By Honorary Reporter Preeti Rawat and Yamini Kashyap from India

First lady Kim Hea Kyung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi-young, JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young and Hybe India CEO Lee Woo-chang on April 20 pose for a group photo with the winners and contestants of the K-Dream Stage: All India K-Pop Grand Championship at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi, India. (Cheong Wa Dae)

Organized by the Korean Cultural Centre in India, K-Dream Stage: All India K-Pop Grand Championship was held on April 20 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi. Launched in 2011, the event attracted over 3,000 K-pop fans, highlighting the rise of Korean cultural content in India.

From left clockwise are K-pop group YOUNITE performing "Geekin," dancer Lip J dances to the song "Up All Nite" by Crush, multinational K-pop group X:IN answers questions at a fan meet and Indian singer Dhvani Bhanushali sings BLACKPINK's "Pink Venom." (Yamini Kashyap)

The competition began with a random play dance that invited fans onto the stage, followed by performances by the contestants in the vocal category of songs by K-pop acts Ailee, Shannon and IU, while teams in the dance category performed to hits by Kep1er, aespa and RIIZE.

Team 3Plus4, a New Delhi-based dance troupe that won the All India K-Pop Contest hosted by the KCC in 2016 and last year, took the top prize again this year for performing RIIZE's song "Fame." The win earned the group a trip to Korea.

Team 3Plus4 members pose for a photo after winning the dance category of the competition. (Team 3Plus4)

In an email interview from April 20-23, the group said it was surprised to see notable names in Korean entertainment on the judging panel, adding, "We were extremely thrilled and honored when informed that such big names from the industry would be judging us."

Apart from the contest, the stage pulsated with energy as Lip J, a renowned dancer in waacking, and K-pop groups YOUNITE and X:IN delivered dynamic performances. X:IN's Indian member Aria symbolized the expanding global identity of K-pop, and both groups also held a fan meeting with the audience.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced the 2028 launch of a bilateral friendship festival to celebrate the shared heritage of both countries. The two sides will also launch a Korea center in Mumbai to serve as a K-pop performance venue and hub for blending K-pop and Bollywood.

ljyhwa@korea.kr

*This article was 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.