1. The “2021 K-pop World Festival,” the world’s largest K-pop event, will take place online on October 15. The event is co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (the Korean Culture and Information Service) and the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and sponsored by Changwon city.

ㅇ The “K-pop World Festival,” which marks the 10^th anniversary this year, is a global Hallyu (Korean Wave) festival participated by foreigners who love Korean pop songs. The preliminary competitions of the 2021 Festival were held at 80 diplomatic missions and cultural centers of the Republic of Korea in 74 countries.

ㅇ Ten teams – each from Austria, Belarus, Canada, France, Laos, Latvia, Nigeria, Russia, Uruguay and the U.S. – advanced to the finals after the audition of the preliminary round winners.

ㅇ The final round will be streamed live on YouTube (KBS WORLD TV) at 18:30 (KST), October 15, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and enhance safety.

※ The final round will be broadcast on KBS 2TV at 22:40, November 3 and on KBS WORLD TV (a Hallyu channel) in 120 countries since then.

2. The final competition will feature performances against the backdrop of Korea’s beautiful places by a number of guest singers, which will be hosted by Yoo Inna, a famous Korean actress.

ㅇ The guest singers include MONSTA X, THE BOYZ, Stray Kids, OH MY GIRL, ATEEZ, aespa, ONEUS, and CRAVITY, who will entertain and move K-pop fans around the world.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been conducting public diplomacy based on soft power in a bid for the Hallyu fans across the world to further enhance their interest in and understanding on diverse aspects of Korean culture. The Ministry will double such efforts in cooperation with major media outlets.