BTS, Stray Kids & More: Every K-Pop Album to Top the Billboard 200
New York, August 31, 2025 - K-Pop continues its historic run on the Billboard 200 chart, with a growing number of groups achieving the coveted No. 1 spot. From BTS’s groundbreaking success to the recent triumphs of Stray Kids and others, Korean acts are consistently demonstrating their global appeal and chart dominance. As of today, August 31, 2025, a select group of K-Pop albums have reached the pinnacle of the Billboard 200, signifying a major shift in the landscape of popular music and solidifying K-Pop’s position as a global force.
This surge in K-Pop’s Billboard success reflects the genre’s dedicated fanbase, strategic marketing, and increasingly refined production values. The albums topping the chart represent not just musical achievements, but also cultural milestones, demonstrating the power of social media and globalized music consumption. For fans, industry professionals, and chart observers alike, tracking these achievements provides insight into the evolving dynamics of the music industry and the expanding reach of Korean pop culture.
Here’s a complete list of K-Pop albums that have reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, as of August 31, 2025:
BTS – Love Yourself: Tear (June 2, 2018): BTS became the first Korean act to top the Billboard 200 with their third studio album, Love Yourself: tear, earning 135,000 equivalent album units.
BTS – Love yourself: Answer (September 1, 2018): The group followed up their success with Love Yourself: Answer, achieving 88,000 equivalent album units.
BTS – Map of the Soul: Persona (April 13, 2019): Map of the Soul: Persona earned 197,000 equivalent album units, marking BTS’s third No. 1 album.
BTS – Map of the Soul: 7 (February 29, 2020): This album debuted with 422,000 equivalent album units, setting a new record for the largest debut of 2020 at the time.
BTS – BE (December 5, 2020): BE secured the top spot with 229,000 equivalent album units.
BTS - Proof (June 10, 2022): The anthology album Proof debuted at No. 1 with 132,000 equivalent album units.
Stray Kids – 5-STAR (June 9, 2023): Stray Kids achieved their first billboard 200 No. 1 with 5-STAR, earning 153,000 equivalent album units.
TXT – The Name Chapter: FREEFALL (April 15, 2024): TXT (tomorrow X Together) reached the top of the chart with The Name Chapter: FREEFALL, earning 156,500 equivalent album units.
ATEEZ – The World EP.FIN: will (December 9, 2023): ATEEZ secured their first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with The World EP.FIN: Will*, achieving 166,000 equivalent album units.This list demonstrates the growing influence of K-Pop on the global music scene and the ability of these groups to connect with audiences worldwide. As K-Pop continues
