Stray Kids are having a year to remember. The eight-member K-pop sensation has not only dominated the Billboard charts but also surpassed the one-million mark in US album sales — a feat no other K-pop act has achieved this year.
According to Billboard’s official website on Tuesday, the group’s fourth studio album KARMA ranked No. 4 on the Billboard 200 for the week of Sept. 13, securing a spot near the top for a second consecutive week. The album and its lead single CEREMONY appeared across 13 different charts, including Top Album Sales, Top Current Album Sales, Billboard Global 200 and World Albums.
Just a week earlier, KARMA had debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making Stray Kids the first act in the chart’s 70-year history to score seven consecutive No. 1 debuts. With seven No. 1 albums to date, the group also holds the record for the most Billboard 200 chart-toppers among K-pop artists.
Adding to their milestone streak, Stray Kids’ cumulative physical and digital album sales in the US have now topped 1 million units. They are the first K-pop act to reach this milestone in the country this year, marking back-to-back million-seller years after achieving the same in 2024.
Continuing their momentum at home, Stray Kids are set to make their first-ever stadium appearance in Korea. The group will stage an encore of their world tour, Stray Kids World Tour [dominATE : celebrATE], at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on Oct. 18 and 19.
By Byung-Yeon Yoo
yooby@hankyung.com
