Riya Choudhary, Delhi

Korean Youtubers Min and Hoon have been running the popular YouTube channel “Korean Dost” which mainly shares their love towards Indian culture. Started in August 2019, their channel has been truly serving as a bridge between India and Korea as they aim to share cross-cultural love. The channel has become a huge hit and now has more than 1.44M subscribers.

They started exploring the true beauty of India initially by exploring and reacting to Indian songs, trailers, etc and later explored Indian cuisines, language, movies, and more. They even interviewed a few Indians living in Korea and also demonstrated all the great things about India as well as shared about Korea. As their love and curiosity for India increased, they planned their first trip to India in December 2019 and were surprised to see a lot of Indian fans there as they weren’t expecting that many people. They celebrated Min’s 27th Birthday with Indian subscribers. Sadly, I wasn’t able to go that day but since then I kept watching their videos and my admiration for them reached heights.

Then after the pandemic, last year they came to Mumbai and held one fan meet there along with their visit to one orphanage. Usually, their videos were helmed with Min and Hoon, sometimes their friend Eric, alias Nobita joined in as well. This year they introduced two new members of the Korean Dost family – Josh and Jinwoo. Josh is a hairstylist by profession and Jinwoo is a medical student.

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It was my long-time wish to meet Korean Dost in person and it came true when they dropped their surprise announcement of their next visit to Delhi. As soon as I got to know about the venue and date, I made up my mind not to miss this opportunity to see them live and fulfill my wish after being a Yaaron (they named this to their fans) for around 3 years. The event was held on December 20th at Pacific D21 Mall, Dwarka. It was organized by Vector Mob and Bio Valley were their gifting partners. Along with this, they planned one after-party at The Record Room, Hauz Khas Village, Delhi. It was curated by The Black Connection Talents team and supported by Vector Mob.

Here’s my experience of attending the meet-and-greet of Korean Dost

The event started with their heartfelt entry which made the crowd go swoon and all smiles. They greeted and as an opening act, they performed a cover of BTS’ Spring Day. Trust me their vocals stole our hearts and made every one of us sing along. I barely held my tears during the chorus part. Their stage presence was so magical and energetic. They expressed their gratitude as they had been waiting to visit Delhi again for a long time. After those two members sang Hindi songs for the event. Josh prepared a short cover of O Bedardeya from the Bollywood movie Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar and sang it too cutely. Hoon prepared a short cover of Tere Vaaste from the Bollywood movie Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. He shared that he was preparing to sing it and rehearsed a lot and asked every one of us to sing along as he felt a little nervous.

The next session was a Q & A prepared by them which included personalized gifts from each member – Min, Hoon, Josh, and Jinwoo. They asked questions and whoever answered first received their personalized gift, especially from the member who asked the question. They asked quick questions like: 

Hoon – Who came the farthest to attend the event?

Min – When is Min’s birthday?

Jinwoo – Guess Jinwoo’s age.

Josh – Tell Josh’s profession.

Whoever answered first and quickly received the gifts from them on stage. The gifts included Sheet masks, vitamins, a diffuser, Jinwoo’s passport-sized photos, artwork by Min, K-pop albums, etc. Also, as Min’s birthday was around the corner, so the organizers prepared a surprise celebration and bought a cake for him. He felt so touched and everyone sang Happy Birthday to him both in Korean and English. To make the session more fun, they held a dance-off where Indian fans showed their K-pop moves on songs such as Mic Drop (BTS), Anti Fragile (LE SSERAFIM), Can’t Stop Me (TWICE) and LALALALA (Stray Kids). They gave K-pop albums to those who won the dance-off.

