[Kulture Issue]_K-pop stars and their shining presence at major international music events

Jennie and Lisa from BLACKPINK and ENHYPEN were part of the proud K-pop lineup at Coachella 2025.

It has become the norm to have K-pop stars perform at major international music events.

Today, we want to talk about K-pop’s presence on the global stage and what significance this holds for the K-pop industry.

For that, we are now connected to CedarBough Saeji, Assistant Professor at Pusan National University. Hello Professor Saeji!

Q1. K-pop artists made headlines at this year’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. What do you think has earned them the attention from the media and audience?

Q2. In the past we would hear of news that this and that group has made its debut in the U.S., or that groups like BTS and BLACKPINK have for the first time performed at this and that event, but now K-pop acts are at the center of global music events. What do you think of this development?

Q3. The fandom power is also very impressive at these international music events. You can hear the crowd sing along, see fans with light sticks, banners, etc. What kind of impact does this fan culture have?

Q4. Why do you think international fans are showing this enthusiastic response to K-pop performances? What are the appealing factors or what differentiates K-pop stages from others?

Q5. SEVENTEEN recently headlined Tecate Pa’l Norte 2025, becoming the first K-pop act to perform at this major Latin American music festival. Tell us about the significance this stage holds.

Q6. It’s also becoming more common for rookie groups to be invited to big music festival stages. How do you interpret this trend?

Q7. How do you see K-pop's presence on the global music festival stage evolving in the future?