Seo Tai-ji

South Korea's music icon Seo Tai-ji ranked first in album sales so far this year.

According to Hanteo Chart, an online site measuring local music record sales, Friday, Seo sold 198,215 copies between Jan. 1 and Sept. 17 this year to stand atop other pop idols.

Seo, 37, released two single albums, one regular album and Seo Tai-ji and Boys vol. 1-4 since making his comeback in July last year.

Seo, a famous rock singer, musician and songwriter, emerged on the Korean music scene in the 1990s and was often called the ``Culture President of Korea.''

Girls' Generation, one of South Korea's leading girl bands, took second place by selling 190,475 copies thanks to the success of ``Gee'' and ``Genie.''

Given album sales of girl groups usually remain weak compared with those of boy bands, Girls' Generation's result is noteworthy, music experts said.

Big Bang, the five-member boy band, and Super Junior, the 13-member boy group, placed third and fourth with 161,460 and 131,480 album sales, respectively. G-Dragon, Big Bang's leader, ranked fifth with 113,100 copies sold.