BTS star J-Hope has pulled off yet another milestone. At the 52nd Korean Broadcasting Awards (KBA), he won the Best Singer trophy, becoming the first soloist in nine years to receive the honour.
The announcement was made on August 4, sending ARMYs into celebration mode across X (formerly Twitter), where “Congratulations Hobi” quickly began trending worldwide.
The panel that decided the winners included 22 media and academic professionals, while public votes carried 30 percent weight in categories like Best Singer, Best Actor, and Best Entertainer. Among all the names announced, J-Hope stood out—not just as a member of BTS, but as the only one from the group to snag an award this year.
The host’s words added weight to the moment: “Congratulations to J-Hope, the global artist who has imprinted K-pop on the world. Unfortunately, due to schedule conflicts, he could not be here today, but we will make sure this precious trophy is delivered to him.”
Fans, of course, were quick to connect the dots. J-Hope is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service, which explains his absence. Still, the honour carries huge symbolic weight. The last time a solo singer won Best Singer at the KBAs was back in 2016, making this a landmark moment for both J-Hope and K-pop’s expanding reach.
The evening also saw wins for Park Bo-gum, who bagged Best Entertainer for The Seasons – Park Bo-gum’s Cantabile, and Lee Joon-hyuk, who was named Best Actor for Love Scout. Other winners included Yang Hee-eun (Narration), Joo Si-eun (Announcing), Choi Bool-am (Hosting), Song Yeon-hwa (Producer), and Seo Jun (Creative Staff – Sound/Visual).
For J-Hope, the award is more than a trophy—it’s a reminder that even in his absence, his artistry continues to resonate. As one fan wrote online, “He may not be there physically, but his music speaks louder than ever.”
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