Paul Kim, AleXa and Peakboy. Photo: Auckland Council / Supplied
Korean pop stars are hosting a free concert in Auckland tonight, kicking off a week-long festival.
The Korean Culture in Auckland (KCAKL) event runs from 5pm Friday through to the end of March, as part of Auckland Council's World of Cultures event.
Organiser Gio Jin said he was excited to put the event front-and-centre in Auckland's Freyberg Square. In 2021 and 2022, Jin's K-Festival at Trusts Arena attracted crowds of up to 12,000 people.
"K-pop is booming, K-movies are booming, the food and everything is booming," he said. "I wanted to show the Korean vibe to New Zealand audiences."
This time, he worked with Auckland Council to bring Korean culture into the heart of Auckland. Spanning between High Street and O'Connell Street, the concert and its accompanying stalls and shops are a stone's throw from the University of Auckland and AUT campuses.
"On O'Connell Street, we have all the food there - Korean chicken, Korean pies and kimchi-related foods. On High Street there will be lots of cultural stalls, pop-up stores, so people can come and enjoy."
And on Freyberg Square, outside the Ellen Melville Community Centre, a stage for the main event. K-Pop stars Paul Kim, AleXa and Peakboy were the most prominent artists billed for the opening night concert, which would also include some local acts.
"[Paul Kim] lived here for about six years in Christchurch, so when I first proposed it to him he really liked the idea," Jin said. "AleXa was the winner of the American Song Contest last year, and she had a concert here yesterday."
Auckland Council principal of city centre place activation Barbara Holloway said she was thrilled to include the event in World of Cultures.
"We really want to celebrate everyone who's here, we've got this incredible wide range of families and young people in Auckland, and we want to honour each of them and make them feel proud of being in the city."
She said data from the 2018 census showed 70 percent of New Zealand's Korean population lived in Auckland.
"There's now 27,000 Koreans living in Auckland, this is the opportunity to showcase the food, and the culture, and the clothes, and of course the K-stars."
Aucklanders can enjoy Korean food, dance and music at KCAKL through to Friday, 31 March.