They opened the door with “Angtal” and kept the momentum going with “Dda-rum Dda-rum.” TWS is officially on a growth trajectory, hitting new career highs alongside another viral challenge hit.
After shaking up the 5th generation boy group scene with their debut track “Plot Twist,” they are proving their status as a “trend-setting group” by expanding their album sales, digital charts, and concert scales. The fact that the “Angtal Challenge” wasn’t just a one-time fad but naturally led into the “Dda-rum Challenge” for their new song “You, You” makes their current rise even more meaningful.
A clear indicator of this surge is their recent 5th mini album “NO TRAGEDY,” which marked their first million-seller. The album surpassed 1,112,770 copies in first-week sales on the Hanteo Chart, setting another career high. Starting with about 260,000 first-week sales for their debut album “Sparkling Blue,” they grew steadily through “SUMMER BEAT!”, “TRY WITH US,” and “play hard,” finally breaking the 1 million mark for a single album.
Their concert scale is growing just as rapidly. After selling out 16,000 seats at their first solo concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium last year, they have now confirmed their entry into KSPO DOME. In just over two years since debut, they’ve reached the “dream stage” that holds immense symbolic value in the K-pop market.
A decisive turning point in TWS’s growth was undoubtedly the “Angtal Challenge.” During promotions for “OVERDRIVE,” the title track of their 4th mini album, Dohoon’s uniquely cute choreography and the point move of biting his finger spread rapidly across social media, creating the “Angtal boom.” It was a moment that imprinted TWS’s signature refreshing energy and boyish charm on the public beyond just a simple challenge.
That momentum flowed naturally into their new song “You, You.” The “Dda-rum Challenge,” which features a move following the other person to the “Dda-rum” part of the chorus, gained popularity for its easy-to-follow dance and addictive hook. In fact, the cumulative views for the challenge videos uploaded to TWS’s official SNS have surpassed 24.1 million, with 11 videos exceeding 1 million views.
Importantly, this challenge fever didn’t stop at simple meme consumption. Since debut, TWS has built its own narrative called “Boyhood Pop.” They’ve expressed the sparkling emotions of youth and moments of growth through music, achieving success on digital charts with songs like “Plot Twist,” “if i’m S, you be my N,” “Last Festival,” and “Isn’t it cool to run following your heart?”. By adding killing points like “Angtal” and “Dda-rum Dda-rum,” they’ve also secured strong public appeal.
At a comeback media showcase held last month before the release of “NO TRAGEDY,” the members shared their honest thoughts on this growth. Youngjae said, “I really didn’t expect the Angtal Challenge to be loved this much,” adding, “I’m constantly discussing the direction of our activities with the members.” Kyungmin also expressed his gratitude, saying, “We had a goal to well-convey TWS’s own sensibility and energy, and I’m thankful it seems to have reached many people,” while noting that they continue to think about the messages to include in their future music.
While based on a refreshing concept, their determination not to stay limited to that was clear. Jihoon explained, “We are always focusing on the message to expand Boyhood Pop,” adding, “We want to show various genres by steadily including hip-hop based songs.” Indeed, TWS has expanded its musical spectrum by mixing hip-hop, pop, and rock-based tracks in every album.
Ultimately, the current TWS means more than just a “refreshing boy group.” They are a team that creates buzz through challenges, builds a team identity through music, and proves growth through numbers. This is why, as they enter their third year since debut, they are looking beyond KSPO DOME toward stadiums. Having proven their potential with “Angtal,” TWS is now standing at the entrance of their true prime with “Dda-rum Dda-rum.”
