K-pop Album Pre-orders and First-Week Sales: Release vs. Shipping Dates, Chart Counting and Pre-order Benefits
An album pre-order means the retailer takes orders before the release date and ships them in batches around the release date. Fans care about when they pre-order because of retailer-specific benefits and first-week sales (known in Korea as "chodong," the number of copies sold in the first week after release). Hanteo Chart and Circle Chart count sales differently, so the same album can show different numbers. Checking benefits, shipping dates and refund limits after opening in advance helps you avoid mistakes.
Pre-order period, release date and shipping date are all different
| Term | Meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-order period | The period when a retailer takes orders before release | Start and end dates may differ by retailer |
| Release date | The album release date officially announced by the agency or distributor | The digital release time and the physical release date may differ |
| Shipping date | The day the retailer actually starts shipping | Orders may ship in batches before and after the release date, not on the day itself |
| Benefit deadline | When retailer benefits (photocards, etc.) run out or stop being given | "First come, first served" or "orders within the period" conditions |
Pre-ordering doesn't mean the album will be in your hands on release day. Check the "expected shipping date" on the product page, and also read any notice warning that shipping may be delayed if order volume is high. Release dates and pre-order schedules are collected in the Albums category and on the calendar on Preorders. Dates that come before an agency's official announcement are marked separately as "Reported" or "Rumor."
What first-week sales are, and why they differ by chart
"Chodong" commonly refers to an album's sales in the first week right after release. Because it allows comparisons over the same period, it's often cited as a measure of a fandom's size. However, the number differs depending on "which chart's first-week sales" you're looking at.
Hanteo Chart
Hanteo Chart describes itself as a chart based on real-time sales. It totals sales by linking directly with record stores in Korea and abroad, and its website's "Initial Chodong Record" menu shows each album's first-week sales and the time remaining. For albums still within their first week, the number of days left and current sales are shown together.
Circle Chart
Circle Chart is run by the Korea Music Content Association and changed its name from Gaon Chart in 2022. Separately from its main album chart, it runs a retail album chart that counts sales through retail stores. Because it publishes on a weekly and monthly basis, first-week sales (seven days from release) and the chart's weekly tracking window sometimes don't line up.
| Category | Hanteo Chart | Circle Chart |
|---|---|---|
| What it counts | Real-time sales at linked stores | Runs an album chart and a retail album chart separately |
| First-week sales | Published per album in the "Initial Chodong Record" menu | Checked through sales figures on the weekly chart |
| Why the numbers can differ | The retailers counted, the counting window (seven days from release vs. the chart week) and how much overseas sales are included all differ | |
If you want to know whether your order counts toward a chart, check the product page or notices to see whether the retailer reports to that chart. Many retailers state whether their sales are counted. If the retailer doesn't say, it's best not to assume your purchase will count.
Retailer benefits and choosing a version
A single K-pop album title is often released in multiple versions (with different covers and contents), and each retailer frequently offers its own benefit photocards or merch.
- Versions: Check whether it ships as a "random version" or lets you "choose a version." If it's random, you may receive several copies of the same version.
- Album inclusions: Photocards and similar items are usually one random card. The list of inclusions on the product page is the reference.
- Retailer benefits: These differ by retailer and are often limited, first come, first served. Look for wording such as "benefits may end early once stock runs out."
- Fansign and video call entries: For events where the number of albums you buy equals your number of entries, always read the entry period, winner announcement date and the condition that purchases are non-refundable if you don't win.
- Overseas retailers: Shipping fees, customs duties and longer delivery times are added, and exchanges and returns are more complicated.
Why refunds get difficult once you open the album
Under Korea's E-Commerce Act, the right to withdraw an order (in principle, within 7 days) applies to physical goods like albums bought online. However, Article 17(2) of the same act lists cases where the packaging of reproducible goods has been damaged as grounds for limiting withdrawal. Albums can fall under this clause, so once you tear off the shrink wrap, a return for a simple change of mind may be refused. This limit applies only when the seller has taken steps such as clearly indicating it on the packaging or in an easily visible place.
On the other hand, if the item you receive differs from what was advertised or labeled, or is defective, you can withdraw within 3 months of receiving it and within 30 days of the day you learned (or could have learned) of the problem. If you suspect damage or missing items, recording the unboxing in photos or video makes it easier to explain to the retailer. Detailed rules are covered in Pre-order cancellation and refund rules.
Checklist before pre-ordering an album
- I checked the release date and version lineup in the agency's official notice
- I checked the retailer's pre-order deadline and expected shipping date
- I checked the retailer benefits and their conditions (first come, first served or within a period)
- I checked whether the retailer reports to the charts (if needed)
- I read whether versions ship at random and the list of inclusions
- I checked the notice on return limits after opening
- For individual sellers or social media group orders, I checked the seller's identity and payment method
Frequently asked questions
If I buy during the pre-order period, does it count toward first-week sales?
What matters is less when you placed your pre-order and more when, and on what basis, the retailer sends its sales data to the chart. Whether pre-orders are counted as of the release date depends on how the retailer and chart operate, so if you want to know whether your purchase counts, the most accurate way is to check the retailer's notice.
Why are the Hanteo and Circle numbers different for the same album?
Because the range of retailers counted and the counting windows differ. Hanteo Chart totals real-time sales from linked stores, while Circle Chart publishes weekly and monthly charts and runs a separate retail album chart. Rather than one being right and the other wrong, it's more accurate to see them as numbers measuring different things.
Can I cancel if shipping is delayed?
If you haven't received the item yet, the withdrawal period hasn't started, so you can ask the retailer to cancel. However, for orders tied to event conditions, such as fansign entries, canceling may void your entry, so check the event's notes as well.
Some fans who try to get benefits through social media group orders or private trades end up sending money and never receiving anything. Before you pay, read How to spot pre-order scams.
Sources
- Hanteo Chart – About Hanteo Chart
- Hanteo Chart – Initial Chodong Record
- Circle Chart – Retail Album Chart
- Korea Law Information Center – E-Commerce Act
This guide reflects information as of October 2026, and policies may change.