Big Bang named Best New Artist at Japan Record Awards

Korean idol group Big Bang has won the Best New Artist award at a major year-end music event in Japan, according to their agency YG Entertainment (YG).

The boy band was named Best New Artist at the 51st Japan Record Awards, held Wednesday afternoon in Tokyo. They had won the same title at the 42nd Japan Yusen Awards earlier in the month.

"I feel very satisfied [with Big Bang's win]," YG founder and CEO Yang Hyun-suk was quoted as saying. "I'm very glad because I feel that this win is like an opening act of the second Hallyu (Korean Wave)."

The group has been gaining success on the J-pop scene since releasing their debut single "My Heaven" in June which reached No. 3 on Oricon daily singles chart last month. They recently ranked fifth on the list of most prominent artists of 2009 by TBS's music program "Countdown TV".

Big Bang, one of the most successful idol groups in Korea, was discovered and trained by major talent agency YG. They are credited with being huge cultural icons for Korea's younger generation in not only in music but also fashion.

They are scheduled to give the "2010 Big Bang Concert Big Show" next month, from January 29 thru 31, at Seoul's Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium.

Reporter : Park Kun-ouc kun1112@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr