The 33rd Hanteo Music Awards took over Seoul’s KSPO Dome on February 15, 2026, bringing together the biggest names in K-pop to celebrate the past year’s achievements. While groups like Stray Kids, ATEEZ, and ENHYPEN walked away with Grand Prizes and BTS secured the Global Popular Artist award, the ceremony left a bitter taste for many ARMYs.
Fans of BTS’s j-hope are speaking out loudly online, claiming the awards show snubbed the rapper and dancer for a “Hip-Hop Special Award” that many believed he deserved. Despite reportedly leading in voting metrics and having a massive year both musically and culturally, j-hope’s name was missing when the Hip-Hop trophy was handed out.
What Happened With the Hip-Hop Award at HMA 2025?
According to the official winners list from the 33rd Hanteo Music Awards, the Special Award for Hip Hop went to Lee Young Ji. The young rapper, known for her appearances on shows like High School Rapper 2 and her viral hits, took home the honor, beating out a field of strong nominees .
However, looking back at the nomination period tells a different story about fan expectations. Earlier in the award season, when the 32nd Hanteo Music Awards nominations were announced in early 2025, j-hope was nominated in the Special Award (Hip Hop) category . He was listed alongside heavyweights like RM, Zico, Lee Young Ji, Jay Park, Dean, and Crush .
Fans threw their full support behind j-hope. He had a strong 2025, releasing music and staying active despite the group’s military service period. When the 33rd Hanteo Music Awards rolled around in February 2026, ARMY expected to see his efforts rewarded.
ARMY Points to Fan Voting and j-hope’s Strong Year
The outrage stems not just from the loss, but from the perceived disconnect between fan engagement and the final result. ARMYs are known for their powerful voting blocs, and many were confident that j-hope had the numbers to win.
One fan posted on social media, expressing frustration that the system felt rigged against the BTS member. The sentiment spread quickly across X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms, with thousands of likes and shares.
“I’m sorry but how did j-hope not win the hip-hop award? He led the votes, had one of the biggest solo tours, released ‘LV Bag’ and ‘Sweet Dreams,’ and consistently brought hip-hop culture to the mainstream. The system is rigged.”
— Fan reaction circulating on social media
Another user pointed out the irony of j-hope being nominated alongside RM and others in the previous cycle, only to be completely shut out when the 2026 ceremony arrived.
Fans also highlighted j-hope’s achievements over the past year to argue their case. He celebrated his 31st birthday, released the track ‘LV Bag’ , and prepared for his solo comeback with ‘Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)’ . His solo concert tour, ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ , saw tickets sell out instantly in cities like Bangkok and Seoul . He also graced the cover of W Korea and was scheduled to perform at Lollapalooza Berlin . For many, this resume screamed “Hip-Hop Special Award” winner.
How Hanteo Music Awards Determine Winners
To understand the frustration, it helps to look at how the Hanteo Music Awards actually work. Unlike some awards shows that rely solely on judges or popular votes, Hanteo prides itself on being data-driven.
The awards use concrete metrics collected through the Hanteo Chart, which is considered one of the most reliable real-time music charts in South Korea. Winners are selected based on:
- Album sales figures
- Streaming data from various platforms
- Verified fan engagement
For certain categories, fan voting does play a role, but it is usually combined with the physical data and judges’ scores to determine the final winner .
This is where the confusion lies. ARMYs believed that j-hope’s physical album sales for his solo work, his streaming numbers (he had amassed over 18.18 million monthly listeners on Spotify for his solo catalog), and his dominant fan vote should have secured him the trophy . When Lee Young Ji was announced instead, the disconnect between fan expectations and the judging criteria led to accusations of unfairness.
Who Won at the 33rd Hanteo Music Awards?
While the Hip-Hop award controversy dominates fan discussions, the ceremony itself was a massive celebration of K-pop. Here are some of the key winners from the night:
- Global Popular Artist: BTS – The group took home this prestigious award, proving their worldwide dominance even before their full-group comeback .
- Grand Prize (Best Song): G-Dragon for “Too Bad” .
- Grand Prize (Best Album): Stray Kids .
- Grand Prize (Best Artist): ATEEZ .
- Grand Prize (Best Performance): ENHYPEN .
- Rookie of the Year: CORTIS and Hearts2Hearts .
BTS members were also recognized individually in other areas. Jimin won the Global Artist in Europe award, proving the power of his solo work . RM had previously been acknowledged with a Special Award – Hip-hop at the 32nd Hanteo Music Awards .
This makes the absence of a similar award for j-hope at the 33rd edition sting even more for fans. If RM could win a hip-hop special award for his solo work, why couldn’t j-hope, who is often regarded as one of the best dancers and most versatile rappers in the industry?
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BTS’s Bigger Picture: Comeback and World Tour Ahead
Despite the disappointment over j-hope’s snub, there is plenty of good news on the horizon for BTS and ARMY. The group’s win for Global Popular Artist at the Hanteo Awards is a clear signal that the fandom is alive and well and ready to support the group’s next chapter .
All seven members—RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—have completed their military service and reunited in 2025 . They are currently gearing up for a full-group comeback that is scheduled for March 2026.
The new studio album, reportedly titled ARIRANG, is set to drop on March 20 and will feature 14 tracks . This marks their first full-group project since reuniting. Following the album release, BTS will kick off a massive world tour titled ‘ARIRANG’ .
The tour is scheduled to begin on April 9 and will cover 81 shows across 34 cities worldwide, running through 2026 and into 2027 . It is being described as the largest K-pop tour ever announced.
Fans hope that this upcoming busy schedule and the joy of a full-group comeback will eventually overshadow the frustration of the Hanteo Awards. But for now, the conversation remains focused on what many see as an oversight.
Lee Young Ji is undeniably talented and deserving of recognition in the hip-hop scene. However, for ARMY, the lack of acknowledgment for j-hope’s contributions to hip-hop in 2025 feels like a missed opportunity for the awards show to honor one of the genre’s most influential idols.
As the K-pop industry continues to grow, award shows like Hanteo face increasing scrutiny from global fandoms who watch every metric and vote count closely. The passion of ARMY ensures that any perceived slight against a member like j-hope will not go unnoticed, and the calls for transparency—and perhaps a little more fairness—will likely continue until the next awards season rolls around.
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