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Is it 'girl group era' in K-pop? Blackpink gives NCT 127 tough competition with 1.5M sales

Finally, in 2022 we are seeing several K-pop girl groups crossing the one million mark led by Blackpink who were the first million sellers in 2020

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: For the last few years, the internet has been wondering why girl groups have not been able to cross the same milestones like boy groups despite being popular. We have had big names like TWICE or Red Velvet getting stuck at 330k-400k first days sales while boy groups could easily get 1 million sales as seen in the case of NCT, Enhypen or Stray Kids. Well, no more with Blackpink becoming double million sellers and closely followed by aespa, Itzy and TWICE, we are in the girl group era.  

2022 can be considered the girl group era as we got several iconic reunions like that of 2NE1, Girls' Generation and EXID. Several deserving girl groups are also finally hitting the one million mark and topping charts like (G)I-DLE, NewJeans and IVE. Even lesser popular acts are getting their time to shine as seen with Dreamcatcher, fromis_9 and Brave Girls. Many even admonished SM for setting up NCT 127 by making them have their comeback on the same day as Blackpink as the girl group was predicted to take over charts, social media and sales. 

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NCT 127 and Blackpink get 1.5M sales together

Both NCT 127 and Blackpink released their latest albums on the same day and while the boy group has had a good run for the last few releases, some think '2 Baddies' was overshadowed by Blackpink's 'Born Pink'. Blackpink becomes the first girl group to get 2 million sales and that too in their first week according to Circle Chart which also considers shipment to retailers. On another chart, the Hanteo Chart it should also be noted that million-sellers NCT 127 reached the 1.54 million mark at the same time as Blackpink.

'A win for women'

With both NCT 127 and Blackpink debuting in the same year as well, them reaching their career peak at the same time had Knetz amused. One commented, "Both groups are at their career high. Congrats congrats." Another said, "Wow they are seriously neck by neck, both are awesome." One added, "Didn't they debut in the same year too?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Seeing how both are at their career high makes me happy."

A multifan said, "Waiting for nct 127 and blackpink interview together at inkigayo." One added, "Blackpink and aespa selling almost like male groups is a win for women." One fan tweeted, "Thanks for saving 2022 girl group music." Another joked, "2022 - kpop girl group era for me slayyyy."

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