The Philippines will be hosting the Asia Artist Awards 2023 for the very first time, welcoming an impressive roster of Korean talents from NewJeans to BoyNextDoor.
Filipino Hallyu fans are eagerly anticipating the month of December, but not exactly because of Christmas. An impressive roster of Korean talent will be visiting the archipelago for the Asia Artist Awards (AAA) 2023, which will take place in Bulacan’s Philippine Arena on December 14.
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Korea’s StarNews—the media brand that hosts the event—has recently announced its first wave of performers. The Asia Artist Awards Organizing Committee, TONZ Entertainment, and Pulp Live World will be co-hosting the event, according to the Manila Bulletin.To the curious, below is what we know about the big event thus far:
What’s the Asia Artist Awards?
The Asia Artist Awards is an annual event that recognizes the talent and contributions of Asian artists in film, music, and television. In fact, many people view it as the Asian equivalent of the Grammys and Oscars, as per a report from Rappler.
This year marks the eight edition of the awards, which started in 2016. Previous editions also took place in Korea, except for two. The 2019 award ceremony happened in Hanoi, Vietnam; meanwhile, the 2022 edition was in Nagoya, Japan. The Philippines is the second Southeast Asian country to host the event, as well as the third outside of Korea.
What To Expect at the Awards
“The event is gonna be at least six to seven hours long, [because] the red carpet alone is two hours, then four hours [for the] awarding ceremony with performances from K-pop idols,” shared Happee Sy-Go, COO of Pulp Live World, with Manila Bulletin.
In an X post, Go also revealed that Filipino artists and P-pop stars will also be performing during the awards. “We shall make our country proud and showcase our homegrown talents worldwide too,” she wrote.
At present, there haven’t been further announcements or details on how to acquire tickets for AAA.
Who Will Host the Event?
StarNews also announced the chosen hosts for this year’s AAA. Namely, Jan Wonyoung (from girl group IVE), Sung Hanbin (from boy band ZEROBASEONE), and K-pop soloist Kang Daniel, as per ABS-CBN.
Wonyoung has led the programs of AAA’s previous editions, as the 2023 awards marks her third consecutive year as a host. Of course, being in the entertainment industry, Hanbin and Kang Daniel have their fair share of hosting experience. The former hosted Korean music program M Countdown, while the latter hosted a dance competition program called Street Woman Fighter.
Who’ll Be Attending and Performing?
StarNews announced the first lineup of performers and the names of some celebrities attending the event. Guests include Kim Seon-Ho (of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha fame), Ahn Hyo-seop (Dr. Romantic 2 and Business Proposal), Kim Sejeong (a singer who’s starred in K-dramas like Business Proposal and The Uncanny Counter), and Moon Ga-Young (star of the webtoon turned live-action series, True Beauty), as per ABS-CBN.
As for performers, StarNews revealed the first line-up of confirmed performers at the beginning of September. Many of these names are fresh faces in the K-pop scene, though they’ve already gained widespread popularity and acclaim.
They include girl group NewJeans, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, NMIXX, ZEROBASEONE, and BOYNEXTDOOR, according to Rappler.
As per ABS-CBN’s PUSH, Pulp Live World COO Happee Sy-Go shared: “We […] are very honored to have been chosen as the Philippine partner to host this year’s Asian Artist Awards. We look forward to the privilege of showcasing the very best of our country’s warmth and hospitality to Asia’s great stars and to making this year’s AAAs a tremendous success for everyone involved.”
Banner photo via Instagram @newjeans_official.
