KGMA LIVE (Artist Day): Kicking off with a heavily packed red carpet event at 5:30 pm KST, the 2025 Korea Grand Awards began its two-day celebrations on Friday, November 14. The second edition of the awards franchise, which seeks to honour the best talents across the South Korean music roster, witnessed the return of Nam Ji Hyun as the main host. The Good Partner actress has stuck it out with the KGMA brand since its inaugural stage last year.
Ilgan Sports, a reputed Korean newspaper, was keen on commemorating the “past, present and future of K-pop.” And so, the KGMA banner was born on the daily’s 55th anniversary in 2024.
The comeback of the Korea Grand Music Awards for a second chapter is highly auspicious at this time when the global stage is already raving about the sensational hit that is Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters. On top of that, dearly loved music acts associated with the “third generation” of the K-pop branch are also making their highly-anticipated return to the music scene. BTS remains one such significantly awaited full-group comeback.
Although there’s still some time left before the global sensation’s new album release and a whole new world tour era, K-pop enthusiasts can make do with the grand celebrations the Korea Grand Music Awards have to offer for the time being.
Who was there: Performances on Day 1 of the Korea Grand Music Awards saw big stars like THE BOYZ, BOYNEXTDOOR, ATEEZ, Xdinary Heroes, CRAVITY, FIFTY FIFTY, Red Velvet’s Irene, MEOVV and others take the stage. K-drama stars Ahn Hyo Seop, Cho Young Woo, Bae Hyeon Sung, Uhm Tae Goo, Ha Young, Seo Eun Soo and others stepped up as the unmissable presenters at the awards nights.
2025 Korea Grand Music Awards winners list – Day 1
Best Artist (Top 10): BLACKPINK’s Jennie, RIIZE, BOYNEXTDOOR, FIFTY FIFTY, ATEEZ, THE BOYZ, CRAVITY, Lee Chan Won, Xdinary Heroes, xikers
Best OST: EXO DO aka Doh Kyungsoo for “Forever” (Resident Playbook)
Best Music Video: BTS’ Jin for “Don’t Say You Love Me”
Best Hip Hop: BTS’ J-Hope for “Killin’ It Girl”
Trend of the Year – K-pop group: 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 (The Black Label)
Grand Prize winners at KGMA Day 1
Grand Artist (Daesang): ATEEZ
Grand Honor Choice (Daesang): AllDay Project, THE BOYZ
Grand Performer (Daesang): BOYNEXTDOOR
The Korea Grand Music Awards will continue tomorrow, November 15. Stay tuned for the Day 2 winners list.
