K-Pop World Festival

The K-POP World Festival is an annual K-pop talent competition organized by South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the support of numerous government agencies. After going through a few preliminary rounds, fans of K-pop are invited by the South Korean government to take part in the final round of the competition held every year in Changwon, South Korea.

Background The event is organized by South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the support from various state agencies including:

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) Overseas diplomatic missions and embassies of South Korea

According to the organizers, the purpose of the event is to bring Hallyu fans from all over the world to South Korea, thereby fusing the culture of Korea with the cultures of various countries from all over the world.

Timeline

2011 The preliminary competition was hosted in 16 countries with more than 30,000 applicants and over 10,000 fans attending the December 7 finals in Changwon. Boy group JAM from Kazakhstan who performed Shinee's Ring Ding Dong won the performance grand prize while solo performer Karla Carreon from Philippine who performed Yumi's Star won the vocals grand prize. Guest performers included T-ara, Secret, Sistar, K.Will, Boyfriend, MBLAQ, Infinite and CNBLUE.

Region Country Performer Award Ref Central Asia JAM Grand Prize – Performance Southeast Asia Karla Carreon Grand Prize – Vocals

2012 The competition was hosted in 33 countries before finals on October 28. Girl group O.M.G. from who performed Girl Generation medley won the performance grand prize. According to the Embassy of Czech Republic in Seoul, the Ambassador, Jaroslav Olša, Jr., personally congratulated them on winning the contest. The group received a CD containing a South Korean adaptation of a famous Czech musical. Duo from Indonesia, Nadya and Marwah who performed Sistar 19's Ma Boy won the vocals grand prize. Guest performers included TVXQ, Secret, MBLAQ, F.T. Island, B.A.P and Apink.

Region Country Performer Award Ref Eastern Europe O.M.G. Grand Prize – Performance Southeast Asia Nadya & Marwah Grand Prize – Vocals

2013 The competition was hosted in 58 cities from 43 nations, with more than 60,000 applicants, and over 25,000 fans attending the October 20 finals in Changwon. Performance grand prizes were awarded to girl group Alladin from Uzbekistan who performed Miss A's Bad Girl Good Girl and vocals grand prize were awarded to solo performer Arnelle Nonon from the U.S. who performed Lee Hi's "1,2,3,4". Guest performers included Miss A, EXO, Rainbow, Infinite and B.A.P.

Region Country Performer Award Ref Central Asia Alladin Grand Prize – Performance North America Arnelle "Elly" Nonon Grand Prize – Vocals

2014 The preliminary competition was hosted in 70 countries before the finals on October 19 in Changwon. Overall grand prize were awarded to girl group GGC Crew from Ireland who performed Girls' Generation's I Got A Boy. The performance grand prize were awarded to a group from Finland High Definition who performed BTS's Boy In Luv while a team from Japan, Flashy who performed Ailee's I Will Show You won the vocals grand prize. Guest performers included EXO-K, B.A.P, Block B, IU, Sistar and Apink.

Award

Award Contestant CountrySong Original Artist Ref Grand Prize - Overall GGC CrewI Got A BoyGirls' Generation Grand Prize - Performance High DefinitionBoy In LuvBTS Grand Prize - Vocals FlashyI Will Show YouAilee

Other Contestant

These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country: ContestantCountryActSongOriginal ArtistVi.RUSRussiaVocalCome Back Home2NE1Double The FireUSAVocalIceAkdong MusicianX-JuniorLaosPerformanceOverdoseExoNatalie TurjemanIsraelVocalIt's Alright, It's LoveDavichiR2EGreeceVocalYou Don't Love MeSpicaHelena DimmelAustriaVocalWho You?G-DragonPrismUKPerformanceOne ShotB.A.PFilipa CardosoPortugalVocalLonely2NE1Effe(x)tionCzech RepublicPerformanceRed Lightf(x)InseongMexicoVocalEyes, Nose, LipsTaeyangOchirbat.BMongoliaVocalMoon of SeoulRoy KimLevel TwoChilePerformanceRinga LingaTaeyang

