omonatheydid | SHINee, KBS, and MBC are making an appearance in Russia this September!

jetaime-pyon.livejournal.com posting in

Just as with everywhere else, it looks like Hallyu has finally made its way into Russia, enough to gain some attention from the media.

To summarize, video basically calls it first the Korean ~language~ wave, and explains how many Russian students in Moscow are attending a prominent Korean language school called Won Gwang. Ever since last year, many teenagers and young adults have been showing great interest in the Korean wave, particularly in K-pop, and that has motivated them to learn more about Korea, particularly the language and culture.

This event seems to be very under the wraps and I personally haven't heard a word about it until one of my friends from Russia mentioned it. It looks as though the fans themselves are very involved in putting together/discussing the event, as can be seen on the official discussion/news thread on the Russian equivalent of Facebook, In-Contact (v kontakte). Below are translations from the pages. Also, it all looks to be very rushed planning and I am wondering if any of this will really go through..

Ildar Bakeev: (Posted as a series of updates) (Side note: This guy is the rep/organizer for the concert in Russia)

My friends, I have good news for you: we have received an opportunity to have SHINee perform at a festival on September 7th in Moscow. But my greatest doubt is, in that not everyone can just drop everything and make it to the show. I would like to ask everyone to send an email to shinee@19-00.ru with a brief verification of attendance. It will be held at one of the clubs in Moscow. Nowadays I'm very busy and not around here often, but that doesn't mean we're not working for you.

Friends, by our request and with the help of the Culture Center, the group was able to find time only on September 7th: they have a very tight schedule. I understand that this date is very close and not everyone will be in the city at the time, but I'm afraid that we won't have another opportunity. Everything depends on you. The date is September 7th, and the time is estimated for 19:00(7PM). If there are different opinions in regards to the start time, we can look into that. But the date cannot be changed.

Speaking truthfully, it took a lot of convincing. The group is very busy and they don't come cheap. You of course know, that they work large halls, and it wouldn't be very interesting for them to cater to an audience of 1000-2000 people. I hope that everything works out. As for next time, we'll create a concert on a larger scale.

The show has already been established as do-able for September 7, and I met with the Korean representative, who told me ~officially~ that SHINee can come to Moscow for September 7th.

For now we are planning for the venue to be at Club Milk, with wh I've made a verbal deal, but need everyone's verifications once again to be sure. I know that if someone really wants to make it, they will make it. Tickets are looking to be around 3000 rubles each (around W112,000).

Lastly, it was either Tuesday or Wednesday that I spoke with the director of the Culture Center, Mr. Yan. Currently we are specifying the format of the concert, but by the words of the the Culture Center, SHINee are 90% going to hold the performance in Moscow.

1. Concert
We've contacted the representative concerning the concert. Earlier, we asked him about the concert, but there was a misunderstanding, because he doesn't know Russian well, and our discussion was led in three languages (Russian, English, Korean). Today, when we contacted him, he thought that we meant the concert at the festival. So the question regarding the actual concert remains open. For now there is no definite information, and the representative will go to discuss these questions on August 22nd. He will keep us posted.

2. Festival
The festival, referring to the Cover Dance Festival, will for sure be held on September 6. At this point, it is being planned for the morning. The location will be at the House of Music. The capacity for the building is 550 people. BUT, there is a possibility that a different building will be rented with a capacity for 2,000 people. That question will be decided in Korea. SHINee will be the judges at the festival, and will be performing a minimum of 3-4 different songs. The duration of the festival will be approximately 5 hours. Two main channels will also come - KBS and MBC. The entrance is free, and there are no limitations as to age - anyone desiring may come to the festival, so long as there is space.

3. Wongwang School
Right after the festival, the press will make their way to the Wongwang school. The director urged for many people to show up, a minimum of 400 people. Whoever wishes, may feel free to show up. There will be coverage for a program of Russian K-pop fans. Assembly is needed. There is also a request (presumably by the same director) to exclude(!!!) all fan goods (posters/fansigns, shirts, and so on).

TL;DR
SHINee will arrive in Russia on the 5th.
They will be judges at a K-pop cover dance festival on September 6th.
Are ~most likely~ holding a small concert at a club called Milk, in Moscow on the 7th.

I say this indefinitely because the organizer is still working out the blueprints with the representatives from Korea. Apparently everything is "90% happening" as of now. (tbh I was considering flying to this from Seoul, my mom even offered to buy me a plane ticket.. but if there isn't a 100% guarantee then ehhh not sure if I want)

Also, info about this dance festival, it's actually a world-wide event: http://www.coverdance.org/

Sources
SHINee in Russia, Moscow discussion thread@vkontakte
SHINee in Russia, Moscow news/updates thread@vkontakte
Video: sasa1aq@YT
Translations: me, credit as Oh Tae-Eun@LJ

As is usually the case, the popularity of Hallyu is largely over-exaggerated and it's pretty underground in Moscow I think.. I visited there last winter and my Korean friends living there didn't know a thing about K-pop ~_~ And in all honesty this event sounds so sketchy I wouldn't be surprised if SHINee didn't hear anything about it until right before the plane ride there Dx