Held on November 22 and 23 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan, the MAMA AWARDS is the largest music awards ceremony in Korea, hosted by CJ ENM, which mainly focuses on recognizing singers through awards and performances. It is rare for actors to take the stage as performers, which made Lee Ji-ah’s appearance even more eye-catching.
On the 22nd, Lee Ji-ah appeared on stage in a suit, greeting the audience and conveying a message about breaking free from constraints and boundaries to chart new paths. She later changed into hot pants and a hoodie and performed the rap stage “CTL” (Cross the Line) with Lee Young-ji, showing off her rapping skills.
Lee Ji-ah, who made her mark in various dramas such as “The Legend”, “Beethoven Virus”, “Athena: Goddess of War” and “Penthouse”, surprised fans with her transformation. However, her lack of experience as a singer has left some wondering how she ended up performing at the MAMA AWARDS.
The MAMA AWARDS, a prestigious event for famous singers, drew criticism for Lee Ji-ah’s performance, with some fans questioning why an actress took to the stage instead of giving singers more opportunities. Critics suggested that he could have performed at a fan meeting or non-musical event if he wanted to rap.
On the other hand, Byun Woo-seok received more positive reception. After presenting an award on the 22nd, he took the stage again on the 23rd as a performer, singing the OST track “Sudden Shower” from his popular role in the tvN drama “Lovely Runner”, where he played a band member. Fans were thrilled to see his band “Eclipse” live and his stage was greeted with enthusiastic applause. Since he had previously played a singer in the show, his performance seemed more natural and was accepted without resistance.
Both Lee Ji-ah and Byun Woo-seok probably shared a desire to showcase their musical talent to their fans. However, Lee Ji-ah’s lack of connection with rap seemed a little out of place. Some argued that performance space at the MAMA AWARDS should have been reserved for singers eager to seize the opportunity. In contrast, Byun Woo-seok’s performance, given his background as a singer in a drama, was perfectly suited to the occasion and earned praise as a perfect match with the spirit of the event.
The controversy highlighted the organizers’ responsibility to ensure that the lineup is in line with the identity of the MAMA AWARDS and to provide a performance that is acceptable and recognizable to the public.
Source: Naver
