Expansion of K-Pop Performance Ecosystem...From KBS Music Festival to New Facility Opening in Jeju

The 2025 KBS Music Festival Global Festival was successfully held at the Incheon Songdo Convention Center. Broadcast for approximately 190 minutes starting at 7:15 p.m. on the 19th, the event was themed “K-POP as the Key to Global Culture.” A total of 25 artists performed, delivering top-tier shows across the country, including CNBLUE, 10CM, Roy Kim, Park Seo-jin, Jannabi, Lovelyz, Dayoung, NCT DREAM, Mark, Haechan, THE BOYZ, Promises Nine, Lee Chan-won, P1Harmony, STAYC, aespa, LE SSERAFIM, tripleS, KISS OF LIFE, ILLIT, EVNNE, Chaewon, Minju, Lay, Mark, Dayoung, Jiyeon, Haechan, E-Tion, Rowoon, Nine, Rie, Liz, and Center. A highlight of this event was the arrangement of collaborative performances that transcended generations and genres. There were duets featuring IVE’s Rie and LE SSERAFIM’s Kim Chae-won, a collaboration between 10CM and ILLIT’s Minju to connect different age groups, and a special collaboration stage between the rookie group EVNNE and Close Your Eyes. Promises Nine reinterpreted AOA’s “Short Skirt” in their unique style, while KISS OF LIFE performed Miss A’s “Bad Girl Good Girl.” Lovelyz, who appeared on stage as a full group for the first time in a long time, added emotion with their hit song “Atchu.” Meanwhile, a new chapter in K-Pop performance facilities is opening in Jeju. Twenty-two years after the opening of the Jeju International Convention Center (ICC JEJU) in 2003, the second convention center, the “Jeju MICE Multi-Purpose Complex,” has been completed. Although construction was originally planned for 2015, the project was delayed due to cultural heritage excavations and design changes. After various setbacks, main construction began in December 2023, and completion was achieved on the 20th. The new building has one basement floor, two above-ground floors, and a total floor area of 15,110㎡. A total of 88 billion won was invested, including 28 billion won from government funds. Unlike the first convention center, it features an open structure without columns or fixed seats. The multi-purpose hall on the first floor covers an area of 4,728㎡, which is two-thirds the size of a football field. This allows it to host not only international conferences but also exhibitions and performances. It can accommodate 6,000 people for conferences, up to 2,000 people for banquets, and supports up to 300 exhibition booths. The first convention center could not host performances due to structural issues. Its load-bearing capacity was too low, preventing audiences from moving or dancing during concerts. ICC JEJU had already completely stopped performances in the Tamra Hall since 2014 to avoid safety risks. As a result, it faced difficulties attracting popular music concerts such as those from shows like “King of the Singers” and K-Pop performances. After three months of trial operations, ICC JEJU plans to hold its official opening ceremony at the end of February 2026, along with a K-Pop concert titled “K-Culture Festival.” This is intended to highlight the advantages of the second convention center’s performance facilities and provide local residents with opportunities to enjoy culture.