MAMA Award for Song of the Year

The MAMA Award for Song of the Year (Korean: 올해의 노래상; RR: Olhaeui noraesang) is an honor presented at the annual MAMA Awards, a South Korean awards ceremony presented by Mnet. One of the event's most prestigious daesang (or grand prize) awards,^[1] it was first awarded during the ceremony's eighth edition in 2006—then titled the Mnet KM Music Festival. Having gone through various name changes since its inaugural ceremony in 1999,^[2] it was renamed the Mnet Asian Music Awards from 2009 until it was rebranded as the MAMA Awards in 2022.^[3]

Before 2021, the judging criteria for the award consisted a breakdown of 20% online voting, 40% expert evaluation, 30% digital sales, and 10% record sales.^[4] However, prior to the announcement of the 2021 ceremony nominations, it was revealed that online fan voting would be removed from consideration.^[5][6] As of 2022, the judging criteria for the award consists of 40% judges panel evaluation and 60% digital song downloads and streaming (40% from South Korea and 20% global).^[7]

The Song of the Year award was first presented to vocal group SG Wannabe for "Partner for Life" in 2006, where they also won Album of the Year for the single's parent album The 3rd Masterpiece. Twice and BTS currently holds the distinction for the most awarded artists overall in the category, having both won the prize three times. Two artists have the second-most wins with two each: BigBang (2007, 2015), and 2NE1 (2009, 2011). IU and BTS have the most shortlisted nominations in the category, with six each.