If you’ve ever found yourself spiralling down the rabbit hole of K-Pop videos on YouTube, you already know that Korea doesn’t play around when it comes to concerts. But attending a live concert in Korea—especially for a major idol group—is a whole different level of cultural experience. Whether it’s the sea of synchronized lightsticks or the united fanchants, Korean concert culture is vibrant, communal, and deeply immersive. Here’s what you can expect from one!
- Getting the Tickets – The hard part!
The first order of business would be to secure the concert ticket. These tickets can sell out in literally seconds for big-name groups. Many K-pop concerts offer pre-sale access to official fanclub members (paid fan membership via platforms like Weverse of V-LIVE). With your membership number, you would need to apply during a specific time window. After applying, you would be able to access the ticketing site a couple of days earlier than the general sales. Sites like Interpark, YES24, or Melon Ticket are commonly used. These sites are mostly Korean, so learning basic Korean will help you navigate the site more smoothly in the ticketing war.
Unlike in Singapore, where you choose your section and the system randomly assigns seats based on availability, you need to select both your section and specific seat for Korea ticketing. Additionally, some tickets are tied to your ID/passport to prevent scalping (make sure you use the same name as there may be ID checks!).
- Preparing for the Concert – Part of the fun!
After you secure your golden tickets, what should you do as you countdown to the D-day? Firstly, get your lightstick. Perhaps the most iconic symbol of Korean concert culture is the official lightstick or “응원봉” (eungwonbong). Each group has its own specially designed lightstick, often reflecting their concept, fandom color, and logo. These isn’t just a flashy accessory—it’s an essential tool for fan participation. These lightsticks can be synced to the concert’s central control system. That means during performances, the lights in the audience pulse, change color, and flicker in perfect harmony with the music. You will get to enjoy a 360-degree visual experience with the crowd as part of the choreography. A trend these days is to decorate and customize your lightsticks!
Next, forget singing along casually because you will have some homework due: memorize your fanchants. In Korea, fanchants are taken seriously. Fans memorize specific syllables, names, and phrases to shout in unison during certain parts of a song. These chants are often released by the group’s company before a concert or comeback, giving fans time to prepare. What results is a powerful, unified chorus that complements—not competes with—the artist’s vocals. It’s a unique display of fan dedication and group identity. Some fanchants have gone beyond simple chanting, such as chanting the idols’ names so quickly it sounds like a rap section, or even harmonizing with the singers by singing a different note of the same lyrics.
- D-Day – Arrive early to soak up the vibes and excitement of the crowd!
A beautiful aspect of Korean concert culture is the prevalence of fan projects, which has since spread across the world with the K-Pop fever. These are surprise gestures organized by fans to show appreciation or commemorate milestones. For concerts, major fansites will usually prepare banners and distribute them to everyone near the venue. These are typically surprise banners with a short heartfelt message of support and adoration. It will come with instructions so you know when exactly to lift them for the surprise. Smaller fansites will typically prepare freebies and character goods to give out outside the concert venue before the show, so definitely don’t miss out on this!
Also, don’t be shocked to see fans holding up small cards while shouting the names of other members. These fans are looking to exchange photocards, so feel free to approach them if you would like to trade! When you’re in, remember to sync up your lightsticks at your seat, hydrate yourself in between fanchants, and most importantly, enjoy the show! Between sections, you can expect the members to introduce themselves and engage the fans with some small talk. As expected, in Korea, there would be no translator translating in real time. Therefore, knowing conversational Korean would help you better understand the dialogue and overall flow of the show.
Last but not least, encores are a given in Korea. This is often counted into the actual concert duration. You can look forward to more interaction with the singers during this section – as this is usually the section they will move out from choreographed performances, and perform freestyle as they get closer to the fans in different sections. The encore section in Korean concerts is not a simple 1-2 song affair. On average, you can expect at least an additional 30 minutes after the initial “ending”. Famous singer, IU once did a nearly 2-hour encore (which she called it an en-en-encore), bumping the full concert duration to more than 5 hours. Popular boy group Seventeen is also famous for their never-ending encore, where they would repeatedly pretend to end their show, only to jump back out while looping their hit song Aju Nice.
Whether you’re a seasoned K-pop fan or just curious about the scene, attending a concert in Korea is something that should be on your bucket list. It’s not just a musical event—it’s a collective celebration of passion, precision, and pure joy. So if you ever find yourself in Seoul during a major comeback season, get your tickets and join the wave! It will surely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
To better prepare for your upcoming K-Pop concert, consider taking a Korean class here at Sejong, Singapore’s highest-rated Korean Language School. We offer classes that range from Beginner to Advanced levels. Our classes provide a holistic approach to learning the language (not to mention, fun and engaging native Korean teachers!). Enquire today to find out more!
Written by: Ms Luisa Lim, July 2025