[Photo &] Goyang Con: BTS and Lim Young-woong choose Goyang as 980,000 fans flood in for 15.4 billion won in rental fees

Goyang, in Gyeonggi Province, has firmly cemented itself as one of South Korea’s premier live-music strongholds. With a severe shortage of large concert venues triggered by the remodeling of Seoul’s Olympic main stadium, 'Goyang Comprehensive Stadium' is reaping outsized ripple effects as top-tier artists—including BTS and Lim Young-woong—keep delivering one landmark stage after another. With a recent cumulative attendance surpassing 980,000 and rental revenue alone reaching 15.4 billion won, the venue is essentially on an unprecedented run of box-office success.

An infrastructure you can’t replace, and the birth of a new slang term, 'Goyang Con'

As this year also saw no letup in domestic and overseas top stars walking onto stages previously visited by Coldplay, Oasis and BLACKPINK, a new slang term combining Goyang and concerts—'Goyang Con'—has taken hold firmly among fans. With a capacity of about 40,000, 'Goyang Comprehensive Stadium' boasts excellent access that includes the GTX Line A rail route, Line 3 of the subway, the Freedom Bridge, as well as Incheon and Gimpo airports. Above all, it functions as a powerful advantage because it is not used as a home ground for a professional soccer regular-league team, making it easier for promoters to secure booking schedules. The efficiency gains in transition work such as stage installation and dismantling also maximize operational effectiveness.

BTS makes a flashy return in the first half, shaking up local business too

The biggest talking point in the K-pop and pop music scene in the first half of this year was without question 'BTS''s world tour 'Arirang,' which kicked off in April. Goyang was selected as the comeback stage for the full lineup, with members returning after completing their military service, and each show drew a crowd of about 44,000—an explosive success. The massive tide of 'ARMY's that poured in from around the world delivered massive windfall gains not only around the concert venue, but across the city of Goyang as a whole, including lodging businesses and restaurants.

A ticket war foreshadowed for the second half… 'BIGBANG' and 'Lim Young-woong' move into the stadium

Where the return of K-pop monarchs has swept through, other legends are stepping in. Group 'BIGBANG' will launch its world tour marking the 20th anniversary of its debut with shows at 'Goyang Comprehensive Stadium' from Aug. 21 through 23. Then, from Sept. 4 through 6 next month, the nation’s beloved singer 'Lim Young-woong'—known for an overwhelming fandom—will hold a concert titled 'IM HERO - THE STADIUM 2' at the venue. The show is expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees, once again setting the stage for an intense ticket war.

'The Weeknd' sells out in 35 minutes… the No. 1 target for visiting overseas pop stars

In October, the surge of global pop stars coming to South Korea hits its peak. 'Post Malone', a world-famous singer-songwriter from the United States, will meet Korean fans for two days with 'The Big Stadium World Tour,' while 'The Weeknd', a global R&B icon from Canada, will take over the stage on Oct. 7 and 8. In particular, 'The Weeknd''s show in South Korea recorded a full sellout just 35 minutes after tickets went on sale, proving how intensely domestic and international music fans are focused on Goyang. Then on Oct. 11, 'Charlie Puth''s show in South Korea is also confirmed, and the organizers plan to bring the momentum of 'Goyang Con' to a climax.

'Live Nation Korea' partners with Goyang, which rises as a global cultural hub

Goyang is looking to take a leap beyond simply renting venues and instead position itself as a global concert hub city. Since 2023, it has signed a business memorandum of understanding with 'Live Nation Korea' and built a system to aggressively lure world-class artists for their shows in South Korea. With close coordination with related institutions such as police stations and Korail, the city is working to ensure traffic and safety management with due diligence. It also did not forget administrative consideration that supports promoters' permit and approval procedures on a one-stop basis. Goyang plans to connect its existing infrastructure to the K-Culture Valley Arena, completing an all-season concert ecosystem that can operate year-round.

'Lee Dong-hwan, Special Mayor of Goyang' said, "We will solidify our standing as a world-class city for concerts and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) by using Goyang Comprehensive Stadium, the K-Culture Valley Arena, KINTEX, and other core pillars." He added, "Rather than focusing only on attracting concerts, we will concentrate on cultivating the cultural content industry that will inject explosive vitality into culture and the arts and the local economy."