AMMAN — The Jordanian preliminary round of the K-Pop World Festival took place on Saturday at Haya Cultural Centre in Amman, drawing fans and performers for an evening dedicated to Korean pop music and dance.

 

The competition featured 12 local participants, either individuals or groups, performing live on stage.

 

Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), and the Changwon city municipality, the K-Pop World Festival has been held annually since 2011.

 

It aims to bring together K-pop fans and performers from around the world through a series of preliminary competitions hosted by Korean embassies in various countries.

 

During the Amman event, the jury selected three winners, two for dancing and one singing act, who will now be considered by KBS for participation in the final competition in Changwon, South Korea.

 

Muna Abed Albaseet, founder of the Jordan K-pop Lovers community, told The Jordan Times about the increasing popularity of K-pop in the country.

 

“We started gathering in 2014, then began collaborating with the Korean embassy. Since then, we have expanded, hosting events like Korean Bazaars, food festivals, and concerts. Every year, more and more people come and attend our events,” Albaseet said.

 

The preliminary event was held in cooperation with the embassy of the Republic of Korea in Jordan, which has played a “central” role in supporting cultural activities that promote Korean music, cuisine, and traditions. Final selections for the Changwon competition will be announced later this year.