Staggering revenues from top-tier streamers have once again drawn attention to individual broadcasting, a field that once saw huge waves of hopeful newcomers. As SOOP (formerly AfreecaTV) continues its rebranding, replacing the term “BJ” with “streamer” and expanding content genres, the platform successfully wrapped up its biggest annual event, the SOOP Streamer Awards 2025.
The ceremony was held on December 27 at SOOP Colosseum in Sangam, Seoul. First launched in 2011, the Streamer Awards celebrated their fifteenth anniversary this year. The event brings together the streamers who have shaped the platform over the past year alongside the users who have supported them, celebrating SOOP’s creator ecosystem.
Awards were given across SOOP’s top content categories, including gaming, sports and visual radio. First category prizes went to Kim Min-gyo in gaming, Bong-jun in visual radio and Gamst in sports.
In addition to the category winners, SOOP also awarded the “Streamers of the Year”, selected from the top 0.1% based on the platform’s performance parameters. A total of 100 streamers, including Juice Seyeon, received the recognition, along with 10 rookie award winners. The Content of the Year award went to JPL Season 2a StarCraft league project created collaboratively by multiple streamers.
SOOP is currently estimated to host approximately 30,000 active streamers, with the average monthly user exceeding 2 million. The platform’s main revenue system revolves around “Star Balloons”, virtual items purchased by viewers and shared between streamers and the platform.
As news of extremely high earnings spread, individual broadcasting triggered a boom among people in their 20s and 30s. However, the reality remains starkly divided: While a small group of elite streamers earn hundreds of millions of won per month, the majority struggle to make even a living basic wage.
After 18 years, AfreecaTV has officially rebranded as SOOP, also retiring the term “BJ” in favor of “streamer.” The change is widely seen as an effort to distance the platform from negative perceptions caused by past controversies and reposition itself with a more professional and creator-friendly image.
SOOP was also presented during the ceremony SARS 2.0an AI manager designed to assist streamers. CEO Seo Soo-gil explained that SARSA can temporarily host broadcasts when a streamer wanders off or runs a sleep stream. Using the streamer’s voice, expressions, and data from past broadcasts, the AI responds to the chat and maintains engagement, with the goal of keeping broadcasts uninterrupted.
As record earnings and technological innovation continue to shape the industry, the SOOP Streamer Awards 2025 highlighted both the allure – and the stark reality – of the modern streaming economy.
Sources: Daum