The meet-and-greet ended with an exchange of gifts and photos with Korean Dost. This part made Korean Dost and attendees interact more closely. Korean Dost bought a gift for all attendees which includes their signed poster, stickers, SNAP AI card, etc. Fans prepared handmade posters, Indian snacks, cards, etc. for Korean Dost. Then they took photos with fans be it selca or group photos and that’s how the event came to an end. Even though I got to meet each one of them; that was a magical moment that I had never dreamt of, I literally went at a loss for words. I was just smiling and trying to process that they were in front of me. Their fan service is what I cannot put into words. This extraordinary moment left an indelible mark on me, creating an unforgettable evening filled with the wonder and magic of Korean Dost. While watching them on screens, Min and Josh caught my attention the most. I was literally in awe when they were the ones who stood along with me coincidently while taking the group photo. All the members attentively listened to my love for them (which I don’t know if I shared precisely or not because I was frozen in the moment) and it was truly a humbling experience for me. I must say that all of them have their own charms.

To conclude the event, Min and Jinwoo prepared a surprise performance on Candy by NCT Dream, which is a reinterpretation of H.O.T’s song with the same name. This was one of my favorite K-pop songs and I got in a fan-struck moment when they started performing it. I sang along with them and the whole crowd even danced to his addictive hook step altogether. I must say that this was the most memorable part of the event. With this, the event came to an end.

Here’s some experience shared by fans who attended the fan-meet

Ms. Nicky

I have been following Korean Dost since November 2019 and always wanted to meet them. When they first came to Agra, I wasn’t able to meet them. Then they were in Mumbai. I was in Mumbai and came back to another place due to some reason and missed the chance. I was feeling so bad and thought I wouldn’t be able to meet them. But who knows my destiny, I can meet them, so we’ll be here and have a great time with them here in Delhi. They are such gentlemen. I celebrated Min oppa’s birthday on stage with him and it is a moment I will cherish always ❤️ Min and Hoon are the pillars of the KD family, and the newbies are awesome too❤️ All the success comes to these people 🫰🏻🤞🏻Forever with KD family 🫶🏻

Ms. Sanskriti Saxena

This was the first time any event was organised near my home. I was so excited for the event. Korean Dosts were so cute and handsome. They brought personalized gifts for the fans. And the interaction between us and them was also very interesting. Overall organisation of the event was very memorable.

Mr. Vedansh Varshney

As someone who hadn’t ventured into offline meet-and-greets before, the news from my friends about the upcoming gathering hosted by Korean Dosts in Delhi intrigued me. With their constant raves about the group and their content, I didn’t want to miss this chance. Joining my friends, I attended the event with an eagerness to learn more about these creators. Looking back, it was a memorable and engaging experience. Though the turnout didn’t match our lofty expectations, the dedication of the Korean Dosts members stood out. They poured their energy into making the event interactive, showering attention to their fans. What struck me most was the thoughtfulness behind the personalized gifts each member had crafted for giveaways. Despite their admitted nervousness, they truly shone during the meet-and-greet.

Towards the end, the atmosphere relaxed, allowing everyone to chat and take photos with the members. Their genuine kindness and welcoming nature made sure every fan felt valued. Their positive vibes lingered, leaving me eager to keep up with their upcoming content.

Ms. Rashmi Bhatia

I am very glad and happy to meet them personally as last time I also want to meet them, but my luck was not in my favour but this time I made it and met them. It was a very heartwarming and wonderful experience to meet them, and they all are very humble and so friendly. I am 1 of the oldest subscribers and from last 2019 I wanted to meet them. There was a huge crowd to meet all 4 of them and we had so much fun there. We played games, sang songs and a dance competition was also held there. Overall, this event was a huge success and we had a lot of fun there with them.

Ms. Nikita

On December 20, 2023, a date now cherished in my heart, I had the joyous opportunity to meet my beloved Korean friends. Initially uncertain about attending the fan meet, I decided to take a chance, longing to witness the warmth and camaraderie of my Korean companions in person. The anticipation led me to create unique, handmade gifts for each member – Min, Hoon, Josh, and Jinwoo. These tokens were not just expressions of admiration but also reflections of my creativity and passion.

