On June 22, 2026, former ENHYPEN member Lee Heeseung made his official solo debut under the new stage name EVAN with his first digital single, Ride or Die. The music video for the title track surpassed 10 million YouTube views in approximately 44 hours, while simultaneously debuting at No.39 on the Melon Real-time Chart and amassing over 130,000 first-hour likes—the highest record for a male soloist in 2026. On the same day, the track entered Melon HOT100 at No.5, with B-side Overflow following at No.7. Internationally, the music video ranked No.9 on YouTube's Global Daily Chart, hit No.1 in Singapore, and cracked the Top 10 in major markets including the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Germany.Against this dual momentum of strong digital performance and MV virality, EVAN's first-week physical sales have become one of the most hotly debated topics across social media platforms.
Why Did EVAN's Solo Debut Explode?
- The "Departure Dividend"
As one of the few idols in recent years to leave a group during its prime and launch a solo career, EVAN's debut was inherently destined to become a major talking point. ENHYPEN, over their six-year run, had never once entered the Melon chart—yet EVAN soared to No.39 on the Melon Real-time Chart on his very first day as a soloist. This sharp contrast became highly combustible narrative fuel. Supporters argue the numbers prove his talent finally has room to flourish; skeptics counter that digital traction is merely a "departure dividend" inflated by controversy. The ongoing debate between both camps has only kept the topic alive.
- The "Compensatory Fandom" Dynamic
EVAN's fanbase rallied around the slogan "the numbers determine future investment" and mobilized dedicated streaming teams to maximize chart performance. This mobilization is essentially an outlet for long-suppressed sentiment — the accumulated disparity between EVAN's individual performance and the group's resource allocation during his ENHYPEN days. Besides, the broader casual audience's curiosity around his debut also contributed significantly to the track's early traction.
YEONJUN's Solo Data as a Comparative Benchmark for EVAN's Sales Outlook
When projecting EVAN's first-week sales, the solo activities of YEONJUN—a fellow fifth-generation boy group core member who also debuted as a soloist while his group was still active—offer a valuable reference point. The key comparison dimensions are as follows:
- Physical Album Sales
YEONJUN followed a "digital single first → physical EP later" trajectory. His debut mini-album recorded first-day sales exceeding 540,000 copies, with Chinese fanbar pre-orders surpassing 250,000 units. EVAN, by contrast, launched with a physical single right out of the gate—meaning his first-week sales represent the full picture from day one, with no "soft launch" phase to test the waters.
- Digital and SNS Performance
EVAN outperformed YEONJUN's mixtape-era numbers in both Melon likes and MV velocity, suggesting stronger initial fandom response and more concentrated early attention. However, it's important to note that YEONJUN's GGUM was a digital-only mixtape, whereas EVAN's debut is a physical release. This means YEONJUN's fans had their purchasing power spread across two phases—"stream first, buy later"—while EVAN's fanbase is directing their full consumption power toward a single point of release. Key Takeaways for EVAN's Sales Forecast:
- Upper-bound reference: YEONJUN's 542,000 first-day sales provide a ceiling benchmark for what a fifth-generation boy group member's solo debut can achieve.
- EVAN's upside: His superior MV velocity and Melon first-hour like count suggest stronger early momentum, which bodes well for a "pre-order driven, day-one concentrated" sales pattern.
- EVAN's downside risks: Backlash from a segment of former group fans could compress the ceiling, and with no digital-single buffer phase, his first-week performance will be the definitive opening statement.
So, what's your projection for EVAN's first-week Hanteo sales?
