Editing Single (music) (section)

===In South Korea===
{{Redirect|Single album|the NOFX album|Single Album}}

In [[South Korean music]], the terminology for ''albums'' and ''singles'' is unique and includes an additional term, the '''single album''' ({{ko-hhrm|hangul=싱글 음반|rr=singgeul eumban}}). In contemporary usage in English, the term ''album'' refers to an LP-length recording regardless of the medium. In contrast, under the country's copyright law, the Korean usage of "album" ({{ko-hhrm|hangul=음반|rr=eumban}}) denotes a musical recording of any length that is released specifically on physical media.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2017 |title=G-Dragon responds to controversy over external form of latest album |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20170615008200315 |website=Yonhap News Agency}}</ref> A ''single album'' refers to a physical release (such as a CD, LP, or other media) that typically contains one to three unique tracks, while a ''single'' is only a song itself, typically a digital stream or download.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Everyone else uses 'Single' or 'Album' but K-pop uses 'Single Album{{'"}} K-netizens ask why the K-pop industry uses the term 'Single Album' |url=https://www.allkpop.com/article/2023/08/everyone-else-uses-single-or-album-but-k-pop-uses-single-album-k-netizens-ask-why-the-k-pop-industry-uses-the-term-single-album |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=allkpop |language=en |date=August 22, 2023 |author1=Sophie-Ha |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824031856/https://www.allkpop.com/article/2023/08/everyone-else-uses-single-or-album-but-k-pop-uses-single-album-k-netizens-ask-why-the-k-pop-industry-uses-the-term-single-album |archive-date= Aug 24, 2023 }}</ref> Although the terms ''single albums'' and ''singles'' are similar and sometimes may overlap, they are generally considered two distinct release types in South Korea. In Western contexts, a ''single album'' would otherwise be called a ''single'' or ''extended play'', depending on the length.

As a distinct release type, the single album developed during the CD era in the 1990s. Single albums were marketed as a more affordable alternative to a full-length CD album.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jun|first=Yes Yeong|url=https://news.joins.com/article/3175234|title=Gangsuji sing-geul-eumban chulsi-dan dugog sulog gagyeog-eun bissanpyeon|script-title=ko:강수지 싱글음반 출시-단 두곡 수록 가격은 비싼편|trans-title=Kang Sooji Single Album Release|website=[[JoongAng Ilbo]]|date=7 December 1995|access-date=17 January 2019|language=ko |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174345/https://news.joins.com/article/3175234 |archive-date= Jan 19, 2019 }}</ref> The [[Circle Album Chart]] tracks sales of all albums released as physical media (described as ''offline'' media), therefore, single albums compete alongside full-length studio albums (LPs) and mini-albums (EPs) on the chart, even if they only contain one song. The [[Circle Digital Chart]], which tracks downloads and streams of sole tracks, is regarded as the official singles chart.

To give an example of the differences between full-length albums, single albums, and singles, the K-pop girl group [[Wonder Girls]] released the single album ''[[The Wonder Begins]]'', which consists of the single "Irony" alongside two other unique tracks and a remix. "Irony" was later included on their debut studio album ''[[The Wonder Years (Wonder Girls album)|The Wonder Years]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Wonder Girls First Single - The Wonder Begins CD  |url=https://www.yesasia.com/global/wonder-girls-first-single-the-wonder-begins/1004648492-0-0-0-en/info.html |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=YESASIA }}</ref>

A single album is distinct from a single even if it includes only one song. The single "[[Gotta Go (Chungha song)|Gotta Go]]" by [[Chungha]] was released on a single album titled ''XII'', which was a one-track CD. Even though "Gotta Go" was the only song on ''XII'', the two releases charted separately: ''XII'' reached No.{{nbsp}}4 on the Gaon Album Chart, and "Gotta Go" reached No.{{nbsp}}2 on the Circle Digital Chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=02&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week|title=2019년 02주차 Digital Chart|date=January 6–12, 2019|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=January 17, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117122243/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=02&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week |archive-date= January 17, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=01&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week|title=2019년 01주차 Album Chart|date=December 30, 2018 – January 5, 2019|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|access-date=January 10, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110051623/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=01&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week |archive-date=January 10, 2019 }}</ref> Even when a single album and single share the same name, they still chart separately, as was the case with the Wonder Girls single album and single "[[Why So Lonely]]": the single album peaked at No. 3 on the Gaon Album Chart, while the single peaked at No. 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart.<ref name="gaon digital 2016-18">{{Cite web | title = 2016년 28주차 Digital Chart | date = July 14, 2016 | accessdate = July 14, 2016 | url = http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=28&hitYear=2016&termGbn=week | publisher = Gaon Music Chart | language = ko |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719020401/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=28&hitYear=2016&termGbn=week|url-status=dead |archivedate=July 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="gaon album 2016-18">{{Cite web | title = 2016년 28주차 Album Chart | date = July 14, 2016 | accessdate = July 14, 2016 | url = http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=28&hitYear=2016&termGbn=week | publisher = Gaon Music Chart | language = ko |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719020453/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=28&hitYear=2016&termGbn=week|url-status=dead |archivedate=July 19, 2016}}</ref>