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There’s no end in sight for the heat wave that’s currently rocking the country, but if you’re going to sweat, why not do it at one of Korea’s biggest music festivals?

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival is kicking off its three-day run on Aug. 12 at Pentaport Park inside Incheon’s Songdo International City.

Last year’s event, which marked the festival’s 10th anniversary, drew 600,846 attendees. It featured around 1,000 artists, including the Scorpions, Seo Taiji and The Prodigy.

This year, the organizers said they’ve focused on inviting younger artists and bands from both Korea and abroad - which is why the festival’s opening-day headliner, Suede, seems a little puzzling at first.

The alternative rock band is known for pioneering the Britpop scene in the 1990s, and while they’re not exactly young, the organizers said they “embody a youthful spirit.” Plus, they’ve recently released their seventh album, and they’ll be following popular Korean indie rockers Nell.

In addition to the main Pentaport Stage, where Suede and Nell will play, the festival features four others: the Dream Stage, Cass Blue Stage, Shinhancard Stage and the Zippo One Love Stage.

That first day, the international sounds continue on the Dream Stage with performances by Korean-American rockers Run River North and Japanese band The Oral Cigarettes.


Dozens of artists both foreign and local have been revealed for this year’s lineup, including (from left to right): English band Nothing but Thieves; Korean indie rock band The Koxx; female indie duo Oksang Dalbit; and indie musician Jung Joon-il, whose has recently become hugely popular among Korean women. [YESCOM]
True to its name, the festival is heavy on the rock music, but it also features numerous artists in other genres.

Hip-hop fans should head to the Cass Blue Stage on the first day to catch performances by artists including Zion.T, Microdot, Geeks, Incredivle and Ja Mezz.

On the second day, American band Weezer headlines the Pentaport Stage, but locals may be more excited for rock band Crossfaith, who are making their second appearance at the festival since 2014.

Other big names that day include foreign groups like Grouplove, The Preatures, At The Drive In and Nothing But Thieves, as well as local acts including Daybreak, Sultan of the Disco and DickPunks.

On the last day, highlights include headliners Panic! At The Disco and Two Door Cinema Club on the Pentaport stage.

According to the organizers, the festival was ranked 8th on the “50 Best Music Festivals in the World” by the London-based magazine Time Out in 2015.

“Being ranked so high in the magazine, which was founded in 1968 in London and known as a credible source when it comes to finding the best things to do in cities worldwide, proves that the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival has finally established itself next to renowned festivals like Britain’s Glastonbury and Spain’s Primavera Sound,” said the organizer in a press release.

Proving its popularity, the organizers said 3,000 early-bird tickets sold out just five minutes after their release.

One-day tickets are priced at 130,000 won; two-day tickets at 180,000 won; and three-day tickets at 220,000 won.

Fans can also camp overnight at Pentaport Park to enjoy the festival without having to return home. Passes cost an additional 15,000 won. For more information, visit www.pentaportrock.com.