Hwang Young-woong Earns Back-to-Back Wins with Meaningful Music
Hwang Young-woong continues to strike a chord with fans. In the April 2025 Netizen Awards for the music category, his album On Your Side secured first place with 104,161 votes—an impressive 27.5% of the total. It’s his second consecutive month in the exclusive ‘100K club’, a feat driven not just by popularity, but by the emotional depth fans connect with through his music.
‘On Your Side’ Hits Home as a Song of Comfort
The album lives up to its title, offering a sense of emotional solace like a musical shoulder to lean on. The massive vote count represents more than just fame—it’s a sign of how deeply listeners resonate with his sound and sincerity. Maintaining such high support for two months straight is no easy task, proving just how lasting the impact of his music truly is.
Runners-Up Also Shine Bright
In second place, Jung Seo-joo’s Waiting Is Nothing earned 80,191 votes (21.2%). Already crowned Best Female Artist, she shows continued dominance in album performance as well. Following her was Park Jihyun with OCEAN, receiving 53,315 votes (14.1%), reinforcing her strong fanbase.
Strong Competition Fills the Top 10
The rankings remained competitive across the board. Rounding out the top 10 were Son Taejin’s SHINE (25,203 votes), Enok’s Tonight (17,402), Bin Yesuh’s touching Father’s Life (14,079), and Forte di Quattro’s dramatic rendition of Core ‘Ngrato titled Heartless Heart (13,077). Other top 10 finishers included Jang Minho’s Essay ep.3 (12,980), Liberante’s Journey (12,161), and Hong Isaac’s The Lovers Note (7,233).
Beyond the Top 10: Passion Spread Across the Board
From 11th to 20th place, a wide variety of artists earned the love of their fans. Eclipse’s Shower (7,141 votes), Park Chang-geun’s poetic 13th Month (7,018), and Jeong Dong-won’s Gift of the Tall One (6,288) led the pack. Other notable mentions included Yang Ji-eun’s Picnic (4,475), Lee Solomon’s Flip of the Palm (2,802), and Song Ga-in’s Gain; Moon (2,793), with legendary singer Cho Yong-pil’s album 20 joining the list with 2,573 votes.
Rounding out the top 20 were Ahn Sung-hoon’s Life in Colors (2,228), Yoo Chae-hoon’s Sfumato (2,063), and indie favorite Jannabi’s pony (1,757).
More Than Numbers: Voting as a Celebration of Empathy
This award wasn’t about album sales—it was about heartfelt connections and emotional storytelling. In that sense, Hwang Young-woong’s On Your Side serves as a testament to sincerity over sparkle. As K-pop continues to evolve, it’s clear that authenticity still holds a special place in the hearts of fans.
