The Inaugural D Awards to Celebrate K-Pop Stars in 2025

The D Awards, a new K-Pop awards ceremony, will take place on February 22, 2025, at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium in Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Organized by Sports Dong-A and hosted by 'upick' and WSM, the event aims to honor the shining stars of K-Pop who have brought dreams and joy to fans throughout the year.

The D Awards will feature two main categories: the 'D Awards Delights,' which recognizes outstanding K-Pop artists for their significant contributions over the past year, and the 'D Awards Dreamers,' awarded to promising newcomers who are expected to lead K-content in the future.

Awards will be given in various categories, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Performance of the Year, and Globalist. Additionally, the 'D Awards Iconic' will spotlight artists, producers, and teams that have been foundational to the global K-Pop scene, celebrating its past, present, and future.

The D Awards will be the first of its kind in South Korea, with the global fandom platform 'upick' serving as the naming sponsor. One of the key award categories, the 'D Awards Fanpick,' will be determined entirely by fan participation through 'upick.' Details regarding the official voting process and schedule will be announced later.

Judging criteria for the D Awards will include online voting, music and album sales, and evaluations from a panel of judges.

The lineup of performances for the ceremony will be revealed in three phases starting at the end of this month, while the hosts and major award presenters will be announced in mid-January. Nominees for each category will be available on the official website and social media in early January.