The All India K-Pop Contest 2024 Delhi regional round showcased the peak of Hallyu as performers shared their experiences, behind the scenes, and more! Read on to find out how Hallyu has spread to the far corners of the world!
The All India K-pop Contest 2024 Delhi regional round was hosted by the Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) and the Korean Culture India Fanclub on August 18, 2024. The Korean Culture India Fanclub organized the Delhi regionals of the K-pop Contest 2024 at the Aiwan-e-Ghalib Auditorium in partnership with LG and Hallyuism. The contest is known for strengthening diplomatic ties between Korea and India, with a major focus on finding talent that will represent the country in Korea later, after the final stage of the contest.
This year, with an abundance of talent, a total of 23 teams—11 in the dance category and 12 in the vocal category—participated in the Delhi K-pop Contest. The contest takes place every year in India over a period of about six months, with four rounds categorized as online, regional, semi-final, and grand finale. The contest met the high expectations of the audience this year, as it blended K-pop, Korean music, random K-pop dance by fans, flawless choreography, and even performers’ unique outfits made from scratch, showcasing the enthusiasm of the participants and emphasizing the authenticity of K-pop culture.
The online round saw huge participation, with 2,945 teams. The participants who qualified in the preliminary online round made it to the regional round across 11 cities in India. Due to pandemic restrictions, the contest had been held online for the past few years until 2022, but the 2023 edition marked the first offline K-pop contest after COVID-19, followed by the 2024 edition. The contest winners will advance to the semi-finals on October 19th in New Delhi.
Dojeon Media's Kumari Khushboo had deeper conversations with the judges and performers at the most-awaited All India K-pop Contest 2024 Delhi regional round. The interviews focused on their experiences at the contest, the challenges they faced, what it takes to represent their country on the global platform, their hopes for the future of K-pop in India, and the rise of Hallyu.
All India K-pop Contest 2024 Delhi Regional Round: Catch a Glimpse of the Most Popular K-pop Event in India as It Enchants Indian Fans with Euphoric Performances
The 2024 K-pop Contest Delhi Edition has been organized under the guidance of Prerna Tiwari, the founder of Hallyuism and the Korean Culture India Fan Club. The K-pop Contest this year saw some of the most incredible performances as the judges, special performers, and participants graced the stage.
One of the most commendable aspects of the event that was highly praised among the audience was its organization. This year, everything from ticket booking via online registration, seating arrangements, backstage management, stage lighting, background music video, and sound settings to outfits equivalent to the K-pop idols’ styling made from scratch contributed to a seamless experience for the audience.
While entering the venue, one could listen to K-pop songs on the LG karaoke system outside the auditorium. Fans were seen taking pictures at the LG photo booth and recording videos of themselves singing or dancing on karaoke while “BBoom Bboom” by Momoland played. On the other side, some participants were practicing their dance moves, and vocalists were checking if their voices were still warmed up (just a last check, which is not usually done). The performers had their own cheerleaders in the form of family and friends encouraging them to do their best.
The Delhi K-pop Contest organizers also made sure to entertain the fans from the start by playing several K-pop music videos on the stage background. Fans were elated to watch their beloved K-pop stars on the big screen. The music videos included stars such as LE SSERAFIM, IVE, JEON SOMI, BTS, EXO, BLACKPINK, NewJeans, and (G)I-DLE.
The All India K-pop Contest 2024 Delhi Edition kicked off with a charismatic dance performance by Urvi. The Delhi K-pop Contest also featured judges who were the winners of the previous year’s contest in the vocal and dance categories. Some of the judges also performed K-pop songs and OSTs. This included the K-drama Descendants of the Sun’s OST “This Love” by Davichi.
The judges included Ms. Prachi Sharma and Ms. Jincy Jacob in the vocal category, and Ms. Rachna Bhagat and Mr. Sushil Chhetri from LOKALZ CREW in the dance category. The judges' panel for the vocal and dance categories also included Ms. Yujeong Jang, Head of Events & Performances at the Korean Culture Centre India, The Embassy of the Republic of Korea.
