The Korean Music Awards () is an annual South Korean music awards show that honors both mainstream and underground musical artists from a variety of genres. Unlike other major South Korean music awards, which largely rely on record sales to determine winners, the Korean Music Awards distributes awards based on the recommendations of a panel of judges consisting of music critics, radio show producers, academics, and other professionals within the industry. The first ceremony was held in 2004, and is regarded as one of the most prestigious music awards in the country.
Ceremonies Edition Year Date 1st2004March 17 2nd2005March 22 3rd2006April 14 4th2007March 6 5th2008March 5 6th2009February 26 7th2010March 30 8th2011February 23 9th2012February 29 10th2013February 28 11th2014February 28 12th2015February 26 13th2016February 29 14th2017February 28 15th2018February 28 16th2019February 26 17th2020February 27 18th2021February 28 19th2022March 1 20th2023March 5 21st2024February 29 22nd 2025 February 27 23rd 2026 February 26
Categories The event currently has approximately 20 categories, including the Musician of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and genre awards in pop, rock, modern rock, metal & hardcore, folk, dance & electronic, hip hop, R&B & soul, and jazz & crossover music.
Musician of the Year (Grand Prize) Year Winner(s)2026Hanroro——2025Lee Seung-yoon——2024Silica Gel——2023250 — —2022BTS — —2021Leenalchi — —2020Kim Oki — —2019BTS — —2018BTS — — 2017 Jay Park — — 2016Deepflow — — 2015Lee Seung-hwan — — 2014 Sunwoo Jung-a — — 2013 Psy — — 2012 Kiha & The Faces — — 2011 Galaxy Express — — 2010 Seoul Electric Band — — 2009 Toy — — 2008 Yi Sung-yol — — 2007 Lee Ji-hyung Park Seon-joo No Brain 2006 Cho Kyu-chan Lee Tzsche W 2005 Lee Seung-chul Lee So-ra Clazziquai Project 2004 Wheesung Lee Tzsche Big Mama Note: The award for Musician of the Year was divided into Male, Female and Group awards from 2004 to 2007.
Album of the Year (Grand Prize) Year Winner Album2026Chudahye Chagis Sosuminjok2025Danpyunsun and the Moments EnsembleHail to the Music2024BeenzinoNowitzki2023250Ppong 2022 Lang Lee There is a Wolf 2021 Jeongmilla CheongPa Sonata 2020 Baek Yerin Our Love Is Great 2019 Jang Pill Soon Soony Eight:소길花 2018 Kang Tae-gu bleu 2017 Jo Dong-jin As A Tree 2016 E Sens The Anecdote 2015 Loro's W.A.N.D.Y 2014 Yoon Young-bae Dangerous World 2013 3rd Line Butterfly Dreamtalk 2012 Kiha & The Faces Kiha & The Faces 2011 Garion Garion 2 2010 Seoul Electric Band Life Is Strange 2009 Sister's BarbershopMost Ordinary Existence 2008 Lee Juck Songs Made of Wood 2007 SwallowAresco 2006 Second Moon Second Moon 2005 My Aunt Mary Just Pop 2004 The The The The Band
