Choi Hojong dominated the MMA with a single movement.

On the 20th at Gocheok Sky Dome, Choi Hojong delivered a powerful impact at the Melon Music Awards 2025 (MMA 2025), once again expanding the boundary between fine art and popular art. He overwhelmed the audience with an opening performance that opened the way for G-Dragon's stage. On a stage watched by K-pop fans around the world, he presented a highly polished performance that clearly imprinted the appeal of Korean dance.

Choi Hojong composed the opening performance based on the narrative and emotion in G-Dragon's "DRAMA" music video. The winding key used as an object in the music video combined with Choi Hojong's distinctive flowing expressiveness evoked a ballerina music box, and his graceful movements, ripping off the mask to visually reveal inner conflict and the flow of emotion, symbolized a narrative of trying to break free from repression and constraint, raising the work's completeness. Choi Hojong's unique performance, which reinterpreted the music video's emotion through bodily language, glittered as the first chapter of the stage and created perfect synergy with G-Dragon's main stage.

In particular, the coexistence of Choi Hojong's restrained movements and explosive energy immediately captured everyone's attention. Both the spectators at the venue and the viewers held their breath and immersed themselves in his densely packed performance, and global viewers were also able to fully feel the uniqueness of Korean dance.

Through this stage, Choi Hojong once again proved the artistic path he has walked so far. He received the Minister commendation, considered one of the highest honors in the field of fine art, recognizing his artistry and public value, and in the realm of popular art he was noted as an artist expanding contemporary culture after receiving the Edaily Culture Awards Frontier Award. His trajectory of naturally extending his artistry, which began in fine art, to the forefront of popular culture was spotlighted again through this stage.

Also this year, starting with the first solo concert by a dancer, CHOIHOJONG 1st MOVENOTE , Choi Hojong moved between fine art and popular art and continued a wide range of activities. Through this, he was recognized for artistic completeness while establishing himself as an artist who has steadily expanded the points of contact where the genre of dance meets the public.

Through MMA 2025, Choi Hojong once again showed the significance of his path of organically connecting fine art and popular art without dividing them. In particular, the attempt to expand the points of contact with the public through the bodily language of dance presented new possibilities for contemporary art and left a deep impression.

Expectations have also risen about how Choi Hojong will continue to expand the boundaries of art in the future.<

[Photo] Melon Music Awards 2025

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