The 2023 MAMA AWARDS brought together some of the biggest names in K-pop
The 2023 MAMA AWARDS have officially come to an end, bringing together some of the biggest names in Korean entertainment. A highlight for many K-pop fans around the world, the MAMA AWARDS celebrate the greatest musical talents and songs of the year, culminating in a fantastic year-end event marked by eye-catching performances.
Since its inception 24 years prior, the MAMA AWARDS have constantly evolved to reflect the latest industry trends, solidifying its position as one of the most highly anticipated events within the K-pop industry.
A Look Back on the 2023 MAMA AWARDS
This year’s show occurred on November 28-29 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, marking the first K-pop ceremony at the arena, with an impressive 80,000 fans in attendance and viewers from 200 locations worldwide streaming online. For those unable to attend in person, fans were able to enjoy simultaneous live broadcasts of the event on Mnet’s official platforms. Leading up to the MAMA AWARDS, CJ ENM released a star-studded list of award presenters along with the names of the two returning hosts – singer JEON SOMI and actor Park Bo-gum.
On top of the presenters, the two-day event featured vibrant performances from renowned artists including SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, LE SSERAFIM, (G)I-DLE and more. Performances utilized the latest visual and audio technologies to create a wildly immersive atmosphere for both in-person attendees and viewers at home.
Winners were announced and celebrated between performances, with multiple big names taking home awards throughout the nights, including global sensation BTS winning Samsung Galaxy Worldwide Icon of the Year, global mega rookies ZEROBASEONE taking home Best New Male Artist and Favorite New Artist award, while viral icons NewJeans received four accolades.
From Korea to the World: MAMA AWARDS’ Origins
The MAMA AWARDS began as a major music ceremony for Korean artists in 1999. Called the Mnet Music Video Daesang at the time, the event was hosted at various venues around Seoul for 10 years and brought together some of the country’s most beloved musical talents.
With K-pop continuing to grow in popularity and viewership of the awards increasing, the event aired across Asia, furthering the spread of K-pop throughout the continent. The event was later renamed the Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS in 2009 and went on to be held in multiple regions, including Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and more.
As K-pop exploded beyond Asia and reached Europe and the Americas, the event rebranded once again to become the MAMA AWARDS in 2022, reflecting K-pop’s footprint on the global music industry.
Aside from signifying K-pop’s global spread, the MAMA AWARDS have also sought to create more impressive spectacles each year, incorporating innovative technological effects that heighten each artist’s performance and allow for a stronger rapport between the artist and fans as well as creating a sense of unity among the globe-spanning fanbase. From synchronized light sticks and augmented reality scenes, the event provides audience members with a holistic entertainment experience that completely envelops their senses.
See below for the complete list of winners from the two-night ceremony.
2023 MAMA AWARDS: DAY 1 Winner’s List
SAMSUNG Galaxy Worldwide Icon of the Year
BTS
Worldwide Fans’ Choice
ATEEZ
BTS
ENHYPEN
Lim Young Woong
NCT DREAM
SEVENTEEN
Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
TWICE
ZEROBASEONE
Favorite New Artist
RIIZE
ZEROBASEONE
Inspiring Achievement
TVXQ!
Favorite Asian Male Group
INI
Favorite Asian Female Group
Kep1er
Favorite International Artist
Yoshiki
Galaxy Neo Flip Artist
TREASURE
bibigo CULTURE & STYLE
STREET WOMAN FIGHTER 2
2023 MAMA AWARDS: DAY 2 Winner’s List
SAMSUNG Galaxy Artist of the Year
NewJeans
SAMSUNG Galaxy Song of the Year
NewJeans
SAMSUNG Galaxy Album of the Year
SEVENTEEN
Best New Male Artist
ZEROBASEONE
Best New Female Artist
tripleS
Best Male Group
SEVENTEEN
Best Female Group
NewJeans
Best Male Artist
Jimin
Best Female Artist
JISOO
Best Dance Performance Male Solo
Jung Kook
Best Dance Performance Female Solo
JISOO
Best Dance Performance Male Group
SEVENTEEN
Best Dance Performance Female Group
NewJeans
Best Vocal Performance Solo
Parc Jae Jung
Best Vocal Performance Group
AKMU
Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance
Agust D
Best Collaboration
Jung Kook
Best OST
BTS
Best Music Video
JISOO
Favorite Dance Performance Male Group
TREASURE
Favorite Dance Performance Female Group
LE SSERAFIM
Favorite Global Performer Male Group
ATEEZ
Favorite Global Performer Female Group
(G)I-DLE
bibigo CULTURE & STYLE
SEVENTEEN