South Korea's K-pop album exports hit a record $120 million in the first quarter of 2026, customs data showed. Shipments surged 159 percent from a year earlier, marking the first time quarterly exports exceeded $100 million. The United States emerged as the largest market.
Korea's exports of K-pop albums reached a record high of $120 million in the January-March period, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS). The figure marked a 159 percent surge from a year earlier and the first time quarterly exports topped $100 million. Quarterly records have been set consecutively since the third quarter of 2025, the agency said.
The KCS attributed the growth to the global expansion of K-pop fandoms and rising demand for physical albums amid fatigue with digital streaming. Of the 131 countries importing K-pop albums, 94 recorded their highest-ever quarterly imports, showing broad-based demand rather than concentration in a few markets.
The United States accounted for 28 percent of total exports, overtaking Japan, which held the top spot until last year. The European Union followed with 16.5 percent, then China at 14.4 percent and Taiwan at 6.9 percent.
