Hologram theater 'K-live Sentosa' in Singapore leads spread of K-pop innovation

In Singapore, fans can meet K-pop stars anytime they want ?- virtually, that is.

In the country's popular tourist attraction Resorts World Sentosa, a hologram concert hall has quickly become one of the must-visit destinations among K-pop fans since it opened in February.

At the "K-live Sentosa," fitted with a 7-meter-wide, 3-meter-high screen, visitors can enjoy virtual performances by Korean singers such as 2PM, Wonder Girls and GOT7.

"I was very satisfied with the concert because it felt so real as if I were attending a real concert," said a Singaporean visitor who said she visited late last month.

It is the first overseas project by K-Live, a hologram concert brand co-founded by telecom giant Korea Telecom, YG Entertainment and a Korean hologram technology company. In 2014, K-Live opened "K-live Dongdaemun," the world's first hologram theater, near the Dongdaemun subway station. So far more than 90,000 foreign tourists have visited the theater.

"We have more than 200 daily visitors for seven performances.

Some of the tourists visit the country only because of the hologram performances which are viewed by some fans as a sensational way to meet K-pop stars," said Lee Jung-eun, overseas business manager at Holotive, which runs the Sentosa concert hall.

"We plan to strengthen content for family visitors, like a magic show, to turn this theater into a more culturally diverse place," she added.

KT is eying the expansion of hologram concert halls in and out of the country based on the experience gained in Singapore.

It plans to open one in the Triple Street shopping mall in Songdo, Incheon, and is considering opening another in China. (Yonhap)