LE SSERAFIM and Spotify streaming success continue as their song “Smart” surpasses 300 million streams. Despite strong international chart performance, some Korean communities express concerns about competition from newer groups. Fans argue that LE SSERAFIM remains a top group, pointing to Billboard Hot 100 entries and increasing popularity.
LE SSERAFIM Streaming Success on Spotify
LE SSERAFIM’s hit song Smart surpassed 300 million streams on Spotify, the world’s largest music streaming platform. According to Spotify’s latest data on the 9th, Smart, a track from their third mini-album released in February last year, recorded 300,024,254 streams as of the 6th. This achievement makes it the group’s fourth song to surpass 300 million streams, following ANTIFRAGILE (500 million+), Perfect Night (400 million+), and FEARLESS (300 million+). The song expresses LE SSERAFIM’s ambition to become winners through intelligence and keen insight.
The music video for Smart has also gained significant traction, accumulating approximately 137.6 million views as of 6 AM on the same day. Beyond this milestone, LE SSERAFIM holds a total of 12 songs with over 100 million streams on Spotify, further solidifying their global presence.
Upcoming Mini-Album and Promotional Activities
LE SSERAFIM is set to release their fifth mini-album, HOT, on the 14th at 1 PM. This album is the final installment of a trilogy that includes EASY (third mini-album) and CRAZY (fourth mini-album). It consists of five tracks that showcase their passionate attitude toward love and life.
To celebrate the album’s release, LE SSERAFIM will launch a pop-up store. The LE SSERAFIM 2025 S/S POP UP – THE HOT HOUSE will open at PLATZ2 in Seongsu-dong from the 14th to the 23rd. Additionally, another pop-up will be held at the 9SY Building in Shibuya, Tokyo, from the 17th to the 30th, emphasizing the group’s expanding influence in Japan.
Korean Community Reactions to LE SSERAFIM and Spotify Success
Despite their strong global presence, some Korean online communities have expressed skepticism about LE SSERAFIM’s current status. A post on Nate Pann suggested that the group is struggling, despite having strong music, choreography, and visuals. Critics argue that the emergence of fifth-generation girl groups is making it harder for LE SSERAFIM to maintain dominance. Some also pointed out their weaker performance on Melon charts as a sign of decline.
However, fans strongly refuted these claims. They highlighted that LE SSERAFIM is the only K-pop girl group to chart on the Billboard HOT 100 in 2024. EASY ranked at No. 99, while CRAZY reached No. 76, proving their continued relevance. Additionally, members like Kazuha and Eunchae are gaining increasing popularity among female fans, countering the notion that the group is struggling.
Billboard Recognition and Overcoming Criticism
LE SSERAFIM’s continued success contradicts claims that they are facing difficulties. Fans argue that the sheer volume of online criticism is evidence of their top-tier status, as only major groups attract such intense discussion. The two most common criticisms against LE SSERAFIM have been accusations of being pro-Japanese and concerns about their vocal skills.
However, the pro-Japanese controversy arose mainly because Sakura and Kazuha are Japanese. As South Korea-Japan relations improve, this issue has become less relevant. Meanwhile, the vocal skills debate is diminishing as the group consistently achieves strong results on international charts. While a small group of Korean detractors continues to leave negative comments, global fans widely recognize and support LE SSERAFIM.
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Le sserafim bringing vogue and EDM house to kpop, something not often used in kpop. Queens of bringing new things and different styles and genres to each release, this just makes me more of a fan.