Saudi Arabia and South Korea Team Up for K-pop World Festival
In an exciting collaboration with the Saudi Entertainment Academy, the Embassy of South Korea in Saudi Arabia is gearing up for the final preliminary round of its debut participation in the K-pop World Festival, set to take place in JAX district this Saturday.
The first round saw 30 talented teams from across the Kingdom, including Jeddah, showcasing their skills at the academy’s hall earlier this week. Out of these contenders, only the top 10 have advanced to the final round, scheduled for August 3rd in JAX.
The winners of this competition will secure a coveted spot in the finals of the K-pop festival, to be held in Changwon, South Korea, this October.
The preliminary round was expertly organized by the South Korean Embassy, under the leadership of Ambassador Choi Byung-Hyuk and Director-General Kim Jong-Ho, with sponsorship from LG Electronics Saudi Arabia.
This festival serves as a platform to highlight the evolving relationship between Saudi Arabia and South Korea, transitioning from economic cooperation to a cultural partnership that unites people through their shared love for K-pop.
The selected teams will dazzle audiences with their K-pop dance performances at JAX, a vibrant creative hub nestled in the heart of Diriyah’s industrial heritage site.
The globally renowned K-pop World Festival, held annually in Changwon, has attracted performers from various countries such as Kuwait, Singapore, the US, Spain, Ireland, Canada, and Cuba.
K-pop’s popularity has skyrocketed in Saudi Arabia, particularly among the younger generations. To cater to this growing demand, the Kingdom hosted its inaugural South Korean music and culture festival, KCON, in Riyadh in 2022.
The inaugural event featured K-pop sensations like Rain, Sunmi, and Hyolyn, along with bands such as Pentagon, Secret Number, and Ateez, among others. The second edition showcased performances by Everglow, Highlight, Kard, and Super Junior-D&E.