TREASURE is a South Korean boy group formed in 2019 by YG Entertainment through the reality-survival program YG Treasure Box. The twelve-piece group shares joint leadership among the eldest members, Choi Hyun-suk and Jihoon, and officially made their debut on August 7, 2020, with the lead single "Boy" from a single album The First Step: Chapter One.
In January 2020, TREASURE was re-introduced to the public as a group targeting the global market unlike their label predecessors, who initially focused on the domestic market, and through weekly pictorials, performance videos including the single "Going Crazy" (미쳐가네) from YG Treasure Box where namely label-mate senior Mino of Winner contributed in production, alongside multiple variety programs via YouTube including Treasure Map and T.M.I.Treasure Map also aired on broadcasting channels, SBS MTV and SBS FiL, from September 23 onward.
On October 30, 2020, YG Entertainment released an official statement regarding the promotional activities of TREASURE.
The statement refers to the future scheduled promotional activities of TREASURE and also announces comeback plans of TREASURE with their first full album in January of 2021.
The statement translates as such:
"Hello, this is YG Entertainment.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to TREASURE MAKERS who supported TREASURE's debut and growth as if watching a baby take its first steps.
Thanks to the fans' great support and encouragements, TREASURE, which debuted back on August 7, was able to release an unbelievable 3 single albums in the past 3 months. Once again, we thank you sincerely. Today, we would like to briefly discuss TREASURE's comeback promotion plans and news regarding TREASURE's 1st full album. We are planning TREASURE's longest continued promotions to date with their upcoming 3rd single album 'The First Step: Chapter Three,' which will be released on November 6.
In December, there are numerous year-end music festivals and various award ceremonies, so TREASURE will focus on promotions with their title track 'MMM' on these programs rather than trying to rush with their full album release; the culmination of 'The First Step' series which will be TREASURE's 1st full album will be released next year in January, kicking off 2021 with TREASURE MAKER.
Lastly, if we can deliver one bit of welcome news, we plan on resuming TREASURE's reality contents 'TREASURE Map' which came to a halt due to the group's busy comeback preparations, starting this January in sync with the group's 1st full album comeback plans; we ask for fans' abundant love and attention.
Thank you."
Ahead of debut, TREASURE was recorded as the fastest K-Pop group to chart on Billboard's Social 50 at number 40 on May 27 and peaked at number 12 on August 4.
TREASURE made their official debut with the lead single "Boy" from a single album, The First Step: Chapter One, the first installment to The First Step series, on August 7. The group reportedly surpassed 170,000 pre-orders within several days since its announcement ahead of the physical album release on August 13, thereby becoming the best-selling South Korean newcomer artist in 2020.
"Boy" went on to find global success in Japan, topping large music streaming platforms including Line Music, Rakuten, and AWA rising charts. Their music video surpassed 10 million views in 26 hours on YouTube, making them the fastest South Korean debut act to achieve this since the platform's change in policy in September 2019, where paid advertising views were debunked. TREASURE began promotions on August 9 through their first music show appearance on SBS' Inkigayo.
The second installment to their series was released on September 18, in the format of a single album titled The First Step: Chapter Two with the lead single, "I Love You." The group acquired the title, "Half a Million Seller," with the accumulated sales figure from the two single albums through the release. The group began promotions on September 19 through a comeback performance on the MBC music program, Show! Music Core.
On October 30, 2020, YG Entertainment released an official statement regarding the promotional activities of TREASURE.
"Hello, this is YG Entertainment.
We want to express our sincere thanks to TREASURE MAKERS, who supported TREASURE's debut and growth as if watching a baby take its first steps.
Thanks to the fans' great support and encouragement, TREASURE, which debuted back on August 7, released an unbelievable 3 single albums in the past 3 months. Once again, we thank you sincerely. Today, we would like to briefly discuss TREASURE's comeback promotion plans and news regarding TREASURE's 1st full album. We are planning TREASURE's longest continued promotions to date with their upcoming 3rd single album 'The First Step: Chapter Three,' which will be released on November 6.
In December, there are numerous year-end music festivals and various award ceremonies, so TREASURE will focus on promotions with their title track 'MMM' on these programs rather than trying to rush with their full album release; the culmination of 'The First Step' series which will be TREASURE's 1st full album will be released next year in January, kicking off 2021 with TREASURE MAKER.
Lastly, if we can deliver one bit of welcome news, we plan on resuming TREASURE's reality contents 'TREASURE Map', which came to a halt due to the group's busy comeback preparations, starting this January in sync with the group's 1st full album comeback plans; we ask for fans' abundant love and attention.
Thank you."
