Credit: YG

K-pop is continuing to make a serious splash in the U.K. this week. Seven tracks are in the Official Singles Chart Top 40 – a new high for the genre.

HUNTR/X’s "Golden" is still at Number 1, holding strong for a fourth non-consecutive week. Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack isn’t slowing down either. Saja Boys’ "Soda Pop" is at No. 4, and "Your Idol" sits at No. 6. TWICE has two tracks in the Top 40 as well: "Takedown" at No. 27 and "Strategy" at No. 39.

Then there’s BLACKPINK. Their Diplo-produced “JUMP" is at No. 29, boosted by their recent Wembley shows. Stray Kids’ “CEREMONY” debuts at No. 37, giving them their second Top 40 single in the U.K. Over on the album charts, meanwhile, the group’s fourth studio album KARMA earned a spot at No. 22, after tracking as high as No. 2 – temporarily sandwiched between Wolf Alice and Laufey – during the midweeks.

What’s interesting here is how this spread shows different ways K-pop is hitting the charts. Some tracks, like the OST songs, benefit from casual audiences tuning in after the Netflix release. Others, like BLACKPINK and Stray Kids, show what happens when tours, fan mobilisation, and streaming combine. Midweek charts had some of these tracks even higher, which tells you fans are pushing hard early in the week, even if final streams balance things out.

Streaming is playing a bigger role than ever. These tracks aren’t just fan-driven sales; they’re getting real play counts on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. The genre is starting to compete with mainstream pop and hip-hop in the U.K., not just showing up as a niche.

The bigger picture: K-pop is moving from one-off events to a sustained presence. Multiple acts, multiple songs, and multiple ways to engage — from streaming to soundtracks to stadium shows — are all contributing. If this pattern continues, the U.K. could clearly be on its way to becoming a major player and one of the most reliable global markets for the genre, not just a stop on the tour circuit.