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what is bonsang award in korea

The Bonsang Award in Korea is a “main prize” given at major music award shows to recognize several of the year’s most successful and impactful artists, sitting just below the top “grand prize” (Daesang).

What Is Bonsang Award in Korea? (Quick Scoop)

In K‑pop and Korean entertainment, you’ll often hear fans say, “They got a Bonsang!” and wonder what that actually means. Let’s break it down in a simple, story‑like way so you can follow award season without confusion.

1. Basic Meaning of Bonsang

  • “Bonsang” (본상) literally translates to “main prize” or “major prize” in Korean.
  • It is an important award given at big Korean ceremonies like the Seoul Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, and Melon Music Awards.
  • It usually sits one step below the Daesang, which is the grand prize or top honor of the night.

Think of it like this: Daesang = overall champion of the year, Bonsang = the elite group of standout winners.

2. How Bonsang Differs from Daesang

Here’s a quick side‑by‑side to make it clearer:

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Aspect Bonsang (Main Prize) Daesang (Grand Prize)
Meaning Main / major prize Grand prize, top honor
Number of winners Multiple artists can win in the same year Usually only one winner per category (e.g., Artist of the Year)
Position in hierarchy High prestige but below Daesang Highest level of recognition at the ceremony
What it recognizes Outstanding musical achievements during the year (songs, albums, impact) Overall excellence and dominance in a major category (Artist/Album/Song of the Year)
Fan perception Big deal, proof an artist is among the year’s top performers Legend status, often career‑defining
Fans often celebrate a Bonsang win as a sign that their fave is firmly in the “main” lineup of the industry’s top names.

3. How Artists Win a Bonsang

While the exact formula differs by show, most Bonsang awards consider a mix of:

  1. Music performance and sales
    • Digital chart performance (streams, downloads).
 * Physical album sales.
  1. Public and fan support
    • Online voting or app voting, especially for K‑pop music shows.
  1. Industry evaluation
    • Judges or panels sometimes weigh in on quality, influence, and artistry.

For example, at the Melon Music Awards, Bonsang‑type prizes have used both digital performance and online voting during an eligibility period (like releases between specific dates in the year).

So when awards season comes, fandoms stream, buy albums, and vote like crazy because those numbers can contribute to Bonsang chances.

4. Why Bonsang Matters So Much

Even though Daesang is technically higher, Bonsang holds huge emotional and career value:

  • Proof of impact : It tells the industry and the public, “This artist’s music truly hit big this year.”
  • Multiple seats at the table : Since several artists can receive a Bonsang, you often see a diverse lineup, not just one mega‑group.
  • Milestone for rising acts : For newer or mid‑career artists, their first Bonsang is often treated as proof they’ve “entered the main league.”
  • Source of fan pride : Fans see it as the result of their support—streaming, voting, buying albums—and feel personally involved in the win.

On forums, it’s common to see posts like, “How did X not get a Bonsang when their sales were so high?” showing how seriously fans take this award.

5. A Little Story‑Style Example

Imagine the end of the year in Korea. Different groups have dominated charts, trended on social media, and filled stadiums with tours. The big award show night arrives.

  • The hosts read out a list of Bonsang winners: maybe 8–10 artists whose songs you’ve heard everywhere all year.
  • Each one walks on stage, sometimes teary‑eyed, saying how grateful they are to fans and staff.
  • Later in the night, from that same pool of massively successful artists, only one might step up to receive the Daesang, the ultimate grand prize.

In that sense, Bonsang works like an “all‑star team” of the year’s music, while Daesang is the MVP.

6. Bonsang Beyond Just K‑pop

While most international fans hear “Bonsang” in the context of K‑pop, the general award structure appears in other Korean award settings too:

  • Many Korean ceremonies use a tiered system: main prizes (like Bonsang‑type awards) and top grand prizes (Daesang).
  • In broader entertainment awards, Daesang can apply to drama, variety, or film, but the idea of “main awards” versus “grand prize” stays similar.

So Bonsang isn’t random fan slang—it’s part of how the Korean awards system formally recognizes excellence.

7. Trending / Recent Context

  • As K‑pop has gone global, more international fans watch Korean award shows live and now actively ask “Did they get a Bonsang or just a performance slot?”
  • Short explainers and TikTok clips spelling out “Daesang = grand prize, Bonsang = major prize, multiple winners” have circulated to help new fans understand the hierarchy.

Understanding what Bonsang means helps you instantly read the “status” of an artist during awards season.

TL;DR

  • Bonsang = main/major prize at Korean award shows.
  • Multiple artists can receive a Bonsang in the same year.
  • It honors strong sales, popularity, and musical impact, often mixing charts, sales, and fan votes.
  • It’s below Daesang (grand prize) but still one of the most respected awards a K‑pop artist can earn.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.