Stray Kids has once again captured the attention of fans and industry insiders alike with the release of their fourth Korean-language studio album, Karma, on August 22, 2025. Supported by the lead single “CEREMONY,” the album is already making waves, setting the stage for a milestone that marks a high point in 2025 K-pop.
Stray Kids Shatters 2025 Sales Record
The response to Karma was immediate and overwhelming. According to Hanteo Chart, as recopiled by Soompi, the album sold over 2 million copies on its very first day, signaling the group’s growing influence and the dedication of their global fanbase.
By the end of its first week, Karma had reached a staggering 3,036,360 copies sold. This made it the first album in 2025 to surpass the 3 million mark in first-week sales, setting a new high for K-pop releases so far this year.
Stray Kids has also started collecting accolades for the album’s lead single. On the August 28 episode of M Countdown, they faced off against NCT WISH’s “Surf” and took home the trophy with 10,000 points.
The following day, on KBS 2TV’s Music Bank, “CEREMONY” went up against BLACKPINK’s “JUMP” and secured another win with a total of 14,067 points, marking a strong start for the track’s promotion.