Events In Korea (한국의 행사)

11 Summer Music Festivals In Korea! Here We Come!

Those summer music festivals that everyone looks forward to each year to get out and about, chill out and listen to some awesome live acts actually start a little earlier than you might expect! Starting in May, the outdoor music fests can be heard blasting some awesome music around the country. From camping under the stars with some awesome rock bands to dancing the night away to some EDM, there are plenty of awesome music festivals in Korea to choose from to fill your summer weekends with fun.

Ansan Valley Rock Festival 2013, Korea

Get ready to rock out at a music festival in Korea:

  • Beautiful Mint Life
  • Greenplugged
  • Seoul Jazz Festival
  • Seoul World DJ Festival
  • Rainbow Music & Camping Festival
  • UMF Korea
  • Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival
  • Pentaport Rock Festival
  • Busan Rock Festival
  • HBC Music Festival
  • Dream Concert

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How To Prepare

  • Early Bird Discounts: If you can figure it out, I highly suggest buying tickets online in advance. Keep up with their websites so you can get their early bird discounts.
  • Be prepared for rain: The summer can be rainy in Korea so be prepared with a poncho in your bag so you can keep dancing through the drips and the drops.

Summer Music Festivals in Korea

Beautiful Mint Life

Meant to be a beautiful and peaceful event, it welcomes picnickers, music lovers and just all around happy-go-lucky people to Songpa for a spring event on the grass. Beautiful Mint life started by Mint Paper back in 2010 brings together a number of groups to three different stages. This is one of the earliest music festivals, taking place in spring in Korea and is the perfect way to get in the groove and get out and about. Check out their website for more information on how to get tickets so you can picnic it up with some good music on the lawn to kick off spring in style.

Greenplugged

Greenplugged Seoul 2016This festival sits just meters away from the Han River. While the water rushes by in the background, the grass beckons those in attendance to have a picnic and enjoy a fun day outside in the spring breeze. Just down the road from Hongdae and Mangwon-dong as well as the substantial World Cup Park, there’s a lot to do in the area to make a great time of it.

FYI, if you don’t want to actually purchase tickets, you can still head to the area and enjoy the festival atmosphere just outside of the tents. The grass is open and great for activities and you’ll still be able to hear the music. Grab some friends and enjoy a picnic while you enjoy some tunes.

Seoul Jazz Festival

The Seoul Jazz Festival never disappoints and has seen the likes of Jamiroquai, Dianne Reeves, Honne, Tower of Power, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Lianne La Havas, Epik High, Nell, Mamas Gun, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Zion T., 10cm and loads more. One of the most popular ways to kick off the summer in Korea, this festival sells out within days of releasing tickets so be ready to pounce! The lineup is always perfect for anyone in attendance and it is easy to get to over in Olympic Park so check it out if you’re in Seoul in May.

Ansan Valley Rock Festival 2013, Korea

Seoul World DJ Festival

One of the biggest EDM festivals in Korea, the World DJ Festival has AC Slater, Alan Walker, Audiotricz, Brennan Heart, Excision, Mike Perry, Party Favor and more still to be added to their lineup. The World DJ Festival has been kicking off the summer with awesome music for many years in Korea and will keep up the fun this year too. This is definitely one of those fests that will really make you feel as if summer has truly arrived. Get those early bird tickets while you still can!

Rainbow Music & Camping Festival

Fun in the sun and camping on an island made that much better with live music. If an island getaway complete with a music festival and camping doesn’t sound like fun to you, I don’t know what else to say to make it sound enticing. Get ready for an “island” getaway this summer and start planning now! It’s that hippy boho fun that just feels like summer.

 

UMF Korea

The Ultra Music Festival is an annual outdoor electronic music festival that was founded in Miami, Florida in 1999. Now, it takes place in venues all around the world and it will make a stop in Seoul and you won’t want to miss it. Make sure to get your tickets early for those early bird specials!

  • When: Has been in June some years and September in others so check to get this year’s event info.
  • Where: Olympic Stadium, Seoul
  • Places To Stay In The Area: Hotel 2.4Rosana Boutique Hotel
  • Website: UMF Korea

Ansan Valley Rock Festival 2013, Korea

Valley Rock Music & Arts Festival

This festival is one of the biggest events of the summer and people around the country look forward to heading to Jisan to nestle into the mountains for a good time. There are three stages at the festival: Big Top Stage, Green Stage, and an Open Stage. Favorites like Weezer, Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, Crying Nut, Pia, Oasis, The Cure and more have rocked out at this festival. It’s one of my personal favorites. Definitely get these tickets early and plan that weekend music getaway now! This is another great festival to plan a camping getaway around, too.

Pentaport Rock Festival

If you’re into rock and electronic music, this festival has been a favorite of many since 2006. The name comes out of the combination of the five main themes of the fest: music, passion, eco-friendly, DIY and friendship. One of the biggest live music events in the country, some major acts have graced the stage over the years.  Vampire Weekend, Mogwai, Leenalchi, Galaxy Express, The Fray, Two Doors Cinema Club, Weezer, Nine Inch Nails and more have jammed here. See who is playing this year.

