South Korea's first lady celebrates K-pop's rise at India's grand championship
NEW DELHI - Korea's first lady Kim Hea Kyung highlighted the reach of cultural exchanges as she attended Monday a K-pop contest in India judged by Park Jin-young, founder of JYP Entertainment.
Some 3,000 K-pop fans filled the venue for the competition, "K-Dream Stage: All India K-Pop Grand Championship 2026," held at Yashobhoomi, India's largest convention center, in New Delhi.
"Namaste," Kim said in a Hindu greeting to the audience during a state visit to India with President Lee Jae Myung. "I am so delighted to be a part of the K-Dream Stage today, which will bridge Korea and India."
"Culture possesses the power to connect people across borders," Kim said. "I hope that today's gathering serves as an opportunity for us to better understand and empathize with each other's cultures, and to further expand exchanges between our two nations. I firmly believe that all of you here will become the leading figures who will shape new trends in global popular culture, not only in India and Korea but globally."
The participants competed in singing and dancing to songs by Korean K-pop stars such as singer IU, girl group aespa, and boy band Riize. The winning team was awarded prize money and round-trip airfare to Korea.
"On behalf of all the creators and performers and artists on K-pop, we really, really thank you for your support," Park said.
Multinational girl group X:IN and boy band Younite performed at the event. X:IN member Aria is an Indian K-pop artist.
After watching the performance, first lady Kim, a former piano instructor, offered words of encouragement to the competitors and remarked, "I wondered what it would have been like if I were just forty years younger. I, too, had a time when I nurtured my dreams at an art school."
Kim graduated from Sunhwa Arts High School and studied piano at Sookmyung Women's University.
"Local youths and K-pop fans flocked to the venue, filling the 3,000-seat capacity," Ahn Gwi-ryeong, presidential deputy spokesperson, said, adding that "this event was organized to further strengthen cultural ties between the two countries."
