Contest Category

2024 Changwon K-POP WORLD FESTIVAL MIDWEST PRELIMINARY

Contest Rules and Regulations

  1. Contest Overview: The 2024 K-POP World Festival in Changwon Midwest Preliminary (hereinafter referred to as the “KWF 2024”) will be on Saturday, June 1st, 2024.

  2. Eligibility Criteria:

    1. The contest is open to residents from the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin.

    2. Participants of all ethnicities are welcome to join in the Midwest Preliminaries. However, those of Korean descent are only eligible to participate if they hold U.S. citizenship. Regrettably, Korean participants holding green cards, other visas, or non-U.S. citizenship, regardless of their residency status, are not eligible. This requirement adheres to the eligibility standards set for the Midwest Preliminaries.

    3. Applicants must possess an unrestricted capacity to travel overseas and must hold a current passport. If selected as a finalist (winner of the Midwest Preliminary), a copy of your passport must be submitted within one week of selection.

    4. This contest prohibits participation from any individuals who currently or have historically been associated, in any role, with the contest's hosting organizations.

  3. Submission Procedure: Qualified participants are required to submit their contest application online within the submission window, from April 12th, 2024, to May 12th, 2024, at 11:59PM (Central Time).

  4. Online Preliminary Round Video Specifications:

    • Participants must perform a dance and/or vocal cover that features either a single Kpop song or a mix of songs. Importantly, the performance must include at least one complete song. When creating a mix, it must only contain songs from the same artist. For example, you may combine 'Deja Vu' with 'Sugar Rush Ride' by TXT, ensuring that at least one of these songs is performed in its entirety.

    • The performance duration must range between 2 to 5 minutes.

    • The performance content including dance, music, outfits, and gestures, must be suitable for all age groups. Excessive skin exposure is not allowed.

    • The chosen music must be a K-pop song by a K-pop artist(s). (example: XG, &Team, NCT Wish covers are not allowed)

    • If the performance incorporates original choreography, it should not exceed 1 minute of the total performance.

    • Team sizes for the contest are limited to 1-14 members. Each performance must not exceed the number of members in the original idol group being covered. For instance, a BTS cover should have no more than 7 members. If you include backup dancers in your act, be advised that backup dancers will NOT be considered for participation in the final round in Korea, regardless of the contest outcome.

    • Participants are prohibited from participating in multiple teams; only a single submission per team is allowed.

    • Video resolution must be a minimum of 1920x1080, full view (no close-ups), with a clear and clean background.

    • Video submissions must be made exclusively through YouTube links with either unlisted or public permission.

  5. On-site Midwest Preliminary Round Specifications:

    • Teams that pass the online preliminary round will be responsible for any travel expenses to attend the Midwest preliminary in Minnesota.

    • All team members must be physically present on the day of the event.

    • Any modifications to the final performance piece must be approved by MKDC.

  6. Prize Information:

    • The awards will be shared across both the vocal and dance categories, not separately for each. The first-place winners will receive $1,000, the second-place winners will receive $500, the third-place winners will receive $300

    • MKDC LLC retains the right to replace any prize with another of equivalent or greater value; winners do not have the right to request prize substitutions.

    • Prize recipients are solely liable for all taxes, duties, and any additional costs associated with their winnings.

    • The 1st place winner of the Midwest Preliminaries, who meets the eligibility requirements of the 2024 KBS K-POP World Festival in Changwon, will advance to compete for an opportunity to be part of the global qualifying round (inclusive of a trip to Korea) in the 2024 KBS K-POP World Festival in Changwon.

  7. General Terms:

    • Participation in the contest implies acceptance of all official rules and judges' decisions.

    • MKDC LLC and MOAC Mall Holdings LLC and any of its affiliates bear no responsibility for any injury, including death, suffered by any participant during the contest.

    • By entering, each entrant forever and irrevocably releases and holds harmless MKDC LLC, MOAC Mall Holdings LLC, KBS, and their respective affiliates, agents, advertising and promotion agencies, contest suppliers, and all their respective employees, officers, directors, managers, members, and owners from all claims, damages, or liabilities arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the entrant's participation and/or entry in the contest and/or receipt or use of any prize awarded in the contest.