 |
| Jimin of K-pop boy group BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit Music |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Export sales of K-pop albums are sustaining an upward trend, hitting a new high of $132.93 million in the first half of 2023, according to the Korea Customs Service, Tuesday. This is a 17.1-percent jump from the same period last year.
Japan imported the most K-pop albums from January to June this year, totaling $48.52 million. The U.S. ranked second with imports of $25.51 million, outstripping China which imported $22.64 million. Trailing behind were Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Canada, Britain and France.
China secured the No. 2 spot in 2022 but was dethroned by the U.S. this time. Industry insiders believe this is a testament to K-pop's growing clout in the U.S. ― the world's largest music market that racked up more than $15 billion in revenue last year.
The Grammy-nominated boy band BTS has been on a hiatus as a group as some of its members started their compulsory military service, but those who have not yet commenced their service have been creating a splash in the U.S. with their solo releases. Jimin, for instance, became the first K-pop solo artist to debut at No.1 on the Billboard main singles chart with his tune "Like Crazy."
Other high-profile stars such as Stray Kids and Tomorrow X Together (TXT) also reigned atop the Billboard main albums chart, with TWICE and SEVENTEEN grabbing the No. 2 spot. Rookie girl group FIFTY FIFTY also made new history by placing its song "Cupid" on the Billboard main singles chart only 130 days after its debut. The feel-good earworm also managed to remain on the chart for 16 weeks in a row.
"BTS and BLACKPINK used to represent K-pop in the North American market, but today, K-pop has positioned itself as a specific genre there," Choi Kwang-ho, the secretary general of the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA), was quoted as saying. The KMCA produced Korea's major album sales tracker, Circle Chart.
Choi continued, "The BTS members' enlistment for military duty fueled concerns (that K-pop's global popularity would wane) but the solo projects by the remaining members and the performances of its junior groups like Stray Kids and SEVENTEEN have been remarkably successful. The success of 'Cupid' also demonstrates that K-pop can still increase its share in the streaming market, so I would say it has not yet reached its peak."
![[INTERVIEW] Ecolab helps Korean partners profit from ESG management](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/7a924189dbb7426ab12275ba98702309.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[ANALYSIS] Has N. Korean leader's daughter been confirmed as heir apparent?](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/e65868a1b5834cc3aef853378637d1fd.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] 'Lifeline for migrant workers in Korea' - Rev. Kim fights for foreign employees' rights](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/8fb4b5d381da49df90276394550f2889.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Korea to work with US, Japan to fight climate change](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/800d9054a14b4a0f9cc576366cc1b914.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[REVIEW] Preview gala sets stage for grand premiere of 'La Rose de Versailles' musical](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/c7528d2924cd43c8a469cd46e6f56127.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
