Korean stars dominate Japan's MTV Video Music Awards

Korean stars dominated the MTV Video Music Awards Japan with Cha Eun-woo winning the Global Icon Award, NewJeans receiving Best Buzz, NiziU claiming Best Pop Video, and Stray Kids taking Best Group Video.

Cha Eun-woo of boy band Astro poses for photos at the MTV VMAJ event held at Yokohama K Arena in Japan on Wednesday. Cha was the first Asian artist to win the Global Icon Award. [FANTAGIO]

Korean stars stormed the MTV Video Music Awards Japan (MTV VMAJ) on Wednesday, prominent K-pop acts including Cha Eun-woo, NewJeans, NiziU, The Boyz and Stray Kids taking major honors.

Cha Eun-woo of boy band Astro won Global Icon Award, a first for an Asian artist.

“I believe I was able to receive this valuable award thanks to the immense support and love from Aroha,” Cha said in a news release from his agency Fantagio. Aroha is Astro's fandom name.

“I will show a wonderful side of myself as a way to repay everyone's encouragement.”

Girl group NewJeans was awarded the Best Buzz Award for releasing numerous popular videos and songs tabulated from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30 of this year.

Girl group NiziU won Best Pop Video for “Paradise.”

Boy band The Boyz claimed an award in the Best Asia Group category, followed by Stray Kids’ Best Group Video in the international category.

The MTV VMAJ is the Japanese equivalent of the U.S. MTV Video Music Awards, which began in 2002. The awards, currently in their 22nd year, are hosted in Yokohama K Arena.

NCT New Team, a subunit of boy band NCT that is scheduled to debut in 2024, opened the awards ceremony with its performance. Actor Cha also performed “Saying Goodbye to My Favorite Person” (translated) at the awards ceremony stage.

To find out more about Cha Eun-woo, Astro, NewJeans, NiziU, The Boyz and Stray Kids, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY LEE CHAE-MIN [lee.chaemin1@joongang.co.kr]