After years of releasing hit albums and EPs and racking up many bestsellers, Pentagon has finally landed their first No. 1 album in South Korea. The boy band’s In:vite U launches atop the Gaon Albums chart, which ranks the bestselling full-lengths, EPs and single albums in the Asian nation every week, looking at how many copies were shipped to stores. Two other popular efforts launch inside the top 10 on the tally this time around, with Pentagon running the show.
SM Town’s 2021 Winter SMTOWN: SMCU Express compilation led the charge last week, and this time around it slides back to second place. The set features contributions from musicians signed to SM Entertainment, including Aespa, Super Junior and TVXQ, to name just a few.
The second-highest debut this frame comes from Def., the alter ego used by singer-songwriter Jay B. Throughout his career, he has shared music as Def., Jay B and with the bands Got7, JJ Project, Jus2 and Offshore. Looking only at his solo output, Def. has now reached the top 10 on the Gaon Albums chart twice, with his new EP Love bringing him to a new high point of No. 3. The groups he’s been a part of have now collected at least 20 top 10 efforts in the country.
The final debut inside the top 10 on this week’s Gaon Albums chart comes from Kyuhyun, who is also known for releasing music under his own name as well as with several different groups. The solo star and Super Junior, Super Junior-K.R.Y., Super Junior-M and SM the Ballad member is back inside the highest arena on the ranking with his new EP Love Story (4 Season Project). The effort launches at No. 4, giving him his sixth trip to the tier as a soloist.
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The next four titles all gain ground from where they ranked last week, despite the handful of debuts inside the upper half of the top 10 on the latest Gaon Albums chart. BamBam’s B, Enhypen’s Dimension: Answer, Jinjin & Rocky’s Rocky and Kep1er’s First Impact improve to Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively.
UP10TION’s Novella returns to the top 10 on this week’s Gaon Albums chart, though the title has found space inside the area before. This time around, it’s back at No. 9, down from its original No. 3 peak, which it reached earlier this year. Right behind that returning bestseller comes Fromis 9’s Midnight Guest, which backtracks eight spots to No. 10.
Here are the 10 bestselling albums in South Korea this week.
No. 1 – Pentagon – In:vite U
No. 2 – SM Town – 2021 Winter SMTOWN: SMCU Express
No. 3 – Def. – Love
No. 4 – Kyuhyun – Love Story (4 Season Project)
No. 5 – BamBam – B
No. 6 – Enhypen – Dimension: Answer
No. 7 – Jinjin & Rocky – Rocky
No. 8 – Kep1er – First Impact
No. 9 – UP10TION – Novella
No. 10 – Fromis 9 – Midnight Guest