An In-Depth Look At The Top 3 Best-Selling K-Pop Artists Of Each Year Over The Last Decade

It’s amazing how quickly some artists rose to the top!

As K-Pop has become more popular over the last decade, album sales have seen a steep increase as well for some of the most popular artists. While the highest-selling artist on Gaon in 2011 had made a little over 1 million total album sales, in present times, the artist holding that role has sold over 27 million! Here’s a look at the top 3 best-selling K-Pop artists of each year over the last decade, based on their total album sales on Gaon.

2011

3. JYJ

JYJ’s best-selling album in 2011 was In Heaven, and at the end of the year they had 600.8k total sales!

2. Super Junior

Super Junior’s best-selling album in 2011 was Mr. Simple, and at the end of the year they had 861.2k total sales!

1. Girls’ Generation

Girls’ Generation’s best-selling album in 2011 was The Boys, and at the end of the year they had 1.22 million total sales!

2012

3. TVXQ!

TVXQ!’s best-selling album in 2012 was Catch Me, and at the end of the year they had 892.0k total sales!

2. Girls’ Generation

Even though Girls’ Generation didn’t release a new album in 2012, at the end of the year they had 1.35 million total sales!

1. Super Junior

Super Junior’s best-selling album in 2012 was Sexy, Free & Single, and at the end of the year they had 1.45 million total sales!

2013

3. Super Junior

Even though Super Junior didn’t release a new album in 2013, at the end of the year they had 1.53 million total sales!

2. Girls’ Generation

Girls’ Generation’s best-selling album in 2013 was I Got a Boy, and at the end of the year they had 1.71 million total sales!

1. EXO

EXO’s best-selling album in 2013 was XOXO, and at the end of the year they had 1.80 million total sales!

2014

3. Girls’ Generation

Girls’ Generation’s best-selling album in 2014 was Mr.Mr., and at the end of the year they had 1.92 million total sales!

2. Super Junior

Super Junior’s best-selling album in 2014 was Mamacita, and at the end of the year they had 1.96 million total sales!

1. EXO

EXO’s best-selling album in 2014 was Overdose, and at the end of the year they had 2.90 million total sales!

2015

3. Girls’ Generation

Girls’ Generation’s best-selling album in 2015 was Lion Heart, and at the end of the year they had 2.16 million total sales!

2. Super Junior

Super Junior’s best-selling album in 2015 was Devil, and at the end of the year they had 2.24 million total sales!

1. EXO

EXO’s best-selling album in 2015 was Exodus, and at the end of the year they had 4.72 million total sales!

2016

3. Super Junior

Even though Super Junior didn’t release a new album in 2016, at the end of the year they had 2.25 million total sales!

2. BTS

BTS’s best-selling album in 2016 was The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever, and at the end of the year they had 2.31 million total sales!

1. EXO

EXO’s best-selling album in 2016 was Ex’Act, and at the end of the year they had 6.69 million total sales!

2017

3. Super Junior

Super Junior’s best-selling album in 2017 was Play, and at the end of the year they had 2.55 million total sales!

2. BTS

BTS’s best-selling album in 2017 was Love Yourself: Her, and at the end of the year they had 5.03 million total sales!

1. EXO

EXO’s best-selling album in 2017 was The War, and at the end of the year they had 8.63 million total sales!

2018

3. Wanna One

Wanna One’s best-selling album in 2018 was 0+1=1 (I Promise You), and at the end of the year they had 3.54 million total sales!

2. BTS

BTS’s best-selling album in 2018 was Love Yourself: Answer, and at the end of the year they had 10.19 million total sales!

1. EXO

EXO’s best-selling album in 2018 was Don’t Mess Up My Tempo, and at the end of the year they had 10.74 million total sales!

2019

3. TWICE

TWICE’s best-selling album in 2019 was Feel Special, and at the end of the year they had 4.46 million total sales!

2. EXO

EXO’s best-selling album in 2019 was Obsession, and at the end of the year they had 11.62 million total sales!

1. BTS

BTS’s best-selling album in 2019 was Map of the Soul: Persona, and at the end of the year they had 16.40 million total sales!

2020

3. SEVENTEEN

SEVENTEEN’s best-selling album in 2020 was Heng:garae, and at the end of the year they had 6.43 million total sales!

2. EXO

Even though EXO didn’t release an album in 2020, at the end of the year they had 11.71 million total sales!

1. BTS

BTS’s best-selling album in 2020 was Map of the Soul: 7, and at the end of the year they had 25.74 million total sales!

2021 (So Far)

3. SEVENTEEN

As of March 2021, SEVENTEEN has made 6.53 million total album sales!

2. EXO

As of March 2021, EXO has made 11.73 million total album sales!

1. BTS

As of March 2021, BTS has made 27.29 million total album sales!

Source: Korean Sales and Image (1) and (2)