Held Monday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, the first part of the three-day event saw awards being presented to rookie artists who had debuted recently, which was why BTS did not attend. 

The event also recognized the efforts of those behind K-pop groups, including those who have worked with BTS. 

The best choreographer award went to Son Sung-deuk, an in-house choreographer and performance director at Big Hit Entertainment, while Pdogg, chief producer at Big Hit Entertainment, was named best producer. Both have worked with BTS since the group’s debut in 2013. 

Art director and production designer MU:E won best art director for her work in BTS’ Billboard-charting hit “Fake Love” released in May. 

Read also: BTS marks 10 million albums sold since debut

Bang Si-hyuk, the founder and CEO of Big Hit Entertainment, was named this year’s best executive producer. He was credited for “bringing up BTS with an outstanding capacity.”

Meanwhile, the designer for the septet’s Love Yourself: Tear album, HuskyFox, was recently nominated for best recording package at the upcoming 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

BTS sure surrounds itself with the best in the business.

Although absent from Monday’s ceremony, BTS is attending the second and third award events held in Japan and Hong Kong on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.