The World EP.1: Movement

On April 23, fans noticed several posters both in Hongdae, Seoul and outside the venue of Ateez's concert in Madrid, Spain. The posters featured a QR code leading to an unlisted video teasing something unknown in July 2022.^[1]

On June 28, fans who attended the recording of Ateez's special performance on The Show were sent an audio file named "Propaganda" from "Ateez" through AirDrop and Bluetooth. The group also posted a QR code leading to the same audio on their social media accounts before immediately deleting it on the same day. On July 1, the group released a second teaser, along with a video titled "Wake Up, The World", confirming a new album named The World EP.1: Movement would be released on July 29.^[2] A third teaser was released on July 2 alongside the phrase "Lies Control Rules", followed by a fourth on July 3 titled "Are you seeing this? Eyes in the sky". On July 4, Ateez released the album's promotion map.

On July 28, Ateez held a showcase for the upcoming album, and performed the lead single "Guerrilla" and sidetrack "Sector 1" for the first time. The World EP.1: Movement was officially released worldwide on July 29.^[3]

On July 24, 2022, pre-orders for The World EP.1: Movement surpassed 1.1 million copies, surpassing Ateez's previous career high of 810,000 pre-orders for Zero: Fever Part.3.^[4] Album sales of The World EP.1: Movement on the first week was over 930,000 physical copies, and the EP topped South Korea's Circle Album Chart for two consecutive weeks. ^[5] The album charted at number 3 on Billboard 200 in the United States, which was the first top 10 on the main chart for Ateez. It also landed on number 2 on both Billboard's Top Album Sales and Top Current Album Sales Chart.^[6] It was certified million by the Korea Music Content Association in September.^[7]