(LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units, comprising physical album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). K-pop supergroup BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) "Arirang" ruled the chart this week, earning 187,000 equivalent album units in the week ending April 2, down 71 percent from the album's opening week of 641,000 units, the biggest week of 2026 thus far. K-pop supergroup BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) sshim@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles BTS tops Spotify weekly charts for 2nd week with new album 'Arirang' BTS ranks No.?4 on British Official Albums Chart with 'Arirang' BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP Netflix app downloads surge on BTS livestream concert in Seoul (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break BTS says Billboard No. 1 'great honor,' hopes music offered 'courage and comfort' MORE (+1) CLOSE Keywords #BTS #Arirang #Billboard Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP (URGENT) BTS earns 7th No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart with 'Swim' (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S. (3rd LD) Lee says S. Korea's premier inspects cement factory BTS-themed musical fountain Black Eagles in Yeouido Cherry blossom festival prev (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop Next (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop

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(ATTN: UPDATES with details of chart preview in paras 4-6, minor edits in paras 7-9; ADDS photo)
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.
The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units, comprising physical album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).
K-pop supergroup BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"Arirang" ruled the chart this week, earning 187,000 equivalent album units in the week ending April 2, down 71 percent from the album's opening week of 641,000 units, the biggest week of 2026 thus far.
Of that sum, 114,000 came from physical and digital album sales, while SEA units accounted for 65,000 and TEA units made up the remainder.
Released March 20, "Arirang" explores the identity of BTS as a group that began in Korea and the universal emotions its members have encountered throughout their lives.
The 14-track album became the group's seventh album to debut at No. 1 last week, 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.
K-pop supergroup BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshim@yna.co.kr
(END)
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- K-pop supergroup BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) sshim@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles BTS tops Spotify weekly charts for 2nd week with new album 'Arirang' BTS ranks No.?4 on British Official Albums Chart with 'Arirang' BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP Netflix app downloads surge on BTS livestream concert in Seoul (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break BTS says Billboard No. 1 'great honor,' hopes music offered 'courage and comfort' MORE (+1) CLOSE Keywords #BTS #Arirang #Billboard Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP (URGENT) BTS earns 7th No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart with 'Swim' (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S. (3rd LD) Lee says S.

### Implications
- The 14-track album became the group's seventh album to debut at No. 1 last week, 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.
- K-pop supergroup BTS is seen in this photo provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) sshim@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles BTS tops Spotify weekly charts for 2nd week with new album 'Arirang' BTS ranks No.?4 on British Official Albums Chart with 'Arirang' BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP Netflix app downloads surge on BTS livestream concert in Seoul (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break BTS says Billboard No. 1 'great honor,' hopes music offered 'courage and comfort' MORE (+1) CLOSE Keywords #BTS #Arirang #Billboard Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP (URGENT) BTS earns 7th No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart with 'Swim' (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S. (3rd LD) Lee says S.
- Korea's premier inspects cement factory BTS-themed musical fountain Black Eagles in Yeouido Cherry blossom festival prev (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop Next (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop

### Expert Commentary
This article covers bts, arirang, week topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 662.