# 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.
   In an effort to make the event one where Korean culture comes together with cultures of participants, those who reinterpret or rearrange K-Pop by fusing it with their traditional music or instrument sounds, will be given extra points.

## 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 | Kazakhstan | JAM | Grand Prize – Performance | |
| Southeast Asia | Philippines | 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 | Czech Republic | O.M.G. | Grand Prize – Performance | |
| Southeast Asia | Indonesia | 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 | Uzbekistan | Alladin | Grand Prize – Performance | |
| North America | United States | 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 | Country | Song | Original Artist |
| Grand Prize - Overall | GGC Crew | Ireland | I Got A Boy | Girls' Generation |
| Grand Prize - Performance | High Definition | Finland | Boy In Luv | BTS |
| Grand Prize - Vocals | Flashy | Japan | I Will Show You | Ailee |

#### Other Contestant

These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country:
| Contestant | Country | Act | Song | Original Artist |
| Vi.RUS | Russia | Vocal | Come Back Home | 2NE1 |
| Double The Fire | USA | Vocal | Ice | Akdong Musician |
| X-Junior | Laos | Performance | Overdose | Exo |
| Natalie Turjeman | Israel | Vocal | It's Alright, It's Love | Davichi |
| R2E | Greece | Vocal | You Don't Love Me | Spica |
| Helena Dimmel | Austria | Vocal | Who You? | G-Dragon |
| Prism | UK | Performance | One Shot | B.A.P |
| Filipa Cardoso | Portugal | Vocal | Lonely | 2NE1 |
| Effe(x)tion | Czech Republic | Performance | Red Light | f(x) |
| Inseong | Mexico | Vocal | Eyes, Nose, Lips | Taeyang |
| Ochirbat.B | Mongolia | Vocal | Moon of Seoul | Roy Kim |
| Level Two | Chile | Performance | Ringa Linga | Taeyang |

### 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.
| Award | Contestant | Country | Act | Song | Original Artist |
| Grand Prize | Pacific Starz | Nigeria | Performance | Danger | BTS |
| Excellent Performance | Epsilon Kueen | Malaysia | Performance | Voodoo Doll | VIXX |
| Excellent Performance | Ryan | Mexico | Vocal | Love Song | Rain |
| Best Performance | Nonlas | Vietnam | Performance | Ah Yeah | EXID |
| Best Performance | Rebecca Strachan | UK | Vocal | If | Taeyeon |
| Audience Favorite | Censored | Finland | Performance | Call Me Baby | Exo |
| Audience Favorite | Crystal | Uruguay | Vocal | Lonely | 2NE1 |

#### Other Contestant

These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country:
| Contestant | Country | Act | Song | Original Artist |
| Pepero | Australia | Performance | Mamma Mia | KARA |
| VxZ | Philippines | Performance | Joah | Jay Park |
| Xplicit | Ecuador | Performance | Don't Tease Me | SPEED |
| Belleame | Japan | Vocal | Who you? | G-Dragon |
| Seoul Beat | Romania | Performance | Crazy | 4Minute |
| MAZE | Morocco | Performance | Shake It | Sistar |

### 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
| Award | Contestant | Country | Act | Song | Original Artist |
| Grand Prize | TiffaniAfifa & Alphiandi | Indonesia | Vocal | Inferiority Complex | Park Kyung & Eunha |
| Best Performance | Immortals Army | India | Performance | Blood, Sweat & Tears | BTS |
| Best Vocal | Akif | Singapore | Vocal | Eyes, Nose & Lips | Taeyang |
| Excellent Performance | One Piece | Canada | Performance | Not Today | BTS |
| Excellent Vocal | Sinem Kadioğlu | Turkey | Vocal | I Will Go To You Like The First Snow | Ailee |
| Audience Favourite Award | KINGSMAN | Malaysia | Performance | White Night | Up10tion |
| Audience Favourite Award | Ana Lucia | Peru | Vocal | I Will Show You | Ailee |
| Twitter Popular Choice Award | Sinem Kadioğlu | Turkey | Vocal | I Will Go To You Like The First Snow | Ailee |
Other Contestant
These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country:
| Contestant | Country | Act | Song | Original Artist |
| Antsa | Madagascar | Vocal | Come Back Home | 2NE1 |
| PartyHard | Russia | Performance | Hobgoblin | CLC |
| I.V. | USA | Performance | Boombayah | Blackpink |
| R3DSEVEN | Hungary | Performance | Catch Me If You Can | Girls' Generation |
| Oops Crew! | Vietnam | Performance | Don't Wanna Cry | Seventeen |
| Fragiles Dance Crew | Nigeria | Performance | Hard Carry | GOT7 |