2015 Awards

The Pacific Starz of Nigeria won the overall Grand Prize of 12 Million South Korean Won ($12,000). The group led by Praise Nelson and made up of 5 members, performed the BTS song Danger. AwardContestantCountryActSongOriginal ArtistGrand PrizePacific StarzNigeriaPerformanceDangerBTSExcellent PerformanceEpsilon KueenMalaysiaPerformanceVoodoo DollVIXXExcellent PerformanceRyanMexicoVocalLove SongRainBest PerformanceNonlasVietnamPerformanceAh YeahEXIDBest PerformanceRebecca StrachanUKVocalIfTaeyeonAudience FavoriteCensoredFinlandPerformanceCall Me BabyExoAudience FavoriteCrystalUruguayVocalLonely2NE1

Other Contestant

These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country: ContestantCountryActSongOriginal ArtistPeperoAustraliaPerformanceMamma MiaKARAVxZPhilippinesPerformanceJoahJay ParkXplicitEcuadorPerformanceDon't Tease MeSPEEDBelleameJapanVocalWho you?G-DragonSeoul BeatRomaniaPerformanceCrazy4MinuteMAZEMoroccoPerformanceShake ItSistar

2016

Scoring system

70% Judges Choice (DJ Koo, Kim Jo Han, Seo In Young & Black Eyed Pilesung) 20% Local Choice 10% Global Vote (By TvuT App)

Award

Award Contestant Country Song Original Artist 1st Place Grand Award (Daesang) Britaney Chanel United States U&I Ailee 2nd Place Performance Supreme Task Nigeria Fire BTS 2nd Place Vocal KARMA Italy Mr Ambitious Mamamoo 3rd Place Performance TOXIC$ Sweden Cheer Up Twice 3rd Place Vocal Priyanka Mazumdar India You & I Park Bom Popularity Award I M2D Russia Ringa Linga Taeyang Popularity Award II 4Divas Hungary 4 Walls f(x)

Other Contestant

These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country:

Contestant Country Act Song Original Artist FUXION Malaysia Performance Fly Got7 LGND Mexico Performance This Love Shinhwa ABsunit Israel Vocal Dumb & Dumber iKON KRYPTONITE Indonesia Performance Stuck Monsta X Yumagichi Yada & Koroko Richama Japan Vocal Person Love Kim Bum Soo & Lena Park Mongolian Namja Nepal Performance Monster Exo WINK China Performance I Like That Sistar Lotus Vietnam Performance Rough GFriend

2017 Guest Performances was done by BTS, Monsta X, Twice, Ailee, NCT 127, J Black, Astro

Award

AwardContestantCountryActSongOriginal ArtistGrand PrizeTiffaniAfifa & AlphiandiVocalInferiority ComplexPark Kyung & EunhaBest PerformanceImmortals ArmyPerformanceBlood, Sweat & TearsBTSBest VocalAkifVocalEyes, Nose & LipsTaeyangExcellent PerformanceOne PiecePerformanceNot TodayBTSExcellent VocalSinem KadioğluVocalI Will Go To You Like The First SnowAileeAudience Favourite AwardKINGSMANPerformanceWhite NightUp10tionAudience Favourite AwardAna LuciaVocalI Will Show YouAileeTwitter Popular Choice AwardSinem KadioğluVocalI Will Go To You Like The First SnowAilee Other Contestant

These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country: ContestantCountryActSongOriginal ArtistAntsaVocalCome Back Home2NE1PartyHardPerformanceHobgoblinCLCI.V.PerformanceBoombayahBlackpinkR3DSEVENPerformanceCatch Me If You CanGirls' GenerationOops Crew!PerformanceDon't Wanna CrySeventeenFragiles Dance CrewPerformanceHard CarryGOT7

2018 Due to the Kong-Rey Typhoon this is the first time the performance was without an audience and with a special guest performer (even Stray Kids presenting the award). This is also the first time for the competition with a new concept of the "Bracket System" From 6 different category. In addition 2 Special Prizes which is "Grand Award (Daesang)" & "People`s Choice Award". In 2020 an academic article about this Changwon Festival focused on the 2018 contest was published in the journal Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch.

