DUBAI – No country takes its bubble-gum pop music more seriously than the Republic of Korea, and Expo 2020 Dubai visitors are in for a treat tomorrow (16 January) when six of the country’s leading K-pop acts – PSY, Stray Kids, Sunmi, (G)I-dle, Golden Child and Forestella – perform live at the Jubilee Stage.
With K-pop at the forefront of ‘Hallyu’ (the Korean cultural wave), the distinct style of music has become a worldwide phenomenon and a major driver of global culture – and that wave is rolling into Dubai for the Republic of Korea’s Expo 2020 National Day celebrations.
South Korean singer and rapper PSY – who became an international sensation with his 2012 hit Gangnam Style, which has racked up more than 4 billion views on YouTube – will kick off the night with a big, bombastic pop set. The singer, rapper, songwriter and record producer, who is credited with introducing millions across the world to the K-pop genre, will charm the crowd with a repertoire of his most popular hits, also including New Face, Gentlemen and I Luv It.
Excitement levels will increase even further when Stray Kids, official ambassadors of the Republic of Korea Pavilion, help mark the national celebrations. With 34 million followers on social media, the tenacious septet, who last year claimed the bestselling album in their home country, are set to dazzle with their distinctive blend of addictive melodies, slick choreography and production values.
Singer-songwriter, composer and dancer Sunmi, will present her special blend of disco, rock, traditional Korean music, plus retro and city pop. The former Wonder Girls member last year released her album Tail, which featured the lead single of the same name, as well as digital single Go or Stop?, a collaboration with DWG KIA, a League of Legends esports team who won the 2020 World Championship.
Five-piece group (G)I-dle – Soyeon, Miyeon, Minnie, Yuqi and Shuhua – made their debut in 2018, with single Latata from their first EP I Am, and have gone on to release six EPs and eight singles. Going against the usual status quo for a K-pop girl group, (G)I-dle are directly involved in the creation of their music, with Soyeon writing and co-producing the majority of the group’s songs, and Minnie and Yuqi co-writing a significant number of album tracks.
With 10 members, rappers and performers, Golden Child guarantee a set of earworms, with quick-fire fluid rapping combined with easy-on-the-ear vocals and playful melodies. Known for their synchronised perfection, with hits such as Wannabe, Without You, Pump It Up and Burn It, the group will also be channelling their inner romantics with Singing in the Rain and That Feeling.
Crossover vocal group Forestella, formed through music survival show Phantom Singer 2, are known for their appearances on TV programmes Two Yoo Project and Immortal Songs. Two classically trained singers, Cho Min Kyu (tenor) and Ko Woo Rim (bass), are joined by musical actor Bae Doo Hoon and Kang Hyung Ho, formerly a vocalist in an amateur rock band. The group’s third studio album The Forestella, released last year, included four digital singles released in 2020.
PSY, Stray Kids, Sunmi, (G)I-dle, Golden Child and Forestella will perform at the Jubilee Stage on 16 January from 1930 GST. Entry is free for all Expo 2020 ticket holders, but concert-goers are advised to arrive early.