Seven of K-Pop’s Biggest Acts to Launch KPOP.FLEX, Europe’s First Mega K-Pop Festival
The K-Wave continues to pick up speed across the world, as titans of the genre MONSTA X and (G)I-DLE are the first names announced for Europe’s biggest ever K-Pop festival, KPOP.FLEX.
Kicking off on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park, 44,000 fans will pack into the stadium to catch a glimpse of their favorite idols, with five more acts still to be unveiled.
Formed through a Korean reality TV program, in which would-be K-Pop stars were pitted against each other to uncover the stars of the future, the six members of MONSTA X are known for their uniquely aggressive rap-style vocals and pumping electronic instrumentals. Since debuting in 2015, their devoted following has continued to grow internationally.
Meanwhile quintet (G)I-DLE, who debuted in 2018 under Cube Entertainment, currently rank as one of the most popular K-Pop girl groups in Korea, recently winning “Best Performance” at the 2021 Seoul Music Awards.
South Korean music is the world’s fastest-growing section in the market (up 44.8% year on year in terms of sales, streaming, and paid subscription services); its audience in the U.S. has tripled in as many years thanks to K-Pop multi-group concerts. KPOP.FLEX, the first event of its kind in Europe, aims to do the same as part of a five year plan specifically targeting the continent.
The festival will kick off the music season at Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park, which has already sold out three dates for Coldplay and two for Ed Sheeran later in the year. Says Deutsche Bank Park MD Patrik Meyer: “K-POP.FLEX is a really dynamic addition to our line-up, which includes Ed Sheeran and Coldplay – and we’ve already pre-sold 300,000 tickets for those. 2022 is going to be a memory-making year for our state-of-the-art stadium!”
Tickets go on sale at 9am GMT on Friday, December 10 at www.kpopflex.com and through Ticketmaster.
At the festival, visitors will also be able to view original artworks by K-Pop stars Ohnim and Yooyeon (from boyband WINNER) and independent talent Henry Lau, whose work is currently on a world tour that started in London at StART Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery. Limited edition prints of these artworks will be available to purchase.
K-POP.FLEX merchandise will be available to buy on www.start.art, a new online platform that allows fans to collect works by K-Pop stars.
The event is being staged by K-Pop Europa, in partnership with PK Events and Korean broadcaster SBS Television Network. K-Pop Europa is a partnership between Live Company Group and Explorado Group.
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About Live Company Group
Live Company Group (LVCG) plc, founded by David Ciclitira, is a live events and entertainment group. David has been involved in promoting K-Pop concerts and art shows throughout Asia for the past 10 years.
LVCG owns the BRICKLIVE™ brand. BRICKLIVE is a global content provider for brick-based events, focused on creating an environment that encourages interactive play, fosters creativity, collaboration and physical experiences in an inclusive and safe environment and one of the two primary divisions on LVCG.
LVCG formed a new division LCSE in December 2020 which will conceptualise, acquire rights, commercialise and deliver sport, lifestyle and entertainment events.
About PK Events
PK Events is an event organiser whose major focus is on the implementation of open air (Sylt Open Air, Sauerland Open Air) and stadium concepts (e.g. Grönemeyer, PUR and Fanta 4 in Frankfurt or “Winter am Rhein” in Düsseldorf). PK Events operates throughout the whole of Germany, and its integral realisation of events covers everything from planning to final invoicing. CEO Peter Kötting has more than 30 years active experience in the entertainment and sports sectors in Germany.
About AWC AG / Explorado Group
30 years of experience, four independent companies and 200 employees.
Europe’s biggest all-rounder in the field of “out-of-home edutainment”. A key player within its field, it offers an unrivalled 360-degree range of services, from concept creation, strategic implementation, development and operations of indoor and outdoor out-of-home entertainment attractions in Europe to touring blockbuster exhibitions and events that are globally recognised.
Founded by Andreas Waschk (Chairman of the Explorado Group), the AWC AG has established itself in the minds of its international partners as a leader in the planning and implementation of all concept ideas as well as the touring of major sell-out exhibitions and branded attractions.
Waschk started as an independent tour manager and event organiser for internationally-known artists including Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and is behind the brains behind the development of innovative exhibition concepts such as the 1.5m visitors-exhibition “TITANIC” in Hamburg and Zurich.
About SBS
SBS is one of the three major terrestrial broadcasting companies in Korea. It is the only privately owned terrestrial broadcaster with a nationwide network. Founded on 14 November 1990, SBS began broadcasting its full-fledged TV network and radio programming in 1991.
Today, the audience of the SBS includes not only the entire Korean population, but also overseas Koreans and viewers from all over the world. SBS is currently operating four channels: one television channel, two radio channels and one terrestrial DMB channel.
SBS is also the core business of SBS Media Group. In March 2008, SBS Media Holdings was founded by separating the functions of strategy and investment from SBS. Under the new broadcast group system, SBS can focus more on programme production and news reporting.
The business of SBS Media Group ranges from terrestrial broadcasting, programme provider via cable and satellite, TV content production, content distribution, online and new media, and to entertainment including film, music and games.