NCT Mark’s The Firstfruit Ranks No. 1 on Billboard’s ‘Best K-Pop Albums of 2025

[Mydaily = Reporter Park Seoyeon] NCT’s Mark’s first solo album The Firstfruit has been named the best K-pop album of the year by U.S. music outlet Billboard.

Released in April, Mark’s debut solo album The Firstfruit ranked No. 1 on Billboard’s “The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2025: Staff Picks,” announced on the publication’s official website on December 18 (local time), once again proving Mark’s global influence.

Billboard praised the album, stating, “The Firstfruit is an impressive work that immediately cements Mark’s presence. It candidly captures his personal experiences, from time spent traveling back and forth on airplanes to homesickness and longing for his mother. The album unfolds as a journey that follows Mark’s perspective from start to finish, drawing listeners deep into his inner world.”

In addition, the album’s track “+82 Pressin’ (Feat. Haechan)” was also selected for Teen Vogue’s “15 Best K-pop Music Videos of 2025.” The magazine commented, “The combination of Mark and Haechan alone is enough to warrant attention, but the music video itself is artistic and delivers an intense sense of immersion,” adding, “As a piece rich with interpretive possibilities, it is best experienced through its refined and striking visuals rather than lengthy explanations.”

Mark’s first solo album The Firstfruit consists of 13 tracks, including the title song “1999.” The album tells an honest story through four cities that have shaped Mark’s foundation: his hometown Toronto, his first place of relocation New York, Vancouver where he spent his school years, and Seoul, where he realized his dream of becoming an artist. Upon release, the album achieved half-million-seller status and enjoyed strong popularity across various domestic and international charts.

Meanwhile, Mark’s group NCT DREAM is set to appear on the “2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon,” airing on December 25.