Big Stars to Perform at Incheon Asian Games

Renowned artists and K-pop stars will perform in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, which will take place between Sept. 19 and Oct. 4.

Rapper Psy and boy band EXO will celebrate the Game's opening, while its promotional ambassador JYJ will sing the event's official song.

Film director Im Kwon-taek, who is in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies, is working hard to highlight Korea's uniqueness, especially pop culture, which is sweeping across Asia and other parts of the world.

During the opening ceremony, soprano Jo Su-mi will sing "The Song of the Asiad", dedicated by poet Ko Un, along with a choir consisting of 919 residents of the host city symbolizing the event's opening date.

Actor Jang Dong-gun and star of the hit drama "Dae Jang Geum" Lee Young-ae will participate.

Other artists to perform include Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Ahn Sook-sun, master of pansori or traditional Korean narrative song, violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill, and cellist Song Young-hoon.

Meanwhile, the closing ceremony will feature popular idol groups Big Bang and CN Blue.

The Games' torch will be lit on Aug. 9 at New Delhi Stadium in India, where the Games were first held. Incheon's organizing committee came up with the idea to acknowledge the sporting event's history. Until now, the torch has been customarily lit in the host country.

The Olympic Council of Asia has decided to continue the new tradition.

The torch will then travel through Weihai, China, to arrive in Incheon on Aug. 13, where it will be combined with a separate flame lit on Mt. Mani, Ganghwa Island, on the 12th.