Sorry this chart is so late this month, but MIAK just put the numbers up on their website.

So, what do we have this month? The first thing I noticed was the plummeting of Rain’s new album, from No. 1 last month all the way down to 11 this month (which is why I made this month’s list a top-11, just to include Rain). After two months, Rain still has not made it to the 90,000 sales figure, which is pretty shocking. Considering the big push Rain is getting around Asia and in the United States (his US concerts begin tomorrow in Las Vegas, then New York), I wonder if he will become the male version of BoA — bigger abroad than at home.

Lee Seung-hwan’s album, “Hwantastic”, should have had the most dubious title of the month… but amazingly Se7en managed to beat him out with Se7olution. I am not big on cussing on this blog, but really, “Se7olution”? WTF?

I have no idea who Gavy NJ is, in No. 7. KBS and Soompi called them “the female SG Wannbe”. Which means about as much to me as saying they are “the female mauve.”

(Hrm… my attempt at being a smart-ass inspired me to Google “mauve.” Turns out it is a color invented in 1854 by chemist William Henry Perkin, when he was 18 years old. You learn something new every day. Read all about it here.)

Kind of surprising and disappointing to see that new Loveholic make its debut at No. 14. Granted, the album was just released on Nov. 21, but it only sold 6,170 albums so far. Loveholic is one of the few mainstream, modern Korean bands that I actually like. Much like Roller Coaster and Classiquai, with that light, mellow funk thing. Hopefully their sales will pick up.

This Month Artist Album Name Release Date This Month’s Sales Total Sales
1. Dong Bang Shin Gi Vol. 3 – O-Union 9.28 144,535 334,271
2. Lee Seung-hwan Vol. 9 – Hwantastic 11.10 45,332 45,332
3. SG Wannabe The Precious History 11.16 45,122 45,122
4. Se7en Vol. 4 – Se7olution 10.31 31,707 48,041
5. Sung Shi-gyung Vol. 5 10.10 30,807 82,416
6. Jun Jin Love Doesn’t Come (single) 11.15 25,620 25,620
7. Big Bang Big Bang Vol. 3 (single) 11.21 24,100 24,100
8. Gavy NJ Vol. 2 11.15 22,197 22,197
9. Lee Seung-chul Reflection of Sound 9.27 22,187 58,373
10. Sin Ho-yeong Vol. 1 – Yes 9.14 18,502 65,500
11. Rain Vol. 4 – I’m Coming 10.13 13,901 85,115

(source: MIAK)
(Note: Chart fixed 18 Jan. 2007)

Other than the No. 1 album and the no. 10 (and Mariah Carey, kind of), the rest of this month’s top-10 is all new. Really bad month for sales, though. Numbers were all down from last month. Considering that movie attendance dropped 11% last month, too, I guess November is a dead period for entertainment in Korea. Hopefully sales will be up for the Christmas season.

Foreign Sales:

This Month Artist Album Name Release Date This Month’s Sales Total Sales
1. Richard Yongjae O’Neil Lachrymae 9.07 6,234 19,454
2. Westlife The Love Album 11.20 5,587 5,587
3. Josh Groban Awake 11.09 4,488 4,488
4. ABBA ABBA No. 1 Limited 11.22 4,467 4,467
5. The Beatles Love 11.21 4,045 4,045
6. Jamiroquai High Times (Singles 1992-2006) 11.08 4,039 4,039
7. Mariah Carey Merry Christmas (repackage) 11.15 4,031 11,546
8. Kenny G The Most Romantic Melodies 11.20 3,461 3,461
9. Baek Geon-woo Beethoven Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 11.09 3,125 3,125
10. Queen The Platinum Collection 03.2.25 2,672 37,241

(source: MIAK)