ATEEZ emerged as the biggest winner of the night at the K-World Dream Awards, taking home an impressive four trophies, while BTS made headlines of its own despite being absent from the ceremony.

The fourth-generation K-pop powerhouse secured the Best Stage Award, Artist Award and Group Popularity Award, before sharing the Best Artist Award with LE SSERAFIM. With four victories in total, ATEEZ became the artist with the most awards presented during the ceremony.

The achievement comes during what has already been an exceptionally successful year for ATEEZ. Forbes highlighted the group’s growing international influence, including its third album to reach No. 1 in the United States. At the same time, the group’s track “BAD” has emerged as a notable hit in South Korea while also making an impact on global music charts.

ATEEZ’s four-award haul further underlines how quickly the group has expanded its presence both domestically and internationally. Their combination of stage performances, chart success and a growing global fanbase has placed them among the most prominent acts of the current K-pop generation.

However, the night also delivered a major milestone for BTS.

Although the seven-member group did not attend the ceremony in person, BTS still collected three major awards, including some of the most prestigious honors of the evening. Forbes suggested that the group’s absence was likely connected to its ongoing ARIRANG World Tour, which has kept the members busy with performances around the world.

Despite not being in the venue to accept the trophies, BTS won the Best Album Award, sharing the honor with BLACKPINK, TXT, ENHYPEN and NCT WISH. The group also received the Artist Award, adding another trophy to its already extraordinary collection.

The biggest moment came with BTS’ victory for Artist of the Year, the highest honor of the night.

The three victories were particularly significant because they pushed BTS to a historic milestone at the K-World Dream Awards. With these latest wins, BTS has now accumulated 13 victories in the history of the ceremony, making the group the most-awarded artist in the event’s history.

That record places BTS ahead of fellow K-pop giants Stray Kids, who have 12 wins, and TWICE, who have collected 10.

The achievement adds another chapter to BTS’ remarkable award-show legacy. Even without appearing on stage, the group remained one of the defining names of the ceremony, demonstrating the extraordinary longevity and influence it has built throughout its career.

For fans, the contrast between the two groups made the night particularly memorable. ATEEZ physically dominated the ceremony by collecting the largest number of trophies on the night, while BTS continued to make history from afar.

ATEEZ’s four awards reflect the group’s current momentum, while BTS’ three wins demonstrate that its influence remains powerful even when the members are unable to attend. The two outcomes also highlight the evolving K-pop landscape, where established global superstars and rapidly rising acts continue to compete for the spotlight.

With ATEEZ celebrating four victories and BTS extending its all-time record to 13, the K-World Dream Awards delivered a night filled with major milestones — and proved once again that both groups remain at the center of K-pop’s global expansion.