"K-pop is Full of Energy" 5,000 Enthralled at New York Central Park

On the 10th (local time), Golden Child performed on stage at the 'Korea Kayoje' held at SummerStage, an outdoor concert venue in Central Park, New York, USA.
[Photo by New York Korean Cultural Center]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] "I have been a long-time K-pop fan, but I never imagined there would be this many people."

April Ward, who lives in Manhattan, New York, was unable to hide her excitement on the afternoon of the 10th (local time) at the outdoor concert venue in the heart of New York’s Central Park, holding a fan with a sign that read "I Love K-pop." Attending the K-pop special concert "SummerStage - Korea Gayoje," she said, "I especially like BTS, TXT, TWICE, and Red Velvet. I know all the K-pop artists performing today," raising her voice to say, "K-pop is full of energy."

To commemorate the 140th anniversary of Korea-US diplomatic relations, the Korea Gayoje, co-hosted by the New York Korean Cultural Center, New York City Parks Foundation, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and organized by the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, drew over 5,000 New Yorkers who filled the venue to capacity.

Although the concert started at 7 p.m., the line began forming from early dawn due to first-come, first-served entry within a limited space. Sylvia Decota, who arrived at the SummerStage entrance around 4 p.m., said, "When I arrived, there were roughly a few hundred K-pop fans enjoying a picnic with mats spread along the street," adding, "It was my first K-pop concert in a while, so I didn’t even think about the heat or fatigue while waiting to enter."

In particular, this concert was praised as a much-needed relief for New York K-pop fans who had difficulty experiencing live K-pop performances face-to-face due to the pandemic. The Korea Gayoje, held in 2017 and 2018, was held again this year after a four-year hiatus. While Korean residents and Korean tourists were spotted here and there, the majority were local New Yorkers deeply immersed in K-pop.

Alexa is performing passionately on the stage of the 'Korea Kayoje' held on the 10th (local time) at SummerStage, an outdoor concert venue in Central Park, New York, USA.
[Photo by Mary Kang, New York Korean Cultural Center]

The first stage featured AleXa, a Korean-American singer who recently rose as a global K-pop super rookie by winning the 'American Song Contest' hosted by NBC in the U.S. She showcased her signature energy with her debut song "Bomb," as well as "TATTOO," "XTRA," and the contest-winning song "Wonderland." After delivering a passionate performance that seemed to break her whole body, AleXa picked up a nail tip from the floor and said, "There is my nail," prompting cheers and applause from the audience.

The second act was the boy group Golden Child, known for their powerful performances. Starting with their hit "I'll Hug You," Golden Child captivated the audience with addictive songs like "Crush," "DamDaDi," and "Pump It Up," along with energetic synchronized choreography. Visiting New York during the latter part of their first U.S. tour, Golden Child actively engaged with local fans by reading and responding to placards held by the audience.

The concert finale was performed by Brave Girls, who rose to fame as a popular girl group riding the resurgence of their song "Rollin'" on music charts. After performing "Chi Mat Ba Ram," "High Heel," and "We Ride," they closed with "Rollin'," during which New York K-pop fans were seen mimicking the signature stingray dance.

On the 10th (local time), Brave Girls performed at the 'Korea Kayoje' held at SummerStage in Central Park, New York, USA.

On the 10th (local time), Golden Child, who attended the 'Korea Kayoje' held at SummerStage in Central Park, New York, USA, greeted fans.
Photo by New York Korean Cultural Center

Before the concert, AleXa told Asia Economy, "I’m really happy to be able to perform in front of fans in New York after winning the American Song Contest."

She said, "I completely fell for K-pop after watching Super Junior’s 'Sorry, Sorry' music video introduced by a close friend in 2008, and I dreamed of becoming a K-pop star. I used to do a lot of cover dances before debuting, and compared to then, I feel that K-pop has become globally famous." Naming charismatic and outstanding dancers HyunA and Taemin as her role models who dominate the stage, AleXa also expressed her hope to become a role model for her fans.

Lee Jangjun, the main rapper of Golden Child, said, "It’s an honor to perform in New York at the 140th anniversary of Korea-US diplomatic relations," adding, "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we haven’t been able to meet overseas fans, so we are grateful that so many fans came to the concert. Thank you for waiting." He also said, "American fans have extraordinary energy, and I gain experience and energy through the U.S. tour."

Shania Onda, a K-pop fan living in New York’s Upper West Side, said, "I’m glad that K-pop concerts, which were difficult to hold during the pandemic in the U.S., are happening again," and added, "Today, I became a fan of Golden Child." Emily Woz, who came running from Brooklyn to see AleXa, said, "Her dance skills are amazing, and her stage presence is really cool," emphasizing, "I hope Koreans also watch AleXa’s performance on the American Song Contest." Jo Ji-hye, a Korean resident in Manhattan, said, "I was surprised to see Americans perfectly imitate Brave Girls’ Rollin’ dance," and added, "It really makes me realize how popular K-pop has become."

The approximately two-hour concert ended amid the cheers and applause of the audience.

A representative of the New York Korean Cultural Center, which planned the Korea Gayoje concert, said, "We could clearly feel that the demand for K-pop is reaching its peak in New York, a cultural hub," and added, "The Cultural Center will continue to contribute to enriching the cultural friendship between Korea and the U.S. by introducing not only K-pop but also various Korean cultures, and expanding opportunities for our cultural industry’s advancement."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.