Stevie Wonder, K-pop stars raise the roof at Mnet Asian Music Awards

Members of South Korean girl band Crayon Pop arrive on the red carpet ahead of the start of the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) at Asia-World Expo in Hong Kong. (AFP/Anthony Wallace)

HONG KONG: Music legend Stevie Wonder moved the biggest names in K-pop to tears in Hong Kong with an emotional speech on Friday night before raising the roof with a four-song set at one of the biggest events in the K-pop calendar.

Wonder, 63, took the stage with South Korean singing star Hyolyn -- described as the country's answer to Beyonce -- and Hong Kong's Cantopop megastar Aaron Kwok at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) at the city's Asia World-Expo Arena.

"The most important songs that have moved the world forward have been songs about love and about unity. If we all can come together... we can make a world of difference," the American said as he received the "music makes one ambassador award" from boy band Big Bang.

"I never imagined I would travel outside of the US and to think that we are here today... I feel blessed to be part of the music family and I'm so very happy to receive this wonderful honour."

The speech followed an embarrassing glitch where the star was left on stage tapping a microphone that appeared not to be working after receiving his award, as the arena fell into silence and Big Bang tried to offer him a microphone that worked.

Wonder closed the show with his set, singing with Hyolyn and Kwok on "I Just Called to Say I Love You" before performing "Lately", "Isn't She Lovely" and "Superstition" with the crowd on their feet.

K-pop has garnered an increasing number of international fans particularly following the global success of Psy's "Gangnam Style", which put the genre on the map around the world in 2012. The accompanying video featuring his now-famous horse-riding dance became YouTube's most popular of all time, with more than 1.8 billion views.

Millions of K-pop fans tuned in to the MAMA awards, which was broadcast to 94 countries, and Wonder, who recently announced that he plans to release two new albums next year, is by far the biggest international star ever to have featured at the annual ceremony, which was first held five years ago.

Socialite Paris Hilton presented the award for best male artist to Big Bang's G-Dragon, who won best artist and best male solo dance performance -- making him the most successful star of the night. She later appeared on stage in her latest incarnation as a DJ.

G-Dragon, who made a guest appearance at Canadian superstar Justin Bieber's concert in Seoul in October, said Friday that he and Bieber had just finished recording together.

"Some time early next year we will be able to show you something," he told reporters.

Norwegian musical comedy duo Ylvis -- whose hugely successful video "The Fox (What Does The Fox Say)" has won them 238 million YouTube hits since its release in September -- joined helmet-wearing K-pop girl quintet Crayon Pop to perform the band's signature dance routine.

Wearing cuddly fox outfits Ylvis, who won the international favourite artist award, put on helmets and followed the steps to Crayon Pop's "Bar Bar Bar", which has received 11 million YouTube hits and sparked a nationwide dance craze. Crayon Pop took home the prize for best new female artist.

Twelve-member boy band Exo tearfully claimed the album of the year award as the arena full of predominantly young female fans screamed their appreciation.