K-Pop World Festival 2011 Brings in Global Talents

Published on 2011/12/07 | Source

They sing and dance, just like 2NE1 or SHINee but they are not! In fact, these K-pop performers have come from all over the world. And they are more than just cover dance groups.

[Reporter : Song Ji-sun song@arirang.co.kr] These teams from 16 different countries, have come a long way to earn their spots to perform in front of their favorite K-Pop stars and more, to sing with them.

After competing at regional preliminaries, they have qualified at the semifinal round here in Korea to be on the final stage of the K-Pop World Festival 2011.
Even here behind the stage, they don't stop practicing because they want to not only win the crown, but also match their performance to that of their icons.

[Interview : 'JAM', Participants from Kazakhstan] "We want to make our performance not worse than theirs.
Two of us can do what five of them can do, and we want them to like our performance!"

Korea's hottest pop stars cheered these promising international talents.

[Interview : Infinite, K-pop idol] "We wish the participants good luck, and hope that the K-pop wave keeps spreading around the world!"

The participants took the show to another level by adding their own twists and colors to the original songs and the choreographies.
Even their Korean pronounciation, which could be challenging to foreigners flow smoothly

And their songs leave the spectators -- simply, bewitched.

[Interview : Jeon Eun-chul, Jinhae resident] "It's amazing. They are not too different from Korean singers!"

[Interview : Cho Hun-seong, Changwon resident] "They beat my expectations. It seems like they have practiced a lot!"

The finalists were judged by how many audience members waved their lights approving their performances as well as by the technical criteria set by Korea's pop icons.
And it was Kazakhstan's 'Jam', who won the grand prize and paralleled their icons at the same time.

[Interview : 'JAM', Participant from Kazakhstan Grand Prize Winner] "We think we won because we practiced a lot -- well into the nights.
We will keep on performing around the world!"

These K-Pop fans may outshine their stars, more sooner than later, as they are bringing a new dimension of Korea's internationally beloved culture into their own.
Song Ji-sun, Arirang News, Changwon.

DEC 08, 2011
Reporter : song@arirang.co.kr