The 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards (KGMA) is back for the second year and it was held on November 14, 2025 with many of the hottest K-pop and Korean stars. With the glitzy red carpet, fiery shows, and heartfelt Daesang recipients, the awards show once again solidified why KGMA is growing to become one of the top ceremonies in Korean music industry.
Below is a full, detailed breakdown of the event — including the award show’s background, history, cultural context, celebrity appearances, and the complete list of winners from Day 1.
Background & History of the Korea Grand Music Awards
The Origin Story: How KGMA Began
The Korea Grand Music Awards may be a newcomer on the K-pop award circuit scene, but its roots run deep. The event was launched by Ilgan Sports, Korea’s longstanding entertainment newspaper since the 1960s, and will be celebrating its 55th anniversary in 2024.
The purpose behind launching the KGMA was clear:
- To honor the past, present, and future of K-pop
- To celebrate the artists shaping Korea’s cultural footprint
- To build an award show that blends tradition with modern K-pop trends
KGMA quickly gained popularity because of its credibility and its commitment to recognizing artists from diverse genres, including K-pop, Trot, Hip-hop, Bands, OST composers, and more.
A New-Age Award Ceremony for a New-Age K-pop Industry
The timing of KGMA’s rise is significant. The global K-pop industry is currently in a powerful transition era:
- Netflix’s hit series “KPop Demon Hunters” has reignited worldwide interest in Korean pop culture.
- Legendary third-generation K-pop groups are making long-awaited comebacks.
- Fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the full-group return of BTS.
With excitement building globally, the KGMA’s second edition arrived at the perfect moment — giving fans a celebration of K-pop’s new artistic chapter.
The Red Carpet: A Glamorous Start to the Celebration
The 2025 KGMA Day 1 began with a visually stunning red carpet ceremony at 5:30 PM KST.
Idols, actors, and emerging artists arrived in breathtaking outfits, stepping into flashing cameras, fan cheers, and live media coverage.
The atmosphere was a blend of:
- High-fashion looks
- Energetic fan chants
- Media buzz
- Pre-event excitement
Top K-pop idols like ATEEZ, THE BOYZ, CRAVITY, BOYNEXTDOOR, Xdinary Heroes, FIFTY FIFTY, MEOVV, and Red Velvet’s Irene brought unmatched star power to the carpet.
Hosts & Presenters: Star-Studded Appearances
Actress Nam Ji Hyun returned as the main host for the second consecutive year, reinforcing her growing association with the KGMA brand.
A long list of popular Korean actors presented awards throughout the night, including:
- Ahn Hyo Seop
- Cho Young Woo
- Seo Eun Soo
- Bae Hyeon Sung
- Uhm Tae Goo
- Ha Young
Their appearances added a strong K-drama presence, drawing excitement from global fans.
Performances: Powerful Stages That Defined Day 1
The stage came alive with high-energy and beautifully choreographed performances from top artists such as:
- THE BOYZ
- ATEEZ
- BOYNEXTDOOR
- Xdinary Heroes
- CRAVITY
- FIFTY FIFTY
- Red Velvet’s Irene
- MEOVV
ATEEZ delivered a standout performance that foreshadowed their Daesang win, while Xdinary Heroes’ live-band energy electrified the venue. These performances set the perfect tone for a night celebrating musical excellence.
Award Significance: What Makes KGMA Categories Special?
KGMA gene award is the most comprehensive of its kind in terms of categories, which pay different respects to an artist’s work:
- Best Artist (Top 10): Spotlights the year’s best performing and most influential artists.
- Daesang (Grand Prizes): The highest awards given out to artists who had achieved wide-ranging influence through their music and their stage shows.
- Best OST, Best Hip-Hop, Best Band : These categories honor genre-specific excellence.
- Trend of the Year: Spotlights artists who have set cultural trends
- Spotlight new and emerging talents shaping the future of K-pop.
KGMA is unique because it balances commercial success, artistry, and cultural influence, making the awards especially meaningful to artists and fans.
KGMA 2025 Theme
Every single year, the KGMA presents a unique theme, and the 2025 edition adopted “The Moment to Open a New Era of K-POP” as its theme.
The theme was a clear indication that K-pop was entering a new chapter—powerfully influenced by the both the legacy of the older idols and the inventiveness of the new breed. It aimed to show how the different artist eras are linked, co-defining in a way the developing identity of Korean music together.
The lineup was a direct reflection of this very concept. Rookies, seasoned artists, and everyone in between were performing in such a way as to connect the past and present. Some performance concepts were very daring and avant-garde while others were wonderfully nostalgic and brought fans back for a moment to the time when K-pop was in its heydays and still conquering the world’s culture.
The event was structured in such a way that it had two very significant portions:
- Artist Day (November 14): The main focus was on artist-centered performances and stage presence.
- Music Day (November 15): Musicians, music creators, and genre-specific stages were the highlight of the day.
The combination of this theme and the two-day format conveyed one message loud and clear:
K-pop has reached a new era wherein innovation, diversity, and the connection between generations become the most important aspects.
