The highly anticipated 34th Seoul Music Awards (SMA 2025) is just around the corner!
Organized and hosted by Sports Seoul, this year’s ceremony will celebrate the best of K-pop. It is a must-watch for Korean music fans, thanks to its star-studded lineup and fierce competition across various categories.
Many popular K-pop artists like QWER, P1Harmony, i-dle, TXT, Hearts2Hearts, KiiiKiii, ILLIT, FIFTY FIFTY, and Doyoung are scheduled to perform at the Seoul Music Awards 2025.
Here’s everything you need to know about the event, from nominees to live-streaming details.
Seoul Music Awards 2025 Date and Venue
The 34th Seoul Music Awards is set to take place on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This year, the grand event will be held at the Inspire Arena in South Korea, a cutting-edge venue known for hosting major K-pop concerts and events.
The award ceremony begins at 6:30 PM KST and will feature performances from some of the biggest names in the industry.
Nominees
The SMA recognizes artists based on album sales, digital performance, and fan votes. Notable nominees include:
Main Prize (Bonsang)
- i-dle
- ATEEZ
- aespa
- Baekhyun of EXO
- BABYMONSTER
- BIBI
- BOYNEXTDOOR
- SEVENTEEN’s BSS
- BTOB
- Crush
- BTS (as a group and soloists RM, Jimin, Jungkook, Jin)
- Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé of BLACKPINK
- NCT (NCT 127, NCT DREAM, NCT WISH)
- ILLIT
- IU
- IVE
- SEVENTEEN (as a group and subunits BSS and HxW)
- TWICE
- Stray Kids
- RIIZE
- LE SSERAFIM
- PLAVE
- and more
Rookie of the Year
- 3Piece
- ARrC
- Blingone
- Dignity
- Hearts2Hearts
- Izna
- KickFlip
- KiiiKiii
- Loveone
- Madein
- Meovv
- Newbeat
- Nouera
- Odd Youth
- Say My Name
Rising Stars
- TEMPEST
- 82MAJOR
- EVNNE
- FANTASY BOYS
- Lun8
- One Pact
- Pow
- TNX
- YOUNITE
Nominees for Artist, Song, and Album of the Year have not yet been announced by the organizers. Additional categories include Best OST, Ballad, R&B/ Hip-Hop Award, Trot, and more.
Voting Details
Fan votes account for 30% of the Main Prize (Bonsang), Ballad Award, Rookie Award, R&B/Hip-Hop Category, OST Award, and Trot Award. Hallyu Special Award, Popularity Awards, and K-pop World Choice Solo/Group are determined solely by voting.
Fans can vote via the K-POP Seoul, Fandom Chart apps or partner platforms like My One Pick. The first and second voting periods ended on April 12 and May 10, respectively.
34th Seoul Music Awards Lineup
The 2025 Seoul Music Awards is as much a concert as it is an awards show. The lineup is a perfect mix of veteran, popular, rising, and new K-pop artists.
- QWER
- Wave to earth
- KiiiKiii
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER
- P1Harmony
- FIFTY FIFTY
- BTOB
- Say My Name
- i-dle
- Young Tak
- Hearts2Hearts
- KickFlip
- Doyoung
- CRAVITY
- ZEROBASEONE
- Hwang Garam
- ILLIT
- NCT WISH
- VVUP
Presenters
Notable Kdrama stars have been tapped to present awards, including
- Kang You Seok
- Kim Sung Cheol
- Shin Si Ah
- Chang Ryul
- Byeon Woo Seok
- Ong Seong Wu
- Nam Gyu Ri
- Park Ju Hyun
- Jung Eun Chae
- Jang Gyuri
Hosts (MCs)
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by a dynamic trio: Kang Seung Yoon (WINNER), Miyeon (i-dle), and Soobin (TXT). Their chemistry is expected to bring energy and humor to the event, making it a must-watch for fans.
SMA 2025 Tickets
Tickets are available exclusively on Interpark Global, with VIP packages (including shuttle service) priced at ₩300,000 (~$220). Anyone born before June 20, 2013, are allowed to purchase the event and enter the venue. Attendees must bring their physical ID (passport, registration, and residence card) as well as a paper ticket for entry.
Where to Watch Seoul Music Awards 2025 Live
For international fans eager to catch every moment of the 34th Seoul Music Awards, live streaming options will be available. Global fans can livestream the award ceremony U+Idol Live and Yippi apps.
Other regional broadcasting partners may also announce their streaming services. Be sure to check official Seoul Music Awards announcements closer to the event date for the updated information on global streaming platforms.
