South Korea is officially putting on its very own K-pop festival.
On Monday (July 27), the country announced Fanomenon, an 11-day event set to run December 2- 12, 2027, according to Korea Times and The Korea Herald.
The Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange unveiled the plan on Monday (July 27) with Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young and JYP Entertainment founder J.Y. Park, who serve as co-chairs.
Fanomenon will take place across two major venues: one with performances by leading K-pop artists and top international acts and with a fan-focused awards ceremony; and the other hosting an “interactive cultural expo” highlighting Korean cuisine, beauty, fashion, gaming, webtoons, film, television, and animation.
The Korea Culture and Tourism Institute estimates the event will draw about 520,000 visitors, including 200,000 international tourists, and produce more than 1 trillion won (about $680 million). Organizers based those projections on the attendance of BTS’ The Comeback Live | ARIRANG concert in Gwanghwamun earlier this year.
The committee also plans to expand Fanomenon internationally, with the festival scheduled to launch in Los Angeles in May 2028.
Longer term plans include K-culture centers in cities outside of Korea which could feature 20,000 seat venues alongside retail, exhibition, and government spaces to extend Korea's cultural reach.
Rumors of Fanomenon were first reported by the Korean media in April after HYBE, JYP Entertainment, SM Entertainment, and YG Entertainment submitted a proposal for the event to South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission in order to form a joint venture. At the time, the rumors suggested that the event would rival the annual Coachella festival.
