KMA Nominations 2025 - full list and artist reactions

By Jamie Finn (@jamiefinn2209)

The announcement of the nominations for the Korean Music Awards is a big deal in the Korean indie scene. While it also has K-pop categories, it is well-known for shining a light on music outside of the mainstream and is the biggest awards event for independent music.

On Wednesday 5th of February, the nominations were released, and, as always, they’re a decent representation of the current trends around Korean music. The nominations usually range from festival headliners to emerging indie rookies. This year is no exception, with an amazing list of artists featuring some of our absolute faves.

The big headline to come out of this year’s nominations is Danpyunsun & The Moments Ensemble, who got the nod in SIX categories -  Best Song, Best Album, Best Musician, Best Rock Song, Best Modern Rock Song and Best Modern Rock Album. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, though. The music of Danpyunsun has always been celebrated, but his recent album and live shows have taken that praise to the next level. 

Danpyunsun & The Moments Ensemble, nominated for six awards

An elated Danpyunsun is eager to highlight the event’s multi-genre scope. “The Korean Music Awards is the most inclusive music awards ceremony in Korea,” he says, “ embracing the widest range of musical boundaries.”

He is also keen to point out the importance of collaboration to make the music that receives the awards. “Many people believe that music stems purely from a musician’s creativity,” Danpyunsun expands, “and while that is not entirely untrue, what truly matters is the team. A great number of people willingly dedicated their labour to the making of this album, and thanks to their efforts, we were able to bring this work to life. I want to express my gratitude to everyone who worked alongside me.”

Danpyunsun & The Moments Ensemble, who were nominated for Hail To The Music, share the Best Album nomination with Silica Gel for POWER ANDRE 99, Sumin, Slom for Miniseries 2, HYUKOH, Sunset Rollercoaster for AAA, and aespa for Armageddon - The 1st Album.

Other artists that are nominated for Best Song alongside Danpyunsun are Sumin, Slom for Why, Why, Why, aespa for Supernova, BIBI for Bam Yang Gang, Rosé for that APT ft. Bruno Mars.

For Best Artist, Danpyunsun & The Moments Ensemble are nominated alongside Rosé, Lee Seung-yoon, Silica Gel, and aespa.

Some big names were also nominated for Best Modern Rock Song, as Wave to Earth for annie, Lee Seung-yoon for Waterfall, Hanroro for Home, and HYUKOH and Sunset Rollercoaster for Young Man all got the nod.

For Best Modern Rock Album, the KMAs have made some great picks. The nominations are Meaningful Stone for Supernova, Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble for Hail To The Music, Silica Gel for POWER ANDRE 99, HYUKOH, Sunset Rollercoaster for AAA, and Leaves Black for Wind.

After a change in their sound, Leaves Black were nervous about how their new direction would be received, but this nomination goes a long way to help them feel better. “My initial reaction was one of happiness and gratitude,” the band told us. “Our style has changed a lot, and I was worried about how the audience would listen to it, but I'm glad they still care and love it, and I'm honoured to be nominated alongside such amazing nominees. I'm very grateful to Dongik Cho for making our music so beautiful. I hope everyone can think of their own flight room when listening to this music.”

There are some awesome choices nominated for Best Rock Song this year. Danpyunsun and The Moments Ensemble are obviously nominated. Also featured is Kim Soo-chul for Where Are You, Bongjeingan for Know You Did, Lee Seung-yoon for Anthems of Defiance, and the awesome grunge-inspired MONO4OLY, who received a nomination for their track Fake Empire.

We spoke to MONO4OLY about how they feel after the nomination and they told us that being nominated like this is a big inspiration and that it hopefully leads to more opportunities. “Most musicians need another source of income to make a living. That’s why acknowledgement and support like this mean so much, and being nominated this time feels like great encouragement. Whether at work or in my music studio, I’m just doing what I have to do—nothing more, nothing less. And I’ll keep doing that.”

MONO4OLY received two nominations

MONO4OLY also received a nomination for Best Rock Album. Along with Danpyunsun & The Moments Ensemblem, there’s a stacked list of acts that includes Kim Soo-chul for Kim Soo-chul 45th Anniversary Album Where Are You, Seoul Buin for Wrecking Havoc, Lee Seung-yoon for Yeok Seong, and Soumbalgwang for Fire and Light.

