Attending a Korean Concert: The How-Tos

For foreigners, attending a Kpop concert entails air ticket, the uncertainty of getting tickets, getting to the venue and also navigating your way around the concert venue. So here is my blow by blow account made easy on what I did to get my Big Bang Big Show 2011 concert tickets.


Concert venue

1. Getting the tickets

• Tickets for Kpop concerts can usually be purchased from Gmarket or Interpark. Most agencies use Gmarket (you can use English Gmarket instead of the Korean one. Click on Site Map to access the ticketing section). As a foreigner, we have to contend with the speed of the Internet in Korea and also the use of Korean language on the purchase site.
• Though Big Show was for 3 days, the tickets on Day 1 sold out within 5mins of my logging in. So always prepare your Gmarket account first by logging in and having your google translate and details ready.
• If you have a faster LAN connection, use it. Koreans use optic fiber Internet.
• Once you've managed to enter the Gmarket site and clicked on the seats and category you want, check-out the seats and pay for the tickets using your foreign credit card (Master or Visa).
• Do note however that Gmarket requires you to register the tickets on payment using a Korean address. I suggest using Gmarket's corporate address in Seoul and put your passport name and your international mobile number (to be later used for verification purposes at the venue). Gmarket will not be sending your ticket to their office; you must exchange your e-ticket for the actual hard copy on the performance date. If you've put your Korean friend's home address when ordering, the ticket will be sent to your friend's address (not to Gmarket office, so be patient).
• Once payment is confirmed, print the e-ticket and do bring a copy to the venue so that the staff can find your hard copy ticket during exchange. E-ticket is not allowed for entry. You must exchange for hard copy ticket.
• If you did not manage to purchase the ticket on the first day, don't panic. Koreans tend to release their spare tickets later in the week so getting some less than desirable seats is still better than NOT having tickets at all.
• Lastly, you can always buy the ticket at the venue but there's no guarantee that you'd get one as there are many Koreans queuing for tickets as well.

2. Day of concert

• Do arrive at the concert venue EARLY. Kpop concerts are usually held at the Seoul Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena. Take Subway Line 5 to Olympic Park. Just follow the hordes of people exiting the train station.

VIPs outside the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena

• How early should you arrive at the venue? Hard core merchandise buyers arrived at 9am even though the concert was at 8pm and sales only started at 3pm. However, if you show up at 3pm, chances are you'd be at the back of the queue. So for Day 3 of Big Show at 6pm, we showed up at 2pm and entered the venue at 415pm.
• For foreigners with e-tickets, exchange for your hard copy ticket on that day itself at the A-2 Happy Box booth located in front of the Arena. Foreigners will be in the A-Z queue. The rest of the lines will be for Koreans using Hangul surnames. It can get crowded at the ticket collection booth so if unsure, do ask any of the ushers there. Bring some form of photo identification if you are worried. The staff may just ask you for your indicated international phone number to verify your identity.
• If you have a friend, send them to queue for the merchandise. Standard procedure here is to join a long queue to give your order and pay, then proceed to another queue to collect your merchandise on presentation of receipt.

Queuing to pay and to collect merchandise

• For most concerts, standing areas require you to collect your WRISTBANDS. Do listen out for the information being said in Korean, Japanese and English at the venue. The YG staff in this instance directed us to the entrance 2-1 for standing tickets and to collect our wristbands.
• Standing tickets do not allow you to carry your bags but due to space constraints; not everyone will be able to deposit their bags at the storage area. Beware: this is another long queue (no joke in the biting cold) and there is even a separate queue just to deposit your cameras (obviously photography and video recording is not allowed). It IS advisable if you are standing in the pit area to deposit your purchased merchandise. You don't want them to be stomped on.
• Food-wise, there is a tteokbokki, fish cake store selling some simple dishes. A mini mart can be found outside entrance 2-1. There are no restaurants nearby so if you can, bring food or eat first.
• Sitting tickets do not require wristbands but you would still have to join the long line for entry. For Big Show Day 3, we spent the extra time available taking photographs of the standees, Big Bang's promo bus, getting the free Fila posters and Gmarket cards.

Standees and the promo bus



More standees and freebies

• Finally, it's time to go in. Standing tickets will be segregated by section and number so do look out for the section and number signs. Staff will also check your tickets so do keep them handy. Expect to stand for 1.5-2h while waiting to go in.

3. Inside the venue

• Big Show 11 started pretty much on time, no thanks to the cold and rain. For standing tickets, they will usher you into the pits by sections. Try to find a good spot for yourself but do note it gets HOT in the pit and fans can push you around when the artistes are close. Basically i didn't even need to walk; just got pushed around.

Big Bang showing their "Tonight" MV

• For sitting tickets, things were more leisurely. They let you in and you can sit and watch the sequence of videos of the band (in this case Big Bang), music videos and sponsor ads. There is even time to eat a snack, take a drink and prepare your torch.
• Standing or sitting: if you decide to purchase standing tickets, there is no guarantee that you will be right at the barricades to touch your favourite singer's face or receive the towel they throw. Chances are, you will get pushed around by fans. As for sitting tickets, distance is further but you get a comfortable view of the entire concert.
• Once the lights dimmed, it was a flood of yellow Big Bang torches and let the parrrtyyyy begin!

4. Booo... concert is over and it's time to go home

• Do remember to collect your bag or camera from the bag deposit.
• Be patient as there are thousands of fans leaving at the same time. If you are taking the train, make sure your T-card has enough money so you won't have to wait in line to top up your card.
• Most importantly, BE PATIENT! It could take 30mins or more just to exit the venue.

I miss the boys loads and the concert was AMAZING. Energy was great and Big Bang put up helluva' performance. Wasn't surprising to bump into Aussie, American and European fans either. There were loads of Japanese fans and the handful of Thai, Filipino and us, Singaporeans!

Big Bang jjang! Saranghae Jiyongie.


Loot!