KUALA LUMPUR, 19 June 2025 – The ASEAN-Korea Music Festival 2025 ROUND hosted by KBS WORLD, sponsored by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea and the ASEAN Secretariat, will be held from 21-22 June, at ZEPP Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

This year’s ROUND Festival commemorates the 65th anniversary of Korea-Malaysia diplomatic ties and will be hosted in Kuala Lumpur, the vibrant capital of Malaysia and the 2025 ASEAN Chair. The Korean lineup features Paul Kim, known as the “King of K-Drama OSTs,” Touched, a leading force in Korea’s indie scene known for their intense band sound that moves audiences; and Dragon Pony, a breakout rookie band quickly rising as the hottest name in the K-band scene.

Malaysia’s iconic girl group DOLLA—a symbol of youth culture—and the Philippines’ leading P-pop sensation 1st One, who topped Billboard’s “Hot Trending Songs” chart, have also joined the lineup. Tep Boprek—known as the “Khmer Goddess” and a dominant figure in Cambodia’s pop music scene—sparked an explosive response on the official ROUND Festival Instagram immediately upon upload, leading to a surge in ticket inquiries. Also joining the festival is Marsha Milan, dubbed Malaysia’s “Queen of OSTs,” who captured global attention by performing the Malay-language version of Disney’s Frozen theme song “Let It Go.”

Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, the ROUND Festival has rapidly grown into a premier destination to experience the vibrant energy and diverse spirit of ASEAN’s evolving music scene. At its core, the festival seeks to strengthen musical ties and foster meaningful exchanges between ASEAN and Korea through the universal power of pop music. Bringing together talented artists from all walks of life, the festival creates a space where artistic worlds collide, connecting people across borders, languages, cultures, and traditions, and inspiring music fans to see each other through a lens of equality and shared passion. In addition to the festival, the ROUND Forum also takes space annually, creating a space for ASEAN music professionals and artists to engage in meaningful networking and collaboration.

Since its launch in 2020, the ROUND Festival has been dedicated to sharing the rich musical heritage of ASEAN and Korea, fostering deeper connections through the universal language of music. During the pandemic, ROUND connected ASEAN fans via online live streams, and in 2023, it returned offline with a spectacular concert in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2024, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-ROK Dialogue Relations, ROUND took place in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

2025 marks the 36th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between ASEAN and Korea, celebrating decades of close cooperation across economic, diplomatic, security, and cultural sectors.

The powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand in March caused significant loss of life and property, bringing deep sorrow and pain to the wider ASEAN region. Through its official ROUND accounts, KBS World conveyed messages of comfort and hope to those affected and has since emphasised that this upcoming festival is being prepared not merely as a performance, but as a meaningful event aimed at delivering healing and resonance through the power of music.

Press Inquiries

Han Jiyoun: h.jeeeeyoun@gmail.com

Director Park Kwonil: cooleng@me.com

ROUND Instagram: http://instagram.com/roundfestival

ROUND YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/roundfestival

ROUND Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roundfestival.official

ROUND TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@roundfestival