KUALA LUMPUR: K-pop group BTS received Musician of the Year trophy at the Korean Music Awards (KMA) 2018 held in Seoul, yesterday.
According to a news report by Yonhap news agency, the annual independent music awards saw BTS chosen as winner by 56 judges comprising entertainment journalists and critics, radio and television music producers.
BTS was nominated for the awards last month along with singer-songwriter IU, independent rock band Hyukoh and folk musician Kim Mok In for the coveted award category.
The seven-member boy band last year released its fifth EP album, Love Yourself: Her, which sold over 1.58 million copies and became the top-selling album in South Korea in 16 years.
BTS has also enjoyed massive success overseas, with two tracks in its album, DNA and Mic Drop charting on the Billboard Hot 100 and getting certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The Song of the Year went to Tomboy by Hyukoh, after a five-cornered competition between Red Velvet's Red Flavour, DNA by BTS, Through The Night by IU and We Are by hip-hop artiste Woo Won Jae.
The Album of the Year went to folk singer Kang Tae Gu for his second studio album Bleu.
Rock trio Sesoneon was the Rookie of the Year while girl group Red Velvet took home the Best Pop Music award for its 2017 hit Red Flavour.
IU walked away Best Pop Album for her fourth full-length album Palette.
Hard rock and electronic music trio Idiotape was honoured with the Best Electronic and Dance Album for third studio album Dystopian, and Cifika won Best Song of the Year in the same category for My Ego.
Rico won Best R&B and Soul award with Paradise, and Hyukoh swept both Best Modern Rock Song and Best Modern Rock Album.
Underground metal band Abyss took the Best Metal and Hardcore Album award with Recrowned.
The Best Rap and Hip-Hop Album went to Viann and Khundi Panda for their joint album Reconstruction, while the Best Song for that category was We Are by Woo Won Jae.
KMA was formed in 2004 as an alternative to major awards run by the South Korea's three major TV networks KBS, MBC and SBS.
Most music awards rely on data, sales, streaming and online popularity votes. KMA relies purely on recommendations from its selection committee.
While often referred to as the "Korean Grammys," KMA is inspired by Britain's Critics' Choice Awards, as the press is part of the voting committee.