23rd Korean Music Awards Held in Seoul; Jennie Wins Major K-pop Honors

The 23rd Korean Music Awards took place on February 26, 2026, in Seoul, celebrating musical artistry over commercial success. BLACKPINK's Jennie made history as the first soloist to win both Best K-pop Song and Best K-pop Album, surpassing peers like NCT's Mark and TWICE's Chaeyoung. However, she did not secure the Grand Prizes, which went to Chudahye Chagis (Album of the Year), Lee Chan Hyuk (Song of the Year), and Hanroro (Musician of the Year). The event featured 26 categories judged by a committee of experts and was broadcast live by Kakao Entertainment.