Gangnam and Busan Host Large-Scale K-Pop Concerts and Music Festivals to Boost Urban Tourism

Gangnam-gu in Seoul and Busan City are organizing large-scale K-Pop concerts and music festivals to revitalize urban tourism. Gangnam-gu will hold a free “G-KPOP Concert” from May 24 to 25 at the Sinsa-Jamwon area of Hangang Park. A total of 13 groups, including STAYC, Dreamcatcher, N.Flying, Hwang Ga-ram, RAKI, and Yoon Soo-il, will perform on stage from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., delivering a variety of performances. Following the concerts, additional events such as fireworks displays, picnic zones, and street performance shows will be available. Admission bracelets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the on-site ticket booth starting at 11 a.m. on the day of the event. Meanwhile, Gangnam-gu will host the “G-KFOOD FESTIVAL” as part of the Garosugil Design Week from May 24 to 28 in the Garosugil area. On weekends, the car-free street will feature live cooking shows and lectures by celebrity chefs, street performances by famous artists, over 100 flea markets, food trucks, and experience zones. The Garosugil Sale Festival will run until the 28th, with more than 100 shops offering various discounts and promotions. During the event period, participants can enter prize giveaways such as MacBook Airs, iPads, and dining vouchers by showing receipts or posting on social media.

Busan City will hold the “18th Busan Port Festival” for two days from May 30 to 31, with second-round ticket sales for the K-Pop concert starting at 7 p.m. on May 21. High interest is expected due to the rapid sellout of the first round of tickets. Each person can purchase up to 2 tickets at a price of 5,000 won per ticket. The K-Pop concert will take place on May 30 at 7 p.m. at the outdoor special stage at the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal, with a total of 7 groups, including SUPER JUNIOR-D&E, CNBLUE, N.Flying, ITZY, Kyungseo, Dori, and JOJES, presenting diverse performances. The concert will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display set against the beautiful night view of Busan Port. The festival includes various programs such as a K-Pop expo, conferences, and port performances. The “K-Pop Expo” will open at 10 a.m. on May 30 at Bukhang Waterside Park, where various entertainment companies will showcase their latest content and technologies. At 11:30 a.m. on the same day, the “K-Pop Conference” will be held at WINDHAM GRAND BUSAN to discuss the future of the music industry. On May 31, global K-Pop cover dance performances by artists from Mexico, the Philippines, and Turkey, along with street performances in various genres, will take place. In addition, there are various citizen-participation programs such as a Global Port Park, boat tours, a children’s writing and drawing competition themed “Love for the Sea,” a boat model-making experience, a mission stamp tour, and an exhibition of marine police vessels.

Cho Sung-myeong, mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, “These festivals represent May in Gangnam. This year, we aim to create synergistic effects by holding them in conjunction, taking into account the proximity of the locations. We will continue to discover unique cultural content specific to Gangnam to enhance its status as a tourism city.” Kim Hyun-jae, head of Busan City’s Tourism and MICE Bureau, said, “We will offer domestic and international tourists a unique experience through various programs that combine the charm of Busan as a coastal city with K-pop content.”