CORTIS, aespa, TWS and More Receive New Circle Chart Album Certifications

Circle Chart’s newest certification announcement has put a wide cross-section of K-pop releases back in focus, with CORTIS, aespa, TWS, BABYMONSTER, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT and several other acts recognized for major album sales milestones.

The certifications, announced on July 15, reflect the industry’s continuing reliance on physical album performance as a marker of fandom scale and commercial momentum. Under Circle Chart’s system, albums released from January 1, 2018 onward become eligible for platinum certification at 250,000 sales, while albums reaching one million copies can receive million-level certification. Higher tiers are awarded as sales continue to climb.

CORTIS Leads The New Batch

CORTIS posted the most striking result in this round. The group’s latest EP, GREENGREEN, received two separate certifications tied to different editions. The regular version was certified double million after surpassing 2 million copies sold, while the Weverse version earned double platinum status after passing 500,000 copies.

That split result is notable because it shows how strongly individual formats can perform in the current K-pop market. Rather than a single album number telling the whole story, official certifications often reflect the commercial life of multiple editions, platform-specific versions and collector-focused releases. For CORTIS, the latest update signals both broad demand for the main release and meaningful sales strength for the separate Weverse edition.

aespa also appeared prominently in the announcement, with the group’s latest album LEMONADE earning triple platinum certification after surpassing 750,000 copies sold. TWS reached the same certification tier with its 2025 mini album play hard, adding another benchmark to the group’s growing sales profile.

Girl Groups Show Strong Physical Sales

BABYMONSTER received two certifications for the group’s latest mini album CHOOM. The regular version was certified double platinum for more than 500,000 copies sold, while the Nemo version earned platinum certification after passing 250,000 copies. Like CORTIS, the group’s dual recognition points to the importance of edition strategy in driving measurable album performance.

LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT were also part of the new list. LE SSERAFIM’s PUREFLOW pt.1 and ILLIT’s I’LL LIKE YOU were both certified double platinum, meaning each release crossed the 500,000-copy threshold. AND2BLE’s Sequence 01: Curiosity also reached double platinum, placing the act alongside several of the most visible names in this certification round.

The platinum tier included a long list of additional releases. ITZY’s Motto, ZEROBASEONE’s Ascend-, NMIXX’s Heavy Serenade, NCT member Taeyong’s WYLD, XLOV’s I,God, CRAVITY’s ReDeFINE and the Weverse version of NewJeans’ Supernatural were each certified platinum after selling more than 250,000 copies.

Why The Certifications Matter

Circle Chart certifications are not the same as weekly chart rankings. A weekly chart can capture a short burst of activity around a release date, while a certification marks a sales threshold that has been officially reached. That makes these announcements useful snapshots of which releases have translated attention into sustained, countable demand.

The latest batch also underscores how competitive the album market remains across different corners of K-pop. Established girl groups, rising boy groups, newer acts, solo projects and alternate album formats all appear in the same certification notice. That range suggests that physical sales remain a central part of how agencies frame success, even as streaming, social media performance and touring have become equally visible parts of an artist’s public profile.

For fans, the announcement offers a concise update on how recent releases are performing beyond comeback-week headlines. For labels, the certifications provide a public benchmark that can support future promotions, touring narratives and investor-facing claims about fandom engagement. For artists, they are another sign that a project has moved beyond visibility and reached a measurable commercial milestone.

With CORTIS securing a double million certification and multiple groups adding platinum or double platinum achievements, Circle Chart’s newest update shows a K-pop album market that remains deeply format-driven, fandom-powered and competitive across generations.