A glossary of Korean concert and fanmeeting terms
A Korean concert’s sale notice can contain ten words you have never seen — and misreading one means buying the wrong ticket. A quick reference, ordered by when you meet them: buying, collecting, attending.
Reading the sale notice
- 선예매 (seon-yemae) — fanclub presale. An early sale for official fanclub members only, usually a day or two before the general sale. Most of the good seats go here.
- 일반예매 (ilban-yemae) — general sale. Open to everyone, after the fanclub round, with far fewer tickets left.
- 추첨 (chucheom) — ballot / lottery. Apply within a window and wait for the draw; speed is irrelevant. Common for fansigns and some busy shows.
- 선착순 (seonchak-sun) — first-come, first-served. The familiar race format.
- 본인 확인 / 실명 — identity verification / real-name. The ticket is tied to the buyer and checked against ID at collection. This word decides whether proxy buying can work.
Kinds of event
- Concert — a pure music show, the largest format.
- Fancon (fan concert) — a hybrid: mostly songs, with talk segments and games.
- Fanmeeting — interaction first, fewer songs, usually more benefits.
- Fansign — an autograph event, typically with attendees drawn by lottery weighted by albums bought. Not a ticket purchase in the usual sense.
- Showcase — a small album-launch event, often balloted.
Benefits — perks attached to a ticket
- Hi-touch — a few seconds of hand contact with the artists as you pass along a line. Usually tied to a top tier or drawn among ticket holders.
- Send-off — the artists see the audience out at the exit after the show.
- Soundcheck — admission to watch the pre-show sound check.
- Group photo / photo time — a group photograph with the artists.
- Lucky draw — a draw for gifts or benefits among ticket holders. Not everyone with a ticket gets one.
- The rule: benefits are listed in the sale notice, with which tier qualifies and how winners are chosen. If it is not written, it does not exist.
Seating
- Standing (스탠딩) — the standing area near the stage, usually admitted in ticket-number order.
- 1층 / 2층 / 3층 — first, second and third tiers of the stands. First is closest.
- 지정석 (reserved) — numbered seats. 비지정 (unreserved) — free seating within a block.
- 시야제한석 — restricted-view seats, cheaper, often released later.
- 구역 (block) — how the stands are divided into labelled sections; seat maps use these labels.
Collecting and attending
- 현장 수령 — venue collection. Exchange the booking code for a paper ticket at a counter on the day, with matching ID.
- MD (merchandise) / 굿즈 (goods) — official merchandise sold at the venue, usually queued for from the morning.
- 응원봉 (lightstick) — the group’s official lightstick, often paired for synchronised effects during the show.
- 슬로건 (slogan) — hand-held banners made or given out by fans.
- Ticket check / 티켓 검사 — ticket and ID inspection at the gate, sometimes in several layers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 선예매 and 일반예매?
선예매 is the fanclub-only presale; 일반예매 is the general sale afterwards. Most of the good seats go in the presale.
Does a hi-touch come with the ticket automatically?
No. Benefits exist only when the sale notice lists them, with the qualifying tier and the selection method — usually a draw among ticket holders.
What does 실명 mean for proxy buying?
The ticket is tied to the buyer’s name and checked against ID at collection or entry. If a show is 실명, a ticket in someone else’s name will not work for you.
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