BTS becomes 1st Korean group to top UK chart 2 times

Members of South Korean K-pop group BTS pose for photos during the Golden Disk Awards in Seoul, South Korea, in this Jan. 5, 2020, file photo. Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

BTS has become the first Korean group to score the No.1 position on the U.K.'s official music chart twice.

According to British Official Charts, Friday (local time), K-pop sensation BTS' newly released album “Map of the Soul: 7” topped the chart and became the fastest-selling album of 2020.

The boy band that has become a source of pride in its home country based on its economic success, clinched its first No. 1 last year with the April release of the mini-album “Map of the Seoul: Persona”.

The album's first single “On” also entered the British single chart hitting 21st position, while another song from the album “Filter” ranked 100th on the same list.

According to the music chart, “the album's opening week chart sales of 38,000 means it overtakes Eminem's Music to Be Murdered By, which previously had the year's biggest debut week selling just over 36,000. Just under 32,000 of BTS's opening week figure came from pure physical and download sales.”

In addition to making Korean history on the British mainstream chart, BTS also swept European music charts.

SNEP, a French music chart, announced that the new album secured the No. 1 position in the upcoming weekly chart with 23,502 sold.

In the Dutch Charts, Official Irish Albums Chart, Belgium Albums Chart and Offizielle Deutsche Charts, BTS' new album also debuted as the top seller.