[CELEB] IVE becomes monster rookie group with 'Love Dive' single

K-pop

Published: 17 Apr. 2022, 17:15 Updated: 18 Apr. 2022, 15:08

[CELEB] IVE becomes monster rookie group with 'Love Dive' single

Wonyoung of girl group IVE [STARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT]

"Love Dive," a new single from rookie girl group IVE, achieved the highest number of streams for debuting K-pop song on Spotify, according to the music streaming service on Friday.

Over 11.1 million streams were recorded for "Love Dive" on Spotify within one week of its April 4 release. It had over 17 million streams on Spotify as of Sunday afternoon.

The record number of streams by the IVE on Spotify is followed by: "Stay Alive (Prod. SUGA)," by BTS member Jungkook; "Maniac" by Stray Kids; and "Still Life" by Big Bang.

"Love Dive" also made it onto Spotify's Global Top 200 chart, Billboard Global 200, Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart.

The group is achieving success at home as well, nabbing three wins in Korean weekly music shows during the first week of its comeback.

Selling over 300,000 copies, "Love Dive" set the record in terms of number of albums sold during the second week of April, according to Hanteo Chart.

Girl group IVE [STARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT]

IVE appeared on various local variety programs last week to promote the single. MBC's "The Manager," on which IVE appeared on April 9, achieved the highest ratings in the non-drama category, with a local viewership rating of 16.49 percent, according to Good Data Corporation.

The group was also featured on "MMTG" (otherwise known as "Civilization Express"). The episode was released on YouTube on Friday and had some 1 million views as of Sunday.

"Love Dive" has two tracks: the title track and "Royal." It portrays IVE's confident and independent attitude, according to the girl group during a press conference last week.

IVE debuted in December 2021 with "Eleven," a single that sold 152,229 copies in its first week, according to Hanteo Chart. That was the highest number of copies sold by a debuting artist in Korea in 2021. The music video for "Eleven" had more than 35 million views on YouTube within four days.

For its quick rise to stardom and groundbreaking records, the group has been labeled as a "monster rookie group."

Wonyoung, third from left, performs IVE's new single "Love Dive" during the group's press conference at Blue Square Hall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on April 5. [ILGAN SPORTS]

IVE's members are Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz and Leeseo.

Holding the center position of the girl group is Wonyoung, 17, whose legal name is Jang Won-young. Center in K-pop groups refers to a position given to a member who is deemed by their agencies to have the closest image to the concept of the group. Thus, he or she often receives the most support and publicity from their agency. A center often literally stands in the middle during performances, has the most song lines and screen time in music videos and is prioritized when appearing on TV shows.

Wonyoung was familiar to the public before debuting as a member of IVE because she was featured in "Produce 48," an Mnet-created K-pop survival show, as the show's youngest contestant in 2018. She was 14 years old at the time.

Receiving the most number of votes by the public, Wonyoung came in first in the program and debuted with 11 other finalists of the show as a member of project girl group IZ*ONE.

After releasing hit songs like "La Vie En Rose" (2018), "Panorama" (2020) and "Secret Story of the Swan" (2020), IZ*ONE disbanded in April last year when its contract concluded.

Wonyoung debuted as a member of IVE eight months later.

She has been host of KBS's weekly music show "Music Bank" with boy band Enhypen member Sunghoon since October last year.

For her smooth presentations and chemistry with Sunghoon in the program, Wonyoung was awarded the Best Couple Award in the annual 2021 KBS Entertainment Awards.

Wonyoung as a contestant in Mnet's K-pop survival program "Produce 48" (2018) [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Wonyoung (Jang Won-young)

Date of birth: Aug. 31, 2004

Zodiac sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Yongsan District, central Seoul

Debut: October 2018 as a member of IZ*ONE and December 2021 as a member of IVE

Agency: Starship Entertainment

Wonyoung debuted as a member of the project girl group IZ*ONE in 2018, after becoming one of 12 finalists for "Produce 48," an Mnet-created K-pop survival show with female K-pop trainees from various agencies. After the group's contracted ended in April, Wonyoung joined IVE in December last year. She holds the center position in IVE and is also one of two hosts of KBS's weekly music show "Music Bank" with boy band Enhypen member Sunghoon.

This information was confirmed by Starship Entertainment on April 15, 2022.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]