Off-screen, K-Pop contests and other live talent shows have proved popular, drawing crowds of hundreds of young Cambodians.

At a recent K-Pop Competition held at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, contestants performed on stage in front of more than 800 people, some in defiance of their parents.

“I think sexy is important,” said Kim Se, the 18-year-old winner of the singing section, who is better known by her stage name K.Se.

“Before it was not acceptable, but nowadays a lot of people accept that.”

“My parents they don’t like me to do [K-Pop]. But finally they accept me, when they see that their son is number one in Cambodia.”

Vat “Mo” Sopahna, 17, a member of the winning dance group said: “I just want the next generation to try harder and harder; even though they fall down, a fall is still a good experience”.