OMSC 5

Online Music Song Contest 5, often referred to as OMSC 5, was the fifth edition of Online Music Song Contest, held in Busan (부산), South Korea.

The Semi-Finals of OMSC 5 occured on the 21ˢᵗ November 2020 while the Final occured on the 28ᵗʰ November 2020. Twenty-five* countries participated in the fifth contest, under the slogan “될 당신의 삶의 변화 (Become The Change In Your Life)”.

Location
The broadcaster KBS chose to host the contest in South Korea's second-most populous city after Seoul (서울), Busan (부산), which has a population of over approximately 3.5 million inhabitants.

It is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, with its port — Korea's busiest and the fifth-busiest in the world — only about 193 kilometers from the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu. The surrounding "Southeast Economic Zone" is South Korea's largest industrial area.

Busan (부산) is divided into fifteen major administrative districts and a single county, together housing a population of approximately 3.5 million inhabitants. The full metropolitan area, the Southeastern Maritime Industrial Region, has a population of approximately 8 million inhabitants. The most densely built-up areas of the city are situated in a number of narrow valleys between the Nakdong River (낙동강) and the Suyeong Rivers (수영 강), with mountains separating most of the districts. The Nakdong (낙동) is Korea's longest river and Busan's Haeundae Beach (부산 해운대 해수욕장) is also the country's largest.

From the beginning of the 15ᵗʰ century, the Korean government designated Busan (부산) as a trading port with the Japanese and allowed their settlement. Other Japanese settlements in Ulsan (울산) and Jinhae (진해) diminished later, but the Busan (부산) settlement continued until Japan invaded Korea in 1592. After the war, diplomatic relations with the new shogunate in Japan were established in 1607, and Busan (부산) was permitted to be reconstructed. The Japanese settlement, though relocated into Choryang (초량) later, continued to exist until Korea was exposed to modern diplomacy in 1876. In 1876, Busan (부산) became the first international port in Korea under the terms of the Treaty of Ganghwa (강화).

During the Japanese rule, Busan (부산) developed into a hub trading port with Japan. Busan (부산) was the only city in Korea to adopt the steam tramway before electrification was introduced in 1924. During the Korean War, Busan (부산) was one of only two cities in South Korea not captured by the North Korean army within the first three months of the war, the other being Daegu (대구). As a result, the cities became refugee camp sites for Koreans during the war.

As Busan (부산) was one of the few areas in Korea that remained under the control of South Korea throughout the Korean War, for some time it served as a temporary capital of the Republic of Korea. United Nations' troops established a defensive perimeter around the city known as the Busan Perimeter in the summer and autumn of 1950. Since then, the city has been a self-governing metropolis and has built a strong urban character. In 1963, Busan (부산) separated from Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도) to become a Directly Governed City. In 1983, the provincial capital of Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도) was moved from Busan (부산) to Changwon (창원). In 1995, Busan (부산) became a Metropolitan City.

Nowadays Busan (부산) is the second largest city in Korea, a maritime logistics hub in Northeast Asia with its world-class mega ports, and a gateway to the Eurasian continent. In addition it is the city of festivals and film as variety of festivals are held in the city throughout the year and a center of finance.

Participants
Twenty-five countries participated in the fifth edition of the contest: ten European countries (Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, United Kingdom), three Asian countries (Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea), five American countries (Brazil, Canada, Greenland, Peru, United States of America), four Oceanian countries (Australia, Guam, Micronesia, Samoa) and four African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe).

In this edition Egypt, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Peru, the Republic of the Congo, Samoa, the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe participated for the first time.

Returning Artists
This edition featured one representative who had performed previously as lead vocalists for a country in the contest.

Indila represented Algeria in the second edition of the contest with her song "Parle À Ta Tête" sung in French, which placed 3ʳᵈ out of 14 participating countries with 76 points. In this occasion, she represented France, which returned to the contest after three editions of absence, with her song "Tourner Dans Le Vide", again in French, trying to score an even better result!

National Selections
Germany, Guam and South Korea used a National Selection to determine the country's representative for OMSC 5.

Deutschlands Empfehlung Für Den Online Music Song Contest (OMSC 5)
Main article: Deutschlands Empfehlung Für Den Online Music Song Contest (OMSC 5)

Guam Music Festival (OMSC 5)
Main article: Guam Music Festival (OMSC 5)

Korea's Choice (OMSC5)
Main article: Korea's Choice (OMSC 5)

Withdrawing Countries
These countries confirmed their non-participation in the fifth edition of the contest:

• Finland – Finnish Broadcasting Corporation (YLE) announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020 that its participation in the fifth edition of the contest would not be possible.

• Ireland – Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE) announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020 that its participation in the fifth edition of the contest would not be possible.

• Netherlands – While Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO) had provisionally confirmed their participation in the contest on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020, the Netherlands announced on the same day its withdrawal from the contest.

• San Marino – San Marino's broadcaster (SMRTV) announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020 that its participation in the fifth edition of the contest would not be possible.

• Switzerland – Swiss broadcaster (SRG SSR) announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020 its withdrawal from the contest for unknown reasons.

Non-Returning Countries
• Åland Islands – TVÅ announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020 that the country would not return to the contest. Åland Islands last took part in OMSC 2.

• Belgium – On the 7ᵗʰ November 2020, the Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF announced they would not return to the contest. Belgium last took part in OMSC 1.

• Crimea – Crimea announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020 that they would not return to the contest. Crimea last took part in OMSC 1.

• Czechia – Česká Televize (ČT) announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020, that they would not return to the contest, probably because of the poor results in the third edition of OMSC. Czechia last took part in OMSC 3.

• Denmark – Danish broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) announced the country would not return to the contest on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020. Denmark last took part in OMSC 1.

• Kosovo – Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020, that they would not return to the contest. Kosovo last took part in OMSC 3.

• Luxembourg – On the 7ᵗʰ November 2020, the Luxembourgish broadcaster Radio Télé Lëtzebuerg (RTL) announced that they were planning a return to the contest. However, it was later confirmed on the same day that the country would not return in this edition of the contest.

• Russia – Channel One Russia (C1R) announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020, that they would not return to the contest for unknown reasons. Russia last took part in OMSC 3.

• Slovenia – Slovenia announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020 that it would not make its return in the fourth edition of the contest. Slovenia last took part in OMSC 1.

• Sweden – Sveriges Television (SVT) announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020 that it would not make its return in the fourth edition of the contest for unknown reasons. Sweden last took part in OMSC 3.

• Ukraine – Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC announced on the 7ᵗʰ November 2020 that it would not make its return in the fourth edition of the contest for unknown reasons. Ukraine last took part in OMSC 3.

Other Countries
• Mozambique – On the 7ᵗʰ November 2020, the Mozambican broadcaster Televisão de Moçambique (TVM) announced that they were planning a debut in OMSC 5. However, it was later confirmed on the same day that the country would not debut in this edition of the contest.