Seventeen’s remark about a Seoul show underscored a stark reality: even world‑class K-pop acts struggle to secure venues in Korea as demand soars in the post-pandemic era. While demand has exploded, the country’s live‑music infrastructure has not kept pace.

Only KSPO Dome in Seoul can host more than 10,000 fans. The Jamsil Olympic Stadium and its adjacent facilities are under renovation, and the Gocheok Sky Dome is largely unavailable due to baseball season. The Jamsil main stadium is slated to finish construction in 2026 but will be used as a baseball stadium through 2031, making concerts virtually impossible for now.

Outside Seoul, Incheon Inspire Arena (15,000) and Goyang Stadium (40,000) exist but issues around access and utilization prevent them from filling the gap. A major promoter notes that there are days when as many as 10 acts bid for the same date, yet venues remain scarce. Most large venues are already booked through next year, and newcomers and smaller agencies struggle to secure stages.

Global tours also illustrate the gap. Stray Kids, who drew millions of overseas fans, performed only two shows at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium (30,000 seats) last month, accommodating about 60,000 attendees. Blackpink’s Seoul concerts drew about 78,000 over two days, while their Los Angeles SoFi Stadium shows sold out within two days. ENHYPHEN and Seventeen face similar constraints.

To address this, the government has initiated a study to build a 50,000‑seat K‑pop arena in the Greater Seoul area, with construction targeted to begin in 2030. A public official said the plan would consider regional demand and operations to position concerts as a regional tourism asset. However, securing a site and funding remains a hurdle.

Industry voices emphasize treating the venue issue as an industrial strategy rather than merely a cultural facility, calling for public–private collaboration and a long‑term operating model with a sustainable revenue structure. Some experts argue that a government‑provided site and private operation could help establish a lasting, multifunctional venue that supports Korea’s broader tourism and infrastructure goals.