FML (EP)
FML is the tenth extended play (EP) by South Korean boy band Seventeen. It was released on April 24, 2023, by Pledis Entertainment through YG Plus, with "F*ck My Life" and "Super" serving as the EP's double lead singles.
Prior to release, FML became the second most-preordered album in South Korean history, with 4.64 million preorders.[1] Per Pledis and album distributor YG Plus, combined sales of all versions of FML surpassed 6.2 million copies in July 2023, marking a first for an album by a K-pop artist.[2] It won Album of the Year at the 2023 MAMA Awards.
Background and release[edit]
On March 10, 2023, Pledis Entertainment confirmed that Seventeen would be releasing a new album in April, nine months after the release of their reissue Sector 17.[3] On March 31, the label announced the release of the group's EP FML on April 24.[4][5] On April 3, the track list was revealed, consisting of six songs and two lead singles; FML marked the group's first release to have two lead singles. "F*ck My Life" was the first lead single to be unveiled.[6][7] On April 4, the EP's promotional schedule was posted.[8][9] Three sets of concept photos were released the following week, with the official group photo for FML and last set of concept photos released on April 15.[10][11][12] The name of the second lead single, "Super", was announced on April 18.[13][14] The highlight medley was released on April 20.[15]
Commercial performance[edit]
FML was pre-ordered 4.64 million times, becoming the most pre-ordered album in South Korean history at the time, breaking the record set by BTS' Map of the Soul: 7 in 2020.[16] In May 2023, this was surpassed by Stray Kids' 5-Star.[17]
On South Korea's Hanteo Chart, FML sold 3.99 million copies in its first day alone, breaking chart records for the most first-day and first-week sales.[18][19] It sold 4,550,214 physical copies worldwide in its first week[20] and became the first K-pop album to surpass 6 million copies sold.[2]
FML debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 135,000 album-equivalent units, with 132,000 of that figure being pure sales.[21] It is Seventeen's third US top-10 release.[21]
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)'s Global Music Report for 2023, FML was the most-consumed album across all formats, and the best-selling album worldwide, having sold 6.4 million units.[A][22][23]