AKMU

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

AKMU's achievements are measured in streaming milestones and chart dominance rather than international trophies. They are one of the few acts to have multiple singles reach number one on the Gaon Digital Chart across three different decades, the 2010s and 2020s. Their ballad "Last Goodbye" became only the fourth song in Korea Music Content Association history to achieve Triple Platinum streaming certification, surpassing 250 million streams. The duo's debut album Play sold over 6.9 million digital downloads, a rare feat for a debut. In 2019, Lee Chan-hyuk was named one of TIME's Next Generation Leaders, a recognition that extended beyond music into cultural influence. Their independent label launch in 2024, after a decade with YG, marked a rare successful transition for a K-pop act into full creative control.

AwardsAKMU has won 18 major awards across South Korea's top ceremonies, including three Mnet Asian Music Awards, five Melon Music Awards, two Golden Disc Awards, a Seoul Music Award, a Korean Music Award, and five Gaon Chart Music Awards. Their debut album Play earned them Best New Artist at MAMA and MMA, as well as Best Pop Album at the Korean Music Awards. They have also won Song of the Year honors at the Gaon Chart Music Awards for "Re-Bye," "Last Goodbye," "How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love," and "Nakka."

Honours & Distinctions

Guinness World Record: Most weeks at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart for a duet

Guinness World Records·2017

Last Goodbye held the record for the most weeks at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart for a duet.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism·2018

Awarded for contribution to Korean pop culture.

Rankings & Lists

10 Best K-pop Albums of 2019

Rolling Stone India·2019

#Listed

25 Best K-pop Albums of 2019

Billboard·2019

#Listed

Next Generation Leaders

TIME·2019

#18

Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40

Forbes Korea·2017

#34

Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40

Forbes Korea·2020

Magazine Covers

Vogue Korea

2021

Pictorial and interview feature

DAZED Korea

June 2024

Love Episode comeback cover

W Korea

2019

Pictorial feature

Records & Feats

First artist to top Gaon Album Chart with a debut album in 2014

Chart Record·2014

Play debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart, a first for a debut album that year.

Fourth song in KMCA history to achieve Triple Platinum streaming certification

Streaming·2017

Last Goodbye surpassed 250 million streams to earn Triple Platinum certification.

Multiple singles number one on Gaon Digital Chart across three decades

Chart Record·2024

AKMU has achieved number-one singles in the 2010s and 2020s, spanning two decades.

Fastest music video to reach 100 million views for AKMU

Streaming·2024

Love Lee surpassed 100 million views on YouTube in August 2024, becoming their fastest music video to reach that milestone.