Kep1er is making waves in the global music scene! The girl group entered the Billboard 200 chart for the first time with their 6th mini-album TIPI-TAP, securing the 147th spot and proving their growing influence in the U.S. market.

This achievement marks Kep1er’s most notable milestone yet, highlighting their steady rise on the global stage. It's even more meaningful as this is their first release as a restructured seven-member group, signaling a fresh start and a bright new chapter for the team. Landing on the Billboard 200 is a huge accomplishment, showing the group's strong international appeal and popularity.

Not only did Kep1er break into the Billboard 200, but they also soared on several other charts this week. They jumped from No. 35 to No. 7 on the Top Album Sales chart and climbed from No. 28 to No. 7 on the Top Current Album Sales chart. On the Heatseekers Albums chart, which highlights rising artists, they shot up from No. 21 to an impressive No. 2. Similarly, they moved from No. 14 to No. 2 on the Emerging Artists chart, and their position on the World Albums chart rose from No. 11 to No. 4, showcasing their popularity across various regions.

Kep1er’s growth was also evident in Luminate data. On the Top New Artist Albums chart, they climbed to the top spot, rising from No. 2 the previous week. They also showed strength in the digital space, moving up from No. 11 to No. 3 on the Internet Albums chart.

Their latest album is resonating not only through physical sales but also through strong streaming and individual track performances. On the Top Albums w/TEA chart, which combines album sales, track sales, and streaming data, Kep1er landed at No. 7, proving the balanced popularity of both their album and its songs.

This week’s Billboard performance reflects Kep1er’s growing global fandom and solid musical competitiveness. With major jumps across multiple charts, they are proving their potential for long-term success. Fans everywhere are eager to see what’s next for Kep1er as they continue to shine on the international stage!

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IU recently revealed that she watched her own concert film in a public theater, but shockingly, no one recognized her—even when she dropped a hint!

On February 27, a new video featuring IU was released, showing her inside a car on her way to Daejeon.

She excitedly shared, “This is a surprise stage greeting for UAENA! I picked this location through a ladder game when I did stage greetings.”

Previously, IU had let fate decide which city she would visit after her stage greetings. She happily said, “There are UAENAs everywhere I go. Wherever I go, it's a flowery path.” The game ultimately led her to Daejeon.

IU originally hoped to explore the city, saying, “I wanted to visit Daejeon's pride, Sung Sim Dang, and walk around, but my team said it wouldn’t be possible. The lines are too long, and it’s freezing outside.” She sighed, adding, “So, things turned out this way.”

Dressed up for the occasion, IU smiled, saying, “I don’t get to meet UAENAs in Daejeon often, so I wanted to make a surprise appearance looking my best.”

She also joked about enjoying surprise events, adding, “As long as Hanteo oppa drives me safely, I’m happy.”

But what really caught fans' attention was IU’s unexpected confession—she had secretly watched her concert film in a theater, but no one noticed her! “No one recognized me at all. There weren’t that many people, and it was a weekday… but still! I even gave a hint!” she said, sounding both amused and surprised.

Later, when IU finally appeared at the theater, her fans were overwhelmed with emotion. Some even burst into tears, prompting her to gently say, “You really didn’t expect me to come, right?”

After wrapping up her stage greeting, IU laughed at herself, saying, “Wait, did I just do a 40-minute one-woman show? I must have talked so much.”

On her way back to Seoul, IU reflected on the day, sharing, “It was so cold today. I shook hands with all the UAENAs. My hands are usually cold, and since the weather was freezing, I think I made a lot of people’s hands cold, too. But after touching so many warm hands, mine became warm, too. I still haven’t washed them.”

Her love for her fans truly knows no bounds!

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