MAMA Awards logo written in Hangeul sparks mixed reactions in Korea

The 2025 MAMA Awards are set to return to Hong Kong on November 28, taking place at the Kai Tak Stadium in Kai Tak Sports Park. This marks the first time in seven years that the ceremony will be held in Hong Kong, following a consecutive run from 2012 through 2018. This year’s event will debut at Hong Kong’s largest performance stadium, which can accommodate approximately 50,000 fans.

Last year, the MAMA Awards celebrated a year in K-pop across two locations, Los Angeles, U.S.A., and Osaka, Japan, drawing nearly 93,000 fans in person and capturing audiences worldwide via live stream.

Ahead of the event, the MAMA Awards logo was revealed in Hangeul, sparking mixed reactions among Korean netizens.

Many expressed surprise and frustration, criticizing the choice as inconsistent with the event’s global branding. Comments ranged from sarcastic remarks about MAMA "riding on others’ success" to calls for the awards to stick with English for international appeal. Some fans noted the irony of holding an overseas K-pop awards show while using Hangeul, while others praised the logo’s design as "cute" and "pretty."

They commented:

"Isn't it the Asian Music Awards? Since when was it a K-pop awards? lol."

"Such nonsense."

"Really, as expected from Mnet."

"Huh? I didn’t know it was a K-pop awards show just because it was always overseas."

"Didn’t they say it was an Asia Awards outside Korea before?"

"Just use English. How can you use Hangeul with no originality!"

"So funny lol."

"Renewing their yearly patheticness."

"Why do you always call it a Korean awards show but hold it overseas?"

"Doing it overseas again lol, but using Hangeul."

"Ugh, so annoying."

"MAMA has been going on for so long, and now this? Looks like they just want to ride the wave, so pathetic."

"It's always held overseas anyway. Why use Hangeul all of a sudden?"

"Should’ve used both Hangeul and English from the start."

"Lol, just stop. Do it in Korea already."

"It’s rare for a Korean channel’s awards show to get criticized for using Hangeul, but CJ did it lol."

"Hangeul looks nice."

"The logo looks pretty, but this is pathetic."

"They kept wanting to use English, but now suddenly promoting Hangeul?"
"Now suddenly… Hangeul, but no, it’s still not in Korea, pathetic."

"Lol..."

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