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Artist News Gigs & Festivals
South Korean pop stars to perform in North Korea for first time since 2005
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 21 March 2018
South Korean pop stars are to perform in North Korea for the first time in more than a decade, it has been announced. A selection of artists will embark on the visit later this month, after North Korea sent performers to the recent Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea.
In a statement, the South Korean government said that a delegation of around 160 people will travel to the North. Among them will be girl group Red Velvet and veteran singers Sun-Hee Lee and Yong-Pil Cho – the latter being the last South Korean artist to perform in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang back in 2005.
Talks were held between the two countries yesterday, with a delegation from the South led by musician and producer Yoon-Sang Lee. According to Reuters, he said at a press conference: “While we’re on the stage, I believe it will be difficult to portray personal feelings towards denuclearisation. Our first task will be to instil the same awe in North Korean audiences as we do our South Korean ones and make sure nothing is awkward”.
South Korean officials are due to visit Pyongyang later this week to inspect venues for the visit and ensure that they can accommodate the performers.