### 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 | Thailand |
| People's Choice Award ( 인기상 ) | Lindsay Ketlego Setkena | South Africa |
| Song & Original Artist | Contestant | Country | Result | Category | Result | Country | Contestant | Song & Original Artist |
| Callin' By A.C.E | TOXIC | Bulgaria | LOSE | Best Boy Group Performance | WIN | Thailand | K-BOY | Burn It Up By Wanna One |
| Ddu Du Ddu Du By Blackpink | LIMITLESS | Cuba | LOSE | Best Girl Crush Performance | WIN | Ukraine | LEVEL UP | District 9 By Stray Kids |
| Danger By Taemin | Lindsay Ketlego Setkena | South Africa | LOSE | Best Solo Performance | WIN | Bangladesh | Shefa Tabassum | Gashina By Sunmi |
| Catch Me By TVXQ | MONStar | Uzbekistan | LOSE | Best Composition Performance | WIN | United States | HARU | Be Natural By Red Velvet ( Feat Taeyong Of NCT ) |
| Mic Drop (Steve Aoki Remix) By BTS | BNX | Ethiopia | LOSE | Best BTS Performance | WIN | Canada | East2West | Blood Sweat & Tears By BTS |
| Melted By Akdong Musician | UNICA | Poland | LOSE | Best Vocal Performance | WIN | France | 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 | Ireland |
| Top Achievement Award | Limelight | Canada |
| Top Achievement Award | Mint Crew | United States |
| Excellence Award | Josephine Hung | Singapore |
| Excellence Award | Omega Evo | Madagascar |
| Friendship Award | Omega Evo | Madagascar |
* The Friendship Award is based on staff choice.

#### List of competitors

| No | Name (Individual/Group) | Country | Song | Original Artist |
| 1. | The Bratz | Spain | Kill This Love | Blackpink |
| 2. | MDC | New Zealand | Crown | TXT |
| 3. | Limelight | Canada | Butterfly | Loona |
| 4. | BtoK | Germany | Egotistic | Mamamoo |
| 5. | MINT Crew | United States | Shoot Out | Monsta X |
| 6. | LTX | Cuba | Hala Hala | Ateez |
| 7. | Josephine Hung | Singapore | Room Shaker | Ailee |
| 8. | OMG | Cambodia | Fancy + Love Shot + Fire | Twice + Exo + BTS |
| 9. | Alyona Tyo | Kazakhstan | Gotta Go | Chungha |
| 10. | Pulse | Australia | Under Cover | A.C.E |
| 11. | Sodem Solana | Ireland | Solo | Jennie |
| 12. | Al-Shamari Ali Mhannaa | Kuwait | Yanghwa Bridge | Zion.T |
| 13. | Omega Evo | Madagascar | 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 | Laos |
| Best Story | The Priest Hood | Nigeria |
| Song | Original Artist | Contestant | Country | Result | Theme | Result | Country | Contestant | Original Artist | Song |
| 90's Love | NCT U | Kimberly | Canada | WIN | Tree – Growth, Dream | LOSE | Latvia | Red Cherry | Aespa | Black Mamba |
| Boy Meets Evil | BTS | Jungsan | Austria | WIN | Fire – Passion, Energy | LOSE | Uruguay | Rodrigo Torres | The Boyz | D.D.D |
| Thunderous | Stray Kids | DX-SEVEN | Laos | WIN | Soil - Harmony, Connection | LOSE | United States | GROO7E | Stray Kids | The View |
| Save Me | BTS | The Priest Hood | Nigeria | LOSE | Metal – Will, Power | WIN | Belarus | SAVVY | Ateez | WIN |
| How You Like That | Blackpink | BITCHINAS | France | WIN | Water – Creativity, Inspiration | LOSE | Russia | HipeVision | Monsta X | Gambler |

## Controversy

In 2024, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the State of Israel announced that they will be participating in the festival as a contestant. This has resulted in calls to KBS for their exclusion from the contest.