: Despite being unable to attend due to mandatory 10-day quarantine restrictions upon their return from Los Angeles, BTS achieved a historic "all-kill." They won all four Daesangs for the third consecutive year: Artist of the Year Song of the Year ("Butter") Album of the Year ( BE ) Worldwide Icon of the Year

: The event heavily spotlighted the "Fourth Generation" of K-pop. The opening performance, " BlooM The Sound ," featured a collaboration between representative members of leading new-gen groups: Hyunjin (Stray Kids), Yeji (ITZY), Karina (aespa), Heeseung (ENHYPEN), Yeonjun (TXT), and Wooyoung (ATEEZ). Performance Highlights

: For the first time in the ceremony's history, a female artist took the lead as the host. K-pop veteran Lee Hyori broke the glass ceiling, bringing a legendary presence to the stage and performing a grand finale with the crews of Street Woman Fighter .