On February 24, IVE’s BANG BANG officially achieved a Perfect All-Kill (PAK), meaning it ranked No.1 across all major Korean music charts aggregated by iChart. It is the first K-pop song in 2026 to reach this milestone.
With BANG BANG , IVE now holds 6 songs that have achieved Perfect All-Kill: After LIKE, Kitsch, I AM, Baddie, REBEL HEART, and BANG BANG . This record makes IVE the girl group with the highest number of PAK songs in K-pop history as of February 2026.
The achievement directly counters recent speculation suggesting that the group’s popularity had declined. While their social media virality and trend dominance may not mirror their explosive debut era, IVE remains the most digitally stable fourth-generation girl group in South Korea. Each comeback continues to secure high domestic chart rankings, accompanied by strong album sales and profitable concert tours.
IVE debuted in December 2021 under Starship Entertainment and quickly established themselves as one of Gen 4’s representative acts. Their signature “high-teen” luxury image and accessible pop sound helped them make an immediate impact with their debut single ELEVEN , which earned 13 music show trophies. Subsequent hits such as Love Dive, After LIKE, and I AM topped major charts and won Daesang awards for “Song of the Year” at ceremonies including MAMA, MMA, and Golden Disc Awards within just one year of debut.
The six-member lineup — An Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo — has often been described by Korean media as a “no-visual-hole” group, emphasizing their balanced visuals and striking average height. An Yujin and Jang Wonyoung were previously active in IZ*ONE before re-debuting with IVE, while Liz serves as main vocalist, Gaeul and Rei handle rap positions, and Leeseo remains the youngest member. The lineup has remained unchanged since debut.
Despite strong domestic indicators, IVE has faced criticism regarding their international chart performance compared to peers such as NewJeans or LE SSERAFIM. Some later releases, including Baddie and HEYA , achieved high rankings in Korea but required longer chart climbs than earlier mega-hits. The group has also encountered debates about live vocal stability during encore stages. These factors fueled narratives from critics labeling them as “falling behind” within the Gen 4 girl group race.
In February 2026, IVE returned with their second full-length album REVIVE+ . The pre-release single BANG BANG dropped on February 9 and later became one of the dual title tracks alongside Blackhole when the album officially launched on February 23. The 12-track album includes solo songs previously performed during tour stages.
Musically, BANG BANG marks a stylistic shift. The track blends modern EDM production with a Western Swing-inspired intro, signaling a darker and more mysterious concept compared to their earlier sweet, high-teen aesthetic. Jang Wonyoung participated in writing the lyrics, with additional contributions from Exy of WJSN. The music video maintained high rankings on YouTube’s global trending chart for multiple consecutive days.
Jang Wonyoung continues to maintain exceptional individual recognition. Having debuted publicly in 2018 through Produce 48 before re-debuting with IVE, she now enters her eighth year in the industry. Often referred to as the “K-pop Princess,” Wonyoung consistently ranks No.1 in individual girl group brand reputation rankings and remains a dominant presence in advertising campaigns. Terms such as “Wonyoung-esque” and “Lucky Vicky” have become viral descriptors tied to her polished image and positive mindset branding.
From digital performance metrics and million-selling album figures to individual brand power, current data confirms that IVE remains positioned among the top-tier girl groups in the Korean market. Achieving the first Perfect All-Kill of 2026 with BANG BANG is not merely another trophy — it functions as measurable evidence of sustained domestic dominance in an increasingly saturated K-pop landscape.
Rather than signaling decline, the numbers suggest strategic recalibration. And for a group once branded as “flawless,” the latest milestone serves as a definitive answer to questions about their staying power.
Sources: kenh14