I finally got to experience the Viu K-Land Ultimate Hallyu Festival at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall last December 14, 2024, and honestly, it felt like stepping right into Seoul. Viu Philippines really outdid itself by crafting what they called the “ultimate Hallyu experience”—and I totally agree.
From the moment I walked in, I grabbed my activity passport. The whole point was to fully immerse myself in Korean culture, and by collecting all the stamps, I genuinely felt like a character in a K-drama!
My Journey Through the K-Land Zones
I spent the whole afternoon bouncing between the incredible zones:
K-style Street
My first stop! I’ve always been curious about color analysis, and here I got a free color analysis done. The line for this one is pretty long but I came early so I got it done in a few minutes. Learning my personal best colors was such a fun, authentic K-culture experience. Now I know exactly what shades to shop for to achieve that perfect K-style look!
K-drama District
This was my true testing ground. I’m a huge fan of the shows on Viu, especially classics like Lovely Runner, so I went straight to the trivia station. It was challenging, but I loved putting my K-drama knowledge to the test against other fans. Of course, I got a perfect score!
K-Beauty Corner
Who doesn’t love a good transformation? I got a free make-over here, making me look and feel fresh. Of course, I had to take a few (okay, maybe a dozen) selfies at the huge mirror they set up—it had the perfect lighting!
K-Food Hall
All that excitement worked up an appetite. I took a quick break and grabbed some free cotton candy and ice cream. It was the perfect sweet treat to fuel up before the next activity. You can also grab some coffee and sandwiches that’s available at this zone.
Fan Booths
At the event, dedicated fan booths were set up, providing a buzzing marketplace where attendees could buy, sell, and trade K-Pop merchandise, such as highly coveted photocards. Fans could also purchase fanmade merchandise featuring both their favorite K-Pop idols and K-drama actors.
The Main Stage Excitement
I settled down on one of the huge bean bags to watch the main stage, which was constantly buzzing. There were performances and fun games that everyone could participate in. The prizes were insane! I was hoping to win one of the signed polaroids, posters, or free Viu premium subscriptions. Just being there, watching the energy of the crowd and the talent on stage, was amazing — and yes, I joined the game and won some prizes!
The biggest highlight, of course, was the special guest, KAIA. I saw so many lucky fans who had been posting non-stop online get to go backstage for a meet-and-greet! Seeing how Viu rewarded their most active fans was really cool. I actually won the backstage pass but I left the event early so I wasn’t able to join them.
Overall, the Viu K-Land Festival was a full-day escape. I came away with great memories, some awesome selfies, and a renewed love for everything Hallyu. I can’t wait for them to do it again! If you were there, which of the free treats—the color analysis, the make-over, or the cotton candy—would you have gotten first?
