K-Pop — Entry No. 0853
1위
number-one · noun
1위
number-one
[il-way]
nounbeginner
Meaning
Number one or first place, particularly referring to claiming the top position on music charts. Achieving ‘1위’ is the ultimate validation for K-Pop artists and sparks celebrations across fandoms, social media, and fan communities nationwide.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
When BTS achieved ‘1위’ on the Billboard Hot 100, it was a historic moment dominating global headlines. BLACKPINK winning ‘1위’ on Melon is considered a major victory, while NewJeans and aespa consistently battle for chart dominance. Korean fans use ‘1위’ as the primary metric for determining a group’s current success.
Example Sentences
우리 그룹이 드디어 1위를 했어!
uri geulup-i deutie-eo il-wi-reul hae-sseo!
Our group finally got #1! (celebratory announcement of chart achievement).
1위를 3주 연속으로 유지하는 것은 정말 인상적이다.
il-wi-reul se-ju yeon-sok-eu-ro yu-ji-ha-neun geot-eun jeong-mal in-sang-jeog-i-da.
Holding #1 for 3 consecutive weeks is truly impressive (sustained dominance).
멜론 1위는 음악계의 최고 영예다.
melon il-wi-neun eumag-gye-ui choe-go yeong-ye-da.
A #1 on Melon is the highest honor in music industry (ultimate validation).
⚠️ Don’t use number-one when…
Different charts measure success differently—#1 on one chart doesn’t guarantee #1 on another. Not all first places are equally prestigious.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: Squid Game — Characters compete for hierarchical positions reflecting Korean culture’s focus on ranking.
- K-Pop: BTS — ‘Dynamite’ became historic #1 on Billboard Hot 100, breaking Korean artist barriers globally.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.