The 2025 K-POP Festival Dance Competition is now in progress. Following two successful editions in Abuja, this year's event will take place in Abuja, offering participants a fresh stage to showcase their talents.

Competition Schedule:

Preliminary Round: 5th – 25th May 2025

Finalists’ Announcement: 2nd June [Via email only]

Grand Finale: Saturday, 14th June 2025

Venue: Abuja

Judging Criteria:

Choreography/Composition/Uniformity - 30%

Expression - 40%

Stage Charisma - 30%

Prizes:

Prizes will be announced later

 (The winning work of the 1^st & 2^nd winners will be sent to Korea for a chance to participate in the 2025 K-Pop World Dance Festival in Changwon)

Please CAREFULLY READ ALL the instructions below

Instructions:

What to submit: Section 1 [The Videos]

All Participants must submit 3 videos (1 K-pop Cover Dance Video, 1 introduction Video and 1 previous best K-pop cover dance video by your team) for the competition.

• ●The dance video is a performance of ONE K-pop song. [Please note that the song & choreography you use for the preliminary round will be same as your performance for the finale if you or your team makes it to the final.]

• ● An introduction video that tells the story of you or your team.

• ●A Youtube link of any of your best previous K-pop cover dance performance by you or your team.

Dance Video:

• ●The dance video must be a K-pop song
  

• ●Do not wear masks during the dance performance

 Introduction Video: (Please make sure to include English subtitles in your introduction video)

• ● Introduce yourself (for groups, each member should introduce themselves); Name, Nationality, Occupation, other self promotion.

• ●Tell us your motivation for joining the competition

• ●Tell us why you chose the song you performed for the competition
  

• ●Tell us your favorite K-pop group and why

• ●What do you have to say to the judges? (Shout out to the judges)
  

• ●At the end of the video please say these exact words: 2025 K-POP World Festival in Changwon GO FOR IT!

What to submit: Section 2 [Files for the Finale]

This section requires the submission of files that will be used if you make it to the finale

• ●Submit an accurate audio file of your performance song

• ●Submit 2 photos of you or your team. 1 landscape and 1 portrait sized photo [please ensure that it is a photo with good quality]

• ●Submit soft copies of any valid ID cards of all your team members [International Passports, National ID Card, Driver's license or Voters card] this will be used for payment processing.

• ●Submit a two line introduction of you or your team. (Your submission will be used to introduce your performance by the MC during the final competition)

IMPORTANT NOTICE

In past editions, some winners were unable to travel to Korea due to not having valid international passports. As a result, having a valid passport is now a key requirement for all team members to be eligible for the final round.

While dance performance remains the primary judging criterion, preference will be given to teams whose members already hold valid passports. This is to ensure smooth travel arrangements if a finalist team is selected to represent at the K-Pop World Festival in Korea.

• ●Please only apply if you and your team are able to attend the grand finale in Abuja if shortlisted.

• ●KCCN will provide a modest transport allowance for shortlisted finalists traveling from outside Abuja. (Terms and conditions apply.)

How to submit:

Please upload your videos on Google drive and insert the link into the provided KCCN registration form below. (Kindly crosscheck to ensure that the Google drive link to your videos is open for public viewing)

LINK TO SUBMISSION FORM

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQS]

Q: Can we use any song for the competition?
A: No. Only K-pop songs are allowed for this competition. Non-K-pop songs will not be accepted.

Q: Can we use a song we danced to in a previous K-pop competition?
A: No. If you have participated in a previous competition and did not win, you are welcome to compete again but you must choose a different K-pop song for your performance.

Q: What is the required duration of the dance video we are to submit?
A: Your video should match the full duration of the K-pop song you’re performing.

Q: Can a previous winning team participate in this contest?
A: No. Please refer to the eligibility rules below for detailed information on restrictions for previous winners.

Eligibility Rules for Previous Winners:

• ●Not Eligible: If you were part of a team that previously won and was invited to Korea for the K-Pop World Festival, you are not allowed to participate again—either as a solo performer or as a member of another team. Any team found to include such members will be disqualified.

• ●Conditionally Eligible: If your team won 1^st or 2^nd in a past competition but was not invited to Korea, you may join or form a new team. However, a new team can include no more than two members from the same previously winning team. If a team has more than two members from a previous winning team (that hasn’t been to Korea), it will be disqualified.

Q: When you say we should submit our best previous K-pop cover dance video, does it have to be one we've used in a past K-pop competition?
A: No. You can submit any K-pop cover dance video that you or your team has performed — it doesn't have to be from a previous competition. We simply want to see what you consider your best K-pop cover, whether it was created for a contest, a performance, or just for fun.

Q: What if we don’t have previous K-pop dance videos as a team?
A: That’s okay. If your team doesn’t have any previous K-pop cover dance videos, you can compile and edit practice videos into one video, upload it to YouTube, and submit the link in the application form.

Q: Can we apply if not all our team members have international passports?
A: Yes, you can apply as long as all team members are confident they can obtain their international passports before 14th June 2025. However, during finalist selection, priority may be given to teams whose members already have valid passports.
PLEASE NOTE: HAVING A PASSPORT IS NOT THE ONLY SELECTION CRITERION — ALL TEAMS WILL STILL BE JUDGED PRIMARILY ON THEIR DANCE PERFORMANCE.

Q: Will KCCN provide support for teams traveling from outside Abuja?
A: Yes. KCCN will provide a modest transport allowance for teams coming from outside Abuja.

Q: Can I participate as a solo dancer?
A: Yes, solo participation is allowed. However, please keep in mind that as a one-person team, you’ll need to make an extra effort to stand out against larger group performances.

Q: Can I participate in both the singing and dance categories?
A: No. Participants are only allowed to join one category — either dance or singing, not both