Song of the Year (Grand Prize) Year Winner Song2026Lee Chan-hyuk"Endangered Love"2025Aespa"Supernova"2024NewJeans"Ditto" 2023 Younha "Event Horizon" 2022 Aespa "Next Level" 2021 BTS "Dynamite" 2020 Jannabi "For Lovers Who Hesitate" 2019 BTS "Fake Love" 2018 Hyukoh "Tomboy" 2017 Bolbbalgan4 "Galaxy" 2016 Big Bang "Bae Bae" 2015 So-you & Junggigo "Some" 2014 Cho Yong-pil "Bounce" 2013 Psy "Gangnam Style" 2012 IU "Good Day" 2011 Hot Potato "Confession" 2010 Girls' Generation "Gee" 2009 Kiha & The Faces "Cheap Coffee" 2008 Lee Juck "It's Fortunate" 2007 Lee Han-chul "Superstar" 2006 Yoon Do-hyun "It Must Have Been Love" 2005 Cho PD "Friend" 2004 Loveholics "Loveholic"
Rookie of the Year Year Winner2026Huijun Woo2025Sanmanhan2024Kiss of Life 2023 NewJeans 2022 Aespa 2021 Meaningful Stone 2020 Sogumm 2019 Airy 2018 Se So Neon 2017 Silica Gel 2016 Hyukoh 2015 Kim Sa-wol & Kim Hae-won 2014 Rock 'n Roll Radio 2013 404 2012 Bye Bye Bad Man 2011 Gate Flowers 2010 Guckkasten, Apollo 18 2009 Loro's 2008 Younha 2007 The Mustangs 2006 Second Moon, Sogyumo Acacia Band 2005 MOT 2004 Jung Jae-il
Genre Awards Best Pop Album Year Winner Album2026Lee Chan-hyukEros2025John ParkPSST!2024Lee Jin-ahHearts of the City 2023 Lee Chan-hyuk Error 2022 IU Lilac 2021 Yerin Baek Every Letter I Sent You 2020 Our Love Is Great 2019 Jang Pill Soon Soony Eight:소길花 2018 IU Palette 2017 Jo Dong-jin As A Tree 2016 Ravie Nuage Youth 2015 Akdong Musician Play 2014 Sunwoo Jung-a It's Okay, Dear 2013 Busker Busker Busker Busker 1st Album 2012 Neon Bunny Seoulight 2011 Cho Kyu-chan 9 2010 Lee So-ra 7th Album 2009 Kim Dong-ryool Monologue 2008 Lee Juck Songs Made of Wood 2007 Park Seon-joo A4rism 2006 W Where the Story Ends 2005Clazziquai Project Instant Pig
Best Pop Song Year Winner Song2026Lee Chan-hyuk"Endangered Love"2025Bibi"Bam Yang Gang"2024AKMU"Love Lee"2023Younha"Event Horizon" 2022 AKMU "Nakka" (with IU) 2021 BTS "Dynamite" 2020 Baek Yerin "Maybe It's Not Our Fault" 2019 BTS "Fake Love" 2018 Red Velvet "Red Flavor" 2017 Wonder Girls "Why So Lonely" 2016 Big Bang "Loser" 2015 So-you & Junggigo "Some" 2014 Cho Yong-pil "Bounce" 2013 Busker Busker "Yeosu Night Sea" 2012 IU "Good Day" 2011 10cm "Tonight I'm Afraid of the Dark" 2010 Lee So-ra "Track8" 2009 Toy "Passionate Goodbye" 2008 Lee Juck "It's Fortunate" 2007 Lee Han-chul "Superstar" 2006 Lucid Fall "Oh, Love"
Best K-Pop Album Year Winner Album2026JennieRuby2025AespaArmageddon2024NewJeansGet Up 2023 New Jeans 2022 Chungha Querencia
Best K-Pop Song Year Winner Song2026Jennie"Like Jennie"2025Aespa"Supernova"2024NewJeans"Ditto"2023"Attention" 2022 Aespa "Next Level"
Best Rock Album Year Winner Album2025SoumbalgwangFire & Light2024OVerdrive Philosophy64 See Me 2023 Concorde Supersonic Airliner 2022 Soumbalgwang Happiness, Flower 2021 ABTB Daydream 2020 Jambinai ONDA 2019 Life and Time Age 2018 Lowdown 30 B 2017 ABTB Attraction Between Two Bodies 2016 The Monotones Into The Night 2015 Danpyunsun and the Sailors Animal 2014 Yellow Monsters Red Flag 2013 Jung Cha-shik Turbulent Modern Times 2012Kiha & The Faces Kiha & The Faces 2011 Crash The Paragon of Animals 2010 Seoul Electronic Band Life Is Strange 2009 Galaxy Express Noise On Fire 2008 Hollow Jan Rough Draft in Progress 2007 The Mustangs The Mustangs 2006 Black Hole Hero 2005 Vassline Blood of Immortality 2004 Cocore Super Stars
