K-pop Comeback Watch: BOYNEXTDOOR’s “HOME” Surpasses 1 Million Sales in First Week as “Reborn Rookie” Plot Turns Tense

K-pop’s newest comeback cycle is moving fast. According to Soompi, BOYNEXTDOOR’s first full-length album “HOME” has already crossed the 1 million-copy mark within its first week of release, while JTBC’s “Reborn Rookie” teased a fresh twist in its revenge-driven storyline featuring Lee Jun Young and Jeon Hye Jin. Together, the updates underscore how quickly music and TV audiences are shifting attention in Korea’s entertainment ecosystem.

BOYNEXTDOOR hits a million-seller milestone with “HOME”

BOYNEXTDOOR released “HOME” and its title track “VIRAL” on June 8, and just four days later—by June 12—Soompi reports that Hanteo Chart announced sales of over 1 million copies. The article frames this as a rapid early momentum indicator, with “HOME” becoming BOYNEXTDOOR’s third album to reach the milestone within its first week.

The same report also notes that “HOME” is BOYNEXTDOOR’s fourth consecutive album to surpass 1 million sales overall. That pattern suggests sustained fan demand rather than a one-off surge tied to a single comeback.

Chart dominance extends beyond South Korea

“HOME” didn’t just perform well on local sales tracking—it also showed strong streaming visibility. Soompi says the album held the No. 1 spot on Apple Music’s Top Albums charts for four days (from June 9 to 12) in both South Korea and Taiwan. The coverage further claims the album reached the top 10 in 11 regions.

In Japan, the album’s performance was described as similarly top-tier. It debuted at No. 1 on Oricon’s daily album chart and remained at the top for two consecutive days. For many K-pop acts, Oricon placement is a key signal of broader market penetration, and BOYNEXTDOOR’s early run indicates their comeback is resonating with international listeners soon after release.

“Reborn Rookie” sets up a sharper rivalry—then shifts it

On the TV side, Soompi also previewed an upcoming change in character dynamics for JTBC’s “Reborn Rookie”. The series centers on Kang Yong Ho (played by Son Hyun Joo), the chairman of a major conglomerate, whose life is upended after an accident causes a soul swap. He ends up in the body of a younger soccer player, Hwang Jun Hyun (played by Lee Jun Young), forcing him to begin again as a rookie employee at his own company.

In the latest arc highlighted in the preview, Kang Yong Ho—now occupying his younger self’s body—is furious over what he believes is a betrayal by his eldest children, including Kang Jae Gyeong (played by Jeon Hye Jin) and Kang Jae Seong (played by Jin Goo). Convinced the siblings framed him for a hit-and-run and attempted to kill him, he pursues revenge and tries to stop them from inheriting Choiseong Group.

A relationship “turn” raises stakes for the next episode

The drama’s tension is expected to rise further as the story moves into a crisis point. In the preview, Kang Yong Ho’s bold actions—carrying out revenge in a younger body—lead to an unexpected problem when Kang Jae Gyeong follows Hwang Jun Hyun and becomes suspicious after seeing him racing. However, newly released stills suggest a significant shift: Kang Jae Gyeong’s demeanor toward Hwang Jun Hyun changes from suspicion to need.

Instead of the sharp, distrustful gaze seen earlier, the preview indicates she reaches for him and asks for help in a nearly pleading posture. The article frames this as a key narrative pivot: the adversarial dynamic may be softening, but for what reason—and whether it’s temporary or strategic—remains the suspense driver for the next episode.

“Reborn Rookie” airs the next episode on June 13 at 10:40 p.m. KST, according to Soompi, and viewers will now likely focus on whether Kang Jae Gyeong’s shift signals genuine vulnerability, manipulation, or a new layer of the revenge plot.

What to watch next

For BOYNEXTDOOR, the immediate watch item is whether “HOME” sustains its early trajectory beyond its first week. With the album already confirmed as a multi-album million-seller milestone in Hanteo’s tracking, attention may shift to longer-term performance—how long it can remain strong on major charts and whether streaming dominance translates into continued physical sales.

For “Reborn Rookie,” the key question is narrative: the stills hint at a new alliance or an urgent, high-stakes request—yet the core conflict remains unresolved. As the plot adjusts the power dynamics between Jeon Hye Jin’s character and Lee Jun Young’s, viewers will be looking for how quickly the drama reintroduces betrayal (or reveals it was never what it seemed).