[세계일보=추영준 기자] Another superstar girl group has been born. I’m talking about BLACKPINK, a four-member group comprised of JISOO, JENNIE, ROSÉ, and LISA.

YG Entertainment officially launched BLACKPINK on August 8, and in just a month, the group has proved that it is a force to be reckoned with.

Even before its debut, BLACKPINK received much spotlight and was dubbed a “monster rookie” and “the next 2NE1”.

BLACKPINK had done promotions for its debut singles “WHISTLE” and “BOOMBAYAH” for a month before rounding them off with a TV appearance on SBS’s Inkigayo on September 11. Then, what score should we give to BLACKPINK for its performance during the four weeks after its debut?

Of course BLACKPINK had an advantage from the get go because the group is backed up by a huge management agency, but nevertheless, they get an A+.

When BLACKPINK became no.1 on Inkigayo in just two weeks after its debut, YG CEO YANG HYUN SUK wrote in his Instagram page, “Congratulations! I’m so proud that the six years you have practiced were not for nothing.” He must have given BLACKPINK top scores too.

Although it is only a rookie, BLACKPINK set numerous new records in just a month, demonstrating that it is on its way to becoming a mega star.

BLACKPINK is YG’s first girl group in seven years after 2NE1, and it only made appearances in SBS. However, the response was phenomenal not only within Korea but also around the whole world.

BLACKPINK was in the spotlight even before its debut. The group’s dance practice video posted more than four million views. The members also became fashion icons as they were chosen as models for cosmetic products and fashion items.

BLACKPINK’s “WHISTLE” achieved a grand slam topping the realtime, daily, weekly charts of Korea’s eight major music streaming websites. In August, the song also became no.1 on Gaon’s digital, download, streaming, and mobile charts.

BLACKPINK is also popular overseas. It has become no.1 on the iTunes chart in 14 countries, no.7 on UK Amazon’s Rap & Hiphop and Hot New Release charts, and no.1 on QQ Music’s weekly, most popular, music video, and K-Pop music video charts. This is not something that a rookie can easily achieve.

It is not an exaggeration to say that BLACKPINK has achieved everything that begins with “the first” and “the most”. It is the girl group that became no.1 on a national TV music show in the shortest time since debut, which for BLACKPINK was 14 days.

BLACKPINK is also the first girl group that took the top two spots of Billboard’s World Digital Song chart, in the shortest time at that.

The music video of “BOOMBAYAH” and “WHISTLE” surpassed 66 million views combined as of 12 PM on September 15.

“WHISTLE” and “BOOMBAYAH”, the title tracks of BLACKPINK’s debut album “SQUARE ONE”, each posted 30,013,921 and 36,283,063 views on Youtube, and the view counts are just going up.

Recently, BLACKPINK also made it on the Rolling Stone’s 10 Artists You Need To Know list.

The magazine wrote, “YG Entertainment’s new girl group, are on the verge of breaking with a unique fusion of bubblegum pop and hard-hitting hip-hop.”

It added, “Each member of the group underwent a rigorous training process anywhere from four to six years before the group debuted this summer. The group had been teased over the years before finally releasing the two-song Square One EP.”

After making a successful debut, members of BLACKPINK are working day and night to prepare for their next single, not even taking a breaking during the Chuseok holiday. I’m so looking forward to seeing them on stage with their new single.

2016. 9. 17.