K-pop group BTS performs onstage during the 'BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG' concert at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, South Korea, 21 March 2026. The free concert is the band's first performance in nearly four years. Photo by Kim Min-Hee / EPA
June 13 (Asia Today) -- K-pop has become a driving force in the global live entertainment market, filling major domes and stadiums in cities around the world. Yet South Korea, the birthplace of K-pop, lacks enough large, purpose-built music venues to accommodate that demand consistently.
Critics say the global stature of the industry has grown much faster than South Korea's concert infrastructure.
Major Korean artists regularly perform large-scale tours overseas but must alternate between sports stadiums and indoor arenas when performing at home.
KSPO Dome is considered one of South Korea's leading venues for popular music, but it seats only about 15,000 people. Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul World Cup Stadium and the main stadium at Goyang Sports Complex are also used for major concerts, but none was designed primarily for live music.
