The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bangladesh, in collaboration with the King Sejong Institute at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), organised the 2025 Changwon K-pop World Festival – Bangladesh Global Audition on 19 July at the IUB auditorium.

The event aimed to select national performers for recommendation to the global final of the Changwon K-pop World Festival, scheduled for October 2025 in Changwon, South Korea. Fifteen teams, shortlisted from 105 video submissions, showcased live performances before an audience of over 600. Judging criteria included choreography, composition, uniformity, expression, and stage charisma.

The programme was supported by the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Changwon branch of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS). Participation was open to all K-pop enthusiasts residing in Bangladesh, except Korean nationals or their descendants.

From the live audition, five teams were selected for global consideration: Last Min8 (Champion), Knight Sisters and Heaven’s Law (2nd place), and Lumen-I and Lost Dynasty (3rd place). Other finalists included HHSBD, Hridita Maitra, A-Maze, Omada, Tahana Prionty, Rakuzan Klan, Sanjeeda & Jannatul, and Lazina Chowdhury.

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. PARK Young-sik, attended the event and highlighted K-pop’s role in fostering global youth connections. He commended the energy and talent of Bangladeshi participants.

IUB Vice Chancellor Prof. M. Tamim reiterated the university’s commitment to cultural collaboration with the Korean Embassy. Prof. Dr. Zakir Hossain Raju, Director of King Sejong Institute Dhaka 2, noted that such initiatives strengthen Korea–Bangladesh cultural relations.

The IUB Korean Club also partnered in organising the event, which featured a special musical performance by the Ariyan Chowdhury Band.

The Changwon K-pop World Festival, initiated in 2015, has evolved into a global platform with participants from more than 70 countries. The Bangladesh audition continues to serve as a vital cultural engagement initiative.

Other joint activities between the Embassy and IUB include Korean language education, film festivals, culinary workshops, speech contests, and IUB’s role as a TOPIK examination centre. These efforts contribute to building long-term bilateral ties through cultural and educational exchanges.