‘Oppa Gangnam Style’. Are you ready for PSY’s Summer Swag concert? Grab your waterproofs and a ticket, and head to this sellout show. Here’s how to prepare for a PSY concert…

Don’t tell me you live in Korea and haven’t heard of PSY, a K-pop legend and global superstar. Maybe you don’t recognise the name Park Jae-sang? But you must have heard his catchy songs like ‘Gangnam Style’ or ‘Gentlemen’, or his more recent tunes with BTS’s SUGA. If you haven’t, I strongly suggest you stream his songs immediately! I can assure you that they’ll instantly boost your mood. And if you find yourself singing and dancing along, you will definitely enjoy PSY’s Summer Swag concert. Here, you can listen to these unforgettable songs for hours on end. I’ve been to PSY’s Summer Swag concert not once, but twice while living in Korea. You don’t need to know every song in his repertoire – just be ready for a good time and to get a little wet. Oh, did I not mention that this is a water concert? If this is your first time heading to PSY’s concert there are a few things you should know before you go. Read this guide so that you can prepare and enjoy the show to its fullest.

When and where

First things first, you don’t want to miss out on this summer sensation by forgetting to book tickets. That would be quite tragic. So mark the date for ticket sales in your calendar. Let me tell you, tickets will sell out fast, particularly if you plan to see PSY in a bigger city. I bought my tickets on the 10th of June (the exact day of release) for the Daegu show on the 13th of July. This meant I purchased tickets a month in advance. However, I was forced to buy standing tickets. When I logged in a few hours after the opening time, all reserved seating had vanished.

Choose quickly and prepare to wait in an online queue. To make this process easier, I recommend setting up an Interpark account beforehand (click here to set it up now). This is one of the easiest and most secure ways to buy tickets.

Also, consider when and where you’d like to attend the show. I chose Daegu as I could stay at my friend’s apartment after the concert (get yourself a best friend in a big city). This was helpful as the concert can end quite late. However, you can choose from a selection of other cities. PSY is known to bring his performance to various other places in Korea, like Incheon, Busan and, of course, Seoul. In many of these cities, PSY will perform multiple shows, so you’ll have a choice of dates. In my case, I went on a Saturday so that I could get back to work on Monday. Consider carefully and work out the best location and date to see this phenomenal performance.

Costs

Let’s not beat around the bush – a PSY concert is not cheap. And although there is a range of prices among the standing and seated tickets, there is not a significant difference in price between each option. The cost will likely be around 170,000 KRW, so start saving your pennies. On the plus side, if you buy on the Interpark website, you can choose to have the tickets delivered to your house. This option might help to make the concert less stressful. The overall ticket price is on the pricier end but think about the production costs of a show like this. Not to mention the gallons of water required throughout the Summer Swag run.

Within the ticket price, you’ll also receive a little goodie bag when you enter the arena. This iconically blue drawstring bag will contain a waterproof raincoat and a bottle of water. Consider putting the raincoat on at the start of the show even if you think it clashes with your look! You’ll also receive a light-up device upon entry. This little toy will sync up with everyone else’s devices in the arena to create a dazzling sea of lights. Luckily, you’re free to take all this home after the concert finishes.

You may have paid an arm and leg to be at the concert, but you won’t soon forget it with your goodies. Just remember that you might have to save some money for the merchandise at the show, especially a blue PSY t-shirt, which everyone seems to own. On top of this, you might want to buy a waterproof phone case, splash goggles or even a snack at the concert. It’s not cheap, but it is worth it. 

Runtime

The tickets might be expensive, but you sure do get your money’s worth at this show. PSY’s Summer Swag concert isn’t some fleeting afternoon affair; it is a singing marathon, which can last over five hours. So prepare carefully. The sheer length of the concert leads me to recommend seated tickets. It can be quite exhausting standing for this long. And if you find yourself in the standing section, don’t be afraid to head to the back of the pen to sit on the floor as the show goes on, or even to leave the concert early. I can confirm that the setlist between years is fairly similar and each show will follow a pretty standard format.

The first year, I was at the concert from 6:30 p.m. to eleven in the evening. I witnessed all the classic songs, a karaoke section, PSY’s thank yous, and a little dance moment. My second time around, I left just after the karaoke section began. I felt quite satisfied that I’d seen all my favourite songs. Plus I knew that a lot of the remaining show would be lost on me with my limited Korean. You’ll see many other concert-goers leave around this time too. This might be because of exhaustion or because they have to make the final bus home. So don’t be afraid to head out, even when it seems like PSY will come back for yet another encore.

The first few hours of the concert are sublime with slow songs, peppered among faster tunes, and multiple costume changes and stunning support acts, like Zico and Hwasa. So you won’t be missing loads by leaving after seeing much of this. Note that you probably won’t make it to the end of the show. That is unless you’re really committed.  

What to bring

You will get wet! And I don’t mean a light drizzle of water. You will be blasted with water cannons continually for around four hours if you choose to go to PSY’s Summer Swag concert. I noticed that this dousing of water was even stronger in the standing section, although I still found my fingers going wrinkly in the reserved seated section the year before. With this in mind, there are some must-have items that are good to secure before going to the concert. Fortunately, you can pick up a lot of these items just outside the arena; however, they’ll often be more expensive than the goodies you can buy online or in shops like Daiso.

My number one item would be a waterproof phone case. You’ll want to take photos and videos while you’re at the concert, but each time you take your phone out into the open, you run the risk of it getting soaked. A clear holder can help combat this problem as you’ll be able to use your phone while keeping it dry. Similarly, I recommend that you bring a hat or wear big goggles to avoid getting water in your eyes during the concert. The water is so intense that it’ll run right into your eyes and you’ll struggle to see what’s happening, but a hat or glasses can help fight this issue a little.

While we’re talking about clothing items, let’s discuss what to wear. On top of your PSY t-shirt (which is a must-buy item), wear light, breathable clothing, like athletic shorts or linen trousers. Crocs or sandals are also great as you can avoid horrible, soggy socks. Although the concert likely has lockers to store your dry clothes and a bag, I’ve never changed after the concert and have often just used my poncho to keep the taxi dry on the ride home. Therefore, don’t worry about bringing multiple outfits, and instead focus on wearing an outfit that might dry easily in the warm summer air after the concert concludes. 

Wetter than a waterpark

PSY is a phenomenal performer and I’m always impressed by his flair and stamina. On top of running his own agency, he has time to coordinate stellar shows each year for new and die-hard fans to enjoy. If you’re in Korea, I recommend nabbing tickets to Summer Swag, although don’t be too disappointed if you only get to go once in your stint in Korea. I found that the shows were pretty similar from one year to the next. Plus each show is expensive and very long, so they’re not for the faint-hearted. Once you’ve bought your tickets, think carefully about what you’ll need to bring, like a waterproof phone holder and athletic clothing. Also, make sure you have your travel and accommodation arrangements sorted out for after the show so that you’re not stuck fighting for a taxi late at night. If you know you’ll struggle to make it home, consider leaving the concert earlier, perhaps after the second encore. Now go sing and dance your heart out, and embrace some nostalgic K-pop culture at PSY’s Summer Swag concert.