ATEEZ hit Melon Top 100 top 20 for the first time ever, led by San's 'BAD' chorus

ATEEZ landed at No. 18 on Melon Top 100 as of 9 AM on July 20. Highest domestic chart position in the group's career. First time breaking into the chart's upper tier since debut.

San (최산) is the name everyone's talking about. His chorus on BAD caught fire online and earned him a new nickname: '남부대공' (Southern Great Duke). Last year during Ice On My Teeth promotions, he'd picked up '북부대공' (Northern Great Duke) for his cold, heavy stage energy. BAD flips that entirely—intense, hot, and apparently very Melon-friendly.

The domestic milestone lands in the middle of an already stacked run. ATEEZ have three Billboard 200 No. 1s: THE WORLD EP FIN : WILL in 2023, GOLDEN HOUR : Part2 in 2024, and this year's GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5, their 14th mini album. Their world tour IN YOUR FANTASY opened in Incheon in July last year and ran 34 shows across 25 cities in North America, Japan, Asia, and Australia.

At a fan meeting last weekend, members performed unit stages in pairs. Hong Joong and Yeo Sang's take on Kara's Pretty Girl drew attention. So did their cover of CUTIE STREET's 귀엽기만 하면 안 되나요?

Within the group, roles break down like this: Hong Joong and Min Gi each bring distinct rap styles. Jong Ho anchors with live vocal consistency. Sung Hwa adds delicate expressiveness and stable live performance. Yeo Sang fills the stage with a soft tone and firm presence. Yunho and Wooyoung carry the performance side. Nine years in, and they're still finding new peaks domestically.