"Hallyu" Goes Beyond Korea: 'Korean Wave' Fan Club From Europe Visits Korea

They call themselves "Korean Connection".
The French-based group is Europe's leading "Hallyu" fan club, which conducted a flash mob event at Lotte World's Star Avenue on Monday.

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Dancing to songs of "Super Junior"-- one of the leading Korean Wave K-Pop groups--- the members showed familiarity with not only the choreography, but also the words of each song.

[Interview : Lee Yeon-hwee, Spectator] "It's amazing and it makes me feel so proud to see these foreigners sing and dance to Korean songs. It makes me truly believe that Korean culture is spreading worldwide".

About 50 members of "Korean Connection" traveled from Paris to Seoul and appeared at "Star Avenue", one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

[Reporter : Connie Lee connie@arirang.co.kr] "This interactive exhibition called Star Avenue opened in 2009 as a place for visitors to be totally immersed in Korean pop culture--or all things that make "Hallyu" what it is today".

The fans say that through Korean entertainment, they now have a greater interest and appreciation of Korean culture.

[Interview : Sana Abed, Staff "Korean Connection" fan club] "Everyone came here to discover, in-depth, the Korean culture and be closer to the Korean stars. It's like a dream for everybody here".


[Interview : Mounia Benchohra, Member "Korean Connection" fan club] "Three years ago I didn't know about South Korea. I just knew it was on the earth. But when I got interested in K-Pop, I just got more interested in the language and culture".

Monday's flash mob display comes just a year after the first large-scale K-Pop concert was held in Europe.
The concert, with tickets sold out in less than 15-minutes, proved that Korean pop culture is indeed gaining worldwide popularity.

[Interview : Thailande Lor, Member "Korean Connection" fan club] "I listen to K-Pop everyday-- at least 2 hours a day".

[Interview : Mounia Benchohra, Member "Korean Connection" fan club] "I think what Koreans do best, they work really more on their dramas and acting. And even with K-pop, when you see them dancing and singing, it's just perfect, you can't say anything. The Asian style is like perfect".

The fans will be staying in Seoul for a week before flying back home to Europe.. taking with them a bit of Korea.

Connie Lee, Arirang News.