K-pop stars invited to sing at world music fest in Japan in Mar

Official website of the Music Festival in Okinawa

Several Korean artists have been invited to perform at a world music festival in Japan next month, according to the concert's official website.

On Tuesday, the website showed that popular K-pop groups KARA, 2PM, INFINITE, Rainbow, Secret, ZE:A and Monday Kiz will take the stage with famed music producer Oh Joon-sung for the "World Music Festival in Okinawa" in Okinawa on March 4.

Meanwhile, Oh will perform a number of his songs from the soundtracks to TV series "Boys Over Flowers," "My Girl," "City Hunter," "Princess Prosecutor" and "Dream."

KARA, composed of members Gu Hara, Han Seung-yeon, Park Gyu-lee, Kang Ji-young and Nicole, is one of the most successful Korean girl groups to break into the Japanese music market, having their singles and albums place within the top five of the prestigious Oricon chart and earning platinum and gold status.

2PM, formed of members Nichkhun, Wooyoung, Junho, Chansung, Junsu and Taecyeon, has been one of the most popular boy bands in Korea and several other countries in Asia since their debut in 2008. They will soon release their greatest hits album in Japan.

INFINITE, composed of members Sung-kyu, Dong-woo, Woo-hyun, L, Sung-yeol, Hoya and Sung-jong, made their debut in April 2010. The boys are gearing up for their first concert "Second Invasion" which will take place in Korea this weekend.

Rainbow, who made their debut in Korea in 2009, found success in the Japanese music scene with their debut single "A" which placed atop Japan's prestigious Oricon chart in September of last year and followed it up with their second single "MACH."

Secret, composed of members Han Sun-hwa, Jun Hyo-seong, Song Ji-eun and Zinger, expanded their singing career to Japan with the release of their debut single "Madonna" and followed it up with "Shy Boy." The girls will soon release their third Japanese single.

ZE:A (Children of Empire) -- formed of members Moon Jun-young, Kim Dong-jun, Jung Hee-cheol, Kevin, Hwang Kwang-hee, Ha Min-woo, Siwan, Park Hyung-sik and Kim Tae-hun -- made their debut with single "Mazeltov" in January 2010.

They have been busy promoting themselves in the Japan with fan meetings and mini concerts as well as focusing on their individual activities.

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10 아시아 Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
10 아시아 Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@