BTS, BLACKPINK lead K-pop's record first half as album exports hit 382.3B won

K-pop album exports hit approximately 382.3 billion won in the first half of 2023. That's a 125% jump from the same period the previous year and a new record high.

BTS and BLACKPINK drove the numbers. BTS released their fifth studio album ARIRANG — their first in 3 years and 9 months — and it held the Billboard 200 at number one for three consecutive weeks. The title track SWIM also reached number one on the main singles chart. BLACKPINK's third mini-album DEADLINE sold close to 2 million copies.

Circle Chart reported cumulative album sales across the industry reached approximately 55 million copies in the first half of the year, up from the prior year.

The United States posted the highest export value. Japan and China followed. Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Poland rounded out the major markets.

H2 is stacked. BIGBANG launches a world tour marking their 20th debut anniversary. Stray Kids are targeting the top of the Billboard 200 with a new mini-album. Red Velvet, ENHYPEN, and NCT 127 all have comebacks planned.