In Colombia, interest in K-pop has been growing in the country for about ten years. The increase in the number of concerts is proof of this, as the country is accustomed to more tropical and sensual sounds such as salsa, reggaeton, or bachata. In Medellin, K-pop academies welcome hundreds of students and organize K-pop festivals. Korean cuisine and K-beauty are also attracting more and more followers.
From our correspondent in Medellin,
In the Simon Bolivar neighborhood of Medellin, in Colombia, four days a week, Korean music resonates at the foot of a residential building. It is that of the K-Nation, a dance academy dedicated to the choreographies of K-pop groups, the Korean pop (“Korean pop” in French). The explosion of the group BTS on a global scale has helped popularize this musical genre originating from South Korea.
The dance hall is covered with posters of K-pop groups. Near the reception, an entire wall is dedicated to merchandising K-pop and Korean food products like ramyeon (a kind of soup with instant noodles and dried vegetables) and Pepero cookies in the shape of sticks covered in chocolate. The academy has more than 250 registered students. The youngest students are eight years old.
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