Enhypen finally tops Billboard 200 after 10 attempts

Sixth K-pop boy group to reach No. 1

Steady climb from No. 18 to the top

Fandom rallies despite first six-member lineup

Enhypen has reached the top of the American music market after 10 attempts, landing its first No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

According to a Billboard chart preview published Sunday (local time), Enhypen's eighth mini-album "THE SIN : BLISS" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 dated Sept. 5, accumulating 98,000 album units and surpassing pop acts including Ella Langley and Olivia Rodrigo. It is the group's first Billboard 200 No. 1, arriving six years after its 2020 debut.

Enhypen became the sixth K-pop boy group to top the chart, following BTS, SuperM, Stray Kids, ATEEZ and Tomorrow X Together (TXT). Including girl groups BLACKPINK, NewJeans, TWICE and KATSEYE, as well as the animated soundtrack KPop Demon Hunters, the achievement marks the 11th Billboard 200 No. 1 by a Korean act or K-pop-related album.

Enhypen has built a steadily rising trajectory on the Billboard 200 over six years since its debut. The group first entered the chart at No. 18 in May 2021 with its second mini-album "BORDER : CARNIVAL," then broke into the top 10 with "MANIFESTO : DAY 1" at No. 6.

Growth accelerated sharply from 2024. The second full-length album "ROMANCE : UNTOLD" reached No. 2 with 124,000 units — including 117,000 in pure sales — in 2024, followed by "DESIRE : UNLEASH" at No. 3 with 100,000 units in 2025 and "THE SIN : VANISH" at No. 2 with 122,000 units in January 2026. The run gave the group seven consecutive top-10 entries, each clearing 100,000 units. Despite surpassing 120,000 units twice and finishing second both times, Enhypen finally claimed the top spot on its tenth attempt with 98,000 units.

Of the 98,000 total units, physical album sales accounted for 92,000 copies — an overwhelming share — also driving the group to No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart. Streaming-equivalent album units came to roughly 6,000. Fandom-driven physical purchases proved the decisive factor in the No. 1 finish. On South Korea's Hanteo Chart, the album surpassed cumulative sales of 2.02 million copies shortly after release, making Enhypen a double million-seller.

The milestone reflects the strength of the narrative universe Enhypen has built since its debut. "THE SIN : BLISS" was the first album released under the group's new six-member configuration — a pivotal release despite the absence of its main vocalist. The group pressed ahead with the vampire concept carried over from previous releases without compromise, drawing a strong response from its fandom.

Meanwhile, the upper reaches of the Billboard 200 have become a relay stage for K-pop acts in recent weeks. Stray Kids topped the chart dated Aug. 22 with "THIS & THAT," their ninth consecutive No. 1, before KATSEYE claimed the top spot on the chart dated Aug. 29 with "WILD." Enhypen now takes the baton, giving K-pop acts three straight weeks atop the global pop chart.

KATSEYE, last week's No. 1, fell to No. 6 this week with 55,000 units, while Stray Kids held on at No. 8 with 48,000 units, keeping both acts inside the top 10.

shee@heraldcorp.com