its core fandom.

K-pop boy group TWS poses during a press showcase. Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment

During a press event last month ahead of the release of "NO TRAGEDY," the group discussed its rapid growth.

"We never expected the 'Angtal' challenge to receive so much attention," Youngjae said. "We are constantly discussing our future direction."

Kyungmin said the group wanted to deliver its own emotion and energy.

"We had the goal of conveying TWS’ own emotion and energy well, and I am grateful that it seems to have reached many people," he said, adding that the group continues to think about the messages it places in its music.

TWS also made clear it does not want to stay limited to a clean-cut, upbeat image.

"We are always focusing on messages and expanding boyhood pop," Jihoon said. "We want to show various genres by steadily including hip-hop-based songs as well."

Across its albums, TWS has mixed hip-hop, pop and rock-based tracks, using different styles to broaden its sound without abandoning its core identity.

K-pop boy group TWS / Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment

That balance now defines the group’s next phase. TWS is not simply a fresh-faced boy band riding a social media trend. It has used challenges to create visibility, music to define its identity and sales figures to support its market viability. As the group enters its third year, that combination explains why it is looking beyond KSPO Dome toward stadiums.

For TWS, the test is whether viral moments can keep feeding long-term career momentum. After proving its potential with "Angtal," the group is now using "Ddarum" to enter a major new phase in its trajectory.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.