A taekwondo demonstration team in traditional martial arts uniforms performed a fusion of taekwondo and dance to "Golden," the OST from the animation "K-Pop Demon Hunters," at the Fahrenheit88 shopping mall in central Kuala Lumpur on the afternoon of January 7 local time, drawing enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience.
The performers were K-Tigers, a demonstration team dedicated to promoting taekwondo worldwide. Team leader Taemi, who served as martial arts director for the animation, said, "I'm truly happy to be able to spread taekwondo to the world and receive so much love thanks to participating in such a great project."
The event, titled "Seouliday" — meaning "a holiday enjoyed like a Seoulite" — was hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Organization. The event focused on allowing the MZ generation to experience the appeal of Seoul as a cultural hub in one place.
Malaysian tourists visiting Korea reached 250,000 this year as of the end of October, recovering to 83% of pre-COVID-19 levels. The recent Korean Wave boom has driven an increase in individual free travelers, with 70.2% of respondents saying their perception of Korea improved after experiencing Korean Wave content.
Reflecting this trend, the event drew approximately 1,000 attendees. A "K-Makeup Show" featuring local influencers attracted long lines of visitors eager to try Korean beauty products. Photo zones featuring Seoul's mascot "Haechi" and Seoul tourism ambassador Jennie also drew large crowds. A K-snack tasting and giveaway event sponsored by Nongshim sold out early due to the enthusiastic response.
Most visitors were young people in their teens and twenties. Dayang, 21, a university student, said, "I especially enjoyed the K-pop performance since I was a dancer in high school. I heard Bukit Bintang, the center of Kuala Lumpur, is similar to Myeongdong in Seoul, and I definitely want to visit someday."
Sharon, 22, also a university student, said, "Korean culture has a strong influence on young people across Malaysia in all areas including culture, music and food. This event was an opportunity to learn about Korea more vividly."
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who participated in the "Seoul Goods Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony" at the event, said, "I confirmed that Malaysian youth have a strong interest in K-beauty and other areas. I hope that interest expands to other Korean products." He added, "We need to create a sustainable platform beyond pop-up stores."
Prior to the event, Mayor Oh also attended a meeting with the Association of Graduates in Korea from Malaysia (AGIKO). Founded in 2003, AGIKO serves as a bridge between Korea and Malaysia. Approximately 70 AGIKO alumni in attendance shared how their time in Korea helped their career choices and personal growth, expressing hope for stronger talent networks between the two countries.
"Koreans emphasize and value personal connections," Mayor Oh said. "I hope the bond between all of you and the citizens of Seoul will continue forever."
