Find Out More About Korea’s Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards
The Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards are held annually to grant outstanding achievements to K-Pop artists and musicians. Although recently there are various K-Pop awarding ceremonies, the Gaon Chart Awards are considered one of the most prestigious awards due to the long-standing history and accurate compilation of sale, streaming, and download data.
In this article, Channel-Korea will provide you with a rundown of everything about the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards. So, stay tuned!
Introduction to The Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards
The Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards is an annual music event for awarding the excellence in Korean music industry. The award event was formed by Gaon Chart to show appreciation for accomplishing certain features in the sales of music albums and singles.
The Gaon Chart was formed by the Korea Music Content Association and funded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Gaon Chart resembles the American Billboard Music Chart and the Japanese Oricon Chart. The Gaon Chart collects information from record labels, music distributors, and online music streaming sites such as Naver Music, Kakao Music, Genie, MelOn, Mnet, Soribada, and Bugs.
The Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards debuted on February 22nd, 2012. The award was based on music sales records in the previous year. The inception event was held at Blue Square Samsung Card Hall and was hosted by SNSD’s Taeyeon and singer-songwriter Joo Young-hoon.
The Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards set the gold standard for musical achievements and have become an important indicator for future superstars in the Korean music industry.
Voting System
The Gaon Chart records two sets of charts: album chart and digital chart. Both charts compile sales achievements from domestic and international artists. The Gaon Chart collects information from record labels, music distributors, and online music streaming sites such as Naver Music, Kakao Music, Genie, MelOn, Mnet, Soribada, and Bugs.
Currently, there are 7 chart categories in the Gaon music chart: album chart, digital chart, download chart, streaming chart, BGM chart, mobile chart, and noraebang chart.
List of Venues for the Event
The Gaon Chart Award Event is held annually in Seoul, South Korea.
| Year | Date | Venue | Hosts |
| 2011 | February 22nd, 2012 | Blue Square Samsung Card Hall | Taeyeon and Joo Young-hoon |
| 2012 | February 13th, 2013 | Olympic Hall | Gain and Joo Young-hoon |
| 2013 | February 12th, 2014 | Olympic Gymnastics Arena | Yuri and Oh Sang-jin |
| 2014 | January 28th, 2015 | Olympic Gymnastics Arena | Leeteuk and Hyeri |
| 2015 | February 17th, 2016 | Olympic Hall | Leeteuk and Yura |
| 2016 | February 22nd, 2017 | Jamsil Arena | Leeteuk and Solar |
| 2017 | February 14th, 2018 | Jamsil Arena | Leeteuk and Dahyun |
| 2018 | January 23rd, 2019 | Jamsil Arena | Kim Jong-kook and Nancy |
| 2019 | January 8th, 2020 | Jamsil Arena | Leeteuk and Lia |
Event Rundown
The Gaon Chart Awards are held annually to give appreciation for outstanding performance or contribution to the music industry and fans. The awarding event is usually held around the month of February in Seoul, South Korea. The 2020 Gaon Chart Award was held in January, less than a month after December 2019. Therefore, the winner of the December category will be announced the following year.
The award is usually held around 7 p.m. KST. Lately, Jamsil Arena holds successive Gaon Chart Award events. Super Junior’s Lee Teuk has hosted the event 5 times with different female celebrities.
The Red Carpet is held several hours earlier before the main awarding ceremony. Performers, candidates, award presenters, and hosts greet the fans and the audience at the red carpet stage platform before heading to the main stage.
Award Categories
Currently, there are 19 active and 6 discontinued award categories in the Gaon Chart Awards.
