NCT DREAM sells 2 million copies of album in 16 days

From left, Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Jisung, Haechan and Chenle of K-pop boy band NCT DREAM, pose during an online media conference, May 10. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

By Dong Sun-hwa

K-pop boy band NCT DREAM is hitting a career high with its latest album, “Hot Sauce.”

The seven-piece act has sold more than 2 million copies of “Hot Sauce” as of May 25, according to its record label, SM Entertainment. It passed the 1 million mark just seven days after its release on May 10, before reaching the 2 million milestone in 16 days. “Hot Sauce” is now the group's highest-selling album since its debut in 2016.

“This shows NCT DREAM's immense selling power,” SM said in a statement, Wednesday.

“Hot Sauce” is also sweeping the global charts ― it topped iTunes' top album charts in 37 regions and conquered Japan's Oricon Weekly chart, among many others.

The album's lead single also secured the group the No. 1 spot on several local music shows, including KBS' “Music Bank.”

“Hot Sauce” is NCT DREAM's first studio album and its first release since all seven members legally became adults. Due to the team's age-based “graduation” system, rapper Mark left the group in 2018 as he turned 20, but following the elimination of the rule, he rejoined the team last year and took part in making the album.

“'Hot Sauce' is an album of 'different flavors,'” member Jeno said during an online press conference on May 10.

Haechan added, "So far, we have mostly been highlighting our youngness, but this time, we will focus on showing how much we have refined ourselves."

NCT DREAM ― consisting of Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung ― is a sub-unit of SM's 23-member boy band, NCT.