Rich Man (EP)

Rich Man
Rich Man
	Digital cover
EP by Aespa
Released	September 5, 2025 (2025-09-05)
Length	19:09
Language	English; Korean;
Label	SM; Kakao; Warner Japan; Capitol;
Aespa chronology
Singles from Rich Man
	"Rich Man"; Released: September 5, 2025;

2025 EP by Aespa

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
IZM	^[2]

Rich Man is the sixth extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released by SM Entertainment on September 5, 2025, and contains six tracks, including the lead single of the same name.

Background and release

On August 4, 2025, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would release their sixth extended play titled Rich Man on September 5, featuring six tracks including the lead single of the same name.^[3] The following day, the promotional schedule was released.^[4] On August 25, a trailer titled "I am a Rich Man", directed by Lee Ok-seop and featuring actor Koo Kyo-hwan, was released.^[5] Three days later, the highlight medley was released.^[6] On September 4, the music video teaser for "Rich Man" was released.^[7] The album was released alongside the music video for "Rich Man" on September 5.^[8]

Composition

Rich Man contains six tracks. The lead single, "Rich Man", is a dance track characterized by a "rough electric guitar rhythm" with lyrics delivering "a message of confidence and independence".^[9] The second track, "Drift", is a "fast-tempo" hip-hop dance song characterized by "whistle rhythm". The third track, "Bubble", is a dance song featuring "a minimalist harmony of heavy drum and bass" with lyrics conveying "a playful message of bursting open the other person's pretense".^[10]

The fourth track, "Count on Me", is an R&B song highlighted by "dreamy synths" with lyrics that "express the sorrow of being willing to endure pain as long as you have someone you love". The fifth track, "Angel #48", is a pop song defined by a "dreamy and cheerful rhythm" with lyrics that "compare a fateful someone to 'Angel #48'". The final track, "To the Girls", is a "medium-tempo" pop song with lyrics "expressing Aespa's heartfelt message of encouragement to believe in yourself and move forward".^[11]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for *Rich Man*
Award ceremony	Year	Category	Result	Ref.
Asian Pop Music Awards	2025	People's Choice Awards	Won	^[12]
Golden Disc Awards	2026	Best Album	Nominated	^[13]

Track listing

Track listing for *Rich Man*
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Rich Man"	Le'mon (153/Joombas)	Cody Tarpley Rachel Kanner Ben Samama Ryan Jhun	Tarpley Jhun	3:18
2.	"Drift"	Lee Geu-rin (Lalala Studio)	Stian Nyhammer Olsen Herbert St. Clair Crichlow Paulos Solbø Stephny Ko Julia Finnseter	Olsen	2:58
3.	"Bubble"	Kang Eun-jeong	Gingerbread Rachel West Oliva Ruby	Gingerbread	2:30
4.	"Count on Me"	Mola	Bryan Fryzel Kella Armitage Stephanie Jane Lang	Frequency	3:33
5.	"Angel #48"	Wilhelmina	Kenzie Greg Bonnick Hayden Chapman Wilhelmina	LDN Noise	3:15
6.	"To the Girls"	Lee Seu-ran	Andreas Öhrn Peter Boström Andrea Danielsson	Boström	3:35
Total length:					19:09

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the EP's liner notes.^[14]

Studio

SM Wavelet Studio – recording (track 1–3, 5–6), digital editing (track 1, 5–6), engineered for mix (track 5–6)
SM Droplet Studio – recording (track 1)
SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording (track 2, 4, 6), digital editing, engineered for mix (track 4)
SM Aube Studio – recording, digital editing (track 2–3), engineered for mix (track 2)
Vibe Music Studio 606 – recording (track 2, 6)
Golden Bell Tree Sound – recording (track 4)
SM Big Shot Studio – recording (track 5)
Doobdoob Studio – recording (track 5)
77F Studio – digital editing (track 2)
SM Starlight Studio – digital editing (track 5), mixing (track 3, 5)
SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing (track 1, 6)
SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing (track 2)
SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing (track 4)
Sterling Sound – mastering (all tracks)

