BTS’ new release “ARIRANG” is extending its strong run in the market.
Hanteo Chart said on the 25th that the album sold more than 4 million copies in three days, taking the No. 1 spot on its weekly chart. On the first day alone, it sold 3.98 million copies to top the daily chart.
The sales figure is being read as more than a measure of popularity. If the group’s comeback performance in Gwanghwamun created a widely shared “return” moment, the 4 million mark shows how strongly that moment translated into purchases.
Fans are not only buying music, but also a narrative that combines reunion and return, a symbolic venue and global broadcasting. For BTS, the new album functions both as a collection of new songs and as a tangible marker of a story reconnected after a long break.
The result also underscores that physical albums remain a powerful industry indicator in K-pop, even as streaming dominates listening. While fewer people use physical albums to play music, South Korea’s physical album sales hit a peak of 116 million copies in 2023. The market has been driven by collectible consumption, including photo cards, multiple package versions and fan-meeting entry promotions.
Against that backdrop, “ARIRANG” stands out, the article said, because it shows BTS can move both a global fan base and the domestic album market at the same time. The first-day total of 3.98 million and the three-day milestone of more than 4 million indicate that comeback attention was converted into purchases, as performance symbolism, fan emotion and K-pop’s collectible model aligned once again.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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