When the Korean Volunteers/Staffs, Performers and Stars are in Singapore, they are getting to know our country's enviornment and places at the same time. Moreover, to the Korean Stars especially, they learnt that there's a huge Korean-Pop Fan Base in Singapore who awaits them to come in the future dates. The Korean Residents in Singapore might also get this opportunity to invite their friends and relatives to visit Singapore and participate in these 3 weeks of Korea Festival. In view of the broadcasting of the K-Pop Night concert in SBS Korea, it gives an opportunity for the Korean to see the enthusiasm of Singaporean have for their country's Idols. (They will be proud of it!)
I strongly believe this year; Korea Festival 2008 has left a great impact in a big population of Korean Fanatics in Singapore. In the future, if there are subsequent similar festivals being held, more investors will be more willing to invest in the events.
TOURIST ATTRACTION
As an attendee of the Korean Flavour Fiesta and a staff at the K-Pop Night Concert, I realised that there are an equal mixture of both Singaporean and Korean Audiences. The Koreans who went for the events may or may not be residents of Singapore. Even if they are Korean Residents in Singapore, after this Festival, they would not feel lonely or isolated from their own culture. They know that even if they are living in Singapore, there are events catering to their interests and they can also see their idols away from here.
The Stage of the Korean-Pop Night did help in pulling closer ties between the both countries because of its design.
You can see from the Stage Picture above that it is divided into 2 sides - one side is Singapore with Merlion as Representative; another side is Korea with Drum as Representative. It is Unique, a specially designed stage for K-Pop Night Concert.
With its initial objectives of establishing closer ties between both Korea and Singapore, and with the two countries' Government coming together to make this Festival a successful one, I can conclude that the Tourism impact is huge. As an attendee, I would want to know Korea even deeper after the Flavour Fiesta and would definitely want to travel there personally with my family members or friends to try their original dishes. I believe it will be a totally different atmosphere and taste to try the Korean Dishes in Singapore compared to having them in Korea. I know the Korean would want to come to Singapore for our Famous Food and New Attractions in the future too.
IMAGE MAKER
Establishing closer ties definitely cannot be done just by one Korea Festival 2008, thus future opportunities must continue to be planned to pro-longed the establishment. After this Korea Festival, both countries will have a better picture and understanding between each other. There will be also a postive image formed of Singapore's capability to host a Korean-Pop Night Concert. Even though it lasted for only a night of 2 Hours; a long planning time was spent. It also help contribute to overcome the traditional image of Singapore Government not having interest in boosting the Entertainment Industry.
It also helps to prove that Singapore is able to hold large scale community events and the effort the Government placed in building better relationship with other countries.
CATALYSTS
The Korea Festival 2008 will definitely help to stimulate similar events in the future due to its huge success and media coverage. I believe this is the first time for Singapore-held festival concert being broadcast in Korea's Television Channel. Actually there is a similar concert-like event of Korean celebrities being broadcast in Singapore too; it is called the Music Star. It showcased a larger scale of Korean Celebrities like SHINee and DBSK; I believe Singapore's Korean Fanatics will not want to miss it.
This Festival helps to create job opportunities for both Korean and Singaporean like me, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, helping to handle the event crowd. Both countries has also gained recognition after this Festival.
Now it may be the Korean Wave coming in into Singapore, I personally hope in the future, the J-Pop Wave will hit Singapore too. I am a big Japanese-Fanatic, not in the anime section but Japanese Pop Music. Perhaps, after the Korea Festival 2008, it will not be a long wait for the next Wave. (:
ANIMATOR
This Korea Festival 2008 has many FIRST TIMES in Singapore, apart from the K-Pop Concert, the Korean Film Festival has also encouraged some of the Best Korean Movies being screened first time in Singapore Cinema Complex.
There are many feedbacks from the audiences of the K-Pop Concert that they hope the Host and Hostress of the Concert can speak more in English Language because they felt neglected. Although there was a representative from Singapore Radio Station, Y.E.S FM93.3 DJ Tan Li Yi to host the event, she did not do a good job in balancing the speech in English and Korean. Many Singaporeans could not understand almost half of their speech. However, I think they had did a great job and she had tried her best because it was her first time staging it with Korean. (Can you imagine the fright?)
[Please refer to Korean wave in S’pore - Urban Wire Article]
Many of them are also quite disappointed with the amount of celebrities who came for the concert. I guess the limitation is due to the First Time, the Korean Celebrities are coming to Singapore for the First time, the sponsors and organiser may be afraid of the response.
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