A Tight Race Filled with Passion
It was fierce yet beautiful, intense but heartwarming. Fortena, the crossover vocal group, came out on top in the May 2025 Netizen Awards’ ‘Best Group’ category, garnering 21,756 votes (31.4%). With this win, Fortena has claimed the crown for three consecutive months, showcasing the unwavering support from their devoted fans.
Neck-and-Neck With Forte di Quattro
The real drama unfolded in the numbers. Forte di Quattro followed closely with 21,484 votes (31.0%), just 272 votes shy of Fortena. This mirrors last month’s razor-thin margin of only 300 votes between the two. Their rivalry has gone beyond simple rankings—it’s become a symbolic clash of artistic pride and explosive fan response, giving fans a K-pop showdown for the books.
Strong Showings from Other Groups
Ranked third was Liberante, earning 15,527 votes (22.4%), further solidifying their firm fanbase. With unique musical tones and strong stage presence, Liberante continues to command a loyal following.
La Poem and Forestella followed with 2,900 (4.2%) and 2,116 (3.1%) votes respectively, proving the influence of crossover groups in today’s music scene. Indie band Jannabi ranked sixth with 1,636 votes (2.4%), reaffirming the passion and loyalty of their fans.
Global Stars on the List
N.Flying ranked seventh (1,030 votes, 1.5%), followed by K-pop giants BTS (592 votes, 0.9%), TWICE (430 votes, 0.6%), and PLAVE (427 votes, 0.6%). Though not topping the chart, their inclusion represents global fan interest in the voting process.
BLACKPINK (345 votes), SF9 (337 votes), and NewJeans (308 votes) completed the top 13, followed by groups like SEVENTEEN, (G)I-DLE, and Dreamcatcher. Other names such as SECRET NUMBER, NiziU, ZEROBASEONE, and TOUOURS closed the rankings with under 0.1% of the vote.
A Celebration of Music and Fandom
Despite the fierce competition, the May Netizen Awards ultimately became a showcase of mutual respect between artists and fans. The photo-finish between Fortena and Forte di Quattro perfectly captured the passion that defines K-pop fandom, proving that music—and a well-organized voter base—can win hearts and headlines.
