K-Pop World Festival


The K-POP World Festival is an annual event 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:
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.
RegionCountryPerformerAwardRef
Central AsiaJAMGrand Prize – Performance
Southeast AsiaKarla CarreonGrand 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,
FT ISLAND, B.A.P and Apink.
RegionCountryPerformerAwardRef
Eastern EuropeO.M.G.Grand Prize – Performance
Southeast AsiaNadya & MarwahGrand 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.
RegionCountryPerformerAwardRef
Central AsiaAlladinGrand Prize – Performance
North AmericaArnelle "Elly" NononGrand 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
AwardContestantCountrySongOriginal ArtistRef
Grand Prize - OverallGGC CrewI Got A BoyGirls' Generation
Grand Prize - PerformanceHigh DefinitionBoy In LuvBTS
Grand Prize - VocalsFlashyI Will Show YouAilee

Other Contestant

These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country:
ContestantCountryActSongOriginal Artist
Vi.RUSRussiaVocalCome Back Home2NE1
Double The FireUSAVocalIceAkdong Musician
X-JuniorLaosPerformanceOverdoseEXO
Natalie TurjemanIsraelVocalIt's Alright, It's LoveDavichi
R2EGreeceVocalYou Don't Love MeSPICA
Helena DimmelAustriaVocalWho You?G-Dragon
PrismUKPerformanceOne ShotB.A.P
Filipa CardosoPortugalVocalLonely2NE1
EffetionCzech RepublicPerformanceRed LightF
InseongMexicoVocalEyes, Nose, LipsTaeyang
Ochirbat.BMongoliaVocalMoon of SeoulRoy Kim
Level TwoChilePerformanceRinga LingaTaeyang

2015

Awards
The of Nigeria won the overall Grand Prize of 12 Million South Korean Won. The group led by and made up of 5 members, performed the BTS song Danger.
AwardContestantCountryActSongOriginal Artist
Grand PrizePacific StarzNigeriaPerformanceDangerBTS
Excellent PerformanceEpsilon KueenMalaysiaPerformanceVoodoo DollVIXX
Excellent PerformanceRyanMexicoVocalLove SongRain
Best PerformanceNonlasVietnamPerformanceAh YeahEXID
Best PerformanceRebecca StrachanUKVocalIfTaeyeon
Audience FavoriteCencoredFinlandPerformanceCall Me BabyEXO
Audience FavoriteCrystalUruguayVocalLonely2NE1

Other Contestant

These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country:
ContestantCountryActSongOriginal Artist
PeperoAustraliaPerformanceMamma MiaKARA
VxZPhilippinesPerformanceJoahJay Park
XplicitEcuadorPerformanceDon't Tease MeSPEED
BelleameJapanVocalWho you?G-Dragon
Seoul BeatRomaniaPerformanceCrazy4Minute
MAZEMoroccoPerformanceShake ItSistar

2016

Scoring System

70%Judges Choice
20%Local Choice
10%Global Vote

Award

AwardContestantCountrySongOriginal Artist
1st Place Grand Award Britaney ChanelUnited StatesU&IAILEE
2nd Place PerformanceSupreme TaskNigeriaFireBTS
2nd Place VocalKARMAItalyMr AmbitiousMAMAMOO
3rd Place PerformanceTOXIC$SwedenCheer UpTwice
3rd Place VocalPriyanka MazumdarIndiaYou & IPark Bom
Popularity Award IM2DRussiaRinga LingaTaeyang
Popularity Award II4DivasHungary4wallsF

Other Contestant

These contestants didn't win an award, but they did perform and represent their country:
ContestantCountryActSongOriginal Artist
FUXIONMalaysiaPerformanceFlyGot7
LGNDMexicoPerformanceThis LoveShinhwa
ABsunitIsraelVocalDumb DumberiKON
KRYPTONITEIndonesiaPerformanceStuckMonsta X
Yumagichi Yada & Koroko RichamaJapanVocalPerson LoveKim Bum Soo & Lena Park
Mongolian NamjaNepalPerformanceMonsterEXO
WINKChinaPerformanceI Like ThatSistar
LotusVietnamPerformanceRoughGFriend

2017

Guest Performances was done by BTS, MONSTA X, TWICE, Ailee, NCT 127, J Black, ASTRO
Award
AwardContestantCountryActSongOriginal Artist
Grand PrizeTiffaniAfifa & AlphiandiVocalInferiority ComplexPark Kyung & Eunha
Best PerformanceImmortals ArmyPerformanceBlood, Sweat & TearsBTs
Best VocalAkifVocalEyes, Nose & LipsTaeyang
Excellent PerformanceOne PiecePerformanceNot TodayBTS
Excellent VocalSinem KadioğluVocalI Will Go To You Like The First SnowAilee
Audience Favourite AwardKINGSMANPerformanceWhite NightUP10TION
Audience Favourite AwardAna LuciaVocalI Will Show YouAilee
Twitter 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 Artist
AntsaVocalCome Back Home2NE1
PartyHardPerformanceHobgoblinCLC
I.V.PerformanceBoombayahBlack Pink
R3DSEVENPerformanceCatch Me If You CanGirls' Generation
Oops Crew!PerformanceDon't Wanna CrySeventeen
Fragiles 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. 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 " & "People`s Choice Award".
AwardWinnerCountry
Grand Prize K-BOY
People's Choice Award Lindsay Ketlego Setkena

Song & Original ArtistContestantCountryResultCategoryResultCountryContestantSong & Original Artist
Cactus By A.C.ETOXICLOSEBest Boy Group PerformanceWINK-BOYBurn It Up By WANNA`ONE
Ddu Du Ddu Du By BLACKPINKLIMITLESSLOSEBest Girl Crush PerformanceWINLEVEL UPDistrict 9 By Stray Kids
Danger By TaeminLindsay Ketlego SetkenaLOSEBest Solo PerformanceWINShefa TabassumGashina By Sunmi
Catch Me By TVXQMONStarLOSEBest Composition PerformanceWINHARUBe Natural By Red Velvet
Mic Drop BNXLOSEBest BTS PerformanceWINEast2WestBlood Sweat & Tears
Melted By Akdong MusicianUNICALOSEBest Vocal PerformanceWINKevin PreisserRed Flavor By Red Velvet

2019

AwardWinnerCountry
Grand Prize Sodem Solana
Top Achievement AwardLimelight
Top Achievement AwardMint Crew
Excellence AwardJosephine Hung
Excellence AwardOmega Evo
Friendship AwardOmega Evo

NoName CountrySongOriginal Artist
1.The BratzKill This LoveBLACKPINK
2.MDCCrownTXT
3.LimelightButterflyLOONA
4.BtoKEgoisticMAMAMOO
5.MINT CrewShoot OutMonsta X
6.LTXHala HalaATEEZ
7.Josephine HungRoom ShakerAILEE
8.OMGFancy + Love Shot + FireTWICE + EXO + BTS
9.Alyona TyoGotta GoKim ChungHa
10.PulseUnder CoverA.C.E
11.Sodem SolanaSOLOJennie
12.Al-Shamari Ali MhannaaYanghwa BridgeZion.T
13.Omega EvoIDOLBTS