NCT Dream's ‘Record of the Year’ wins big

The 15th Melon Music Awards crowned NewJeans as 'Song of the Year' and 'Artist of the Year', while IVE took home 'Album of the Year'. NCT Dream's win in the 'Record of the Year' category sparked controversy due to it being solely based on judge evaluations. Fans expressed skepticism and criticized SM Entertainment for what they perceived as manufactured awards. Despite the backlash, NCT Dream's supporters defended the group's win, highlighting the judges' professional expertise. The intersection of artistic merit and industry politics in K-Pop accolades continues to be debated.