Personnel

SM Entertainment – executive producer
Aespa – vocals, background vocals (all tracks)
Le'mon (153/Joombas) – lyrics (track 1)
Cody Tarpley – producer, composition, arrangement, programming (track 1)
Rachel Kanner – composition, background vocals (track 1)
Ben Samama – composition (track 1)
Ryan Jhun – producer, composition, arrangement, programming (track 1)
Lee Geu-rin (Lalala Studio) – lyrics (track 2)
Stian Nyhammer Olsen – producer, composition, arrangement, bass, keyboard, FX, drums programming (track 2)
Herbert St. Clair Crichlow a.k.a. Herbie Crichlow – composition, whistle (track 2)
Paulos Solbø – composition (track 2)
Stephny Ko – composition (track 2)
Julia Finnseter – composition (track 2)
Kang Eun-jeong – lyrics (track 3)
Gingerbread – producer, composition, arrangement, background vocals, drums, synthesizer, drums programming (track 3)
Rachel West – composition (track 3)
Oliva Ruby – composition (track 3)
Mola – lyrics (track 4)
Brian Fryzel a.k.a. Frequency – producer, composition, arrangement (track 4)
Kella Armitage – composition (track 4)
Stephanie Jane Lang – composition (track 4)
Wilhelmina – lyrics, composition, background vocals (track 5)
Kenzie – composition (track 5)
Greg Bonnick (LDN Noise) – producer, composition, arrangement, bass, keyboard, synthesizer, drums programming (track 5)
Hayden Chapman (LDN Noise) – producer, composition, arrangement, bass, keyboard, synthesizer, drums programming (track 5)
Lee Seu-ran – lyrics (track 6)
Andreas Öhrn – composition, background vocals (track 6)
Peter Boström – producer, composition, arrangement (track 6)
Andrea Danielsson – composition, background vocals (track 6)
Joowon – vocal directing (track 1, 4)
Emily Yeonseo Kim – vocal directing (track 2, 5–6)
1Take (NewType) – vocal directing (track 3)
Kang Eun-ji – recording (track 1–3, 5–6), digital editing (track 1, 5–6), engineered for mix (track 5–6)
Kim Joo-hyun – recording (track 1)
Noh Min-ji – recording (track 2, 4, 6), digital editing, engineered for mix (track 4)
Kim Hyo-joon – recording, digital editing (track 2–3), engineered for mix (track 2)
Jeong Mo-yeon – recording (track 2, 6)
Kim Kwang-min – recording (track 4)
Lee Min-kyu – recording (track 5)
Eugene Kwon – recording (track 5)
Woo Min-jeong – digital editing (track 2)
Jeong Yoo-ra – digital editing (track 5), mixing (track 3, 5)
Nam Koong-jin – mixing (track 1, 6)
Jung Eui-seok – mixing (track 2)
Kim Cheol-sun – mixing (track 4)
Chris Gehringer – mastering (all tracks)

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Rich Man*
Chart (2025–2026)	Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[15]	68
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[16]	77
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[17]	90
Croatian International Albums (HDU)^[18]	7
French Albums (SNEP)^[19]	66
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[20]	94
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[21]	7
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)^[22]	7
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)^[23]	7
Portuguese Albums (AFP)^[24]	41
South Korean Albums (Circle)^[25]	4
US Billboard 200^[26]	14

Monthly charts

Monthly chart performance for *Rich Man*
Chart (2025)	Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[27]	11
South Korean Albums (Circle)^[28]	3

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *Rich Man*
Chart (2025)	Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[29]	76
Japanese Top Albums Sales (Billboard Japan)^[30]	76
South Korean Albums (Circle)^[31]	15

Certifications

Certifications for *Rich Man*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)^[32]	Million	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for *Rich Man*
Region	Date	Format	Label
South Korea	September 5, 2025	CD	SM Kakao Capitol
Various	September 5, 2025	Digital download streaming	SM Kakao Capitol
Japan	September 6, 2025^[1]	CD	SM Warner Japan

