“Too Fast, Too Grand?” — Inside ALLDAY PROJECT’s Controversial Daesang at KGMA

ALLDAY PROJECT’s first Daesang at the 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards (KGMA) should have been a victory lap for one of the year’s most talked-about rookies. Instead, the win detonated a week of discourse about criteria, clout, and chaebol privilege—turning a milestone into a litmus test for how K-pop measures “excellence.”

What happened, and why fans are heated

KGMA Day 1 (November 14, 2025) crowned ALLDAY PROJECT with a Grand Prize just ~144 days after their debut—the fastest Daesang since NewJeans’ 134-day record. The speed triggered immediate skepticism online, with threads and posts alleging the award was “bought,” not earned. Much of the ire centered on member Annie Moon’s family background (she’s widely reported as a Samsung heiress), which some netizens claim confers undue influence—claims for which no proof has been presented.

The viral reaction clip that fanned the flames

A fan-shot seating-area video—standard at year-end shows—went viral for allegedly “shady” or stunned reactions from fellow idols when ADP’s name was read. Edits spread across X/TikTok, amassing millions of views and reinforcing suspicions among detractors. Coverage from multiple K-culture outlets summarized the moment and its fallout.

“Rigged” or merely… KGMA?

Several discussions pointed out that KGMA is a newer ceremony that hands out multiple Daesangs across categories—so treating a KGMA Daesang as identical to a decades-old top prize might be apples-to-oranges. Commenters also argued that attendance, jury weight, and show logistics can shape outcomes at some award nights as much as pure charts. In other words: the result may feel surprising, but it may also be consistent with KGMA’s own ecosystem. (That framing comes up frequently in community explainer threads.)

But ADP isn’t success-less

It’s also true the group has real commercial momentum. ADP—managed by THEBLACKLABEL—debuted on June 23, 2025 and quickly planted a flag on domestic charts; coverage noted “Famous” hitting Melon’s daily Top 5/No. 1early on, with follow-ups charting as well. Even some skeptics concede the team’s stage proficiency was among KGMA’s standouts. That hardly settles the Daesang debate, but it complicates the “no merits at all” narrative. 

The Annie Moon factor: rumor vs. evidence

Allegations that Annie directly influenced the result surged after the viral clip, with some posts framing her as the “smoking gun.” As of now, there’s no verified evidence—only interpretation and insinuation from edited crowd videos and social chatter. Responsible coverage has repeated the claims while noting the lack of proof. That distinction matters: accusation ≠ confirmation. 

What this says about awards—beyond ADP

• Criteria opacity fuels backlash. When fans can’t clearly trace how winners are chosen—jury vs. sales vs. digital—controversy fills the vacuum. 

• Multiple Daesangs dilute meaning. If a show issues many “Grand Prizes,” audiences will rank them—fairly or not—by perceived prestige and age of the institution. 

• Parasocial politics are stronger than ever. A member’s class background or past controversies (e.g., Tarzzan’s styling/cultural-appropriation debates; Woochan’s resurfaced issues) can color how any achievement is received.

Where ALLDAY PROJECT goes from here

The most effective counter to “nepotism” narratives is undeniable output: tighter releases, stronger live stages, and clearer year-end metrics (sales, streams, touring). If ADP sustains performance into 2026, the KGMA win will read less like an outlier and more like an early checkpoint. If not, the “too fast” label may stick.

Quick facts

• Group: ALLDAY PROJECT (THEBLACKLABEL)

• Debut: June 23, 2025

• KGMA win: Grand Prize (Daesang), November 14, 2025

• Flashpoint: Viral “idol reactions” clip → “rigged” discourse; allegations focused on Annie Moon; no verified proof presented.

Editor’s take: The KGMA Daesang controversy is less a referendum on one rookie and more about the credibility plumbing of award season. Transparent criteria—and a longer runway of results—will decide whether ADP’s first Daesang reads as premature hype or the opening scene of a long, justified run.