35th Seoul Music Awards Celebrate K-Pop’s Top Names as ATEEZ Wins the Daesang

The 35th Seoul Music Awards wrapped up a star-studded night honoring K-Pop artists across album, performance, and popularity categories, with ATEEZ taking home the ceremony’s top prize, the Daesang. The annual show, widely followed by fans throughout South Korea and beyond, also recognized major acts including LE SSERAFIM, ZEROBASEONE, BTS, and EXO as it handed out winners across music and rookie awards.

According to a full winners list published by Koreaboo, the evening’s awards spanned everything from global choice honors to genre-specific recognition—reflecting how K-Pop’s mainstream reach and industry metrics continue to shape award-season narratives.

ATEEZ claims the Daesang as K-Pop’s biggest names trade top trophies

The headline moment of the night was ATEEZ winning the Daesang, the Daesang class award traditionally regarded as the highest achievement at Korea’s major year-end music ceremonies. The group also appeared multiple times in the winners roundup, underscoring their continued momentum during the eligibility period.

Alongside ATEEZ, several leading acts collected defining wins. LE SSERAFIM was named World Best Artist and also secured the Best Digital Song award, while ZEROBASEONE received both Best Group and Best Album, signaling strong performance in both collective brand and release-based categories.

Other standout genre and prestige awards included Hallyu Special Award going to BTS, and Golden Revival Award awarded to EXO for its “The First Snow.” Together, those wins again highlighted how the Seoul Music Awards balance current chart power with legacy impact.

Rookie and new-artist recognition spotlights rising acts

Beyond top honors, the ceremony also leaned heavily into emerging talent. The SMA Global Rookie Award went to SAY MY NAME (idntt), while the New Artist Award recognized idid – “Close Your Eyes” and ALPHA DRIVE ONE (with additional recognition listed for AHOF). These selections point to the awards’ ongoing effort to surface artists gaining traction both locally and internationally.

The Best Solo and Best Group winners also reinforced how newer generations are reshaping the mainstream stage. WJSN’s Dayoung took both Best Solo and appears in the Bonsang field, while ZEROBASEONE again confirmed its status with a major win as Best Group and as Best Album recipient.

Rookie-to-headliner trajectories remain a key pattern at Seoul Music Awards ceremonies, and this year’s mix suggests that the industry’s attention is moving quickly from breakout titles to “repeat” winners that can sustain multiple forms of recognition—streaming, sales, and performance impact.

Performance, genre, and special categories broaden the awards’ lens

The winners list also includes a range of category types that go beyond a single metric. For instance, the Best Performance Award went to xikers, while the Band Award was given to Dragon Pony. Genre-specific trophies included Rock/Ballad Award for HANRORO and the Trot Award to Lee Chan Won.

Meanwhile, OST Award went to ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Hanbin, demonstrating how idol artists continue to hold influence across drama tie-ins and soundtrack ecosystems. In R&B/Hip Hop, BOYNEXTDOOR won with a performance that the awards’ organizers positioned as the strongest entry within that style bracket.

Some of the ceremony’s global-facing signals were also clear. The K-Pop World Choice – Group award went to Super Junior, while K-Pop World Choice – Solo recognized TXT’s Yeonjun. These categories reward audience-driven momentum and highlight how fan voting and international engagement increasingly shape end-of-year outcomes.

Who stood out beyond the trophy count?

While the wins themselves are the primary record, the distribution across acts tells a broader industry story. Several artists earned multiple forms of validation: LE SSERAFIM and ZEROBASEONE each collected high-visibility wins tied to both digital performance and group or album achievements, while legacy powerhouses were acknowledged through special honors.

Notably, the awards also included an Icon recognition—awarded to Doh Kyungsoo (EXO’s D.O)—and a Popularity Award for Lee Chan Won. Together, these categories emphasize that popularity and individual presence remain major forces in how the Seoul Music Awards interpret success.

What’s next for award winners and the broader K-Pop calendar?

With the 35th Seoul Music Awards complete, attention is now likely to shift toward the artists’ follow-up release cycles and touring schedules. For trophy-heavy groups like ATEEZ, ZEROBASEONE, and LE SSERAFIM, the immediate challenge is sustaining momentum beyond award season—especially as audience expectations often rise after a top win.

For winners in rookie and genre categories, the next milestone will be translating award recognition into long-term visibility: chart presence, sustained streaming performance, and increasingly international fan engagement. If past award seasons are any guide, these wins could become launchpads for promotional cycles designed to keep artists in the year’s dominant conversations—until the next major ceremony.