aespa’s ‘LEMONADE’ Tops Billboard’s World Albums Chart as K-Pop Takes Multiple Slots

Multiple K-pop acts dominated Billboard’s World Albums chart for the week ending June 14, with aespa’s new release “LEMONADE” debuting at No. 1. According to Billboard’s weekly rankings as summarized by Soompi, the chart also featured strong showings from CORTIS, LE SSERAFIM, BTS, ILLIT, Stray Kids, TXT, ENHYPEN, NewJeans, NMIXX, and ATEEZ—highlighting how both new releases and long-running catalogs are continuing to perform.

aespa launches at No. 1

aespa’s “LEMONADE” entered the World Albums chart at top position, while also reaching a broader milestone on Billboard’s main Billboard 200. The report notes that “LEMONADE” became aespa’s first album in three years to place in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, marking a significant crossover between global fandom momentum and mainstream chart visibility.

The World Albums chart—tracked by Billboard—often serves as an indicator of international listening trends. In this latest cycle, aespa’s immediate placement at No. 1 suggests early traction and sustained interest beyond Korea’s domestic market.

CORTIS and LE SSERAFIM hold the next spots

Close behind, CORTIS claimed No. 2 with its EP “GREENGREEN,” which held steady in its fifth week on the chart. The article also highlights that “GREENGREEN” became CORTIS’s first album to spend four weeks in the top 50 of the Billboard 200, reinforcing that the act’s performance is not limited to the genre-specific international chart.

CORTIS also returned to the top rankings again via its debut EP “COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,” which climbed back to No. 4 in its 39th week. Meanwhile, LE SSERAFIM’s new album “PUREFLOW” took No. 3 in its second week on the World Albums chart, while also placing again on the Billboard 200 at No. 59 for its second week.

BTS, Stray Kids, and TXT keep catalog momentum

Several chart positions underscored that this week’s success wasn’t solely driven by brand-new music. BTS’s “Proof”—an anthology album released in 2022—remained at No. 5 in its 208th week on the World Albums chart, a longevity marker that reflects the group’s enduring international sales and streaming power. The report also notes that BTS’s 2020 Japanese album “Map of the Soul: 7 ~The Journey~” rose to No. 15 in its 31st week, indicating a renewed lift.

Stray Kids contributed a multi-album presence: “KARMA” jumped to No. 7 in its 41st week, “DO IT” stayed at No. 12 in its 28th week, and “ATE” re-entered at No. 20 in its 97th week. TXT similarly held No. 8 with “7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns,” which ranked in its eighth week.

Newer releases from ILLIT, ENHYPEN, and the fourth-wave stack

Other recent releases also secured meaningful positions. ILLIT’s latest mini album “MAMIHLAPINATAPAI” held at No. 6 in its fifth week. ENHYPEN rounded out the upper half with “THE SIN : VANISH” at No. 13 in its 20th week, and “ROMANCE : UNTOLD” returning at No. 24 in its 98th week.

NewJeans and NMIXX—major figures in the current K-pop landscape—also reappeared. NewJeans’ 2023 EP “Get Up” climbed to No. 16 in its 143rd week, while NMIXX’s EP “Heavy Serenade” took No. 23 in its fourth week. ATEEZ returned at No. 25 with “GOLDEN HOUR : Part.4,” marking its 13th non-consecutive week on the chart.

Why this chart matters

For labels and artists, consistent World Albums chart placement can translate into visibility: it supports international booking interest, playlisting strength, and cross-border media attention. The range of acts on this week’s chart—spanning rookies and longtime chart leaders—suggests the market’s scale has widened enough that even older albums can re-emerge in the rankings.

At the same time, the clustering of high debuts and steady holds near the top reinforces a key pattern in 2026-era K-pop international performance: fan engagement is increasingly durable, and major acts can continue to convert release cycles into measurable chart outcomes.

What to watch next

Going forward, the immediate question for aespa and its closest competitors is whether “LEMONADE,” “GREENGREEN,” and “PUREFLOW” can maintain their momentum into the coming weeks—particularly on the Billboard 200 where sustained presence matters for mainstream traction.

More broadly, chart watchers will look for whether the current multi-album dominance from groups like BTS and Stray Kids continues to drive re-entries, and whether newer releases from acts such as ILLIT and CORTIS can convert early gains into long chart runs.