This Week’s K-Pop Bop!
“Rich Man” By Aespa
Welcome to another edition of This Week’s K-Pop Bop! — your go-to spotlight for the hottest tracks lighting up global playlists.
This week’s buzz is all about Aespa, the breakout global girl group turning heads with their explosive new single, “Rich Man.” Confident, and dripping in glam, “Rich Man” is Aespa at their most unapologetic. The track oozes main character energy, pairing slick, bass-heavy production with tongue-in-cheek lyrics about independence, ambition, and knowing your worth.
Song Overview
- Artist: Aespa
- Release Date: September 5th, 2025
- Album: Rich Man
- Genre: Rock and Pop – Dance
- Length: Approximately 3:17
- Label: SM Entertainment
Why “Rich Man” Is This Week’s Bop
Aespa didn’t just drop a song, they dropped a power play.
“Rich Man” flips the script on tired luxury tropes and delivers a fierce, confident anthem that’s less about finding wealth and more about being the wealth. It’s sassy, stylish, and unapologetically bold, everything you want in a certified bop.
From the gritty guitar riffs and slick production to the empowering lyrics dripping with attitude, “Rich Man” hits like a runway strut in audio form. Aespa balances glam and grit with the ease of a group fully in their element, and in control.
Whether you’re blasting it in your car or strutting through your Monday like it’s Paris Fashion Week, this track gives instant ‘I run this’ energy. That’s why it’s not just a song on our playlist, it is the moment.
Chart Performance
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In South Korea, the track peaked at #3 on the Circle chart.
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Internationally, it charted as follows (2025):
• Taiwan (Billboard): #2
• Hong Kong (Billboard): #5
• Japan Hot 100: #27
• Malaysia (Billboard): #22
• Singapore (RIAS): #19
• New Zealand Hot Singles: #14
• Vietnam Hot 100: #86 -
On U.S. and global charts, “Rich Man” also made a mark:
• It entered Billboard Global Excl. U.S. at #15
• It debuted on the Billboard Global 200 at #30 -
On the Billboard 200 (U.S.), the Rich Man EP debuted at #12, making aespa the first K-pop girl group to have their first seven album entries land all within the Top 50.
• It also hit #3 on both the Top Album Sales and Top Current Album Sales charts in the U.S. -
The EP “Rich Man” also dominated iTunes charts globally, reaching #1 in 14 regions and breaking into the Top 10 in 29 regions.
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On South Korean music shows, “Rich Man” earned multiple wins:
• A win on Show Champion
• A second win on M Countdown with 7,308 points
• The fourth win on Inkigayo with 7,315 points
Video Highlights
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Sporting & Competitive Scenes
The video frames Aespa engaging in sports and competition — there are powerful visuals of American football matches, athletic movements, and symbolic rivalry, emphasizing strength, teamwork, and tenacity. -
Car Races and Chases
Sleek and dynamic car scenes help inject a sense of urgency and high-stakes energy. These serve not only as visual flair but also to reinforce the “race” metaphors in ambition and self-assertion. -
Members in Traditionally Male Roles
Aespa flips stereotypes by placing themselves in roles often coded as “male”, mechanics working on vehicles, handling physical labor, commanding sports fields, asserting that competence and power are not gendered. -
Contrasting Urban & Rural Settings
The video juxtaposes city backdrops — with burning or conflict-tinged visuals, against quieter, pastoral scenes like farms. This contrast accentuates themes of self-sufficiency, grounding, and resilience even amid chaos. -
Symbolism & Message of Independence
Throughout the visuals, Aespa underscores the central message: they don’t need a “rich man.” The imagery aims to mirror the song’s lyrical defiance, unapologetic independence, strength, and identity. -
Remix Video with People from All Walks of Life
In the Yellow Claw Remix MV, Aespa shifts the focus from material wealth to celebrating everyday people’s passions, dedication, and skill, showing a broader and more inclusive definition of “richness.”
Final Take
With “Rich Man,” Aespa doesn’t just deliver a song, they deliver a statement. It’s bold, empowered, and refreshingly subversive, flipping the script on traditional narratives around wealth, power, and gender roles. The song’s driving beat and gritty glam vibe match perfectly with its message: they’re not waiting for a rich man, they already are the power.
From its chart-topping performance to its visually striking, stereotype-smashing music video, “Rich Man” proves Aespa knows exactly who they are and where they’re headed. And if this release is any indication, they’re not just playing the game, they’re rewriting the rules.
Confident. Clever. Cultural reset. That’s why “Rich Man” is more than just this week’s bop, it’s a bold new chapter in Aespa’s global rise.
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