"The Season of Festivals"... 'K-Pop Concert' in Gangnam, 'Jeongdong Night Walk' in Gangbuk

by Kim Minjin

Published 05 Oct.2023 06:00(KST)

Gangnam-gu, Seoul, will hold the 'Gangnam Festival' from the 5th to the 9th at Yeongdong-daero, the COEX area, and Maru Park in Gaepo-dong. The photo shows last year's concert scene. (Photo by Gangnam-gu)

It is the era of the three highs: high inflation, high interest rates, and high exchange rates. While income remains predictable, nothing from transportation costs, food expenses, heating and cooling bills, to academy fees has escaped price increases. Even when planning a big-hearted trip with family on a clear autumn day, the hefty expenses make you keep calculating in your head.

There is a perfect festival for breadwinners, couples, and young people who are worried about these issues. The 'quality' has already been proven. It's even free. All you need is a little effort, a willingness to enjoy, and a transportation card.

Gangnam-gu Backed by the Star-Studded Lineup of the ‘Yeongdong-daero K-pop Concert’

Seoul’s Gangnam-gu will hold the ‘Gangnam Festival’ from the 5th to the 9th at Yeongdong-daero, the COEX area, and Maru Park in Gaepo-dong. During this period, the festival will consecutively host the opening ceremony, Gangnam Fashion Festa, Maru Park Green Concert, Yeongdong-daero K-POP Concert, International Peace Marathon, and K-Culture Stage, each event boasting a considerable scale.

With a star-studded lineup and scale comparable to mega concerts where ticket prices can reach tens of thousands of won, the festival is impressive. The opening ceremony on the 5th at 7 p.m. at the COEX K-pop Square features singers Yoon Se-yeon, Nataju & Tigers, Oh My Girl, La Poem, and Gummy. On the 6th, the Fashion Festa at the COEX Starfield Library will showcase over 100 models including Lee Ki-woo and Han Hyun-min, along with a performance by rapper BewhY. On the 7th, the Maru Park Green Concert in Gaepo will feature Sung Si-kyung, Guckkasten, Park Hye-won, Lee Chan-won, and Kim Feel.

On the 8th, a massive Hallyu concert, the ‘Yeongdong-daero K-pop Concert,’ will take place on a special stage on Yeongdong-daero. Top-tier idols such as aespa, ATEEZ, Boy Next Door, fromis_9, NCT DREAM, STAYC, and Zico will perform. According to Gangnam-gu, about 2,000 foreign tourists visited Korea for the K-pop concert, and nearby hotels are fully booked.

Cho Sung-myung, mayor of Gangnam-gu, explained, “Including simultaneous YouTube viewers, last year’s Gangnam Festival attracted about 920,000 participants, making it overwhelmingly popular in both scale and appeal. Foreign tourists come to Korea specifically to see K-pop, which brings significant economic benefits.”

Seoul Jung-gu's 'Jeongdong Night Tour,' which began in 2015, is Korea's first cultural heritage night tour, attracting more than 200,000 Seoul citizens and foreign tourists annually. (Photo by Jung-gu)

Unimitable Modern Cultural Heritage Content, Jung-gu’s ‘Jeongdong Night Walk’

In the heart of the city center, Jeongdong offers the atmosphere of a night street where modern history lives through the ‘Jeongdong Night Walk (Jeongdong Yahaeng)’ festival.

The historical and cultural festival ‘Jeongdong Night Walk’ will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the 13th and from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the 14th. Thirty-three facilities including Deoksugung Palace, Seoul Museum of Art, Jeongdong First Methodist Church, National Jeongdong Theater, Seoul Museum of History, Anglican Cathedral of Seoul, Paejae Hakdang History Museum, Ewha Museum, Canadian Embassy in Korea, and British Embassy in Korea will participate with nighttime openings, performances, exhibitions, and special lectures.

The palace music concert held in front of Deoksugung Jungwha-jeon on the 13th will feature LUN8, Gyeonggi folk singer Lee Hee-moon, traditional musician Ha Yoon-joo, tenor John No, pianist Jo Young-hoon, and soprano Lee Hae-won. The interiors of the Canadian and British embassies, usually closed to the public, will be partially opened during this period. The pre-registration closed with a competition rate exceeding 20 to 1.

The pipe organ performances at Jeongdong First Methodist Church and the Anglican Cathedral of Seoul are the highlights of Jeongdong Night Walk. Kim Gil-sung, mayor of Jung-gu, said, “If you imagine the students of Paejae Hakdang and Ewha Hakdang shyly meeting along the Deoksugung stone wall road, and the students who secretly copied the Declaration of Independence behind the pipe organ, you can truly enjoy Jeongdong Night Walk.” More than 200,000 citizens and foreign tourists visit Jeongdong Night Walk every year.