JAKARTA, 31 July 2023 – The ASEAN-Korea Music Festival ROUND 2023 (2023 ROUND), hosted by Korean broadcasting company KBS and supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, will take place in person for the first time after a three-year hiatus.
The ROUND Festival, which began in 2020, is a music festival that serves as a platform for ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Korea to connect through music. Despite the downturn in the music festival market due to COVID-19, the festival has persevered by transitioning to an online format, and consistently produced high-quality content that promoted cultural exchanges and solidarity between AMS and Korea.
The festival is highly regarded for its ability to showcase ASEAN’s influential lineup of artists and create a space for networking and interaction among musicians and music fans worldwide.
The 2023 ROUND, which comprises a music forum and festival, features the slogan “Step Out, Sing as One,” symbolising the overcoming of challenges and the desire for everyone to come together in one space, to sing and enjoy together.
The first event, the ASEAN-Korea Music Forum themed “Exploring ASEAN and Korean Music” will be held on 3-4 August in Seoul. Professionals from the music industry in AMS and Korea will participate and engage in an active exchange of collaboration and networking.
After the forum, the 2023 ROUND Musical Festival will take place on 21-22 October at the Beach City Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, marking the first offline edition of the festival after being streamed online in 2020 and 2021.
As the host country, Indonesia will showcase a diverse range of talented musicians, including renowned singer-songwriter Isyana Sarasvati and Barasuara. Two other prominent bands will also be participating.
From Korea, the band SE SO NEON, who recently garnered attention for their collaboration with BTS’s RM on their latest album, has secured their spot in the lineup. Furthermore, SURL, who will embark on a Southeast Asia tour this fall, is also part of the initial lineup for the festival.
The festival will be available for viewing on the KBS World YouTube channel. Presently, there are also plans to broadcast documentaries that introduce ASEAN’s cultures featuring Isyana Sarasvati and SE SO NEON’s Hwang Soyoon.
Details of the event can be found on ROUND Festival’s website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms.
For press inquiries, contact:
ROUND Secretariat – Sookyung Park at moamoaproduction@gmail.com
Director – Gwonil Park at cooleng@me.com
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