The group Aespa, having embarked on a journey in the real world after leaving their 'wilderness' concept, has once again demonstrated their powerful impact.

On May 8, Aespa made a triumphant return after 10 months with their third mini-album 'MY WORLD'. They not only graced music shows with performances of the title track 'Spicy' and a variety of other album songs, but also completed their comeback week by actively appearing on variety shows and various web content.

As of May 15, one week after their comeback, the news broke that the album sales had surpassed 1.69 million copies in the first week according to Hanteo Chart. This sets a new record for first week sales by an SM Entertainment artist and a K-pop girl group.

Following their previous album 'Girls' released last July, Aespa secured the 'million seller' title again, showcasing their remarkable prowess in both album and digital music sales, even dominating the top spots on various music charts.

What makes Aespa's achievement more significant is that it comes after a 10-month hiatus. Their comeback had originally been scheduled for February with their first full album. However, conflicts between SM Entertainment management and founder Lee Soo-man, along with directions not fitting the team's image, such as tree planting and ESG projection, led to delays in their comeback.

Despite this, Aespa unveiled 11 new songs during their first solo concert planned after the comeback. After a lengthy hiatus, the longest since their debut, Aespa returned to captivate the public with various changes and attempts that differed from their past.

Aespa, who battled 'Black Mamba' in the wilderness since their debut, is now unfolding a new worldview in the 'real world'. Leaving behind their complex universe, they attempted a more populist change and completed a hot yet refreshing 'spicy' high teen concept unique to Aespa.

Their title track 'Spicy' also showcased a new atmosphere that differed from the intense music they had previously released, highlighting the individuality of the members. The performance on stage was also significantly different from their previous title tracks, shooting straight into the hearts of K-pop fans with a more uninhibited and young energy.

They have not lost their identity as a 'metaverse group'. The pre-released song 'Welcome to My World' featured Naëvis, a helper from their universe, and 'Spicy' teasers and music videos naturally expanded into 'Universe Season 2' by capturing 'anomalies' happening to Aespa in the real world.

From their debut song 'Black Mamba' to 'Next Level' and 'Savage', Aespa proved their undying impact with their long-awaited comeback. Especially showing that the drastically changed universe and concept also work, they heightened expectations for the musical world they will continue to unfold.

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