A catastrophic fire broke out on November 26 at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise apartment complex in the Tai Po district of northern Hong Kong. The blaze, which rapidly climbed the bamboo scaffolding and construction netting lining the building, has claimed 44 lives, with 279 people still missing. The Hong Kong government has since raised its fire alert to the highest level Grade 5 the first time since the 2008 Mong Kok nightclub fire.
The incident has sent shockwaves throughout Hong Kong. Legislative Council election events have been suspended, and Chief Executive John Lee has publicly considered delaying the election. Many local forums are dubbing the fire “the worst disaster since the 1997 Handover.”
Among the mounting cancellations is growing speculation over whether the 2025 MAMA AWARDS, scheduled for November 28–29 at Kai Tak Stadium, will proceed. The event is a major K-pop awards show organized by CJ ENM, with global broadcasting planned across multiple streaming platforms. The Hong Kong Tourism Board had even labeled it one of the six “mega-events” of the second half of 2025.
Despite the uncertainty, Korean artists have already flown to Hong Kong as scheduled. Groups such as IVE, Stray Kids, TXT, ENHYPEN, ZEROBASEONE, NCT WISH, RIIZE, i-dle, BABYMONSTER, BOYNEXTDOOR, KICKFLIP, and Hearts2Hearts were seen at Incheon International Airport departing for the event, many donning black clothing a silent nod to the tragedy unfolding in their destination city.
Though the venue is located about 20 kilometers (approximately a 20-minute drive) from the fire site, concerns over public sentiment and safety continue to dominate conversations online. The phrase “MAMA cancellation” has begun trending on X (formerly Twitter), as fans and netizens debate whether the show should go on.
On social media, the divide is stark. Some users are questioning the morality of focusing on an awards show amid such loss. One post read, “Is worrying about the MAMA cancellation really the priority when so many people just died in a fire?” Others expressed hopes for cancellation, stating, “I hope they cancel it out of respect. Deepest condolences to the victims of the Hong Kong fire.”
Sources: Daum
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