Mnet Asian Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as MAMA) is one of the major k-pop music award ceremonies held annually by CJ E&M through Mnet, their dedicated music channel. The award show distinguishes itself through participation and recognition of many well-known actors and musicians outside of South Korea including China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and the United States.

This year’s award show is speculated to take place in Seoul. If a venue in Seoul is chosen it will mark the return of the award ceremony to South Korea since 2010 when it moved to Macau, China.

It was a highly controversial move but was reasoned by Mnet as being a necessary step for the award show to be more representative of all of Asia in the long run. Since 2010 the award show has taken place in Singapore and Hong Kong. Other unconfirmed reasons for the move to China is the huge market for K-pop and its more central location in Asia allowing for easy travel by international artists.

The return to Seoul may possibly be motivated by the prohibition of Korean entertainment that spans dramas, movies, music and even shows that included Korean stars. This ban appears to be retaliation against South Korea for the U.S.-led Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system.

Currently, Mnet has not confirmed any location for this year’s award show.

By O.C

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