The Migrants Arirang Music Festival’s main singing competition has kicked into gear this year, opening its first round contests this month.

MAMF is a nationwide singing competition for foreign residents run in three rounds: Regional heats, followed by national semifinals and finals.

Entrants must sing a K-pop song or other song in Korean, with extra marks going to songs they have written themselves.

The first festival was held in 2005 in Seoul, with 3,500 people attending. Since then it has moved to Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, and grown to a six-month-long nationwide contest. About 170,000 people attended last year’s festival in October over the three days, according to the organizers.

The heats take place on different dates depending on the region. A Seoul heat will be held Sunday at Gurori Park near Daerim Subway Station. A second Seoul heat will be held on June 19, though the venue has not been announced.

Other heats will be held in Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province, Ansan, Uijeongbu and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, Busan, Daejeon and Changwon between May 22 and July 10.

The semifinals are on Aug. 21 and the final is on Oct. 1.

The contest is open to all foreign residents or naturalized citizens in Korea, except for previous first, second and third prize winners.

For contact details for entry and more information, visit the Migrants Arirang Facebook page.

(paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)