2025 MAMA Awards: G-Dragon, ROSÉ, aespa, and Stray Kids Dominate Hong Kong Ceremony Amid Somber Tribute

The 2025 MAMA Awards delivered a night of historic triumphs, emotional resonance, and undeniable star power as Asia’s premier K-pop ceremony unfolded across two evenings in Hong Kong. While the usual glitz was tempered by a respectful atmosphere following a devastating structure fire in the city, the winners’ list roared with career-defining moments. G-Dragon, ROSÉ, aespa, and Stray Kids each walked away with four trophies, cementing their legacies and signaling a new chapter for the global K-pop landscape.

Daesang Sweep: First-Time Grand Prize Winners and a Legend’s Return

The grand prizes—known as Daesangs—were the night’s most coveted honors, and they belonged to a mix of first-time victors and a returning icon. ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’s Grammy-nominated global smash “APT.” claimed Song of the Year, marking ROSÉ’s first-ever Daesang as a solo artist. The track, which blended pop-rock swagger with K-pop finesse, dominated charts worldwide and earned its place in MAMA history.

ENHYPEN secured Fans’ Choice of the Year, their first Daesang after years of building a fiercely loyal fanbase. The boy group’s victory underscored the power of fandom-driven metrics in today’s industry. Stray Kids then took Album of the Year for their chart-topping record KARMA, another first-time Daesang win for the eight-member act, whose self-produced sound has redefined fourth-generation K-pop.

G-Dragon, the undisputed King of K-pop, added Artist of the Year to his trophy case—his third solo Daesang since 2009 and his first since 2013. The BIGBANG leader’s win carried extra weight, coming 18 years after the group first won Song of the Year in 2007. His performance of “TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak)” reminded audiences why he remains a genre-defining force.

ROSÉ, aespa, and SEVENTEEN: Multi-Winners and Category Domination

Beyond the Daesangs, ROSÉ added Best Vocal Performance Solo for “toxic till the end” and Best Collaboration for “APT.”, making her one of the most decorated artists of the night. aespa matched the four-win tally by taking Best Female Group, Best Dance Performance Female Group for “Whiplash”, Best Choreography, and a Fans’ Choice Top 10 spot. The quartet’s hyper-pop, AI-adjacent aesthetic continues to resonate globally.

SEVENTEEN earned three awards including Best Male Group and Best Dance Performance Male Group for “THUNDER”, while IVE also scored three wins, including Favorite Global Performer and Favorite Female Group. The two groups exemplify the current golden era of K-pop, where synchronized choreography and strong vocal lines travel beyond Asia.

Breakout Stars: Hearts2Hearts and the New Generation

One of the most surprising stories came from rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts. The eight-member act from SM Entertainment won Best New Artist (alongside CORTIS), the Olive Young K-Beauty Artist award, and secured a spot in the Fans’ Choice Female Top 10—becoming the youngest group in that category. Their quick ascent from debut to MAMA recognition signals a powerful fanbase already in motion, a rare feat for a group still in their first year.

Other notable first-time winners included izna (Favorite Rising Artist), ALLDAY PROJECT (Breakthrough Artist), and JO1 (Favorite Asian Artist). The breadth of winners reflects how MAMA has evolved from a Korean-centric show to a truly pan-Asian and global platform.

Industry Impact: Donations, Subdued Atmosphere, and a Community Rallying

The 2025 MAMA Awards unfolded under a cloud of grief. A devastating structure fire in Hong Kong claimed dozens of lives just days before the ceremony. In response, multiple K-pop artists, labels, and fanbases stepped up to donate millions in aid—a gesture that organizers acknowledged during the broadcast. Hosts Park Bo Gum (Night 1) and Kim Hye Su (Night 2) maintained a tone of reverence, balancing celebration with compassion.

This philanthropic response is part of a broader trend where K-pop acts leverage their influence for social causes. G-Dragon, who has long been involved in charity work, reportedly made a personal donation, while Stray Kids and aespa actively promoted relief fundraisers on social media.

Complete Winners at a Glance

Below are key highlights from the exhaustive winners list, which included over 40 categories across two nights:

• Artist of the Year: G-Dragon
• Song of the Year: ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
• Album of the Year: Stray Kids – KARMA
• Fans’ Choice of the Year: ENHYPEN
• Best Male Group: SEVENTEEN
• Best Female Group: aespa
• Best Male Solo: G-Dragon
• Best Female Solo: ROSÉ
• Best New Artist: CORTIS, Hearts2Hearts
• Best Dance Performance Male Solo: G-Dragon – “TOO BAD”
• Best Dance Performance Female Solo: JENNIE – “like JENNIE”
• Best Collaboration: ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
• Fans’ Choice Male Top 10: Baekhyun, SEVENTEEN, Jin, ENHYPEN, G-Dragon, j-hope, NCT DREAM, RIIZE, Stray Kids, ZEROBASEONE
• Fans’ Choice Female Top 10: IRENE, IU, ILLIT, aespa, BABYMONSTER, Hearts2Hearts, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, LE SSERAFIM, TWICE

For a full list of 2025 MAMA winners, including Best Music Video (JENNIE’s “ZEN”), Best OST (HUNTR/X’s “Golden”), and the Music Visionary of the Year (Netflix’s Kpop Demon Hunters), fans can refer to the official MAMA website.

Looking Ahead: What the 2025 MAMA Winners Mean for K-pop’s Future

The 2025 MAMA Awards didn’t just hand out trophies—they charted the trajectory of K-pop’s next chapter. The rise of soloists like ROSÉ and G-Dragon, combined with the sustained dominance of groups like aespa and Stray Kids, suggests a hybrid ecosystem where individual brands and collective projects coexist. With new rookies like Hearts2Hearts already commanding fan armies, and veterans like BIGBANG’s legacy still echoing, the industry is poised for an era of unprecedented global integration. As Hong Kong’s resilience mirrored the performers’ own journeys, one thing became clear: K-pop’s heart beats strongest when it remembers its roots even as it reaches for the stars.

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