All India KPOP Contest 2025 Guideline 1. Category K-Pop Dance / Vocal / Rap 2. Schedule • Round 1: Online Round in May Application link open till June 7, 2025 https://forms.gle/nP7aXKQ4iSjM1JJA9 • Round 2: Regional Round in June ○Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Itanagar, Kohima ○The dates and venues of each region will be decided by the regional organizers • Round 3: Grand Finale on July 19, 2025 at Delhi 3. Prize ○Winner of 3 categories: 200,000 rupees each ○1st Runner-up of 3 categories: 100,000 rupees each ○2nd Runner-up of 3 categories: 50,000 rupees each *Final winner of all categories will be recommended to the K-Pop World Festival in Korea (Changwon city) as the Indian representative. 4. Applications Record your cover video of K-Pop Dance / Vocal / Rap ○Fill up the form through the link:                https://forms.gle/nP7aXKQ4iSjM1JJA9 ○Entries will be accepted until June 7, 2025 5. Eligibility ○Only Indian nationals are allowed to participate ○The Solo/Group winners (Final Winner, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up) of the K-Pop contest hosted by Korean Cultural Centre India in 2024 are not allowed to participate ○Winners from years other than 2024 can participate in any category (Vocal, Dance, Rap) as individuals or group members 6. Rules & Regulations for Applications *General ○Participants can apply for only one category (Dance, Vocal, or Rap) ○Participation is possible as an individual or as a team ○Applications may be disqualified for the following reasons: ○ Inappropriate content (obscene or provocative) ○ Incorrect application information or repeated failure to respond to official communication from KCCI or regional organizers ○ Failure to comply with announced regulations ○Participants consent to allow submitted videos to be edited and used for promotional content by Korean Cultural Centre ○Video format requirements: ○ Length: 2–4 minutes (1 K-pop song) ○ File Format: MP4 or MOV ○ Must be high quality with applicant's face clearly visible ○ No edited videos; must be shot in one take ○Categories that do not meet a minimum number of applications may be canceled. The minimum number will be determined by KCCI internally. *Category-Specific Rules (Vocal) ○Songs with 100% foreign language lyrics (e.g., English) are not allowed ○Only original songs in Korean are allowed; no freestyle format ○Live singing only; no studio recordings or microphones allowed ○Vocals must be clearly audible with good sound quality ○Playing instruments does not provide extra points (Dance) ○Main judging criteria: similarity to original choreography ○Additional points for teams matching the number of members of the original K-pop group (Rap) ○Freestyle and mixed song formats allowed, but must contain only Korean lyrics ○Live rapping only; no studio recordings or microphones allowed ○Rap must be clearly audible with good sound quality 7. Evaluation Criteria (Vocal) ○Skills (Flow, Rhythm, Breath Control, Delivery): 40% ○Expression & Pronunciation (Clarity, Dictation, Emotion): 40% ○Charisma (Confidence, Engagement): 20% (Dance) ○Choreography (Composition, similarity to original): 40% ○Dance Skills (Technique, Flexibility): 40% ○Charisma (Confidence, Engagement): 20% (Rap) ○Skills (Flow, Rhythm, Breath Control, Delivery): 20% ○Expression & Pronunciation (Clarity, Dictation, Emotion): 20% ○Charisma (Confidence, Engagement): 20% ○Creativity: 20% 8. Regional Round ○Winners from the online round must participate in the regional round in the region they reside in or the nearest one among the following: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Itanagar, Kohima ○Each region's round may be conducted online or offline based on the situation. This decision will be made by KCCI and the local organizers. ○Specific dates, venues, and additional rules will be announced later. Final Round ○KCCI will form the final judge panel to select participants from the regional winners ○Final round will be held in Delhi on July 19, 2025 *Selected finalists will receive travel support to Delhi 9. Inquiries: Email: performance@koreanculture.in

Korean Cultural Center India, in association with Juggernaut Books, hosted a special book launch event with the authors of Seoulmates, Vasudev Tumbe and Sudha Huzurbazar Tumbe, on April 22 to mark the release of the book. The event, held at the Korean Cultural Center India auditorium, was attended by students and distinguished guests, including Mr. Skand Ranjan Tayal, who served as the Indian Ambassador to Korea from 2008 to 2011, and Ms. Sripriya Ranganathan, former Ambassador of India to Korea from 2018 to 2022. The event began with an opening speech by Kim Min Sun, Minister Counsellor. She said, "The book offers a rich and dynamic experience and perspective — from adapting to Korean society and learning about Korean history to working with a Korean company, learning the language, and traveling around Korea. I am quite sure that Ms. Sudha’s book will spark some interesting ‘suda’  — a Korean word meaning ‘chat’ or ‘talk’, playing on the author’s own name. I believe this book will serve as a great introduction to Korea for all of you." Speaking on the occasion, Skand Ranjan Tayal said, "The people of India and Korea are truly soulmates in a way." He added, "Although India and Korea are very close in terms of their history and culture, the people of the two nations still have a lot to learn about each other’s cultures. In that sense, this book will go on to play a very important role in the coming years, as it tries to foster a deeper understanding of Korean culture and its people. The real force, psyche, and culture behind Korea’s success come through in this book." Sripriya Ranganathan, former Ambassador of India to Korea, shared that the book brought back wonderful memories of her four years in Seoul. She also mentioned that the book provides Indian readers with a detailed cultural perspective of Korea. Following the opening remarks, the Indian author couple officially launched the book talk session and shared their experiences. The discussion covered topics such as the cultural differences between India and Korea, the aspects of Korean culture that left a lasting impression, and the inspiration behind writing the book.    The event was particularly insightful for the Korean language students and provided them with a practical glimpse into life in Korea as an Indian citizen. Participating students expressed strong interest in the book, and there was lively interaction with the authors.

