Busan One Asia Festival (BOF) with NOL

The 10th summer, two days when Asiad Stadium becomes the stage

Busan One Asia Festival (BOF) is Busan's annual K-culture festival. This year marks exactly its 10th edition since the first one in 2016, so it has adopted the slogan 'BEYOND 10 : THE NEXT WAVE.' The core event, the Big Concert (BIG-CONCERT), will be held over two days, Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28, at Busan Asiad Main Stadium. Imagine the huge stadium that once hosted Korea Series-level soccer and track-and-field events being turned entirely into a K-POP stage. What I liked most while gathering information was that the lineup is not just idol performances; it also mixes in hip-hop, bands, and R&B. On the first day, TREASURE, AKMU, CRAVITY, NCT's Haechan, 8TURN, and KiiiKiii will appear, and on the second day RIIZE will headline, joined by Lee Young-ji, tripleS, EVAN, and Hearts2Hearts. Even among K-POP fans, tastes differ, so the first step is deciding whether to go for one day or both.

Get your ticket first — if you're a foreign visitor, there is a separate passport package

The first thing to secure, and the thing you need to pay the most attention to, is the ticket. The Big Concert is a paid event, and official reservations are sold exclusively through NOL, NOL Ticket, NOL World, and Interpark. You can buy up to 4 tickets per account, so popular seats sell out almost instantly as soon as sales open. There was a lot of expectation that competition would be fierce because of the spectacular 10th-anniversary lineup, and in fact the headliner section is likely to sell out first. So set aside the idea of 'I'll just buy one on site if I go' and I recommend marking the reservation open date on your calendar in advance.

There is one tip I especially want to share with foreign friends. Platforms like KKday and Klook offer separate packages for overseas visitors. There are options in the roughly 30,000 to 50,000 won range, and purchase and pickup are only possible by presenting a passport that is not Korean. Some products also bundle transportation such as the city tour bus, so for first-time visitors to Busan, these packages can make planning your route easier. However, these reservations often come with non-cancellable conditions, so be sure to confirm the date before paying and pressing the button.

• Date: June 27 (Sat) to 28 (Sun), admission from 1:00 PM / concert starts at 7:00 PM
• Venue: Busan Asiad Main Stadium (344 World Cup-daero, Yeonje-gu)
• Tickets: NOL, NOL Ticket, Interpark / maximum 4 per person / overseas visitor package requires a passport

The secret of 1:00 PM admission — there is something else to enjoy before the show

The concert starts at 7:00 PM, but admission opens from 1:00 PM. Why is this important? Because the area around the stadium will be lined with brand pop-up zones featuring K-beauty, fashion, and food. In connection with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's K-POP support project, booths where you can experience cosmetics, fashion, and food firsthand will be set up, along with corners like a select store created with the beauty creator group Lefel. For that reason, the organizers also recommend, 'Don't just watch the show; come early and enjoy Hallyu content.' If it were me, I'd arrive late in the afternoon, take a lap around the pop-up zone, grab a bite to eat, and then head into the venue.

To be honest, the language environment on site is centered on Korean because of the nature of K-POP concerts. That said, sing-alongs and cheering are easy to follow by melody and atmosphere, so not knowing Korean is not a major barrier to enjoying yourself. Most payments can be made by card or mobile pay, but some food trucks or small booths may only accept cash, so bringing a little cash will make you feel more comfortable. Since this is an outdoor stadium, the weather at the end of June is also a variable. The sun is strong in the daytime, so bring a hat, sunscreen, and water; in the evening the wind can pick up, so pack a light outer layer, and because standing areas are increasing, definitely wear comfortable sneakers.

Subway Exit 9, and the way back at night

The route there is surprisingly simple. Get off at Sports Complex Station on Busan Subway Line 3 and come out through Exit 9; a viaduct connects directly to Asiad Main Stadium. It's only about a 10-minute walk from the exit to the stadium, so you don't need to worry about getting lost—just follow the crowd flow. There is also a way to walk from Sajik Station on Line 3 (Exit 1), but for first-time visitors, Sports Complex Station Exit 9 is the most intuitive.

Since this is a night event, it is important to map out your return route in advance. The performance starts in the evening and when it ends, it is already late at night, with more than 20,000 spectators all heading to Sports Complex Station at once. Check Busan Subway's last train time in advance, and if the last train timing is awkward, it is safer to wait a bit to avoid congestion at the station or to have a taxi app ready. When choosing accommodation, areas like Seomyeon or Busan Station, where transfers are convenient, make late-night movement much easier. For reference, on June 20 there will be a free park concert at Hwamyeong Ecological Park, and before that the BIG TALK conference will be held at Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center, so if the schedule matches, you can get a taste of BOF before the main show.

So, who is this recommended for?

If your favorite artist is on the lineup and you want to combine it with a trip to Busan, then it is an easy recommendation for any K-POP fan. Experiencing a stadium sing-along on a summer night in the seaside city of Busan has a different feel from a concert in Seoul. On the other hand, if you are not very interested in K-POP, you do not need to jump into this ticket war. If you do go, get the ticket first, then accommodation and the last train, and finally just prepare for sun and wind. I hope these two days in Busan become your most exciting memory of this summer.