Boy group BTS accepts the Artist of the Year award during the 52nd American Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena Monday in Las Vegas. AFP-Yonhap
K-pop artists won major categories at the 52nd American Music Awards this week, prompting Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young to send congratulatory messages Wednesday to BTS, KATSEYE and the singing voices of Huntrix from the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" for their victories at one of the biggest music award shows in the United States.
The haul underscored the genre’s evolution from a regional subculture into a dominant force in the global music industry, marked by both the triumphant return of established icons and the arrival of highly successful cross-cultural experiments.
Leading the charge was BTS, the powerhouse boy group that claimed the night’s highest honor, Artist of the Year. The win marks the group's second time taking home the top prize, having made history in 2021 as the first Asian act to do so. Returning to full activities as a complete group this year, BTS also took home trophies for Best Male K-Pop Artist and Song of the Summer for their track "Swim," securing a hat trick.
The ceremony also vaulted newer acts into the global spotlight.
