BTS, SEVENTEEN, & More: Hanteo Chart Calculations Reveal the Best-Selling K-Pop Albums of 2020

By Alexa Lewis Jan 03, 2021

Now that 2020 has come to an end, we can take a look at all the releases of the past year to see which releases were the most successful. Hanteo is one of the major music charts in South Korea and tallies the number of album sales. According to Hanteo's calculations, there are the best-selling albums of 2020!

It is not surprising that BTS topped the list. Sitting at number one is their Feb. 2020 release, "Map of the Soul: 7". The album is BTS's fourth full-length studio album and is a follow-up to their 2019 EP, "Map of the Soul: Persona". According to the Hanteo Chart, the album sold 3,839,242 copies in 2020. It is the best-selling album in South Korean history. "Map of the Soul: 7" topped the charts in over 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 422,000 copies in its first week.

(Photo : Big Hit Entertainment)

The album was certified quadruple million by the Korean Music Content Association (KMCA) and certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Additionally, it earned numerous gold certifications in other countries.

The second best-selling album also belongs to BTS, with their Nov. 2020 release "Be". "Be" sold 2,343,709 copies, according to the Hanteo Chart's calculations. "Be" debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with the album's lead single, "Life Goes On" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. This made BTS the only act besides Taylor Swift to simultaneously debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200. "Be" topped the charts in Canada, Denmark, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Lithuania, Ireland, Norway, Poland, and the Flemish region of Belgium.

(Photo : Big Hit Entertainment)

The third best-selling album goes to the PLEDIS Entertainment boy group, SEVENTEEN, with their June 2020 release "Heng:garæ." The album sold 1,146,465 copies, according to the Hanteo chart. Upon the first week of the album's release, "Heng:garæ" sold 1,097,891 copies. It is SEVENTEEN's best-selling album in South Korea. Prior to "Heng:garæ", BTS was the only act to surpass one million copies of an album sold in the first week. SEVENTEEN made headlines for being the next group to do so!