Cambodia recently played host to an electrifying K-pop Festival competition, further strengthening the friendly relations and cooperation between South Korea and the Kingdom.
The K-Pop World Festival Cambodia Qualifying Round, held on June 16 to celebrate the influence of K-pop and foster cultural exchange, witnessed an outpouring of enthusiasm from Cambodian youth.
South Korean ambassador to Cambodia Park Jung-wook expressed his delight at the immense passion displayed by Cambodian youth during the festival.
“The event witnessed the immense enthusiasm of Cambodian youth. This truly reflects the growing popularity of K-pop, which has become a global cultural phenomenon,” he noted.
Established in 2011, the K-Pop World Festival is a globally renowned Hallyu – or Korean cultural wave –event co-hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the state-run broadcaster Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).
“It features preliminary rounds held by nearly 100 Korean embassies and consulates worldwide, with only 10-15 teams earning the privilege to showcase their exceptional talent and passion on the grand stage in Changwon, Korea,” noted the foreign ministry.
The competition was held at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Centre (CKCC), located within the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Hosted by K’ve Entertainment, the event attracted 50 teams, comprising a total of 152 talented candidates.
Among the contestants were the winners and runners-up of an earlier competition, held by the South Korean consulate in Siem Reap.
A further 12 teams from Cambodia competed in regional qualifiers, showcasing their love, dedication, training, skills and exceptional talent in the realm of K-pop.
Young Princess Norodom Jenna graced the occasion as a guest of honor and delivered a remarkable performance.
Also in attendance was athlete Bou Samnang, the dedicated 5,000m runner whose remarkable SEA Games performance showcased her resilience by completing her race despite torrential rain – a touching moment that made global headlines.
“After an intense battle of performances, the group “REONCE” emerged as champions, wowing the audience with their captivating stage presence and outstanding skills,” said an embassy press release.
The source added that talented team “The Bling” secured the second-place spot, leaving a lasting impression with their remarkable choreography and vocal prowess. The “Sunday Taekwondo Team” showcased their incredible spirit and determination, securing third-place.
“We warmly welcomed all K-pop fans to apply for future contests, as the K-pop festival in Cambodia, which takes place once a year, offers the winners the chance to apply for the prestigious K-pop World Festival, held in South Korea’s Changwon,” said an embassy official.
The three top-ranking teams will now have the incredible opportunity to advance to the highly anticipated finals of the 12th K-Pop World Festival.
The grand event, scheduled to take place in October in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, will bring together the finest K-pop talents from around the world for a spectacular showcase of music and performances.
This year, the South Korean embassy has scheduled two “2023 Korea Week” events.
This week, the first of the two, featured that 2023 Taekwondo Korea Ambassador Cup, held on June 14, as well as the K-pop festival. A second series of events is planned for November.
