The K-pop boy band Stray Kids on June 11 topped the Billboard 200 album chart for the third time with their third regular album "5-Star." The photo is an image from the group's latest album. (JYP Entertainment)

By Yoon Sojung

The K-pop boy bands Stray Kids and BTS have topped major music charts worldwide to further expand their international popularity. 

Billboard of the U.S. on June 11 said Stray Kids topped the Billboard 200 album chart with their third regular album "5-Star."  

This is the group's third album to debut at No. 1 on the chart following its two EPs last year "Oddinary" and "Maxident." 

Billboard said "5-Star" sold 249,500 album-equivalent units in the week ending on June 8, comprising 235,000 physical CDs and 14,000 stream- (SEAs) and 500 track-equivalent albums (TEAs).

The Billboard 200 is based on sales of traditional physical albums, number of streams converted into SEAs and that of digital music downloads converted into TEAs.

"5-STAR is mostly in the Korean language, but includes some English lyrics," Billboard said. 

"It is the 19th mostly non-English language album to hit No. 1, and the third of 2023, following Karol G's Mañana Será Bonito (one week, March 11 chart) and TOMORROW X TOGETHER's The Name Chapter: Temptation (one week, Feb. 11)."

"As Stray Kids have seen their first three entries on the Billboard 200 all debut at No. 1, the last act also to have its first three chart entries all debut atop the list was Harry Styles..." 

Stray Kids is also the only K-pop act other than BTS to top the Billboard 200 three times.

BTS' new single "Take Two," which marks the 10th anniversary of the supergroup's debut, on June 9 topped the Global Top 50 of Spotify, the world's largest music streaming service, and the Daily Digital Single Ranking of Japan's Oricon chart. (Official Facebook account of BTS)

Meanwhile, "Take Two," a song in which all seven members of the K-pop supergroup BTS took part to mark the 10th anniversary of its debut, also topped major music charts abroad. 

Released worldwide on June 9, the song on the same day topped the Daily Top Song Global chart of the world's largest music streaming service Spotify with 7,279,978 streams, Spotify's chart that day said.

On the same day, "Take Two" was also No. 1 on the Daily Digital Single Ranking of Japan's Oricon chart with 21,792 downloads. As of June 10 at 9 a.m. Korean Standard Time, it also topped iTunes' Top Song Chart in 92 countries and regions.

Recorded by all seven members before Jin reported for his mandatory military service, the acoustic pop song features sweet vocals, rap that delicately expresses the group's journey from its debut to present day and a cozy mood.

In addition, BTS from June 12-25 will host the event "2023 BTS Festa" across Seoul to mark its 10th anniversary.

arete@korea.kr