The Chaser (song)

"The Chaser" (Korean: 추격자; RR: Chugyeogja) is a song recorded by South Korean boy group Infinite. It was released as the second single from the group's third extended play Infinitize, which was released through Woollim Entertainment on May 15, 2012. The song received critical acclaim, and was named the third best K-pop song of the 2010s by Billboard as well as one of Rolling Stone's best boy band songs of all time.

"The Chaser"
Single by Infinite
from the EP Infinitize
Released	May 15, 2012 (2012-05-15)
Recorded	2012
Genre	Synthpop
Length	3:23
Label	Woollim
Songwriter(s)	Song Soo-yoon
Producer(s)	Han Jae-ho Kim Seung-soo Hong Seung-hyun
Infinite singles chronology
"Only Tears" (2012) "The Chaser" (2012) "Man in Love" (2013)
Music video
"The Chaser" on YouTube

Reception

"The Chaser" on critic lists

Publication/critic	List	Rank	Ref.
Billboard	20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2012	1	[1]
	100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s	3	[2]
Ciarra Gaffney	25 Best K-pop Songs of the 2010s	7	[3]
Pitchfork	20 Essential K-Pop Songs	No order	[4]
Rolling Stone	75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time	55	[5]
	100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music	51	[6]

Music video and promotion

A teaser video of the song "The Chaser" was released on May 11, on Woollim Entertainment's YouTube account.^[7][8] The music video premiered exclusively at Infinite's Showcase: The Mission, on May 15. After the showcase in Seoul, the music video was available on Woolim Entertainment's YouTube account, on their official website and on LOEN Entertainment's YouTube account.^[9] Domestic promotions for "The Chaser" on weekly music programs began on May 17 on Mnet's M! Countdown.^[10]

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Year	Organization	Award	Result	Ref.
2012	Mnet Asian Music Awards	Best Music Video	Nominated	[11]
		Best Dance Performance – Male Group	Nominated
	SBS MTV Best of the Best	Best Dance Music Video	Won

Music program wins (7 total)

Program	Date	Ref.
M Countdown	May 31, 2012	[12]
	June 7, 2012	[13]
	June 14, 2012	[14]
Music Bank	June 1, 2012	[15]
Inkigayo	June 3, 2012	[16]
	June 10, 2012	[17]
Show Champion	June 5, 2012	[18]

"The Chaser" on select listicles

Publication	Year	List	Rank	Ref.
Billboard	2012	20 Best K-pop Songs of 2012	1	[19]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2012) Peak position South Korea (Gaon)[20] 7 South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[21] 8

Year-end charts Chart (2012) Position South Korea (Gaon)[22] 71

References

1. Benjamin, Jeff (December 21, 2012). "20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2012: Big Bang, Psy, 2NE1 & More". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
2. "The 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s: Staff List". Billboard. November 25, 2019. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
3. Gaffney, Ciara (December 30, 2020). "25 Best K-Pop Songs of the 2010s". Medium. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
4. Dorof, Jakob (August 7, 2014). "20 Essential K-Pop Songs - Page 2". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
5. "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. July 24, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
6. "The 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music". Rolling Stone. July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
7. '컴백 초읽기' 인피니트, 대규모 물량 총동원한 티저 영상 공개 (in Korean). Nate. May 11, 2012. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
8. "INFINITE_3rd Mini Album_추격자(The Chaser)_Teaser - YouTube". Woolim Entertainment's YouTube account. May 10, 2012. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
9. "INFINITE(인피니트) _ The Chaser(추격자) MV - YouTube". LOEN Entertainment's YouTube account. May 15, 2012. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
10. "(bnt포토) 인피니트, 섹시돌로 돌아왔어요~" (in Korean). Nate. May 17, 2012. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
11. "[MAMA] Nominees for the 2012 MAMA Announced". Mnet. October 23, 2012. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
12. "인피니트, 컴백 3주 만에 '엠카' 1위". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved December 30, 2020.
13. "인피니트, '추격자'로 2주 연속 '엠카' 1위". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved December 30, 2020.
14. "인피니트, 3주 연속 '엠카' 1위..대세 등극". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved December 30, 2020.
15. 인피니트, '엠카'이어 '뮤뱅' 1위..'눈물 펑펑'. Naver News (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021 – via Naver.
16. '인기가요' 1위 인피니트, 눈물은 없었지만 여전히 긴 인사 '예의도 바르지' (in Korean). Nate. June 2, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
17. 인피니트, '인기가요' 1위 "어제 2주년이었는데 감사" (in Korean). Nate. June 10, 2012. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
18. 인피니트 '추격자' 1위 인증샷, 나왔다 하면 올킬 (in Korean). Nate. June 6, 2012. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
19. "20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2012: BIGBANG, PSY, 2NE1 & More". Billboard.
20. "2012년 21주차 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. May 19, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
21. "Infinite Chart History - Billboard K-pop Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
22. "2012년 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2022.