Most K-pop Soloist Awards Won In A Single Year (Record By IU)

The Official Award Of A Certificate

IU reigned supreme in 2017, securing the record for the most awards won by a K-pop soloist in a single year, a milestone certified by the K-Pop Records Library on March 27, 2025. That year, the beloved singer-songwriter clinched an impressive 25 awards, a tally that showcased her musical prowess and solidified her status as a K-pop icon, driven by her chart-topping hit “Palette” featuring G-DRAGON.

Feat:

The fourth studio album by IU, whose real name is Lee Ji-eun, was released on April 21, 2017, under the LOEN Entertainment label. Thanks to its reflective lyrics and G-rap Dragon’s flair, the title single “Palette” won eleven music shows on sites including Inkigayo and Music Bank, Her reign reached its zenith at year-end celebrations, when she won multiple awards, including Melon Music Awards (MMA) Song of the Year and Best Female Artist, MAMA Best Ballad, and the Golden Disc Awards Digital Bonsang.

According to X posts from 2017, her total of 25 accolades was higher than PSY’s 19 in 2012 and Baekhyun’s 15 in 2020, according on historical records. As of March 2025, no soloist had managed to surpass her record for a single year. It was a reflection of her talent and fanbase, UAENA, that IU won in 2017. Although her earlier works “Jam Jam” and “Love Poem” contributed to her victory, it was “Palette” that sealed the deal with its 1.2 billion Gaon digital points. In recognition of a year that surpassed even her 18-award run in 2019, the K-Pop Records Library bestowed a certificate upon her, establishing 2017 as her most memorable solo performance.