11 Summer Music Festivals In Korea! Here We Come!
Those summer music festivals in Korea 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.
Get ready to rock out at a music festival in Korea:
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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.
- When:ย Usually early to mid-May
- Where:ย Olympic Park, Seoul
- Places To Stay In The Area:ย Hotel 2.4,ย Rosana Boutique Hotel
- Website: Beautiful Mint Life
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.
- When:ย Late May
- Where:ย Olympic Park
- Places To Stay In The Area:ย Hotel 2.4,ย Rosana Boutique Hotel
Seoul World DJ Festival
One of the biggest EDM festivals in Korea, 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 Tickets: Buy your tickets in advance for this awesome festival on FeverUp
- Website: WDJ Fest
Busan One Asia Festival
A mega Hallyu event with K-pop concerts, exhibitions, fan meetings, and cultural programs. Get into the summer groove with the best of K-pop at the Busan One Asia Festival.
- When: June
- Where: Busan Asiad Stadium
- Get Tickets: Get your tickets online with Trazy.
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 doesnโt sound like fun to you, I donโt 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.
- When:ย Early June
- Where:ย Jarasum, Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do
- Places To Stay In The Area:ย TN Pool & Spa, Ecran Pension, Chungpyeong Olive Inn
- Website: Rainbow Festival
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 wonโt want to miss it.
Make sure to get your tickets early for those early bird specials!
- When:ย Has been in June some years and September in others so check to get this year’s event info.
- Where:ย Olympic Stadium, Seoul
- Places To Stay In The Area:ย Hotel 2.4,ย Rosana Boutique Hotel
- Website: UMF 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.
- When:ย Last weekend of July
- Where:ย Jisan Valley Ski Resort, Icheon, Gyeonggi-do
- Places To Stay In The Area: Everlast Guesthouse, Lee Design Hotel
Pentaport Rock Festival
If youโre 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.ย 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.
- When:ย Early to mid-August
- Where:ย Incheon
- Places To Stay In The Area:ย Benikea The Bliss Hotel, Hotel L’art City
- Website: Incheon Pentaport Music Festival
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 Busanโs own homegrown musicians as well as other rock and metal acts from across the country and abroad.ย
- When:ย Has gone in in August and October over the years, see when it is this year.
- Where:ย Busan
- Places To Stay In The Area:ย Sasang Brown Dot Hotel,ย HI Design Hotel,ย JJak Boutique Hotel
- Website:ย Busan Rock Festival
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:ย V-Lounge, Phillies, Bedrock, Alley Bunker, The Cave, Hair of the Dog, Camarata Music, Genie Pub, Thunderhorse Tavern, Maloneyโs 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.
- When:ย Mid October
- Where:ย Haebangchon, Seoul
- Places To Stay In The Area: Hamilton Hotel,ย Itaewon Crown Hotel,
- Website: HBC Festival
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:ย Has taken place in different months so check to see what’s going on this year.
- Where:ย 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 ๐
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!
Hallie
Thanks! I have always loved the vibes at Jisan myself. ^^
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!
Hallie
No way, really? Wow, that’s an avid fan. ^^
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 ๐
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 ๐ ) in 2015. It was amazing getting to see Foo Fighters in Korea ๐ 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.. havenโt been in years but would be fun to go again.