On December 25th, the highly anticipated end-of-year music festival, SBS Gayo Daejeon 2025has officially started at the INSPIRE Arena in Incheon. The star-studded event turned into a picture flower garden as the biggest names in K-pop gathered for the ultimate Christmas celebration.
The lineup featured a powerhouse of talent including IVE, aespa, NCT, TXT, Stray Kids, RIIZE, ENHYPEN, ITZY, NMIXX and the mega-rookie group CORTIS, leaving fans around the world in a state of excitement.
Jang Wonyoung’s angelic presence versus Winter’s mysterious concealment
Taking center stage was IVE’s Jang Wonyoung, who embodied the spirit of the season as a Christmas Angel. Her sweet visuals and doll-like proportions have once again cemented her status as a top-tier K-pop icon. Alongside her, teammate Ahn Yujin dazzled in a voluminous white dress, perfectly playing her role as the evening’s MC.
However, the atmosphere turned curious when aespa’s Winter hit the carpet. Following the recent dating rumors involving BTS’ Jungkook, netizens were quick to take notice of Winter’s efforts to hide her arm. Speculation has been rife regarding couple tattoo depicting three dogs, and its styling choice was widely interpreted as an attempt to hide the brand from the prying eyes of the media.
The red carpet also served as a stage for the next generation of K-pop. CORTIS, the new sensation from HYBE labels, made a bold appearance under their signature street boy style. Member James captured hearts with his The heartthrob of American high schools charm, while sixteen-year-old Keonho was hailed by the Korean press as the New Cha Eun Woo for his radiant and perfect features.
MEOVV: The Teddy-produced group, featuring Ella Gross, who stood out for her striking biracial imagery.
The conglomerate heiress turned ALLDAY PROJECT idol exuded an aura of old money luxury that dominated the carpet.
The event wasn’t just for the new generation. DBSK’s Yunho has proven his timelessness, looking more handsome than ever in his late 20s. Additionally, NCT’s Taeyong made a high-profile return to the stage soon after his military discharge, proving that he hasn’t lost an ounce of his charisma.
Although the evening was a celebration of beauty, some fans expressed concern for ITZY’s Yuna, noting her extremely thin physique despite her undeniable visual power.
As the red carpet concluded, attention turned inside the INSPIRE Arena for a night of legendary performances. SBS Gayo Daejeon 2025 once again proved to be the most talked about event of the Christmas holidays.
