ENHYPEN, NCT WISH, and NEXZ to Perform at ASEA 2025
The second edition of the Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2025 (ASEA 2025), presented by ZOZOTOWN, will take place on May 28 and 29 at the K Arena Yokohama in Japan, featuring performances by ENHYPEN (정원, 희승, 제이, 제이크, 성훈, 선우, 니키), NCT WISH (시온, 리쿠, 유우시, 재희, 료, 사쿠야), and NEXZ (토모야, 유우, 하루, 소 건, 세이타, 휴이, 유키).
ENHYPEN has established itself as a global powerhouse, achieving cumulative album sales of 5.45 million copies last year alone. Their second studio album, ROMANCE: UNTOLD (로맨스: 언톨드), released in July, made them the first group to earn the 'Triple Million Seller' title since their debut in February. The album ranked second on the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Global Album Sales Chart for 2024 and fourth on the Global Album Chart, marking the highest position for a K-pop artist. In Japan, they secured the 9th and 10th spots on the Oricon annual rankings for albums and combined albums, respectively. ENHYPEN also set a record for the fastest entry by a foreign artist with their concerts at Tokyo's Ajinomoto Stadium in July and Osaka's Yanmar Stadium Nagai in August.
NCT WISH, which debuted in February last year, has quickly risen to prominence as a representative 'Gen Z icon' in K-pop, thanks to their refreshing visuals and diverse content. After a successful debut at Tokyo Dome, they recorded nearly 2 million album sales across three releases last year, including their debut single WISH (위시), the second single Songbird (송버드), and their first mini-album Steady (스테디), achieving the highest sales for a debut artist in 2024. Their first full-length album, WISHFUL (위시풀), topped the Oricon Daily Album Chart for five consecutive days, and they have won multiple rookie awards at various ceremonies. NCT WISH is set to make a comeback with their second mini-album, poppop (팝팝), on April 14.
NEXZ, a new boy group introduced by JYP Entertainment after a six-year hiatus since Stray Kids, made their global debut in May last year and officially debuted in Japan in August. Known for their exceptional performance skills, they have been dubbed the 'next-generation performance group.' Their debut album, Ride the Vibe (Japanese Ver.) / Keep on Moving (라이드 더 바이브 (일본어 버전) / 킵 온 무빙), topped the Oricon Daily Album Chart, and they sold out all six shows during their showcase tour across Fukuoka, Osaka, and Tokyo, demonstrating their popularity in the local market. On March 12, they were awarded 'Best 5 New Artists' at the 39th Japan Gold Disc Awards, marking their first win. They are also preparing for their first solo tour in Japan, starting on June 4.
The ASEA awards celebrate top stars from Asia, uniting fans through music. The inaugural ASEA held in April last year featured Stray Kids, who won three awards including the Grand Prize, alongside other top artists like TOMORROW X TOGETHER (투모로우바이투게더), DAY6, TREASURE, SHINee's TAEMIN, and Creepy Nuts.
This year, the event will showcase top-tier K-pop artists and leading Asian singers who have achieved significant milestones over the past year. Confirmed performers include aespa, &TEAM, ENHYPEN, HANA, NCT WISH, NEXZ, SKY-HI, THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE, timelesz, and Xdinary Heroes. The event will be hosted by The Boyz's Juyeon and IVE's Rei on the first day.
ASEA 2025 is organized by NEWSEN, celebrating its 20th anniversary, and @style, marking its 13th anniversary, along with the ASEA organizing committee and ZOZOTOWN. Ticket sales for ASEA 2025 will begin on March 25, with further details available on the official website and ZOZOTOWN's special page. The official website will also provide updates on the artist lineup, award categories, and judging criteria.
