Bongwha Global Gayo Festival selects finalists for Oct. 17 Songyi Festival showdown

Nine countries, one stage in Bongwha

Bongwha County Citizens Hall hosted the 2nd Bongwha Global Gayo Festival's second preliminary round on September 20. Singers and teams from China, Taiwan, Mongolia, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Africa, Vietnam, and Cambodia competed alongside domestic entrants. The judges—baritone Kwon Dae-il, singer Choi Jung-ho, and Andong MBC PD Kang Byung-gyu—scored vocal ability and musical expressiveness.

How many advanced? One outlet says 10 finalists made it through. Two others say 12. Kim Rain (김레인) and Angelina (안젤리나) are confirmed finalists. The second-round entry count is equally murky: one source lists 25 advancing from the first round, two list 27.

The road to the final

August brought the first preliminary round across six cities—Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Andong. Roughly 100 participants and teams showed up in total.

October 17 is final day. The Bongwha Songyi Festival's special stage will host the competing finalists plus invited performers Jang Han-byul (장한별) and Jung Hye-rin (정혜린). Costanhispé (코스탄히스페), last year's grand prize winner, performs as well.

The World Confucian Culture Foundation (세계유교문화재단) runs the festival.

Kim Sung-gyu, Director of the Culture and Tourism Division, said: "It is significant that participants of various nationalities from across the country are visiting Bongwha and communicating through music." The stated goal is a cross-border cultural exchange space—which nine countries showing up at one preliminary round in a county of roughly 30,000 seems to confirm.