The month of December is award show szn, and the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) is one of the most popular ones in Korean entertainment. If this is your first time hearing about it, don't you worry—we gotchu covered! Here's what you need to know about this year's MAMA:
What is the Mnet Asian Music Awards/MAMA?
Abbreviated as MAMA, the Mnet Asian Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by CJ E&M, which recognizes the biggest musical acts in Asia. Most of the awards are given to K-pop artists for different categories. In an article by The Korea Times, Mnet's Shin Hyung Kwan said: "MAMA is, without a doubt, Asia's No.1 awards ceremony and has developed into a music festival that the world now enjoys."
Prior to the pandemic, the MAMA was held in various countries simultaneously: In 2018, it was celebrated in Seoul, Japan, and Hong Kong with fans from all over the world flocking to the venues just to attend and support their faves. With the current travel restrictions, however, the 2020 MAMA, with the concept "NEW-TOPIA," will be held virtually exclusively in South Korea.
When is the 2020 MAMA and how can I watch it in the Philippines?
Mark your calendars: The 2020 MAMA is set on December 6, Sunday, at 6 P.M KST (or 5 p.m in PH).
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Fans across the world can stream it on various platforms. As for the Philippines, you can watch it on tvN Asia or, if you're a Smart Subscriber, through Smart Communication's Giga Fest website. Simply turn on your Smart mobile data, visit gigafest.smart on your browser, and click "Watch Now."
Who will host the 2020 MAMA?
For the fourth time around, the Descendants Of The Sun actor Song Joong Ki will host the MAMA. He has led the event in 2012, 2017, and 2018.
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Who will be at the 2020 MAMA?
OMG, A LOT! Let's first discuss the 2020 MAMA's presenter lineup: K-drama celebrities who will attend to present awards in the 2020 MAMA include our ultimate oppa Park Seo Joon; Hospital Playlist's Yoo Yeon Seok, Jung Kyung Ho, and Jeon Mi Do; Start-Up's Kang Han Na, Girl's Generation's Sooyoung; 18 Again's Lee Do Hyun and Hwang In Yeop; and A Witch's Love's Uhm Jung Hwa.
The list also includes Byeon Woo Seok, Lee Jung Jae, Im Soo Jung, Lee Da Hee, Park Ha Sun, Jeon Hye Jin, Go Bo Gyeol, Gong Myung, Kim Ji Suk, Park Gyu Young, Bae Jung Nam, Yang Kyung Won, Yoon Park, Lee Sang Yeob, Lee Sun Bin, Lee Yoo Bi, Im Soo Hyang, Jung Moon Sung, and Joo Woo Jae.
What performances should I look forward to at the 2020 MAMA?
Everyone's of course! The MAMA is known for its iconic stage productions and we bet this year's show wouldn't be an exemption. So far, the K-pop artists who are confirmed to perform are BTS, TWICE, SEVENTEEN, NCT, MAMAMOO, GOT7, Taemin, MONSTA X, TXT, IZ*ONE, Oh My Girl, The Boyz, Stray Kids, (G)I-DLE, ATEEZ, CRAVITY, TREASURE, and ENHYPEN.
Can I still vote for my faves?
Yes, you can! Just follow the guidelines which you can find right here.
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