The second night of the 2025 MAMA Awards concluded in Hong Kong on Saturday, celebrating the year’s biggest achievements in K-pop against a backdrop of mourning. While the evening saw industry titans G-Dragon and Stray Kids take home top honours, the ceremony was marked by a sombre tone following the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court which claimed over 128 lives.
Big Bang legend G-Dragon emerged as the night’s most significant victor, securing the prestigious Artist of the Year award. Receiving the trophy from screen icon Chow Yun-fat, the artist reflected on his career and teased a major milestone for next year.
«It is such an honour to receive this award from my eternal idol,» G-Dragon stated, adding that he would return with his bandmates for Big Bang’s 20th anniversary in 2026.
He also claimed the prizes for Best Male Artist and Best Dance Performance Male Solo for his track Too Bad.
Stray Kids also enjoyed a monumental evening, winning the coveted Album of the Year award. The group beat out stiff competition from Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together, Enhypen and Riize to secure the title. In their acceptance speech, the members dedicated the win to their fans, known as STAYs, and offered heartfelt condolences to those affected by the local tragedy.
Felix noted, «We want to send our heartfelt condolences to everyone affected by the tragic events in Hong Kong.»
Aespa dominates female categories
The girl group Aespa continued their dominance by winning Best Female Group, Best Dance Performance Female Group and Best Choreography for their hit Whiplash. During their acceptance speech, member Karina delighted fans by announcing the release of their first full-length album next year. Winter also paid tribute to the fire victims, stating they performed with «a heavy heart» amidst the city’s grief.
The ceremony featured several high-octane performances despite the subdued atmosphere. G-Dragon electrified the crowd with a nostalgic rendition of his 2009 hit Heartbreaker, engaging in a beatbox exchange with Wing before transitioning into Drama and Untitled. Stray Kids delivered a rock-infused set including Creed and Chk Chk Boom, while Aespa staged a theatrical performance of Rich Man.
Other notable winners included ZeroBaseOne, who took home the Worldwide KCONers’ Choice Award, and Japanese boy band JO1, who were named Favourite Asian Artist. The Music Visionary of the Year award recognised the film KPop Demon Hunters for its innovative storytelling. This was celebrated with a special stage featuring BabyMonster members Ahyeon, Rora and Pharita transforming into the fictional group HUNTR/X to perform the film’s OST Golden, which also won Best Original Soundtrack.
The event, often hailed as the ‘Grammys of Asia’, proceeded with adjustments out of respect for the recent tragedy. Many artists wore black and pyrotechnic stage effects were cancelled to reflect the sombre mood of the host city.
