South Korea’s music festival scene is expanding with increased diversity and volume
On a sunny day in early summer, the Seoul Olympic Park was bustling with music enthusiasts attending the annual Seoul Jazz Festival, undeterred by the rising temperatures. Among the festival-goers was 35-year-old Elena Joo, a Seoul native, who finally decided to attend the event after years of hesitation. Clutching onto her picnic mat, water bottles, and a lunchbox, Joo expressed her excitement about experiencing the festival for the first time.
The music festival scene in South Korea has been flourishing, with a plethora of large-scale events happening throughout the year. EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) Korea marked the beginning of the festival season at the end of April, featuring a highly anticipated performance by South Korean DJ Peggy Gou at the newly constructed Inspire Entertainment Resort in Incheon.
One of the standout events in the country’s music festival calendar is the Seoul Jazz Festival, now in its 17th edition. Taking place from May 30 to June 1, the festival attracted a record-breaking 46,000 attendees. The festival venues included the main stage at 88 Lawn Field, paying homage to the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, as well as the KSPO Dome and SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, two of the largest indoor concert venues in South Korea.
The increasingly diverse music festival landscape in South Korea reflects a shift in the country’s musical preferences beyond the confines of K-pop. Genres like rock, hip hop, and jazz are gaining popularity among South Korean music fans, leading to a surge in festival attendance. International acts like Thundercat, Jacob Collier, and Lany, alongside homegrown favorites such as Crush, Epik High, and Jannabi, are drawing crowds to these events.
For many attendees like Joo, the allure of music festivals lies not only in the performances but in the sense of community and shared experience that these events foster. The growing fandom culture in South Korea is no longer limited to K-pop; it now encompasses a wide array of musical genres, creating a more inclusive and vibrant music scene in the country.
As more festivals continue to expand and diversify their lineups, South Korea’s music festival scene is poised to become bigger, louder, and even more eclectic in the years to come. With festivals like the Seoul Jazz Festival setting the stage for a variety of musical experiences, music enthusiasts in South Korea have a wealth of options to choose from, catering to a range of tastes and preferences.