K-Pop Sensation KiiiKiii Hits Number One with ‘404 (New Era)’ – What’s Their Secret?
Daniel Kim Views
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| KiiiKiii / Photo=Starship Entertainment |
[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won] Girl group KiiiKiii — Jiyu, Isol, Sui, Ha-eum and Kiya — scored their first monthly chart No. 1 since debut with the new single 404 (New Era).
On March 12, Circle Chart reported that the title track from the group’s second mini-album Delulu Pack, released Jan. 26, topped both the February monthly digital chart and the streaming chart. The achievement gave KiiiKiii two monthly crowns and marked the first time the act has reached No. 1 on a monthly chart. The group had already demonstrated consistent streaming power by holding both chart positions for three consecutive weeks, from week 7 through week 9.
The single has continued to climb across major domestic platforms. 404 (New Era) is maintaining top-tier positions on Melon, Bugs, Genie, Vibe, Flo, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Spotify Korea, laying the groundwork for sustained success.
The group’s international traction is notable as well. KiiiKiii appeared on Billboard’s Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) chart for four straight weeks, and the March 4 Billboard Japan chart shows the group entering multiple rankings, including Hot Albums, Artist 100 and Heatseekers Songs — signaling expanding global reach.
Musically, 404 (New Era) pairs a hooky blend of UK house and garage with the members’ varied vocal textures and rap sections. KiiiKiii creatively reinterprets the web error code “404” as a concept of freedom outside coordinates, a playful framing that has resonated with Gen Z listeners. That reinterpretation helped spawn a 404 (New Era) challenge involving artists and creators across platforms; the track has been widely used as background music on social media, and its reaching-hand choreography has circulated as a meme, amplifying the song’s presence beyond traditional channels.
The track reached No. 1 on Melon’s TOP100 chart just 16 days after release — the first song released this year to do so — and then held the weekly No. 1 spot for two consecutive weeks. Onstage, KiiiKiii claimed three music-show wins with 404 (New Era), and the group topped March 2026’s rookie idol-group brand reputation rankings, further fueling the so-called “Gen-Zmi” phenomenon.
KiiiKiii plans to keep engaging fans with a steady stream of activities and new content.
[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won ent@stoo.com]
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