Chennaiites take up K-Pop workout competition to beat lockdown blues

Chennai

One such recent attractions is a home workout competition announced by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea that has been picking up pace among Korean enthusiasts. Twenty-four-year-old software trainee Nara — who has been living in Chennai for over six years — already has her moves ready for the competition. Speaking to DT Next, she said, “I always wanted to be a part of a K-Pop challenge and this is a good opportunity. The consulate has put up a video of a dance workout using the song Wannabe by Itzy. To participate, we have to also make a similar video and share the link in the comments of the original post on Facebook.” Nara’s dance routine consists of a mix of slow and energetic steps because she hopes to inspire viewers to try it out themselves.

“I choreographed my routine in a way so that people can watch and follow it easily. This can also help them stay fit,” she said.

For 19-year-old Subhiksha, the competition is just another way to distract herself from the lockdown and to focus on what has been her passion for years — K-Pop.

“I have been following Korean music since 2008 and my interest in their culture grew because of so many K-Pop events that are held in Chennai,” she says. The student of fashion design recorded her dance workout routine on Friday and plans to upload it soon.

“I usually find dance routines like this quite draining, but there is something different about Korean music. It's almost irresistible and this challenge can help me become fit, so I took it up,” says Subhiksha.

The consulate has already begun receiving entries and has announced that Korean red ginseng extract is among the prizes up for grabs. Speaking about this initiative, Deputy Consul General Hong-yup Lee said, “We hope to showcase that this unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic could be a stunning tool to turn this challenge into a marvellous opportunity to further advance and boost the love with family and friends.”

“It is our aspiration to demonstrate the positive and dynamic mind, soul and spirit of Koreans to South Indians, just like how Bodhidharma, the Buddhist monk from Kancheepuram district conveyed the spiritual culture of Zen Buddism to Korea several centuries ago,” he added.