The K-Pop wave hit Bengaluru as people stormed into the MLR Convention Centre in JP Nagar to witness 74 participants compete as 30 teams hit it off at the Bengaluru regional round of the All India K-Pop Contest 2024. The energy at the central Bengaluru venue was electric, and the crowd rose up in cheer as K-pop sensation Aoora took to the stage in the opening act of the event. The 25-minute performance by the K-Pop star included his popular titles such as ‘Feel The Power’, ‘Love Is Right’, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’, ‘Dreamers’, and ‘Auva Auva’. However, the showpiece of Aoora’s act was the announcement of his new song ‘Thi Thi Thara’, to which the star grooved and the crowds went into a frenzy.

It was after this act that the competition began and soon the 30 teams for the evening came forward and showed their exceptional skills and energy. The four-member group, Infinix, danced to Aespa’s ‘Black Mamba’, while a seven-member troupe, HELIX, grooved to BTS’ ‘Blood Sweat and Tears’. There was a wide range of K-Pop songs in the vocal category as well as Swayamprava sang IU’s popular track ‘Love Wins All’, while Pavithra sang BTS member Jin’s track, ‘Yours’. There were a total of 15 performances in both the dance and the vocal categories and the talent that the contestants of the Bengaluru regional round displayed were exceptional.

At the MLR Convention Centre in JP Nagar, the most popular songs on which the participants performed in the regional rounds were IU’s ‘Love Wins All’, Aespa’s ‘Black Mamba’, BTS’ ‘Blood Sweat and Tears’, BTS member Jimin’s ‘Lie’, ITZY’s ‘Wannabe’ and Nmixx’s ‘O.O’.

Khushi, a participant who participated in the Bengaluru regional round as part of a three-member group, Eklypse, said, “First of all K-pop itself is really unique and it is totally different in terms of creativity as compared to any other form of music. I learned about the All India K-Pop Contest three years ago, and since then I have participated every year. This time, I wanted to do it with a group, and with my friends Parvathy and Yukti, the three of us formed the group Eklypse. We performed ‘Maniac’ by Viviz.”

After the successful completion of the Bengaluru regional round of the All India K-Pop Contest 2024, the regional round caravan will pass through Kohima (July 28th), Kolkata (August 3rd), Itanagar (August 10th), Mumbai (August 10th), Chennai (August 11th), Hyderabad (August 18th), New Delhi (August 18th), Ahmedabad (August 25th), Bhopal (September 1st) and Lucknow (September 1st). More than 300 participants are expected to showcase their talent in the regional rounds that span across India. The grand finale of ‘All India K-POP Contest 2024 presented by LG’ will be held at the state-of-the-art exhibition and convention centre, ‘Yashobhoomi’, in New Delhi on November 23rd, 2024. The winners of the Grand Finale will get an opportunity to visit Korea.

Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India said, “We, Korean Cultural Centre India, are delighted to open the “All India K-pop Contest 2024″ in Bengaluru. First I’d like to thank all the K-pop fans in Bengaluru and our sponsor, LG. In return for all the love that we have received from the participants, we will provide the best K-pop experience for the next five months. It will also help deepen the relationship between the nations India and Korea. I wish all the very best to all the participants.