A number of South Korean pop stars, bands, and industry professionals are coming together in support of the victims and missing persons of a massive apartment fire that broke out in Hong Kong.
As of Nov. 28, some of K-pop’s biggest names have pledged over $2 million in donations toward aid, emergency response, and recovery efforts, as many of them are in the region for the 2025 “MAMA
Awards.”
“We express our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in the fire in Hong Kong,” South Korean entertainment company and organizer of the event CJ E&M said in a statement. “We believe in the healing and solidarity power of music.”
CJ E&M pledged to donate
HK$20 million ($2.6 million) to the support fund established by the Hong Kong government, and red carpet appearances for the two-day event were
canceled.
The main awards ceremony, however, continued as scheduled on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, with organizers including a message of support during their broadcast as well as a moment of silence for mourning.
Two other big names in South Korean entertainment, SM and JYP Entertainment, joined in on the effort and collectively donated HK$3 million ($385,000), with some of the artists they represent following suit.
Boy band “Stray Kids” pledged
HK$1 million ($129,000) toward temporary housing and support for affected children and residents through
nonprofit World Vision Hong Kong. Boy groups Riize, EXO-CBX, and KickFlip also donated
HK$100,000 ($12,900) toward the same cause.
Meanwhile, girl band Aespa said they will donate
HK$500,000 ($64,000) to the Hong Kong
Red Cross, which is helping
families impacted by the tragedy through emergency and recovery phases.“We express our deepest sorrow regarding this heartbreaking news,” the K-pop band said on their official Weibo account.
At least 128 people were killed, and hundreds of others remain unaccounted for, after a fire engulfed a residential complex in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong.
The
blaze began on Nov. 26 at the Wang Fuk Court complex’s 32-story towers, spreading to seven of the eight adjacent buildings.
At least 79 people were injured, including 12 firefighters, with one who has already been identified as among those killed.
The exact cause of the fire remains unclear. However, officials believe construction materials such as netting and bamboo scaffolding used for building renovation contributed to the spread.
Eight people involved in the renovation have been
arrested on suspicion of corruption, while three others were detained on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
