TREASURE's JIHOON wins Solo Artist Award in Busan

TREASURE member JIHOON won the Solo Artist Award at the 2026 TMA held at Busan Asiad Main Stadium, overcoming a lyric mistake during his special duet stage. The group also secured the Artist of the Year award during the ceremony in JIHOON's hometown.

TREASURE member JIHOON expressed special emotions after winning the Solo Artist Award at an awards ceremony held in his hometown of Busan. A behind-the-scenes video has been released, capturing the process from the intense rehearsal scenes at the 2026 TMA to the glorious moment of receiving the award.

'Busan Boy' JIHOON's rehearsal tension over lyric concerns

At the TMA rehearsal held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, JIHOON was first captured showing clear signs of nervousness. As a native of Busan, JIHOON arrived at the venue earlier than anyone else to prepare for his special stage, but he shared his worries regarding unexpected variables. JIHOON expressed concern that he was confusing the lyrics for the special stage. Despite not having a large amount of lines, he revealed his honest feelings as a "Busan boy," stating that the confusion made him "think a lot."

As the rehearsal began in earnest, JIHOON's attitude shifted to professional. He showed a serious side in preparing for the stage, meticulously checking movement paths and double-checking the lift positions and his own parts. Although he appeared nervous during the rehearsal process, he finished the rehearsal by perfectly handling the lyrics on stage. During the subsequent monitoring process, tense conversations between JIHOON and a junior colleague preparing for the stage added liveliness to the scene.

Small joys in the waiting room: clay work and Yukjeon Gukbap

On the day of the ceremony, the TREASURE waiting room held a relaxed atmosphere that contrasted with the tension on stage. Member YOSHI attempted the recently popular 'Mallang-i' play, experiencing MZ generation culture. Although he initially struggled due to being unfamiliar with it, he eventually enjoyed gaining the "MZ title" with the help of a video. Following this, the members spent time in the waiting room expressing their artistic spirits by making shapes like pizza and tripods using clay.

A mealtime followed to replenish energy before the stage. Member Jeong-woo chose a gukbap containing yukjeon (pan-fried beef) and expressed satisfaction with the menu. The members, fully made up for the awards ceremony, also expressed anticipation for the awards. In particular, YOSHI showed himself overcoming the tension of the ceremony in his characteristic way, keeping his sunglasses firmly in place for the stage.

"It feels even more special to receive an award in my hometown, Busan"

When the ceremony finally began, TREASURE was recognized for their activities by winning the 'Artist of the Year' award. The members could not hide their joy. The members from Busan, in particular, attached special meaning to it as an award received in their hometown. TREASURE shared their thoughts, stating, "It is very moving to be able to receive the 2026 Artist of the Year award in my hometown, Busan," and promised to show even better performances in the future.

Subsequently, JIHOON proved his unrivaled presence by winning the 'Solo Artist Award.' JIHOON shared his thoughts, noting that a recently conducted challenge seemed to have provided a great opportunity for this award. However, there was a short mishap following the moment of glory. During a special duet stage, JIHOON faced a situation where he made a mistake with the lyrics during the first verse. However, JIHOON did not panic and calmly continued through the chorus and the remaining lyrics to finish the stage. Finishing the performance with a customized Busan-style closing comment, JIHOON's appearance symbolically showed a scene of this awards ceremony where tension and joy intersected.

Source: original video (YouTube)