The Korean Cultural Centre India is reintroducing its yearly event, the ‘All India K-POP Contest 2024’, with the objective of identifying genuine enthusiasts of Korean pop music from all corners of the nation.
The KCCI has recently declared that the initial phase of the competition will be conducted virtually from May 17 to June 21. During this period, participants will be evaluated on various criteria such as their skill, expression, pronunciation, resemblance to the original song, and stage presence.
This announcement was made at a local event on Tuesday. Following the online round, the regional preliminaries will be organized in 11 different regions of India, scheduled to take place from July 27 to September 1. Those contestants who successfully qualify in the preliminaries will then proceed to the semi-finals, which are set to be held in Mumbai on October 19.
The ultimate stage of the competition is scheduled to take place alongside the Korea Industrial Exhibition on November 23 at Yashobhoomi, a prestigious exhibition venue located in New Delhi, which is recognized as the largest international exhibition and convention center in India. As part of their prize, the finalists will have the opportunity to travel to Korea, with the event being sponsored by LG Electronics India.
Jeon Hong Ju, MD LG Electronics expressed that the response received for the contest in the previous year was truly remarkable, and they anticipate an equally impressive response this year. The KCCI event also showcased the flourishing cultural exchange between India and South Korea, featuring a captivating performance of ‘Samulnori’, a traditional Korean instrumental performance, a mesmerizing Taekwondo demonstration, and an energetic K-pop cover dance.
Based on the report from KCCI, there has been a rise in the interest for learning the Korean language. The enrollment in Korean language courses has notably surged, with the number of students increasing from 1,535 across 20 schools last year to 2,572 students across 32 schools this year.
Korean language has witnessed a rapid growth in popularity in India, emerging as one of the fastest-growing foreign languages. The desire to learn this language has consistently increased over time. The inclusion of Taekwondo and Korean language classes in Indian schools will not only provide students with a chance to immerse themselves in Korean culture but also serve as a stepping stone towards realizing their aspirations.