In 2022, noise rockers Soumbalgwang picked up two awards for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song, a night which brought their hard-hitting music to a whole new audience. This year, they are once again getting the nod for Best Rock Album. “We’re happy,” explains frontperson Dongsoo. “We're grateful to the older bands that have kept the scene alive, to our peers and younger bands that are still playing, and to the spaces that support them because, without them, we wouldn't be able to continue to make music. 

Soumbalgwang were nominated for Best Rock Album

“Whether we win awards or not”, he goes on, “our job is to tell stories and make noise. We're just going to keep doing it, so see you. At the show. Thank you.”

Seoul Busan Incheon (Or Seoul Buin as they are often known) are a relatively newer band, having debuted in 2021. Since then, though, they have become one of the indie scene's most exciting and popular bands. Their album, Wrecking Havoc, was also nominated for Best Rock Album. “The opening track on our album, Unshaken, is a song about our determination to not be swayed by temptations,” the band explained to us. “But when we heard the news of the nomination, we were very shaken, and we were both flattered and happy. We've received a lot of support and love from people during our careers, and we're so grateful for the opportunity to be recognised in this way. We will do our best to repay them with more good music and stage performances in the future.”

Seoul Buin were nominated for Best Rock Song

Over in the pop section, both Seonwoo Jeongah and Okdal received double nominations - Best Pop Song and Best Pop Album. Other artists included in the Best Pop Song category are BIBI for Bam Yang Gang, Seonwoo Jeong-ah for Star Candy, IU for Love Wins All, Okdal for Diving, Lee Young-ji for Small Girl ft. D.

Nominated for Best Pop Album are Kim Yuna for Tales of Sensuality, Seonwoo Jeong-ah for Beyond, Okdal for 40, John Park for PSST!, and Savina & Drones for Lasha.

Savina and Drones was nominated for Best Pop Album

Savina and Drones' melancholic piano-driven art pop album Lasha was a big hit here at Debaser HQ. “I am truly grateful to be nominated for Best Pop Album at the Korean Music Awards,” Savina informs us. “It is an honour to stand alongside such outstanding albums. I sincerely appreciate my fellow musicians, engineers, our distributor, and listeners who have resonated with our music.”

“Over the past eight years, my bank account balance has returned to zero, but it was worth every bit of it. However, the journey is not over yet.”

In the folk categories, Kim Asol, Moher, Sanmanhan, and Xeuda all received dual nominations for Best Folk Song and Best Folk Album. “I used to be a person who was very apprehensive of praise and recognition”, explains Xeuda, who was nominated for her album and song of the same name, How Can I Tell You Love. “So much so that even after releasing a few EPs and two full-length albums, I was still hesitant to introduce myself as a musician.”

Xeunda was nominated for two awards

“But now that the words “Best Folk Album/Folk Song” along with the huge words “Korea/Popular/Music/Award” have recognized and praised me, I'll be happy and proud of myself for a while. I'm so grateful to everyone who made the album with me and to the fans who listened to it and supported me and my music. My music has never let me quit, and I will continue to tell my own story with my fragile life and my depression and anxiety.”

The full list for Best Folk Song is Kang Asol for Anyone But Me, Moher for Baksugijeong, Sanmanhan for When It Becomes A Song, Xeuda for How Can I Tell You Love, and Choi Miru for Dap. 

The nominations for Best Folk Album are Kang Asol for From Where No One Is, To Where Everyone Is, Kim Sa-wol for Default, Moher for Kaleidoscope, Sanmanhan for Sanmanhan, Xeuda for How Can I Tell You Love.

The Holy Mountain were nominated for Best Rock and Metal Album

Moving over into heavier territory, the Best Metal and Hardcore Album nominations contain some of Korea’s heaviest new music. One band who were surprised to get nominated was stoner sludge band The Holy Mountain. “Actually, we didn't even expect to be nominated. The kind of music we make is not really popular in Korea, so it was very unexpected. We just do what we want to do, but we're very grateful and honoured to be given this opportunity.”

