@jimination_

1. What is it like to go to a concert?

I've only been to one concert so far, BTS in Seoul in October 2019. It could have been two since I had won a bts ticket again for the 2020 show but we all know what happened.

For BTS specifically, it was a whole day event. There was a big area outside the venue where you could take photos, win items at booths (brands they are associated with like lotte and VT), watch videos on a huge outdoor screen, and eat from food trucks. The merchandise part was a hassle in Korea because they sell out so quickly and the lines last for hours.

The concert itself was easy. Finding seats was the same as I experienced in Canada. Staff were around to help guide you. The only difference I felt with concerts in Korea is the etiquette.

So Koreans don't stand at concerts. They only do if the artist asks them to and then they sit again after that song is over. This is sorta nice since my feet usually kill me after a concert is over. However, it meant that when I was particularly turnt and ready to have fun with a song, I couldn't stand up unless EVERYONE was. Koreans are very polite in group settings because of being a collectivist culture. You won't see one person standing up alone.

Another difference is the screaming/singing. In Canada and I'm sure most western countries, people are always shouting, cheering, singing at the top of their lungs. In Korea, you just fan chant and cheer when a song is over. I actually really liked this because FOR ONCE I could actually hear the singing of the performers and not the girl beside me. It was only a bit sad during encores when usually in Canada the screams are so loud your ears ring for a whole day after, like waves crashing in your ear, a constant rush of screaming playing. Maybe it's not healthy but it really adds to the experience and magical feeling when you've lost your voice after a concert.

So personally, there are pros and cons to Korean concert culture. However, as I'm getting older I totally appreciate the Korean way and will eventually prefer it 10x more than the Western way. I'll leave the standing and screaming and boundless energy for the young ones. I think I've out grown those days haha.