A new day is just another opportunity for Stray Kids to break yet another record. On Tuesday (July 19), Billboard revealed that the K-pop group, with the steadfast assistance of STAY, won the 2022 Fan Army Face-Off, fending off everyone from Ariana Grande to Cardi B and Beyoncé to BTS.
The Fan Army Face-Off triumph comes on the heels of what has already been a majorly successful year for the young group. In March, the K-pop stars scored their first entry on the Billboard 200 with the arrival of Oddinary at No. 1. Featuring lead single “Maniac,” Oddinary helped Stray Kids become the third Korean act in history (following BTS and Super M) to top the Billboard 200. “Maniac” also spurred the group’s first appearance on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 (No. 19) and became the group’s second No. 1 on the World Digital Song Sales ranking. The stateside success of Oddinary additionally follows the band’s union with Republic Records in February.
In support of Oddinary, the group embarked on its 2nd World Tour MANIAC on April 29 and performed in arenas across South Korea, Japan and before heading to the United States from June to July. In the midst of the tour, Stray Kids released its second Japanese EP, Circus, which opened at No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.
With an incredibly dedicated fanbase and a refreshing sense of self-assuredness, Stray Kids are sure to continue setting and breaking records in the future. For now, in celebration of their 2022 Fan Army Face-Off victory, let’s take a look back on some of the K-pop group’s most notable accomplishments so far.
