The Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) has officially released its latest round of certifications via Circle Chart, highlighting a period of exceptional physical sales in the global K-pop industry. Leading this month’s cohort of high-achieving artists is the group CORTIS, who secured a rare and highly coveted "Double Million" certification for their latest extended play (EP), GREENGREEN. Alongside this milestone, a diverse array of established icons, fast-rising rookies, and solo artists have earned multi-platinum and platinum awards, underscoring the sustained health and expansion of the physical music market.
Main Facts: A Landmark Month for Physical Albums
The newly published data from Circle Chart showcases the massive scale of contemporary K-pop album consumption. In an era where global music markets are heavily dominated by digital streaming, South Korea’s physical album ecosystem continues to defy international trends, driven by highly dedicated domestic and international fandoms.
The headline achievement of this certification cycle belongs to CORTIS. The group’s latest EP, GREENGREEN, performed exceptionally well across multiple formats:
The regular version of GREENGREEN surpassed the 2 million sales threshold, earning an official Double Million certification.
The Weverse version of the same EP cleared over 500,000 units, securing a Double Platinum certification.
Combined, the two formats accumulated over 2.5 million certified sales, placing CORTIS among the industry’s top physical sellers.
Other notable milestones include:
aespa (LEMONADE) and TWS (play hard) both secured Triple Platinum status, representing sales exceeding 750,000 copies each.
BABYMONSTER achieved dual certifications for their mini-album CHOOM, with the regular version reaching Double Platinum (500,000+ copies) and the digital Nemo version achieving Platinum (250,000+ copies).
A strong contingent of acts—including LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and rookie group AND2BLE—attained Double Platinum certifications for selling over half a million copies of their respective releases.
Seven additional releases, including works by ITZY, ZEROBASEONE, NMIXX, NCT’s Taeyong, XLOV, CRAVITY, and the Weverse edition of NewJeans‘ Supernatural, were certified Platinum for crossing the 250,000-copy threshold.
Chronology: The Evolution of the Circle Chart Certification System
To fully appreciate the significance of these sales milestones, it is essential to understand the history and mechanics of South Korea’s official music tracking.
For decades, physical music sales in South Korea were tracked by various proprietary retail charts, leading to discrepancies and a lack of standardized industry benchmarks. To address this, the Korea Music Content Industry Association (now the KMCA) launched the Gaon Chart in 2010 with the backing of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
The 2018 Certification Revolution
On January 1, 2018, the KMCA introduced a standardized, tier-based certification system for album sales, digital downloads, and online streaming. This brought the South Korean music industry in line with international trade bodies such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
Under this system, certifications are only applied to music released on or after January 1, 2018. The benchmarks for physical albums are structured as follows:
Platinum: 250,000 units sold
Double Platinum: 500,000 units sold
Triple Platinum: 750,000 units sold
Million: 1,000,000 units sold
Double Million / Multi-Million: Awarded in increments of 1,000,000 units thereafter.
In July 2022, the KMCA rebranded Gaon Chart as Circle Chart. This change was more than aesthetic; it represented a structural shift to capture global consumer data. While the original Gaon Chart focused primarily on domestic sales and streaming, Circle Chart partnered with international platforms—including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube—to compile a comprehensive "Global K-Pop Chart."
This modernization has allowed the chart to accurately reflect how international fanbases influence physical shipments, as domestic distributors increasingly ship bulk orders directly to retail hubs in North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Supporting Data: Detailed Breakdown of Monthly Certifications
The latest batch of certifications spans several generations of K-pop talent, showcasing the commercial viability of both veteran groups and newly debuted rookies. Below is the structured classification of the certified albums based on Circle Chart’s official data:
Double Million Certification (Over 2,000,000 copies sold)
CORTIS – GREENGREEN (Regular Version)
Publisher/Distributor: Major Retail Channels
Significance: This milestone solidifies CORTIS’s position at the absolute forefront of the physical market, highlighting a highly mobilized global fanbase capable of generating multi-million shipments within a single promotional window.
