So who's really creating hit albums digitally in South Korea?

1st Official Post

    Decided to f**k around and make a list of the top 100 most successful albums in South Korea, 2018-now, ranked by cumulative digital points. Pre-releases and album-exclusive versions of songs are included in the cumulative total.


    Position Album Name Digital Points
    1 Map of the Soul: 7* 3,320,580,433
    2 Map of the Soul: PERSONA* 3,113,290,443
    3 Love Poem* 3,055,886,789
    4 Love Yourself: TEAR 2,581,014,689
    5 Love Yourself: ANSWER 2,438,580,654
    6 Square Up 2,208,055,017
    7 Speak Your Mind (Deluxe)* 2,032,360,822
    8 항해 (AKMU)* 1,973,896,847
    9 Circular 엠씨더맥스 1,869,912,795
    10 장범준 3집* 1,700,371,432
    11 Palette* 1,675,702,560
    12 Take 1,619,608,787
    13 THE ALBUM* - 1,619,079,580
    14 You Never Walk Alone* 1,589,927,731
    15 Red Diary Page.2 (볼빨간사춘기) 1,538,628,722
    16 Return 1,512,413,790
    17 사춘기집Ⅰ 꽃기운 (Bol4 볼빨간사춘기)* 1,497,822,575
    18 BE* 1,481,550,749
    19 Boyhood* 1,459,738,191
    20 NONSTOP* 1,367,976,567
    21 Moonlight* 1,303,047,701
    22 Aladdin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 1,277,568,688
    23 WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?* 1,245,906,429
    24 Love Yourself: HER 1,232,678,108
    25 Four Seasons* 1,230,261,518
    26 전설 (Jannabi 잔나비)* 1,207,919,236
    27 Evolve 1,169,897,313
    28 thank u, next - 1,140,702,863
    29 I met you when I was 18.* 1,134,259,209
    30 GREAT! 1,131,578,004
    31 ÷ (Deluxe)* 1,103,771,026
    32 Summer Nights 1,091,274,379
    33 Camila 1,089,125,935
    34 Don't Mess Up My Tempo 1,080,692,283
    35 Recipe (Ben) 1,047,164,980
    36 Red Diary Page.1 1,009,132,210
    37 Fitz and The Tantrums (Deluxe) 994,938,562
    38 Offset 994,640,911
    39 Yellow Flower 983,032,987
    40 0+1=1 (I PROMISE YOU) 954,986,652
    41 IT'z Different 920,145,585
    42 쇼미더머니 777 Episode 1 909,279,104
    43 YES OR YES 867,056,042
    44 바람 Wind (Heize) 862,776,965
    45 CHANNEL 8 (MC몽) 859,219,131
    46 고등래퍼2 Final 854,226,422
    47 FLY HIGH PROJECT #2 `옥탑방` 846,578,432
    48 /// (너 먹구름 비) [You, Clouds, Rain - Heize] 839,890,844
    49 Brother Act. 814,225,593
    50 `The ReVe Festival` Finale* 802,720,548
    51 Every letter I sent you.* 801,349,458
    52 THIS IS US - 797,679,953
    53 Dingo X Indigo Music 796,337,365
    54 Red Moon 780,488,790
    55 Frozen 2 (겨울왕국 2 OST) 773,636,716
    56 reality in BLACK 762,657,836
    57 Our love is great 747,959,124
    58 What Is Love? 742,992,556
    59 Kill This Love 723,463,066
    60 1÷X=1 (UNDIVIDED) 717,820,573
    61 Two Fine 710,693,895
    62 FANCY YOU 707,330,428
    63 XX 698,288,378
    64 사월, 그리고 꽃 - The 1st Mini Album 696,015,923
    65 Warning 671,058,022
    66 Time for the Moon Night 668,766,592
    67 쇼미더머니 9 Episode 1* 651,199,729
    68 Maria* 648,585,907
    69 The Perfect Red Velvet - 640,285,314
    70 CEREMONIA* 637,825,365
    71 LOVE SHOT - The 5th Album Repackage 632,707,253
    72 LIFE IS BEAUTY FULL 631,159,449
    73 Summer Magic 610,466,232
    74 Purpose 606,874,476
    75 Merry & Happy 598,385,369
    76 1X1=1(TO BE ONE) 596,209,475
    77 ONE & SIX 595,238,245
    78 Universe - 겨울 스페셜 앨범, 2017 592,268,676
    79 Illuminate (New Deluxe Ver.) 589,517,286
    80 초록빛 582,026,034
    81 Collage 579,628,047
    82 Obsession 579,502,729
    83 쇼미더머니 9 Episode 3* 566,139,381
    84 Hour Moment 565,961,366
    85 EVERYD4Y 565,941,025
    86 1-1=0 (NOTHING WITHOUT YOU) 561,242,135
    87 summer, (jeremy zucker)* 554,592,282
    88 Future Nostalgia* 554,311,335
    89 힘든 건 사랑이 아니다* 554,309,060
    90 The Red Summer - 552,825,036
    91 0M 551,214,205
    92 1¹¹=1 (POWER OF DESTINY) 547,713,761
    93 sleepless in __________ 544,306,880
    94 The Fairy Tale - 530,278,718
    95 사춘기집Ⅱ 꽃 본 나비 505,478,626
    96 Nine Track Mind (Deluxe) 480,453,703
    97 Flourishing 464,539,306
    98 NUNA* 455,447,282
    99 Bloom*IZ 453,117,088
    100 Lilac* 449,560,571

    I don't think anybody else other than IU is making hit albums in South Korea. Having two songs that charted well (ala Oh my Girl) doesn't really qualify for a hit album imo. BTS is, of course, an exception because we don't really know if those B-sides are fan driven or not.

