Silchar, July 14: Come July 25, the youngsters of Mizoram will move to the tunes of Korean music as the Korean Cultural Centre, India (KCCI), is all set to hold an overwhelming K-Pop (Korean pop music) concert-cum-contest in Aizawl.
Well-known K-Pop singer Hyemin Jung will perform in the event which will be held at Mizoram University Multipurpose Hall.
The Northeast regional preliminary round of the K-Pop contest will witness the performance of altogether nine singers and nine dance troupes who will vie to qualify for the final round of the contest to be held in Delhi on August 29.
The preliminary rounds of the contest will be held in seven locations - Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Mizoram and Patna. This time, Nepal is a special entry in the contest.
Each region will be selecting a winner of dance category and winner of song category to enter the final round.
K-Pop is a popular musical genre which comprises dance-pop, pop ballad, electronic, rock and hip-hop among others. Originating in South Korea, the K-Pop movement became popular in 1992. The genre has now made its presence all over the globe.
Kim Kum-pyoung, director of Korean Cultural Centre, South Korea embassy, is expected to grace the July 25 event in Aizawl as the chief guest.
"After the grand triumph of K-Pop contest 2014, the K-Pop syndrome has taken a huge sweep across India. We are expecting more admirers and audience this year. According to our sources, K-Wave which was popular more in the Northeast and southern India, has now spread like fire across the nation. The 2012 Gangnam Style that popularised Korean genre has increased the hype of K-Wave," stated a press communiqué issued by the KCCI recently.
"Gangnam Style moves infiltrated not only in South Asia and Bollywood but also among youths across the world, veering their attention towards Korea. This precisely defines the beauty of soft power and cultural diplomacy. The Korean Cultural Centre India is here to promote the culture of Korea in a global platform and strengthen goodwill among both the nations," the statement added.
The concert in Aizawl is expected to draw a huge crowd as Korean music and songs are very popular in the state.
Korean films and TV soaps, dubbed in Mizo language, are the most-watched programmes in Mizoram. Korean culture has a huge influence on the youngsters and they are often seen in Korean attires and hairstyles.
The people of Mizoram even prefer to buy furniture that they see in Korean serials and movies.
Actors including Lee Byung Hun, Lee Min Ho, Jo In Sung, Kim Woo Bin and Gong Yoo are household names in Mizoram.
Social activist Lal Hmar told this correspondent that the Korean films had brought the people, speaking different dialects, together in the state.
Aso, Chho, Halam, Hinar, Lai, Lusei, Mara, Miu Khumi and Paite are the main dialects in Mizoram.
Hmar said some Korean words were also being used by the people in their conversations.
