K-pop Things to Do in Seoul: Inkigayo Live Audience

K-pop Music Show: Inkigayo

Inkigayo is a Korean music show that has aired on SBS every Sunday since 2000. Around 15 Kpop groups perform each week. The video below features BTS Jungkook singing his song Seven.

• 인기가요: Inkigayo
• 인기 (inki): Popular, popularity
• 가요 (gayo): Song

© Inkigayo website's on-site photos

Basic Information for Inkigayo Live Audience

✅ Application Dates:

Every Thursday through the following Wednesday

• For example: For example: January 26-February 1, 2024

✅ Ticket Ballot Announcement:

The Thursday after the application period ends

• For example: February 2, 2024

✅ Show Date:

The Sunday of the week tickets were announced

• For example: February 5, 2024

✅ Location:

SBS Deungchon-dong Public Hall, 442 Yangcheon-ro, Gangseo-gu (about 500m from Exit 10 of Gayang Station on Line 9)

✅ Broadcast Time:

Every Sunday at 3:40 PM on SBS

✅ Admission Fee: Free

TXT's prerecorded video gives you a sneak peek of what attending Inkigayo is like. You can see just how close the standing section is to the stage at SBS Open Hall. Many fans want to be up front for good views of the artists. But there's a height limit and spots are first come, first served.

Cast of Inkigayo

This week's performing artists are on the Inkigayo website. Even though it's written in Korean, the names of the artists and songs are bolded, and some of them include English.

The lineups are updated weekly so it's not confusing. In Korea, the date format is month-day instead of day-month. You can find the Inkigayo website link to check or click the photo to see this week's performing lineup.

🔗🔗 Inkigayo website's page to check this week's performing artists

How to Apply for Inkigayo Live Audience

To apply for Inkigayo audience tickets, you need two things - the SBS app and an SBS ID. You can sign up using your SNS account but it won't let you apply.

There are 3 easy steps:

1. Download the SBS app
2. Create an SBS ID
3. Submit your application

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1. Download the SBS app from the App Store or Google Play. You can select either Korean or English as the language setting. An SBS ID is required since Inkigayo airs on SBS.

2. To sign up, enter your name, date of birth, email address and phone number. There is a way to sign up for Koreans and a separate way for foreigners.

3. After logging into the SBS app, click the menu icon in the top-left corner. It looks like three horizontal lines. In the menu, click where it says "방청신청" which translates to "Audience Application".

• 방청: Audience
• 신청: Application

4. On this page, click where it specifically says "방청신청, 인기가요" to select Inkigayo.

You're now on the Inkigayo audience application page. Click on "날짜를 선택해주세요" which means "Please select a date". A calendar will open with available dates. As there's usually only one option per episode, choose the date listed. Korean dates are written Year-Month-Day order.

Scroll down the page and click the button labeled "신청하기" which translates to "Apply". Your application for that Inkigayo is now submitted. The text written in red throughout the process contains important notices. I summarized it in English in the following section.

5. Check results: You'll receive a push notification through the app, or you can check your selection status by going to "MY > Ticket History" on the Thursdays.

If selected, DO NOT press the red "확인 Confirm" or "입장하기 Enter" buttons yourself. Staff will check your ID and name/age before entry. Pressing it means you can't enter.

• Gather at SBS Deungchon-dong Public Hall by 2:30 PM. People line up earlier to get good standing spots. No restrooms inside broadcasting station. The live show starts around 3:35 PM. No entry or exit is allowed once it starts.

• The first 200 selected through the app will enter first in the order they waited. Those under 165cm can freely choose to stand. Those 165cm or over must sit, as there are cameras moving overhead in the standing areas. If the standing area exceeds 70-80 people, other attendees must sit. Staff will assign your seat. Front rows may also block views of the cameras.

Precautions for the Inkigayo Studio Audience

⭐ This is done by lottery system, so being selected is not guaranteed.

⭐ Only one person can enter per ticket.

⭐ Valid photo ID required: alien registration card, passport, etc.

⭐ Standing area limited to under 165cm tall due to overhead cameras.

⭐ Pre-recorded acts may not perform for the entire stage time.

❌ No entry under 15 years of age, even with parents.

❌ DO NOT press the red "확인 Confirm" or "입장하기 Enter" buttons yourself.

❌ No restroom access inside the broadcasting station.

❌ No cameras allowed inside, no recordings permitted. You'll be asked to leave if caught.

❌ No entry or exit after the broadcast begins.

❌ Tickets cannot be transferred or resold to others.