    BTS and IU really are THE digimon. BTS especially with 4 out of top 5. No wonder, since they are album artists and the quality of their b-sides and albums as a coherent whole has no equal in kpop.

    Quote from onlyfacts

    The same can be said about IU. We don't really know if her album's b sides are fan driven or not?

    considering how high and how long IU's bsides chart on korean charts (her entire album is still charting high on ichart), is your implication that IU has a bigger fanbase in south korea than bts? tbh this depends on how someone defines fanbase bc IU's first 24hr unique listeners show that she does have a loyal listener base, just don't know if that's enough to qualify as "fan-driven".

    Quote from salem9

    I don't think anybody else other than IU is making hit albums in South Korea. Having two songs that charted well (ala Oh my Girl) doesn't really qualify for a hit album imo. BTS is, of course, an exception because we don't really know if those B-sides are fan driven or not.

    fyi everyone.... gaon filters fandom streaming. Thats why you have some songs over 400-500M on Melon streams but aren't even certified 100M on Gaon. Gaon digital numbers filter out a lot of fandom influence.

    Quote from pchromo4

    considering how high and how long IU's bsides chart on korean charts (her entire album is still charting high on ichart), is your implication that IU has a bigger fanbase in south korea than bts? tbh this depends on how someone defines fanbase bc IU's first 24hr unique listeners show that she does have a loyal listener base, just don't know if that's enough to qualify as "fan-driven".

    Loyal listeners are fans. Every digimon who has consistently high numbers is fandom based. Fans who stream instead of buying albums are still fans.

    Quote from onlyfacts

    Very good work MassiveKpopFan....

    Can you tell me how many digital points MOTS7 has including tracks from Persona? Same for Answer if you can.

    IU can chart her whole album in the top 10 of melon unlike BTS. She also has had an unstoppable hit pattern of multiple #1 songs with huge UL numbers and PAK hours. But sure you can compare her with BTS, and forget that title track singles like ON and LGO weren’t received that well domestically

  • AllKill VIP
    • Official Post

    Wonder how the album points would look like without the title track + promoted bsides, so we can see whether the GP/fans are really checking for the entire album and not just the promoted tracks. I can work on that I guess.



    All the Western albums though lol :-D I'm more impressed with the points of post-reform albums(like THE ALBUM, LILAC and BE), considering Gaon points have been at an all time low since then. Good work once again :thumbup:

    Quote from itiswhatitisss

    Wonder how the album points would look like without the title track + promoted bsides, so we can see whether the GP/fans are really checking for the entire album and not just the promoted tracks. I can work on that I guess.



    All the Western albums though lol :-D I'm more impressed with the points of post-reform albums(like THE ALBUM, LILAC and BE), considering Gaon points have been at an all time low since then. Good work once again :thumbup:

    I'm surprised at how high Lauv and the Frozen OST is.

    Quote from salem9

    IU can chart her whole album in the top 10 of melon unlike BTS. She also has had an unstoppable hit pattern of multiple #1 songs with huge UL numbers and PAK hours. But sure you can compare her with BTS, and forget that title track singles like ON and LGO weren’t received that well domestically

    What the fuck is this for? They asked a completely unrelated question.


    It's very obvious Love Poem will be in first in a couple of months, and Lilac is going to do a lot of jumping in the next few weeks as the b-sides are still super high.


    BTS does phenomenally, but even they can't stand up to her digitally, and we all know that.

    Quote from HardcoreBLINK

    How come both persona & 7 have almost the same points?

    There's a nearly 200 million point gap, buddy. Basic subtraction.


    7 has 19 songs counted, Persona has 7 songs counted.


    BBIBBI and eight are digital singles, otherwise Me After You, Solo, etc. would all be counted.


    Single albums have 2-4 songs, so if for example, R by Rose gets enough points to make the top 100, I will include it.


    OSTs are on a separate list, since they're always uploaded in parts. That's different from a prelease single.

    Would you like me to give you the top 10 OST list I did?

    I get it.


    Yes, I would.

    Quote from onlyfacts

    The same can be said about IU. We don't really know if her album's b sides are fan driven or not?

    Some of them might be, but the vast majority of them that chart well are also supported by the GP.


    Think like this: BTS has Mikrokosmos, IU has Above the Time. Both songs released on each artist's respective mini album in 2019, and both ended up on the year end chart in 2020 (Mikrokosmos also charted in 2019 too).


