What does "daesang" means within K-Pop?

Within K-pop, “daesang” means the highest award, or grand prize, given by an award-giving body. The Korean term 대상 literally means “grand prize” and is used for top honors at ceremonies such as the MAMA Awards, Melon Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, and Seoul Music Awards.

A ceremony may present multiple daesangs—for example, separate awards for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, or Song of the Year. Their eligibility and judging methods vary, often combining sales, streaming performance, expert judging, and fan votes. Daesang is therefore an award level rather than one universally standardized trophy.