Strategic Voting Behind the Calm Exterior
On April 15, the Netizen Awards entered a heated phase hidden behind a calm facade. While vote tallies for many nominees showed little movement at first glance, a deeper look reveals significant undercurrents shifting the competition.
The Rise of the ‘Silent Vote’
One emerging phenomenon is the surge of what’s being dubbed a “silent vote” — a quiet but impactful wave of support from previously inactive mid-tier candidates. Some artists have mysteriously gained thousands of votes overnight, indicating a mix of returning fans, first-time voters, and highly organized fan groups driving momentum.
This isn’t your typical popularity contest. Intense, concentrated voting at specific times suggests tactical precision, with fans acting more like strategists than voters.
All Bets Are Off in the Group Category
In the Best Group category, ForteNA and Forte di Quattro are locked in a neck-and-neck rivalry, with LiberaNte and La Poem trailing not far behind. Forestella currently sits in fifth place, but as we’ve seen, rankings can shift in an instant.
Complete Rankings Overview (April 15)
- Best Male Artist: 1. Hwang Youngwoong, 2. Park Jihyun, 3. Son Taejin
- Best Female Artist: 1. Jung Seojoo, 2. Bin Ye-seo, 3. My Jin
- Album of the Year: 1. Hwang Youngwoong’s ‘By Your Side’, 2. Jung Seojoo’s ‘Waiting Is Nothing’, 3. Park Jihyun’s ‘OCEAN’
- Best Group: 1. ForteNA, 2. Forte di Quattro, 3. LiberaNte
- Neo Star Award: 1. Kim Jihoon (LiberaNte), 2. Austin Kim (ForteNA), 3. Son Bina
- Best Actor: 1. Byun Wooseok, 2. Rowoon, 3. Lee Joon-gi
- Best Actress: 1. Jung Soobin, 2. Kim Hyeyoon, 3. Jung Somin
- Movie of the Year: 1. ‘Girl on a Bulldozer’, 2. ’20th Century Girl’, 3. ’30 Days’
- K-Drama of the Year: 1. tvN’s ‘Carry Sunjae On My Back’, 2. MBC’s ‘Motel California’, 3. tvN’s ‘Mother’s Friend’s Son’
- Drama Classic Award: 1. tvN’s ‘Secret Royal Inspector & Joy’, 2. JTBC’s ‘King the Land’, 3. Coupang Play’s ‘What Comes After Love’
- Grand Star Award: 1. Cho Yongpil, 2. Kim Wansun, 3. Park Namjung
- Grand Actor Award: 1. Jung Youngjoo, 2. Jo Hancheol, 3. Choi Soojong
- Sports Star Award: 1. Heo Woong, 2. An Seyoung, 3. Son Heungmin
- Pro Baseball Team Award: 1. KIA Tigers, 2. Lotte Giants, 3. Samsung Lions
- Celebrity of the Year: 1. Giant PengTV (Pengsoo), 2. Pani Bottle, 3. DEX101
- Broadcast Star Award: 1. Son Taejin, 2. Kian84, 3. Lee Chanwon
- Cultural Programming Award: 1. TV Chosun’s ‘Miss Three Lang’, 2. MBN’s ‘Burning Roses’, 3. KBS2’s ‘Two Verses One Chapter’
- Top Company Award: 1. Samsung Electronics, 2. LG, 3. Hyundai Motor
- Top Entrepreneur Award: 1. Lee Jae-yong, 2. Chung Eui-sun, 3. Koo Kwang-mo
- Fandom of the Year: 1. Hwang Youngwoong, 2. Jung Seojoo, 3. Park Jihyun
- CF Model Award: 1. Hwang Youngwoong, 2. Jung Seojoo, 3. Park Jihyun
- Netizen Grand Prix: 1. Hwang Youngwoong, 2. Jung Seojoo, 3. Park Jihyun
The War Is Quiet, but the Stakes Are High
As the race advances, nothing is set in stone. Even the smallest shift in support could rewrite the standings. In this silent yet fierce war, strategy might just be more important than numbers.
