K-Pop Groups Open 2016 Busan One Asia Festival

Popular K-pop groups and artists entertain their fans and other concertgoers on Saturday by doing explosive performances to begin the K-culture world festival, the Korea Herald reported.

The concert commenced the 2016 Busan One Asia Festival. The show was broadcasted live on SBS Medianet, the concert's organizer.

There was a total of 15 K-pop groups and artists who performed at the Busan Asiad Stadium in the western part of Busan, the second largest city in South Korea and is located about 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The performers for the yearly event include B1A4, Block B, Sechs Kies, B.A.P., INFINITE, DIA, Lyn, LaBoum, Girl's Day, I.O.I., T-Ara, APink, Girls' Generation, MFBTY, and "Gangnam Style" singer Psy.

A 25-year old Singaporean student was present at the event and expressed admiration for the girl group APink. Rahman Khairi said, "I came to see the girl groups perform. In Singapore, K-pop boy bands like EXO and BIGBANG are very popular."

Kazu, a 51-year old Japanese fan of Korean boy band CNBLUE also attended the event to see Jung Yong Hwa. Jung, an honorary ambassador of the event, did not perform but he still attended the show.

The 2016 Busan One Asia Festival recounted the history of K-Pop, from the so-called Renaissance of K-Pop in the 1990s to the coining of the term "Hallyu," or the worldwide spread of K-pop culture, in 2000s.

A recorded video presentation which stars one of the most prominent Hallyu figure in South Korea and Hollywood, singer Rain, was also shown to the concertgoers. In the video, Rain referred to the 2000s as the blossoming era of multi-entertainment idol groups that can sing, dance, and act.

Rain recalled, "That was the time when we told ourselves that we represent Korea."

Psy ended the show by performing "Champion." Then, Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, showed a special performance that was not included on the live broadcast.

The 2016 Busan One Asia Festival will run for three weeks and will showcase a music and food market, a cosmetics and beauty convention, and cultural conferences.

The event will conclude on October 23 with another K-pop concert.