By Lina Hope 
SEOUL — Circle Chart, South Korea’s premier music chart tracking platform, has officially released its weekly data for the period of July 5 to July 11. The latest metrics highlight a dynamic landscape of intense competition, marked by successful solo debuts, resilient digital blockbusters, and an evolving consumer preference for alternative physical formats.
Most notably, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) member Yeonjun made a spectacular splash with his highly anticipated solo debut, securing a prestigious "double crown" by dominating both physical and digital sales vectors. Concurrently, indie-pop powerhouse CORTIS maintained an iron grip on the domestic streaming market, while the global K-pop index demonstrated remarkable stability amidst a wave of new summer releases.
Main Facts: Key Takeaways from the July 5–11 Chart Cycle
- Yeonjun’s Solo Triumph: TXT’s Yeonjun secured the No. 1 spot on both the Physical Album Chart with his debut solo mini-album, NO LABELS: PART 02, and the Digital Download Chart with its lead single, "Ice Cream."
- CORTIS’s Digital Reign: CORTIS prolonged their chart-topping run, clinching a double crown of their own by leading both the Overall Digital Chart and the Streaming Chart with "REDRED" for the third consecutive week.
- Physical Market Refresh: The physical album chart witnessed a complete turnover, with all top five positions occupied by newly released albums, highlighting intense first-week purchasing dynamics.
- (G)I-DLE’s Multi-Format Strategy: Senior girl group (G)I-DLE successfully placed two distinct versions of their new mini-album We made in the top five of the physical chart, validating the industry’s ongoing shift toward platform-based, eco-friendly album alternatives.
- Global Stagnation vs. Domestic Virality: While the Global K-Pop Chart’s top five remained completely unchanged from the previous week—led by HUNTR/X’s OST track "Golden"—domestic charts felt the impact of viral revivals, particularly RESCENE’s 2024 sleeper hit "LOVE ATTACK."
Chronology: Detailed Chart-by-Chart Breakdown
Circle Chart Rankings (July 5 – July 11)
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PHYSICAL ALBUM CHART │
│ 1. Yeonjun (TXT) – NO LABELS: PART 02 │
│ 2. (G)I-DLE – We made (Regular) │
│ 3. VAYONN – Youth Today (EVER version) │
│ 4. AHOF – RUN TO YOU │
│ 5. (G)I-DLE – We made (POCA version) │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ DIGITAL DOWNLOAD CHART │
│ 1. Yeonjun (TXT) – Ice Cream │
│ 2. RESCENE – Pretty Girl │
│ 3. (G)I-DLE – Gimme Dat Love │
│ 4. AHOF – RUN TO YOU │
│ 5. RESCENE – LOVE ATTACK │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘The Physical Album Chart
The physical album market experienced a highly competitive week, characterized entirely by new entries.
At the summit, TXT’s Yeonjun established his solo credentials with NO LABELS: PART 02. The mini-album took the No. 1 spot, driven by immense global pre-orders and robust first-week domestic retail shipments.
Following closely at No. 2 was the regular edition of (G)I-DLE’s new mini-album, We made. Highlighting the complexity of modern physical distribution, the POCA (smart card) version of the same album charted independently at No. 5, effectively giving the Cube Entertainment quintet two parallel footholds in the top five.
Emerging acts also made a strong showing: the "EVER" platform version of rookie group VAYONN’s debut EP, Youth Today, entered the chart at No. 3, while AHOF’s high-energy mini-album, RUN TO YOU, debuted at No. 4.
The Digital Download Chart
The Digital Download Chart, which tracks individual track purchases across South Korean digital music portals, mirrored the physical chart’s affinity for fresh releases.
Yeonjun’s retro-pop title track "Ice Cream" debuted at No. 1, completing his weekly double crown.
Five-member girl group RESCENE secured the No. 2 spot with their newly released remake of the classic track "Pretty Girl."
(G)I-DLE’s promotional lead single "Gimme Dat Love" debuted at No. 3, followed by AHOF’s title track "RUN TO YOU" at No. 4.
Rounding out the top five was RESCENE once again, as their belatedly viral 2024 electronic dance anthem "LOVE ATTACK" climbed back up the charts to No. 5, demonstrating impressive long-tail consumer interest.
The Overall Digital and Streaming Charts
In contrast to the volatility of the download and physical charts, the domestic streaming sector remained highly consolidated. The top five configurations for both the Overall Digital Chart (which combines streaming, downloads, and background music usage) and the Streaming Chart were identical:
- "REDRED" by CORTIS (No. 1) – This track maintained its pole position for a third consecutive week, proving to be the definitive domestic summer hit.
- "Suddenly" by I.O.I (No. 2) – The sentimental ballad continued to capture the public’s interest, maintaining its runner-up position.
- "LOVE ATTACK" by RESCENE (No. 3) – Driven by social media trends and algorithmic playlisting, the track cemented its status as a premier digital sleeper hit.
- "LEMONADE" by aespa (No. 4) – The hyper-pop infused track showed strong consistency, anchoring aespa within the digital upper echelon.
- "It’s Me" by ILLIT (No. 5) – The bright, synth-heavy track continued its steady run, bolstered by high-volume streaming across major platforms like Melon, Genie, and Flo.
The Global K-Pop Chart
Reflecting international consumption patterns across global platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, the Global K-Pop Chart saw no new entries in its top tier this week, displaying a rare period of absolute stability.
