ATEEZ Tops Billboard 200 for 2nd Time with 'Golden Hour: Part 2'

▲ K-pop group Ateez poses for the camera during a press event at a hotel in Seoul, in this Nov. 14, 2024, file photo. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- K-pop group ATEEZ has claimed their second No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart with their 11th mini-album, GOLDEN HOUR: Part 2.

According to Billboard’s preview article on November 25, the album debuted atop the chart with 184,000 equivalent album units. The Billboard 200 calculates these units through a combination of traditional album sales, streaming equivalent albums (SEA), and track equivalent albums (TEA).

The album achieved 179,000 in physical album sales, topping the Top Album Sales chart as well. SEA contributed 5,000 units, while TEA was negligible.

Billboard highlighted that GOLDEN HOUR: Part 2 is mostly in Korean, making it the 26th non-English album to top the chart and the third such album this year, following Stray Kids' ATE and TWICE's With YOU-th. Notably, 17 of the 26 non-English albums to reach No. 1 have been predominantly in Korean, with 22 achieving this milestone since 2018—the year BTS first claimed the top spot in Korean.

GOLDEN HOUR: Part 2 is the second installment in ATEEZ’s series capturing their most radiant moments. The album conveys themes of self-discovery and cherishing every moment.

This marks ATEEZ’s second Billboard 200 chart-topper following their December 2022 album THE WORLD EP. FIN: WILL. ATEEZ joins a select group of K-pop acts to achieve No. 1 on the chart, including BTS (6 times), Stray Kids (5 times), SuperM, BLACKPINK, TXT, NewJeans, and TWICE.

At a press conference for the album release on November 14, ATEEZ stated, "Our value lies in constant challenges. Thanks to the love of so many, we could confidently show what we excel at." Regarding their international success, they said, "Good results are always welcome, but our fans appreciate us for giving it our all, regardless of the outcome."

▲ This image of BTS' Jin is provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Additionally, BTS' Jin debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with his first solo album Happy, earning 77,000 album units (66,000 in album sales, 8,000 SEA, and 3,000 TEA). Billboard noted that Jin is the seventh BTS member to enter the Top 10 as a solo artist, making BTS the first K-pop group where all members have achieved this milestone.

ENHYPEN's second studio album, ROMANCE: UNTOLD, re-entered the Billboard 200 at No. 7, boosted by the release of its repackage. 

▲ K-pop boy group Enhypen is seen in this photo provided by Belift Lab. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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