They made history last year when they became the first Korean pop band to enter the top 40 UK singles chart with their song Idol.

Well now the boy band BTS have done it again, this time becoming the first act from that country to go to number one in the British album charts.

Described as a K-pop sensation, BTS debuted at the top of the charts with their new EP Map Of The Soul: Persona, which sold 26,500 copies, 68% of which were physical sales, the Official Charts Company said.

The EP is the seven-piece band's fourth collection to enter the UK top 40, following their three-part Love Yourself series of records.

BTS, comprised of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook, have enjoyed a dramatic rise to fame since they formed in 2013, with Idol going to number 21 last year - all the more impressive because their songs are sung mostly in their native Korean.

The band, also known as the Bangtan Boys, are one of the biggest boy bands on the global pop scene and were the most retweeted celebrities in the world for 2017 and 2018.

BTS are also known for their philanthropy, with J-Hope donating $133,000 last December to ChildFund Korea to support "students in the arts, music, and physical education who need financial support in order to pursue their dreams, and students who need assistance with paying for health care".