Top rock artist Seotaeji has sold the most albums so far this year, according to his agency on Friday.

The singer, songwriter and musician topped music website Hanteo Chart's listing as having sold the most albums between January 1 and September 16, Seotaeji Company said in a press release.

The singer's sales, composed of two singles and a full album this year, surpassed that of top idol groups such as Girls' Generation and Big Bang which followed in second and third place, respectively.

He plans to rerelease his fifth album "Seotaeji 5" on September 29. The album had previously sold 1.3 million copies.

Seotaeji is one of South Korea's most prominent and influential cultural icons who has released a total of 42 albums throughout his 18-year career.

He took the country by storm with his earlier three-member group Seotaeji and Boys during the early-90s and has successfully continued a solo career after the group's retirement in 1996.

Another member of the former group, Yang Hyun-suk, is currently head of YG Entertainment which manages some of Korea's most popular singers including Big Bang and 2NE1.

ETA: Actual sales numbers according to Hanteo Chart

According to Hanteo Chart, Friday, Seo sold 198,215 copies between Jan. 1 and Sept. 17

Girls' Generation took second place by selling 190,475.

Big Bang, and Super Junior, placed third and fourth with 161,460 and 131,480 album sales, respectively.

G-Dragon, Big Bang's leader, ranked fifth with 113,100 copies sold.

Sources: asiae.co.kr, The Korea Times

1. Super Junior – ‘Sorry Sorry’
2. G-Dragon – ‘Heartbreaker’
3. Girls’ Generation – ‘Gee’
4. Girls’ Generation – ‘Tell Me Your Wish’
5. 2NE1 – 2NE1
6. Drunken Tiger – ‘Feel Ghood Muzik’
7. Seotaiji – Secret
8. Seotaiji – ‘At0mos’
9. 2PM – ‘Time for a Change’
10. SG Wannabe – ‘Gift From SG Wanna be’

cr:kpopjjang

1. Super Junior Sorry,Sorry 3rd album
2. G-Dragon Heartbreaker
3. SNSD-Mini Album Gee
4. SNSD-Tell me your wish mini album
5. 2NE1 Mini Album
6. Drunken Tiger ‘Feel Ghood Muzik : The 8th Wonder
7. Seotaiji 8th atomos part Secret
8. Seotaiji ‘at0mos’
9. 2pm time for change
10. SG Wannabe ‘Gift From SG Wanna be’ 6th album

source: bestiz SM Entertainment™ 님/cr:sjmarket/sapphirepearls

-T/N- This is not how much the make, it'show much what their names are worth in value!

1. Seo-Taiji : 180 billion won
2. Bae Young Jun : 100 billion won +
3. BoA : 100 billion won
4. Shinhwa : 50 billion won
5. TVXQ/DBSK/THSK : 40 to 50 billion won
6. Wonbin & Choi Ji Woo: 30 billion won +


Credits: original article here + tohosomnia
shared by: DBSKnights
Credits:Dbsknights

Korean album sales for this week.

1. Drunken Tiger Vol. 8 – Feel Good Muzik: The 8th Wonder
(~Weekly Sales: 11,488)

2. 2NE1 mini-album Vol. 1
(~Weekly Sales: 11,002)

3. 8집 Seotaiji 8th Atomos
(~Weekly Sales: 10,705)

4. SNSD mini-album Vol. 2 – Tell Me Your Wish
(~Weekly Sales: 8,248)

5. SS501 - Collection
(~Weekly Sales: 6,817)

6. SHINee mini-album Vol. 2 – Romeo
(~Weekly Sales: 2,956)

7. Yoon Sang - Yoon Sang Vol. 6
(~Weekly Sales: 2,659)

8. Outsider Vol. 2 - Maestro
(~Weekly Sales: 2,389)

9. 투피엠(2pm) - 2:00pm Time For Change
(~Weekly Sales: 2,281)

10. 이승철 10집 - Mutopia
(~Weekly Sales: 2,173)

Source: [Hanteo.com]
Translated by: I♥소녀시대 @ http://asianfanatics.net/news/

In the first half of 2009, SNSD and 2NE1 stand out as representatives of girl groups.

GOMTV released the music chart for the first half of 2009, and, using the views on their music videos as the criteria for this report, the predominance of girl groups such as SNSD and 2NE1 is quite noticeable.

# Girl Groups Power, 'SNSD VS 2NE1'

SNSD, 2NE1 and other female groups have been sweeping away and topping various music charts, and their competition and rivalry is getting more and more intense.The report released by GOMTV showed the top 10 songs of the first half of the year, and eight out of ten of them are by female singers. First place went to SNSD's 'Gee', which has the record of 8,570,000 views in the site.

The second and third place went to 2NE1 and Bigbang's 'Lollipop', and the former's debut song 'Fire'. SNSD and 2NE1 shared the top place of the charts for three month each, SNSD dominating from January to March and 2NE1 from April to June, revealing the fierce competition between girl groups for the leading position.

As for soloists, female singers Son Dambi and Chaeyeon occupied the fourth and tenth place respectively.

# Girl Groups Power in the rise, Comparable to Male idol groups

Big Bang, who are temporarily promoting themselves in foreign countries, shared the second place with 2NE1 with their song 'Fire'. Super Junior and 2PM's 'Sorry Sorry' and 'Again and Again' share the 10th place. Special note to Outsider's 'Loner', who has gained explosive popularity since the song was reveal on June.

# First Place in Music Video Download, 2NE1

On GOMTV's website the most downloaded music video is 2NE1's 'Fire', which got 1,000,000 views in only one day. In second place is SS501's 'First Episode', and third is SNSD's "Tell me your Wish".

# The most loved ballad song of the first half of the year?

Even thought all top ten songs in GOMTV's music chart are dance songs with a fast beat, the most popular ballad was 8eight's "I don't have a heart". Other popular ballads are SG wannabe's "My love is a crybaby", and Tiffany's "By Myself, in the 16th and 26th position respectively.

# The remaining half of the year?

As usual, SNSD and 2NE1 are occupying the top places in July's weekly chart, and it seems that the girl group trend will continue for the remaining half of the year. The songs competing are Seo Taeji's new single from his most recent album, 'Morning Eyes', quick rising start Outsider with 'Loner', and SNSD with 'Tell Me Your Wish (Genie).' Furthermore, popular idol groups from the 90s Lulla and Noise are making their comeback this week, and other popular artists such as MC Mong and Psy will heat up the korean music scene in the second half of the year.
[OSEN Reporter Lee JungA]
Translations: Cph@Soshified.com
Source: OSEN

“3-D Concerts?!”

Yes, the 3-D concert craze has moved to Korea. Big Bang will be one of the first groups showing their concert in 3-D in Korean theaters. In trendy Korea, you can expect every idol group under the sun to be doing the same thing shortly thereafter. There will be too many 3-D concerts and not enough die-hards to buy tickets. But that’ll be in a couple years, for now, Park Chan Soo, director of this and Seo Taiji’s 3-D concert movie, announced that Big Bang would be the first to have a preview of their concerts in theaters.

Credits ; seoulbeats.com