Super Junior, Psy win big at Golden Disk Awards

Some of K-pop’s brightest stars flocked to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to attend the 27th Golden Disk Awards where Super Junior and “Gangnam Style” sensation Psy took home the top prizes.

The awards ceremony, which was held on Jan. 15 and 16, was split into two categories, with the first day featuring the nominees for the best full-length album award categories and the second day the nominees for the year’s best digitally released albums and/or singles. 

“Sexy, Free & Single,” which featured 10 of Super Junior’s 13 members and is the group’s sixth full-length album, won album of the year. This is Super Junior’s third time winning the Golden Disk’s grand prize ― they won the same prize last year for “Mr. Simple” and in 2009 for their third album “Sorry Sorry.” Along with snatching the top prize, the boys also received the MSN Southeast Asian Award, after fans voted them their favorite K-pop act of the year.

The digital grand prize for the best single of the year went to Psy for his YouTube record-breaking hit “Gangnam Style,” which is also from his sixth full album. The Golden Disk Award is the first for the 10-year music veteran.

K-pop groups 4minute, B1A4, B2ST, CNBlue, F.T. Island, Infinite, Kara and SHINee also took home Golden Disk Awards for best releases in different categories. Meanwhile, 2NE1, Big Bang, f(x), G-Dragon, Huh Gak, K.Will, Miss A, Psy, Secret, Sistar and T-ara all landed awards for best digital songs.

Newcomers to the K-pop scene, idol boy bands Exo-K and B.A.P, along with female soloists Ailee, Lee Hi and Juniel, were awarded the new rising star awards.

The Golden Disk Awards ceremony began in 1986 and has since been dubbed Korea’s Grammy Awards. In the past, the annual event was held in Korea. However, similar to other awards ceremonies such the Mnet Asian Music Awards, both this and last year’s ceremonies were held overseas, in Malaysia and Osaka, respectively.

This year’s 27th Golden Disk Awards show was pre-recorded and will air on Saturday.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)