First D Awards to Be Held at Korea University on February 22 Next Year, Organized by Sports Dong-a

A new award ceremony celebrating the K-POP industry will kick off the new year. The “D Awards with upick,” hosted by Sports Dong-a and organized by the global fan platform “upick” along with WSM, will take place on February 22, 2025, at Hwajeong Gymnasium of Korea University in Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. The D Awards were established to promote and honor K-POP by recognizing its success in winning global affection through its commitment to delivering “Dreams” and “Delights.” The ceremony consists of two main categories: the “Delights” award is given to K-POP artists who have delivered outstanding performances throughout the year, while the “Dreamers” award is presented to promising newcomers set to lead K-content in the future. The “Years” category, which honors those who shone in K-POP in 2024, is further divided into awards for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Performance of the Year, and Globalist. Additionally, a new “Iconic” category has been introduced to spotlight key figures—artists, producers, and planners—who have shaped global K-POP across its past, present, and future. Winners are selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of online voting, music and album sales figures, and judgments from a panel of judges. One of the main award categories, the “Fanpick,” which is awarded entirely through fan participation, is managed by upick. The lineup of performances for the ceremony will be revealed in three phases starting at the end of this month. The hosts (MCs) and recipients of the major awards will be announced in mid-January next year. Candidates for each category can be viewed on the official website and social media platforms, which are scheduled to go live in early January.