Jo Yuri, NOWADAYS, and NouerA Confirmed for 'ASEA 2025'

Jo Yuri, NOWADAYS, and NouerA have officially joined the artist lineup for the ASIA STAR ENTERTAINER AWARDS 2025 (ASEA 2025), presented by ZOZOTOWN. The prestigious music awards ceremony, celebrating the unity of music, stars, and fans across Asia, will take place on May 28–29 at K-Arena Yokohama in Japan. The ASEA Organizing Committee made the announcement on April 22.

Jo Yuri, who debuted as the main vocalist of IZ*ONE in 2018, has earned global acclaim for her powerful vocals and versatile charm. Since launching her solo career with the hit track “GLASSY” in 2021, she has continued to showcase her unique musical color with a series of successful releases—topping domestic and international music charts and winning on major music shows.

In addition to her music success, Jo Yuri demonstrated her acting talent in the global Netflix hit Squid Game Season 2, and she is set to appear in Season 3, releasing in June. Ahead of her acting return, she will take the stage at ASEA 2025 on May 29 not only as a performer but also as a presenter.

Rising boy group NOWADAYS (Hyeonbin, Yoon, Yeonwoo, Jinhyuk, Siyun) will perform on the first night, May 28. Since debuting in April 2023 with their first single “NOWADAYS,” the group has actively released music, including “Rainy day (2024 Remake ver.),” their second single “NOWHERE,” and “Let’s get it.” The single “NOWHERE” doubled their previous album sales, solidifying their status as promising newcomers.

Their efforts have earned them accolades, including the Blooming Star Award at the 32nd Hanteo Music Awards. They also performed on the “Golden Choice Stage” at the 39th Golden Disc Awards, which showcases rising talent chosen by fans and industry professionals alike. NOWADAYS aims to build on their momentum with unique music and passion throughout 2025.

NouerA (Gihyeon, Lin, Miraku, Fan, Junpyo, Hyunjun, Yuseop) is slated to perform on May 29. Even before their official debut in December, the group garnered international attention by being invited to the Billboard No.1s Party in the U.S. They were also recognized by Billboard and Billboard Korea as one of the “2025 K-POP Rookies to Watch.” Their debut album recorded first-week sales of approximately 160,000 copies.

NouerA has appeared on major international stages, including the 2024 Music Bank Global Festival in Japan and Kstyle Party. They also successfully held a fan meeting in Japan, further cementing their reputation as a next-generation global act. On April 30, they will also appear at the Seoul Spring Festa: Seoul Wonder Show at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Now in its second year, ASEA brings together Asia’s top stars for a spectacular awards show celebrating music and fandom on a global scale. The inaugural edition in April 2024 featured a powerhouse lineup, with Stray Kids taking home three awards including the Grand Prize, alongside performances by TXT, DAY6, TREASURE, SHINee's Taemin, and Creepy Nuts.

ASEA 2025 will once again feature world-class K-pop artists and top Asian acts who have made significant global achievements over the past year. The May 28 lineup includes aespa, ENHYPEN, Hearts2Hearts, KiiiKiii, NCT WISH, NEXZ, NiziU, NOWADAYS, timelesz, and Xdinary Heroes (in alphabetical order). THE BOYZ’s Juyeon and IVE’s Rei will serve as MCs, and actor Jang Keun-suk will present the Grand Prize.

On May 29, the stage will feature ATARASHII GAKKO!, &TEAM, BADVILLAIN, (G)I-DLE, HANA, Jo Yuri, NouerA, n.SSign, SAKURAZAKA46, SKY-HI, THE BOYZ, and THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE (in alphabetical order). Actress Kim Hyeyoon, MONSTA X’s Hyungwon, and THE BOYZ’s Younghoon will host the event, while actor Byeon Wooseok will present the Grand Prize. Actor Choo Youngwoo and singer-actress Jo Yuri will also appear as presenters.

ASEA 2025 is hosted by NEWSEN, Korea’s leading entertainment and sports media celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and @style, a star and style magazine celebrating 13 years, alongside The Star E&M. The event is co-organized by the ASEA Organizing Committee and ZOZOTOWN.

Tickets for the general public will go on sale starting May 2. More information, including ticketing details and event guidelines, is available on the official website (www.asea.kr) and ZOZOTOWN’s special event page.

The ASEA 2025 website will continue to update with artist lineup announcements, award categories, and judging criteria in the coming weeks.

(Photos: WAKEONE, CUBE Entertainment, NOUER Entertainment, ASEA Organizing Committee)