ATEEZ Seonghwa, WWD Korea photoshoot revealed... "Billboard No. 1 · First-week sales of 1.88 million copies" record

ATEEZ member Seonghwa showcased various charms through a photo shoot and interview in the September issue of WWD Korea magazine. The title of this cover story, ″IN HIS GOLDEN HOUR,″ highlighted Seonghwa’s present and future as he approaches his 8th debut anniversary. In the interview, Seonghwa spoke candidly about the path ATEEZ has taken over the past eight years, their current status, and future plans. He revealed that even after more than 100 tours, he and the members continue to pledge to perform ″as if today is the last.″ He also mentioned the achievement of reaching number one on the US Billboard main album chart, the Billboard 200 (as of July 18), with their recently released 14th mini-album ’GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5,’ marking their third time topping the chart. ATEEZ’s new title track ″BAD″ reached 10th place on the Melon daily chart as of August 11, setting a new personal best, and surpassed 1.88 million in initial sales, achieving their seventh million-seller. Seonghwa shared the process of repeatedly struggling and gaining confidence regarding the music and styling of ″BAD,″ expressing, ″I felt like what I have consistently done without compromising my intentions was finally recognized.″ He also mentioned the phrase ″Jin In Sa Dae Cheon Myeong (盡人事待天命).″ Regarding his thoughts on fashion, he stated that while he used to stick to a definite style, he now freely chooses clothes based on his mood that day. He expressed special affection for his long-term collaboration with the brand Songzio, saying, ″The inspiration I received through Songzio has changed many parts of me.″ Outside the stage, he recently started fencing and hopes to participate in amateur competitions, and he also shared that he has begun learning guitar. During tours or overseas schedules, he always carries an iPad, books, and a notebook for writing poetry. On planes, he watches movies and YouTube, reads books and poetry, and writes. He introduced his unique habit of recording emotions through poetry, explaining that it allows him to recall his feelings even after time has passed. In his final greeting at performances, Seonghwa described the moment of looking at the audience as ″the brightest moment of my life,″ conveying a special message to fans. At the end of the interview, he expressed gratitude to ATEEZ members, saying, ″Thank you for your consistent efforts over the past eight years,″ and added, ″I really want to say you’ve worked hard and thank you.″ Meanwhile, ATEEZ held their 2026 fan meeting ″ATINY’S VOYAGE : TINY MYSTERY″ from July 17 to 19 in Korea and from August 4 to 6 at the K-Arena Yokohama in Japan.