Winners at Cebu K-Pop Star 2018

CEBU, Philippines — Hundreds of Korean pop music fans gathered at the ICON Club at Mabolo over the weekend to kick start this year’s search for the 2018 Cebu K-Pop Star. Coming in droves and greeting each other warmly, these K-Pop buffs also turned on the heat as they fought for a place on the CKS stage.

 Out of more than 140 applicants, only 80 were chosen to perform at the CKS Auditions on July 21, Saturday at the ICON Club. Among the participants were solo and group acts who showcased sing and dance covers of K-Pop songs, embodying their favorite K-Pop idols with every bit and fiber of their being.

 With the speakers blaring one K-Pop track after the other, these K-Pop fans gathered not only to compete but also to relish in each other’s company as like calls to like in this one day event.

 The affair, brought by the Cebu Korean Association Inc., in partnership with the Korean Consulate Office in Cebu, lasted the whole day. Now on its seventh staging, the 2018 CKS Auditions was judged by Joseph Shin, Admin Chief Officer of the Korean Consulate Office in Cebu Joseph Shin; Andy Kim, director of Club Four Seasons; Bruce Shin, school director of Interactive Cebu ESL; and Binibining Cebu 2017 Apriel Smith.

 Judged on their coordination, energy, voice quality, stage presence, confidence, projection, costume, and audience impact, eight out of the 80 performers were chosen as victors for this year’s CKS auditions, also known as the first phase of the competition.

 Cover group RABB7E, which performed BTS’s “Mic Drop” MAMA Remix, was hailed champion, winning P20, 000 in cash.  Coming in as first runner-up was SOLSTICE, also winning P20,000 with their rendition of NCT 127’s “Cherry Bomb.” Placing second runner-up was SUBZERO with P 10,000 for their take on EXO’s “Wolf.”

Five consolation prize winners were also chosen, each of them taking P5,000 namely, YOUNG BLOOD who did “Feeling” by UNB, XOXO Chemical Edition who performed “MAMA” by EXO, M16X who did “Fly” by GOT7, and BaDass who did BLACKPINK’S “DDU-DU DDU-DU.”

 The event also doubled for a recommendation to participate in this year’s K-Pop World Festival in Changwon City, South Korea. In this case, apart from being P20, 000 richer being the top two winners, RABB7E and SOLSTICE were chosen by the Korean Consulate in Cebu and will have the consulate’s recommendation to enter the international K-Pop event.

 With the consulate sending RABB7E and SOLSTICE’s performance videos, the Cebuano cover groups will have the chance to join the international event. Hosted by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) with the support of MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and MCST (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), the K-Pop World Festival’s global auditions will end this month. In its eighth year, the K-Pop World Festival will be looking into applicants from 91 areas throughout 74 countries. The Philippines currently represents two areas: Cebu and Manila, and RABB7E and SOLSTICE have been given the chance to become Cebu’s bets. But teams are still urged to join regardless if they’re recommended by the Korean Consulate Office or not.

 KBS World will be selecting 14 acts from all over the world and invite them to perform for the final round on October 5. If RABB7E and SOLSTICE do well between the auditions and pass further screenings, they will also have the chance to join the festival camp in Changwon for 13 nights and 14 days as they immerse in the K-Pop idol experience, and get to know about Korean culture up close and personal in a chance of a lifetime.

 Apart from competing, they will also get to catch performances of their favorite idol groups during the finals. Last year, idol groups BTS, Twice, Monsta X, NCT 127, and Astro, as well as singer Ailee performed in the festival.

 CKS participants need not fret, since CKS 2018 is far from over. Although they’ve wrapped up the auditions and have generously awarded eight victors, these participants also performed for a place in the second phase of CKS known as the pre-finals come August. Only 40 out of the 80 groups will make the cut and eventually about 25 finalists will face off in the 2018 Cebu K-Pop Star finals during the annual Korea Day Celebration in September.

 Cebu Korean Association Inc. President Cho Bong Hwan graced the 2018 CKS auditions and expressed his gratitude for the support from the Cebuanos. He says that he has enjoyed taking part in the affair for the last five years. Consul General Oh Sung Yong of the Korean Consulate Office in Cebu was also at the event, asking participants if they had had fun in the process.

 “My sincerest appreciation to all the participants of today’s audition. I would like to commend you all for sharing your talent, your time and your passion for K-Pop with us,” Consul General Oh Sung Yong said in his closing remarks.

 “I think that K-Pop is one of the beneficial factor that binds Filipinos and Koreans together and creates an avenue for the young generation to build teamwork and camaraderie through music and dance,” he added.

True enough, when the last performer Z7RCON’s music hit a glitch, the audience took it upon themselves to sing the song instead so the group could still perform.

 “It will boost mutual cultural exchange that makes our two countries continue to consistently connect and develop the established, growing and long-running friendship. I hope that one of you will be able to join the final audition on October 5 in Changwon, Korea,” Consul General Oh Sung Yong said.