MAMA AWARDS Returns to Hong Kong After 7 Years with “First K-Pop Stadium-Scale” Performance

The Korean pop music awards ceremony MAMA AWARDS is returning to Hong Kong for the first time in seven years. CJ ENM announced that this year’s MAMA AWARDS will be held on November 28 and 29 at the Hong Kong Kai Tak Stadium. This marks the first time in K-Pop award history that an event will take place on a stadium scale. It is also the first time the ceremony has been held in Hong Kong since 2018, when it was co-hosted across three regions. Compared to that event, which was held at the approximately 10,000-seat Asia World Expo Arena (AWE), the current scale represents a growth of about seven times. The Kai Tak Stadium can accommodate up to 50,000 people and is known as a new landmark in Hong Kong where artists such as Coldplay, NCT, and SEVENTEEN have performed. It is expected that the two-day event will fill seats exceeding 70,000, delivering a spectacular show befitting the world’s largest K-Pop awards ceremony. This year’s slogan is “HEAR MY ROAR, UH-HEUNG.” It signifies a bold declaration of living authentically by embracing everything about oneself within diverse races and cultures. The core value emphasizes the joyous energy of “heung,” which emerges during moments of free singing and dancing. The event will be hosted by actors Park Bo-gum and Kim Hye-soo. Park Bo-gum will host “CHAPTER 1” on the first day, while Kim Hye-soo will host “CHAPTER 2” on the second day. Kim Hye-soo is joining as a host for the first time this year and is regarded as someone who understands the power of music more deeply than anyone else. Notably, this year MAMA will feature Yang Jiajing, the Oscar-winning actress, as a presenter, symbolizing K-Pop’s current status as a global mainstream force. A total of 27 groups, ranging from K-Pop newcomers to legends, will perform on stage. These include ALPHADRIVEONE, BABYMONSTER, BOYNEXTDOOR, ENHYPEN, IVE, NCT WISH, SUPER JUNIOR, TREASURE, aespa, G-Dragon, RIIZE, Stray Kids, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and ZEROBASEONE. In particular, SUPER JUNIOR will stage a performance honoring past MAMA highlights to celebrate their 20th anniversary since debut, while Stray Kids will give the first public showcase of tracks from their upcoming new album. “CHAPTER 1” will feature a reimagined version of the mega crew mission “Monggyeong” from “World of Street Woman Fighter,” with Park Bo-gum making a surprise appearance alongside BOYNEXTDOOR, CORTIS, and TREASURE. “CHAPTER 2” will open with a performance by Kim Hye-soo and Stray Kids’ Felix, followed by an “Exclusive Theme Stage” by Sung Hanbin of ZEROBASEONE and dancer Kyoka. An official collaboration with the Netflix animated series KPop Demon Hunters is also planned, with real K-Pop artists recreating the showdown between “Sajaboyz” and “HUNTR/X” from the show on stage. This year’s MAMA AWARDS will be broadcast in 4K live to 250 regions around the world via Mnet Plus. Starting in Macau in 2010, MAMA AWARDS expanded its reach to Singapore, Japan, the United States, and other locations, paving the way for a “K-Pop global awards ceremony.” The vision behind MAMA is “Music Makes One,” aiming to create a world united through music and to provide an awards show that fans worldwide can enjoy together.