The annual MU:CON festival will take place from September 10 to 13 in the neighborhoods of Itaewon and Hannam-dong in central Seoul. The event will feature a mix of live concerts and professional forums led by industry experts.
Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the festival will include keynote speeches, panel discussions, B2B programs with business matchmaking and networking opportunities for professionals, and international music showcases open to the public.
The showcases, where artists will perform live, are scheduled for September 12 and 13 across three venues in Hannam-dong and Itaewon: Blue Square SOL Treble Hall, Blue Square NEMO, and Cave House. In total, 46 artists will take the stage, 33 MU:CON participants, 9 guest musicians, and 4 international artists.
On September 12, performers will include Lee Seung-yoon, Jambinai, and Khundi Panda. On September 13, around 15 acts including Sion, Bulgogi Disco, and Jooyoung will perform. Five musicians previously selected through KOCCA’s Muse On discovery project will also be featured.
Guest artists include Hong Dabin, Zion.T, 10cm, SAAY, and O3ohn.
As part of the “Exchange Stage” program, aimed at promoting international cultural and musical exchange, the lineup will spotlight emerging indie pop group I’m Difficult from Taiwan, Japanese indie rock band DYGL, singer-songwriter REJAY, and Danish group Meejah.
Tickets for the showcases are free, but must be reserved in advance via Nol Ticket. Limited walk-in tickets may be available on-site, and all performances will be livestreamed on KOCCA Music’s official YouTube channel.
In addition, the conference portion of MU:CON will be held September 10–12 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Hannam-dong, featuring global leaders in the music industry.
On September 10, Ghazi Shami, CEO of Empire Publishing, will speak on transforming the music industry through artist-first business models, highlighting his partnership with G-Dragon. Choi Jin-suk, Executive Director of KMR (Kreation Music Rights) under SM Entertainment, will trace the global evolution of K-pop collaborations and outline future trends in creative production and distribution.
The conference will also feature panels, open sessions, workshops, and deep-dive programs led by international music industry professionals.
Notable speakers include: James Matsuki, music supervisor for Pachinko (Apple TV+, 2022), Thomas Golubić, music supervisor for “Breaking bad” (2008) and “The walking dead” (2010), Ivone Lesan, booking agent for Spain’s Primavera Sound festival, Robin Jenssen, songwriter for Aespa, NCT, and LE SSERAFIM, with over 160 Billboard-charting songs.
“For the past 14 years, MU:CON has supported both established artists and rising talent, while connecting Korea’s music and entertainment industries to international business opportunities,” said Lee Hyun Joo, Director of the Content IP Division at KOCCA. “We will continue to actively support promising artists and companies, helping them expand globally and promoting worldwide cultural exchange.”
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: MU:CON
