Yeonjun Claims Double Crown as CORTIS and RESCENE Dominate Circle Charts

Circle Chart’s latest monthly and weekly rankings spotlight emerging forces reshaping K-pop’s chart landscape, as established acts and rising stars jostle for dominance across multiple metrics. The July report reveals concentrated strength in the digital domain, with repeat chart-toppers cementing their momentum through sustained listener engagement.

Yeonjun’s Solo Breakthrough: Double Crown Debut

TXT’s Yeonjun achieved a landmark achievement in July by securing a double crown across physical and digital formats with his solo mini album “NO LABELS: PART 02” and its title track “Ice Cream.” The album debuted at No. 1 on the monthly physical album chart, establishing Yeonjun’s solo credentials alongside his group commitments. “Ice Cream” simultaneously topped the digital download chart, demonstrating the commercial appeal of his independent project across both traditional and streaming purchasing models.

Album Release Landscape

Yeonjun’s physical debut was followed closely by I-DLE’s new mini album “We made” at No. 2. SEVENTEEN’s new unit V8 delivered their self-titled debut mini album at No. 3, signaling the group’s strategic expansion into unit releases. CORTIS claimed No. 4 with their latest EP “GREENGREEN,” while idntt’s new EP “itsnotover” rounded out the top five at No. 5. The diverse range of releases demonstrates July’s active release cycle across multiple label rosters and artist tiers.

Weekly Physical Album Momentum

On weekly physical charts, NouerA claimed the top position with the POCA version of their new mini album “.exe,” while DAY6’s Young K established himself as a solo force with his album “YOUNGEST” debuting at No. 2. CORTIS occupied the next two rankings with their debut EP “COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES” at No. 3 and their established second EP “GREENGREEN” at No. 4. StelLive’s new EP “Colorful Strokes” (MINIRECORD version) entered at No. 5, continuing the pattern of physical album diversity across K-pop’s current ecosystem.

Digital Download Competition and Streaming Crossover

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Digital download rankings for July revealed sustained interest in both new releases and catalog rekindling. Beyond Yeonjun’s “Ice Cream” at the summit, fromis_9’s latest title track “Vitamin ME” established itself at No. 2, demonstrating the group’s consistent chart presence. RESCENE demonstrated dual-track momentum with their 2024 song “LOVE ATTACK” at No. 3 and their recent remake of KARA’s “Pretty Girl” at No. 4. I.O.I’s latest hit “Suddenly” closed the top five, showing how legacy group catalogs and contemporary tracks coexist within download rankings.

Weekly Digital Download Shifts

The weekly digital download chart repositioned artists and tracks based on new release activity. DAY6’s Young K commanded No. 1 with his solo title track “Shut The Door,” affirming his chart viability as an independent artist. fromis_9’s “Vitamin ME” maintained presence at No. 2. Pengsoo’s “Get Happy Now” debuted at No. 3, followed by RESCENE’s “LOVE ATTACK” at No. 4. BLACKPINK’s Jennie appeared at No. 5 with “Less than a Lover,” illustrating how solo projects from established act members navigate competitive weekly rankings.

CORTIS and RESCENE’s Streaming Dominance

Two acts emerged as July’s streaming powerhouses through consistent chart occupation and double-crown achievements. CORTIS earned a double crown on the overall digital and streaming charts with their song “REDRED,” which ranked No. 1 on both metrics for the month. The group’s streaming success extended beyond this achievement—their track also appeared at No. 2 on weekly streaming charts, demonstrating sustained listener replay and platform algorithm preference.

July Monthly Streaming Architecture

The top five songs on both the overall digital chart and streaming chart remained identical throughout July. CORTIS’s “REDRED” anchored the positions at No. 1, with RESCENE’s “LOVE ATTACK” at No. 2. I.O.I’s “Suddenly” held No. 3, aespa’s “LEMONADE” occupied No. 4, and ILLIT’s “It’s Me” closed the top five at No. 5. This exact matching of overall and streaming rankings indicates that playlist algorithms and listener preference behaviors aligned precisely during the measurement period.

RESCENE’s Weekly Persistence

RESCENE earned their own double crown on weekly charts with “LOVE ATTACK,” which remained No. 1 on both the overall digital chart and streaming chart for the second consecutive week. The group’s consistency demonstrated listener loyalty and strong playlist positioning across platforms. The weekly top five replicated the monthly order identically: “LOVE ATTACK” at No. 1, CORTIS’s “REDRED” at No. 2, I.O.I’s “Suddenly” at No. 3, aespa’s “LEMONADE” at No. 4, and ILLIT’s “It’s Me” at No. 5. This uniformity across overall digital and streaming metrics suggests algorithmic alignment and organic listener behavior matching across the week.

Global K-pop Reach and International Momentum

Circle’s global K-pop chart tracked international streaming and engagement metrics beyond Korea’s borders. HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” from the animated film soundtrack “KPop Demon Hunters,” topped the monthly global K-pop chart at No. 1. BTS’s “SWIM” demonstrated the group’s enduring international appeal by maintaining No. 2 globally. LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE’s collaborative single “ICONIC BY MISTAKE” rose to No. 3, spotlighting multinational artist partnerships. CORTIS’s “REDRED” appeared again at No. 4 on the global chart, confirming the track’s international reach beyond Korea. BLACKPINK’s Rosé and Bruno Mars’ long-running hit “APT.” rounded out the top five, illustrating how cross-genre collaborations sustain global chart performance across extended release cycles.

Weekly Global Chart Shifts

On the weekly global K-pop chart, HUNTR/X’s “Golden” maintained its top position from the monthly ranking. BTS’s “SWIM” held its No. 2 placement. Jennie’s “Less than a Lover” jumped to No. 3 for the week, suggesting regional streaming surges supporting her solo track. Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” stayed at No. 4, while LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE’s “ICONIC BY MISTAKE” entered at No. 5, indicating the collaborative track’s fluctuating but sustained global momentum.

Social Media Dominance and Artist Engagement

Beyond chart metrics focused on sales and streams, Circle’s social chart measured online engagement and cultural relevance. BTS dominated the July social chart at No. 1, affirming the group’s undiminished digital presence and fan mobilization capacity despite their hiatus from group activities. ILLIT ascended to No. 2, reflecting the emerging group’s rapid fanbase growth and social media momentum. BABYMONSTER claimed No. 3, demonstrating YG Entertainment’s newer act’s integration into top-tier engagement metrics. BLACKPINK remained at No. 4, and aespa rounded out the top five at No. 5.

The weekly social chart saw minimal disruption compared to the previous week. BTS retained its No. 1 position, and ILLIT maintained No. 2 placement. aespa climbed to No. 3, replacing BABYMONSTER from the monthly chart. ATEEZ emerged at No. 4 on a weekly basis, while BLACKPINK completed the top five at No. 5. This consistency in social chart positioning suggests stable fanbase engagement and algorithmic stability week-to-week, contrasting with the volatility often seen in sales and streaming-dependent rankings.