Debate emerges over MAMA Awards proceeding after Hong Kong fire
From left, Park Chan-uk, head of live entertainment at CJ ENM's music content division, and Mnet producers Ma Du-sik and Lee Young-joo pose during a press event for the 2025 MAMA Awards, at the CJ ENM headquarters in Mapo District, Seoul, Nov. 11. Courtesy of CJ ENM
By Alyssa Chen
A debate over the 2025 MAMA Awards, set to take place in Hong Kong on Friday and Saturday, has emerged online after a deadly apartment complex fire left the city in mourning.
Just two days before the K-pop awards show’s opening, a catastrophic blaze ravaged a residential estate in Tai Po District, leaving 65 people dead and 279 missing as of Thursday afternoon. The disaster, which prompted the city’s highest fire alarm level and suspended major public activities, including those for the upcoming Legislative Council election, has cast a shadow over what was meant to be one of Asia’s biggest music events.
As the city grieves, the awards show — organized by Korea’s CJ ENM and scheduled for the newly built Kai Tak Stadium, some 20 kilometers from the disaster site — has divided opinion online. Many argue that staging a large-scale global music festival amid such profound loss is insensitive and risks backlash.
“The city has just experienced such a tragedy, and now there’s going to be a group of foreigners partying and celebrating. The whole situation feels deeply somber,” one Hong Kong user commented on Threads. “I don’t want to see entertainment take priority over everything else so quickly.”
Another user wrote, “If CJ ENM decides to cancel the event now, I’d completely understand. First and foremost, I’m a Hong Konger — being a K-pop fan comes second.”
Some also described continuing the event as “unethical,” given the scale of the tragedy.
The 2025 MAMA Awards is funded by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, a government-supported body, and the awards are listed on the board’s event page. Hosting the high-profile ceremony is part of Hong Kong’s efforts to cement its role as Asia’s mega-event hub.
Smoke rises from apartments after a major fire swept through several blocks at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong's Tai Po District, Thursday. AFP-Yonhap
But supporters of the event argue that canceling the event at the last minute is impractical, citing the significant financial losses for organizers, artists and fans who have already made travel arrangements.
“A massive international awards ceremony like this involves countless stakeholders, artists and an enormous amount of money. Besides, MAMA isn’t just for Hong Kongers — people from all over the world are attending,” one commenter wrote on Threads.
A K-pop fan shared her own frustration, saying she had already spent 8,500 Hong Kong dollars ($1,092) on flights and accommodations to attend the show. “I’m heartbroken about the tragedy, but who’s going to cover my losses if it gets canceled?”
Other voices emphasized that canceling now would leave organizers scrambling and result in major financial losses, from production costs to potential compensation claims.
“Canceling now is simply not practical — there’s no time for alternative arrangements. The organizers would face massive compensation claims, not to mention production costs, artist schedules and staff salaries,” one commenter wrote. “The fire wasn’t their fault, after all.”
Some internet users have urged the audience to dress in black and white to show respect for those who were injured or lost their lives in the incident. Meanwhile, fans have also called on performing groups to avoid songs with potentially sensitive meanings related to fire or death such as i-dle’s “Good Thing,” Meovv’s “Burning Up” and a special collaborative performance themed around Saja Boys from “KPop Demon Hunters."
Amid mounting debate, CJ ENM issued an official statement Thursday evening saying the 2025 MAMA Awards will move forward as planned.
In the statement, organizers expressed their “deepest condolences” to those who lost their lives and extended “heartfelt sympathy” to bereaved families and residents still grappling with fear and disruption after the incident.
The awards said they will incorporate a “Support Hong Kong” message into the ceremony and create a moment of remembrance to “share in the grief.” The organizers also announced plans to make a donation to support those affected by the fire.
Despite the controversy, the company also noted that the show is being reshaped into what it called a more restrained and thoughtful ceremony. Citing the “healing and unifying power of music,” the organizers said stage design and program flow are being adjusted to emphasize comfort and hope rather than spectacle.
“We hope the music can offer even a small measure of solace and courage,” according to the organizer, which added that its team will “approach everything with responsibility” as preparations continue.
Alyssa Chen is a reporter with the South China Morning Post. She is currently based in Seoul, writing for both The Korea Times and the South China Morning Post under an exchange program.