Before starting the contest, the judges were invited on stage to share a message with the contestants. The judges not only cheered the contestants but also rooted for them and encouraged the audience to cheer for every participant.
The Delhi K-pop Contest then began with impeccable performances by vocalists, soloists, and dance crews, all performing to some of the fans’ most favorite Korean songs.
The event featured OUTKASTS performing NMIXX’s “O.O”. Bem Khuvung sang Jung Seung Hwan’s “If It Is You”, Girl Crush performed TWICE’s “MORE & MORE”, and 3 Plus 4 Crew performed “Get A Guitar” by Riize. In the vocal category, Victor sang “I Miss You” by Kim Bum Soo, and Khushi sang “Goodbye My Love” by Ailee.
There were also other tracks performed by contestants, including “Love Wins All” by IU, “FEARLESS” and “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife” by LE SSERAFIM, “Bite Me” by ENHYPEN, “I Will Go to You Like the First Snow” by Ailee, “U R” by Taeyeon, “Dinosaur” by AKMU, “LALALALA” by Stray Kids, and “The Eve” by EXO.
The closing dance performances included Ms. Anju Shreshtha and the K-pop Dance crew Sapphires performing famous tracks such as “LALISA” by BLACKPINK’s Lisa, “Fire” by BTS, “Pretty Savage” by BLACKPINK, “Smart” by LE SSERAFIM, and “I Can't Stop Me” by TWICE.
The event was impressively hosted by Ms. Khushi Yadav and Ms. Mehak. The hosts even got the audience to play fun K-pop-related games while the judges decided the winners. The event concluded with the much-anticipated announcement of the contest's Delhi round winners.
All India K-pop Contest 2024 Delhi Regional Round winners in the vocal category were:
Bem Khuvung (First Position)
Victor (1st Runner-Up)
Khushi (2nd Runner-Up)
The winners in the dance category were:
OUTKASTS (First Position)
Girl Crush (1st Runner-Up)
3 Plus 4 Crew (2nd Runner-Up)
It must have been one of the hardest decisions for the judges to select only three position holders in each category, as the competition was fierce and commendable. But it's needless to say that each performer gained fans that day and, moreover, an accomplishment of performing on one of the most prestigious stages.
Meanwhile, fans are looking forward to the semi-finals and the final round of the K-pop Contest India 2024 in Delhi. On October 18-19, the Korean Culture Centre India will host the Rang De Korea Festival & Semi-Final Round of All India K-pop Contest 2024 at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Auditorium, Delhi, where the K-pop group NTX will grace the stage and make this moment even more worthwhile for fans.
On March 30, 2021, NTX debuted with their lead single “Kiss The World” from their EP Full of Lovescapes. The group consists of 9 members: Hyeongjin, Yunhyeok, Jaemin, Changhun, Hojun, Rawhyun, Eunho, Jiseong, and Seungwon. The group has gained accolades for performing on music shows including SBS Inkigayo, MBC Show! Music Core, KBS Music Bank, Mnet M Countdown, MBC M Show Champion, SBS MTV The Show, and Arirang TV Simply K-Pop, among others.
It will be a great experience for the fans to enjoy the K-pop group's performance and become part of the extravaganza of talent, art, and hard work. Get ready to catch the K-pop Contest 2024 regional round winners from vocal and dance categories from several states as they compete for the final round.
A conversation unveiling experiences, challenges, and hope for K-pop in India: The Delhi K-pop Contest 2024 through the lens of performers
Dojeon Media's Kumari Khushboo also got an opportunity to speak with the judges and performers of the All India K-pop Contest 2024, Delhi Edition. As the performers left the audience wanting more after their immaculate performances, we bring the conversations that led to unveiling the thoughts and experiences at the contest, and later we will also delve into the rise of Korean culture in India.
We spoke to two of the contest's judges for the dance category, Ms. Rachna Bhagat and Mr. Sushil Chhetri from LOKALZ CREW, about their experience at the event. Ms. Rachna Bhagat was also a judge for the contest's Delhi round for the past 4 years. As a winner of the Delhi K-pop Contest previously, the judges shared their thoughts on the event and performers.
