WOODZ’s 'Drowning' tops Melon’s 2025 annual chart amid reverse-run surge

▲ This image provided by Melon shows the music streaming platform’s “2025 Domestic and Overseas Annual Top 100” chart. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- WOODZ’s hit song "Drowning" topped the annual chart compiled by music streaming platform Melon, riding a surge in popularity through a reverse run, data showed.

According to Melon’s “2025 Domestic and Overseas Annual Top 100” charts released on Thursday, "Drowning," which was released in 2023, climbed to No. 1 on the domestic annual chart on the back of renewed popularity.

The song gained fresh momentum after a live video of WOODZ performing it in military uniform went viral in 2024, pushing it up the rankings. Two years after its release, "Drowning" reached No. 1 on Melon’s Top 100 for the first time last year.

Male solo artists dominated the upper tier of the domestic annual chart.

G-Dragon ranked second with "HOME SWEET HOME," a collaboration with fellow BIGBANG members Taeyang and Daesung. Hwang Ga-ram’s "I Am a Firefly" placed fourth, while Jo Jjae-jje’s "Don’t You Know?" came in fifth. 10CM entered the top 10 at No. 10 with "To You," an animation theme song.

Solo and group releases by BLACKPINK members also posted strong performances. Rosé’s global hit "APT." ranked sixth, while Jennie’s "like JENNIE" placed 11th. BLACKPINK’s latest group release "Jump" came in at No. 27.

Idol groups also made notable appearances. BOYNEXTDOOR’s "I LOVE YOU Today Only" ranked 12th, while co-ed group ALLDAY PROJECT’s "FAMOUS" placed 23rd.

The artists with the most entries on the annual chart were aespa and DAY6, each placing six songs. aespa included "Whiplash," which ranked third, while DAY6 entered the chart with six tracks including "HAPPY" at No. 8.

IVE and G-Dragon followed with five songs each, while four tracks by Lee Mu-jin also made the list.

On the overseas chart, the original soundtrack "Golden" from the Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters" topped the list, with eight OST tracks ranking within the top 30, underscoring their popularity.

"Soda Pop" followed at No. 2, while "Your Idol" and "How It’s Done" ranked fourth and sixth, respectively. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ duet "Die With a Smile" placed third, and "IRIS OUT," from the Japanese animated film "Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc," ranked ninth.

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