Busan Rock Festival

Not only can this festival rock your socks off, but at the same time, the larger Busan Sea Festival which this rock festival is under the umbrella of, takes place at the same time for a city of fun. Thirty festivals in one! The rock fest has gotten bigger and bigger each year and showcases Busan’s own homegrown musicians as well as other rock and metal acts from across the country and abroad. 

2017 Busan Rock Festival, Busan, Korea

HBC Music Festival

Running for more than 15 years, this fest is the longest running independent fest in the area and is made up entirely of independent artists and performers from Korea and abroad. Festival venues include some HBC favorites like:  V-Lounge, Phillies, Bedrock, Alley Bunker, The Cave, Hair of the Dog, Camarata Music, Genie Pub, Thunderhorse Tavern, Maloney’s Pub The Workshop, and Hidden Cellar and attract people from all over to see mostly small acoustic acts.

There are some live band venues like Phillies Pub, Camarata, Bedrock , Thunderhorse Tavern, and V-Lounge that get in on the action where the music will be loud and raucous though. Head there to support local and check out their website for updated lineups. If you like a good neighborhood block party-esque vibe, this is the festival in Seoul to find.

Dream Concert

Called Korea’s Largest K-pop Festival by the Guinness Book of World Record, this annual event has been held every year since 1995! Generally taking place in Seoul, this one has moved to other areas of Korea to highlight various events like when it was held in Pyeongchang before the Olympics. You can see some major K-Pop acts. Get your tickets early!

  • When: Has taken place in different months so check to see what’s going on this year.
  • Where: Usually Seoul, but has been in other cities.
  • Website: Dream Concert

There is a music festival for everyone. Make sure to check the sites and get your early bird tickets to save some cash to be spent on more tickets for more festivals! The summer is coming. Don’t miss out on all of the fun.

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16 Comments

  • abcdefghizzy

    I can’t believe that Lorde is playing at this year’s Jisan Music Festival!?!?! I bought the ticket for my boyfriend’s birthday two years ago and he had the time of his life! This is an incredible list and helpful for the musicgoing in Korea 😀

  • TCK Goes Home

    Going to Ultra Korea this year for the 2nd time, and contemplating on Jisan valley rock! I’m a music festival lover and this list is very resourceful!

  • ravenoustravellers

    Great list – didn’t realise there was so many cool music festivals in Korea. Definitely want to try and make it to a few of these, the rainbow island festival looks so cool!! thanks for sharing!

  • Expat and the City

    So many music fests in Korea – I love it! I wish I had the chance to go to one while I was living there. I know Ultra is a huge one. I have a friend who is going to Korea just for the festival!

  • Travel with Karla

    I haven’t been to any music festivals in Korea. Thanks for compiling this list. Buying ticket early can really help in saving money! I wish there’s a coachella themed music festival in Korea ^^

  • Vibeke Johannessen

    All of these sounds amazing, especially Greenplugged and Rainbow Island. I havent been to music festivals in while no because I live in Ecuador and it is not so safe to go to festivals here. But these sounds so interesting and well planned. Thank you for sharing this 😀

  • AuthenticTravels

    Usually I am not interested in music festivals but if there’s one with traditional music, I’m in. I have a friend that is just going to Korea in a few weeks and I’ll pass this post to her.

  • Cat

    With so many music festivals coming up, summer in Korea is going to be so much fun! I would personally love to check out the jazz festival. Greenplugged would be a fun one with a picnic by the Han River!

  • Sandy N Vyjay

    Summer is really going to be a rocking time in Korea. The range of festivals is really spectacular. They seem to cover a wide range of genres. I would personally love to be part of the Greenplugged festival. Nothing like some good music amidst the environs of nature.

  • Live Learn Venture (@LiveLearnVentur)

    Nice — there is a lot going on and truly something for everyone. We attended the Ansan Valley Rock Festival (Now Jisan 🙂 ) in 2015. It was amazing getting to see Foo Fighters in Korea 🙂 Great roundup!

  • Cori

    I forget how many music festivals there are in the world! A friend of mine did an around the world trip from one music festival to another, but so far I’ve resisted.

  • LaiAriel R. Samangka (Thelittlelai: Beyond limits)

    Awesome I must say. I never had any experience in attending a music festival and this must be something cool and exciting. I didn’t know that Korea has this kind of festival. Thank you so much for sharing. Hopefully, I could witness and experience this one someday.

  • Brian Dye

    Wow, I never realized so many smaller and mid sized festivals happened in and around Seoul. I definitely want to check out the Mint and maybe the Rainbow festival as well. I haven’t done World DJ fest or UMF in so long! Might be time to check them out again!

    • Hallie

      Yeah, I went to the World DJ fest for like three years in a row when it had just started and was over on the Nanji Han River Park.. haven’t been in years but would be fun to go again.

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