April’s Netizen Awards Turn into a Tense Race
As voting for the April Netizen Awards reaches its midpoint, the race for the Neo Star Award (for rising singers) and the Best Group Award is heating up. According to the tally as of 10:55 a.m. on April 11, some categories have emerging front-runners, while others remain highly competitive.
Neo Star Award: Neck-and-Neck Between Kim Jihoon and Austin Kim
Currently leading the Neo Star category is Kim Jihoon with 7,027 votes (23.2%), just narrowly ahead of Austin Kim, who trails with 6,564 votes (21.7%)—a margin of only 460 votes. With such a slim gap, rankings could shift any day.
While the top two dominate the spotlight, Son Bina (11.4%) and Lee Seung Yoon (10.7%) are competing in the mid-tier, both securing votes in the 3,000 range. For them to break into the lead, intensified fan support will be crucial.
Further down the list, artists like Min Soo Hyun (8.1%), Jinwook (6.3%), and Kim Joong Yeon (4.2%) remain hopeful, though the current vote gap makes it a tough climb to the top.
Best Group Award: A Close Battle Between ForteNA and Forte di Quattro
In the group category, the duel between ForteNA and Forte di Quattro is on a razor’s edge. ForteNA leads with 8,096 votes (32.6%), but Forte di Quattro is close behind with 7,712 votes (31.1%)—a difference of just 384 votes.
The fanbases of both vocal groups are fiercely rallying in support, and a last-minute upset is entirely possible. Libertante sits in third with 5,808 votes (23.4%), still within reach of the top two depending on late-stage voter turnout.
Meanwhile, La Poem (3.7%) and Forestella (3.2%) currently lag, forming a distant second-tier among top groups.
Interestingly, even globally recognized teams like Jannabi, BTS, and NewJeans have yet to make a strong impact, indicating that these votes are being driven largely by fandom effort rather than general popularity.
What to Watch Moving Forward
With time left before the polls close, unexpected comebacks are still on the table. The Neo Star Award’s top four remain in a dynamic tug-of-war, while in the Best Group race, the eventual winner may be decided by which fandom has greater unity and strategic voting during the final stretch.
In a competition where every vote counts, it’s clear: fans aren’t just cheering from the sidelines—they’re shaping the outcome behind the curtains.
