Seoul: K-pop sensation BTS's fifth studio album was the bestselling album in Japan during the first half of the year, a sales tally released Saturday showed. According to Billboard Japan's first-half Top Album Sales chart, BTS' full-length album "Arirang" sold 706,961 copies, topping the ranking ahead of albums by Japanese artists.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the album, led by the title track "Swim," comprises 14 tracks and marked the group's first release following a four-year hiatus. This hiatus was due to the members' mandatory military service. The strong performance of "Arirang" highlights BTS's continued influence in the Japanese music market.
In addition to BTS, five other K-pop-related acts secured spots in the top 20, showcasing the genre's substantial popularity in Japan. Japan-based boy group and TEAM took the second position with its third EP, "We on Fire," while Enhypen's seventh mini album, "The Sin: Vanish," ranked fourth.
Boy group TXT achieved the seventh position with its eighth mini album, "7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns," and TWS's "No Tragedy" secured the 10th spot. Boy group Treasure's third EP, "Love Pulse," placed 13th on the chart.
BTS, and TEAM, Enhypen, TXT, and TWS are signed to labels under Hybe, while Treasure is managed by YG Entertainment. The presence of these groups in the top 20 underscores the growing dominance of K-pop in the Japanese music scene.