The 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards (KGMA), hosted by Ilgan Sports, promised unmissable moments from special stages to a dazzling lineup of presenters.
The 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards with iM Bank (2025 KGMA) will be held Nov. 14-15 at Incheon Inspire Arena. This year's KGMA, in line with the theme "LINK to K-POP," will be staged with a variety of performances that link the history of songs, stages, generations and K-pop into one. On the second day, the music day on the 15th, a total of 16 teams are preparing distinctive stages.
Earlier, interest was raised when Stray Kids said they would unveil a stage they had never shown on broadcasts, and all the performing artists are preparing special performances for the KGMA audience, raising expectations.
▲ ive awakens from sleep, completes the "Rebel Heart" narrative
Ive, who has steadily built an identity by singing about "self-love" since debut, will once again present an "Ive-special" performance that reaffirms an autonomous self at this KGMA. From "Rebel Heart," which recorded a perfect all-kill on domestic music charts earlier this year, to the activity track "XOXZ," which expanded their spectrum with a different transformation, they will organically express the encompassing story. Having honed their skills through various stage experiences such as Lollapalooza, they are expected to express the peak of the "Ive syndrome," and in addition to group choreography, solo performances are also points of interest.
▲ MC special highlight... Natti as the "hot girl" herself
Natti of Kiss of Life, who will host music day, will present a hit-song performance by the country's top solo female artist as an MC special stage. Since debut, Natti has earned the moniker "hot girl" with intense performances shown on various stages, and she previewed a career-high solo performance through this KGMA MC special stage. She is determined to dazzlingly open the awards ceremony by blending the original song's charm with her distinctive Y2K sensibility. It is expected to be as powerful a stage as the "Spark" performance aespa's Winter presented when she served as MC last year.
▲ fifth-generation boys sing K-pop history
Special stages by fifth-generation K-pop representative boy groups that debuted this year—such as IDIT, Aheup, Close Your Eyes and KickFlip—are ambitious performances prepared for this KGMA. They plan to passionately present hit-song stages of groups representing generations one through four, from H.O.T. to Stray Kids. As fifth-generation juniors cover and present hits by senior artists who wrote K-pop history from the past to the present—loved fervently on global stages—they are expected to fully realize the meaning of "LINK to K-POP" and achieve a generational unification of K-pop.
▲ Byeon Wooseok appears at music day... which team will he give the trophy to?
As much as the performing artists, the dazzling lineup of presenters drew attention, and trendsetting star Byeon Wooseok will appear as a presenter on the KGMA stage on the 15th, brightly illuminating the event. Byeon Wooseok, who rose to stardom last year with the tvN drama Lovely Runner and swept various advertising markets, will meet domestic and international fans through KGMA while busy filming his next work, the MBC drama "21st Century Daegun's Wife." Attention is focused on which singer Byeon Wooseok, making a rare appearance on a major domestic stage, will hand the prestigious trophy to.
Now in its second year, KGMA aims to offer fans around the world a more dazzling and diverse experience through stages that combine musical evolution and cutting-edge technology. On Nov. 14-15, each day will be organized as "Artist Day" and "Music Day." On the first day, in alphabetical order: The Boyz, Miyao, Park Seojin, Boynextdoor, Psykers, I.N.I (INI), ATEEZ, Xdinary Heroes, All Day Project, WOODS, Lee Chanwon, CRAVITY, Kiki, Fifty Fifty, SMTR25; and on the second day: NEXG, Lucy, BtoB, Suho (EXO), Stray Kids, IDIT, Ive, Aheup, Eunice, Jang Minho, Close Your Eyes, Kiss of Life, KickFlip, fromis_9, Pi1Harmony, Hearts2Hearts, and others—31 teams in total—will decorate unforgettable memories of the K-pop festival. Following last year, actress Nam Jihyun will serve as MC for both days, pairing with Irene (Red Velvet) on the first day and with Natti on the second day.
KGMA is hosted by Ilgan Sports (Edaily M), co-organized by the KGMA organizing committee, Creatoring and DIO, and sponsored by Incheon Metropolitan City and the Incheon Tourism Organization. iM Bank participates as title sponsor, and KT ENA returns as the main broadcaster. Music streaming and album data are provided by Hanteo Chart, GENIE MUSIC, Flo and Bugs. Production is by Set the Stage. Noldeon Oppa and Art Firm Factory handle overseas inbound tickets. Domestic ticket sales are being conducted successfully through BigK Pass.
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