ALLDAY PROJECT Win ‘Breakthrough Artist’ at 2025 MAMA on Their First Appearance, Powered by ‘ONE MORE TIME’ Comeback
Roughly six months after their debut, ALLDAY PROJECT have already carved out a milestone moment at the 2025 MAMA AWARDS. During Chapter 2 of the ceremony at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium, the group attended the show for the very first time and walked away with the ‘Breakthrough Artist’ trophy, emerging as one of the most talked-about rookies of the night. This year’s MAMA adjusted its format in the wake of a major fire in Hong Kong, cancelling the red carpet and toning down some production elements in order to focus on messages of comfort and hope. Against that backdrop, both ALLDAY PROJECT’s acceptance speech and their subsequent comeback news drew particular attention from Korean media.
On stage, the members first acknowledged the tragedy that had shaped the tone of this year’s ceremony. Woochan expressed deep condolences for those affected by the recent fire in Hong Kong and offered words of comfort to everyone still struggling in its aftermath. Tarzan then thanked ‘Teddy hyung’ and the many staff members behind the scenes, crediting the producers and THEBLACKLABEL team for helping the group reach this point. Youngseo shared that it was an honor to attend MAMA for the first time and receive such a meaningful prize, vowing that ALLDAY PROJECT would live up to the name ‘Breakthrough Artist’ by continually breaking molds, pushing boundaries and trying new things. Annie closed the speech by thanking fans for loving “the five of us just as we are”, promising that the group would work hard to repay that love through their future activities.
Korean outlets have framed the win as a sign that ALLDAY PROJECT “secured a MAMA trophy just six months after debut”. The Breakthrough Artist category is generally understood as recognizing new acts that show rapid growth across music charts, public buzz and stage presence within a short period of time. For a co-ed group still in the early phase of their career, being selected for this award on their very first MAMA appearance serves as both a symbolic milestone and a practical boost in visibility. Commentators noted that the trophy underscores not only the strength of their releases to date, but also the accelerating recognition they are gaining in the domestic and global K-pop markets.
The award is closely tied to the group’s current comeback schedule. On November 17, ALLDAY PROJECT released “ONE MORE TIME” as a pre-release single, and Korean reports noted that the track quickly climbed into the upper ranks of various domestic and overseas music charts, building momentum even before their full return. Following their appearance at MAMA, the group confirmed that their first EP, also titled ‘ALLDAY PROJECT’, will be released on December 8 at 6 PM KST, with concept photos, teasers and track information being unveiled in stages. For many industry watchers, the Breakthrough Artist trophy functions as an early report card, signaling strong anticipation for the upcoming album cycle.
Beyond music and performance, member Annie’s background remains a recurring point of interest in coverage of the group. Outlets such as StarNews reiterated that she is the granddaughter of Shinsegae Group chairperson Lee Myung-hee and the eldest daughter of chairperson Chung Yoo-kyung, and that her decision to debut as an idol—reportedly in the face of initial family opposition—had already drawn public attention. Reporters observed that by standing on the MAMA stage just half a year after debut and focusing her speech on the group and their fans rather than her family ties, Annie helped shift the narrative back toward ALLDAY PROJECT’s work and teamwork, reinforcing their image as a rookie act defined more by performance than pedigree.
On the same night, ALLDAY PROJECT also took the stage with a special MAMA version of “FAMOUS”, a performance that has since been uploaded in full to Mnet K-POP’s official YouTube channel. In contrast to their composed acceptance speech, the stage highlights the group’s energy through tight choreography, dramatic lighting and dynamic blocking, giving international viewers a direct look at why they were deemed worthy of the Breakthrough Artist title. For ALLDAY PROJECT, the 2025 MAMA AWARDS thus represent more than just their first major trophy; the event marks a turning point where the label of ‘rookie group six months into debut’ begins to evolve into that of an act actively breaking into the wider K-pop mainstream.
[KStarLoud Deep Dive] The impact of ALLDAY PROJECT’s MAMA win can be read through three strategic layers. First, THEBLACKLABEL positioned the group as a ‘high-performance co-ed act’, sidestepping the typical boy-group vs. girl-group competition and giving them built-in differentiation. Second, the pre-release single “ONE MORE TIME” generated early chart momentum, while Annie’s background story and the members’ stage presence provided cross-demographic visibility—an essential ingredient for any breakthrough rookie. Third, by announcing the release date of their EP immediately after the award, the company successfully connected MAMA’s peak exposure with the comeback cycle. Taken together, the Breakthrough Artist trophy acts not merely as recognition of potential, but as a momentum engine fueled by streaming performance, public discourse and smart timing. If the upcoming EP’s title track continues to rise on domestic and international platforms, ALLDAY PROJECT could emerge as one of the leading co-ed groups shaping the 2026 K-pop landscape.