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| yna@yna.co.kr 2023-03-06 11:01:57
SEOUL, Mar. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean music producer 250, who is known for producing multiple smash-hit songs of the budding girl group NewJeans, has taken home the most trophies at the 20th Korean Music Awards (KMA).
The producer raked in four awards at the online awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Electronic Song, and Best Electronic Album.
The KMA is an annual South Korean music awards ceremony honoring both mainstream and underground musical artists all across genres based on their musical achievements rather than public awareness. The 54 judges, including Kim Chang-nam, the chairman of the judiciary committee, as well as several other preeminent music critics, meticulously selected the winners for this year’s awards.
Producer 250 dropped his album “PPONG” and received rave reviews among critics and fans for skillfully modernizing trot, the Korean traditional music. His music video for “Bang Bus,” a track included in this album, was even invited to both the Boston and Swedish International Film Festivals for its exquisite quality.
In the meantime, tracks of the red-hot rookie girl group NewJeans’ debut album “New Jeans” and the group’s first single “Ditto,” which he was in charge of production, are yet topping the domestic music charts for weeks.
During his acceptance speech, 250 said, “By receiving the Best Album of the Year, I now know that I was not wrong to produce the song I released last year,” adding, “I would like to share my utmost gratitude for giving me pride and support to produce music more personally and arbitrarily.”
Meanwhile, NewJeans also took home three awards including Rookie of the Year, Best K-Pop Song, and Best K-Pop Album. In their video acceptance speech, the group said, “We would like to give thanks to Bunnies (fan club name) and our family for always being with us,” sharing their determination to do their best going forward.
In addition, Younha won the Song of the Year with her viral hit track “Event Horizon,” which unprecedentedly climbed up the charts years after its release, as well as the Best Pop Song award.
“Being able to do music is my greatest talent and also my greatest blessing,” she said. “If you do not give up and continue to go your own way, you will eventually be able to create an ecosystem with great musical standards.”
Meanwhile, rappers Nucksal and CADEJO also took home two medals, including the Best Rap and Hip Hop Song and Best Rap and Hip Hop Album; Line and Circle won two trophies as well for the Best Folk song and Best Folk Album with their album “Night and Day.”
“Those who attended today’s awards ceremony are not ordinary people,” Nucksal said during his acceptance speech. “They are people who we can just guess by taking a glance even from 100 meters apart that they are obviously musicians. It is a pity that I dressed up too blandly.”
The special award from the judiciary committee was received by Hong Se-john, who has been running the concert hall “Club Evans” in Hongdae for years despite the harsh reality of the local indie music industry.
The achievement award was received by the band Love and Peace, which has been playing music for more than five years. “It is not just because we have been in a band for this long but because we are making music in Love and Peace,” said the vocalist Lee Chul-ho.
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)
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