K-pop boy band NCT Dream bagged the grand prize (“daesang”) for the second consecutive year at the 33rd Seoul Music Awards (SMA). 

The awards ceremony was held on Jan. 2 at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, the first time that the SMA was held outside South Korea.

This was the second time that NCT Dream won the grand prize. They bagged the award in the 32nd Seoul Music Awards. 

The 33rd Seoul Music Awards ceremony was held in Thailand (SMA website)

NCT Dream (X)

Seventeen (X)

NewJeans (X)Riize (X)

ZeroBaseOne (X)

Sandara Park (X)

Thai actors and BL series stars Gemini and Fourth (Instagram)

NCT Dream also won a “bonsang” (main prize) this year. Also receiving the main prize are Kang Daniel, Sunmi, NewJeans, Riize, BTS’ V, BTS’ Jimin, Seventeen, StayC, Stray Kids, Ive, Aespa, Nmixx, (G)I-DLE, trot singers Young Tak and Lim Young-woong, BTS’ Jungkook and ZeroBaseOne.

The 33rd Seoul Music Awards ceremony was by Korean media outlet Sports Seoul and organized by the Seoul Music Awards Organizing Committee. 

Nominees were chosen and judged based on albums and sound recordings released between January and December 2023 with data coming from Hanteo Chart, according to the SMA website. 

Criteria: 

- Professional judges and Seoul Music Awards Organizing Committee (50 percent):

Composition of the jury and organizing committee > selection of candidates > 1st screening > 2nd screening

- Album/Music Sales (25 percent): Records released from January to December 2023 (Source: Hanteo Chart)

- Mobile voting worldwide (25 percent) - Sports Seoul / Seoul Music Awards Organizing Committee

- Popularity Award / Korean Wave Special Award: Mobile voting (100 percent)

Here are the winners at the 33rd Seoul Music Awards: 

Grand Prize (Daesang) - NCT Dream 

Main Prize (Bonsang) - NCT Dream, Kang Daniel, Sunmi, NewJeans, Riize, BTS’ V, BTS’ Jimin, Seventeen, StayC, Stray Kids, Ive, Aespa, Nmixx, (G)I-DLE, trot singers Young Tak and Lim Young-woong, BTS’ Jungkook and ZeroBaseOne.

World Best Artist - BLACKPINK

World Trend Artist - BTS

Best Album Award - Seventeen

Best Song Award - “OMG,” NewJeans 

Rookie of the Year - Riize, ZeroBaseOne

New Wave Star Award- Yuju, Kiss of Life, Plave

Y Global Special Award - n.SSign

Best Performance Award - Billlie 

Thai Best Artist Award - Gemini and Fourth, Zee Pruk and Nunew 

Trot Award - Young Tak 

Ballad Award - Young K

R&B Hip Hop Award - Dynamic Duo

OST Award - EXO’s Baekhyun

Band Award - Xdinary Heroes

Discovery of the Year - Fifty Fifty (Keena)

Hallyu Special Award - Kim Ho-joong

Popularity Award - Kim Ho-joong

Fan Choice of the Year -  BTS’ V

K-pop Special Award  - Sandara Park

Achievement Award = Kim Soo-chul, Nam Jin

Global Producer Award - GOT7’s BamBam, Youngjae, Mark Tuan