The K-pop Cover Dance Festival World Final is held on Sept. 23 on the grass yard of Nodeulseom Island in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. (Seoul Shinmun)

By Charles Audouin

The K-pop Cover Dance Festival World Final began at 5 p.m. on Sept. 23 on the grass yard of Nodeulseom Island in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District, with the crowds there cheering when the competition began.

In its 13th edition this year, the event featured 104 dancers on teams from Korea, the U.S., Australia, Canada, Mexico, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Turkiye (Turkey), Bulgaria, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand, all of whom won the finals in their respective countries. The judges were the K-pop boy trio B1A4 and choreographer Yechan from 1 Million Dance Studio, a dance studio and management agency.

On the second day of the Seoul Music Festival, a leading event of its kind in the capital, K-pop cover dance teams from around the world strutted their stuff to choreography by idol groups.

The squads perfectly danced in sync to choreography by renowned K-pop acts like TWICE, LE SSERAFIM and Stray Kids during the two-hour event. 

Prism Kru of the U.S. on Sept. 23 performs at the K-pop Cover Dance Festival World Final on the grass yard of Nodeulseom Island in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)

Today & Always of Australia on Sept. 23 performs at the K-pop Cover Dance Festival World Final on the grass yard of Nodeulseom Island in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)

HRM of Korea, Prism Kru of the U.S. and Exquisite of Indonesia shared the grand prize in a three-way tie after an intense competition. HRM danced to ATEEZ's "Bouncy" and "Halazia," Prism Kru to "Xikey" by xikers and "I'm the One" by ATEEZ, and Exquisite to "Kingdom Come" and "Reveal" by THE BOYZ.

Prism Kru leader Katie Brizuela said she was glad to meet dancers from around the world and that it was an honor to prepare for the stage that day and interact with other teams.

HRM head Bong Seong-min said, "As a citizen of the Republic of Korea, I feel this was such a happy opportunity to dance with foreign lovers of K-pop who communicate through K-pop."

Among the judges, Yechan said, "It was hard to judge because all of the teams' great performances," while B1A4 member Sandeul added, "I was just moved and grateful while judging because the participating teams danced to K-pop."

The winners of the K-pop Cover Dance Festival World Final are announced on Sept. 23 on the grass yard of Nodeulseom Island in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)

About 2,000 people gathered that day to watch the final.

Carlota Llinas from Spain, who is in Korea on a working holiday, and Sophie Schmailzl from Germany said that as K-pop fans, they thought all of the teams were wonderful, especially the mixed-gender squad from Canada.

Steffi Ulm from Germany, who attended the festival with her younger sister, said, "The performance was both pleasing to the eyes and ears, with fancy costumes complementing music that we usually listen to and enjoy."

caudouin@korea.kr