AKMU, CORTIS and BTS emerged as some of the biggest winners on the Circle Chart for May 2026.
According to the Korea Music Content Association, AKMU claimed a triple crown, CORTIS earned two No. 1 titles, and BTS once again topped the Global K-pop Chart.
AKMU led the month with “Paradise of Rumors,” a track from the duo’s fourth full-length album Flowering, reaching No. 1 on the Digital, Streaming and V Caller Ring charts. The song accumulated 73 million Circle Index points during the month and gained popularity not only through streaming but also through social media challenges.
CORTIS secured a double crown with its second mini album GREENGREEN, which topped both the Album Chart and Retail Album Chart. The release sold 1,695,155 copies on the Album Chart and 555,531 copies through retail channels. Combined sales across all physical versions surpassed 2.47 million copies.
Meanwhile, BTS continued its dominance on the Global K-pop Chart. The group’s title track “SWIM” from its fifth studio album ARIRANG remained at No. 1 for a second consecutive month. The song, which carries a message about continuing to move forward through life’s challenges, has now spent 11 straight weeks atop the weekly global ranking.
Elsewhere, ZEROBASEONE’s “TOP 5” topped the Download Chart. The song serves as the title track of the group’s sixth mini album Ascend- and draws inspiration from 2000s dance-pop sounds.
ILLIT rose to No. 1 on the Social Chart 3.0, which tracks artists’ global online popularity, while NMIXX recorded the biggest month-over-month gain on the chart.
In the latest weekly rankings (May 31–June 6), I.O.I earned a quadruple crown with “Suddenly,” while TREASURE secured a double crown with 4th MINI ALBUM [NEW WAV]. BTS also extended its dominance on the Global K-pop Chart, where “SWIM” remained No. 1 for an 11th consecutive week.
Circle Chart also announced its latest certifications:
1 Million: TOMORROW X TOGETHER (7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns), NCT WISH (Ode to Love – The 1st Album), &TEAM (We on Fire), TWS (NO TRAGEDY)
3× Platinum: PLAVE (Caligo Pt.2)
2× Platinum: ILLIT (bomb), PLAVE (Caligo Pt.2 (POCA)), NCT WISH (Ode to Love – The 1st Album (SMC))
Platinum: MODYSSEY (1.Got Hooked: An Addictive Symphony), NEXZ (Mmchk), ILLIT (MAMIHLAPINATAPAI)
Streaming — 2× Platinum: DAY6 (“Time of Our Life”); Platinum: Park Hyo Shin (“Goodbye”), BLACKPINK (“Shut Down”), Tei (“Monologue”), LE SSERAFIM (“Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife”)
>> Circle Chart Week 22: CORTIS and aespa Score Double Crowns as BTS Tops Global Chart
Top 10 Digital Songs on Circle Chart in Week 23
Top 10 Albums on Circle Chart in Week 23
Source: Circle Chart
