Meet CORTIS: HYBE's New 'Monster Rookie' Group Dominating Global Charts

The K-pop world has a new heavyweight contender, and they go by the name CORTIS (코르티스). As the first boy group to debut under HYBE’s powerhouse label BIGHIT MUSIC in years, the quintet—comprising Martin, James, Juhun, Seonghyun, and Geonho—has shattered expectations, proving they are the industry’s next “monster rookie.”

In just a month since their debut, CORTIS has achieved a rare “multi-hit” phenomenon, with three different songs from their debut album, ‘COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,’ topping Spotify’s ‘Daily Viral Song Global’ chart. This chart is a key indicator of global buzz, as it tracks songs that are seeing a rapid spike in plays and shares.

A Triple Crown on Spotify

The viral wave started with their powerful title track, ‘What You Want,’ which held the #1 spot on the global viral chart for a full week (Sept 1-7). It was quickly followed by the energetic intro track, ‘GO!,’ which also claimed the top position.

Most recently, the B-side track ‘FaSHioN’ took its turn at the top, hitting #1 for two consecutive days (Sept 22-23). The song also performed strongly in key markets, charting at #3 on the U.S. Viral Song chart and #7 in Japan. As if that weren’t enough, another B-side, ‘JoyRide,’ climbed to #4, showcasing the album’s widespread appeal. For a rookie group to have multiple B-sides go viral alongside a title track is an extraordinary achievement.

Smashing Billboard and Domestic Chart Records

CORTIS’s “music power” extends well beyond Spotify. Their debut album made an incredible debut at #15 on the Billboard 200, the main U.S. album chart. This is the highest-charting debut album for a K-pop group in history, excluding special project groups.

Their domestic success is just as impressive. The album sold over 500,000 copies in its first month, according to Hanteo Chart data. Meanwhile, the song ‘GO!’ became the first track from a 2025 debut boy group to break into the Melon Daily Chart, a major milestone in the competitive Korean music market. It also dominated Apple Music Korea’s ‘Today’s Top 100,’ holding the #1 spot for three straight days.

This blend of global virality and domestic chart dominance signals that CORTIS is not just a flash in the pan. They are a formidable new force in K-pop, and the world is clearly paying attention.

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Key Korean K-Pop Terms in This Article

1. 괴물 신인 (Goemul Sin-in)

   • Pronunciation: Gweh-mool Shin-in
   • Meaning: “Monster Rookie.” A term for a new artist or group that achieves exceptional, “monstrous” success right from their debut.

2. 수록곡 (Surokgok)

   • Pronunciation: Soo-rok-gok
   • Meaning: A “B-side” track. Any song on an album that is not the main title track. CORTIS’s viral B-sides like ‘FaSHioN’ and ‘JoyRide’ are great examples.

3. 역주행 (Yeokjuhaeng)

   • Pronunciation: Yeok-joo-haeng
   • Meaning: Literally “driving in reverse.” In K-pop, it refers to a “sleeper hit” – a song that climbs back up the music charts long after its initial release, often due to a viral moment.

4. 음원 파워 (Eumwon Pawo)

   • Pronunciation: Eum-won Pa-wo
   • Meaning: “Music Source Power.” This refers to an artist’s digital charting strength and their ability to consistently perform well on streaming platforms and music charts.

5. 한터차트 (Hanteo Chart)

   • Pronunciation: Han-teo Cha-teu
   • Meaning: Hanteo Chart. A major South Korean music chart that tracks real-time physical album sales from certified stores. It’s a key metric for measuring an artist’s album sales and fandom size.