The Embassy of the Republic of Korea successfully hosted the 2025 K-POP Festival on Friday, June 13th, which remarked BTS’s debut day, at PNCA in Islamabad, bringing the excitement and global appeal of K-POP to Pakistani fans and aspiring performers. This event marked the regional preliminary round in Pakistan for selecting contestants to represent the nation at the 2025 Changwon World K-POP Festival in Korea.

The event was expertly emceed by Ms. Naila Shuja , a renowned anchorperson from PTV world, who energized the crowd and guided the evening's program. Distinguished guests included Mr. Muhammad Ayoub Jamali, Director General of PNCA, and Dr. Sameena Khan, Parliamentary Secretary of the National Heritage and Culture Division, both of whom expressed their appreciation for the cultural exchange and vibrant youth participation. The competition featured two main segments: a K-POP vocal cover contest and a K-POP dance cover contest. A total of 10 contestants—five in each category—showcased their talents before an enthusiastic audience.

Between the two competition segments, the festival hosted an engaging cultural trivia segment titled “Quiz on Korea.” Featuring 10 questions related to K-POP, K-dramas, Korean landmarks, cuisine, and national flowers, the quiz rewarded correct answers with Korea-themed prizes. These included exclusive K-POP artist merchandise such as BLACKPINK hoodies, BTS mugs, and BLACKPINK pouches, as well as popular Korean lifestyle items like facial masks, and Korean Kakao Friends wireless chargers.

Adding to the excitement, two former winners of the K-POP Festival—one from the vocal and one from the dance category—returned as special guest performers, impressing the audience with their professional-level performances and continuing passion for K-POP. The winners of this year’s festival received special prizes. The 1st Prize winners from both the vocal and dance segments each received a brand-new Samsung Galaxy A26 smartphone. Second Prize winners were awarded the cutting-edge Galaxy Smart Watch A7, while Third Prize winners took home Samsung Galaxy Wireless Earbuds 3. The 2025 K-POP Festival served not only as a competition, but as a meaningful cultural celebration. It provided an exciting platform for Pakistani youth to showcase their talents, connect with Korean culture, and engage in a shared passion for K-POP. Audience members demonstrated strong enthusiasm and actively participated throughout the event, especially during the quiz segment. Through these cultural events, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea continues to promote cultural exchange and foster closer ties between Korea and Pakistan.