Popular groups and individual artists like as Stray Kids, BTS’s Jimin, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, and ATEEZ have dominated the Billboard World Albums chart for the week ending February 22 (Saturday), demonstrating how K-pop has taken the American music market by storm. With some acts retaining their prior positions and others moving up the list, their outstanding performance has strengthened K-pop’s existence. This achievement shows how popular the genre is becoming around the world.
Stray Kids’ special album “合 (HOP)” earned a ninth week at No. 129 on the Billboard 200 and its seventh non-consecutive week at the top of the World Albums chart.
Jimin’s solo album “MUSE” by BTS remained at number two on the World Albums list for 30 weeks in a row. It also became the first album by a Korean soloist to ever chart on the Billboard 200 for 30 weeks.
Following its seventh non-consecutive week on the World Albums chart, Stray Kids’ special album HOP maintained its No. 1 position. The EP also appeared on the Billboard 200 in its ninth week, peaking at No. 129. Jimin’s solo album MUSE, released by BTS, tops the World Albums chart at No. 2. It was on the chart for 30 straight weeks last week. In addition, the album made history by spending 25 weeks on the Billboard 200, making it the longest-charting album by a K-pop singer.
On the World Albums chart, ENHYPEN’s “ROMANCE: UNTOLD” remained at number five in its 31st week, BTS’s 2022 anthology album “Proof” remained at number six in its 140th week, and LE SSERAFIM’s “CRAZY” remained at number seven in its 23rd week.
In its 13th week on the chart, ATEEZ’s “GOLDEN HOUR: Part.2” peaked at No. 9, while their 2023 album “THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL” returned to the top at No. 13, its 16th non-consecutive week on the chart.
In its 30th week, Stray Kids’ “ATE” remained atop the charts at No. 10, followed by NewJeans’ “Get Up” at No. 12 (in its 75th week) and ILLIT’s “I’LL LIKE YOU” at No. 14 (in its 14th week).
TXT’s “The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY” peaked at No. 20 in its fifteenth week on the chart, while BTS’s Jin’s solo EP “Happy” peaked at No. 18 in its thirteenth week.
The physical version of the album has not yet been included in this week’s Billboard charts due to a delayed shipment schedule in the United States, but IVE’s new EP “IVE EMPATHY” debuted at No. 22 on the chart.
“Armageddon” by Aespa completed the top 25 in its 23rd week on the chart, while “SPILL THE FEELS” by SEVENTEEN returned to the top 24 (for its 16th non-consecutive week).
Consequently, MUSE improved its own record by remaining on the list for 30 weeks. For the 31st week, ENHYPEN’s ROMANCE: UNTOLD ranks No. 5 on the World Albums chart, continuing to be on the chart. Next up is Proof, a 2022 anthology album by BTS. In its incredible 140th week, it began strong at No. 6 and has been a steady presence on the list. Similarly, CRAZY by LE SSERAFIM holds steady at No. 7 in its 23rd week on the chart.
After rising to No. 9 in its 13th week on the chart, ATEEZ’s GOLDEN HOUR: Part.2 is still making waves. Their 2023 album THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL, meantime, shows the group’s continuing impact as it re-emerges at No. 13 on the World Albums chart for the 16th consecutive week. After 30 weeks on the chart, Stray Kids’ ninth mini album, ATE, remains at No. 10, completing the top 10.
Notably, ATE previously made history by launching at No. 1, which was their fifth consecutive album to reach the top of the charts. In the K-pop scene, Stray Kids’ noteworthy status has been confirmed by this achievement.