Popular Korean boy band TVXQ and Japanese singer Kuraki Mai will be joining the already star-studded line-up of the Asia Song Festival on Sept. 22 at the World Cup Stadium, Seoul.
This will be the fourth time in a row that TVXQ will perform during the Asia Song Festival, which started in 2004. Since making their debut in 2004, TVXQ has emerged as the hottest boy band in Korea. Their popularity now extends to Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other Asian countries.
Kuraki is one of J-pop's top singers, having released seven albums, 26 singles and several DVDs in the past eight years. Five of her albums have reached number one in Japan's Oricon charts. She has also released an English-language album under the stage name Mai K in the United States.
However, the message boards at the Web site of organizer Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE) are still filled with messages from J-pop fans requesting their favorite J-pop idols, such as Arashi, NEWS, Kat-tun and Nakashima Mika to appear at the event.
Japanese travel agencies have already started promoting tour packages for tourists who want to go to Seoul for the Asia Song Festival. The package includes tickets to the show, plane tickets and hotel accommodation.
Aside from TVXQ and Kuraki, the Asia Song Festival will feature stars from nine Asian countries. Performers at the event will be: Taiwan's A-mei, China's Zhao Wei, Hong Kong's Gigi Leung, Thailand's Golf Mike, Philippines' Barbie Almabis, Vietnam's Lam Truong and Indonesia's Peter Pan. Korean stars Lee Hyo-lee, Super Junior, SG Wannabe and FT Island will perform. Popular Taiwanese boy band F4 is a special guest at the event.
The Asia Song Festival is expected to attract around 30,000 fans. Tickets for the event are free. Tickets can be downloaded from the KOFICE Web site, www.kofice.or.kr, starting early September.
English 
