Internationalization of K-POP Fashion: PRANKERS Hosts Global Fashion Week

K-POP fashion culture is expanding onto the global stage. The PRANKERS GLOBAL K-POP FASHION WEEK (PGKFW) 2025, held on May 11 at Songdo Convention Center, attracted attention as a rare international-scale event among private-sector fashion shows in Korea. Over 160 models participated in this event, with approximately 100 children and teenagers aged 8 to 18 taking to the runway. Children and teens from Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Eurasia (Tuvan Republic) celebrated a K-POP festival. Designers from brands such as L4K3, SMB, designer Yoo Ji-young, and FRANKERS were listed among those involved in the fashion show, with many industry professionals from both the fashion and music sectors attending. FRANKERS has been running this event for 8 years, now in its 34th edition, offering a unique concept that combines K-POP fashion with dance. It features model walks on the runway alongside dances by girl groups and boy groups performed to new songs, earning praise for its professional-level execution. For this single event alone, over 100 staff members were deployed, including 60 hair and beauty artists and 10 broadcast beauty directors. Notably, officials working to promote K-POP in China also participated. Five representatives from Sichuan’s Ozhongsheng Youwen Culture Media Co., Ltd. attended and committed to collaborating with FRANKERS. This company previously sent 300 trainees to Korea when participants from China’s Produce 101 idol training program went there, and they promised to send 300 people to FRANKERS’ shows each year going forward, focusing on K-POP education, model walking training, and exchange of K-POP events. They also plan to collaborate on organizing a Chinese K-POP show with a capacity of 2,000 attendees. Meanwhile, discussions are underway regarding the styling of K-POP idols. It has been pointed out that some fourth-generation female idols, despite their outstanding appearances, do not receive adequate recognition for their value. SIUN of STAYC is an idol who stands at 167 cm (approximately 5'6") and possesses exceptional beauty, often regarded by fans as the group’s most visually striking member. However, some argue that her current styling and makeup fail to fully highlight her charms. Since her agency, High Up Entertainment, is relatively small, there are opinions suggesting she would have gained greater recognition as a leading visual among fourth-generation female idols if she were under a larger agency. Industry professionals expect that such private-sector international events, with government or corporate support, could evolve into even more significant cultural content representing Korea.