Fewer than 4 in 100 K-pop groups ever sell 300,000 of an album: study

A recent study conducted by Kim Jeong-seop, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, has revealed that fewer than 4 in 100 K-pop groups have ever sold 300,000 copies of an album. The analysis, published in the Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association, examined all 1,182 groups registered with the Korea Popmusic Industry Association that debuted between 1996 and 2025. This includes both soloists and coed acts, resulting in 588 girl groups and 594 boy groups.

Approximately 8.21 percent of these groups, or 97 in total, have managed to sell more than 100,000 copies of an album. This is considered the threshold at which a working fandom has formed. However, only 3.55 percent of the K-pop acts have ever reached the impressive milestone of selling 300,000 copies of a single album, which is used as the industry's break-even point.

The study confirms that while the K-pop industry has experienced global success, the rewards for individual groups have become increasingly limited. In fact, nearly half of Korean idol groups vanish within three years of their debut, highlighting the high attrition rate in the competitive world of K-pop. The findings emphasize that the industry's rewards are now concentrated among a select few, with only a handful of names able to achieve the significant sales figures associated with long-term success.