BTS, Leenalchi lead 2021 Korean Music Awards nominations

BTS' “Dynamite” music video has racked up 800 million views on YouTube, Jan. 24. / Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment

By Park Han-sol

K-pop juggernaut BTS has been nominated in five categories at the 2021 Korean Music Awards, becoming one of five acts with the most nominations, the award's selection committee announced in an online press conference Tuesday.

The septet is up for the category of Musician of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Album and Best Pop Song.

The band's album “Map of the Soul: 7” featuring hit tracks “Boy With Luv” and “On” released in February last year was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Album, while their Billboard chart-topping, disco pop song “Dynamite” that made history in August last year was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Song.

This is the fourth year that the K-pop superstars have earned the nomination at the Korean Music Awards.

Along with BTS, four other artists with the most nominations include alternative pop band Leenalchi, who became a viral sensation after collaborating with Korea's tourism promotion video series “Feel the Rhythm of KOREA,” female singer-songwriters Baek Ye-rin, Sungwoo Jung-a and Jeongmilla.

“The five said nominees must be named in any discussion of popular music in 2020 not only in regards to the evaluation of their music, but also in other subsidiary aspects including the influence of their performances,” said award committee member Kim Yun-ha.

Alternative pop band Leenalchi / Courtesy of Zanpar

Leenalchi earned the nominations in five categories ― Musician of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Jazz & Crossover Album and Best Modern Rock Song ― for their album “Sugungga,” a modern art-funk interpretation of traditional Korean pansori, and its track “Tiger is Coming.”

Soloist Baek is up in the same categories as BTS, with her album “Every Letter I Sent You” and the track “Square.”

For the category Rookie of the Year, Meaningful Stone, Duoxini, DeVita, Seo Bo-kyeong and Squash Vines were nominated.

The 18th Korean Music Awards announced the nominations of albums and songs released between Dec. 1, 2019, and Nov. 30, 2020, based on selections made by 65 committee members, which include pop music critics, music journalists and television show producers.

The award ceremony is scheduled to be livestreamed online at 6 p.m., Feb. 28.