The 33rd Hanteo Music Awards firmly underscored the powerful presence of trot artists, even amid a star-studded lineup of global K-pop acts.
Held on February 15 at KSPO Dome in Songpa-gu, Seoul, the ceremony once again demonstrated a growing trend of breaking down generational and genre boundaries.
Lim Young-woong emerged as one of the most prominent figures of the night. He secured both the Domestic Popularity Award and the Special Award in the OST category, proving his mass appeal and digital impact simultaneously. His fandom, Hero Generation, also demonstrated its remarkable unity by earning the Whosfan Fandom Award, highlighting that trot fandoms now rival K-pop fandoms in both organization and influence. Lim has expanded the genre’s boundaries by seamlessly blending ballad and trot sensibilities, and this recognition was widely seen as a culmination of that artistic expansion.
Lee Chan-won also delivered an impressive performance, taking on dual roles as both MC and award recipient. He received both a Main Award and a Special Award in the Trot category, creating a symbolic moment as both host and honoree. His steady hosting and approachable charisma elevated the atmosphere of the ceremony, while his win underscored the continued relevance of trot in today’s music landscape.
In the Adult Contemporary category, Kim Hee-jae, Park Ji-hyun, and Son Tae-jin were all recognized. Each artist has strategically broadened trot’s reach by incorporating ballad and crossover elements, attracting not only older audiences but younger listeners as well. Son Tae-jin, in particular, has expanded the possibilities of genre fusion as a crossover vocalist, while Kim Hee-jae and Park Ji-hyun have leveraged their popularity from TV audition programs to strengthen their presence in both digital charts and live performance markets.
The ceremony ultimately reflected the current state of genre coexistence. Trot has extended its influence beyond television and concerts into digital metrics and global fan voting, while its fusion with adult contemporary and crossover styles continues to cultivate new audiences.
In the end, Hanteo Music Awards 2025 confirmed that trot remains a firmly established pillar of contemporary popular music, even in the era of K-pop’s global expansion.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
Copyright ⓒ 뉴스컬처 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지
본 콘텐츠는 뉴스픽 파트너스에서 공유된 콘텐츠입니다.
