Choi Young-jun's 'Dance Through the Nation' Unveils 30,000-Won Wager for 12-University Dance Battle

Opens on the 19th at 1MILLION Seoul studio, introducing a first-of-its-kind audience-participation judging system

K-pop choreography master Choi Young-jun is bringing a new shake-up to South Korea's dance scene through OATD (Of All Things, Dance), a dance intellectual property (IP) brand he leads. The brand will host Dance Through the Nation Season 1, a freestyle battle for college students nationwide, on the 19th at the 1MILLION dance studio in Seoul.

Dancers representing 12 universities from across the country will break down genre barriers and face off one-on-one in a freestyle showdown. The competition is expected to feature bold performances spanning the full range of street dance, including hip-hop and house as well as waacking, locking, voguing and krump. The final winner will receive a 3 million won scholarship to support creative work.

The competition is also introducing an innovative system that shares the authority of judging with the audience. Under the Living-Room Judge system, spectators at the event will take part directly in the decisions, reflecting public views alongside expert evaluations.

Choi Young-jun, the CEO overseeing the project, emphasized its value in nurturing creators rather than simply ranking competitors. He explained the project's purpose, saying, "The core driving force behind this project is supporting young creators who choose dance, believe in their potential and continue to challenge themselves."

Detailed competition rules and information on how to participate are available through OATD's official YouTube and Instagram channels.