Stray Kids Lead K-Pop Dominance As 'This & That' Marks 25th Billboard 200 No. 1

Stray Kids are keeping K-pop firmly planted at the absolute top of the American music world. The powerhouse group just notched another major victory on the Billboard 200 with their newest EP, *This & That*, instantly conquering the flagship chart upon release. This latest chart run marks a staggering milestone for the Korean music landscape. Reports confirm that *This & That* is officially the 25th K-pop project to claim the No. 1 position on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. The historic streak originally kicked off back in June 2018 when BTS made history with *Love Yourself: Tear*. In just over eight years, K-pop acts have transformed from rare chart crashers into dominant weekly contenders.

Stray Kids aren't just participating in that wave—they are actively leading it. By securing the top spot with *This & That*, the eight-member band has now captured an incredible nine No. 1 titles on the Billboard 200 chart. That staggering total puts them ahead of every other K-pop act in history. For comparison, global superstars BTS hold second place with seven chart-topping projects. ATEEZ sits in third place with three No. 1s. A formidable group of hitmakers—including BLACKPINK, TWICE, NewJeans, SuperM, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER—each boast one No. 1 album to date, as does the multi-artist soundtrack for *KPop Demon Hunters*.

BUZZBEAT

While their album sales remain utterly unassailable, Stray Kids are still chasing that same breakthrough energy on the songs chart. The group has yet to crack the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which tracks single tracks across all genres. Their highest-charting single so far remains "Chk Chk Boom," which peaked at No. 49 in August 2024. Even so, the group's timing couldn't be better as the global industry expands its scope. *This & That* marks the second K-pop album to rule the Billboard 200 since the Recording Academy revealed a brand-new Grammy category—Best Asian Pop Music Performance—for the 69th Annual Grammy Awards set for February 7.