References

^ a b "aespa The 6th Mini Album 『Rich Man』 Special Site". Warner Music Japan Inc. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
^ Han, Seong-hyeon (September 28, 2025). "Rich Man". IZM. Archived from the original on September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
^ Jeong, Bit (August 4, 2025). [공식]에스파, 9월 5일 컴백...'더티 워크' 흥행 이을 '리치맨' [[Official] aespa to make a comeback on September 5th..."Rich Man" to follow up the success of "Dirty Work"] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2025 – via Naver.
^ Kang, Da-yoon (August 5, 2025). 쇠 맛 체인지!...에스파, 밴드 콘셉트 '리치맨' 스케줄 포스터 공개 [A taste of iron change!...Aespa unveils schedule poster for band concept 'Rich Man'] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via Naver.
^ Kang, Shin-woo (August 25, 2025). 에스파 신곡 'Rich Man', 구교환이 여기서 왜 나와? [Why is Koo Kyo-hwan in aespa's new song 'Rich Man'?] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025 – via Naver.
^ Jang, Eun-ji (August 28, 2025). 몽환과 직진 사이, 에스파가 담은 6색 감성 스펙트럼 [Between dreamy and straightforward, aespa's six-color emotional spectrum] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025 – via Naver.
^ Lee, Da-gyeom (September 4, 2025). '리치맨' 그 자체, 에스파 타이틀곡 MV 티저 공개 [Aespa's title track MV teaser, embodying the "Rich Man" itself, has been released] (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. Retrieved September 4, 2025 – via Naver.
^ Park, Seo-yeon (September 5, 2025). "난 나로 가득해" 당당한 에스파, 내가 바로 'Rich Man' [MD신곡] ["I'm Full of Myself" Confident Aespa, I'm the 'Rich Man' [MD New Song]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved September 5, 2025 – via Naver.
^ Kang, Joo-hee (August 26, 2025). 에스파, 이번엔 록밴드다...내달 신보 '리치 맨' 발매 [Aespa is a rock band this time...New album 'Rich Man' to be released next month] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025 – via Naver.
^ Lee, Ga-gyeom (August 27, 2025). 밴드 변신한 에스파 윈터X지젤, 거침없는 에너지 [Aespa Winter X Giselle Transform into a Band, Unstoppable Energy] (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025 – via Naver.
^ Choi, Hyun-jung (August 28, 2025). 에스파 '리치 맨', 확장된 감성과 음악 스펙트럼 예고 [Aespa's "Rich Man" heralds an expanded emotional and musical spectrum] (in Korean). The Fact. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025 – via Naver.
^ @APMAHK (December 30, 2025). "【#APMAAWARDS】ASIAN POP MUSIC AWARDS「APMA 2025」WINNERS" (Tweet) (in Chinese). Archived from the original on December 30, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025 – via Twitter.
^ Jeong, Ha-eun (November 25, 2025). '제40회 골든디스크어워즈' 디지털 음원·음반·신인상 후보 공개 ['40th Golden Disc Awards' Digital Sound Record, Album, and Rookie of the Year Nominations Revealed]. JTBC News. Archived from the original on November 25, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025 – via Naver.
^ Aespa (2025). Rich Man (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment. Credits.
^ "Longplay Charts vom 12. September 2025". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
^ "Ultratop.be – Aespa – Rich Man - The 6th Mini Album" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
^ "Ultratop.be – Aespa – Rich Man - The 6th Mini Album" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
^ "Lista prodaje 37. tjedan 2025. (08.09.2025. - 14.09.2025.)" (in Croatian). HDU. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
^ "Top Albums (Semaine du 19 Septembre 2025)". SNEP. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Aespa – Rich Man - The 6th Mini Album" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-09-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2025-09-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 11, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 17, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 18, 2025.
^ "Top 200 Álbuns Semana 01 de 2026" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 2. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
^ "Album Chart: 2025 Week 36". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 11, 2025.
^ "Aespa Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-09" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
^ "Circle Album Chart – September 2025". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 14, 2025.
^ "Oricon Top 100 Albums: 2025". Oricon. Archived from the original on December 17, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
^ "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales – 2025 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 5, 2025.
^ "Circle Album Chart – 2025". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 12, 2026.
^ "South Korean album certifications – aespa – Rich Man" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved November 8, 2025.

[WMJ-1] "aespa The 6th Mini Album 『Rich Man』 Special Site". Warner Music Japan Inc. Retrieved September 7, 2025.

[2] Han, Seong-hyeon (September 28, 2025). "Rich Man". IZM. Archived from the original on September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2025.

[3] Jeong, Bit (August 4, 2025). [공식]에스파, 9월 5일 컴백...'더티 워크' 흥행 이을 '리치맨' [[Official] aespa to make a comeback on September 5th..."Rich Man" to follow up the success of "Dirty Work"] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2025 – via Naver.

