MAMA Awards hit Tokyo Dome

This year’s MAMA Awards were held at Tokyo Dome in Japan, Tuesday and Wednesday, with a plethora of attractions including performances by of K-pop stars as well as several actors gracing the stage as award presenters.

The MAMA Awards are a major music awards ceremony presented annually by the Korean entertainment giant CJ E&M.

Spanning across two days, the first day of this year’s awards was hosted by K-pop solo artist Jeon So-mi, with the second day hosted by actor Park Bo-gum.

Known for its vibrant lineups each year, the 2023 MAMA Awards continues its tradition with a substantial presence of globally beloved K-content leaders.

Now in its 24th year, the awards ceremony honored K-pop idols and celebrities whose talents illuminated the year.

The Artist of the Year Award, the pinnacle of the MAMA Awards, was bestowed upon NewJeans, triumphing over notable nominees such as BTS members Jungkook and Jimin, Seventeen, Stray Kids and NCT DREAM. Notably, NewJeans also clinched the Best Female Group Award, Best Dance Performance Award and the Song of the Year Award for “Ditto” (2022).

Seventeen, the K-pop giant, also claimed multiple prizes, securing the Best Male Group Award, Best Dance Performance Award in the male group category as well as the Album of the Year Award for the EP “FML.”

Individual recognition shone on BTS’ Jimin and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, with Jimin earning the Best Male Artist Award and Jisoo receiving the Best Female Artist Award. Jisoo further won the Best Dance Performance Award in the solo category and the Best Music Video Award for “Flower” (2023).

Among other noteworthy awards, the Best New Artist Awards were claimed by ZEROBASEONE and tripleS, while the Best Vocal Performance titles went to AKMU and singer Park Jae-jung.

A total of 10 acts — groups BTS, Seventeen, NCT DREAM, ATEEZ, Tomorrow X Together, ZEROBASEONE, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids and TWICE as well as soloist Lim Youngwoong — were recipients of the Worldwide Fans’ Choice Awards, determined through fan votes.

Kep1er and INI took center stage, securing the Favorite Asian Female Group Award and the Favorite Asian Male Group Award, respectively. The Favorite Global Performance Awards were claimed by ATEEZ and (G)I-DLE, while TREASURE and LE SSERAFIM emerged as winners of the Favorite Dance Performance Award.

Rookie boy bands ZEROBASEONE and RIIZE clinched the Favorite New Artist

Awards, and the Favorite International Artist Award was bestowed upon the Japanese singer Yoshiki. K-pop act TREASURE received the Galaxy Neo Flip Artist Award, and the Inspiring Achievement Award was conferred upon

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Collaborative performances, a highlight of MAMA, also took center stage with four distinctive segments: Theme, Super, Mega and Wonder.