NCT WISH has taken the K-pop world by storm! Their second mini album, poppop, released on April 14, 2025, sold over 1 million copies in just five days, making them official โmillion sellers.โ This achievement smashed their previous first-week sales record and solidified their place as a top rookie group. Hereโs everything you need to know about this massive milestone.
Album Sales and Record-Breaking Success
NCT WISH released their second mini album, poppop, on April 14, 2025, and it quickly became a sensation. According to Hanteo Chart, the album sold 1,087,838 copies in its first week, from April 14 to April 20, 2025. This broke their previous first-week sales record of 792,347 copies set by their debut mini album, Steady, in 2024.
The album hit 1 million sales by April 18, 2025, in less than five days. It sold 551,983 copies on the first day alone, followed by 84,523 on day two and 156,767 on day three, reaching 793,273 copies by the third day. This rapid success made poppop the groupโs first album to surpass the million-seller mark.
- First-week sales of poppop: 1,087,838 copies
- Previous record (Steady): 792,347 copies
- Other albums:
- Songbird (2024): 537,998 copies
- WISH (2024): 280,478 copies
This milestone marks NCT WISH as one of the top-selling rookie groups of 2024 and 2025, with their total album sales across WISH, Songbird, and Steady nearing 2 million copies before poppopโs release.
Details of the Poppop Album
The poppop mini album, released under SM Entertainment, contains six tracks that showcase NCT WISHโs signature โrefreshing and neoโ style. The title track, poppop, is a dance-pop song with a bubbly melody, telling the youthful story of a couple starting to date after a successful confession. The song connects to the B-side track Melt Inside My Pocket, continuing the romantic narrative.
Tracklist:
The album comes in multiple versions, including Photobook, WICHU, and Jewel Case editions. The Photobook Ver. includes a 96-page photobook, CD-R, folded poster, pop-up card, and random photocard. The WICHU Ver. offers a mini photobook, NFC CD, WICHU keyring, polaroid, and seal sticker. The Jewel Case Ver. has individual member versions for Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo, Sakuya, and a group version.
Album versions:
The albumโs production involved notable contributors like Amelia Moore, Andrew Choi, Edwin Honoret, and KENZIE, with arrangements by Geoffro Cause and inverness.
Music Video and Promotions
The poppop music video, released on April 14, 2025, at 6 p.m. KST, features vibrant visuals and NCT WISHโs youthful energy. It complements the songโs upbeat vibe, showing the groupโs polished performance style. Teasers were shared starting March 20, 2025, including a highlight medley, individual and group photos, and a video teaser on April 12, 2025.
NCT WISH also performed poppop at their Seoul concert two weeks before the official release, giving fans an early preview. The group has been active in engaging fans through social media and events, boosting the albumโs hype.
Fan Reactions
Fans, known as Wishies, celebrated the groupโs million-seller status across platforms. On X, fans praised the albumโs fresh sound and the groupโs growth since their 2024 debut.
โYAY! poppop is so fun and vibrant. The boys are killing it!โ
โSo proud of NCT WISH! Million sellers in just 5 days is insane!โ
However, some critics had mixed feelings. A review on The Bias List gave the title track a 5.5/10, calling the chorus โmonotonousโ and criticizing its โirritatingโ hook. They noted the song leaned into an experimental hyperpop sound but lacked catchy elements.
โRemove the middle โppโ from poppop and you have my general thoughts on this song.โ
โThe vocal lines in poppopโs bridge were jarring, with no smooth transition.โ
Despite mixed reviews, the albumโs commercial success and fan support highlight NCT WISHโs strong fanbase and market presence.
Group Background and Achievements
NCT WISH, the sixth sub-unit of NCT, debuted on February 28, 2024, with their single WISH. The group, formed under SM Entertainment and Avex Trax, consists of six members: Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo, and Sakuya. Produced by BoA, they focus on both Korean and Japanese markets, with a name reflecting their ambition to support fansโ dreams.
Before poppop, the group achieved significant milestones. Their debut single WISH sold 280,478 copies, followed by Songbird with 537,998 copies, and Steady with 792,347 copies. They won multiple rookie awards in 2024 and set a record for the highest album sales by a debut artist that year. Their pre-debut tour in 2023 and Asia Tour Log In (2024-2025) further strengthened their fanbase.
Key achievements:
The return of Riku after a health hiatus in March 2025 marked this comeback as their first as a full group since Steady.
NCT WISHโs rapid rise cements their status as a leading fifth-generation K-pop group. Their ability to surpass 1 million sales in under a week places them among top groups like ZEROBASEONE and RIIZE. The albumโs success reflects their growing influence in Korea, Japan, and globally, driven by their youthful image and dedicated fans.
The groupโs focus on both Korean and Japanese markets, along with strategic promotions like fan meetings and viral social media moments, has fueled their momentum. SM Entertainmentโs management, led by BoA, has been praised for balancing their dual-market strategy.
โFor once, Iโm happy with what SM is doing for them. BoA has been handling them so well.โ
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Credits: SM Entertainment, Hanteo Charts
