The global music landscape continues to witness the unstoppable rise of the sensational group CORTIS, who have officially achieved yet another massive milestone in their promotional cycle.
On the May 24, 2026 episode of SBS’s premier music broadcasting program, “Inkigayo,” the group managed to secure a monumental victory, marking their ninth individual music show trophy for their runaway hit single, “REDRED.”
This latest achievement solidifies the track’s status as one of the defining anthems of the season, maintaining its relentless grip on the music charts and winning hearts worldwide.
The battle for the coveted first-place trophy on this week’s broadcast was incredibly intense, bringing together three of the industry’s most formidable contemporary musical forces.
The final nominees for the weekly crown represented a diverse array of concepts and sounds, making the ultimate outcome highly anticipated by fans and industry insiders alike.
On the May 24 episode of SBS’s “Inkigayo,” the candidates for first place were NMIXX’s “Heavy Serenade,” ILLIT’s “It’s Me,” and CORTIS’s “REDRED.”
Following the aggregation of digital streaming metrics, physical album sales, social media engagement, and live fan voting, the final scores revealed a decisive victory. CORTIS ultimately took the win with a total of 5,904 points.
The emotional victory was met with immense celebration, prompting a flurry of global trending topics as fans rallied to share their congratulations to CORTIS!
For those who missed the live broadcast or wish to relive the historic moment, the official coverage provided a complete media package allowing supporters to watch their performances, win, and full unaired encore below.
High-Octane Comebacks and Masterful Title Track Stages
Beyond the thrilling chart race for the number-one trophy, the May 24 broadcast of “Inkigayo” served as a massive platform for a highly anticipated roster of veteran acts, explosive rookies, and uniquely stylized sub-units.
The production values of the afternoon were exceptionally high, featuring complex stage designs, vibrant light displays, and precise camerawork that elevated each individual track’s choreography.
A major highlight of the afternoon was the presence of several leading female powerhouses who delivered distinct, jaw-dropping performances.
Among the standout stages were the long-awaited and highly celebrated appearance of legendary project group I.O.I, who returned to the stage to deliver a deeply emotional performance of “Suddenly.”
They were joined by the fierce energy of ITZY, who commanded the audience with their signature sharp synchronicity during their performance of “Motto.”
Additionally, the powerhouse group LE SSERAFIM set the stage ablaze with their fierce charisma, delivering an unforgettable and high-energy performance of their latest track, “BOOMPALA.”
The chart contenders themselves also treated viewers to spectacular live versions of their latest releases, proving exactly why they were nominated for the top spot.
NMIXX delivered a flawless vocal and dance performance of their nominated track, “Heavy Serenade,” leaving the audience in awe of their technical skill.
Meanwhile, the rapidly rising global boy group ZEROBASEONE pulled double duty for the afternoon, demonstrating their incredible versatility and stage presence by performing two separate tracks, treating fans to dynamic stages for both “V for Vision” and “TOP 5.”
Dynamic Soloists and Rising Stars Ignite the Stage
The diversity of the broadcast was further enriched by a phenomenal lineup of solo artists and established sub-units who brought a wide variety of genres- ranging from smooth R&B and heavy hip-hop to intense theatrical pop- to the “Inkigayo” stage.
The sub-unit dynamics were perfectly captured by MONSTA X’s Shownu X Hyungwon, who exuded a mature, sophisticated allure during their smooth and captivating performance of “Do You Love Me.”
On the solo front, NCT’s Taeyong dominated the venue with his incomparable individual artistic flair and hypnotic stage presence, delivering a powerful performance of his solo track, “WYLD.”
The hip-hop and alternative scenes were also well-represented, bringing a raw and infectious energy to the television broadcast.
Global icon Jay Park teamed up with LNGSHOT to deliver a collaborative stage for “MOYA,” which effortlessly got the entire crowd moving.
They were followed by the charismatic and uniquely compelling soloist BIBI, who delivered a characteristically bold and mesmerizing performance of her track, “BUMPA.”
Adding a touch of emotional depth to the solo lineup was ASTRO’s Yoon San Ha, who touched hearts with his expressive vocals during his stage for “IDK ME.”
The remainder of the afternoon was packed with non-stop entertainment from a brilliant collective of rising idol groups and multi-talented entertainers.
Other performers on today’s show included I.O.I, ITZY, LE SSERAFIM, NMIXX, ZEROBASEONE, MONSTA X’s Shownu X Hyungwon, NCT’s Taeyong, Jay Park & LNGSHOT, BIBI, ASTRO’s Yoon San Ha, Billlie, xikers, DRIPPIN’s ChaDongHyeop, FLARE U, YOUNITE, Jo Hye Ryun, H//PE Princess, YUHZ, and Park Hyun Kyu.
The individual stages for these artists showcased a wide array of musical experiments.
Billlie brought their signature quirky and complex musical storytelling to life with “WORK,” while the energetic powerhouse rookies xikers delivered an explosive burst of youthful energy with “OKay.”
DRIPPIN’s ChaDongHyeop brought a sweet romantic charm with “Doogeundae,” followed closely by FLARE U’s sleek performance of “WAY 2 U” and YOUNITE’s bright energy during “POSE!.”
The broadcast was rounded out by unique crossover performances, including Jo Hye Ryun’s energetic rendition of “To the Eagle,” the enchanting Korean version of “Stolen” by H//PE Princess, YUHZ’s rhythmic track “Rush Rush,” and a stunning vocal showcase of “Aurora” by Park Hyun Kyu.
Ultimately, the episode was a triumphant celebration of the vibrant diversity defining the modern music industry.
