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About Inkigayo:
Including lavish sets, elaborate concept performances, and amusing encore acts, the Korean ensemble’s weekly live music chart broadcasts are a significant presence in the K-pop scene. Among them, the Sunday showcase on SBS – Inkigayo, which translates to “popular song” in English, stands out. As the name implies, these programs provide a platform for K artists to present their latest tracks while vying for the top position on the weekly music charts. (Imagine if Billboard decided to resurrect the ‘Total Request Live’ from the 2000s and infused it with K-pop’s exceptional flair for performance value.)
Kep1er’s live performance on SBS Inkigayo.
Not only does it offer valuable exposure and create excitement around the artist, but it also serves as a special occasion for fans to engage with both their beloved idol and the fan community. Fans master specific song chants to support their favorites unitedly and often interact with the artist off-camera during production breaks. Like with most TV productions, there is plenty of downtime. During the waiting period for the set to be prepared, fans often utilize this time to forge new friendships or rendezvous with fellow fans to cheer and rave about the latest release. It has even become common for groups to provide exclusive benefits to fans for attending these recordings, such as complimentary coffee trucks and limited-edition photo cards or Dior lipstick.
A coffee truck provided for fans awaiting the Stray Kids pre-taping.
Seems like every K-pop fan’s fantasy, doesn’t it? I’ll be honest with you: there is an issue.
Tickets for the Inkigayo live stream:
While the live audience is diverse, the space is RESTRICTED. This is particularly true for the 생방 or live broadcast happening around 3 p.m. The most popular groups and those in the top 3 of the chart usually receive more audience tickets to distribute among fans. However, this allotment is generally limited to a maximum of 15 to 30 tickets per fandom. Naturally, the competition for Inkigayo live tickets is fierce, with stringent criteria for fandom attendees such as official fan club membership, possession of the latest lightstick, proof of purchasing the latest album in both physical and digital formats, and more.
For international fans, these criteria can often be a decisive factor. Without a Korean Residency Card (ARC), it might be impracticable to fulfill the required digital purchase or even officially join the fan club. But fret not, dear fans, as Tracey comes to your rescue.
Trazy has secured exclusive seats at almost all Inkigayo tapings until the end of 2024, specifically tailored for international fans as part of your SBS Inkigayo and Seoul Tour Package. It was through this package that I got my first chance to attend the live show last Sunday 😀
Review of SBS Inkigayo Live Show Package and Seoul Tour
Reservation:
Like most ticketed events by Trazy, your Inkigayo ticket number corresponds to your booking sequence. With this in consideration, I reserved my ticket nearly two months in advance. This meant that at the time of reservation, I was uncertain about which artists I would witness. However, as it was my first time at Inkigayo, the overall experience held more importance to me than watching a specific group.
Trazy also includes an optional Seoul tour with its Inkigayo package that changes locations each month. Participating in the tour does not impact the ticket cost as they are offered as a combined package, so I opted to join. In June, we were supposed to explore Bukcheon Hanok Village! Unfortunately, the tour segment of my day got canceled as SBS advanced the recording time for the live broadcast. However, this alteration resulted in Inkigayo inviting a special MC for that week’s show, so you win some, you lose some, I guess. (And I will NEVER turn down an extra hour of sleep!)
Bukchon Hanok Village
Enrollment and ticket pickup:
With no morning excursion, I headed straight to the SBS Public Hall (Kakao Map) for registration. While the Inkigayo filming site is slightly outside Seoul, it seemed more accessible to reach compared to other venues in Digital Media City or Ilsan. I took the subway to the nearby Gayang station and, after exiting from gate 10 to ground level and turning left, I proceeded directly to the SBS lounge.
Our email instructions indicated arrival at noon, so I reached the location around 11:45 a.m. Initially uncertain about where to go, I quickly located a staff member holding a Trazy clipboard who instructed me to join the queue in front of the 7-Eleven. The line (on the bottom right side) was easily identifiable, and since tickets are allocated in sequence of purchase, arriving early could have been skipped without any necessity.
Groups of fans (left) and participants in Trazy tours (right) form a queue to purchase tickets for Inkigayo.
During the queue, my identification was verified by the staff, and they provided our sequence number and a badge. It turned out that making an early reservation was extremely beneficial – got sequence number 10!! As soon as everyone checked in (around 12:10 or so), we divided into two queues based on our entry order: 1-40 and above 40. Luckily, the process was quite smooth, and we had approximately 20 minutes to use the washroom. Subsequently, the Inkigayo staff rechecked our identifications in the queues before joining the rest of the fan groups waiting to enter.
Card with entry number and badge for attending SBS Inkigayo live broadcast through Trazy.
Live Stream of Inkigayo:
After an additional 45 minutes of waiting, it was finally our turn to enter. Trazy’s assigned section at Inkigayo is positioned on the extreme right side, directly facing the main stage, precisely in front of the area where the MC stands. The seating arrangement features rows of 10, hence I managed to secure the last seat in the FIRST row! During the live stream, Chaewon from Le Sserafim appeared as a special MC, and we had ample time for interactions, including a brief conversation about her day before the live broadcast commenced.
Screenshot of the MC & Interview stage area on Inkigayo.
I highly recommend these seats if you appreciate MCs or groups that have recently made comebacks, as they often engage in interview segments and spend considerable time right in front of your seat. Many fans even brought A3 notebooks and markers to jot down questions or cheer for their favorite idol. No photography or video recording is allowed inside the SBS Lounge. Therefore, using analog methods helps avoid conflicts with the on-site staff. The lineup for this event was remarkable, featuring artists like NewJeans, WayV, Nayeon, Treasure, and more. Although I didn’t recognize all the songs, experiencing them live and up close was extremely enjoyable.
Final Reflections:
While the waiting times and early reservations may be slightly inconvenient, the overall experience was truly rewarding. I believe this package offers an excellent opportunity to witness a wide array of groups in one go. It’s particularly beneficial for maximizing your K-pop experience in Seoul if your travel dates do not align with concerts or festivals. It’s also a fantastic option for international fans seeking to show support to their cherished group, especially if they are unable to attend live performances. Everyone I encountered during the tour was incredibly friendly, from fellow fans to the staff and idols. I’m eagerly anticipating my next visit for my ult’s upcoming comeback!
Secure your tickets for Trazy’s SBS Inkigayo and Seoul tour package now!
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