This week, the iconic Ghalib Auditorium in ITO, New Delhi, was transformed into a vibrant hub of K-Pop enthusiasm as hundreds of fans converged to witness the regional round of the All India K-Pop Contest 2024. The excitement was palpable as 84 talented participants, selected from a whopping 2,945 online registrations – the highest in the country – took to the stage to showcase their skills.
The regional round featured an impressive 23 teams, with 11 teams dazzling the audience with their synchronized dance moves and 12 teams mesmerizing with their powerful vocals. The energy in the auditorium was electric, with fans cheering on their favorite contestants and celebrating the infectious spirit of K-Pop.
In a dazzling display of talent, OUTKASTS stole the show with their high-energy performance of NMIXX’s ‘O.O’, taking home the top prize in the dance category. Meanwhile, Bem Khuvung’s soulful rendition of Jung Seung-hwan’s ‘If It Is You’ left the audience spellbound, earning them the top spot in the vocal category.
Both OUTKASTS and Bem Khuvung have secured their places in the semi-finals, scheduled to take place in the National Capital on October 19th. But they weren’t the only ones who impressed! ‘Girl Crush’ wowed the crowd with their synchronized moves to TWICE’s ‘More & More’, earning them the first runners-up spot in the dance category. Meanwhile, the boy-band ‘3 Plus 4 Crew’ brought the house down with their performance of Riize’s ‘Get A Guitar’, securing the second runners-up position in the dance category. Congratulations to all the winners!
Vocal Category: A Battle of Talent
The vocal category saw a fierce competition, with Victor emerging as the first runners-up with his soulful rendition of Kim Bum-soo’s ‘I Miss You’. Khushi followed closely, taking the second runners-up spot with her powerful performance of Ailee’s ‘Goodbye My Love’.
K-Pop Favorites Take Center Stage
The Ghalib Auditorium was abuzz with excitement as participants belted out hits like Ailee’s ‘I Will Go To You Like The First Snow’, IU’s ‘Love Wins All’, Le Sserafim’s ‘Fearless’, and NMIXX’s ‘O.O’.
A Shared Passion for K-Pop
Shivika Gulati of OUTKASTS, a seven-member group that made waves last year with their second-place finish in the All India K-Pop Contest 2023, shared her love for K-Pop: “We discovered K-Pop through different paths, but our passion for it unites us. We’re eager to see how far we’ll go this year, and a trip to Korea with friends is a dream come true. We live for dancing, performing, and being on stage – this competition means everything to us.”
With the successful completion of the New Delhi regional round, seven cities have now joined the K-Pop frenzy! The contest caravan is all set to rock Ahmedabad on August 25th, Bhopal on September 1st, and Lucknow on September 1st.
Over 300 teams are gearing up to showcase their talent across India, and the excitement is building up! The Grand Finale of the ‘All India K-POP Contest 2024 presented by LG’ will take place at the state-of-the-art Yashobhoomi exhibition and convention centre in New Delhi on November 23rd, 2024.
Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India said, “New Delhi is the Capital of India and it is the very heartbeat of the entire country. It is a city where people from different parts of the country and the world have settled down, leading to a vibrant diversity in culture. The New Delhi regional round of the All India K-Pop Contest 2024 was a further celebration of this diversity that the city inhabits.”