Summary:
- Saudi Arabia will participate in the 2024 K-pop World Festival with the final preliminary round held in the JAX district.
- 10 teams from across the Kingdom advanced to the final preliminary round from an initial pool of 30 teams.
- Winners will compete in the K-pop World Festival finals in Changwon, South Korea, in October.
- The event underscores the growing popularity of K-pop in Saudi Arabia and strengthens cultural ties with South Korea.
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In a significant step towards fostering cultural exchange, Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Saudi Entertainment Academy and the Embassy of South Korea, will participate in the 2024 K-pop World Festival. The final preliminary round will be held in the JAX district on Saturday, marking the Kingdom’s inaugural participation in this global event.
Earlier this week, the first preliminary round took place at the Saudi Entertainment Academy’s hall, where 30 teams from across Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah, showcased their talents. From these, 10 teams advanced to the final preliminary round scheduled for August 3 in JAX, a creative hub for artists located in Diriyah’s historic industrial area.
The winners of this round will have the opportunity to compete in the K-pop World Festival finals in Changwon, South Korea, this October. The event is organized by the South Korean Embassy in Saudi Arabia, with Ambassador Choi Byung-Hyuk and Director-General Kim Jong-Ho at the helm, and sponsored by LG Electronics Saudi Arabia.
An official statement highlighted the festival’s role in showcasing the evolving relationship between Saudi Arabia and South Korea, which has grown from economic cooperation to include cultural exchanges. The festival aims to connect people from both nations through their shared passion for K-pop.
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The K-pop World Festival, held annually in Changwon, attracts performers from around the globe, including countries such as Kuwait, Singapore, the US, Spain, Ireland, Canada, and Cuba. This year, Saudi Arabia’s enthusiastic participation underscores the growing popularity of K-pop in the Kingdom, particularly among Gen-Z and Gen Alpha.
Saudi Arabia’s interest in K-pop was evident when it hosted its first South Korean music and culture festival, KCON, in Riyadh in 2022. The inaugural KCON featured K-pop artists like Rain, Sunmi, and Hyolyn, along with bands such as Pentagon, Secret Number, P1Harmony, The Boyz, Ateez, NewJeans, Oneus, STAYC, and TO1. The success of this event paved the way for the second edition, which included performances by Everglow, Highlight, Hyolyn, Kard, Riize, and Super Junior-D&E.
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The upcoming preliminary round in JAX promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent, as the selected teams vie for a chance to represent Saudi Arabia on the international stage in Changwon. This event not only highlights the Kingdom’s burgeoning interest in K-pop but also strengthens the cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
Source: arabnews
