Park Bo-gum, IU, TVXQ, BTS, LE SSERAFIM, IVE Shine in 'Music Bank World Tour' Documentary Chronicling K-Pop History

KBS 1TV's documentary 'Record of the K-POP Age of Navigation – Music Bank World Tour 20' illuminated the global popularity and historical journey of K-pop, leaving viewers with deep emotion.

The broadcast featured leading K-pop artists across generations, including IU, TVXQ, BTS, LE SSERAFIM, IVE, and BOYNEXTDOOR, presenting a rich narrative encompassing K-pop's past, present, and future. It vividly depicted the 'Music Bank World Tour,' which spanned 14 countries starting with a performance at Tokyo Dome, including stops in Chile, Berlin, Paris, and Mexico.

Reflecting on her performance at Tokyo Dome, IU expressed, "It was an honor to stand on the same stage as my seniors." Yunho of TVXQ stated, "The 'Music Bank World Tour' serves as a communication channel with fans worldwide." Chae-won of LE SSERAFIM emphasized the generational succession, saying, "Just as our seniors opened doors to the world, we want to open new ones." Lee Han from BOYNEXTDOOR added, "It's a festival where people who love K-pop gather and become one."

Notably, MC Park Bo-gum, who participated in tours across nine countries since 2017, shared his heartfelt sentiment, "I stand on stage with the thought that I've come to represent our culture, wearing the Taegeuk mark on my chest." His dedication to learning greetings in local languages highlighted his efforts as a cultural diplomat and his respect for global fans.

Kim Sang-mi, the Chief Producer of 'Music Bank World Tour,' recalled the initial fear before the first Tokyo Dome performance, stating, "When we go abroad, KBS isn't just a broadcast program; it becomes Korea itself." She emphasized their commitment, saying, "We always did our best with the mindset that we are representing Korea."

Cultural critic Kim Young-dae stressed the importance of continuous world tours by broadcasters like KBS, noting, "This is a unique domain for a public broadcaster that private companies cannot replicate." He expressed his hope for KBS to remain a pioneer and guardian of Korean popular culture beyond viewership ratings.

Photos: OSEN DB, Provided by KBS 1TV

Following the broadcast, viewers lauded the documentary as "a masterpiece," "great for seeing K-pop history at a glance," and "deeply moving thanks to Park Bo-gum's sincerity." Many were impressed by the generational K-pop artists appearing together.