By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Arachika Kapoor from India
Photos = kpophighindia

India has always embraced global art and culture, and Hallyu is no exception. After years of waiting, my country this year finally became a destination for K-pop tours, with such acts bringing the hope of regular K-pop concerts in India for fans here.

So when In2it in April this year became one of the first K-pop groups to hold concerts in India in its "IN2IT X ION" tour, along with fellow K-pop star Alexa, fans in India were ecstatic. I've seen documentaries showing how hard Korean groups train and practice to ensure the best shows for fans. But after attending my first K-pop concert, I had the opportunity to witness how fans also work hard to make these bands feel welcome and loved.

When In2it arrived in India, the domestic fan club K-pop High India organized member gatherings at airports to greet the group. Fans waited outside airports late at night despite heavy rain. They not only surprised the band with big banners of the group's name and chants, but also gave In2it a compilation of fan art and letters.

The fans also teamed up with concert organizer Namas-K, who arranged free bus rides to the concert venue in Mumbai. Additionally, students at the Korean Cultural Center in New Delhi received free admission.

On the day of the New Delhi concert, I entered the venue to find myself suddenly standing amid a crowd of youngsters dancing to K-pop tunes like those of BTS and In2it while waiting for the concert to start.

When the doors to the auditorium were finally opened, I noticed that it was close to a full house. Fans holding up banners with Korean words and members' faces on them and equipped with In2it hair bands and glow sticks -- these were scenes I'd only seen in videos.

Though I knew quite a bit about the band, others at the concert knew everything about In2it and had flown from as far as Varanasi more than 800 km from Delhi just to attend. In another surprise, many parents accompanied their kids, willing to remain open to a broader spectrum of music.



Alexa opened the concert with a solo performance and the boys joined her afterward, and this was when I got to listen to the group's tracks live. Since In2it is relatively new, I was pleasantly surprised how the audience knew the lyrics to all its songs. Nevertheless, the boys put so much energy and emotion into their performance, which I found both unbelievable and very good.

While cheering and swaying to the music continued throughout the concert, the band got the loudest cheers when a member said in Hindi, "Hum aapse pyaar karte hain (We love you all)."

The audience seemingly turned into a sea of stars because of all the flash mobs and fan chants. The highlight, however, was when Alexa and In2it performed the Bollywood song "Bole Chudiyan" dressed in Indian attire in a tribute to their Indian fans.



Also at the concert, I got to interact with fellow K-pop enthusiasts as well as people experiencing K-pop for the first time. One person named Jemima said, "I'm not into K-pop but I do love music. In2it sang really well and tried to make the concert interactive by getting off the stage to shake hands with the audience, saying Hindi phrases while teaching us some in Korean and dancing to Bollywood songs."

Another fan named Devansh said, "In2it was my first K-pop concert, and I was more curious than excited. I enjoyed it to the fullest. In2it is really talented in both dancing and singing. Looking forward to more such concerts."

In2it members expressed their gratitude, and so did the audience. So much so that fans sent thank-you gifts and letters to the owners of the concert venues.


wisdom117@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.