Significance: aespa continues to show exceptional commercial stability, demonstrating that their unique hyper-pop concept continues to resonate strongly with physical collectors.
TWS – play hard (2025 Mini Album)
Significance: As a relatively new act, TWS’s entry into the Triple Platinum tier highlights the rapid upward trajectory of next-generation boy groups under the HYBE umbrella.
Analysis: The Double Platinum tier is heavily populated by female acts (BABYMONSTER, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT), demonstrating that the historical gap in physical sales between boy groups and girl groups has effectively closed. Additionally, rookie group AND2BLE’s half-million sales for their debut project Sequence 01: Curiosity indicates a highly receptive market for new talent.
Platinum Certification (Over 250,000 copies sold)
BABYMONSTER – CHOOM (Nemo Version)
ITZY – Motto
ZEROBASEONE – Ascend-
NMIXX – Heavy Serenade
Taeyong (NCT) – WYLD
XLOV – I,God
CRAVITY – ReDeFINE
NewJeans – Supernatural (Weverse Version)
Analysis: Soloists like NCT’s Taeyong proving their physical drawing power with WYLD showcases the strength of individual fandoms. Meanwhile, the inclusion of alternative formats, such as the Nemo version of BABYMONSTER’s CHOOM and the Weverse version of NewJeans’ Supernatural, underscores how diversified album packaging drives total sales.
Official Responses and Industry Perspectives
While major entertainment agencies rarely issue formal statements for standard monthly certifications, the strategic moves behind these releases speak volumes. Industry insiders note that the distribution of certifications across multiple album formats—such as standard jewel cases, photo book editions, and digital platform versions (Weverse, Nemo, SMC)—is the result of careful corporate planning.
The Rise of Eco-Friendly and Platform Formats
A representative from a major music distribution company, speaking anonymously, commented on the trend:
"The inclusion of platform versions, such as Weverse and Nemo albums, in the Platinum and Double Platinum categories is a major win for both sustainability and logistics. These formats replace heavy plastic cases and CDs with digital QR codes and NFC cards. The fact that NewJeans and BABYMONSTER can move hundreds of thousands of these units shows that fans are embracing digital-physical hybrids."
Furthermore, agencies are increasingly leveraging these diversified formats to maintain chart momentum. By staggering the release of standard editions and platform editions, labels can sustain high shipment volumes over several weeks, ensuring their artists remain competitive on weekly music broadcasts and year-end award nominations.
Implications: What These Numbers Mean for the K-Pop Market
The latest Circle Chart data points to several key trends that will shape the music industry moving forward.
1. The Normalization of High-Volume Sales
A few years ago, a "Million Seller" was a rare occurrence reserved for the industry’s absolute elite. Today, multi-million sellers like CORTIS and half-million sellers like ILLIT and BABYMONSTER are becoming standard for top-tier promotions. This shift reflects the successful globalization of K-pop, where a group’s market is no longer confined to East Asia but is distributed globally.
2. The Resiliency of the Physical Format
While Western music markets rely almost entirely on streaming—with physical sales largely restricted to niche vinyl collectors—the South Korean model has turned physical albums into premium, collectible merchandise. The inclusion of high-quality photobooks, randomized photocards, and exclusive digital content ensures that fans view the physical purchase as an essential part of the fan experience rather than an outdated medium.
3. Fandom Demographics and Market Diversity
The distribution of certifications across different generations of K-pop is telling. Established fourth-generation groups like aespa, ITZY, and LE SSERAFIM continue to pull massive numbers, while fifth-generation rookies like TWS and ILLIT are rapidly catching up. This suggests that the market is not yet oversaturated; rather, new fanbases are constantly entering the ecosystem, expanding the overall pie for physical sales.
As the KMCA continues to track these metrics, the steady stream of Platinum and Million certifications serves as a powerful indicator of K-pop’s enduring economic impact. For labels, artists, and fans alike, these numbers are not just statistics—they are a testament to the global cultural footprint of Korean music.
By Nana Wu 
Lina Irawan 
Suro Senen 
rifanmuazin 