Best Rock Song Year Winner Song2025Lee Seung-yoon"Anthems of Defiance"2024Seoul Electric Band"Ghost Writers" 2023 Jambinai "from the place been erased (feat. Sunwoo Jung-a)" 2022 Soumbalgwang "Dance" 2021 ABTB (feat. YoonChul Shin) "Daydream" 2020 Jambinai "ONDA" 2019 Life and Time "Jamsugyo" 2018 Se So Neon "The Wave" 2017Jun Bum Sun And The Yangbans "Revolution" 2016 Lowdown 30 "More Burning" 2015 Asian Chairshot "Haeya" 2014 Yellow Monsters "Red Flag" 2013 Jung Cha-shik "Street Musician" 2012 Kiha & The Faces "That Kind of Relationship" 2011 Gate Flowers "Reserves" 2010 Guckkasten "Mirror" 2009Kiha & The Faces "Cheap Coffee" 2008 Mary Epic "Can't be Happy Without You" 2007 Strikers"Turn Back Time" 2006 Black Hole "Life"
Best Modern Rock Album Year Winner Album2025Danpyunsun and the Moments EnsembleHail to the Music2024Silica GelMachine Boy 2023 The Black Skirts Teen Troubles 2022 Wings of the Isang The Borderline Between Hope and Despair 2021 Jo Dongik Blue Pillow 2020 The Black Skirts THIRSTY 2019 Say Sue Me Where We Were Together 2018 Hyukoh 23 2017 Wings of the Isang Stream of Consciousness 2016 The Koxx The New Normal 2015 Loro's W.A.N.D.Y 2014 Yoon Young-bae Dangerous World 2013 3rd Line Butterfly Dreamtalk 2012 Lee Seung-yeol Why We Fail 2011 9 and the Numbers 9 and the Numbers 2010 The Black Skirts 201 2009 Sister's Barbershop Most Ordinary Existence2008 MOT Strange seasons Huckleberry Finn Fantasies... My Disillusionment 2007 Swallow Aresco 2006 Mongoose Dancing Zoo 2005 My Aunt Mary Just Pop
Best Modern Rock Song Year Winner Song2025Lee Seung-yoon"Waterfall"2024Silica Gel"Tik Tak Tok (feat. So!YoON!)"2023"No Pain"2022"Desert Eagle"2021Leenalchi"Tiger Is Coming"2020Jannabi"For Lovers Who Hesitate"2019Say Sue Me"Old Town" 2018 Hyukoh "Tomboy" 20179 and the Numbers "Song for Tuvalu" 2016 Hyukoh "Comes and Goes" 2015 9 and the Numbers "Hide and Seek" 2014 Yoon Young-bae "Dangerous World" 2013 3rd Line Butterfly "The Day We Breakup is Today" 2012 Lee Seung-yeol "Not Coming Back" 2011 Broccoli, You Too? "Graduation" 2010 "Universal Song" 2009 Sister's Barbershop "Beautiful thing" 2008 Lee Seung-yeol "Adonai" 2007 Roller Coaster "Popular Song" 2006 Seoul Electric Band "Come into My Dream"
Best Metal & Hardcore Album Year Winner Album2025Seaweed Mustache22024MahatmaReason For Silence2023Madmans EspritI See Myself Through You Who See Us Through Me2022AgnesHegemony Shift2021Remnants of the FallenAll the Wounded and Broken2020MethodDefinition of Method2019Dark Mirror ov TragedyThe Lord ov Shadows 2018 Abyss Recrowned 2017 Remnants of the Fallen Shadow Walk 2016 Method Abstract
Best Folk Album Year Winner Album2025MoherKaleidoscope2024Yeoyu and SeolbinComedy2023Line and CircleNight and Day2022Lang LeeThere is a Wolf2021JeongmillaChungPa Sonata2020Chun YongsungYear of Kim Il-sung’s Death2019Kim Sa-wolRomance 2018 Kang Tae-gubleu 2017 Minhwi Lee Borrowed Tongue 2016 Kim Sa-wol Suzanne 2015 Kim Sa-wol & Kim Hae-won Secret
