Table of Contents
Introduction
You may already have a concert booked or are interested in attending this type of event on your trip to Korea! In this guide I will share my personal experiences, tips, and what you can expect while attending a music concert in South Korea! Be prepared to immerse yourself into a new and exciting experience within Korea’s unique concert culture.
Buying Concert Tickets
Source: YG
First things first, before you can attend a concert you need to purchase the tickets! Depending on the event, tickets are typically a difficult process due various reasons especially for foreigners. The demand is extremely high, which leads to long queues on ticketing sites, along with the notorious strict identification rules that are implemented when purchasing tickets. A lot of the time sites can require a Korean phone number and tickets can even sell out within seconds!
Do not worry, some platforms are catered to foreigners which help to simplify the process a bit. From full english or translation options, to a smoother identification system the process is easier.
Platforms to Purchase Tickets
Source: CIEE
As a foreigner or tourist visiting or living in Korea, official ticketing platforms such as Yes24 Ticket, Melon Ticket Global, NOL(Interpark), and NOL World(Interpark Global) are quite popular for both Korean artists and groups, as well as international artists that will be touring in Seoul as one of their stops! Once you make an account you are able to purchase in a much simpler way than going through a domestic site.
Average Prices
Prices do vary depending on the event you are planning to attend. As well as the day of the week, and when you purchase depending on if you bought the ticket in advance or close to the event. They can range from 120,000-180,000 KRW which equals $87-130 USD for a standard arena.
Also depending on the seat, the prices will change. For example, a balcony which is further from the stage will be a lot cheaper as compared to floor seats, and of course VIP and tickets with soundcheck will be the most expensive option.
A pro is that when you go to buy the ticket you typically are able to select the seat that you would like. If this is not an option, some events are color coded and often sectioned off by different prices.
Before the Concert
Source: Instagram
The day of a concert can be a bit chaotic, especially if you have never had to navigate the Seoul subways or buses to a location you have never been before. Here are some good tips to use when the day of the event comes!
Outfits
If you have been wondering what to wear, do not worry! In Korea it is pretty common to dress more casual, comfortable and stylish. You are free to wear whatever you want as well, but be sure to wear comfortable shoes because you will either be walking or standing a lot and want to feel your best during and after the event.
Transportation to the Venue
It can depend on your preference or whichever way is faster but, rule number one of traveling to Korea is downloading Naver Maps. This allows you to navigate everything much easier because Google Maps, which you may be used to, does not work. You can enter your starting location and where you would like to go. It will then tell you when the next subway or bus is coming, how to make your way over there, and the time it takes.
From my personal experience, I would highly recommend getting there earlier than you originally planned! When I attended a music event, by the time the bus came it was completely full. I waited for a few more buses at the stop and the same thing happened where only some people were able to get on. I decided to then take the longer way to get to the venue, knowing I would eventually be saving time than waiting until a bus finally would be able to fit me.
What to Bring
Source: CIEE
As a foreigner or tourist, you will need to bring a passport or ID. I would highly recommend reading the information on the ticketing or venue site to see exactly what the rules are. Sometimes you will need to show a copy of the ticket, and other events may have on site ticketing pickup.
Since these events will be a long day, be sure to bring key items such as a portable charger to ensure you capture all the videos and photos that you want. As for bags, there may be restrictions, but in my experience and what I have seen they are not strict with the size of the bag or what it looks like, especially if you think you need to be bringing a clear bag which you do not. Depending on the season, be sure to check the weather especially if you think you will be outside for a reasonable amount of time to either pack an umbrella, hat, etc depending on the weather.
Remember to stay hydrated! A lot of times venues will have popular cafes, or convenience stores on site which you can purchase. You are most likely allowed to bring in a small sealed water bottle. If you need to buy anything else, there will be many options available at the venue as well for beverages and food.
Purchasing Merchandise
If you are trying to bring home a souvenir from the event, here are a few tips for purchasing merchandise!
- Arrive Early-Queues for merchandise can open up in the morning, hours before the show
- Pre-order online-Some platforms allow for on site pickup for merchandise
- No fitting rooms-Be sure to get the correct size since no refund/exchange policies are reinforced
South Korea Concert Etiquette
Source: Business Insider
Entry Process
The overall process of entering the venue and finding your seat is simple and very organized. There is always staff assisting with any concerns and directing people in the correct direction. One unique thing about concerts in South Korea is that most events do not have bag checks. I found this very shocking as someone from the U.S where we have stricter bag rules and bag checks which limit what we can bring into the venue for events due to safety concerns. In Korea, everything did run smoothly in my opinion and left me with more time to explore the venue before the doors would open and grab a bite to eat.
Fanchants/Culture
Here is where it differs extremely culturally with Korea and the U.S. Korean concert culture is different in many ways.
- Being seated rather than standing up and jumping during the event
- Being loud is discouraged
- Synchronized fanchants that fans memorize
- Light stick(응원봉) culture
I personally was not used to a lot of these differences, but I did still enjoy the experience. Especially the respectfulness in not cheering or screaming over the artist during the entire show and during ments, like U.S fans would. It allowed me to immerse myself in the music and the event better.
After The Concert
I would highly recommend planning out how you plan to get back to your accommodation earlier in advance. After an event many fans will be lining up for the bus or subway. One important thing to keep in mind is that many buses or subways will stop running towards the end of the night, which is typically near midnight.
Conclusion
I hope that either your first or next concert in South Korea will be exciting, go smoothly, and be a memorable experience. I also hope that some of these tips were useful for your future experience!
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