On the 16th of this month,  Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) presented a special cultural and arts experience program for children with local NGOs. In collaboration with the Indian children's theatre group, Theatre I Entertainment Trust, KCCI staged an original children's play based on the Korean folktale Shimcheong. This program, which has also included performances based on Heungbu and Nolbu, has reached 2,660 students across 12 local schools in India between 2024 and 2025, with performances held in each school's auditorium or multipurpose hall. In addition, the theatre group has worked with the Cultural Centre to create and present children’s plays and musicals inspired by Korean legends, such as the story of Queen Heo Hwang-ok. Santosh Kumar, a volunteer with the local NGO, remarked, “It’s rare for children from our organization to experience such a wide range of Korean culture all at once. The program was thoughtfully designed for children and had great meaning.” The program also included a hands-on session with samulnori, a traditional Korean percussion performance, conducted by KCCI’s in-house team “Haeoreum.” Students had the opportunity to explore newly launched spaces like the K-Webtoon Zone and the K-Content Exhibition Hall, guided by the Cultural Centre's curator, offering a fresh encounter with Korean content. A guided tour of KCCI’s experiential library followed, aimed at fostering cultural exchange through books and encouraging interest in learning the Korean language. At the centre’s Taekwondo hall, children participated in a basic Taekwondo class, learning fundamental kicks and the etiquette that accompanies the martial art. This program was designed to be a five-sensory experience where children could ‘see, wear, eat, and enjoy’ Korean culture, rather than a simple performance. The participating students had the opportunity to develop interest in and gain an understanding of Korean culture through various activities.

K-Webtoon Zone at KCCI Exciting news for all K-Webtoon fans! The Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) has launched a dedicated, immersive space where you can explore the magic of Korean digital comics like never before What to Expect? ✅ Interactive touchscreens to browse and read popular K-Webtoons ✅ Large screens showcasing stunning webtoon trailers & animations ✅ A cozy reading space with webtoon books ✅ A vibrant atmosphere designed for fans to connect with Korean storytelling  📍 Now open at KCCI, New Delhi! So who’s visiting first? 

-Holi meets Obangsaek: A Cultural Kaleidoscope at the Korean Cultural Centre India -Korean Cultural Centre India blends Holi festivities with Obangsaek traditions Korean Cultural Centre India hosted a lively and joyful celebration that delighted participants, giving them not just a fun-filled day but also a wonderful chance to learn about the rich symbolism of colours in Korea. The event was a vibrant blend of festivities and cultural exchange, leaving everyone with colourful memories and new insights. The event introduced Indian audiences to the Korean concept of ‘Obangsaek’, also known as the ‘Five Cardinal Colours’. Obangsaek is a traditional Korean colour scheme that uses five colours: White, Black, Blue, Yellow, and Red. Colours reflect the historical and cultural identity of a country and its people, and in Korea these colours play an important role in various aspects of life such as art, clothing, food, architecture and religion. In the midst of the colourful Holi festivities, participants learned about the unique significance of each colour and their importance to the Korean people. Each colour is associated with a specific direction, element, and virtue, collectively representing the harmonious balance of the universe. For instance, the colour ‘red’ is associated with the direction ‘south’, the ‘fire’ element and the virtue of ‘propriety’. Similarly, the colour ‘blue’ is associated with the direction ‘east’, the ‘wood’ element and the virtue of ‘benevolence’, and so on. The event was a colourful cultural exchange between Korea and India, as participants explored Holi and Korea's Obangsaek, discovering the meanings behind the vibrant hues in both traditions. At the celebration, both Indian and Korean participants applied vibrant colours on each other. There was a palpable sense of excitement as a few Korean citizens were playing Holi for the very first time. People danced to popular Holi songs such as “Balam Pichkari”, “Hori Khele Raghuveera” and “Rang Barse”. Some participants at the event wore ‘hanbok’, Korea’s traditional attireSome participants at the event wore the ‘Hanbok’, the Korean traditional attire, to showcase their respect for the Indian festival and the unity between Korea and India. Presently, in Korea, Hanbok is often worn for special occasions, such as wedding ceremonies, children’s first birthdays, and seasonal holidays including the Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok. Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India said, “Colours hold deep cultural significance in both India and Korea. Just as Holi in India symbolizes the victory of good over evil and the joy of togetherness through vibrant hues, Korea’s Obangsaek represents harmony in the universe, balancing the five cardinal colours with nature and philosophy. This shared appreciation for colours reflects the deep-rooted connections between our cultures, celebrating life, tradition, and unity through the language of colours.