After 20 years, LE SSERAFIM Sets a Record: Tops Oricon Annual 'Rookie Ranking' in Japan
The group LE SSERAFIM (Kim Chaewon, Sakura, Heo Yoonjin, Kazuha, Hong Eunchae) has achieved a remarkable feat in Japan.
According to the 'Oricon Annual Ranking 2023' in Japan released on January 5th (calculated from December 12, 2022, to December 10, 2023), LE SSERAFIM secured the top spot in the 'Rookie Ranking' category for artist sales.
Oricon explained, "LE SSERAFIM achieved sales of 2.12 billion yen (approximately 19.3 billion won) during the calculation period. This is the first time in 20 years that a female group has surpassed 2 billion yen in sales in the 'Rookie Ranking' category since 2003." The 'Rookie Ranking,' established in 1969, ranks artists based on the combined sales of singles, albums, streaming, music DVDs, and more. Considering that the group's overall achievements in Japan last year, including their first solo tour that drew a total of 60,000 attendees and various performances and advertisement fees, have not been fully accounted for, it is predicted that their actual impact in Japan is even greater.
Analyzing LE SSERAFIM's sales in the 'Rookie Ranking,' streaming accounted for 49%, singles for 31%, albums for 18%, and downloads for 2%. Both digital and physical formats were equally loved by fans. According to the Oricon ranking, their mini-album's title track 'ANTIFRAGILE' in April and debut album's title track 'FEARLESS' in May surpassed 100 million streams each. Moreover, their first full-length album's title track 'UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile Rodgers)' and the track 'Eve, Psyche, and the Wife with the Blue Beard' achieved a cumulative play count of 100 million within six months of release, marking a series of successful hits.


Written by Mun Wan Sik
Translated by Lee So Yun