Best Folk Song Year Winner Song2025Kang A-sol"Anyone But Me"2024Yeoyu and Seolbin"Like the Stars in the Night Sky"2023Line and Circle"Night and Day"2022Chun Yong-sung"Barley Tea" (feat. Kang Mal-geum)2021Jeongmilla"Departing from Seoul Station"2020Chun Yongsung"Heavy Snow Watch"2019Kim Sa-wol"Someone" 2018 Kang Tae-gu "bleu" 2017 Lang Lee "Playing God" 2016 Kwon Tree "April, 2014" 2015 "Childhood"
Best Dance & Electronic Album Year Winner Album2025Net GalaGalapaggot2024YetsubyMy Star My Planet My Earth2023250Ppong2022HaepaaryBorn By Gorgeousness2021MogwaaOpen Mind2020Lim KimGenerasian2019Mid-Air ThiefCrumbling 2018 Idiotape Dystopian 2017 Kirara Moves 2016 Trampauline MARGINAL 2015 HEO Structure 2014 Glen Check Youth 2013 Haute Couture 2012 Idiotape 11111101 2011 2NE1 To Anyone 2010 Brown Eyed Girls Sound-G 2009 W&Whale Hardboiled 2008 House Rulez Mojito 2007 Uhm Jung-hwa Prestige
Best Dance & Electronic Song Year Winner Song2025Mount XLR"Oving"2024Cifika"Hush"2023250"Bang Bus (뱅버스)"2022Haepaary"Go to GPD and Then"2021Aseul"Bye Bye Summer"2020Lim Kim"SAL-KI"2019Yeseo"Honey, Don't Kill My Vibe" 2018 CIFIKA "My Ego" 2017 Hitchhiker "$10" 2016 Flash Flood Darlings "Star" 2015 Yoon Sang "If You Wanna Console Me" 2014 Exo "Growl" 2013 f(x) "Electric Shock" 2012 2NE1 "I Am the Best" 2011 Miss A "Bad Girl Good Girl" 2010 Brown Eyed Girls "Abracadabra" 2009 W&Whale "R.P.G Shine" 2008 Wonder Girls "Tell Me" 2007 Peppertones "Superfantastic"
Best Rap & Hip Hop Album Year Winner Album2025B-Free & Hukky ShibasekiFree Hukky Shibaseki & the God Sun Symphony Group: Odyssey. 12024BeenzinoNowitzki 2023 Nucksal & CADEJO Sincerely Yours 2022 Choi LB Independent Music 2021 Khundi Panda GAROSAWK 2020 C Jamm Keung 2019 Bassagong Tang-A 2018 Viann & Khundi Panda Reconstruction 2017 Hwaji Zissou 2016 E Sens The Anecdote 2015 Hwaji Eat 2014 Paloalto Chief Life 2013 Soriheda Soriheda 2 2012 Simo & Mood Schula Simo & Mood Schula 2011 Garion Garion2 2010 Drunken Tiger Feel gHood Muzik: The 8th Wonder 2009 Verbal Jint Framed 2008 Epik High Remapping The Human Soul 2007 The Quiett Q Train 2006 Dynamic Duo Double Dynamite 2005 Bobby Kim Beats Within My Soul 2004 Defconn Lesson 4 The People
Best Rap & Hip Hop Song Year Winner Song2025G-Dragon"Power"2024E Sens"What the Hell" 2023 Nucksal & CADEJO "Good Morning Seoul"2022Changmo"Taiji"2021Swervy"Mama Lisa"2020E Sens"Son of a"2019XXX"Gonju Gok" 2018 Woo Won-jae "We Are" 2017 BewhY "Forever" 2016Deepflow "Cut Cut Cut" 2015 B-Free "Hot Summer" 2014 Bulhandang Crew "Robber" 2013 G-Dragon "One of a Kind" 2012 MC Meta & DJ Wreckx "Yes, Yes, Ya’ll" 2011 Garion "Most Urgent" (feat. NUCK) 2010 San E "Rap Genius" 2009 Dynamic Duo "Mother's Soup" 2008 Drunken Tiger "8:45 Heaven" 2007 Koonta & NuoliuNce "Holding On" (feat. Sean2slow) 2006 Garion "Mutu"
Best R&B & Soul Album