A slew of K-pop stars are coming to town for a new K-pop and K-culture festival.
On May 3, stars such as boy band Monsta X’s Joohoney and I.M; singer-rappers like Jessi, Gray, Loco and Yungin; hip-hop dance crew Holybang; and sibling rapper duo Lil Cherry and Goldbuuda will perform at the inaugural Playground festival at Pasir Panjang Power Station. Tickets will go on general sale on March 14.
Aside from stage performances, the event includes interactive games and challenges inspired by Netflix’s global hit Squid Game (2021 to present) and food and beverage offerings of South Korean street food and spirits.
Attendees can also take part in a “random dance play” segment. The popular game on South Korean variety shows shuffles through K-pop songs and asks participants to spontaneously recreate the tracks’ dance moves.
The festival is the brainchild of Terry Hwayong Lee, founder of +82, an entertainment and lifestyle company which organises and curates K-pop and K-culture events.
He said in a press statement: “Playground is designed to be more than just an event. It’s an experience that allows fans to live and breathe K-culture in a way they never have before.”
Among the line-up, Jessi and Loco both came to Singapore for another music festival, Waterbomb Singapore, in August 2024.
Jessi recently returned to performing at Waterbomb Manila in February, after a months-long hiatus. The 36-year-old singer of hits like Nunu Nana (2020) and Zoom (2022) was heavily criticised after a fan of hers was assaulted in front of her in September 2024. The assailant was reportedly an acquaintance of someone Jessi knew.
She left the scene and did not report the attack to the police.
Jessi was eventually cleared of all charges, with the police citing insufficient evidence of her concealing and aiding the escape of a criminal. But her career suffered, as her contract with her agency DOD Entertainment was terminated.
For more information on the festival, go to ticketmaster.sg – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