Full List of 2025 KGMA Day 1 Winners (Table)
2025 Korea Grand Music Awards Day 1 — Winners Table
| Category | Winner |
| Best Artist (Top 10) | Jennie, RIIZE, BOYNEXTDOOR, FIFTY FIFTY, ATEEZ, THE BOYZ, CRAVITY, Lee Chan Won, Xdinary Heroes, xikers |
| Best OST | EXO D.O. – Forever |
| Best Music Video | BTS Jin – Don’t Say You Love Me |
| Best Hip-Hop | BTS J-Hope – Killin’ It Girl |
| Trend of the Year (K-pop) | NewJeans |
| Trend of the Year (Trot) | Lee Chan Won |
| Overseas K-pop Artist | INI |
| Best Band | Xdinary Heroes |
| Best Trot Performance | Park Seo Jin |
| IS Rising Star | ALLDAY PROJECT, KiiiKiii |
| IS Rookie | MEOVV |
| iM Bank Smart Supporter | THE BOYZ |
| Best Memory | WOODZ |
| Best Adult Contemporary | Lee Chan Won |
| Most Popular Award | Lee Chan Won |
| Best Stage | CRAVITY |
| Best Producer | Teddy (THEBLACKLABEL) |
| Daesang – Grand Artist | ATEEZ |
| Daesang – Grand Honor Choice | ALLDAY PROJECT, THE BOYZ |
| Daesang – Grand Performer | BOYNEXTDOOR |
How KGMA Winners Are Selected (Judging Criteria)
The Korea Grand Music Awards has a structured and transparent evaluation system that assures fairness in the selection of winners. Each award is a combination of the four elements of the expert assessment, objective performance data, and fan participation. The balance is one of the major reasons behind the fact that the KGMA is considered to be one of the most credible award shows in the Korean music industry.
Judging Criteria Breakdown
- Jury Evaluation
The panel of industry experts rates all nominees according to their musical quality, performance, impact, and professionalism. For most categories, the jury score carries the most weight. - Sales and Streaming Performance
The scoring procedure includes both digital streaming figures and physical album sales. These indicators correspond to the commercial success of the artist and the artist’s penetration among the public. - Fan Voting
The fans have the opportunity to express their preference via the official mobile voting platforms. This part is indicative of the artist’s public support and popularity. In a number of categories, fan voting plays a very important role in determining the final score. - IS Media Points
In some awards, the additional points are given based on the media coverage of Ilgan Sports, the organizer company of the KGMA.
How Scoring Works (With Examples)
Main Categories
Most of the popular categories have a weighted scoring system:
- 65%: Jury evaluation + album sales + digital performance + IS media points
- 35%: Fan voting
This set-up guarantees that both the industry and the public are heard in the final outcome.
Grand Honor’s Choice (Daesang)
This major award is completely determined by the professional jury.
- 100% Jury-based: It recognizes outstanding artistic achievements during the evaluation period specified, without any contribution from the fan votes.
- Best Selling Album & Most Streamed Music: Titles of these two awards are solely based on the numbers.
Where to Watch KGMA 2025 (Livestream Details)
The ceremony of the KGMA 2025 was made open to everyone all over the world through global broadcasting strategies and thus, no one was excluded from the participation of the fans globally. The main international livestream was done on TikTok Live, which means that viewers in America, India, Southeast Asia, and Europe got to see the event live simultaneously.
In Japan, the event was streamed only on Hulu Japan, while the Korean audience was able to watch it through the ENA TV network. This distribution across various platforms was one of the reasons the award show went viral on social media, along with the good streaming quality and subtitles for the whole world.
Official Broadcast Platforms
- Global (except Japan and China): TikTok Live
- Japan: Hulu Japan
- South Korea: ENA
The Most Emotional Moment: X1 Members Reunite After 5 Years
One of the most unexpected and heartwarming highlights of the 2025 KGMA was the reunion of former X1 members Kim Yohan and WOODZ (Cho Seungyoun).
X1 disbanded abruptly in January 2020 due to the Produce X 101 vote-rigging scandal, leaving fans worldwide heartbroken. The members took different paths afterward — some becoming actors, others pursuing solo careers or joining new groups.
Kim Yohan Presents an Award to WOODZ
During the ceremony:
- Kim Yohan, now a full-time actor, appeared on stage as a presenter.
- He announced WOODZ as the winner of the “Best Memory” award.
Fans instantly recognized the moment — the two standing together again after five years was deeply emotional.
Their Interaction Broke the Internet
After the ceremony:
Kim Yohan posted on Instagram Stories:
“This makes me so happy. You’re so incredible.”
WOODZ reposted with his own heartfelt message:
“I love it even more because you gave it to me.”
This exchange confirmed that despite the hardships, the bond between the former X1 members remains strong.
Fans’ Reaction
X1 supporters flooded social media with:
- Reunion edits
- Emotional messages
- Calls for a future collaboration
The moment became one of the most viral highlights of Day 1.
Highlights From the Night
1. ATEEZ Crowned Grand Artist
ATEEZ’s rise has been unstoppable, and their Daesang win solidified their position as one of Korea’s top-performing groups.
2. NewJeans Named Trend of the Year
From chart dominance to cultural impact, NewJeans continued influencing global trends.
3. Strong BTS Representation
Even during members’ military phase, BTS dominated the night with wins from Jin and J-Hope.
4. ALLDAY PROJECT & THE BOYZ Win Grand Honor Choice
A defining moment for both groups marking their artistic growth and popularity.
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Conclusion: A Powerful Opening to KGMA 2025
The 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards Day 1 was a testament not just to the music industry’s better works, but also its growing pains in the K-pop era. With worldwide excitement surrounding their comeback, 3rd-gen comebacks and new groups from 4th–5th gen the awards were an poetic snapshot of where we are right now.
And with Day 2 in store, you can be sure that even greater announcements and stunzee performance are yet to come.
