Stray Kids, Jennie and G-Dragon sweep top honors at 40th Golden Disc Awards

SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) - Stray Kids, Jennie and G-Dragon took home the top honors at the 40th Golden Disc Awards, held Friday at Taipei Dome in Taiwan, as the ceremony marked its four-decade milestone with an expanded grand prize lineup. 

Stray Kids won the Album of the Year (Daesang), G-Dragon claimed Digital Song of the Year, and Jennie became the first recipient of the newly introduced Artist of the Year Daesang. 

Stray Kids earned their first grand prize seven years after winning Rookie of the Year at the 33rd Golden Disc Awards. Their fourth full-length album, KARMA, recorded triple-million first-week sales, securing both the album Daesang and an Album Bonsang. 

“We’ve been running toward the main prize, and we’re grateful to receive such a big award,” the group said. “Every moment with Stay has been precious, and we want to keep setting more records together.” 

G-Dragon marked a major comeback with his third full-length album Übermensch, released after an 11-year, five-month hiatus. His track HOME SWEET HOME won the Digital Song Daesang, while he also collected Digital and Album Bonsangs, taking home three awards. 

In a video message, G-Dragon said it was “especially meaningful” to receive his first award of the year at the Golden Disc Awards’ 40th anniversary, adding that he plans to return this year with fellow BigBang members. 
 

“Receiving this award in my 10th year since debut means a lot,” Jennie said. “I’ll repay you with good music.”

Other Album and Digital Bonsang winners included Riize, Seventeen, Ive, Ateez and Enhypen. All Day Project and Cortis won Rookie of the Year, while Monsta X was named Best Group. The Upbit Popularity Award, decided entirely by fan voting, went to BTS’ Jin and Hearts2Hearts.

This year marked the first time the Golden Disc Awards presented three Daesang categories — Album, Digital Song and Artist — in the ceremony’s history. According to organizer HLL JoongAng, the Artist Daesang was determined by a weighted system of 60% quantitative data, including global chart performance and sales, and 40% evaluation by a panel of judges.

The 40th Golden Disc Awards recognized music released between early November 2024 and early November 2025, with nominees announced in late November across album, digital and rookie categories.