Indonesian Hearts2Hearts Member Carmen Secures 'Trend of the Year' at KGMA 2025

The Korea Grand Music Awards (KGMA) 2025 ceremony, held on November 15 at the INSPIRE Arena in Incheon, shone a spotlight on the burgeoning talent of the K-Pop scene, particularly the Indonesian K-Pop group Hearts2Hearts and its standout member, Carmen. Organized by Ilgan Sports, this prestigious two-day event celebrated the best in Korean music—spanning K-Pop, trot, and rock genres—and recognized releases that hit the market between October 2024 and September 2025. The atmosphere was electric as the industry gathered to honor both established icons and promising newcomers.

Despite having only debuted earlier this year on February 24, 2025, under the banner of SM Entertainment, Hearts2Hearts quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. The eight-member collective was honored with the coveted IS Rising Star award, an accolade they shared with fellow promising acts IDID and KickFlip. This recognition, coming merely months after the release of their debut single album, The Chase, serves as a powerful testament to their rapid ascent and burgeoning influence within the highly competitive K-Pop landscape.

Drawing particular attention was Carmen, whose full name is Nyoman Ayu Carmenita. She has already carved out a significant place in K-Pop history as the first Indonesian idol ever to debut under the powerhouse agency, SM Entertainment. Her individual success at the KGMA 2025 further solidified her groundbreaking status, marking a major milestone for Indonesian representation in the global K-Pop sphere.

Carmen clinched the highly competitive "Trend of the Year (Rookie)" nomination, an individual victory that firmly positions her among the industry's most promising newcomers. Notably, this award places her in esteemed company; during the same ceremony, the equivalent title in the "K-Pop Solo" category was bestowed upon V (BTS), highlighting the significance and prestige of the recognition she received from the KGMA committee.

The formation and debut of Hearts2Hearts marked a pivotal moment for SM Entertainment, signaling the agency’s return to the format of launching large-scale girl groups—a move not seen in 18 years since the legendary debut of Girls’ Generation. Their inaugural track, "The Chase," immediately captured public interest. The song is characterized by a distinctive synth-pop sound combined with an airy, complex, multi-layered vocal arrangement, which critics have hailed as a definitive manifesto for the new generation of the SM style.

Following the ceremony, Carmen took to Weverse on November 15 to share a heartfelt message of gratitude with her dedicated fanbase, affectionately known as "Hachu." Her sincere words underscored how far talent, when supported by a devoted community and unwavering self-belief, can take an artist. The dual triumph at KGMA 2025—both the group award and Carmen’s individual honor—unequivocally cements Hearts2Hearts as one of the most impactful new names to emerge on the Korean music scene in 2025. The entire ceremony was broadcast domestically on ENA and streamed internationally via TikTok, ensuring that millions of viewers worldwide witnessed their impressive achievements.