BTS grabs its sixth MAMA Award for Worldwide Icon of the Year

K-pop

Published: 29 Nov. 2023, 12:53 Updated: 29 Nov. 2023, 13:43

BTS grabs its sixth MAMA Award for Worldwide Icon of the Year

Boy band BTS won Worldwide Icon of the Year during the first day of the two-day 2023 Mnet Asian Music Awards. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

BTS won its sixth Worldwide Icon of the Year award at the 2023 MAMA Awards on Tuesday, the first day of the two-day ceremony at Tokyo Dome.

The Worldwide Icon of the Year is one of the awards' top honors. The other three awards — Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year — will be presented on Wednesday, the event's second day.

"Our ARMY who always sends us unwavering love, thank you very, very much," BTS's Jungkook said in a video message. BTS could not attend this year's MAMA due to the members serving in the military.

ARMY is the name of the band's official fan club.

"I'm sad that we couldn't meet in person today, but we know we'll soon meet as bigger selves, right?"

Boy Band Tomorrow X Together performs during the first day of the 2023 MAMA Awards. [MNET]

The Worldwide Fans' Choice award was given to 10 artists: Tomorrow X Together, BTS, ZeroBaseOne, Enhypen, Lim Young-woong, Ateez, NCT Dream, Stray Kids, Seventeen and Twice.

The award is determined by fan votes.

"This is our third time in a row," NCT Dream's Renjun said after his band won the award.

Boy bands ZeroBaseOne and Riize won Favorite New Artist, given to rookies who sold over one million copies of their album in their debut year.

Yoshiki, a Japanese musician, won Favorite International Artist, and boy band TVXQ won Inspiring Achievement.

Girl group Kep1er gives an acceptance speech after receiving the Favorite Asian Female Group award on the first day of the 2023 MAMA Awards. [MNET]

Boy band INI, which was formed through the second season of CJ ENM's audition program series "Produce 101 Japan" (2021), won Favorite Asian Male Group.

The Favorite Asian Female Group went to girl group Kep1er.

Boy band Treasure also took an award for Galaxy Neo Flip Artist, and Mnet's dance competition "Street Woman Fighter 2" won bibigo Culture & Style award.

"Worldwide Fans' Choice, it's self-explanatory," Mark of NCT Dream said. "You guys chose us. We didn't choose this. You guys gave it to us. Thank you so much. We do not take it for granted."

Boy band Enhypen performs during the first day of the 2023 MAMA Awards. [MNET]

On the first day of the event, various performances were held by K-pop artists, including Enhypen, Kep1er, Tomorrow X Together and singer Jeon Somi.

Jeon was the host for the first day of MAMA.

Tokyo Dome, the event's venue, is one of the largest indoor music venues in Japan. Actor Park Bo-gum will host the second day of the event, which will start at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

The award ceremony will be broadcast on Mnet and streamed live worldwide through YouTube channels: Mnet K-POP, Mnet TV, KCON official and M2.

To find out more about K-pop Artists, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]