Award Winner Country Grand Prize (대상) K-BOY People's Choice Award (인기상) Lindsay Ketlego Setkena

Song & Original Artist Contestant Country Result Category Result Country Contestant Song & Original Artist Callin' By A.C.E TOXIC LOSE Best Boy Group Performance WIN K-BOY Burn It Up By Wanna One Ddu Du Ddu Du By Blackpink LIMITLESS LOSE Best Girl Crush Performance WIN LEVEL UP District 9 By Stray Kids Danger By Taemin Lindsay Ketlego Setkena LOSE Best Solo Performance WIN Shefa Tabassum Gashina By Sunmi Catch Me By TVXQ MONStar LOSE Best Composition Performance WIN HARU Be Natural By Red Velvet (Feat Taeyong Of NCT) Mic Drop (Steve Aoki Remix) By BTS BNX LOSE Best BTS Performance WIN East2West Blood Sweat & Tears By BTSMelted By Akdong Musician UNICA LOSE Best Vocal Performance WIN Kevin Preisser Red Flavor By Red Velvet

2019 Host : Lee Hwi-jae, DinDin & Lia (Itzy) Special Performance : Monsta X, TXT, Itzy, The Boyz, Momoland & Red Velvet

Judging Score Criteria Percentage Training Score 30% Judging Score 70% Training Score Are Score That Achieve During Their Training Before The Show Judging Score Are Score That They Got During The Show (Judges : JeA (Brown Eyed Girls), Changmin & Bae Yoon Jung ) For The First Time Ever The Dance Act & Vocal Act Are Combined Together.

Awards

Award Winner Country Grand Prize (대상) Sodem Solana Top Achievement Award Limelight Top Achievement Award Mint Crew Excellence Award Josephine Hung Excellence Award Omega Evo Friendship Award Omega Evo

The Friendship Award is based on staff choice.

List of competitors

No Name (Individual/Group) Country Song Original Artist 1. The Bratz Kill This Love Blackpink 2. MDC Crown TXT 3. Limelight Butterfly Loona 4. BtoK Egotistic Mamamoo 5. MINT Crew Shoot Out Monsta X 6. LTX Hala Hala Ateez 7. Josephine Hung Room Shaker Ailee 8. OMG Fancy + Love Shot + Fire Twice + Exo + BTS 9. Alyona Tyo Gotta Go Chungha 10. Pulse Under Cover A.C.E 11. Sodem Solana Solo Jennie 12. Al-Shamari Ali Mhannaa Yanghwa Bridge Zion.T 13. Omega Evo Idol BTS

2021 Theme : How K-Pop Saved Me Host : Yoo In-na Special Performance : Aespa, Monsta X, Stray Kids, Ateez, The Boyz, Oh My Girl, Oneus & Cravity

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this is the second time the performance was without an audience. This is also the return of the "Bracket System" however the battle is based on the theme of nature and mainly focused on Dance Performance. In addition 2 Special Prizes was introduced which is "Best Performance" & "Best Story".

Judging Score Criteria Percentage Judges Score 20% Early Voting 20% Live Voting 60%

Performances and awards Award Winner Country Best Performance DX-SEVEN Best Story The Priest Hood

Song Original Artist Contestant Country Result Theme Result Country Contestant Original Artist Song 90's Love NCT U Kimberly WIN Tree – Growth, Dream LOSE Red Cherry Aespa Black Mamba Boy Meets Evil BTS Jungsan WIN Fire – Passion, Energy LOSE Rodrigo Torres The Boyz D.D.D Thunderous Stray Kids DX-SEVEN WIN Soil - Harmony, Connection LOSE GROO7E Stray Kids The View Save Me BTS The Priest Hood LOSE Metal – Will, Power WIN SAVVY Ateez WIN How You Like That Blackpink BITCHINAS WIN Water – Creativity, Inspiration LOSE HipeVision Monsta X Gambler

K-Pop World Festival

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