The 2012 Mnet Asia Music Awards is just around the corner and it will be spotlighting some of the biggest names in the K-pop industry including Psy, Big Bang, 2NE1, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation and much more.

This year’s award show will be held live in Hong Kong on Nov. 30 and is expected to draw in some of the biggest names in the Asian entertainment industry. K-pop’s Big Bang, SISTAR, Super Junior and Psy and Taiwanese-American singer-actor Wang Lee Hom have all confirmed their attendance.

B.o.B, the hip-hip artist behind the Billboard hit “Nothin’ on You,” and Adam Lambert, one of the “American Idol” stars from season eight, will also be making guest appearances at the awards ceremony. The legendary martial arts action film actor Jackie Chan will also be attending the show as one of the award presenters. 

In past awards show, the collaboration performances of Lee Hyo-ri and Big Bang’s T.O.P and Hyuna and Beast member Jang Hyun-seung, which both ended in a kiss, have been some of the biggest highlights of the ceremony, and this year promises to be no different. However, there will be a slight twist.

“The shocking performance of this year will be a collaboration between a male couple,” the producers of this year’s show revealed at a press conference.

“This time we’re preparing a performance with a male couple,” said Mnet director Ahn So-yeon. “You can definitely look forward to it.”

The event’s producers have also revealed that Psy will be giving a performance with the promise of a special collaboration with some big-name surprise guests who would be joining him on the stage. They vowed that this stage performance will trump his performances at the MTV European Music Awards and American Music Awards ceremonies.

Psy and his global hit single “Gangnam Style” have been nominated in five categories, competing against big names including Big Bang, JYP, BOA, K.Will, Infinite and others.

This year’s ceremony will feature more than 50 nominees and highlight 18 categories such as best male/female rookies; best male/female global groups; best collaboration and much more.

The award ceremony began in 1999 under the name “Mnet KM Music Festival” and was later changed to MAMA in 2009.

The event was held outside of Korea for the first time two years ago, in Macau, expanding into an international event. In 2011, MAMA took place in Singapore featured performances from world famous artists such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)