They’ll have some stiff competition, though, with metalgaze icons Seaweed Mustache also receiving a nomination. “We're thrilled to have been nominated for our album 2. The title “metal/hardcore” can sometimes sound a little awkward, but it has important symbolism for fans of music outside the mainstream, and we're very proud and grateful to have been recognized once again, regardless of genre.”

Seaweed Mustach were nominated for Best Metal/Hardcore Album

The full list of nominations for Best Metal and Hardcore Album is Materials Pound for Bulb, Seaweed Mustache for 2, Sahon for Blood Shall be Paid, Fecundation for Moribund, and The Holy Mountain for The Holy Mountain.

The KMA’s committee (of which our invitation was mysteriously lost in the mail) have picked some great stuff for the electronic nominees. Both HWI and Hypnosis Therapy received double nominations for Best Electronic Song and Best Electronic Album. Debaser Mag faves, Haepaary, were also nominated for Best Electronic Song. “We’re happy and grateful to be nominated for Best Song in the Electronic category,” Minhee from the band told us. “I also feel humbled as I look back on our musical activities over the past year in a more delicate way, and I hope to grow and make more good music in the future. I am honoured to be recognised among the good music of so many of my peers.”

Haepaary were nominated for Best Electronic Song

The nominations for Best Electronic Song are Mount XLR for Oving, Swimrabbit for EVOLUTION ft. Hunjiya, Haepaary for The Night, HWI for Your Past Life, and Hypnosis Therapy for Blaze.

For Best Electronic Album, the nominations are GAZAEBAL for Texture Music : 2011 - 2020, Sound Supply Service for SCA2, HWI for Humanly Possible, Hypnosis Therapy for Raw Survival, and NET GALA for GALAPAGGOT.

Liberosis were nominated for Best Jazz and Crossover Album

Best Jazz and Crossover Album is the largest award on the list, with 11 albums recognised. There are several fantastic choices, such as Bando’s Shape of Land and Teho’s Pierrot le Fumeur. For u,s though, we’re perhaps most excited by Liberosis’ Re-Mind. Even by jazz standards, the music of Liberosis is structure-defying, and they are a band that always challenges the listener. Liberosis member Iseul Kim told us, “I think it's an honour to be nominated for any award, especially with Liberosis, which is entering its eighth year. It's a new feeling, and although I'm currently performing in the United States, I think about and miss the members in Korea a lot. Thank you for giving us the strength to do this music together for so many years.”

Here are the full list of nominations:

Album Of The Year

• Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble for Hail To The Music

• Silica gel for POWER ANDRE 99

• Sumin, Slom for Miniseries 2

• HYUKOH, Sunset Rollercoaster for AAA

• aespa for Armageddon - The 1st Album

Song of The Year

• Sumin, Slom for Why, Why, Why'

• Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble for Independence

• Rosé for APT ft. Bruno Mars

• Aespa for Supernova

• BIBI for Bam Yang Gang

Musician Of The Year for 2025 Korean Music Awards

• Rosé

• Lee Seung-yoon

• Silica Gel

• Aespa

• Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble

Rookie Of The Year for 2025 Korean Music Awards

• Joo Hye-rin

• Samsan

• ILLIT

• TWS

• Choi Miru

• Sanmanhan

Genre Category Award Nominees for 2025 Korean Music Awards

Best Jazz and Crossover - Jazz Album for 2025 Korean Music Awards

• Hwang Minwang ft. SATOSHI Takeishi for Jang:dan

• Kim Min-hee for Confessin’

• Kim Joo-hwan for AFTER MIDNIGHT: Still in the Moonlight

• Kim Ji-hyw for PADO

• Na Yoon-sun for Elles

• Nam Ye-ji for Old Songs,Tmmm

• Nubim for Crossroads (Live in Amsterdam)

