Im Hero Explained

Im Hero
Type:	studio
Artist:	Lim Young-woong
Cover:	Lim Young-woong - Im Hero.png
Caption:	Digital cover
Genre:	K-pop
Length:	43:48
Language:	Korean
Label:	Mulgogi Music
Prev Title:	Newness of Trot
Prev Year:	2020

Im Hero is the debut studio album by South Korean singer Lim Young-woong, released on May 2, 2022, through Mulgogi Music and distributed by Dreamus. It was preceded by the single "Our Blues, Our Life", which topped the Gaon Digital Chart on release,^[1] and accompanied by the second single "If We Ever Meet Again", which also debuted atop the Gaon Digital Chart.

The album was released in four physical versions and debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart upon release. According to Gaon, Im Hero sold over 772,000 copies in South Korea in its first week of retail availability. It won Album of the Year at the 2022 Melon Music Awards.^[2]

Background

Im Hero, Lim's first album, comes six years after his debut. He stated that he "did [his] best to put in a wide variety of songs" and "really wanted to get it right. Just when I thought I'd completed it, something would make me think it's not enough, and I'd go back to the beginning on several occasions."^[3]

Commercial performance

The album became available for pre-order on April 7, 2022, and its jewel case version sold out quickly.^[4] The album debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart^[5] and sold over 772,000 copies at retail stores in South Korea in its first week of availability, according to Gaon.^[6] According to Hanteo, Lim broke the record for first-day CD sales by a solo singer, selling 940,600 copies on its first day and over 1.1 million in total in its first week.^[7]

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Organization	Year	Category	Result
Genie Music Awards	2022	Album of the Year		^[8]
Melon Music Awards	2022	Album of the Year

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Peak position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[9]	1

Monthly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Peak position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[10]	3

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Position
South Korean Albums (Circle)^[11]	15

Notes and References

1. Web site: https://www.newspim.com/news/view/20220428000127. ko:임영웅 '우리들의 블루스', 17주차 가온차트서 5관왕 차지. Lim Young-woong's 'Our Blues' wins 5 crowns on Gaon Chart for the 17th week. Newspim. Lee. Ji-eun. ko. April 28, 2022. May 12, 2022.
2. Web site: Park . Sang-hoo . '2022 MMA' 임영웅 5관왕 주인공 우뚝… BTS·아이브 4관왕[종합] ]. '2022 MMA' Lim Young-woong, the main character with 5 awards ... BTS, Ive wins 4 awards [comprehensive] . . Naver . 27 November 2022 . ko . 18 December 2022.
3. Web site: Korean Trot singer Lim Young-woong releases album 'Im Hero'. Korea JoongAng Daily. Yang. Haley. May 2, 2022. May 12, 2022.
4. Web site: https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202204070821170310. ko:임영웅 정규 1집 'IM HERO' 예판 시작…글로벌 트롯팬 들썩. Lim Young-woong's 1st full album 'IM HERO' pre-order begins... Global Trot Fans are excited. Newsen. Kim. Myung-mi. ko. April 7, 2022. May 12, 2022.
5. Web site: https://sports.donga.com/article/all/20220512/113357878/1. ko:빅뱅, 4월 가온차트 디지털·스트리밍 1위…임영웅 4관왕·아이브 앨범 1위. Big Bang topped the Gaon Chart Digital and Streaming in April... Lim Young-woong 4 crowns, Ive's album 1st place. Sports Dong-a. Jeon. Hyo-jin. ko. May 12, 2022. May 12, 2022.
6. Web site: 2022년 19주차 Retail Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart. ko. May 12, 2022.
7. Web site: Lim Young-woong's 'Im Hero' album sold more than 1.1 million copies in first week. Korea JoongAng Daily. Yang. Haley. May 9, 2022. May 12, 2022.
8. Web site: 2022 GMA – Album of the Year Nominees . Genie Music . 6 October 2022 . ko.
9. Web site: Gaon Album Chart – Week 19, 2022. Gaon Music Chart. ko. June 9, 2022.
10. Web site: Gaon Album Chart – May 2022 . . June 9, 2022 . ko.
11. Web site: Album Chart 2022. Circle Chart. https://web.archive.org/web/20230113031815/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=2022&hitYear=2022&termGbn=year&yearTime=3. January 13, 2023. live. January 14, 2023.