    Quote from pchromo4

    considering how high and how long IU's bsides chart on korean charts (her entire album is still charting high on ichart), is your implication that IU has a bigger fanbase in south korea than bts? tbh this depends on how someone defines fanbase bc IU's first 24hr unique listeners show that she does have a loyal listener base, just don't know if that's enough to qualify as "fan-driven".

    IU does have the 2nd highest melon follower count only after BTS, so when she releases, the public knows. She has a huge GP listener base and has a big fandom (just not as big as BTS's).

    Quote from omnimorphism

    I get it.


    Yes, I would.

    Digital points didn't exist in 2017, so yes.


    You're welcome.

  • AllKill VIP
    • Official Post

    The numbers are there, speaking for themselves. Anyone with a brain and two eyes can see who the digimons are. Those lacking both keep questioning where the streams are coming from.


    I suggest aliens. It must be boring in space, so why not.


    Congrats to everyone who made the list. It's well deserved. :borahae:

    Quote from pchromo4

    considering how high and how long IU's bsides chart on korean charts (her entire album is still charting high on ichart), is your implication that IU has a bigger fanbase in south korea than bts? tbh this depends on how someone defines fanbase bc IU's first 24hr unique listeners show that she does have a loyal listener base, just don't know if that's enough to qualify as "fan-driven".


    Quote from salem9

    IU can chart her whole album in the top 10 of melon unlike BTS. She also has had an unstoppable hit pattern of multiple #1 songs with huge UL numbers and PAK hours. But sure you can compare her with BTS, and forget that title track singles like ON and LGO weren’t received that well domestically


    Quote from MassiveKpopFan

    Some of them might be, but the vast majority of them that chart well are also supported by the GP.


    Think like this: BTS has Mikrokosmos, IU has Above the Time. Both songs released on each artist's respective mini album in 2019, and both ended up on the year end chart in 2020 (Mikrokosmos also charted in 2019 too).


    IU does have the 2nd highest melon follower count only after BTS, so when she releases, the public knows. She has a huge GP listener base and has a big fandom (just not as big as BTS's).

    My point is that a digital point is a digital point. Doesn't matter it comes from a fan or a "GP". Kpop fans (mostly these types of fans whom I had quoted in my first reply here) need to stop giving "GP" more importance because it holds as much significance as a "fan driven" point and it is dumb. Peace.

  • AllKill VIP
    • Official Post
    Quote from onlyfacts

    Doesn't matter it comes from a fan or a "GP".

    I feel you, I swear.

    This tendency to differentiate between fans and the GP hurts my brain. Isn't the GP people at the end of the day who stream because they're also fans of the artist? Or I'm missing something here. I'm baffled at why some insist on painting the fans as some sort of a different breed.

    This is a nice compilation of albums performance digitally! Thanks MassiveKpopFan! Does it matter if its fan driven or GP? Fandom or GP are still people who streams song to their likeness! Just say congratulations who made the list! And Yes congrats Bangtan, your albums are worth listening too till your ears bleeds out! And Yes again, congrats to other albums that made the lists!

    Quote from salem9

    IU can chart her whole album in the top 10 of melon unlike BTS. She also has had an unstoppable hit pattern of multiple #1 songs with huge UL numbers and PAK hours. But sure you can compare her with BTS, and forget that title track singles like ON and LGO weren’t received that well domestically

    Not at you being your typical troll self and trying to create drama between Armys and IU stans in a thread where there was no drama. Reminds me of the time you started a fan war between Armys and Blinks with your stupid Artist of the Year thread which backfired eventually and left you looking like a clown. Knowing how you aren't a Blink or a Uaena, you could not be more obvious in what you are attempting.


    Not one Army said that BTS are bigger than IU digitally in Korea so what are you even on?


    Some girl group stans need to stop being so pressed over BTS' success on Korean charts. Yes BTS are the biggest digimon amongst 3rd gen Kpop groups, deal with it.

    Quote from MassiveKpopFan

    What the fuck is this for? They asked a completely unrelated question.


    It's very obvious Love Poem will be in first in a couple of months, and Lilac is going to do a lot of jumping in the next few weeks as the b-sides are still super high.


    BTS does phenomenally, but even they can't stand up to her digitally, and we all know that.

    I’m just answering your question. “Who is making hit albums?” Only IU. She’s pretty much the equivalent of Bad Bunny in South America. No other artist comes close to them digitally


    Does BTS perform great digitally too? Absolutely. They’ve had monster singles in the past. But calling their albums digital hits seems far fetched imo

    Quote from salem9

    I’m just answering your question. “Who is making hit albums?” Only IU.

    Massive isn't asking anyone. He is telling the answer to the question. He is telling people that these are the top 100 albums in korea based on Gaon digital points.

    And this list shows that BTS have 4 of the top 5 albums in korea since 2018 digitally. Literally proving they are the biggest digital hit albums in korea since 2018.

  • This thread contains 76 more posts that have been hidden for guests, please register yourself or login to continue reading.

Participate now!

Don’t have an account yet? Register yourself now and be a part of our community!

Register Yourself Login