By Kim Min-Jeung
Photos = Yonhap News

The Jakarta-Palembang 2018 Asian Games marked the end of their 16-day run with boy bands iKon and Super Junior giving heated performances. At the 2018 Asian Games Closing Ceremony, which took place at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Sept. 2, the two popular K-pop groups appeared on stage as guest singers and put on a great show for the audience.

Their performances almost turned the evening into a K-pop concert. When iKon appeared on stage singing its hit song "Love Scenario,” 60,000 fans, including athletes, expressed their excitement, taking out their cell phones to catch the scene on camera. Reporters from the foreign press also paused their reporting to shout out their screams in support of the group, proving the popularity of K-pop.


K-pop sensation Super Junior appeared on stage last and proved their popularity. When they sang their hit “Sorry Sorry,” the audience sang along with them, in tune and with all the Korean lyrics.

The "Korean Wave" phenomenon -- the growing popularity of Korean TV shows, movies and music across East Asia and elsewhere -- could be seen all across Indonesia during the Asian Games. According to the Korean Cultural Center in Indonesia, over 500 applicants signed up for volunteer positions ahead of the Games, hoping to be part of the official cultural center cheering squad that targets Indonesian youth.

South Korea came in third place on the medals table at the 2018 Asian Games, following China and Japan, with 49 gold medals, 57 silver medals and 70 bronze medals. The unified Korea team won one gold medal, one silver medal, and two bronze medals under the title “Korea” and ranked 28th on the medals table.

jer2co@korea.kr