Active Award Categories
| Year | Award Category |
| 2011 – 2019 | Artist of the Year – Physical |
| 2011 – 2019 | Artist of the Year – Digital |
| 2011 – 2019 | New Artist of the Year |
| 2011 – 2019 | Discovery of the Year |
| 2013 – 2019 | Music Steady Seller of the Year |
| 2019 | Retail Album of the Year |
| 2019 | Top Kit Seller of the Year |
| 2013 – 2019 | Popular Singer of the Year |
| 2011 – 2019 | International of the Year |
| 2011 – 2019 | Composer/Lyricist of the Year |
| 2011 – 2019 | Performers of the Year |
| 2011 – 2019 | Style of the Year |
| 2011 – 2019 | Producer/Record Production of the Year |
| 2019 | Social Hot Star of the Year |
| 2011 – 2018 | K-pop contribution Award/Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 2013 – 2019 | Hot Performance of the Year |
| 2013 – 2019 | World K-pop Star |
| 2013 – 2019 | World K-pop Rookie |
| 2016 – 2019 | International Rising Star of The Year |
Discontinued Award Categories
| Year | Award Category |
| 2013 – 2017 | Mobile Vote Popularity Award |
| 2011 – 2016 | Special Award |
| 2012 – 2015 | Hot Trend Award |
| 2011 – 2014 | New Media Platform |
| 2012 – 2014 | Music Distribution |
| 2011 – 2013 | Sound Engineer of the Year |
List of Winners Throughout Time
| Year | 1st quarter | 2nd quarter | 3rd quarter | 4th quarter |
|
2011 |
TVXQ | Beast | Super Junior | SNSD |
| 2012 | BIGBANG | SNSD-TTS | Super Junior | TVXQ |
| 2013 | SNSD | Cho Yong-pil | EXO | EXO |
| 2014 | TVXQ | EXO | Super Junior | Super Junior |
| 2015 | EXO | EXO | Super Junior | EXO |
| 2016 | Got7 | EXO | EXO | BTS |
| 2017 | BTS | Seventeen | BTS | Wanna One |
| 2018 | Wanna One | BTS | EXO | EXO |
| 2019 | Seventeen | EXO | Seventeen | EXO |
Artist of the Year – Digital Music
| Year |
Winner |
|||||
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
| 2011 | Secret | IU | K.Will | BIGBANG | 2NE1 | SECRET |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| T-ARA | Leessang | Davichi | Lee Seung-gi | Wonder Girls | IU | |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| 2012 | T-ARA | BIGBANG | BIGBANG | Busker Busker | SNSD-TTS | Wonder Girls |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| 2NE1 | PSY | Jung Eun-ji &
Seo In-guk |
Gain | Lee Hi | Lee Seung Gi | |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| 2013 | Girls’ Generation | SISTAR | Davichi | PSY | 4MINUTE | SISTAR |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Dynamic Duo | San E | Soyou & Mad Clown | IU | MISS A | Seo In-guk & Zia | |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| 2014 | Girl’s Day | Soyou &
Junggigo |
2NE1 | AKMU | g.o.d | Taeyang |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| San E & Raina | Park Bo-ram | SISTAR | Kim Dong-ryool | MC Mong | APINK | |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| 2015 | Mad Clown | Naul | MC Mong | MISS A | BIGBANG | BIGBANG |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| BIGBANG | BIGBANG | iKon | Taeyeon | Zico | PSY | |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| 2016 | GFRIEND | MAMAMOO | Jang Beom-june | TWICE | Urban Zakapa | SISTAR |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Wonder Girls | BLACKPINK | Im Chang-jung | TWICE | BLACKPINK | BIGBANG | |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| 2017 | AKMU | TWICE | IU | IU | PSY | G-Dragon |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| EXO | Sunmi | SECHKIES | Epik High | WANNAONE | TWICE | |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| 2018 | iKon | Roy Kim | Big Bang | Twice | Bol4 | Blackpink |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Twice | RED VELVET | Im Chang-jung | IU | Jennie | Ben | |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| 2019 | MC the Max | Hwasa | Taeyeon | BOL4 | Davichi | Jang Hye-jin and Yoon Min-soo |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Ben | Sunmi | AKMU | MC Mong | IU | RED VELVET | |
New Artist of the Year
| Year | Winner | |||
| Male Group | Female Group | Male Solo | Female Solo | |
