PHOTOS Music and arts festival rocks the block in central Seoul's Haebangchon
Jong-hee, lead singer of punk band Rux, flips off the camera during a set at Sub Riot in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 20, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
The fourth annual Block Party Music & Art Festival wrapped up its two-day run on Sunday, after a weekend of entertainment across about a dozen venues in central Seoul's multicultural Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan neighborhoods. Over 100 performers participated, including musicians, actors, dancers, drag queens, shamans, pro wrestlers, pole dancers, a magician and a face painter.
This year's event went smoothly, with the venues feeling even more crowded than last year according to many participants. At various times barricades were placed along the main street of Haebangchon, and traffic control workers were deployed. The festival was held in cooperation with Haebang Week.
"Block Party 2025 was nuts. Probably the best one yet!!" organizer Jamie Finn said in an online post thanking the festival's staff, volunteers, performers, venues and attendees. "You always bring such great energy and enthusiasm to Block Party but this year, you were CRAZY. Thank you everyone. See you in 2026??"
Visit @blockpartykorea on Instagram for more information.
Members of Seoul City Improv pile on top of each other on the stage at Dialogue in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 20, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Members of the punk band 18Fevers bring the show directly into the crowd at Sub Riot in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 20, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Korean rock band the Yangbans play an outdoor show to people crowding the sidewalks of Sinheung-ro, the main road through central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, during Haebang Week, which was held in parallel with Block Party. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
The lead vocalist of metal band Hammering swings his limbs around during a show at Sub Riot in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Block Party organizer Jamie Finn, right, poses with a facepainted reveler in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
French artist Mona, left, paints a face in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Shaman Tae performs a ritual in front of Rabbithole Arcade Pub in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Shaman Tae bites a knife while dancing at Rabbithole Arcade Pub in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Rock band Pop Ents perform at Sub Riot in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Light from a projector lands on the face of the sound guy at Sub Riot in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, Sept. 21, during Block Party 2025. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar