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BTS members pose for a photo on May 21 during a global press conference commemorating the release of their digital single “Butter.” (provided by BigHit Music)

BTS pulled off a trifecta at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The South Korean K-pop act won honors for Group of the Year, Best K-Pop, and Song of the Summer at the awards, which were held in Brooklyn, New York, on Sunday. This was the third year in a row that BTS was the winner in the categories of Group of the Year and Best K-Pop.

BTS didn’t attend the awards ceremony in person over concerns about COVID-19, but it did submit a prerecorded acceptance video.

“We’ve been so blessed and grateful for all of the love we received this year. Shoutout to ARMY! ... We’ll keep bringing great music for all of you guys,” BTS said in their acceptance video.

In the Group of the Year category — known as “Best Group” until last year — BTS was competing with the likes of Blackpink, CNCO, Silk Sonic, Maroon 5, Foo Fighters, Jonas Brothers, and Twenty One Pilots.

The two groups that fans voted into the final round were BTS and Blackpink, showcasing the power of K-pop.

A still from a teaser for the music video for “Butter” by BTS (provided by BigHit Music)

The other nominees in the Best K-Pop category were (G)i-dle, Blackpink, Monsta X, Seventeen, and Twice.

BTS cleaned up at last year’s ceremony with four awards: Best Pop, Best K-Pop, Best Group and Best Choreography. That followed a two-award showing in 2019, when BTS won Best Group and Best K-Pop.

Olivia Rodrigo took home the trophy for Song of the Year with her song “drivers license.” In the category of Best Pop, the winners were Justin Bieber with Daniel Caesar and Giveon for “Peaches.”

The MTV Video Music Awards are put on by MTV, the American cable channel. Awards are announced in more than 20 categories, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Collaboration.

By Jung Hyuk-june, staff reporter

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