Dubai is bringing Korean culture to the city with its first-ever K-Fest, featuring live performances, Korean film screenings, K-beauty, K-food and more, from September 25 to October 4.
Opening concert
Under the theme ‘Discover Korea in Dubai’, the 10-day festival will kick off on September 25 at Festival Bay in Dubai Festival City Mall (DFC) with a free concert featuring solo artist KWON EUNBI, former member of K-pop group IZ*ONE, and the South Korean boy band ONEUS.
For ONEUS, the Dubai performance follows the release of their 12th mini album, ‘FIRST LIGHT.’
The evening will begin at 7:30 pm with the water entertainment spectacle IMAGINE Show, followed by the K-pop performances from 8 pm.
More from K-Fest
The opening weekend will continue on September 26 with appearances by South Korean dancers and choreographers AIKI and Choi Young-jun. AIKI is known for her appearance on the South Korean dance competition ‘Street Woman Fighter’ and as the leader of the dance crew HOOK, while Choi Young-jun has worked on choreography for K-pop artists.
The forthcoming festival is centred around four key pillars—Celebrate Korea, Shop Korea, Win Korea and Taste Korea—with programmes spanning movie screenings, food experiences, K-beauty and fashion activities, cultural showcases and shopping events.
“The launch of Dubai K-Fest reflects the growing global influence of Korean culture and Dubai’s position as a city where cultures, communities and global trends come together,” according to the press release. “The inaugural festival creates a new platform for Korean artists, brands, creators and businesses to connect with Dubai’s diverse international audiences, while giving residents and visitors a new way to discover Korea without leaving the city.”
The Korean-themed festival is organized by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, with support from the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) UAE Business Center and KOREA 360.
Local K-scene
The Dubai K-Fest comes as the UAE has hosted several K-pop concerts and Korean cultural events. Abu Dhabi is set to host ‘K-POP FEVER‘ on September 26, following events such as Global Village’s K-LOUD show, Krazy Super Concert, and DREAM Concert Abu Dhabi.
The performances at Festival Bay are free to attend.