| 2011 | B1A4 | APINK | Huh Gak | Kim Bo-kyung |
| 2012 | B.A.P | Hello Venus | John Park | Ailee |
| 2013 | BTS | Ladies’ Code | Jung Joon-young | Lim Kim |
| 2014 | Winner | MAMAMOO | — | — |
| 2015 | iKon | GFRIEND | — | — |
| 2016 | NCT 127 | BLACKPINK | — | — |
| 2017 | WANNA ONE | — | Woo Won-jae | — |
| 2018 | Stray Kids | (G)I-dle & Iz*One | Haon | — |
| 2019 | TXT | ITZY | — | — |
International Song of the Year
| Year | Winner | Song |
| 2011 | Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera | Moves like Jagger |
| 2012 | Maroon 5 | Payphone |
| 2013 | DJ Gollum | he Bad Touch |
| 2014 | Maroon 5 | Maps |
| 2015 | Adele | Hello |
| 2016 | Maroon 5 | Don’t Wanna Know |
| 2017 | Ed Sheeran | Shape of You |
| 2018 | Camila Cabello | Havana |
| 2019 | Anne-Marie | 2002 |
Composer/Lyricist of the Year
| Year | Composer | Lyricist |
| 2011 | Yoon Il-sang | Kim Eana |
| 2012 | Teddy | Kim Eana |
| 2013 | Duble Sidekick | Kim Eana |
| 2014 | Min Yeon-jae | Kim Do-hoon |
| 2015 | Black Eyed Pilseung | Kim Eana |
| 2016 | Black Eyed Pilseung | Jo Yoon-kyung |
| 2017 | Pdogg | IU |
| 2018 | Teddy | Seo Ji-eum |
| 2019 | Black Eyed Pilseung | Min Yeon-jae |
Performer of the Year
| Year | Backup Vocal | Instrumental |
| 2011 | Kim Hyun-a | Kang Soo-ho |
| 2012 | Kim Hyo-soo | Shin Hyun-kwon |
| 2013 | Gil Eun-kyung | Tommy Kim |
| 2014 | Kang Tae-woo | Jang-hyeok |
| 2015 | Lee Tae-yoon | Kang Sung-ho |
| 2016 | Kim Ryeong | Lee Seong-yeol & Choi Tae-wan |
| 2017 | Kang Tae-woo | Lee Seung-yeob |
| 2018 | Jun Jae Hee | Kim Mi-jung & Shin Sang-won |
| 2019 | Joo Chan Yang | Choi Hun |
Style of the Year
| Year | Choreographer | Stylist |
| 2011 | Prepix | Seo Soo-kyung |
| 2012 | Lee Ju-sun | Song Jeong-ok |
| 2013 | Yama & Hot Chicks | Jung Bo-yoon |
| 2014 | Choreography Team DQ | Park Seo-hyun, Choi Ji-hyang |
| 2015 | Yama & Hot Chicks | Ji Eunie |
| 2016 | Son Sung-deuk | Choi Hee-sun |
| 2017 | Lia Kim | Kim Ye-jin, Choi Kyung-won |
| 2018 | Son Sung-deuk | Ji Eunie |
| 2019 | Choi Ri-an | Choi Hee-sun |
Producer/Record Production of the Year
| Year | Winner | Record |
| 2011 | Kim Kwang-soo (Core Contents Media) | — |
| 2012 | Yang Hyun-suk (YG Entertainment) | — |
| 2013 | Yang Hyun-suk (YG Entertainment) | — |
| 2014 | Kim Shi-dae (Starship Entertainment) | — |
| 2015 | Yang Hyun-suk (YG Entertainment) | — |
| 2016 | Bang Si-hyuk (Big Hit Entertainment) | — |
| 2017 | Fave Entertainment | IU – “Through the Night” |
| 2018 | YG Entertainment | iKon – “Love Scenario” |
| 2019 | MNH Entertainment | Chungha – “Gotta Go” |
Event Trivia
At the 7th Gaon Chart Awards, IU, Wanna One, Seckhkies were expected to perform at the closing stage. However, instead of them, Seventeen made the last performance. Fans criticized the Gaon Chart awards for this situation.
For years, EXO continuously received the fan choice popularity award. At the 7th Gaon Chart Award, Wanna One knocked their senior to claim the award.
At the 2019 Gaon Chart Awards, Seventing was chosen to make a closing performance. They performed 4 songs at the closing stage.
Memorable Moments
Since 2018, there was an indication of viral marketing to enhance the winning chance of certain artists. This condition caused huge criticism, especially since the artist won the award by means of cheating. Due to this criticism, the judges’ panel was formed to give more fairness to the Gaon Chart Award.
The Gaon Chart Music award decided to remove the fan choice popularity awards starting from 2018. The director decided to close the category due to causing unnecessary extra attention for the artists and fans.
At the 6th Gaon Chart Awards, BTS was criticized for copying the background video of their performance. Fans noticed the similarity of the video with the previous performer.
That was all the information about the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards. Don’t forget to kindly share your opinion about the award show, deserving winners, and future superstars in the comment section below!
