Rookie girl group A2O Lite have set a new record with their debut single “NEON,” reaching number one on the MelOn TOP100 in just 29 hours.

A2O LITE is one of two new groups under SM Entertainment-founder Lee Soo-man’s agency A2O Entertainment. The nine-member girl group debuted on October 12 with the single “NEON,” alongside the 15-member boy group A2O SOUL and their single “SUPERSTAR.” Both songs were showcased for the first time during a joint debut showcase titled <WELCOME TO SOULITE From A2O SOUL A2O LITE>.

Following A2O LITE’s first performance, clips of the group and the electronic, dance-pop track appeared across social media and quickly garnered attention. Fans have been praising the fun, easy-listening nature of the song itself, as well as the live vocals of the members and the sharp dance skills they possess only one day into their careers as artists. Within a few hours, that attention had transferred to streaming platforms.

“NEON” entered the TOP100 chart of Korea’s domestic platform MelOn at number 77 on Tuesday evening. By the next morning the song had climbed to number 10, and it continued climbing throughout the day until it overtook i-dle SOYEON’s “I’m gonna TOESA (feat. Kian84)” at 11pm to sit in the top spot – just 29 hours after the song’s release.

The time frame in which the song climbed to number one has set a new record for a K-pop debut, “NEON” becoming the fastest debut song to reach number one on MelOn since the chart was revamped in 2021. The previous record was set by ALLDAY PROJECT last year, whose debut single “FAMOUS” took three days to reach number one. Remarkably, A2O achieved their number one in less than half of that time.

Notably, in doing so the girl group also surpassed NewJeans’ 2022 debut song “Attention.” NewJeans are considered one of the most influential girl groups within the fourth and fifth generation of K-pop, having led the early-2000s/Y2K trend. They skyrocketed to fame immediately upon debuting, with “Attention” reaching that top spot on the MelOn TOP100 in eight days – the fastest for any girl group besides A2O LITE. Other popular debuts A2O have surpassed include ILLIT’s “Magnetic,” which took 10 days, and KiiiKiii’s “404 (New Era)”, which took 15.

The achievement marks a promising start for A2O LITE, particularly in the domestic market. It places them alongside – and, briefly, ahead of – numerous established and emerging acts, from popular groups like NewJeans to recent fifth-generation debuts. These artists have built their profiles through successive releases, establishing a foothold in the mainstream over time. A2O LITE’s viral debut gives the group an early platform to build on, introducing their name to a wider audience and drawing attention to their future activities.

Although “NEON” moved to No. 6 by Thursday morning as SOYEON’s “I’m gonna TOESA (feat. Kian84)” reclaimed the top position, A2O LITE’s brief run at No. 1 remains a notable milestone for the emerging group. The strong debut has already introduced them to a wider audience, giving them a solid foundation to build on as they establish their identity and develop their sound. With the attention surrounding Lee Soo-man’s return bringing further visibility to the group, their upcoming activities will offer an opportunity to build on this early momentum and demonstrate their potential for continued growth.

“NEON” by A2O LITE is available to stream and download on global music platforms, and a music video for the song is also available on YouTube.