As NCT 2020 promotions continue and award show season kicks off, global K-Pop group NCT took home several awards, displaying that in NCT, “unity is power.”
NCT has had a big year. Their work has garnered attention throughout 2020 with two full albums, a repackage, and a mini album from each subunit—as well as a full album and repackage from the full 23-member group. As award season kicks off, their hard work throughout the year is being recognized. Last night at the Asia Artist Awards, NCT shone throughout the show, winning a total of four awards, including Album of the Year.
After some technical difficulties starting the show’s livestream, the first subunit to take home an award was NCT Dream for Best Emotive Award. This award recognizes their ability to connect with their fans by arousing feelings and emotions through their music. The Dreamies accepted the award as seven, with original member Mark joining them onstage after the Dream system reform.
Hailing from Canada, Mark gave his speech in English. He thanked SM Entertainment founder, Lee Soo Man, fellow artists within the label, and “above all things,” the fans. Additionally, members Renjun and Jisung delivered speeches in their native languages of Mandarin and Korean. It was a lovely way to start off the evening, welcoming back 7Dream with a win that truly spoke to their ability to reach fans through both their music and as people.
Six categories later, Chinese-based subunit WayV took home NCT’s second award of the night with the Asia Celebrity Award, further displaying their global concept as a group with diverse members. WayV’s members come from throughout eastern Asia and reach all of Asia and beyond. Group leader Kun delivered his speech in Mandarin, followed by Yangyang in English and Ten in Thai.
As a young group—not even two years old—the honor of being a celebrity group throughout Asia and beyond is no easy feat, and an incredible accomplishment.
Only a few categories later, Seoul-based subunit NCT 127 took home the third win of the night in the Best Artist category. NCT 127 released the Neo Zone full album and its repackage Neo Zone: The Final Round in early 2020 to much acclaim, and the lead title track, “Kick It,” took the industry by storm. To have their art and hard work recognized as Best Artist is a huge honor, and their music and art will no doubt continue to accomplish great things.
Anticipation grew as the big awards of the nights, the daesangs, approached. The daesangs are the “big awards”—Artist, Song, Album, and Performance of the Year—similar to the highly-coveted awards like Song and Album of the Year at the Grammys.
Besides NCT, BTS took home Song of the Year with “Dynamite,” and Monsta X received their first daesang as a group for Stage of the Year with “Love Killa.” Additionally, GOT7 took home Performance of the Year, soloist Im Young Woong won Trot of the Year, and girl group Twice closed out the night with Artist of the Year.
NCT 2020 won Album of the Year for their album Resonance. This is NCT’s first daesang award, both as a whole group or as subunits. Taking home their fourth and final win of the night, all twenty-three members assembled on the stage to accept the highly-coveted, prestigious award. Group leader Taeyong led the greeting and started off the speech in Korean, followed by Kun in Mandarin, and then Jaemin in Korean. Their presence on stage was a sight to behold as the largest group there, taking up almost the entire stage.
NCT debuted two new members, Shotaro and Sungchan with the NCT 2020 comeback. Japanese member Shotaro won his first award with his debut song “Make a Wish” within a week of debut, and Sungchan debuted officially with “90’s Love” just this week—making Sungchan’s first award a daesang for Album of the Year. Both Shotaro and Sungchan have debuted as million sellers. To ignore these huge accomplishments after such a short period of time would be a disservice to the group’s concept and them, which shows how a win for any of the units or for the group as a whole is a win for everyone, no matter how long they have been a part of NCT.
A quote from Kun’s speech caught many fans’ attention, when he mentioned that “unity is strength” is a mantra that most definitely applies to NCT. Their accomplishments are incredible, both as individual subunits, and as a whole team. Individually, each subunit holds immense talent, but if the NCT 2020 comeback taught us anything, it’s clear when combined into a whole, NCT can do even greater things. Their four wins show just how much power and potential NCT holds in the K-Pop sphere.
NCT also holds nominations at the upcoming Melon Music Awards and the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
Congratulations NCT!
*All photos courtesy of SM Entertainment
