As we enter 2021, we can take back a moment to look back at the previous year; a year that was difficult, but K-pop still shined. To remember the releases of the year, the Gaon Retail Album Chart revealed their best-selling K-pop albums of 2020. Keep on reading to learn more.
The Retail Album Chart shows domestic, offline retail sales. This gives us a more accurate analysis of album distribution to different companies and consumers. The Retail Album Chart focuses on album sales via domestic retailers and collects data from retailers such as Hottracks, Yes24, Interpark, Soundwave, and more.
According to the Gaon Retail Album Chart, BTS's Feb. 2020 release "Map of the Soul: 7" was the most successful and best-selling album of 2020. In under nine days of the album's release, the album sold more than 4.1 million copies, making it the first album to do some in the Gaon Album Chart's history. It is currently the best-selling album in South Korean history. It is also the first album to be certified as "quadruple million". With this album, BTS became the best-selling artist in South Korea of all time.
The second best-selling album of the year is also by BTS with their Nov. 2020 release, "BE (Deluxe Edition)". Upon the album's release, "BE" debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart. It is their second best-selling album, trailing shortly behind "Map of the Soul: 7". It is BTS's eighth consecutive million-seller in South Korea.
The third best-selling album in 2020 is by PLEDIS Entertainment boy group SEVENTEEN for "; [Semicolon]". The album has peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart on the chart week of Oct. 24, 2020. This album was highly anticipated, as it is the group's first release after they earned the title of "million-seller" for their June 2020 release, "Heng:garare". The album is meant to give support to the youth who keeps on working, running, and hustling.
Fourth place goes to Baekhyun, a SuperM and EXO member, for his solo album "Delight." The extended play debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart and became the best-selling album on the Gaon Album Chart in May 2020. "Delight" sold over 1,000,000 copies, making him the first South Korean soloist to do so in 19 years. "Delight" is also one of the best-selling albums in South Korea.
Fifth place goes to NCT for "NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1." This album is NCT's first chart-topper on the Gaon Album Chart. Prior to the album's release, "NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1" made headlines after it was revealed that it garnered more than 1.12 million pre-orders, making it NCT's first million-selling album. Less than a month after the album's release, SM Entertainment announced the album sold 1,428,765 copies, making it a new personal best record for the group.
From 6-10, the best-selling albums on the Gaon Retail Album Chart are:
6. SEVENTEEN - "Heng:garae"
7. BLACKPINK - "THE ALBUM"
8. NCT - "NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2"
9. Kim Ho Joong - "Our Family"
10. NCT 127 - "Neo Zone - The 2nd Album"
Did your favorite K-pop album make the list?
ALSO READ: Gaon Chart Drops Best-Selling Albums this 2020 + Best Digital Songs: Red Velvet, SEVENTEEN, NCT, and More
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Written by Alexa Lewis
