K-pop artists have reaffirmed their global dominance, making waves on a prominent U.S. music chart. According to a report from Luminate dated July 17, these stars captured five out of the top ten positions in the best-selling physical albums in the U.S. for the first half of the year. Notably, boy bands Stray Kids, ENHYPEN, and ATEEZ stood out, reflecting a clear preference among American listeners for K-pop male groups.
Curious to learn more about the K-pop acts that made this list? Keep reading!
Stray Kids Claims the Top Spot Among K-pop Groups in the U.S.
Leading the way is Stray Kids, who emerged as the best-selling K-pop group in the U.S. for the first half of 2025, thanks to their 2024 mixtape titled HOP. Impressively, they not only topped the K-pop rankings but also placed second overall among all global artists, selling 149,000 equivalent album units. Close behind them is ENHYPEN, coming in third overall with their album DESIRE: UNLEASH, which saw 145,000 equivalent album units sold.
Both HOP and DESIRE: UNLEASH secured positions on the U.S. Top 10 CD Albums chart, illustrating their remarkable sales through physical and digital formats.
Top 5 Best-Selling K-pop Groups in the U.S.
The third position among K-pop groups is held by ATEEZ, who ranked fourth overall with 116,000 equivalent album units sold. Their success, much like ENHYPEN’s, was a result of their latest album, Golden Hour: Part. 3. Rounding out the top five are SEVENTEEN and LE SSERAFIM, showcasing the strength of the fourth-generation K-pop scene.
SEVENTEEN’s Happy Burstday landed in the seventh position overall, with 79,000 units sold, while LE SSERAFIM’s HOT claimed the ninth spot with 73,000 equivalent album units. This impressive performance from these K-pop groups highlights their expanding global fanbase and the genre’s ability to break regional barriers, resonating with fans across the world.
What are your thoughts on the latest K-pop trends and the rise of these groups?
