K-Pop World Festival event happened at Korea Center on 23rd July 2017.
Photos by Kris Jing
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Kpop World Festival 2017 – Semi Finals
On a calm Sunday of July 23rd, the event in Korea Center, however, was burning hot. The K-Pop World Festival 2017 was sponsored by KBS World, The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Myanmar, and POSCO E & C with the aim of strengthening the relationship between South Korea and Myanmar.
The event started off with the introduction of the five judges; three of which are from Korea and two from Myanmar. Whilst only one Korean judge was present at the event, two other judges were doing their part online, carefully evaluating the participants.
The event started with the first performer Kitte performing a cover of BlackPink’s As If It’s Your Last. There were fifteen teams of participants in total, but only 8 of these groups moved on to the final round called Golden Wave.
To go to the final event, see below information:
Event Name: Golden Wave Festival
Date: August 26th, 2017 (Saturday)
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: National Theatre of Yangon
The event was supported by enthusiastic young students, friends and a few family, each of whom were there to cheer for their participants.
(To see the list of performances and performers’ names, please see the end of this article).
During the middle of the event, the second ambassador of the Republic of Korea gave a small speech at the event.
He presented his appreciation for the audiences at the event, especially for all the performers. He thought that it was very important that both countries love music. He said that Korea and Myanmar are not exactly the same, but there are some similarities.
He concluded the speech with the wish that a group from Myanmar reach the finals in Korea.
The event continued on with amazing performances with evident practice, followed by special performances by past winners, Q & A kpop questions, and a performance by singer Ninzi May who sang a cover of Ailee’s If You.
The performances don’t get a whole lot more poised and polished than performers who are in their element.
Singer Ninzi May made a comment saying, “It felt more like watching a live performance than watching a competition.”
By 4:15 p.m., the event came to a closing with the announcement of the winners.
(See below for results)
Winners going to Golden Wave:
Vocals: Kitte, Nora Thaw, Hazzel Ray, Palette
Dance: Cran Berry, Army Code, White, Antheia.
Winners whom will be recommended to Korea: Palette (Vocals) and Army Code (Dance).
Performances and performers’ names:
1. Kitte (BlackPink’s As If It’s Your Last Piano Ver. cover)
2. B. Fly (BTS’s Fire dance cover)
3. Nora Thaw (Ailee’s I Will Go To You Like The First Snow cover)
4. Cran Berry (BlackPink’s As If It’s Your Last dance cover)
5. Choco (EXO’s Call Me Baby acoustic cover)
6. Chaw Thiri Khine (Ailee’s If You cover)
7. Fei Fei (Jung Seung Hwan’s If It Is You cover)
8. ACE (BlackPink’s As If It’s Your Last dance cover)
9. Hazzel Ray (F.T. Island’s Wind cover)
10. Army Code (BTS’s Not Today dance cover)
11. Palette (Kim Na Young ft. Mad Clown’s Once Again cover)
12. Iris (CLC Goblin dance cover)
13. White (Ikon’s B-Day dance cover)
14. D.N.A (BlackPink’s As If It’s Your Last dance cover)
15. Antheia (Dream Catcher’s Good Night dance cover)