[4] Kang, Da-yoon (August 5, 2025). 쇠 맛 체인지!...에스파, 밴드 콘셉트 '리치맨' 스케줄 포스터 공개 [A taste of iron change!...Aespa unveils schedule poster for band concept 'Rich Man'] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025 – via Naver.

[5] Kang, Shin-woo (August 25, 2025). 에스파 신곡 'Rich Man', 구교환이 여기서 왜 나와? [Why is Koo Kyo-hwan in aespa's new song 'Rich Man'?] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025 – via Naver.

[6] Jang, Eun-ji (August 28, 2025). 몽환과 직진 사이, 에스파가 담은 6색 감성 스펙트럼 [Between dreamy and straightforward, aespa's six-color emotional spectrum] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025 – via Naver.

[7] Lee, Da-gyeom (September 4, 2025). '리치맨' 그 자체, 에스파 타이틀곡 MV 티저 공개 [Aespa's title track MV teaser, embodying the "Rich Man" itself, has been released] (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. Retrieved September 4, 2025 – via Naver.

[8] Park, Seo-yeon (September 5, 2025). "난 나로 가득해" 당당한 에스파, 내가 바로 'Rich Man' [MD신곡] ["I'm Full of Myself" Confident Aespa, I'm the 'Rich Man' [MD New Song]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved September 5, 2025 – via Naver.

[9] Kang, Joo-hee (August 26, 2025). 에스파, 이번엔 록밴드다...내달 신보 '리치 맨' 발매 [Aespa is a rock band this time...New album 'Rich Man' to be released next month] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025 – via Naver.

[10] Lee, Ga-gyeom (August 27, 2025). 밴드 변신한 에스파 윈터X지젤, 거침없는 에너지 [Aespa Winter X Giselle Transform into a Band, Unstoppable Energy] (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025 – via Naver.

[11] Choi, Hyun-jung (August 28, 2025). 에스파 '리치 맨', 확장된 감성과 음악 스펙트럼 예고 [Aespa's "Rich Man" heralds an expanded emotional and musical spectrum] (in Korean). The Fact. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025 – via Naver.

[12] @APMAHK (December 30, 2025). "【#APMAAWARDS】ASIAN POP MUSIC AWARDS「APMA 2025」WINNERS" (Tweet) (in Chinese). Archived from the original on December 30, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025 – via Twitter.

[13] Jeong, Ha-eun (November 25, 2025). '제40회 골든디스크어워즈' 디지털 음원·음반·신인상 후보 공개 ['40th Golden Disc Awards' Digital Sound Record, Album, and Rookie of the Year Nominations Revealed]. JTBC News. Archived from the original on November 25, 2025. Retrieved November 25, 2025 – via Naver.

[14] Aespa (2025). Rich Man (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment. Credits.

[15] "Longplay Charts vom 12. September 2025". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 18, 2025.

[ac_Flanders_Aespa-16] "Ultratop.be – Aespa – Rich Man - The 6th Mini Album" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 21, 2025.

[ac_Wallonia_Aespa-17] "Ultratop.be – Aespa – Rich Man - The 6th Mini Album" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 14, 2025.

[18] "Lista prodaje 37. tjedan 2025. (08.09.2025. - 14.09.2025.)" (in Croatian). HDU. Retrieved September 24, 2025.

[19] "Top Albums (Semaine du 19 Septembre 2025)". SNEP. Retrieved September 22, 2025.

[ac_Germany_Aespa-20] "Offiziellecharts.de – Aespa – Rich Man - The 6th Mini Album" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 18, 2025.

[ac_Oricon_-21] "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-09-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 10, 2025.

[22] "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2025-09-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 11, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.

[23] "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 17, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 18, 2025.

[24] "Top 200 Álbuns Semana 01 de 2026" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 2. Retrieved January 12, 2026.

[25] "Album Chart: 2025 Week 36". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 11, 2025.

[ac_Billboard200_Aespa-26] "Aespa Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2025.

[27] "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-09" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.

[28] "Circle Album Chart – September 2025". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 14, 2025.

[29] "Oricon Top 100 Albums: 2025". Oricon. Archived from the original on December 17, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.

[30] "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales – 2025 Year-End". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 5, 2025.

[31] "Circle Album Chart – 2025". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 12, 2026.

[South_KoreaaespaRich_ManalbumCertRef-32] "South Korean album certifications – aespa – Rich Man" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved November 8, 2025.