The 34th Seoul Music Awards came to a spectacular close on June 21 at Inspire Arena, Incheon — once again cementing its place as one of K-pop’s most prestigious and highly anticipated year-end ceremonies. The Seoul Music Awards Committee, the 2025 edition marked a milestone celebration in honor of Sports Seoul’s 40th anniversary.
Bringing together the biggest names in the industry and the most promising new acts, this year’s show delivered unforgettable stages, emotional wins, and a powerful reminder of K-pop’s ever-expanding global impact.
I-DLE Earns the Night’s Highest Honor
Leading the winners was I-DLE, who claimed the Grand Prize (Daesang), a moment that solidified their position as a powerhouse girl group with a lasting cultural imprint. Their win reflected not only their musical success but also the resonance they continue to have with fans across the globe.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) had a standout evening as well, walking away with three major awards: Best Digital Song, Best Album, and a Main Award (Bonsang). Meanwhile, rookies like ZEROBASEONE, ILLIT, and NCT WISH proved their fast-rising status with multiple honors of their own.
On the global front, ROSÉ of BLACKPINK and aespa were named World Best Artists, underscoring their reach beyond the Korean music scene.
Star-Studded Stages & Global Fan Love
This year’s ceremony saw a dazzling roster of artists take the stage — including BTOB, TXT, NCT DREAM, IVE, SEVENTEEN, Doyoung, PLAVE, CRAVITY, FIFTY FIFTY, P1Harmony, and more. From slick choreography to emotional ballads, every act brought something uniquely K-pop to the stage.
Joining them were a host of well-known actors like Kang You Seok, Ong Seong Wu, Byun Woo Seok, Nam Gyu Ri, and Park Joo Hyun, who added a red carpet-level of elegance as presenters.
Strong Hosts and Stronger Moments
The hosting lineup — Miyeon of I-DLE, Kang Seung Yoon of WINNER, and Soobin of TXT made an impressive debut as MCs. Their dynamic synergy and smooth coordination brought a lively and heartfelt energy to the show, receiving warm reactions from both the crowd and online viewers.
A Wide Spectrum of Awards
From genre-specific accolades to newcomer recognition, this year’s awards spanned all corners of the K-pop landscape. RM took home the R&B/Hip-Hop Award, while Wave to Earth earned the Band Award. Young Tak dominated the solo categories with wins in Trot, OST, and K-POP World Choice, proving his diverse appeal.
Meanwhile, KIKI, KICKFLIP, and HEART2HEART were crowned Rookie of the Year, and VVUP earned the Rising Star Award — hinting at a bright future for the next generation of performers.
As the industry looks ahead to the 35th Seoul Music Awards, fans are already anticipating which stars will take the spotlight next.
34th Seoul Music Awards – Full Winner List
(All names listed in alphabetical order)
Grand Prize (Daesang)
• (G)I-DLE
Best Digital Song
• TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Album
• ZEROBASEONE, TOMORROW X TOGETHER
World Best Artist
• ROSÉ, aespa
K-POP World Choice (Group)
• BABYMONSTER
K-POP World Choice (Solo)
• Young Tak
Main Awards (Bonsang)
• Doyoung
• ROSÉ
• SEVENTEEN
• Stray Kids
• (G)I-DLE
• IVE
• ILLIT
• aespa
• NCT DREAM
• NCT WISH
• ENHYPEN
• Young Tak
• ZEROBASEONE
• G-DRAGON
• TOMORROW X TOGETHER
• PLAVE
• P1Harmony
• QWER
Rookie of the Year
• KIKI, KICKFLIP, HEART2HEART
R&B / Hip-Hop Award
• RM
Ballad Award
• Hwang Garam
Trot Award
• Young Tak
OST Award
• Young Tak
Band Award
• Wave to Earth
Discovery of the Year
• SAY MY NAME
Best Performance
• CRAVITY, FIFTY FIFTY
Best Group
• ILLIT, NCT WISH
Best Solo
• Doyoung
Special K-pop Award
• BTOB
Popularity Award
• Lee Chan Won
Hallyu Special Award
• Jimin (BTS)
Rising Star Award
• VVUP
Congratulations to all the winners!
Article source, images courtesy of Seoul Music Awards
