newly built Seoul Arena

A major new K-culture festival built around the power of global fan bases will bring concerts, exhibitions and fan-focused events to Korea in late 2027, with organizers expecting more than 500,000 visitors and an economic impact of nearly 1 trillion won ($680 million). The Popular Culture Exchange Committee unveiled plans Monday for "Fanomenon," a large-scale event designed to expand Korea’s influence in global popular culture and establish the country as the premier hub for the fandom industry. Scheduled to run from Dec. 2 to Dec. 12, 2027, the 11-day festival will span two major venues: the newly built Seoul Arena in Changdong and the second exhibition hall at KINTEX in Goyang north of the capital. A portmanteau of "fan" and "phenomenon," the name reflects the organizers' vision of fans not merely as passive consumers, but as active partners driving the global reach of Korean culture. "The true power of K-culture stems not just from the artists and content, but from the fandoms that have nurtured and spread