A row has broken out over plans for a 15,000-capacity K-pop festival in west London as it may prevent children from studying for their summer exams. Complaints from 170 residents have been sent to Brent Council complaining about the Made in Korea Festival (MIK), which could take place on the weekend of June 7-8 at Northwick Park in Wembley. Council documents show that 15,250 partygoers, performers and crew could be allowed on the site during the festival.

But neighbours have raised a range of concerns from children being blocked from using the busy playground at the park to worries about “thousands of potentially drunken people”. In one case a nearby resident wrote: “GCSEs and A-levels [sic] run from 8th May to 24th June 2025. “Not sure if the children around would want to be hearing a festival going on while they are trying to study. This event should be pushed for after the UK education examinations are over.

“This would be causing public nuisance to children who have national exams to sit. “The disturbance could cause children harm due to the fear of not performing well.”. Another resident referenced the dates of the GCSE exams and added: “This is a considerable public nuisance issue to be considered, and could ruin the life chances of those affected, all for a concert in a park.”. A third resident insisted: “There will be many young students studying for their summer exams and this festival and the noise pollution it will attract will severely impact their revision programme.

“Northwick Park also neighbours the university and so will impact any local exams held on the premises.”. Other neighbours have also raised concerns about the environmental impact of the festival, particularly for bats during their “peak breading month”. A resident, who said they have worked in bat conservation for 40 years, complained to Brent Council: “They will either be in an advanced stage of pregnancy or have already had their babies.

“A critical period for them. Any disturbance or deliberate injurious action is a criminal offence. Conditions preventing them foraging or feeding, causing them harm, could constitute an offence.”. K-pop mania first came to London proper in 2018, when boyband BTS made their UK debut, playing two sold-out shows at the O2 to a crowd of screaming fans. MIK first ran in 2022 at Southwark Park, although residents also voiced their displeasure over the noise and disruption. Plans for a 2023 edition of the festival were scrapped after escalating costs and low ticket sales.