On the evening of July 8th the Olympic Hall in southern Seoul’s Olympic Park was crackling with the electrifying energy of R16 Korea 2012 World B-boy Masters Championship final round. The crowds at the world-class B-boy dancing competition roared with shouts and applause when the DJ announced the competing teams one by one.

Cheers grew louder and louder as each team was introduced.

This year’s R16 Korea World Championships celebrated its sixth year. It is regarded as one of the world’s five major break dance competitions, Korean B-boys being among the world’s best. Here’s Mr. Shim Jeong-bo, in charge of overseas marketing at the Korea Tourism Organization, to explain more about the event.

Korea hosts R16 World Championships, a premier competition for globally hot B-boy dancing, so that young people all over the world can become interested in Korea and Korean culture and give them the opportunities to interact with one another. The competition started in 2007 and back then, 16 teams were invited. Now regional championships are held in different areas of the world, like in Europe and North America, and regional champions come to Korea to battle it out in the world championships.



There used to be only four major competitions for B-boy dancers – Germany’s Battle of the Year, also dubbed the B-boy World Cup; Red Bull BC One in the United States, Free Style Session, and the UK B-boy Championship. Korea’s ascent in the world of B-boy dancing began in the early 2000s. Korean B-boy teams stunned the world at the UK B-boy Championship in 2002 when they swept first and second places in almost all contest categories, and their breathtaking performances in global competitions led to the nation hosting R16 Korea in 2007. Now R16 Korea is one of the major competitions that all B-boys aspire to dance in.

As the game’s reputation grew, the number of contestants and the intensity of dance battles spiked as well. For this year’s world championship, 4,500 B-boys from 16 countries danced their hearts out in the regional preliminary rounds from April to June to make it to the final 16 and come to Korea. Here’s Sambo, the leader of Team Shmetta from Belgium.

It’s well-known around the world that Korea’s competition is well-organized and professional. I’m glad to have taken part in this contest. Competitions in Europe or the U.S. are not as well organized. We try to do our best as dancers. It’s only natural that we want due recognition as professional dancers. This is a good opportunity to let the world know about ourselves and our style, a perfect chance to show who we are. Other competition organizers and many other people are paying attention to R16.

Korea took four championship titles over the last five years, proving the Korean youngsters’ dominance in B-boy dancing. But Korean B-boy crews are far from being complacent. Here’s Kim Heon-joon, the leader of 2010 and 2011 champion team, JinJo Crew.

People take it for granted that Korean B-boys would take the titles when we compete in world competitions. But we work really hard for it. Other B-boys in the U.S., France, and Japan are all great, too, but we win more contests because we work that much harder. Our crew’s strength lies in teamwork. We are like family, because we spend all our time with one another. Unlike other teams, it takes only an hour or two to learn a move, because we know each other so well.

There is so much more to R16 Korea than just dancing. In addition to the flashy dance battles and performances by world-class dancers, R16 Korea features such must-go events as K-pop concerts and pre-game parties. It is more than a competition, but a cultural celebration. Here’s Mr. Shim Jeong-bo of the Korea Tourism Organization again.

The competition provides a variety of events combining K-pop and B-boy dancing, as well as a B-boy showcase and concerts. This is a party, a festival that celebrates youth and friendship among B-boy crews. Just watching these dynamic dance battles would help you understand the passion and culture of the younger generation. Today’s K-pop performances contain many B-boy elements, so much so that the combination of B-boy dancing and K-pop has created a whole new genre of entertainment.

The hottest event was the pre-party held on the eve of the final round. A whole legion of fans attended the party to see their favorite B-boy dancers up close and personal.

- My boyfriend told me about this wonderful event and we came here together. It was exciting to see world-class B-boys. I was so happy. There is great music at this pre-party and I can dance to it and feel free and happy.
- It was great to see them dance so close. I’m going to stay here late into the night.
- It was fun and exciting to the B-boys and rockers perform. I’m having a really great time.



After grueling preliminary rounds, B-boys relax a bit with their fans before the finals begin, but they gave everything they had to satisfy their fans. Every drop of perspiration and every breath they took were a testament to their passion. Nationality, ethnicity, and language are no barrier to these B-boys getting together to share their love for dancing.

- I come to this competition every year and see the same people. We catch up with what we’ve been doing and I travel with them when I meet them abroad. I came here today to hang out with them.

Although the competition crowns the world’s best B-boy dancers, the essence of R16 Korea is respecting other dancers and enjoying the celebration. This year some 200 B-boys from 16 nations came to Korea to battle out in the preliminary rounds on July 7th and 8th, and four teams – Korea, United States, Kazakhstan, and China – made it to the semi-finals. Heart-stopping battles at last yielded two finalist crews, who received a rousing cheer from the audience.

- I came to cheer for the Korean crew. Is there anything more dynamic than this? B-boying is the best!
- I’m rooting for Belgium. They’re really good and fantastic. Their head spin is awesome and even I want to try the move.
- My favorite team is JinJo Crew from Korea. I like their dynamic energy.

When Korea’s JinJo Crew came up to the stage, the stadium erupted in thunderous cheers and applause.

Surprisingly, JinJo Crew was eliminated in the semi-finals. The two teams that advanced to the finals were Massive Monkees from the United States and Simple System from Kazakhstan. The intensity and tension of the final round was so thick that it could be cut with a knife.

The Massive Monkees crew was brimming with confidence from the get-go. Here’s B-boy Drumsky of Massive Monkees.

Hi, I’m B-boy Drumsky, rapper with Massive Monkees. It’s an honor to be in Korea. I know that this competition in Korea is the best one in the world, so I knew we needed to be the best to come here. It is a privilege to win the North American championship and come to R16 Korea as a representative of the U.S. Regardless of whom we battle with, we will focus and be true to our emotions. Then nobody can beat us. We’ve been together for 12 years, so I’m perfectly confident.

Each team was allotted 15 minutes to show off their stuff. The 30-minute performance ended with all the audience members holding their breath and unable to predict the winner. So who was crowned the champion?



R16 Korea 2012 World Championship title went to Massive Monkees of the United States! Here’s B-boy Drumsky again.

Our focus was on being together. Even when a team member competed in solo competitions, we didn’t forget that we were a team. We did everything together and we were confident. We were confident as individuals and as a team. We are strong and confident. We are family, family, family!

The two-time R16 Korea champion JinJo Crew failed to become a three-time titleholder this year, but won the performance award for their impressive dance routine. Although slightly disappointed, JinJo Crew’s leader Kim Heon-joon was still proud to have represented Korea and measured up to the high expectations.

The fact that Korea hosted such a global B-boy competition in itself is really impressive. There are so many B-boys around the world. They all want to come to Korea, because we are that good. We are often asked in what kind of environment we practice and what kind of food we eat. So I tell them that kimchi is what makes us so good.

So this is how R16 Korea 2012 World B-boy Masters Championship came to an end. This global competition highlighted the awesomeness of Korean B-boys and Korean culture. R16 Korea is no longer just a dance contest for B-boys, but a cultural festivity celebrated by everyone around the world. This is why people look forward to next year’s R16 Korea.