At least 128 people are now known to have died in the world’s worst residential building fire since 1980
By Laura Molloy 29th November 2025
Stray Kids. Credit: JYP Entertainment
Aespa, Stray Kids and others from the K-pop industry have made donations to support victims of a recent Hong Kong apartment fire.
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At least 128 people are now known to have died in a devastating fire that engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in the residential complex Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong on Wednesday (November 26).
The raging fire took nearly two whole days to put out, as the materials used to construct the building were not fireproof. Investigations are ongoing.
On Friday, the city’s anti-corruption watchdog arrested eight people in connection with the blaze, which has become the world’s worst residential building fire since 1980.
Girl group Aespa are among those from the K-pop industry donating to victims, pledging 500,000 Hong Kong dollars (£48,539) to the Hong Kong Red Cross. Writing on their official Weibo account, the group said: “We express our deepest sorrow regarding this heartbreaking news.”
Stray Kids have also vowed to donate 1 million Hong Kong dollars (£97,078) through World Vision Hong Kong for temporary housing and other support for affected children and residents.
“We were all very heavy-hearted upon hearing the unfortunate news from Hong Kong,” Stray Kids said.
They join other K-pop groups to also donate, including RIIZE, EXO-CBX and KickFlip, who have all contributed 100,000 Hong Kong dollars (£9,707) through World Vision Hong Kong.
SM and JYP Entertainment, two of South Korea’s biggest entertainment companies, have also donated a combined 3 million Hong Kong dollars (£291,000) for emergency relief and disaster recovery.
[#2025MAMA] VIEWING GUIDE NOTICE
We will cancel RED CAPRET of 2025 MAMA AWARDS, and the main awards ceremony will be broadcast live as planned.
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‘2025 MAMA AWARDS’ 레드 카펫은 취소되었습니다.본 시상식은 변동 없이 예정대로 생중계로 진행될 예정입니다.
==… pic.twitter.com/DmmjRl4nni
— MAMA AWARDS (@MnetMAMA) November 27, 2025
The 2025 MAMA Awards have also announced several changes in its programming following the devastating fires.
The annual two-day K-pop awards show kicked off yesterday (November 28) in Hong Kong as usual, though its red carpet event was cancelled.
Per a Soompi report, a statement from the MAMA committee has also confirmed that a segment of the show will include a “support Hong Kong” message to “create a time to share in the sorrow and commemorate” the devastating incident.
Organisers also pledged to donate 20 million Hong Kong dollars ($2.6 million) to the support fund established by the Hong Kong government.
“We believe in the healing and solidarity power of music,” they said in a statement.
