Ultra Korea, also known as Ultra Music Festival Korea, has come around again this year, offering partygoers and music fans in Korea a rare chance to see some of the world’s most acclaimed electronic musicians.
In celebration of its fifth anniversary this year, the festival will go on for three days instead of the usual two, at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium from Friday until Sunday.
Headliners will include world-class acts such as Avicii, Afrojack and Armin van Buuren, all of whom previously took to Ultra Korea’s stage in 2013.
Dutch DJ Afrojack, known for hits such as “Take Over Control,” has worked with global pop stars Madonna and Ne-Yo. Also Dutch, DJ Armin Van Buuren has five times topped the Top 100 DJ list at DJ Mag, considered the global authority on electronic music. Swedish musician Avicii has been nominated twice for a Grammy Award and is known for megahit “Wake Me Up,” which achieved both critical and popular appeal.
Other much-anticipated artists and newcomers to Ultra Korea include Swedish duo Axwell & Ingrosso, Dutch DJ Martin Garrix, who ranked No. 3 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ list in 2015, and Australian electronic duo Knife Party.
The live stage will feature Canadian house music producer deadmau5, Belgian producer Netsky and English duo Chase & Status.
There will be more than electronic music at Ultra Korea this year, with local hip-hop artist Zion.T, known for trendy tunes like “No Make Up,” rapper Paloalto and indie rock band Sultan of the Disco scheduled to take to the stage. Korean acts including DJ Maximite, DJ Kingmck and DJ Soda, who released her debut EP “Closer” with Warner Music Korea last Friday, will also be performing, making for a total of some 80 teams.
Seoul’s Olympic Stadium being located near a residential area, performances will begin each day at around 2 p.m. and wrap up before midnight. After-parties will rage all through the night at clubs in Seoul nightlife hot spots Itaewon, Gangnam, Sinsa-dong and Hongdae.
Food, graffiti art
The festival is open to those aged 19 and above and beer and cocktails will be on sale at booths around the festival venue.
Also set up in the stadium will be tents selling authentic Korean street food, such as kimchi pancakes and ramen, along with typical festival eats like hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream, fries and fried chicken.
At the graffiti zone, Ernesto Maranje, a Cuban-American graffiti artist, and Ivan J. Roque, whose colorful works have been called the “Soul of Miami,” will create their unique street art. Other artists such as My Dog Sighs, Everyday Research, Cern, Armanda Valdes, Kazilla and Registered Artist will also be performing.
Ultra Music Festival started in Miami in 1999 and has 11 worldwide editions in locations such as Buenos Aires, Ibiza and Tokyo.
The festival’s first edition in Asia, Ultra Korea kicked off in Seoul in 2012 and has grown into one of the biggest electronic dance music events in the region.
In February, major Korean entertainment agency YG Entertainment invested in the festival production.
Festival organizers say they are anticipating a total of 150,000 festivalgoers to flock to Olympic Stadium. Last year’s festival saw a record 110,000 spectators, 24 per cent of whom were foreign nationals, according to Ultra Korea’s figures.
One-day tickets are currently available at u-ticket.co.kr at 130,000 won (S$152) and will also be sold at the door at 150,000 won. Three-day combo tickets are sold out.