The journey to the meet-up location, a three-hour drive from my home, did not deter my excitement. To my delight, I found myself as the first arrival, eagerly awaiting the arrival of these friends who had become an integral part of my world. The wait, though long, was forgotten the moment they made their entrance, resembling characters straight out of a K-drama. My initial awe transformed into unbridled cheers, echoing the delight of a jubilant child.

The fan meet commenced on a mesmerizing note with their rendition of BTS’s “Spring Day,” a performance that resonated deeply. Following the musical delight, introductions and heartfelt expressions of gratitude set the tone for an engaging quiz. It was during this quiz that my spontaneous shout-out, correctly identifying Josh’s profession as a hairdresser, not only surprised the members but added a humorous touch to the event, earning me a well-deserved gift.

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A delightful surprise awaited us as Min presented an Aespa album, initiating a K-pop choreography challenge to determine the recipient. Initially doubtful, I hesitated, only to throw caution to the wind and participate. Much to my surprise, the familiar beats of Twice’s “I Can’t Stop Me” not only propelled me into the dance but also led to my victory. The joy of winning mingled with the thrill of the challenge.

As the fan meet drew to a close, the subsequent moments were dedicated to collecting cherished autographs, capturing precious selfies, and posing for pictures with all the members. The shared laughter and camaraderie lingered, creating memories to be treasured. Post-meet, the day’s festivities extended into an after-party at the Record Room, where fans of Korean Dosts united. The opportunity to interact with the members, sing along, and dance in the company of fellow enthusiasts elevated the experience beyond expectation.

As the night unfolded, bidding farewell became an emotionally challenging task. The echoes of goodbyes resonated, leaving a lasting impression. Yet, the bittersweet departure did not overshadow the joy and fulfillment that every moment of the day had brought. To my Korean friends, a heartfelt expression of gratitude for embracing India, its people, and its culture with such beauty. Your love is reciprocated, and December 20, 2023, remains a date etched in my memory, a testament to the bonds forged and the shared moments of joy.

Organizer’s Experience

Ms. Rachna Puri, Vector Mob

I started following Korean content a few years back and loved the simplicity it had. Post that I connected with a few Korean creators and when I got a chance to visit Korea, I met the Korean Dost and the HBC team. I met many others but was able to connect more with Min, Hoon and HBC. While event organising isn’t what our company does but this entire K-pop concert and Meet and Greet were passion-driven. To create a platform where like-minded people could express their love for these wonderful Korean artists who love India. I think the K-pop audience will grow more in the coming years and it will give K-pop artists to explore India more. But it has been fun doing concerts with Aoora and Meet and Greet with Korean dost.

Overall Experience

The meet-and-greet with Korean Dost was truly endearing as this gave the opportunity for Korean Dost to interact with fans directly. If you have attended any fan meet, then you can feel how these hits. The majority of the attendees enjoyed the event. Not only fans but the Korean Dost themselves had fun. Their content has been a great source of cultural exchange between India and Korea which helped promote deeper understanding and appreciation for both cultures/countries. Their genuine love and enthusiasm made this event more memorable. They interacted with a lot of fans, and everyone felt so included. It was a relaxed yet fun experience. Not forgetting the organizers who were handling the event with ease and were supportive throughout the event. The attendees even cooperated with patience.

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There were loads of moments that stole our hearts but to name a few it was their performance in Hindi, Korean songs, Min’s early birthday celebration. I was even surprised to see fans with diverse age groups be it youngsters, office goers, friends, couples, and elders as there was no age limit to it. Even some came to attend the meet from different parts of India such as Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Uttar Pradesh. I felt so glad that everyone made sure to make Korean Dost members feel loved. Korean Dost and Yaaron had pure fun even though the event was standing only. Korean Dost’s heartfelt interaction and positive enthusiasm made the event one of a kind. Their dedication, passion, and hard work created an unforgettable experience that will forever hold a special place in our hearts.