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HallyuPopFest launched their flagship event back in 2018 in Singapore, and in 2022 they went global, visiting the English capital. The festival took place at the OVO Wembley Arena and spread out across two days.
The Hallyu wave, which literally translates to 'Korean wave', is a term many fans of the ever-growing popularity of Korean pop culture should be familiar with. HallyuPopFest was an electrifying celebration of this booming culture and music. Fans of K-Pop have been anticipating the event ever since they announced the impressive lineup of 14 highly praised music acts. From the now veteran members of EXO, Chen and Kai, as soloists, to newer groups such as Kep1er and Weeekly.
The area around OVO Wembley Arena was bustling with excitement from the late morning hours. Around that time, the audience gathered around the specially designed HallyuTown, a fair showcasing Korean products and selling merchandise. Everyone could enjoy it as it was open access, and even local passers-by could be initiated to unique Korean products.
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However, most hardcore fans were lining up for the chance to pick up a precious Meet & Greet lanyard. Despite the mini heatwave, equipped with electric or makeshift fans, everyone withstood the sun and patiently waited for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to interact with artists they spent hours listening to and copying their choreographies.
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Later that day, there was another chance to see the idols up close at the Red Carpet event. It gathered not only a massive crowd at the ground but also an audience of hundreds of thousands of viewers worldwide as it was streamed live. After walking down the Red Carpet, greeting the fans, and answering a few questions, the artists gathered moral support from the audience and returned inside to prepare for the main event. The concert was only a few hours away.
The charismatic Sam Kim opened the showcase with beloved songs, and to the artist's surprise, the crowd could follow them along word by word. His beautiful voice and ability to engage with the audience set the perfect grounds for performances to come. In between songs, the acts were dared to do fun challenges, from creating songs impromptu (that Sam Kim aced), to random dance covers that the first band to bless us on the stage, P1Harmony, hyped the crowd with. The 6-member group of P1Harmony, full of energy, performed some of their most famous songs, such as 'Do It Like This', while they reserved other songs like 'Follow Me' to perform when they reentered the stage during the main show. Despite being the openers and a relatively rookie group, they achieved what very few other acts could, sending the crowd into an absolute frenzy until the whole arena was shaking from everyone bouncing to their sound.
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Clad in fitted black suits, ONEUS were in sparkling form. Contrasting to their elegant looks, their performances were fiery with eye-catching passionate choreographies. It was exciting to hear ONEUS' set with 'LUNA', a track that successfully interprets traditional Korean elements to its sound without forgetting the quintessential addictive and hard-hitting chorus.
Adored by the audience even before they appeared on the stage was EVERGLOW; their entry with the gloriously uplifting 'Adios' sent fans delirious. Predictably and deservedly, 'LA DI DA' and 'DUN DUN' managed to earn an even more wildly ecstatic response.
Taking the stage dressed in all black was JinJin & Rocky from ASTRO. With a leather jacket and thin mesh shirt in the case of Rocky and JinJin wearing a sleeveless jacket to reveal their chiseled bodies, they arguably earned the sexiest of the night award. Due to MJ and Cha EunWoo being unable to make it (MJ enlisted for his compulsory military training) and Cha EunWoo having conflicting schedules; ASTRO performed mostly as subunits. The second subunit combining cute cool and swagger was MoonBin & SanHa, who performed 'Bad Idea' and 'WHO'. Without letting the heat drain them, all 4 engaged in playful banter with AROHA (ASTRO's fandom). They closed their set with their only 4-member group performance, 'Candy Sugar Pop', as the name might indicate, a sweet and fun melodic straight-to-pop classics song.
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The next act wasted no time showing off her excellence; with pink backlights surrounding her, MAMAMOO's HwaSa took center stage. Her presence alone was enough to wild up the thousands of fans anticipating this moment. Song after song and performance after performance effortlessly reaffirmed why she is often described as a queen by adoring K-Pop fans. Talented vocalist, imposing aura, incredibly catchy songs, but at the same time, songs that lyrically offer a rare human touch. All the above offer irrefutable proof that the 26-year-old is one of the strongest female soloists to come out of Kpop in the last few years. Who can refuse that 'Maria' isn't already a classic?
The night closed with EXO's Chen, a highly-anticipated performer, not only due to his talent but also due to the fact he is just fresh out of his 2-year departure for his mandatory military service. Chen gave a masterclass in ballad singing on the stage as one of K-Pop's strongest vocalists. With minimal staging and very stripped-down, it's impressive how he is able to convey the emotional gravity of each song, even to an audience that might not fully comprehend the lyrics due to a language barrier. Chen's songs and performance cut to the heart, which is very clear why he is one of the top picks for OST ballads of popular K-Dramas.
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After a long, hot, ridiculously high-energy Day 1, it was time for Day 2. With temperatures still spiking, the mood in the arena is calmer; however, when Weeekly first appeared on stage, they offered the joyful tonic that the crowd was craving. Backed by dashing accompanying visuals, the song 'After Shool' was an absolute crowd-pleaser.
Paul Kim offered us a string of special moments with his flirtatious antics and smooth R&B vocals. The love was real, and it was most certainly reciprocated, with the entire arena chanting his name in excitement.
Laying the groundwork for what's coming next, CRAVITY entered with thunderous energy in a spotlessly choreographed intro and the song 'Adrenaline'. What quickly became apparent was the different energy they were ready to bring to the stage. The group was explosive, churning out banger after banger!
If all CIX did was perform their songs, it'd have been a great show, but we were treated to so much more. The members seemed to be at the height of their powers with magnificent dancing that makes everyone appreciate seeing them live, especially in 'Bad Dream' and 'Movie Star'.
CIX at HallyuTown (Kpopmap)
Bidding farewell to CIX, what followed was a slice of euphoria.
Kep1er debuted less than a year ago, but they already have an ardent fanbase attracting some of the loudest screams and singing throughout the night. The 9 girls were in high spirits from the beginning of their set with 'Wa Da Da' to the end; there can be no doubt that Kep1er maintained their status as monster rookies.
Even a technical issue during 'Good Guy' couldn't derail the excitement for SF9. They first carried out a flawless set of their familiar staples 'Tear Drop' and 'Now or Never'. Despite being known for their mature and sexy performances, they continued with slower songs that showcased their incredible vocal abilities. DaWon mentioned that he felt incredibly nervous about facing the UK audience; however, it was lovely to see how stoked the London crowd was to see the group perform. With only a few days away from their comeback (at the time), SF9, please keep the bangers coming!
The two headliners of Day 1 and Day 2 couldn't be more different. They are both members of EXO, but if Chen focuses on sentimental vocal deliveries, Kai has a dramatic performance-oriented presence. His star power is undisputed, it was hard to find a single person seated, and most fans rushed to get as close to the stage as possible to get a better view of his intricate routines. There can be a temptation to take the brilliance of Kai for granted, but through each stage, we're reminded exactly why we fell in love in with him in the first place. Kai, and his dancers, let different stories unfold through the medium of dance. It's almost like poetry seeing the 28-year-old man perform visually captivating performances with flawless technique.
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What transpired at HallyuPopFest was two nights stockpiled with so many memorable moments, and whoever's idea it was to invite these artists deserves a medal. It was the perfect balance between ballad singers, some of the latest trendy groups, and respected seniors in K-Pop. A joyous long weekend and an event where the audience might have entered as fans of one artist or group but exited falling in love with multiple artists. It was everything we wanted and more; we hope we have similar events in the UK more often.
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