On September 6, Ailee will perform at the 'Ubuntu with K-Culture – Korean Culture Festival' held at the Sunbet Arena in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa. This event is organized by the South Korean Embassy in South Africa, the Korean Cultural Center, and KOTRA to commemorate the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa this November.
This marks the first official performance by a solo K-pop artist in South Africa, and local fans are eagerly anticipating the event. Tickets for the 'Ubuntu with K-Culture – Korean Culture Festival' sold out immediately upon release. Ailee, known for her powerful vocals and dynamic performances, as well as her popular drama OSTs like 'I Will Go to You Like the First Snow,' has gained significant recognition in the region, leading to her invitation to this event.
South Africa has shown a growing interest in Korean culture, including K-pop, K-dramas, K-beauty, and K-food. Last year's 'Korean Culture Festival' in South Africa attracted over 3,000 local attendees, and the 'K-pop Dance Festival' saw participation from 105 K-pop cover dance teams from across the country.
Ailee's agency, A2Z Entertainment (Pop Music), expressed their excitement, stating, “We are thrilled to meet fans who have a deep love for K-pop in a region where cultural exchange is not easy due to geographical distance. We are preparing a repertoire that will allow the audience to fully experience the charm of K-pop.”
Earlier this year, Ailee released her seventh mini-album '(Me)moir,' showcasing her active career as a singer. The album, which was a year in the making, features the title track 'MMI' and was entirely written, composed, and produced by Pdogg, a renowned composer for BTS and an exclusive producer for Big Hit Music.
Before her South African performance in September, Ailee will hold a solo concert at the Pechanga Resort Summit in Los Angeles on August 16. She has also joined the panel of judges for the global vocal competition show SBS 'Global Veiled Musician.'
In personal news, Ailee married businessman Choi Si-hoon in April.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr