World, get ready for Beast, Big Bang, Super Junior and other K-Pop acts.
From world tours to music festivals, Korean pop music will be making a lot of noise in 2012.
On Wednesday, more than 10,000 fans at the Bercy Stadium in Paris were treated to the 2012 Music Bank K-Pop Festival, which saw performances from acts like 2PM, 4 Minute, SISTAR, SHINee and Girls' Generation. During SHINee's set, the excitement was a bit much for four fans, who reportedly fainted and were taken to a nearby hospital.
On the same week that Madonna and Lady Gaga announced their extensive world tours for the year, YG Entertainment boy band Big Bang announced dates for its first ever world tour.
The ALIVE tour will take the group to North America, Europe, Asia and South America. American concert promoter Live Nation is behind the 25-city tour, which will be directed by Laurieanne Gibson, who previously worked on Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour.
In April, the Korean Music Festival will celebrate its 10th year at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Organizers are expected to announce this year's line-up in coming weeks.
Click through for some of 2012's most-anticipated K-Pop world tours and festivals (in no particular order).
Did we miss anyone on the list? Which K-Pop act are you excited to see on tour this year? Share your comments below.