2025 K-POP World Festival Ireland Preliminary
the Application is now OPEN!!
Attention K-pop fans in Ireland!
We are delighted to announce the 「2025 K-pop World Festival: Ireland Preliminary」 is now open for application!
The Live event of the Ireland Preliminary are as below:
K-POP World Festival: Ireland – July 3rd(Thu) 2025, 6:30pm
VENUE: The O'Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, 6 Denmark Street Great, Rotunda, Dublin 1, D01 TK25
All participants who wish to compete must go through the video round and then qualify to perform live in the O'Reilly Theatre. For the video round, all applicants must upload 2 videos of their performance, and one introductory video on YouTube and send the link to us via email (please see “How to apply” guidelines for email address).
The two videos must be performing different songs.
The embassy will choose the best acts to go forward to the live event in The O'Reilly Theatre. Videos must be submitted no later than 4pm Friday May 16th 2025. Please read the rules and guidelines below carefully before submitting your entry.
The winning team in the live event will be recommended by the Embassy to get a chance (no guarantee) to perform in the World Finals - to be held in Changwon, Korea in October 2025!
Here are the Guidelines! Please read these carefully.
[ Rules and Guidelines ]
- All contestants must submit two video clips, each with a different song to ireculture@mofa.go.kr
: Upload the videos onto your own YouTube Account and send us the YouTube link.
(Attachment of mp4 files, or non-Youtube links or download files will NOT be accepted)
- The contestant must also send one introductory video of the team. This video will be an opportunity to tell your story and show a different side of your team.- If you would like to show us more, you may also send us a practice video of the cover-dance or singing that your team has made beforehand. (YouTube link)
- There is no designated song for the competition, so you can choose 2 songs freely that can show your team’s strength most effectively.
- Each performance video (dance & performance / vocal) should not be longer than 3 minutes.
- You will be able to perform the full length of the song (longer than 3 minutes) on the live performance in the O'Reilly Theatre, if you pass your video round.
- Each applicant must fill and sign their application form (and parental consent form if under 18) and attach in the pdf file.
- Any false information regarding your application will result in disqualification at any stage of the competition. (ie. Submiting fake parental consent, faking being a resident of ROI, fake age etc).
- Please note that one of the songs you submit as part of your video entry must be the song you perform on Live performance day. Also, if one of your performance songs is used by multiple applicants, you will have to perform the song that does not coincide with the other team. This is to facilitate the smooth organization of the event, and to celebrate various k-pop songs; for that reason, if once submitted, we cannot allow late changes of the song to the performance and ask your cooperation in the matter.
[ How to apply ]
- First, Upload your 3 videos to YouTube : 2 performance Videos. Plus, 1 video introducing yourself/your team.
- Second, send us the link through e-mail text with the attached Application Forms(pdf file) of each member to ireculture@mofa.go.kr
Title of email must be: [Kpop Ireland 2025] Application : "team name"
Email text must be as below format:
Hello, we are "team name" and would like to submit our application. 1. Link 1: (youtube link) - Song title of Link 1: (title) 2. Link 2: (youtube link) - Song title of Link 2: (title) 3. Introduction video : (youtube link) 4. Extra video if you have : (youtube link) 5. Number of applicants under 18 : (number) 6. Team leader name and mobile number: (name and mobile number) |
Attachment: Application form*s of all members in pdf files.
Please see attached "How to send application email (Sample)"
* Each member of the team should submit their own Application Form (if participants under 18 are included in a team, you should also submit “Parent/Guardian Consent Form); that is, if you are a team of 5 members, you must submit 5 application forms.
- Application Deadline: 5pm Friday, 16th May 2025 to ireculture@mofa.go.kr
[ Evaluation of Video Round ]
A Review panel will select around 10-15 teams to perform in the O'Reilly Theatre. Each team will be informed by email of their video round result by Wednesday 28th May 2025.
