Shifting Tides in April Netizen Awards
The 2025 April Netizen Awards have hit their halfway mark, and the competition is heating up in unexpected ways. While early predictions had seemed reliable, a shift in voter engagement is challenging the status quo, creating an unpredictable battlefield among nominees.
Once considered stable, the top-ranking positions are now anything but. With rankings fluctuating multiple times a day, the focus has turned from simply maintaining a lead to demonstrating sustained stamina and strategic agility.
Under-the-Radar Artists Make Their Move
Though voting remains quiet on the surface, the overall momentum is anything but static. Mid-tier candidates have surged dramatically, reducing the gap between them and long-standing frontrunners. One noticeable trend is the increasing dispersion of votes. Rather than concentrating support behind one individual, fans appear to be cross-voting or forming alliances, making outcomes harder than ever to predict.
Veteran Singers Climb the Charts
A fierce battle is underway for the Daesuta (Grand Star) Award, particularly in the 5th to 7th place rankings. Lee Sunhee currently holds 5th, closely followed by Na Hoon-a at 6th and Nam Jin in 7th. All three legendary artists are seeing a steady stream of votes, and fans are eager to see whether their support can propel these veterans even higher in the rankings.
Full Rankings Snapshot as of April 19
Here are the leading candidates in each category as of April 19 at 12:11 a.m.:
- Best Male Artist: 1. Hwang Youngwoong, 2. Park Jihyun
- Best Female Artist: 1. Jung Seojoo, 2. Bin Yeseo
- Album of the Year: 1. Hwang Youngwoong – “By Your Side”, 2. Jung Seojoo – “Waiting Is Nothing at All”
- Top Group: 1. ForteNA, 2. Forte di Quattro
- Neo Star Award: 1. Austin Kim (ForteNA), 2. Kim Jihoon (Liberante)
- Best Actor: 1. Byun Wooseok, 2. Rowoon
- Best Actress: 1. Jung Subin, 2. Kim Hyeyoon
- Top Movie: 1. The Girl on the Bulldozer, 2. 20th Century Girl
- Top K-Drama: 1. tvN’s Carry Sunjae on My Back, 2. MBC’s Motel California
- Best Classic Drama: 1. tvN’s Secret Royal Inspector & Joy, 2. JTBC’s King the Land
- Daesuta (Grand Star) Award: 1. Cho Yongpil, 2. Kim Wan Sun
- Best Actor Overall: 1. Jung Youngjoo, 2. Jo Han Chul
- Top in Sports: 1. Heo Woong, 2. An Seyoung
- Baseball Team of the Year: 1. KIA Tigers, 2. Lotte Giants
- Top Celebrity: 1. Giant Peng TV (Pengsoo), 2. Pani Bottle
- Broadcast Award: 1. Son Taejin, 2. Kian84
- Cultural Program: 1. TV Chosun’s Miss Three, 2. MBN’s Burning Rose Group
- Top Company: 1. Samsung Electronics, 2. LG
- Top Executive: 1. Lee Jaeyong, 2. Chung Euisun
- Fanbook Star: 1. Hwang Youngwoong, 2. Jung Seojoo
- Top Commercial Model: 1. Hwang Youngwoong, 2. Jung Seojoo
- Net Grand Prix: 1. Hwang Youngwoong, 2. Jung Seojoo
The Race Is Far From Over
While fan-based polling trends evolve and new alliances form, the dynamics of the 2025 Netizen Awards will likely continue to shift until the final moment. For now, one thing is clear—veteran artists still have some serious star power on their side.
