Experience BTS Concert and Parasite in Vivid VR in Manhattan, New York

[Provided by Korea Creative Content Agency]
A visitor is experiencing BTS's online concert in a virtual space through virtual reality (VR).

[Asia Economy, New York = Correspondent Cho Seulgina] An experience center has opened in Manhattan, New York City, where visitors can vividly enjoy BTS's online concert through virtual reality (VR). Visitors can also explore the mansion and basement featured in the film "Parasite" from a first-person perspective.

On May 3 (local time), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency held the opening ceremony for "KOREA: Cubically Imagined," an overseas immersive content experience center, at the Chelsea Industrial venue in Manhattan.

This event showcases not only K-content but also Korean cultural heritage, such as King Jeongjo's Hwaseong Haengha, reimagined as immersive content using VR, augmented reality (AR), and projection mapping. The exhibition runs in New York until May 14, and will continue in Washington, D.C. from May 27 to June 9.

This exhibition features a total of 16 immersive content pieces that combine K-content, cultural heritage, and media art, aiming to capture the attention of international visitors. For BTS's online concert "BTS Map of the Soul ON:E," visitors can experience a performance in a three-dimensional space surrounded by LED screens, closely resembling a live concert. Two VR experiences are available for BTS's hit songs "DNA" and "DOPE."

The VR content based on director Bong Joon-ho's film "Parasite" allows visitors to explore the mansion's living room, basement, and semi-basement apartment featured in the movie while wearing VR glasses. Major scenes from the film can be experienced from a first-person perspective, accompanied by music.

In addition, the exhibition includes: ▲ "Jungle" and "Flower," new works by d'strict, known for their waterfall spectacle on Times Square's large electronic billboards; ▲ "The King's Procession, With the People" and "Climbing Geumgangsan," 3D recreations of King Jeongjo's Hwaseong Haengha by the National Museum of Korea; ▲ "Moment of Art," by Easywith, which depicts the flow of wind and nature in three dimensions; and ▲ "Stillness in Motion, Motion in Stillness," by Lee Yesung, which delicately expresses traditional Korean aesthetics through 3D animation.

[Provided by Korea Creative Content Agency]

The response from local audiences has already been enthusiastic. Tickets for the New York experience center sold out in less than 30 minutes after being released. In particular, K-pop fans residing in New York have shown strong interest. According to a staff member in charge of guiding visitors, "Many BTS fans are visiting." Although advance reservations are sold out, anyone can visit the site and wait in line for free admission to the exhibition.

Additionally, during the New York exhibition period, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency plan to host a networking event at Onyx Studio, bringing together Korean immersive content companies and creators with U.S. industry professionals to expand opportunities for content technology exports.

Ji Kyunghwa, head of the Overseas Business Support Division at the Korea Creative Content Agency, emphasized, "The outstanding creativity and storytelling of K-immersive content offer a maximized Hallyu experience to people around the world. Through this exhibition, we aim to further promote the excellence of K-immersive content and Hallyu in the U.S. market, and expand opportunities for our immersive content companies and creators to enter overseas markets."