“Time keeps flowing, I’m afraid I’ll drift away.”
‘Drift Away’ by SEVENTEEN is a beautiful track from their 2016 album ‘Love&Letter’ that captures the quiet anxiety of young people watching time slip through their fingers. It resonates with the emotions of individuals who want to hold on to childhood memories while grappling with the fear of change and transience.
When the song was first released, SEVENTEEN was barely a year into their career. The 13-member group—S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino—was tied to a nearly bankrupt label and anxious about whether they would ever achieve a breakthrough.
That is exactly how the anxieties of drifting apart gave way to SEVENTEEN becoming one of K-pop’s most enduring acts, earning titles such as “K-Pop Performance Powerhouse” and “자체제작 아이돌” (Self-Produced Idols).
As a seven-time triple million seller, the mega-group is widely known for its story of resilience and self-sustained debut, which dates back to 2015 when they released their first EP, ‘17 CARAT’, led by the funky pop title track ‘Adore U’, and even further back to 2012, when the group was first formed amid financial struggles and relentless pressure to succeed at Pledis Entertainment. As success and fame became the rewards of that resilience, the pre-debut reality show ‘SEVENTEEN TV’ remains a testament to the grueling training each member underwent in pursuit of their own moment to shine.
As the core creative architect behind SEVENTEEN’s self-producing image, WOOZI once explained that the group’s creative autonomy stemmed not only from the members’ desire for self-expression but also from the weight of expectations they carried from the very beginning. The debut was followed by years of consistent efforts through dedicated comebacks from the EP ‘BOYS BE’ to 2016’s ‘Love&Letter’, which marked their first MBC Show Champion win.
One of the most remarkable releases of that period was ‘VERY NICE’, the lead single from the repackaged version of ‘Love&Letter’, which initially received a cold reaction from K-pop charts but grew over the years to become a massive fan anthem.
Since then, the group has worked extensively on diverse projects, building a 55-release-long discography as of 2026. Their releases span genres such as pop, hip-hop, R&B, ballads, and electronic music. Among their most popular tracks are ‘VERY NICE,’ ‘Don’t Wanna Cry,’ ‘Left & Right,’ ‘Rock with You,’ ‘Super,’ and ‘God of Music,’ alongside fan-favorite albums ranging from ‘Hengæ’ and ‘Your Choice’ to ‘Face the Sun,’ ‘FML,’ and the 10th-anniversary release ‘Happy Burstday.’
Lyrically, SEVENTEEN often explores themes of youth, self-discovery, friendship, resilience, and comfort, making their music resonate deeply with listeners navigating similar difficulties in life.
The momentous scale of SEVENTEEN’s success lies in a variety of both measurable and incalculable factors. In 2025, the group ranked No. 14 on the IFPI Global Artist Chart, marking their fifth consecutive year on the chart since first entering it in 2021. They also became one of HYBE‘s highest-earning groups, with ‘Happy Burstday’ debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 2.52 million copies in its first week.
Beyond the measurable aspects of their success, SEVENTEEN has attained something even more special over the years: the loving support of millions of dedicated fans, called ‘Carats’, a metaphor for “those who add shine and value to the diamond that is SEVENTEEN.” The idols share an adorable bond with their fans, extending beyond official projects to include the self-produced variety show ‘Going Seventeen’, which has grown into a weekly healing ritual for the fandom.
This further emphasizes SEVENTEEN’s growth as a symbol of optimism, joy, and hope, earning them the distinction of becoming UNESCO’s first-ever Goodwill Ambassador for Youth and leading to a pledge of $1 million to the Global Youth Grant Scheme.
Eleven years after their debut, the group continues to grow toward limitless creative possibilities, from new subunits to expansive solo works. As every comeback, concert, and award show passes by, SEVENTEEN remains exactly what they have always been: thirteen individuals who chose each other, not once, but twice. The second contract renewal, as leader S.Coups described it, was a collectively heartfelt decision to row forward together on the same ship.
Even now, during a temporary group hiatus due to military enlistment, that sincerity hasn’t faded. Members continue to showcase and meet fans through variety shows and new music, and remain busy with new subunits like DxS (DK & Seungkwan), CxM (S.Coups & Mingyu), and the upcoming V8 (Vernon & The8), as well as solo debuts and sold-out fan meetings across Asia, demonstrating how each member is finding their own light even when the stage is not shared by all thirteen at the same time.
Written By: Apoorva
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