The KBS Song Festival () is an annual South Korean music show that airs on the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) at the end of every year. It first aired in 1965 as an awards show, but KBS discontinued the awards ceremony in 2006. It has continued since as a music festival without giving awards most years. However, awards were given in 2013.

History The program was first broadcast in 1965 by the Tongyang Broadcasting Company (TBC), where it was known as the TBC Broadcast Music Awards (). Singer Choi Hee-Joon won the first award in 1965. Separate awards were then given for male and female artists from 1966 to 1986

In 1981, the South Korean government forced TBC to merge with the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS). Following the merger, the program's name was changed to the KBS Music Awards (). It aired on KBS1 every year on 30 December until 1994, when the program moved to KBS2.

In 2005, Kim Jong-kook became the last singer to win the KBS Music Award. In 2006, the program's name was changed to the KBS Song Festival, and the network turned the program into a non-competitive music festival rather than an awards show.

Between 2006 and 2016, the festival typically featured performances by 20 to 30 K-pop groups and singers. However, in 2017, KBS scaled back the festival to include only eight groups, two singers, and contestants from the KBS2 reality show The Unit.

The event has always taken place at KBS Hall, with two exceptions. In 2015, the event was held in Gocheok Sky Dome and for the 2019 event, it was held in KINTEX.

The 2018 KBS Song Festival with the theme, "A Huge Fantastical Party", was held at the KBS Hall on 28 December 2018.

In 2023, the usual Song Festival was replaced by "Music Bank Global Festival", with the event held in both Saitama, Japan and Seoul, South Korea respectively.

Hosts YearHostsRef 2006 Han Suk-joon, Hwang Soo-kyung 2007 Han Suk-joon, Soo Kyung-hwang, Son Beom-su 2008 Han Suk-joon, Hwang Soo Kyung, Park Sa-im 2009 Han Suk-joon, Soo Kyung-hwang, Kim Kyung-ran 2010 Han Suk-joon, Park Eun-young, Jun Hyun-moo 2011 Lee Hwi-jae, Park Sa-im, Jun Hyun-moo 2012 Sung Si-kyung, Yoona (SNSD), Jung Yong-hwa (CNBLUE) 2013 Lee Hwi-jae, Suzy (Miss A), Yoon Shi-yoon 2014 Lee Hwi-jae, Yoona (SNSD), Taecyeon (2PM) 2015 Lee Hwi-jae, Hani, (EXID), Taecyeon (2PM) 2016 Park Bo-gum, Seolhyun (AOA) 2017 Part I: Jin (BTS), Sana (Twice), Chanyeol (EXO), Irene (Red Velvet) Part II: Mingyu (Seventeen), Solar (Mamamoo), Kang Daniel (Wanna One), Yerin (GFriend) 2018 Chanyeol (EXO), Dahyun (Twice), Jin (BTS) 2019 Shin Dong-Yup, Irene (Red Velvet), Park Jin-young (Got7) 2020 Cha Eun-woo (Astro), Shin Ye-eun, Yunho (TVXQ) 2021 Cha Eun-woo (Astro), Seolhyun (AOA), Rowoon (SF9) 2022 Na In-woo, Jang Won-young (IVE), Kim Shin-young 2023 Part 1: Rowoon, Jang Won-young (IVE)Part 2: Rowoon, Go Min-si, Lee Young-ji 2024 Japan: Moon Sang-min, Shin Ye-eun, Hong Eun-chae (Le Sserafim)Korea: Zico, Jang Won-young (IVE), Kim Young-dae 2025 Jang Do-yeon, Moon Sang-min, Minju (Illit)

Award recipients

TBC Broadcast Music Awards (1965–1980)

Year Artist Song 1965 Choi Hee-joon "Every Corner of Korea" () 1966 Choi Hee-joon "Student Boarder" () Choi Yang-sook 1967 Choi Hee-joon Kim Sang-hee 1968 Bae Ho Lee Mi-ja 1969 Nam Jin "My Heart Aches" () Lee Mi-ja "Woman's Life" () 1970 Choi Hee-joon Lee Mi-ja "Woman's Life" () 1971 Nam Jin "Should Have a Beautiful Heart" () Kim Sang-hee 1972 Na Hoon-a Ha Chun-hwa 1973 Nam Jin "Don't Change, My Dear" () Ha Chun-hwa "Yeongam Arirang" () 1974 Kim Se-hwan "Old Friend" () Ha Chun-hwa "The First Time in My Life" () 1975 Kim Se-hwan "Loving Heart" () Lee Su-mi "Stand By Me" () 1976 Kim Hoon 나를 두고 아리랑 Ha Chun-hwa "Daekwanryeong Arirang" () 1977 Kim Hoon Hye Eun-yi "I Love Only You" () 1978 Choi Heon "Empress Tree Leaves" () Lee Eun-ha "Night Train" () 1979 Jo Kyung-soo "What Happiness Is" () Lee Eun-ha "Confusing" () 1980 Cho Yong-pil "Woman Outside the Window" () Yoon Si-nae "Passionate Love" ()

