[FEATURE] Experiencing K-Pop Year End Festivals & Music Award Shows In Korea

The most wonderful time especially for fans of K-Pop would be the end of year season! What’s not to like when there are year end music shows that feature many of your favourite groups? Thinking of heading to Seoul during the winter season, and would like to attend one of the many year-end festivals in Korea? Fret not, The Seoul Story will guide you through to experience these K-Pop year end festivals first-hand, so that you no longer have to watch them behind just a screen! 😛

Nearing the end of the year, the three major broadcasting stations in Korea – Seoul Broadcasting Station (SBS), Korea Broadcasting Station (KBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) will each hold their own year-end music festivals, called Gayo Daejun(s). Translating to mean ‘War of Music’, Gayo Daejun(s) allow fans of various K-Pop groups to come together and celebrate the end of the year with performances by their favourite artistes. If you are lucky, you may even get to witness special collaboration stages by artistes of different groups!

However, it is difficult to obtain tickets for these shows, since instructions are in Korean and only limited number of tickets are available for grab. Having personally attended some of these festivals, here are some information that may help you get the ticket of your dreams! 😀

Bidding of tickets
As with all other broadcasting stations, tickets will be available for bidding a few weeks before the actual show, and each account holder is entitled to two tickets if the bid is successful. The downside to this is that information on how to do so are mostly written in Korean, and some help might be needed on the procedure of  doing things. Furthermore, this method requires lady luck to be on your side in order to secure your tickets, as thousands of fans of various groups are trying their hand at them!

Fanclub tickets
If the first method of bidding is unsuccessful, fret not as there is a second option for you! If you are a fan of an idol group, do look out for notices on whether you are able to sign up for a ticket. Fanclub managers often post notices regarding the registration of tickets a few days before the actual event, so keep your eyes locked on the fan-cafes (eg. Daum cafe, JYP fans’ etc). If you are in the groups’ official fanclub, you may even have priority in securing a ticket for yourself. After completing registration, take note of the items necessary for entrance (eg. official lightstick, membership card), and head down on the day of the event to watch the show!

Official ticket sales on travel websites
All hope is still not lost if the first two methods do not work out for you! The final method to get a ticket would be through ticket sales on sponsored websites like Trazy. Do check out such websites beforehand, as tickets are bound to sell out fast and are highly popular among tourists like you who would also like an experience at the year-end music festivals. Tickets are usually priced at around USD$230, but benefits include a closer view from the main stage. Simply purchase the ticket from the website, and head down to the venue on the day with an identification proof (eg. passport) to exchange for the ticket itself!

If you are unable to secure a ticket, do not give up as fanclubs often have chances for pre-recording for these shows as well. Do check your favourite groups’ fan-cafe often to get information beforehand, and prepare the verification items that you need!

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The other activity that most K-Pop fans are interested in would be music award shows. Highly anticipated award shows like ‘Melon Music Awards’ and ‘Golden Disc Awards’ have tickets available for grab as well, and are usually priced affordably at ₩14,500.

Tickets are released on the official websites and information are usually written in Korean. However, as many other fans would like to experience the feeling of being at the edge of their seats waiting for the announcement if their favourite group has won an award, and to be able to experience the joy with the fandom when they win, tickets are extremely difficult and painful to obtain. What you will really need is lots of luck, and a good internet connection while trying for your tickets!

Here are some general guidelines for these events:

• DO ensure that you strictly adhere to the admission guidelines and rules! They can usually be found on the official website of these events or at the entrance of the venue.
• DO NOT attempt any kind of photography/videography! Any form of photography/videography is strictly not allowed in most of the end-of-year events, and anyone caught going against the rules may be banned from the venue!
• DO check out for latest updates from the official platforms of the respective music shows (Website/Twitter/Facebook) regarding admission guidelines or line up changes! It is always exciting to know the kind of performances you may anticipate.
• DO make sure to head to the venue early and be seated at least 30 minutes before the start of the event. In the case where you might possibly get a ticket for a standing pit, you don’t wish to be blocked! (FUN FACT: The 2017 SBS Gayo Daejun was held at the Gocheok Sky Dome with a seating capacity of 16,813. It is always wise to plan to reach early to make sure you are seated before the start of the show, instead of having to jostle in the crowd)

With the information listed above, we hope you will one day be able to witness and experience the magical feeling of watching the year-end festivals in Korea! Have any other tips to share? Comment down below! 😀

Written by: Amber & Lisa

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