• Dulabam for Dulabam

• Liberosis for Re-mind

• BANDO for Shape of the Land

• Yoon Seok-cheol Trio for My Summer is Not Over Yet

• Lee Seon-ji for Eternal

• Hae In-cho for Sight Beyond Sight

• Lee Ji-hye Orchestra for Infinite Connections

• Teho for Pierrot le Fumeur

• Pudditorium for Prologue : Hope

Best Rock Album

• Kim Soo-chul for Kim Soo-chul 45th Anniversary Album Where Are You

• Seoul Buin for Wrecking Havoc

• Soumbalgwang for Fire and Light

• Lee Seung-yoon for Yeok Seong

• MONO4OLY for Ordinary Chaos

Best Rock Song

• Kim Soo-chul for Where Are You

• Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble for Independence

• Bongjeingan for Know You Did

• Lee Seung-yoon for Anthems of Defiance

• MONO4OLY for Fake Empire

Best Modern Rock Album

• Leaves Black for Wind

• Meaningful Stone for Supernova

• Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble for Hail To The Music

• Silica gel for POWER ANDRE 99

• HYUKOH, Sunset Rollercoaster for AAA

Best Modern Rock Song

• Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble for Days Happier Than Today will be Few in My Remaining Life

• Wave to earth for annie.

• Lee Seung-yoon for Waterfall

• Hanroro for Home

• (HYUKOH), Sunset Rollercoaster for Young Man

Best Metal and Hardcore Album

• Materials Pound for Bulb

• Seaweed Mustache for 2

• Sahon for Blood Shall be Paid

• Fecundation for Moribund

• The Holy Mountain for The Holy Mountain

Best Rap and Hip-Hop Album

• Garion for Garion 3

• B-Free, Hukky Shibaseki for Free Hukky Shibaseki & the God Sun Symphony Group: Odyssey.1

• O'KOYE for Whether The Weather Changes Or Not

• EK for Escape

• KWAII for Distorted

Best Rap and Hip-Hop Song

• B-Free, Hukky Shibaseki for INDO

• G-DRAGON for Power

• KWAII for Pride

• QM for Gun in the Mouth ft. Zico

• Fleeky Bang for Fire ft. CHANGMO

Best R&B & Soul Album

• BRWN for Monsoon

• SUMIN, Slom for Miniseries 2

• SOLE for Time Machine

• Jeongin, Mild Beats for Jeongin & Mild Beats

• JINBO the SuperFreak, Hersh, PoPoMo for PoPoMo

Best R&B & Soul Song

• SUMIN, Slom for Why, Why, Why'

• SOLE for Still Love

• Jeongin, Mild Beats for Blame

• John Park for Like a Dream

• Joo Hye-rin for Crazy

Best Pop Album

• Kim Yuna for Tales of Sensuality

• Savina & Drones for Lasha

• Seonwoo Jeong-ah for Beyond

• Okdal for 40

• John Park for PSST!

Best Pop Song

• BIBI for Bam Yang Gang

• Seonwoo Jeong-ah for Star Candy

• IU for Love Wins All

• Okdal for Diving

• Lee Young-ji for Small girl ft. D.O.

Best K-Pop Album

• (G)I-DLE for 2

• RIIZE for RIIZING: Epilogue-1st Mini Album

• aespa for Armageddon - The 1st Album

• Yves for I Did

• tripleS for ASSEMBLE 24

Best K-Pop Song for 2025 Korean Music Awards

• Rosé for APT ft. Bruno Mars

• ILLIT for Magnetic

• aespa for Supernova

• TWS for Plot Twist

• tripleS for Girls Never Die

Best Electronic Album

• GAZAEBAL for Texture Music : 2011 - 2020

• Sound Supply Service for SCA2

• HWI for Humanly Possible

• Hypnosis Therapy for Raw Survival

• NET GALA for GALAPAGGOT

Best Electronic Song

• Mount XLR for Oving

• Swimrabbit for EVOLUTION ft. Hunjiya

• Haepaary for The Night

• HWI for Your Past Life

• Hypnosis Therapy for Blaze

Best Folk Album

• Kang Asol for From Where No One Is, To Where Everyone Is

• Kim Sa-wol for Default

• Moher for Kaleidoscope

• Sanmanhan for Sanmanhan

• Xeuda for How Can I Tell You Love

Best Folk Song

• Kang Asol for Anyone But Me

• Moher for Baksugijeong

• Sanmanhan for When It Becomes A Song

• Xeuda for How can I tell you love

• Choi Miru for Dap