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Meraki to represent PH in K-Pop Cover Dance Festival finals in Seoul
Meraki to represent PH in K-Pop Cover Dance Festival finals in Seoul
An all-female dance crew will carry the Philippine flag to South Korea after emerging as grand champion of the Philippine leg of the K-Pop Cover Dance Festival (KCDF).
Meraki secured the country's lone berth to the KCDF finals in Seoul after topping the competition held on June 20 during "Everyone's KPop: KPop in Colors," organized by the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines and The Seoul Shinmun Daily in collaboration with the Korea Copyright Protection Agency-Manila Office (KCOPA), Philippine K-pop Convention Inc. (PKCI), and Robinsons Galleria.
The victory gives Meraki the opportunity to represent the Philippines on the international stage as the country seeks a third straight KCDF world championship.
Celebrating the win, the group reflected on its long journey to the top.
"A dream that we've been chasing for so long has finally come true. Perseverance, passion, and dedication led us to this exact moment. Every member gave their heart and soul from day one all the way to the final stage. We couldn't be prouder of this family," Meraki said in a Facebook post.
The group now heads to Seoul carrying the hopes of Filipino K-pop dance enthusiasts following the country's back-to-back victories in the global competition.
KCC Philippines Director Kim Myeongjin expressed confidence in the country's representative while acknowledging the challenge ahead.
"The Philippines is proud to be the back-to-back KCDF World Champion, a testament to the incredible talent of Filipino dancers. With that title comes even greater anticipation, and I am certain the competition will be fiercer than ever this year," Kim said.
Alpha and Paradigm finished as first and second runners-up, respectively.
Beyond the dance competition, Kim said the event reflected the strong cultural ties between the Philippines and South Korea through K-pop.
"This is my fourth time joining this event, and every year I am reminded of just how strong the connection between Filipinos and K-pop has become. What began as an appreciation for music has grown into a vibrant community built on creativity, passion, and cultural exchange," he said.
The event also featured discussions on content creation and copyright awareness, as well as performances from Iskollas and Venisse Sy.
Kim encouraged participants and fans to continue pursuing their passions.
"I hope you take with you not only excitement and unforgettable memories, but also the inspiration to let your own talent and unique color shine — just like K-pop," he said.
With Meraki set to compete in Seoul, the Philippines will once again be represented on the global KCDF stage, aiming to extend its championship run against top K-pop dance cover teams from around the world.
