K-pop concert prices double over past decade, fueled by premium tickets

Ticket price charts for BTS concerts uploaded on ticketing platforms in 2017, right, and 2026 / Captured from NOL Ticket (formerly Interpark)

K-pop concert ticket prices have nearly doubled over the past decade, sparking growing frustration among fans.

A decade ago, top-tier seats at major idol concerts averaged about 100,000 won, or around $90 at the time. Today, tickets for popular acts typically fall between 150,000 won ($102) and 250,000 won.

This dramatic price escalation is evident in the K-pop scene. The most expensive ticket for BTS’ “THE WINGS TOUR” in Seoul in 2017 was 110,000 won, but top-tier seats for the group’s upcoming shows in Korea, starting in April, have risen to 264,000 won.

Long-running groups show the same trend. Super Junior sold all seats for their 2016 world tour “SUPER SHOW 6” at 110,000 won, but for the upcoming “SUPER SHOW 10” in April, standing tickets closest to the stage are priced at 198,000 won. Similarly, while standing tickets for APINK’s 2016 concert were 99,000 won, VIP seats for their February show, “The Origin: APINK,” have reached 187,000 won. Across the industry, prices have risen by approximately 100,000 to 150,000 won compared to a decade ago.

CORE seats for Super Junior’s upcoming April concert “SUPER SHOW 10.” The section closest to the stage is designated as the CORE area, which grants access to the preshow sound check. Captured from Weverse

Paying for the 'personal' touch

The sharp rise is largely attributed to the proliferation of perk-linked premium tickets, which bundle the live performance with exclusive extras such as preshow sound checks — a rehearsal viewing with a more intimate feel — and postshow meet and greets — fan engagement events. While general inflation has played a role over the last 10 years, agencies have relied heavily on these premium tiers, which offer brief interactions or closer proximity to performers, to justify higher prices.

The premium bundles have generated controversy because the benefits are now frequently mandatory for front-row seats. Fans simply seeking a good view, without additional events, are left with no choice but to purchase the expensive packages.

Hard sell vs. genuine option

Some fans argue that the added access justifies the premium pricing.

“You can talk briefly with the singer during the sound check, and they sometimes perform songs not on the setlist, so satisfaction is high,” one fan said. Another added, “It offered a better view than a fan signing event and was more satisfying than expected.”

Still, the financial strain is undeniable.

“Attending just two concerts now costs nearly 400,000 won, which is close to a month’s rent,” one fan said. “They should lower the base price, regardless of event participation.”

Critics describe the trend as a “hard sell” of products rather than a genuine option.

“I want a good seat for the performance, but the best spots inevitably come with a mandatory sound check,” wrote one fan online. “If you want to see the singer up close, you are forced to pay more than before.”

Another fan commented, “I want to see the concert, not be forced into a 'hi-touch' (a brief high-five session with the artist). Bundling these events with specific seats is merely a marketing ploy.”

Backlash has already emerged. In October, boy band ENHYPEN faced criticism for bundling sound check access with all standing seats at 220,000 won. Girl group Le Sserafim also priced VIP seats that included sound check or meet and greet access — not both — at 198,000 won for its Jan. 31 show.

Ticketing page for Le Sserafim’s concert. All standing areas near the stage are sold as sound check seats. Captured from NOL Ticket

Consumer pressure has, in some cases, led to changes. After complaints over excessive pricing, RBW, the agency for boy group ONEWE, recently converted VIP seats to standard floor seating for a Jan. 5 concert, lowering the price from 189,000 won to 143,000 won.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.