K-Pop Album Exports Hit Record $257M in First Half

South Korea's K-pop album exports surged to a record $257.48 million in the first half of the year, more than doubling from a year earlier, customs data showed Friday.

The United States was the top buyer, importing $74.12 million worth of albums. China followed at $61.18 million, with Japan at $45.61 million. Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Britain, France and Poland rounded out the top 10.

BTS drove much of the growth. The group released its first new album in nearly four years in March, and both the album and its lead single topped Billboard's main charts. BLACKPINK also contributed, releasing its third mini album in February that sold nearly 2 million copies by June.

The 125% jump from a year earlier reflects a broader global appetite for K-pop, with physical album sales and streaming both climbing across key markets.