K-Pop Surpasses Taylor Swift on the IFPI Global Album Sales Chart

K-pop is enjoying a surge in popularity worldwide.

According to Forbes, on March 27, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced the Global Album Sales Chart 2023. The report revealed that 19 of the top 20 best-selling albums worldwide last year were K-pop. The IFPI stated that this unprecedented record demonstrates the global dominance of Korean artists.

The album FML by the group SEVENTEEN topped the chart. Last year, they sold approximately 6.4 million albums worldwide, setting a new pre-order record among Korean albums.

Stray Kids’ 5-STAR came in second, and NCT DREAM’s ISTJ ranked third. The only foreign artist in the top 20 was pop star Taylor Swift, whose album 1989 (Taylor’s Version) ranked sixth.

IFPI Director Lewis Morrison congratulated artists like SEVENTEEN and Taylor Swift. He explained that they had captured audiences worldwide last year and achieved tremendous commercial success.

Morrison also stated that the revenue from digital and physical music formats is continuously growing. He said, “The combination of great artistry, diversity of formats, and the relentless efforts of record companies are the foundation of this growth.” He thanked the artists who made it onto each album chart and emphasized, “It’s been a great chart that sums up a wonderful year of global records and music.”

Online viewers also gave a thumbs-up to the growing stature of K-pop beyond Korea.

BTS’s Jungkook, V, and Jimin, currently serving in the military, also made it onto the Global Album Sales Chart 2023 with their solo albums Seven, Layover, and FACE, respectively, released last year.

The chart also included groups like EXO, IVE, Zero Base One, aespa, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, (G)I-DLE, NCT127, and ENHYPEN.