[ Live Event ]
Embassy will contact teams regarding live event instructions.(Rehearsal schedule, arrival time, dress room etc)
A Reviewing Panel (Judges), consisting of 3, will evaluate the teams based on the following criteria: Choreography/Composition/Uniformity/ (30%), Expression (40%), and Stage Charisma (30%)
- 2 teams for the best dance & performance, 1 team for the best singing will be the winners.
- Total 3 teams will be awarded prizes and be given the opportunity to participate in the main competition which will be held in Korea at the end of September
* Please be aware that winning at the Preliminary in Ireland does NOT guarantee the advancement to the main competition in Korea. The winning team in Ireland must compete with winning teams in other countries and be selected among them by the Korean judge panel.
[ Eligibility to enter 2025 Kpop Festival Ireland Preliminary ]
- All performers must be residents in the Republic of Ireland
- Korean nationals or those of Korean descendants are not eligible to participate
- If dance performers do not sing live, we’d suggest that they lip-synch adequately
- If performing in a group, there is no upper limit on the number of members. However, if a team of large scale (eg. more than 10 members) is invited to the World Final in Korea, organizers may require your team to reduce the numbers invited to participate.
- For participants under 18, parental permission to perform will be required
[ Frequently Asked Questions ]
Q1> What is the schedule after the Ireland preliminary?
A> The Embassy will accept all applicants' performance videos. Then the judges will select around 10-15 teams that will perform live on the stage of the O'Reily Theatre, on Thursday 3rd July 6:30pm.
Based on the live stage performance, a total of 3 (two dance & performance, one vocal) teams' videos(video will be taken by the Embassy of the live performance) in Ireland will be sent to Korea for the main evaluation by the National Broadcasting Company KBS WORLD at the end of July.
Then, final 8 teams will be selected from all over the world to go to the main competition in October (TBC) in the City called Changwon in Korea.
Q2> It is said that the contestants must submit (1) two Videos of dance performance or singing with random songs, (2) one Introductory video of the team, and (3) a video or youtube link of a practice video that they already have. If we don't have a practice video, does it have a negative effect on the participants?
A> A practice video is not a requirement, so it will not affect the result even if you don't submit it. It is just another opportunity to demonstrate how good your team is. The practice video/clip can be a mix of two or more songs.
Q3> Do we have to dance exactly the same as the original version? Or can I do a remix of the song, use special effects? Can I have back up dancers?
A> Generally we would like the dance or singing to be as it originally is, but we will allow small improvisational dance or vocal skills to be added to show your competence as long as it does not overshadow the original.
All videos should not be cross edited with too many special effects. Camera shooting should be still and should show every single member’s dance moves from head to toe. Movie camera from different moving angles, or any special effect, alteration or manipulation to the video will not help the judges see each member’s face, dance skills etc.
Basically, we would like to see how well the team imitates the original version and perform. However, if the team is talented enough to show us a little bit of more creative moves or voice that goes well with the original flow, that would be regarded as a much more impressive video. But again, no special effects please.
Plus, there should be no back up dancers.
Q4> Will everyone perform live on stage of the O'Reilly Theatre?
A> Based on all applicants' performance videos, the judges will select around 10-15 teams to perform live on stage. It will be a full day of rehearsals and performance in front of the audience. Based on the live performance, the judges will announce the winners!
Q5> Can my song be longer than 3 minutes?
A> The Video round should be limited to 3 minutes. However, if you are through to the live performance round in the O'Reilly Theatre, you may perform the full song that is longer than 3 minutes. We would like to keep the video round within 3 minutes considering the number of applicants the judge will have to see.
Q6> How can I join the K-pop Festival as an audience?
A> We will release the tickets for audience at the end of June on Eventbrite. We will announce on our social media and our Website when we do so! Keep an eye out!!
If you have any other questions, please email ireculture@mofa.go.kr or call the Embassy at 01-609-9111
We will be looking forward to seeing your amazing performance. Thank you :)