"Hi everyone, this is LOKALZ CREW. It was a great opportunity for us to be part of the panel again this year for the Delhi regional K-pop Contest 2024. As Sushil and I, Rachna, were both part of the judging panel specifically for the dance category, we were very excited and amazed to see the brilliant and excellent execution of both dance and singing by the participants. Especially for the dance category, we were very excited to see the performances from the participants this year,” the judges shared.
“It was really tough competition, as many amazing teams were also part of this event. We would like to thank the Korean Culture India Fan Club, LG, and KCCI for organizing such an amazing event for the audience and the participants so that they could come together as one and be amazing with their performances. So, all the best to everyone for the semifinals and finals," the judges added.
One of the most loved girl groups, OUTKASTS, also shared their experience upon securing a winning position at the contest.
“Performing NMIXX’s “O.O” was an emotional rollercoaster for us. The choreography was more challenging than anything we’d done before, and though we practiced tirelessly, we came with the mindset to give our best and let the outcome be what it may. As we sat there, hand in hand, our hearts racing, the anticipation was overwhelming. When the audience began chanting our name, all our nerves vanished—hearing our name announced was already a victory. Winning felt like the ultimate validation of our journey. Competing with such amazing teams was an honor, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds,” shared OUTKASTS.
The K-pop dance crew Girl Crush also enlightened us with their experience after securing the 1st runner-up position in the contest.
“Thank you so much for showing interest in our group and our performance. The competition in the Delhi Regional Round becomes more intense each year, and this time was no exception—it was truly remarkable to witness the level of talent we faced. While our ultimate goal was to secure first place, we are deeply grateful for what we achieved as a group amidst such outstanding and gifted participants,” said Girl Crush.
“We worked tirelessly day and night to prepare for this competition, from practicing together in parks to struggling to create the perfect outfits from scratch and just overall preparing for the best quality performance. The enthusiastic cheers and unwavering support from the crowd infused us with even more energy, making the experience all the more enjoyable,” stated the girl group.
Bem Khuvung, the winner of the K-pop Contest Delhi round in the vocal category, who gave an extremely soothing performance and is already gearing up for the semifinals, stated,
“It was a thrilling experience. Everyone was so talented, and I had so much fun. I was pretty nervous before my performance, but as I moved to the stage, I told myself why I’m doing this. Beyond anything, the most important thing is my love for singing and how it has given me a bigger sense of purpose in life. I’m looking forward to singing in the semifinals!” said Bem.
The 3 Plus 4 Crew, who enchanted the audience with their flawless performance and successfully secured the 2nd runner-up position in the dance category, shared,
“Winning the All India K-Pop Championships in 2016 and representing India in South Korea made the decision to participate this year a no-brainer. The level of competition has risen tremendously, which only shows that K-pop is on a steady rise. This year was filled with surprises for us as a team in more ways than one. We hope to clinch the title again next year,” the crew stated.
A participant, Unnati Singh Bilwal, who also secured winning positions in the past few years, spoke in a candid conversation about her experience and her future endeavors for the contest.
“The contest this time was very fun and organized. I had an amazing day. Even though I didn't win anything, everything else was so amazing. The setup, the energetic performances, the cheerful audience—everything was so mind-blowing. This year I participated as a contestant and sang ‘U R’ by Taeyeon. Though I was very nervous, I gave it my all. And I made so many new friends and met some old ones as well. It was a great and positive day. I hope to get a chance again next year. Lastly, congratulations and best of luck to the winners,” said Unnati.
Is India the Next Hub for the Korean Wave?
Indian fans were elated to attend this year's Delhi K-pop Contest 2024, which has been a success for participants to get a unique platform to showcase their skills. There was also remarkable management by the organizers, leading to a perfect experience for attendees. Fans are also looking forward to attending more such events to discover K-pop artists in India.
