BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop

▲ K-pop supergroup BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

BTS-Billboard chart

BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop

By Shim Sun-ah

SEOUL, April 6 (Yonhap) -- BTS became the first K-pop act to top the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart for two consecutive weeks, Billboard said Sunday (local time).

The group's fifth studio album, "Arirang," stayed at No. 1 for a second week, ahead of "Bully" from Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Melanie Martinez's "Hades."

No other K-pop act had previously led the chart for two weeks in a row. The original soundtrack of the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" earlier reached the top spot on a non-consecutive basis.

Last week, "Arirang" became the group's seventh album to debut at No. 1, following "Love Yourself: Tear," "Love Yourself: Answer," "Map of the Soul: Persona," "Map of the Soul: 7," "Be" and the anthology album "Proof." "Swim," the lead track from "Arirang," also debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the same week.

Released March 20, the 14-track album explores the identity of BTS as a group that began in Korea, and the universal emotions its members have encountered throughout their lives.

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