2-3 November, Vientiane, Lao PDR - The 2024 ROUND in LAO PDR music festival concluded with resounding success at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Organized and hosted by KBS, the festival was sponsored by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF) with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Ms. Darany Phommavongsa, Vice Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism of Lao PDR, attended the opening ceremony and praised Korea's exceptional capabilities in performance production. H.E. Jung Young-soo, the Korean Ambassador to Lao PDR, highlighted the high anticipation among young people in Lao PDR, where opportunities to experience large-scale performances are rare. He expressed hope that this event would serve as a catalyst for even more vibrant cultural exchanges between ASEAN and Korea.

Commemorating the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations, the festival held special significance as it took place at the same venue where the ASEAN-ROK Summit was held in October. Over the weekend, the festival attracted approximately 4,000 people from across the ASEAN region. The excitement began during ticket sales in early October with all tickets selling out in 10 minutes—so quickly that the system experienced a temporary crash due to high demand. Additionally, welcoming messages rom local music fans were displayed on digital billboards throughout the streets of Vientiane, warmly greeting the ASEAN musicians upon their arrival.

BamBam, the host and a prominent Korean artist, made headlines upon his arrival in Vientiane as fans filled the airport to welcome him. BamBam energized the event with his charismatic hosting and stellar performances. He was joined by Korea's Nell, Philippines' KAIA, and Thailand's Dept—artists representing ASEAN—who captivated the audience and received an enthusiastic response.

The festival will be broadcast on November 27 at 11:30 PM (KST) on KBS 2TV and will subsequently be available on the KBS WORLD channel and YouTube. This broadcast offers a unique opportunity to experience the vibrant moments and heartfelt exchanges of ASEAN-Korea cultural collaboration in Vientiane, Laos.  For more details, please visit the official website at http://roundfestival.net, as well as the festival's YouTube channel and social media platforms.

Not only through the festival, the energy of ROUND is also continued through a music release. We are proud to present the successful example of cultural exchange, a collaborative track created by Korea’s H1-KEY and Philippines’ Josh, who met through the ROUND Festival, will be officially released on November 20. The ROUND Festival, which has fostered cultural exchange between ASEAN countries and Korea through music, will continue to provide a platform for global fans, as well as Korean and ASEAN artists, to connect and engage.

Following the two successful festivals held in Korea and Lao PDR this year, another anticipating stage is set to take place in Malaysia in the first half of 2025.
 

Press Inquiries
Han Ji-yoon: moamoaproduction@gmail.com
Director Park Kwon-il: cooleng@me.com