Brother-sister folk pop duo Akdong Musician stole the hearts of many Koreans last year when they appeared on, and won, K-Pop Star season two. Now they have officially released their first album and are gaining attention from media outside of their native South Korea.

A recent Wall Street Journal blog post highlighted the pair and their journey to success, spotlighting their recently released debut album, rise to fame, and unique upbringing.

Akdong Musician (also referred to as AKMU) consists of 17-year-old composer, lyricist, and guitarist Lee Chan Hyuk and his younger sister, 14-year-old Lee Soo Hyun, who provides the main vocals for their songs.

Unlike many Korean teens, they have lived an extraordinary life. The two moved to Mongolia in 2008 with their missionary parents, foregoing traditional education for a more experiential one. The siblings started playing music together from a young age, and with the blessing of and support from their mother and father, auditioned for the reality singing competition show, ultimately winning the whole thing.

"Their performance captivated judges and viewers alike with its wittiness, originality, and freshness," wrote Jaewoon Woo of the Wall Street Journal. And with the release of their new album Play, AKMU is doing it all over again.

Signed to the prestigious Korean record label YG Entertainment, AKMU have been sweeping the music charts with their fun, lighthearted and original songs "200%" and "Melted," the two title tracks being promoted from Play.

In an industry that is largely filled with ultra-sexualized teen idols, excessive use of auto-tune, and precise choreography, Akdong Musician is a welcomed change of pace for many K-Pop fans. The group's playful lyrics and harmonies are cohesively strung together by Chan Hyuk's acoustic guitar and effortlessly delivered by his peppy younger sister to create something carefree and refreshing.

Shortly after being released on Monday, Akdong Musician's first full-length album topped at least six of the major music charts in Korea and by Tuesday morning it was sitting comfortably at number one across the board.

But AKMU is no stranger to the music charts. During the duo's time on K-Pop Star 2, several of Chan Hyuk's original compositions filled the music charts, almost guaranteeing the pair would eventually take home the grand prize.

To celebrate their new-found fame and to kick off promotions for their album, Akdong Musician returned to the stage of K-Pop Star for a special performance on Sunday and introduced the world to their bright and energetic brand of pop music once again.

To read the Wall Street Journal's post about AKMU and the instantly popular Play, click HERE.