May Netizen Awards Begin with a Bang
The 2025 April round of the Netizen Awards wrapped up with a flurry of excitement, and without missing a beat, the May edition has officially begun. With no time to rest, new candidates are already shaking up the rankings in a high-stakes popularity battle.
Game-Changing Shifts in Fan Voting
As the May votes rolled in, surprising shifts in the leaderboard caught everyone’s attention. Previously quiet mid-tier contestants rapidly gained momentum, even threatening the front-runners. Fans are reorganizing and realigning, indicating a potential wind of change that’s blowing faster than expected.
Pace Quickens with New Faces
The race has shifted into high gear. Just a day into voting, some artists who ranked lower in April have made dramatic comebacks in May. Their fanbases have surged, and a few new contenders are already breaking into the top tier—hinting at potential upsets in the weeks ahead.
A Tactical War Among Fanbases
The strategy has clearly changed. While April’s votes were marked by a quiet tug-of-war, May is all about early domination. Fans are rallying early with relay voting strategies and mobilizing online communities to push their favorites to the top.
K-Drama Stars Take Center Stage
Currently leading the Best Actress category are Jung Soobin and Hyeri, co-stars of the K-drama Friendly Rivalry. The drama itself also tops the Best Drama rankings, making it a dominant force in this month’s competition. All eyes are on whether this series will continue shaking things up in the Netizen Awards.
Live Rankings as of May 1, 2:24 PM
Top Contenders in Each Category:
- Best Male Artist: 1) Hwang Youngwoong, 2) Park Jihyun, 3) Son Taejin
- Best Female Artist: 1) Eun Ga-eun, 2) My Jin, 3) Jung Seojoo
- Album of the Year: 1) Hwang Youngwoong – ‘On Your Side’, 2) Park Jihyun – ‘OCEAN’, 3) Son Taejin – ‘SHINE’
- Best Group: 1) ForteNA, 2) Forte di Quattro, 3) Riberante
- Neo Star Award: 1) Austin Kim (ForteNA), 2) Kim Jihoon (Riberante), 3) Son Bina
- Best Actor: 1) Byeon Wooseok, 2) Rowoon, 3) Lee Joongi
- Best Actress: 1) Jung Soobin, 2) Hyeri, 3) Kim Hyeyoon
- Best Film: 1) The Girl on a Bulldozer, 2) 20th Century Girl, 3) The Black Nuns
- Best Drama: 1) Friendly Rivalry (U+ Mobile TV), 2) Carry Sunjae on My Back (tvN), 3) Motel California (MBC)
- Classic Drama Award: 1) Tale of the Secret Royal Inspector and Joy (tvN), 2) King the Land (JTBC), 3) What Comes After Love (Coupang Play)
- Legend Star Award: 1) Cho Yongpil, 2) Kim Wansun, 3) Kim Kyungho
- Legend Actor Award: 1) Jung Youngjoo, 2) Jo Hancheol, 3) Kim Wonhae
- Sports Star Award: 1) Heo Woong, 2) An Seyoung, 3) Son Heungmin
- Pro Baseball Award: 1) Lotte Giants, 2) KIA Tigers, 3) Samsung Lions
- Top Celeb Award: 1) Giant Peng TV (Pengsoo), 2) Pani Bottle, 3) Dex101
- Broadcast Star: 1) Son Taejin, 2) Kian84, 3) Yoo Jaesuk
- Educational Program Award: 1) Burning Rose Band (MBN), 2) Trot All-Stars: On a Wednesday Night (TV Chosun), 3) Trot Champion (MBC ON)
- Enterprise Award: 1) Samsung Electronics, 2) Lotte, 3) LG
- Top CEO: 1) Lee Jae-yong, 2) Shin Dong-bin, 3) Chung Eui-sun
- Fanbook Award: 1) Hwang Youngwoong, 2) Park Jihyun, 3) Son Taejin
- Top Commercial Model: 1) Hwang Youngwoong, 2) Park Jihyun, 3) Son Taejin
- Net Grand Prix: 1) Hwang Youngwoong, 2) Jung Seojoo, 3) Park Jihyun
What’s Next?
While early trends are beginning to emerge, the month has only just begun. The real game-changer lies in unpredictability. Fans and stars alike are bracing for a month filled with surprises, as participation—not prediction—is key.
