he second night of the 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards with iM Bank (KGMA) wrapped up at Inspire Arena with a sweeping celebration of K-pop’s biggest achievements in music this year. While Stray Kids and Ive claimed the evening’s highest honors, the ceremony delivered a wide spread of wins across generations, genres, and rising stars.
Hosted by Natty (KISS OF LIFE) and actress Nam Ji-hyun, Music Day showcased powerful performances, cross-generation tribute stages, and a full roster of award presentations streamed globally via TikTok Live and Hulu Japan.
Stray Kids Take Over KGMA 2025 With Five Wins
Stray Kids were the undisputed headliners of Music Day, lifting both top honors:
2025 Grand Record
2025 Grand Honors Choice
The group also secured :
Best Selling Album for KARMA
Best Music 10
Most Popular Award
totaling five trophies, the most for any artist that night.
In their acceptance speech, the members thanked STAY for a year filled with “firsts,” promising a final-quarter comeback and emphasizing their goal to “lead and spread positive influence around the world.”
Ive Win Four Awards, Including Grand Song
Ive solidified their reputation as digital queens, capturing the prestigious 2025 Grand Song award. Their triple hit streak of REBEL HEART, ATTITUDE, and XOXZ defined this year’s soundscape.
They also took home:
Best Global K-Pop StarBest Music 10
ENA K-Pop Artist Award
The group thanked their fandom, DIVE, saying this trophy “made the final months of the year even more meaningful.”
Suho and Dayoung Lead the Solo Categories
EXO’s Suho enjoyed a standout night, winning three awards:
Best Male Solo ArtistBest Music 10
VIXX Global Star Award
He dedicated the wins to EXO-L and teased the upcoming EXO comeback.
WJSN Dayoung, only three months into her solo debut, claimed Best Female Solo Artist, calling it “an honor at my first-ever awards ceremony.”
FULL LIST OF KGMA 2025 – MUSIC DAY WINNERS
Grand Awards - Daesangs
Grand Record – Stray KidsGrand Song – Ive
Grand Honors Choice – Stray Kids
Genre Awards: Bands, Trot, Dance & More
Best Band – LucyBest Adult Contemporary / Best Trot Stage – Jang Min-ho (double winner)
Best Vocal – BTOB
Best Dance Performance – A9
Best Virtual Artist – plave
Best Streaming Song – aespa – ‘Whiplash’
Fan Favorite Artist – BTS Jimin (Male) & (G)I-DLE Yuqi (Female)
Style Icon – Eunice
Trend of the Year – BTS V (Solo) & Hearts to Hearts Carmen (Rookie)
Global Recognition Awards
K-Pop Foreign Artist – NEXZHulu Japan Popularity Award – NEXZ
Best Listener’s Pick – Eunice (win repeated across categories)
Mark (NCT), Seventeen, Suho (EXO), Stray Kids, Ive, aespa, ENHYPEN, Kiss of Life, fromis_9, P1Harmony
Genre & Special Awards
Best Band – LucyBest Adult Contemporary – Jang Minho
Best Trot Stage – Jang Minho
Best Vocal – BTOB
Best Solo Artist – Suho (Male), Dayoung (Female)
Best Dance Performance – A9
Best Virtual Artist – Playb
Best Streaming Song – aespa “Whiplash”
Best Selling Album – Stray Kids “KARMA”
Best Global K-Pop Star – Ive
Most Popular Award – Stray Kids
ENA K-Pop Artist Award – Ive
Listener’s Pick – Eunice
Style Icon – Eunice
Trend of the Year – BTS V (Solo), Hearts to Hearts Carmen (Rookie)
Fan Favorite Artist – BTS Jimin (Male), (G)I-DLE Yuqi (Female)
Rookie Awards
This year’s KGMA emphasized next-generation power:
Idit, Hearts To Hearts, Kickflip, A9, and Close Your Eyes also delivered special “LINK to K-POP” tribute performances, covering legendary hits from H.O.T.’s “Happiness” to Stray Kids’ “Maniac,” creating a rare moment of generational unity.
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IS Rising Star – Idit, Kickflip, Hearts to Hearts
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IS Rookie – Nine, Close Your Eyes
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| Hearts to Hearts |
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| Kickflip |
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| IDIT |
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| Nine |
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| Close Your Eyes |
From Stray Kids’ historic dominance to Ive’s polished digital power, KGMA 2025 Music Day confirmed the strength of K-pop’s current leaders while spotlighting the next generation ready to rise.
As the second annual KGMA concluded, it cemented its place as a premier global K-pop festival—one that not only awards achievements but celebrates the culture, connection, and evolution of the genre itself.