KBS Music Awards (1981–2005) Year Artist Song 1981 Cho Yong-pil "Red Dragonfly" () Lee Jeong-hui "You" () 1982 Cho Yong-pil "Tragic Love" () Yun Si-nae "To The DJ" (DJ에게) 1983 Cho Yong-pil "Dear Friend" () Yun Si-nae "Let's Study" () 1984 Kim Soo-chul "Forgotten Flower" () Lee Eun-ha "One Who's Never Been in Love" () 1985 Cho Yong-pil "Yesterday, Today, And..." (어제, 오늘 그리고) Jeong Soo-ra "City Streets" () 1986 Jeon Young-rok "Crybaby, My Love" () Jeong Soo-ra "From Me to You" () 1987 Jeon Young-rok "White Night" () 1988 Joo Hyun-mi "That Person in Shinsadong" () 1989 Hyun Cheul "Garden Balsam Feelings" () 1990 Hyun Cheul "Not Anymore" () 1991 Kim Jeong-soo "You" () 1992 Shin Seung-hun "Invisible Love" 1993 Kim Soo-hee "Sad Love" () 1994 Kim Gun-mo "Excuse" 1995 "Wrongful Meeting" () 1996 "Speed" 1997 Im Chang-jung "Again" 1998 H.O.T. "Hope" 1999 Jo Sung-mo "For Your Soul" 2000 G.o.d "Lies" 2001 "Road" 2002 Jang Na-ra "Sweet Dream" 2003 Lee Hyori "10 Minutes" 2004 Rain "It's Raining" 2005 Kim Jong-kook "Lovable"

KBS Song Festival (Popular Song of the Year) Year Artist Song 2009 2PM "Again & Again" 2010 Girls' Generation "Oh!" 2011 Beast "Fiction" 2012 Psy "Gangnam Style" () 2013 Exo "Growl" ()

Performers

KBS Song Festival (2006–present)

