Europe's biggest K-pop festival to open in Germany next month

Private Korean broadcaster SBS and the companies PK Events and K-Pop Europa on May 14-15 will jointly host the concert "KPOP.FLEX" at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt.
K-Pop Europa on April 14 said in a news release that 10 K-pop acts including Mamamoo, Monsta X, Exo's Kai and Enhyphen will perform at the event.

News of the event has spread since December last year, thus the concert has received major interest from K-pop fans. A second day of May 15 was added to the festival as tickets for the first on May 14 sold out.

Patrik Meyer, managing director of the park, said, "The K-pop craze has landed in Europe," adding, "KPOP.FLEX is the highlight of all event lineups this year."

During the two-day event, the 2022 Korea Festival X KPOP.FLEX (K-fest) will also be held for K-pop fans.

Co-hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korean consulate-general in Frankfurt, K-fest is the biggest Korean culture festival in Europe that allows participants to experience both Korean concerts and culture.

Among the activities scheduled to include the final round of a K-pop cover dance competition, a Hanbok fashion show, and a b-boy dance stage.

Any ticketholder can take part in the traditional Korean game tournament comprising six contests: 'mugunghwa kkochi pieotseummida', which literally means "The rose of Sharon has bloomed" and is similar to the game Red Light, Green Light; tug of war; 'ddakjichigi' (flipping folded paper tiles); 'ppopgi' (which uses dalgona or honeycomb candy); and jegichagi (kicking a shuttlecock).

The winner will earn a roundtrip flight ticket to Korea and second, third and fourth place will each get a "K-lucky box" of Korean souvenirs.

Food trucks will also sell Korean street food during the event period.

PK Events Director Peter Kotting said, "Part of our plan is to also ensure that fans of K-pop and its groups get a sense of Korean culture," adding, "KPOP.FLEX will become the European hub of fans who love K-pop."

Meanwhile, the event's organizers on April 14 announced the start of ticket sales in 80 countries.