The 2024 Korea Grand Music Awards (KGMA), held on November 16 at the Inspire Arena in Incheon, South Korea, honored some of the biggest names in K-pop. Organized by Ilgan Sports, this new award series celebrated exceptional achievements in Korean music, with winners determined through expert evaluations, digital and album sales, and fan voting.
Grand Prizes and Key Winners
Among the night’s top honorees were NewJeans, (G)I-DLE, and ZEROBASEONE, each securing a Grand Prize for their remarkable contributions to K-pop in 2024:
- NewJeans was recognized as Grand Artist, a testament to their global influence and innovative sound.
- (G)I-DLE earned the Grand Record award for their musical excellence and strong fanbase.
- ZEROBASEONE, a breakout group from their debut year, was awarded the Grand Honour’s Choice, celebrating their rapid rise and impactful presence.
Stellar Performances
The awards ceremony was hosted by Nam Ji Hyun and NewJeans’ Hanni and featured unforgettable performances from:
- EXO’s D.O
- TVXQ
- SHINee’s Taemin
- (G)I-DLE
- And many more top artists
Full List of Day 1 Winners
Here’s the complete list of winners from the first day of the 2024 Korea Grand Music Awards:
- K-pop Legendary Artist: TVXQ
- Lullua x Fancast Best Popularity: SHINee’s Taemin
- Best OST: Yoo Hwe Seung
- Best Rock Ballad: Lee Mujin
- Best Memory: Lee Mujin
- IS Rising Star: JD1
- Lotte Caliverse Transcendent Artist of the Year: Young Tak
- Best Solo Artist: SHINee’s Taemin
- Best R&B (Male): EXO’s D.O
- Best R&B (Female): BIBI
- Best Hip Hop: Lee Young Ji
- Best Band: QWER
- Best Artist (Top 10): EXO’s D.O, SHINee’s Taemin, Lee Young Ji, ZEROBASEONE, P1Harmony, Young Tak, STAYC, (G)I-DLE, NewJeans, and Jeong Dong Won
- Grand Honour’s Choice: ZEROBASEONE
- 2024 Grand Record: (G)I-DLE
- 2024 Grand Artist: NewJeans
Additional Honors
According to Maeil Business Newspaper, SEVENTEEN received a special award for achieving the highest sales records, and Young Tak was recognized in the Best Adult Contemporary category.
What’s Next?
The festivities will continue on November 17, with Nam Ji Hyun returning as the host and aespa’s Winter joining as a special MC.
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