YearArtistsRef 2011 2PM, 4Minute, Beast, BigBang, Clover, CNBLUE, Davichi, F(x), Girls' Generation, Infinite, IU, Kim Hyun-joong, Lee Seung-gi, MBLAQ, Miss A, Secret, Sistar, Super Junior, T-ara, TVXQ, U-KISS, Wonder Girls 2012 2PM, Ailee, B1A4, Beast, BigBang, CNBLUE, Dynamic Duo, Infinite, K.Will, Kara, Miss A, Secret, Sistar, Shinee, Super Junior, T-ara, Teen Top, TVXQ, Lee Hyori 2013 Girls' Generation, Shinee, EXO, IU, Infinite, B2ST, 2PM, Miss A, 4 Minute, Kara, Sistar, K.Will, Teen Top, Boyfriend, Girl's Day, A Pink, Ailee, Lee Seung Chol, Yoo Hee Yeol, Secret, Dynamic Duo, Huh Gak, Crayon Pop 2014 2PM, Ailee, AOA, Apink, B1A4, Beast, Block B, BTS, CNBlue, EXO, Fly to the Sky, Girl's Day, Girls' Generation, Im Chang-jung, Infinite, San E & Raina, Secret, Sistar, Soyou & Junggigo, VIXX 2015 Group 1: Ailee, AOA, Apink, B1A4, BtoB, BTS, CNBLUE, EXID, EXO, GFriend, Girls' Generation, Got7, Infinite, Mamamoo, Noel, Red Velvet, Shinee, VIXXGroup 2: Hong Kyung-min, Moon Myung Jin, Hwang Chi-yeul, Ali, Son Seung-yeonGroup 3: Crush, Dynamic Duo, Zion.TGroup 4: Kim Chang-wan Band 2016 Group 1: AOA, B.A.P, BtoB, BTS, CNBLUE, EXID, EXO, GFriend, Got7, Han Dong-geun, I.O.I, Infinite, Jung Eun-ji, Mamamoo, Monsta X, Red Velvet, Seventeen, Shinee, Taeyeon, Twice, VIXXGroup 2: Davichi, Uhm Jung-hwa, Hwang Chi-yeul, Jeon In Kwon, ShinhwaGroup 3: Astro, Cosmic Girls, Laboum, NCT Dream, Oh My Girl, UP10TION 2017 BTS, EXO, GFriend, Hwang Chi-yeul, Hyuna, Mamamoo, Red Velvet, Seventeen, Twice, Wanna One, contestants from The Unit 2018 10cm, Apink, AOA, BTOB, BTS, Celeb Five, Chungha, Cosmic Girls, Day6, EXO, GFRIEND, (G)I-DLE, Got7, Hwang Chi Yeol, Kim Yeon-ja, Lovelyz, Momoland, Monsta X, NCT, Norazo, NU'EST W, Oh My Girl, Red Velvet, Roy Kim, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, Sunmi, The Boyz, Twice, VIXX, Wanna One, Yong Jun-hyung, Kim Hyo-yeon 2019 Apink, Astro, BTS, Chungha, Cosmic Girls, Everglow, GFriend, Golden Child, Got7, Itzy, Mamamoo, Monsta X, N.Flying, NCT 127, NCT Dream, NU'EST, Oh My Girl, Red Velvet, SEVENTEEN, Song Ga-in, Stray Kids, The Boyz, Twice, TXT 2020 BTS, Taemin, Twice, Got7, Mamamoo, Monsta X, Park Jin-young, Sunmi, NCT, NU'EST, Oh My Girl, Paul Kim, GFriend, Astro, Stray Kids, (G)I-dle, Kim Yeon-ja, Sul Woon-do, Jessi, Iz*One, The Boyz, Momoland, TXT, Itzy, Aespa, Enhypen 2021 Red Velvet, Oh My Girl, Kang Daniel, The Boyz, Stray Kids, Itzy, Tomorrow X Together, Enhypen, Aespa, Lee Mu-jin, Seventeen, Sunmi, NU'EST, Astro, Brave Girls, NCT U, SF9, Kim Woo-seok, STAYC, Ive 2022 Koyote, BoA, Kim Woo-seok, NCT 127, NCT Dream, Pentagon, The Boyz, Fromis 9, Forestella, Stray Kids, (G)I-dle, Ateez, Choi Ye-na, Oneus, Itzy, Tomorrow X Together, STAYC, Aespa, Enhypen, Ive, Kep1er, Nmixx, Le Sserafim, NewJeans 2023 Part 1: Sunmi, Hwasa, Young K, NCT 127, NCT Dream, Fromis 9, (G)I-dle, Oneus, Tomorrow X Together, Cravity, Aespa, Ive, Xdinary Heroes, H1-Key, Xikers, Zerobaseone, Riize, Fantasy BoysPart 2: Golden Girls, Park Jin-young, Shinee, MeloMance, Kang Daniel, The Boyz, Stray Kids, Ateez, Itzy, Lee Young-ji, P1Harmony, STAYC, Enhypen, NiziU, Kep1er, Nmixx, Le Sserafim, NewJeans, &Team, BoyNextDoor 2024 Japan: Stray Kids, Ateez, WayV, Itzy, Tomorrow X Together, STAYC, INI, Trendz, H1-Key, Nmixx, Le Sserafim, NewJeans, Xikers, Zerobaseone, N.SSign, Riize, Evnne, TWS, NCT Wish, Illit, Nexz, NoueraKorea: Yoon Soo-il, DJ Koo, Jinusean, Baby Vox, Bada, Young Tak, Jang Minho, NCT 127, NCT Dream, (G)I-dle, Oneus, Lee Young-ji, Lee Chan-won, Cravity, P1Harmony, Aespa, Enhypen, Ive, Kep1er, TripleS, BoyNextDoor, Kiss of Life, Unis 2025 CNBLUE, 10cm, Roy Kim, Park Seo-jin, Jannabi, Lovelyz, Dayoung (WJSN), NCT Dream, The Boyz, Fromis 9, Lee Chan-won, P1Harmony, STAYC, Aespa, Le Sserafim, TripleS, Kiss of Life, N.SSign, Evnne, Close Your Eyes, Hitgs, Baby Don't Cry, AHOF

See also SBS Gayo Daejeon MBC Gayo Daejejeon

References

External links

2021 KBS Song Festival on Daum