Only 5 K-Pop Groups Have Won A Music Show Award After Completing Their Military Service

There have been plenty of male K-Pop groups that have won music show awards over the years — with BTS, EXO, and BIGBANG currently in the lead with 152, 107, and 53 wins respectively — but something that only a few have accomplished is earning a music show award once all of the members have completed their military service. Sadly, the enlistment period is often rough on a boy group in terms of promotions and releases, and many see a decline in their popularity during this time.

However, the following 5 K-Pop groups have stood the test of time and managed this feat, and there are certain to be more (like SHINee, 2PM, EXO, and BIGBANG) that accomplish it in the future!

1. Shinhwa

Shinhwa debuted in 1998, and the members completed their military enlistments between 2008 and 2012. Since 2012, they have actually won a total of 21 music show awards! Their first one was on March 29, 2012 with “Venus”, which they won a single award for. They went on to win 8 awards for “This Love”, 10 awards for “Sniper”, and 2 awards for “Touch”!

2. Sechskies

Sechskies debuted in 1997, and the members completed their military enlistments between 2008 and 2011. They have won four awards since then, with the first going to “Be Well” on May 12, 2017. It went on to win 3 awards total, and they also received one win for “All For You” in 2020.

3. Super Junior

Super Junior debuted in 2005, and the members completed their military enlistments between 2011 and 2019. They have won 40 music awards in total since records began in 2012, but in terms of winning after their military services were all complete, they have won twice! Both were for “Super Clap”, which won its first award on October 24, 2019.

4. BEAST/HIGHLIGHT

BEAST originally debuted in 2009 (and re-debuted as HIGHLIGHT in 2017), and the members completed their military enlistments between 2018 and 2020. As HIGHLIGHT, they have won a total of 12 awards since 2012, and two of those were won since they completed their military service. They were both for “Not the End”, which won its first award on May 11, 2021.

5. BTOB

BTOB debuted in 2012, and the members completed their military enlistments between 2018 and 2021. They have won 16 music show awards since they debuted, but they only just received their first win since all of the members completed their military service! It was for “The Song”, which was awarded to them on March 2, 2022 on Show Champion.