On June 30, Gaon Chart released the cumulative album sales that were tallied in the first half of 2021.
From January to June, many K-pop acts from different generations released new albums, some of which sold half a million while others reached the one-million mark.
According to Gaon Chart, the physical album sales in the first half of 2021 saw a significant increase.
Gaon Chart Unveils Cumulative Album Sales in the First Half of 2021
Based on the Top 400 album sales that were accumulated from January to May, a total of 19 million copies were sold by all K-pop acts. This is about six million more copies compared to the same period in 2020.
This is already 46% of the 42 million albums sold in 2020.
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The sales figure for June, which includes SEVENTEEN "Your Choice" that surpassed one million copies, has not yet been counted.
Considering this, it is expected that the total album sales of all K-pop acts on Gaon Chart in the first half of 2021 will exceed last year's result.
Some K-pop Groups with Remarkable Album Sales on Gaon Chart in the First Half of 2021
So far, NCT Dream took first place in the Top 400 album sales of Gaon Chart for the first half of 2021.
As of May 2021, NCT Dream's "Hot Sauce" recorded about two million copies on the chart. It is the only album to sell more than one million copies in that month.
NCT Dream's total album sales in 2020 alone are about 700,000 copies, and with just one album this 2021, the sales volume is already 2.8 times the total sales of the previous year.
BTS, who has not yet released any album this year, recorded 960,000 copies with their latest album "BE."
Regarding TXT's album sales on Gaon Chart, the quintet has sold approximately 940,000 copies including the two albums released in 2020.
From the 940,000 copies, nearly 700,000 copies are from TXT's new album "The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE."
TXT's total album sales this year are projected to surpass 10 million copies.
Besides TXT, ATEEZ is another fourth-generation idol group that achieved impressive album sales on the Gaon Chart in the first half of 2021.
READ MORE: TXT Scores Their First-Ever Top 5 on Billboard 200 with 'The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE'
With their new album "ZERO: FEVER Part.2," ATEEZ increased their sales in the first week by 69% compared to their sales in 2020.
ATEEZ's "ZERO: FEVER Part.2" has sold 460,000 copies, so far.
Among the rookie groups that released a new album this 2021, ENHYPEN sold 600,000 copies of their comeback album "BORDER: CARNIVAL."
Super Junior, who is one of the second-generation idol groups that made a comeback in the first half of 2021, sold around 500,000 copies of their 10th full-length album "Renaissance."
Some K-pop Soloists with Notable Album Sales on Gaon Chart in the First Half of 2021
Among the K-pop solo artists, EXO Baekhyun, BLACKPINK Rosé, and IU had some of the impressive album sales on Gaon Chart in the first half of 2021.
EXO Baekhyun continues to solidify his position as the only soloist with a "million-seller" title. This 2021, Baekhyun's "Bambi" sold one million copies.
In 2019, EXO Baekhyun's annual album sales amounted to about 560,000 copies, but in 2020, it grew 1.9 times and recorded one million copies with "Delight."
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While BLACKPINK Rosé's solo debut album "R" reached 470,000 copies on Gaon Chart, IU's "LILAC" sold almost 350,000 copies.
BLACKPINK Rosé currently holds the highest album sales on Gaon Chart for a female solo artist. Meanwhile, IU has exceeded 1.3 million copies sold in South Korea and officially becomes a million-seller soloist.
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Written by Mhaliya Scott
