Virtual idol group PLAVE is proving they’re more than just digital characters—they’re taking over the global music scene!

On February 19, Billboard revealed its latest rankings, and PLAVE’s title track "Dash" from their third mini-album Caligo Pt.1 made its debut at No. 195 on the Global 200 chart.

With this, PLAVE has officially become the first virtual idol group to enter the chart, marking a major milestone in K-pop history.

The Billboard Global Chart ranks songs based on streaming and digital sales from over 200 regions worldwide, including the U.S.

The fact that a virtual group has made it onto such a prestigious chart highlights PLAVE’s massive international appeal.

Ever since its release on February 3, Caligo Pt.1 has been dominating music platforms. "Dash" quickly rose to the top of domestic streaming charts like Melon, while PLAVE’s monthly listeners on Spotify doubled within just two weeks, showing their rapid rise in popularity.

PLAVE’s comeback has been making waves not just in streaming numbers but also in album sales and music show performances. Their latest release expands their musical style and emotional depth, raising even more excitement for their future projects.

This marks PLAVE’s first comeback in five months, following their digital single "Pump Up The Volume!". The group continues to impress by actively participating in songwriting, composing, choreography, and production, proving their skills as a self-produced idol group.

Upon release, all five tracks from Caligo Pt.1—"Dash," "RIZZ," "Chroma Drift," "12:32 (A to T)," and "Island"—swept the top spots on domestic charts, further cementing PLAVE’s status as one of the most talked-about acts in K-pop right now.

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Lee Jun Young recently opened up about the emotional toll of playing a villain—and how one powerful scene made him break down in tears behind the scenes.

On the May 1st episode of KBS 2TV’s variety show Problem Child in House, Lee Jun Young appeared alongside co-star Jung Eun Ji to promote their new KBS drama Pump Up the Healthy Love.

During the show, Lee Jun Young was asked about the most unforgettable villain he’s played. He chose his role as Han Su Gang in the film Brave Citizen.

He explained, “It was really tough to film. I had to act like I was leading school violence, and there was even a scene where I bullied a grandmother.”

The hosts were surprised, pointing out how kind and gentle he seems in real life. Lee Jun Young shared how he transforms for such roles.

“I try to act as bad as I can, but sometimes the director says, ‘You still look too nice.’ Then I focus even harder and adjust right away.”

He also revealed that filming one particular scene hit him hard emotionally. “My real grandmother was sick at the time,” he said.

“In one scene, there’s a grandma selling gimbap, and I ad-libbed by stubbing a cigarette out on the gimbap. I was really into character, but after filming, I just broke down. So many thoughts came to me and I started crying.”

Fans praised his dedication to acting but also felt moved by how deeply the role affected him. Lee Jun Young’s honesty gave a raw look at how even fictional roles can hit close to home.

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