Rock in Rio bet big by including K-pop in its lineup, a decision that was met with skepticism by many. Roberta Medina, executive vice president of Rock World, the company behind the festival, had revealed that the organization had its eye on the genre. However, K-pop is rarely embraced by large-scale festivals, both in Brazil and internationally, which made the choice a considerable risk.
The festival's biggest success, according to the article, was the choice of headliner. The group Stray Kids is considered one of the biggest names in current K-pop and has one of the largest fan bases in contemporary pop music. That's why, early on, fans were already crowding around the event venue to secure the best spots near the railings.
The day's lineup also featured other K-pop acts. The group NEXZ, formed in 2023, performed a short setlist, even repeating some songs during their presentation. Singer Hwasa, who now pursues a solo career, was also among the genre names on the festival's lineup.
