Girl band Blackpink sweeps music charts

(From left) Blackpink's Jisoo, Rose, Jennie and Lisa

By Ko Dong-hwan

Yang Hyun-seok

YG Entertainment founder and acting chief Yang Hyun-seok’s faith in the company’s girl band Blackpink has been well and truly justified.

The group’s latest numbers have swept Korea’s seven major online music charts.

Back in August, at a showcase event in Seoul that introduced the band, Yang said: “Girl groups are five times harder to make than boys.”

“Girl bands have just too many things to fix compared to boys,” said Yang, the former K-pop idol from iconic band Seo Taeji and Boys. “But I have seen them for the past six years practicing. I believe in them.”

Three months after Blackpink earned fame with single hits “Whistle” and “Boombayah,” the dance-music band on Tuesday released its second mini album, “Title Two,” which contains lead tracks

“Playing with Fire” and

“Stay.”

The seasoned YG executive’s faith in the band was reinforced as the two numbers, which were released at midnight, swept Korea’s seven major online music sites, including Mnet and Bugs, with “Playing with Fire” leading the way, followed by “Stay.”

“Stay” also excited fans overseas, topping music charts in Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, according to Newsis.

Music videos for the two numbers are running hot on YouTube, together recording 2.35 million views.

Blackpink will debut on MBC TV variety show “Weekly Idol,” which is good news for fans who have wanted to see what the four stars are like when not performing on stage.