Global K-Pop Chart Top 5 (Unchanged from Previous Week)
1. HUNTR/X – "Golden" (KPop Demon Hunters OST)
2. BTS – "SWIM"
3. LE SSERAFIM x ILLIT x KATSEYE – "ICONIC BY MISTAKE"
4. CORTIS – "REDRED"
5. ILLIT – "It’s Me"HUNTR/X’s "Golden," featured on the soundtrack of the hit multimedia series KPop Demon Hunters, held onto the No. 1 spot. BTS’s legacy track "SWIM" remained immovable at No. 2, while "ICONIC BY MISTAKE"—the high-profile cross-label collaborative single by LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and global girl group KATSEYE—held firm at No. 3. CORTIS’s "REDRED" and ILLIT’s "It’s Me" completed the global top five at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
Social Chart 3.0
Circle’s Social Chart 3.0, which measures an artist’s global popularity by aggregating data from platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Mubeat, and MyCelebs, saw familiar powerhouses retain their dominance.
ILLIT maintained their position at No. 1, reflecting their high engagement levels on short-form video platforms.
Industry veterans BTS and trendsetters aespa held onto their respective spots at No. 2 and No. 3.
YG Entertainment’s rising girl group BABYMONSTER climbed to No. 4, fueled by international promotions, while soloist Yena rounded out the top five at No. 5.
Supporting Data: Shifts in Physical Formats and Viral Lifecycles
An analysis of this week’s data reveals two significant market trends: the rising share of alternative physical album formats and the shifting timeline of digital hits.
The Rise of Alternative Physical Formats
The presence of VAYONN’s "EVER version" at No. 3 and (G)I-DLE’s "POCA version" at No. 5 highlights the growing market share of platform-based albums. Unlike traditional CD packages, these formats utilize NFC chips, QR codes, and digital photocards to deliver music and exclusive content via dedicated mobile apps.
According to retail distribution data, these compact formats now account for an estimated 18% to 25% of total weekly physical sales for major releases. This trend is driven by eco-conscious consumers and collectors who prioritize photocard acquisition over traditional plastic jewel cases.
Estimated Physical Album Market Share by Format (July 5 – July 11)
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ████████████████████████████████████████ Standard CD (78%)│
│ ██████████ Alternative (22%)│
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘The Sleeper-Hit Phenomenon
RESCENE’s dual presence in the digital top five with "Pretty Girl" (No. 2 in Downloads) and "LOVE ATTACK" (No. 3 in Streaming; No. 5 in Downloads) provides an interesting look at the modern K-pop lifecycle.
"LOVE ATTACK," originally released in 2024, experienced a major resurgence nearly two years post-launch. This revival was driven by a synchronized uptick in short-form video challenges and localized algorithmic curation. This illustrates a growing trend where older catalog tracks compete directly with high-budget, newly released promotional singles.
Official Responses and Industry Reception
Industry representatives and music critics have weighed in on this week’s notable chart dynamics, particularly Yeonjun’s successful solo transition and the ongoing dominance of OST tracks globally.
A representative from Big Hit Music expressed gratitude for the reception of Yeonjun’s solo work, stating:
"We are incredibly grateful for the global support shown to Yeonjun’s first solo endeavor. NO LABELS: PART 02 was designed to showcase a more personal, experimental side of his musical identity, separate from the group dynamics of Tomorrow X Together. To achieve a double crown in our debut week is a testament to the dedication of the fans and Yeonjun’s broad appeal as a soloist."
Music critic Kim Young-dae commented on the stability of the Global K-Pop Chart and the rising influence of multimedia soundtracks:
"The absolute stability of the Global K-Pop Chart this week, led by HUNTR/X’s ‘Golden,’ shows that K-pop’s reach is expanding beyond traditional release models. Soundtracks tied to virtual IP, gaming, or animated media like KPop Demon Hunters are establishing a long-term presence on global streaming services. These tracks are no longer just supplementary content; they are becoming major hits in their own right, rivaling standard promotional singles from the industry’s biggest agencies."
Implications: The Evolving K-Pop Ecosystem
The chart results for the week of July 5 to July 11 point to several broader shifts within the K-pop industry.
The Viability of Solo Spinoffs
Yeonjun’s immediate commercial success confirms the viability of solo projects for active members of fourth-generation flagship groups. By securing a double crown, Yeonjun has shown that solo releases can perform well across both physical sales and digital downloads, paving the way for more individual projects within his cohort.
The Strategic Value of Cross-Label Collaborations
The ongoing success of "ICONIC BY MISTAKE"—the collaborative effort between LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE—suggests that cross-label and cross-border collaborations are becoming an effective strategy for sustained global engagement. By combining distinct fanbases under a single release, labels can keep their artists on the charts even during periods between major album promotions.
Changing Consumer Behavior
The divide between the volatile Download Chart and the steady Streaming Chart highlights two distinct types of music consumers in the K-pop space.
The Download and Physical Charts remain driven by dedicated fandoms mobilizing during a release’s first week. Meanwhile, the Streaming Chart is governed by the general public and algorithmic playlisting, which favors long-term stability over initial spikes.
For entertainment agencies, balancing these two dynamics—fostering dedicated fan engagement while securing broad public appeal—remains the key to long-term commercial success in a competitive market.
Siti Muinah 
Iffa Jayyana 
Ammar Sabilarrohman 