SEOUL, South Korea: ATEEZ has strengthened its global rise with the release of “Golden Hour: Part.5,” an album that topped the Billboard 200 while its lead single, “Bad,” became a viral hit across social media. The group’s latest comeback has attracted millions of viewers, with member San’s choreography turning into one of K-pop’s biggest online moments of the year.
Golden Hour: Part 5 will release on June 26, the group’s 14th EP continues the series and highlights ATEEZ‘s willingness to explore new musical styles. The album mixes Latin inspired rhythms, Brazilian funk and smooth R&B while showing the group’s continued artistic growth.
While on the other hand the title track, “Bad,” immediately caught listeners’ attention with its energetic sound and powerful performance. While some music critics praised its fresh production, others felt the repeated “bad, bad, bad” lyrics were less effective. Despite mixed opinions about the lyrics, the song quickly became one of the group’s most talked about releases.
The group’s success extends beyond music charts, the official music video for “Bad” has attracted nearly 30 million views on YouTube, while the EP debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking another major achievement for the eight member group.
Much of the online attention has focused on member San, whose sharp chest-popping dance move in the music video quickly spread across X, TikTok, Instagram reels and YouTube shorts. millions of users shared clips, reaction videos and edits, making the performance one of the most replayed moments in the video.
The viral choreography reached audiences beyond ATEEZ’s dedicated fan base, known as ATINY. Dancers, content creators and casual viewers praised San’s athletic performance, confident stage presence and precise movements. Fans also shared thousands of comments describing the choreography as one of the year’s most memorable K-pop performances.
The dance has even reached the sports world. During the 2026 KBO Futures League All Star Game, Kiwoom Heroes player Son Him-chan recreated San’s signature move, showing how widely the performance has spread beyond the music industry.
With chart success, strong reviews and a growing global audience, “Golden Hour: Part.5” continues ATEEZ’s momentum as one of K-pop’s leading acts, while “Bad” proves the group’s ability to create music and performances that resonate far beyond its fan community.
