Inspired by a traditional Korean drinking game, BLACKPINK’s Rosé has taken the music world by storm with her latest single, APT. (Apartment), featuring pop icon Bruno Mars.
Released on October 18, the song’s addictive chorus and star-studded collaboration have propelled it to the top of both domestic and international charts. In Korea, APT. achieved a “perfect all-kill,” topping real-time, daily, and top 100 charts on music platforms like Melon, Genie, Bugs, and Vibe.
As of October 22, it ranked No. 1 on Spotify’s Global Top 50, as well as in over ten countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Rosé has made history as the first Korean female solo artist to top the Spotify chart.
The music video, featuring a pink backdrop with Rosé and Bruno Mars singing, dancing, and playing games, surpassed 100 million views by October 23, just five days after its release. In the video, Bruno Mars waves a South Korean flag and playfully reacts to a cheek kiss from Rosé.
Social media platforms like YouTube Shorts and TikTok are flooded with videos of international fans attempting to pronounce the song’s title, APT., in a Korean-style English accent. Global pop star Charlie Puth also posted a TikTok video repeatedly saying “Apa-tu,” humorously noting, “It’s stuck in my head forever.” Additionally, during Bruno Mars’ Brazil concert on the 20th, fans were seen singing along to APT.
Rosé shared through her agency, the Black Label, that the idea for the song came while she was introducing the “Apartment Game,” one of her favorite Korean drinking games, to her staff during a studio session. The collaboration with Bruno Mars naturally followed, leading to the completion of the track.
Upon reaching the 100 million view milestone, she expressed her gratitude, saying, “This was just a fun song inspired by a game I enjoyed playing with friends, and I’m truly touched that so many people are listening to and enjoying it.”
Music critic Lim Hee-yoon praised the collaboration, noting that the song’s use of “Konglish” (Korean-English) with the participation of a global pop star highlights K-pop’s growing influence. He also pointed out the song’s catchy, nostalgic melody, reminiscent of 1980s hits like Toni Basil’s Mickey.
The song’s success has also reignited interest in Yoon Soo-il’s classic hit APT. from 1982. Yoon commented on the renewed attention during an interview on MBC Radio, saying, “I’ve heard that my song is gaining traction again thanks to Rosé and Bruno Mars’ APT., and I think it’s fantastic that the same theme is resonating globally.”
BY JEEYOUNG HWANG, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
