Returning to Korea for the first time in two years following its 2024 edition in Busan, ROUND Festival generated considerable excitement even before the event began. First launched in 2020 as an online live-streaming festival during the COVID-19 pandemic, ROUND has since traveled through Indonesia, Busan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, and the Philippines before returning to Korea in Incheon, a city renowned for its vibrant music culture and annual summer rock festival. The first round of tickets sold out shortly after reservations opened, while the second round also attracted overwhelming interest, reaffirming ROUND's growing presence as a leading music festival connecting ASEAN and Korea. Ambassadors and representatives from ASEAN countries also attended the event, demonstrating strong interest in the festival.

As the performances began, Namdong Gymnasium transformed into a vibrant celebration where audiences of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds came together through music. ASEAN communities and international students living in Korea gathered to see artists from their home countries, while Korean music fans came to discover ASEAN music they rarely have the opportunity to experience firsthand. Throughout the venue, audiences naturally mingled across nationalities. Fans posed together for commemorative photos in front of the photo wall, while spectators waved national flags, held up messages of support, cheered, and sang along.

This spirit of musical exchange extended beyond the audience to the artists themselves. During the official welcome ceremony, participating musicians shared their experiences and musical inspirations, building friendships across cultural and national boundaries.

From 10CM and LEE YOUNGJI to KAIA and EVERGLOW: Extraordinary Performances Beyond Borders

ROUND Festival brought together leading musicians from ASEAN and Korea, delivering outstanding performances that transcended language and national boundaries.

Korean artists including 10CM, who served as the festival's host throughout both days, LEE YOUNGJI, Roy Kim, and LEE SEUNG YOON received enthusiastic cheers whenever they took the stage. ASEAN artists, many of whom were being introduced to Korean audiences for the first time, also drew tremendous responses.

Indonesia's Eastern Indonesian Collective, formed by the artists behind the mega-hit "Tabola Bale," which has surpassed 570 million views on YouTube, instantly had the audience dancing with their infectious energy. Tilly Birds, the Thai band helping bring Thai music to international audiences, captivated festivalgoers by stepping down from the stage and interacting directly with fans.

One of the most unexpected moments came when Malaysian singer-songwriter HAEL HUSAINI began performing "Memory of the Wind" by Korean singer NAUL. As the familiar Korean lyrics filled the venue, surprised cheers erupted throughout the audience before turning into a collective sing-along. The sight of ASEAN and Korean fans singing a Korean song performed by a Malaysian artist perfectly captured the spirit of ROUND: connecting people through music beyond linguistic and cultural differences.

Special collaborative performances between ASEAN and Korean musicians were another major highlight. When the Philippines' KAIA joined forces with Korea's EVERGLOW to perform EVERGLOW's hit song "DUN DUN," the venue erupted in cheers. EVERGLOW, known for their powerful girl-crush performances, and KAIA, a rising P-Pop group whose members grew up listening to K-Pop, performed with the chemistry of a single group, thrilling the multinational audience. Another unforgettable moment came when festival host 10CM and Filipino singer-songwriter TJ Monterde performed 10CM's song "Fine Thank You and You?" together. Thousands of lights illuminated the audience, filling the venue with a warm and heartfelt atmosphere. It was a moment that embodied the unique synergy of ROUND, bringing ASEAN and Korea together through music.

Meanwhile, additional programs for music fans also received enthusiastic responses. ASEAN fans living in Korea had the opportunity to meet artists from their home countries in person through exclusive FAN MEETUP sessions. The Wish Bus, a mobile live music platform operated by Wish FM, a leading radio station in the Philippines, offered another unique opportunity for musicians and fans to connect beyond the main festival performances. Additionally, volunteers from the Seoul Global Center provided multilingual guidance and interpretation support on-site, helping festivalgoers from diverse national backgrounds enjoy the event with ease. 

ASEAN and Korea Connected Through Music: ROUND Demonstrates the Value of Cultural Exchange

The excitement of the festival continued online. Following the performances, social media platforms were filled with enthusiastic reactions and personal accounts from audience members. Fans shared comments such as "It was such a meaningful experience to see artists from different ASEAN countries, whom we rarely have the chance to encounter, all in one place," "It felt like a dream to see my favorite singer from my home country performing here in Korea," and "I realized that music has the power to connect people's hearts beyond borders and languages." As of November 10, live performance Reels posted on ROUND's official social media accounts had accumulated more than 2.2 million views, generating thousands of shares and tags.

Returning to Korean audiences after two years, this year's ROUND Festival went beyond a conventional music concert, reaffirming the possibilities for cultural solidarity and exchange between ASEAN and Korea. True to the vision established at its launch in 2020, the festival once again demonstrated the power of music as a universal language through which people can exchange inspiration and communicate as equals, regardless of nationality or language.

The event also marked another meaningful step in ROUND's evolution into an influential cultural platform connecting new generations across ASEAN and Korea.

The exciting and memorable performances of “2026 ROUND in Korea” will be brought to television audiences on November 30 at 11:00 PM (KST) on KBS 2TV, followed by a broadcast on KBS WORLD in December for viewers around the world. The performances will subsequently be made available through ROUND's official YouTube channel.

Further information is available on ROUND's official website and social media channels.

ROUND will continue its journey in Singapore in 2027.

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