Inkigayo is one of the biggest music shows in Korea, airing live every Sunday at 3:40PM. Photo credits to SBS Inkigayo.
Whenever visiting Korea, K-Pop fans often dream of participating in activities that aren’t easily accessible- including fansigns, fanmeetings, and music shows. It can be pretty overwhelming when trying to fit those experiences in, as there are a lot of rules and regulations, and some aren’t even available to foreigners without finding a few loopholes. While it can be thrilling to sign up for lotteries or try for ticketing, sometimes simplicity is best. There is an easier way to experience at least one music show.
SBS Inkigayo is one of the most well-known music shows within the K-Pop industry. Since 2013, the Inkigayo as we see it today airs live each Sunday. With a mixture of popular and nugu groups, the show is an opportunity to see your ults as well as discover new artists. Typically there are three MC’s for the show, all of whom are idols. There are two main sections for fans to enjoy the show: the floor in front of the stage, or seats further back. The floor area is typically reserved for fan club members for promoting groups, as many of them witness the pre-recordings before the show begins. It is also important to note that in order to be in the floor section, you have to be under a specific height requirement to avoid being hit by the moving cameras. However, it can be a complex process and isn’t even guaranteed. That’s where seating comes in. The seating area is located behind all the cameras and equipment, with tiered rows along the rear wall. The staggered levels allow for clear views for all fans.
KoreaTravelEasy offers a bundled ticket that allows you to take a tour around Seoul and join the live airing of Inkigayo. Tickets for this experience can be pricey, typically running between $150-200, but with the ease and enjoyment, it is worth the price. When planning for the KoreaTravelEasy tour, you can expect to spend the entire day on the tour. While optional, the tour is a great chance to experience new things, especially if it’s your first time in Seoul! They offer three different tours depending on the time of year, all including walking through scenery, seeing museums, as well as a free bus ride to the SBS Broadcasting Building.
During the day, you will walk through many sites and receive multiple breaks. Ahead of your tour, you will receive a complete, detailed schedule, which is also visible on their website. During free time, you can shop or eat lunch. Around 2:00PM, the tour guide will bring everyone to the broadcasting building to begin lining them up for entry.
The SBS Inkigayo building is located in the Deungchon-dong neighborhood of the Gangseo District in Seoul. Photo credits to Niko.
During the entry process, they will have you line up by the numbers on your lanyards. You will be required to show your passport as proof of identity, and it can oftentimes be a lengthy process. It’s wisest to do anything necessary–like snack or bathroom breaks– before lining up, as you may not have the time during or after. While standing in line, you have a great opportunity to get to know the people around you. I once met a girl who flew in from Japan just to see Shotaro from RIIZE! Talk about dedication! You can also prepare for who you might see, as Inkigayo posts their lineup on X (formerly known as Twitter) a few days before the show.
As you head inside, pay attention to the second floor balcony by the entrance, as sometimes the artists will be on the stairs. When I went, Hanjin from TWS was heading up the stairs with a manager. While the manager tried to usher him away, he walked up to the railing to wave and greet fans.
An important rule to remember is that they are strict with cell phones. Once you walk into those doors, you cannot take photos or videos. It is best to keep your phone stored in a bag or pocket, or placed on your lap. They will also stop you from holding up large signs or iPads with messages, as it blocks the view for other fans and can be distracting for the artists on camera. Once seated, feel free to gawk at the stage. It’s a lot closer than you realize. To the far right, there is a smaller stage for the MC’s, who usually come out early for makeup touchups and rehearsal. You can wave and cheer for them, as they will respond, but try not to get too rowdy once they start practicing.
When the show starts, be sure to cheer on each artist, as some groups may not have fans in the audience and could feel neglected. When I saw Inkigayo the first time, I fell in love with EVNNE and TWS. Groups from smaller companies will be performing live for the broadcast. Once you get into larger groups with more elaborate stage setups or debut stages, they will prerecord the performance and come on stage to dance while it airs. These larger groups also usually leave the stage early, so be prepared for that.
During the interview portions, many of the artists will be walking in from the right stairwell entrance. If you keep an eye out, you might even get a wave or finger heart in return. The artists love interacting with fans while off-camera, so don’t be shy!
Once the show nears its end, all the artists present will stand on stage while waiting for the winner announcement. A lot of the idols that stand to the side, and aren’t on camera, will wave and interact with fans. Try not to be loud during the announcement or acceptance speech or else you might get you a few mean looks. The Encore is also such a fun part of the event, even the winning group isn’t a group that you stan. Performed completely live, you get to watch the idols run around the stage and have a fun time. The original airing of encores do not do justice to how raw the artists sound.
As you exit the broadcasting building, don’t leave immediately! You’ll notice other fans will start to gather around the sidewalks, waiting. Around 15 minutes after the show concludes, many artists begin to leave the building and get into their designated vans. As they leave, the artists tend to roll the windows down and wave to fans and interact with the fans. Less typically, some artists will come out and greet fans personally. When I went to my first music show, I got to meet Wumuti (a member of XLOV) outside the venue. He just had his solo debut stage and wanted to greet fans. I got to stand near him as he thanked us for our support, and it was pretty unreal.
At the end of the day, don’t forget to enjoy yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in all the rules and expectations, but as long as you act respectfully, you can make new friends through this experience and create memories that will last you a lifetime!