From the night of the 22nd to the 23rd, the most ‘hot’ keyword on global SNS was these four letters, ‘The Awards’. It was a perfect inauguration that announced ‘a great start’, borrowing an online buzzword.

The 1st The Awards, a ‘new festival of K-pop stars’, was held grandly at 6 PM on the 22nd at the Hwajeong Gymnasium of Korea University in Seoul. ‘The Awards’, which could be viewed in living rooms through Channel A, also heated up various global SNS from 10:30 PM on the same day until the 23rd, dominating ‘topic’. The sign of the ‘successful global debut’ of The Awards was the X(oldTwitter) real-time trend ranking that stayed at the ‘top’ for two days from the day of the awards ceremony.

The K-pop fandom, who watched the awards ceremony on-site at Hwajeong Gymnasium and through the broadcast on Channel A, gave enthusiastic ‘praise’ to the fast-paced development, the well-made set list that felt like listening to a ‘well-organized compilation album’ from beginning to end, the 14 top performers and 16 presenters (presenters) who showed their ‘truly enjoying themselves’ without holding back, and the combo of Go Min-si and Lee Jong-won, who served as the main MCs and the ‘faces of The Awards’.

In particular, the ‘1st The Awards’ was a ‘direction that literally ‘snapped’(deleted in an instant) the 4-hour running time. It attracted attention with favorable reviews such as ’a great restaurant’. The general director of THE AWARDS was veteran director Yoo Won-sang, who has directed many major domestic award ceremonies, and the producing group WSM planned and produced it.

The Awards, which has the concept of K-pop members coming together to wrap up the year, celebrate, and encourage each other, lived up to its intention, with all the participating artists showing their ‘sense of accomplishment’ as well as ‘pledges’for a better tomorrow. The unique and sophisticated appearance of the signature trophy of THE AWARDS, ‘D CUBE’, which is also the result, was a ‘deal hot topic’, especially among the artists who ‘were all the main characters’ at the first THE AWARDS.

The title of ‘most winners’ of THE AWARDS went to the group ENHYPEN.

ENHYPEN took home the Best Group, Best Tour, the main award, THE AWARDS DELIGHTS, the ‘Best Male Group’, the U-Pick Popularity Award selected 100% by fan voting, and the ‘Album of the Year’, which is awarded to a ‘masterpiece’, which not only has record-breaking sales but also boasts a high level of perfection.

ZEROBASEONE and RISE were honored with four crowns.

ZEROBASEONE took home Best Stage and the main prize, The Awards Delight, the U-Pick Popularity Award Global Choice category for member Zhang Hao, and ‘Record of the Year’, which is given to an album that elevates K-pop to ‘art’.

‘A good example of a hexagonal idol’ RISE took home Best Group, Best Video, the main prize, The Awards Delight, and ‘Performance of the Year’, which highlights the greatest musical achievement.

The 2024 ‘Discovery of K-pop’ Tours and NCT WISH also shined brightly at the first The Awards. Tours and NCT WISH were each selected as the ‘Rookie of the Year’, the kings of the best ‘Rookie of the Year.


Reporter Heo Min-nyeong mignon@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.