The two-day third edition of Rang De Korea, India’s largest Korean culture festival, concluded with enthusiastic fanfare at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Auditorium in New Delhi on October 19. Organized by the Korean Cultural Centre India, the event, now a key symbol of Korean culture in the city since its 2022 debut. The festival, held on October 18 and 19 featured a dynamic blend of K-beauty, K-food, K-fashion, K-crafts, and K-play, alongside performances from prominent Korean artists. Highlights included electrifying shows by K-pop group NTX, K-Pop Group ZE:A member Ha Minwoo, and fusion acts Uuheeska, Balkwang, and Pax Arari. Attendees enjoyed a mix of indoor performances and outdoor activities. The festival also hosted the semi-final of the 14th All India K-Pop Contest in partnership with LG Electronics India.
The event was inaugurated by H.E. Chang Jae-bok, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, in the presence of Mr. Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary East, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador of Republic of Korea to India H.E. Chang Jae-bok emphasised the growing cultural bonds between Korea and India.
It is truly heartfelt to see the ‘Rang De Korea’ event growing each year with more Indian fans joining to celebrate Korea and its vibrant culture. The friendship between Korea and India is built on mutual respect, shared stories, and deep cultural ties. We honour the enduring legacy of the matrimonial alliance between the Indian princess from Ayodhya and the Korean King Kim Suro, as well as the spiritual bonds fostered through Buddhism. Over the centuries, these exchanges have flourished, and today our partnership remains vibrant across various sectors like economy, education, technology, and global governance.
H.E. Chang Jae-bok, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India
The festival was headlined by rising K-pop group NTX, who made their debut in March 2021. They captivated the audience with their energetic performance and also interacted with their fans in a special ‘Fan Meet and Greet’ event. They showed their immense respect for the diverse Indian culture and expressed their desire to visit the Taj Mahal. NTX delighted the fans by performing on popular Indian songs like ‘Kukkad’, ‘Ghungroo’, ‘Tauba Tauba’, ‘Aasa Kooda’, ‘Big Dawgs’ by Hanumankind, and ‘Jeeja’, alongside their K-pop hits ‘PROBLEMATIC’, ‘CIRCUIT’, and ‘Forever Now’. They further won the hearts of fans by interacting in Hindi, playfully saying “chalo chalo”, “main aapse pyaar karta hoon”, “Aap sabh bhot sundar hai”, “Indian Fans sabse best hai”, before wrapping up their performance with a grateful “dhanyavaad” to the audience.
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ZE:A’s Ha Minwoo, making his third appearance in India, said that the Rang De Korea event was a special moment for him. He presented a mix of ZE:A’s popular tracks such as ‘Beautiful Lady’ along with his solo unreleased songs.
In addition to the musical performances, the festival featured the ‘Ninano Concert,’ presented by the theater company Uuheeska, which is a modern recreation of the traditional Korean play containing dance, song, and stories of the common people. It became popular after being selected to represent Korea at the World Sound Festival and World Music Festival. Another standout group, Balkwang, showcased their energetic and power-packed performance based on Taekkyeon, a traditional Korean martial art that is the world’s first and has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Additionally, Pax Arari, a performance group that seamlessly blends piano with traditional Korean instruments, inspired by Arari, a folk song from Jeongseon, Korea, also captivated the audience. The identity of the group with this name, Arari, reflects their belief that a newly recreated culture based on local elements can create a new world of music that resonates globally.
The outdoor experience zones provided an immersive opportunity for visitors to explore a variety of Korean cultural offerings, such as Korean ramen, snacks, beauty products, Hanbok (Korean traditional clothing), crafts, and especially K-pop and K-dramas. Popular Korean brands like LG, Samyang, and Orion, as well as communities and small businesses formed by local Korean culture fans in India (Korikart, HaruWorld, K Fandom Store, Indian K-Pop), also participated, enhancing the vibrant atmosphere. The various Korean culture products and contents presented at each designated place and booth captivated the five senses of the visitors.
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Hwang Il Yong, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre India, also remarked on the growing popularity of Korean culture in India.
Korean culture and the Korean Wave in India have now grown into mainstream culture throughout India and especially in large cities such as Delhi and Mumbai. This event has been prepared to demonstrate the excellence of original Korean culture and Korean Cultural Wave content. I hope many Indian fans come and have fun while learning proper and authentic Korean culture, then I look forward to continuing to recreate and reproduce Korean cultural content through these Indian fans.
Hwang Il Yong, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre India
As the curtains closed on Rang De Korea 2024, the festival left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans, further strengthening the cultural bridge between India and Korea.
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Picture Credits– KCCI
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