BTS become first K-pop boy group to cross 1 billion views with ‘DNA’

BTS continue their record-breaking streak with ‘DNA’, which just crossed 1.2 billion views and made them the first K-pop boy group to do so.

The biggest band in the world has done it again! Yes, breaking records must be as easy as breathing for BTS now, but major achievements are still worth celebrating. And boy, this one is it!

‘DNA’, the title track off of BTS’ album Love Yourself: Her, has now become the first K-pop boy group music video to cross 1.2 billion views. With this, BTS have joined BLACKPINK and PSY as the only three Korean acts in history to have recorded upwards of 1 billion views on the platform.

‘DNA’ is often credited as the song that kicked off BTS’ mainstream popularity in the West. While the group had consistently been cropping up in music conversations beyond South Korea — thanks to the artsy extravaganza of ‘Blood, Sweat & Tears’ — it was ‘DNA’ that prefaced the phenomenon that BTS would eventually become.

In 2017, the septet performed the track at the 2017 American Music Awards, their US television debut. Now, after having topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart thrice, it seems forgotten news, but ‘DNA’ was also BTS’ first song to enter the chart. Peaking at No. 67, they surpassed their seniors Wonder Girls, who were the first Korean act to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 76.

It also proved to be a major global milestone for BTS. It became the first BTS track to chart on the UK Singles Chart, coming in at No. 90. In Australia, the song peaked at No. 99 on the ARIA Charts, and was later certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association, having sold an equivalent of 35,000 units.

It’s been a while since we last saw them perform the song, but one can hope it makes the setlist for the BTS’ upcoming set on MTV Unplugged, set to air on February 23rd.