The so-called “Korean Wave” – or Hallyu – is in full effect and the global popularity of K-Pop is higher than ever before.
Now, more and more music acts from South Korea are heading overseas and stopping off in the UK on their world tours.
Groups including BTS, Blackpink, The Boyz, ATEEZ, Dreamcatcher and soloists like Hyolyn and G-Dragon have already brought their charisma and powerful performances to the UK.
READ MORE: Europe’s biggest ever K-Pop festival to hit London’s O2 for three-day event
And Blackpink fans are hopeful the four-piece girl group will return again soon as they have announced another world tour.
Add on the festivals bringing a number of K-Pop acts to the UK, and K-Pop fans are truly in for a treat.
July 9 and 10 – HallyuPopFest London
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
An exciting range of groups and soloists are heading to OVO Arena Wembley in London across July 9 and 10.
Each day will feature an evening concert as well as a showcase performance for two acts on the bill, though there is more to enjoy too.
On Saturday, July 9 fans will be treated to performances from Sam Kim, P1HARMONY, Oneus, Hwasa, Everglow, Astro and headliner Chen, who is a member of group Exo.
Then on Sunday, July 10 fans will get to see Paul Kim, Weeekly, CIX, Kep1er, Cravity, SF9 and Kai, also a member of Exo.
Earlier in the day, the acts will walk the red carpet, giving fans a chance of getting a glimpse of their favourite singers, and there is also a meet and greet for VIPs.
And for those wanting to experience more of the Korean Wave, HallyuTown – open to the public – will offer guests the chance to try food, beauty and lifestyle products from South Korea.
Tickets are on sale here.
July 30 – MIK Festival K-Pop Day
(Image: ImaZins via Getty Images)
Another two-day event is heading to London’s Southwark Park at the end of July, with MIK Festival showcasing the best of K-Pop and K-Hip-Hop.
On Saturday, July 30, concert-goers will see performances from a range of fresh talent and more well-established acts.
And it’s a girl group fan’s dream, with Billlie, Cherry Bullet, Viviz and Red Velvet all on the line-up, while soloist Chung Ha rounds out the line-up of female talent.
That’s not all though, as boy groups Golden Child and Pentagon will perform, as well as Suho of Exo fame.
Tickets are available here.
July 31 – MIK Festival Hip-Hop Day
The second day of the event, Sunday, July 31, will showcase the best of Korean Hip-Hop.
The full line-up includes Jessi, pH-1, DOK2, Epik High, Lee Hi, Gray, Loco and Jay Park.
There will also be plenty of opportunity to experience Korean culture across the weekend too, with a number of street food vendors popping up shop.
A special stage will be up too for fans to show off their dance skills, as the festival hosts its own random dance challenge.
Tickets are available here.
August 2, 3, 4 – Kim Woojin
(Image: woooojin0408/Instagram)
Soloist Kim Woojin, former member of Stray Kids, will be stopping off in three cities across the UK at the start of August.
The 25-year-old made his solo debut last year with Ready Now, and will be heading out on his first world tour, Still Dream, this year.
After a number of dates across Europe, he lands in the UK on August 2 for a performance at Manchester Academy.
The following night (August 3) he’s zipping down to London’s O2 Academy Islington.
And then he’ll be finishing his whistle-stop tour of the UK in Birmingham at The Asylum on August 4 before flying to Spain.
Tickets are now available for Manchester here, London here and Birmingham here.
August 21 – Sunmi
(Image: ImaZins via Getty Images)
K-Pop queen Sunmi, former member of legendary girl group Wonder Girls, is returning to the UK in August.
She previously stopped off on her first world tour – Warning – in 2019.
And she’s including London on her Good Girl Gone Mad tour this year too.
The singer, who recently made a comeback with the summery song Heart Burn, will perform at The Troxy in London on August 21.
Tickets are available here.
September 4 – Wonho
(Image: ImaZins via Getty Images)
The undisputed heartthrob of K-Pop is embarking on his first solo tour after a number of popular releases following his exit from Monsta X.
Wonho will stop off in four European cities on his Facade tour with London being his final stop.
The singer, who has had two comebacks this year with Eye On You and Crazy, is set to perform at indigo at the O2 in London on September 4.
Tickets are available here.
September 22-24, 2023 – KPOP.FLEX London
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Following the success of its inaugural event in Frankfurt in 2022, KPOP.FLEX will land in London next year at The O2.
The event will span three days across September 22 to 24, with plans to take advantage of a number of the arena’s venues, including indigo at The O2.
The line-up is yet to be announced, but acts including Dreamcatcher, Mamamoo and IVE performed at the Frankfurt event.
There will also be opportunity for fans to immerse themselves in K-Culture, while there will also be the KPOP.FLEX Awards for Emerging Artists.
For more information, click here.
TBC – Blackpink
(Image: Getty Images for Coachella)
Blackpink has confirmed they will be heading out an another world tour following their long-awaited next comeback.
The group’s last release as a four-piece was in October 2020, with their first full-length album – called The Album.
Since then, members Rosé and Lisa have made their solo debuts, while Jisoo made her acting debut in Snowdrop (which is available to stream in the UK on Disney+).
It’s been confirmed that they will return as a group in August and will then begin their second world tour at the end of the year.
They last performed in the UK on May 21 in Manchester, and May 22 in London.
Fans are now hoping they’ll stop off in the UK again.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
