Busking performances in Korea are free, random, and magical. This is how I stumbled into a 10CM concert one sunny Daejeon dayโฆ
Busking Culture
As an artist and an Art lover myself, it brightens my day whenever I see people performing in so many different places outdoors. Singing, dancing, rapping, and doing all kinds of artistic things.
It amazes me how most of these performances are made by amateurs. They are people who just want to share their artistic expressions or become the next big name in Kpop. Nevertheless, all of the performances I have seen are excellent. If you are into South Korea you probably have learned already about the areas in Seoul where you can even watch actual trainees perform in the streets. But, they really are everywhere!
Best Personal Experience
Although seeing people do these things for the sake of their passion is definitely heartwarming, seeing new, up-and-coming artists busking is also very exciting! Sometimes you can even find artists busking that have 1M or more views on their Youtube videos. That is the case of 10 CM, an acoustic folk singer I got to watch perform one day on the street!
It was a really nice summer sunny Sunday in Daejeon when my friend and I decided to walk around. We went to Daejeon Art Museum after eating at a local restaurant. Then, we entered Hanbat Arboretum to chill for a while and enjoy the beautiful day under the trees. We were actually pretty tired from all the sightseeing (and the summer heat) so we didnโt think of going further.ย
Suddenly, we heard music from afar. We were tired but the curiosity spoke louder than the pain in our legs. So, we decided to follow the sound and find out what it was about. Getting closer, we saw a lot of people gathering aroundโฆ
One singer started off the busking with a very nice vibe. We were already enjoying the busking. Then, 10 CM himself got on stage!!! Even though he is not a KPOP star, my friend and I were very excited because he is one of our favorite singers/ songwriters.
He sang for around one hour and thirty minutes and performed songs like ์๋ฉ๋ฆฌ์นด๋ ธ, ์ฐ๋ด์ฐ๋ด, ์คํ ์ปค, ์๋, and others and it was all for free!! At one moment, when talking to the crowd, he said he did this busking event in Daejeon to celebrate the anniversary of his newest single, graduation.
After the Busking
After the event, my friend and I crossed over the Expo Bridge and went to Expo Tower where many people were also gathering. As usual, during summer here in the city, there was a water show at the tower and a shallow pool that kids were playing in. Many people were eating street food and sitting on the floor with picnic mats, talking and having a good time. Just their joy alone was a sight to see.
The day was great but still very long as the night fell. We both decided to go back home. Busking is always good, but having this one which was so organized and well prepared made my entire week. It is amazing how here in Korea you can have these amazing musical experiences even when you are not planning it.
I will definitely visit cultural spots more often and I recommend anyone who can do it to do the same. What better way to savor South Korea if not by attending free concerts on sunny weekends?
One of the best places to catch busking performances in South Korea is Hongdae! Click Here to read all about the famous Hongdae area.
