More than 20,000 pack the Hollywood Bowl, one of the U.S.’ largest outdoor concert halls, for the 6th Annual Korean Music Festival in Los Angeles, Saturday. Korean musicians including rocker Shin Joong-hyun and TVQX performed at the concert. / Korea Times

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

The 6th Hollywood Bowl Korean Music Festival proved once again to be an event connecting the old and young, and Koreans and non-Koreans.

About 20,000 visitors packed the Hollywood Bowl, one of the world's largest outdoor theaters located in Los Angeles, under the theme ``Old & New Sympathy of Generations.''

The festival was started in 2003 by the Hankook Ilbo in Los Angeles, a parent company of The Korea Times, to create a memorable evening of music and harmony among Korean Americans.

This year, not only Korean Americans but also thousands of visitors from 10 Asian and European countries came to the venue to enjoy the music, while 95 percent of the tickets sold through the Internet Web site were purchased by non-Koreans.

The enthusiasm proved that the Hallyu (Korean wave) was still alive, marking the event as one of the biggest cultural festivals in the L.A. area. Avid fans from Hawaii, San Francisco and San Diego also flew to Los Angeles to participate.

Top Korean singers appeared at the event, including Korea's top boy band TVXQ, Korea's rock legend Shin Joong-hyun, and sexy female singer Chae-yeon. One of Korea's favorite R&B duo, Fly to the Sky and folk singers Yoon Hyeong-joo and Kim Sae-hwan also appeared, along with top female pop group Girls' Generation, Son Ho-young, the former member of pop group g.o.d., and finally Moon Hee-jun, rocker and former pop group leader of H.O.T.

The festival bid farewell to fans with TVXQ's finale performance and fireworks that lit up of L.A. night skyline, promising a better event next year.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr