2021 Asia Artist Awards hands out nine Grand Prizes

The Grand Prize winners at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards: from top, BTS, Lee Jung-jae, Yoo Ah-in, Lee Seung-gi, Lim Young-woong, NCT 127, Seventeen, Stray Kids and aespa [ILGAN SPORTS]

The 2021 Asia Artist Awards (AAA) handed out a total of nine Grand Prizes in the television, film and music categories on Thursday night.

The Grand Prizes were awarded as follows: actors Lee Jung-jae (Actor of the Year), Lee Seung-gi (Actor of the Year: Drama), Yoo Ah-in (Actor of the Year: Film); K-pop bands Seventeen (Artist of the Year), NCT 127’s “Sticker” (Album of the Year), Stray Kids (Performance of the Year), BTS’s “Butter” (Song of the Year), aespa (Stage of the Year); singer Lim Young-woong (Trot of the Year).

BTS, who was unable to attend the ceremony as the band is still in the U.S., accepted the award through a pre-recorded video. “We’re so grateful that ‘Butter’ was selected as the song of the year,” said RM, with Jungkook adding, “We hope ‘Butter’ remains a song that is remembered by many.”

Actor Lee Jung-jae, upon receiving the Actor of the Year award, acknowledged the success of Netflix’s “Squid Game,” in which he starred, as a miracle. “I want to share this honor with the audience, my co-stars and crew.”

The AAA is an annual awards ceremony hosted by local media news outlet Star News. This year, the event took place at the KBS Arena Hall at Gangseo District, western Seoul, but was streamed online.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]