BTS’s ARIRANG Strengthens K-Pop’s Dominance with Two Consecutive Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard 200

BTS’s latest album, ARIRANG, has secured its position at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, marking a significant achievement for K-pop. The album, which maintains its No. 1 status on the chart dated April 11, is the 23rd album or EP by a K-pop artist to reach this milestone in less than eight years. The first K-pop album to achieve this was BTS’s Love Yourself: Tear, which topped the chart in June 2018.

Historic Achievement for K-Pop

ARIRANG is notable for being the first K-pop album to spend two consecutive weeks at No. 1. While the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack also held the top position for two weeks, those weeks were not consecutive. This accomplishment underscores the growing influence of K-pop on the global music scene.

K-Pop’s Competitive Landscape

Stray Kids leads K-pop acts with eight No. 1 titles on the Billboard 200, followed closely by BTS with seven. ATEEZ has achieved two No. 1s, while SuperM, BLACKPINK, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, NewJeans, and TWICE each have one. BLACKPINK made history as the first female K-pop act to reach No. 1 with their album Born Pink in 2022.

K-pop groups typically consist of large ensembles. TWICE has nine members, one more than Stray Kids and ATEEZ, while BTS and SuperM each have seven. TOMORROW X TOGETHER and NewJeans feature five members, and BLACKPINK has four. Notably, no K-pop solo artists, duos, or trios have topped the Billboard 200 to date.

Consistent Success Since 2018

Since 2018, K-pop acts have consistently produced multiple No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, with the exception of 2021, which saw no K-pop albums reach the top. The peak year for K-pop albums on the Billboard 200 was 2023, with five albums achieving No. 1 status. A comprehensive list of K-pop albums that have topped the Billboard 200 is available, detailing their chronological achievements.

Notable K-Pop Albums and Their Achievements

1. BTS, Love Yourself: Tear
   • Date Hit No. 1: June 2, 2018
   • Single: “Fake Love”
2. BTS, Love Yourself: Answer
   • Date Hit No. 1: September 8, 2018
   • Single: “Idol”
3. BTS, Map of the Soul: PERSONA
   • Date Hit No. 1: April 27, 2019
   • Singles: “Boy with Luv,” “Make It Right”
4. SuperM, SuperM: The First Mini Album (EP)
   • Date Hit No. 1: October 19, 2019
   • Single: “Jopping”
5. BTS, MAP OF THE SOUL: 7
   • Date Hit No. 1: March 7, 2020
   • Singles: “Black Swan,” “On”
6. BTS, BE
   • Date Hit No. 1: December 5, 2020
   • Single: “Life Goes On”
7. Stray Kids, Stray Kids Mini Album: Oddinary (EP)
   • Date Hit No. 1: April 2, 2022
   • Single: “Maniac”
8. BTS, Proof
   • Date Hit No. 1: June 25, 2022
   • Single: “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)”
9. BLACKPINK, Born Pink
   • Date Hit No. 1: October 1, 2022
   • Singles: “Pink Venom,” “Shut Down”
10. Stray Kids, Maxident
    • Date Hit No. 1: October 22, 2022
    • Single: “Case 143”
11. TOMORROW X TOGETHER, The Name Chapter: Temptation (EP)
    • Date Hit No. 1: February 11, 2023
    • Single: “Sugar Rush Ride”
12. Stray Kids, 5-Star
    • Date Hit No. 1: June 17, 2023
    • Single: “S-Class”
13. NewJeans, 2nd EP ‘Get Up’
    • Date Hit No. 1: August 5, 2023
    • Singles: “Super Shy,” “Cool With You,” “ETA”
14. Stray Kids, ROCK-STAR
    • Date Hit No. 1: November 25, 2023
    • Single: “Lalalala”
15. ATEEZ, THE WORLD EP. FIN:WILL
    • Date Hit No. 1: December 16, 2023
    • Single: “Crazy Form”
16. TWICE, With YOU-th (EP)
    • Date Hit No. 1: March 9, 2024
    • Singles: “I Got You,” “One Spark”
17. Stray Kids, ATE (EP)
    • Date Hit No. 1: August 3, 2024
    • Single: “Chk Chk Boom”
18. ATEEZ, Golden Hour: Part.2 (EP)
    • Date Hit No. 1: November 30, 2024
    • Single: “Ice on My Teeth”
19. Stray Kids, Hop
    • Date Hit No. 1: December 28, 2024
    • Single: “Walkin on Water”
20. Stray Kids, KARMA
    • Date Hit No. 1: September 6, 2025
    • Single: “Ceremony”
21. Various Artists, KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack
    • Date Hit No. 1: September 20, 2025
    • Singles: “Takedown” (Twice version), “Golden,” “How It’s Done” (HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI)
22. Stray Kids, DO IT
    • Date Hit No. 1: December 6, 2025
    • Singles: “Do It,” “Divine”
23. BTS, ARIRANG
    • Date Hit No. 1: April 4, 2026
    • Single: “Swim”
    • Notes: The album held at No. 1 on the chart dated April 11, becoming the first K-pop album to spend two consecutive weeks on top.

As reported by www.billboard.com.

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Published on 2026-04-06 01:18:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk