BEIJING, June 14 -- Pan-Asian star BoA has been invited to perform this month at an early celebratory event looking ahead to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

    Other hallyu stars that were invited along with BoA include Kang Ta and Chunsangjihee.

    "BoA, Kang Ta and Chunsangjhee will perform at the event entitled 'Beijing 2005 - Hand in Hand,' which will be held July 2 in the Olympic Park located in the Bangsan District of Beijing, China," said an official from the Korea Foundation for Asian Culture Exchange on June 13.

    Organized by the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee and Bangsan District authorities, and co-hosted by the Korea Foundation for Asian Culture Exchange and China's CCTV, this grandiose event will mark the three years remaining before the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and will be part of the Olympic Culture Week that will be held from July 4.

    Kim Yang-rae, a senior official from the Korea Foundation for Asian Culture Exchange, flew to Beijing on June 10 to participate in the preparations for the event in cooperation with working-level officials from the state-run broadcaster CCTV, the Olympic Organizing Committee and Bangsan District authorities. They will begin the preparations in earnest by holding their first meeting on June 16.

    CCTV showed great interest in Korea's advanced stage technologies and requested the Korean side to dispatch stage designers and lighting and sound technicians.

    Korean artists whose participation in the event has been confirmed so far are BoA, Kang Ta and Chunsangjihee; several more hallyu stars are likely to be invited as well. The Korea Foundation for Asian Culture Exchange said CCTV is currently contacting top Chinese artists in order to invite them to perform at the event.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)