ROSÉ of BLACKPINK just set a new milestone for K-pop.
The global smash "APT."―her collaboration with Bruno Mars―took home Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, making her the first K-pop artist ever to win a major VMA category.
At the 2025 MTV VMAs held on the 7th (local time) at New York's UBS Arena, ROSÉ clinched the coveted prize for "APT." The historic win comes after BTS earned a nomination for "Dynamite" in 2021 but didn’t take the trophy, underscoring the significance of ROSÉ’s breakthrough.
Accepting the award, ROSÉ delivered an intimate message, sounding both shaky and overjoyed. "As my therapist always reminds me, I want to thank myself―the me who didn’t give up even in my hardest moments. Remember, you always have you," she said, drawing thunderous applause.
She went on, "Recently someone asked me what I fear most, and my own answer surprised me: hitting a wall while chasing my dream and letting down my younger self―the 16-year-old me. At 16, I felt like an outsider, praying that one day I could make my dream come true like the people I saw on TV."
ROSÉ also gave Bruno Mars his flowers. "Bruno, you’re my ultimate idol and an incredible mentor. I love you. I hope I made you proud. I can’t believe this. I’ll call you soon, so I won’t say everything now. Thank you for believing in me and building this world with me―truly, forever. And for our friendship," she shared from the stage.
"APT." dominated this year’s VMAs with eight total nominations, including Video of the Year, Best Collaboration and Best Pop―setting a new record for the most nominations ever for a K-pop act. The track has surpassed 2 billion views on YouTube, cementing its global impact.
Meanwhile, in the Best K-Pop category, BLACKPINK’s LISA won for "Born Again," her collaboration with Doja Cat and RAYE―adding a third VMA trophy to her collection after "LALISA" (2022) and "NEW WOMAN" (2024).
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)