It's almost a decade of K-pop events in India, where one could expect a footfall of thousands, and that also makes it a task for the organizers to maintain an arrangement that works for fans from all walks of life. One of the most prominent organizers in the Korean cultural event journey in India is Hallyuism and the Korean Culture India Fan Club. Their enthusiasm and hard work have made these Korean events a hit over the years. The organization is run by youth and experts in the industry who are fans themselves, which makes the experience even more personal for the attendees.
While it's one of the most talked-about subjects over the years for Indian fans to yearn to see their favorite Korean artists in India, commendable artists such as the K-pop group KARD have opened the doors for many Korean artists to look forward to having their concerts in India.
In recent years, from the biggest to rookie artists have paved their way to the Indian audience and proven that music has no barriers. The artists won the hearts of fans as they performed in India, featuring GOT7's Jackson Wang, Eric Nam, BLACKSWAN, X:IN, GreatGuys, ABLUE, Stray Kids' former member Kim Woojin, Kang Daniel, among others.
Korean artist AOORA, who has been promoting his music in India for the past few years while gaining a top fanbase in India, was even one of the contestants on the popular Indian reality show Bigg Boss. The artist was also one of the lead actors in the first Indo-Korean drama Landed in Korea, also starring Korean actors Jin Geon, Kim Jeong Seok, Lee Dong Wook, and Indian female lead actress Seetha.
One of the recent developments and successes for K-pop fans in the country was India getting their first two K-pop idols who not only debuted but also gained success in Korea and globally: BLACKSWAN's Shreya Lenka and X:IN's Aria, who are loved around the world for their talents. HYBE’s first Indian-origin artist, Lara Raj, also debuted in the global girl group KATSEYE, who are already making waves among fans.
K-pop company ChoCo Entertainment, based in Seoul, South Korea, has also auditioned numerous talented individuals in their 2024 global audition. There were also many K-pop boot camps organized for training aspiring K-pop idols from India. One such K-pop boot camp was held in Delhi by Instructor Subak Lee from 1 Million Dance Studio. The turnout was huge in the paid bootcamps, considering it's still the beginning of K-pop idols being scouted from India. Indian fans recognize the value of such bootcamps and are willing to spend on world-class instructors.
Performers at the Delhi K-pop Contest (Dojeon Media)
With the rise of Korean culture in India, there is a rise in Korean language learners in the country. India also has one of the most GKS scholars now, according to scholarship website reports. Over time, India has seen a rise in popular influencers from the country who are living in Korea while bridging the gap between both countries. The regular events by the Korean Culture Centre India, such as Rang De Korea, Korean Fair, and Korean Film Screening, have helped in promoting the culture as well.
South Korea has been a popular destination for Indians for years now, but to say that it's the new hub for K-pop or Korean culture is an absolute yes!
Performers at the Delhi K-pop Contest 2024 (Dojeon Media)
The popular social platform X (formerly known as Twitter) has seen a surge in Indian fans tweeting about K-pop. The most prominent content platform, Netflix, also saw a rise in viewers of K-dramas from India, according to the top viewing feature on Netflix.
There is still a lot for Korean companies to discover in India, but many K-pop agencies, such as HYBE, have already started, with many of their artists' songs being advertised by popular Indian influencers. Korean companies are now starting to recognize the Indian audience as the most populous country and one of the growing economies.
It suffices to say, Indian fans’ moment is yet to come, as EXO's leader Suho and Sistar's former member and leader Hyolyn will headline the K-Wave Festival in India this October.
Fans are looking forward to the festival and to see their favorite Korean artists. Meanwhile, fans can catch numerous performances by final contestants and performers of the Grand Finale on November 23rd at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
Let us know your thoughts on the K-pop Contest and the rise of Korean culture in India, and stay tuned with Dojeon Media for more exclusive Korean cultural event coverage, interviews, and opinions!
Did you attend such K-pop contests before?
0%Yes!!
0%Nah ~
#kcci #kpopindia #AllIndiaKpopContest2024 #koreanculturalcentreindia #koreaindia #KpopVibes #KCCI #korea #Kpoplovers #KoreanCulturalCentreIndia #kpopindiaconcert #indiakpopaudition #kpopandindia #indiakorea
Comments