From dream pop to J-pop: upcoming international acts in Korea

A diverse lineup of musicians, spanning generations and genres, is set to visit Korea in 2025. From globally acclaimed rock legends to rising indie stars, the upcoming performances promise to captivate audiences across generations and musical tastes.

St. Vincent (Total Pleasure Records)
St. Vincent (Total Pleasure Records)

St. Vincent, an iconic guitarist representing 2010s American indie rock, will return to Korea after a decade.

The concert is scheduled for Jan. 6 at Yes 24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul, marking her first visit to Korea in more than 10 years since her last show here in July 2014.

Known for her avant-garde sound across diverse genres, St. Vincent was ranked 26th on Rolling Stone's “250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” last year, placing her alongside legendary artists. With three Grammy Awards already in her hands, she is also nominated in four categories for the 67th Grammy Awards, which will be held next month.

Baek Ye-rin, a singer-songwriter known for blending dream pop, R&B and rock, will appear as a special guest.

Gracie Abrams (Live Nation Korea)
Gracie Abrams (Live Nation Korea)

Gracie Abrams, one of America’s most prominent singer-songwriters, will perform in Korea for the first time as part of her "The Secret of Us" tour.

The show is set for April 6 at MyungHwa Live Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

Gracie Abrams is the daughter of J.J. Abrams, the renowned American filmmaker behind the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises.

After releasing her first EP "minor" in 2020 and her second EP "This Is What It Feels Like" in 2021, Abrams gained attention for her signature bedroom pop and indie pop style, characterized by dreamy sounds, intimate production and personal lyrics. In 2023, her music was listed among Billboard's Top 50 Albums of the Year, and she was nominated for Best New Artist at the 66th Grammy Awards.

Abrams also engages with her global fan base through Hybe's Weverse platform.

Ellegarden (The Vault)
Ellegarden (The Vault)

Following a surge in the popularity of J-pop last year with stars like King Gnu, Fujii Kaze, and Yoasobi performing in Korea, more Japanese artists are set to perform here this year.

Japanese punk rock band Ellegarden will return to Korea just five months after its last performance. The "Boys are Back in the East Tour: Revival" concert is set for March 21-22 at YES24 Live Hall, Seoul.

Formed in 1998, Ellegarden became one of Japan's most influential punk rock bands. After a 10-year hiatus from 2008 to 2018, the band resumed active performances. Ellegarden performed in Korea for the first time in 15 years at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival 2023 and held a solo concert later that year.

Aimyon (Warner Music Korea)
Aimyon (Warner Music Korea)

Japanese singer-songwriter Aimyon will hold her first-ever concert in Korea.

Through her official website, Aimyon announced that she will perform in Seoul on April 19-20, as part of her ongoing tour, "Dolphin Apartment." The exact venue details will be revealed later.

Known for her emotive and autobiographical lyrics, Aimyon built a loyal fanbase through busking performances even before her official debut in 2016. In September last year, she released her fifth studio album, "Jealous of Cats," which received significant acclaim.

Poster for Coldplay's concert in April (Live Nation Korea)
Poster for Coldplay's concert in April (Live Nation Korea)

Last but not least, Coldplay will be returning to Korea for the first time in eight years since they last performed here in 2017.

The band will be putting on six shows at Goyang Sports Complex on April 16, 18, 19, 22, 24 and 25. Initially planned as four shows, the overwhelming response from Korean fans prompted the band to add two extra dates to their schedule. All tickets sold out immediately.

Adding to the excitement, Twice, one of Korea's most beloved girl groups, will appear as special guests during the performances.


jy@heraldcorp.com