SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Korea Bizwire) – The 13th Seoul Record Fair, which opened on September 21 at the Oil Tank Culture Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, has grown into a full-fledged festival, boasting its largest scale to date in terms of space utilization since its inception in 2011.
This year’s event, adopting the slogan “The Biggest Record Store,” has transformed into a more comfortable and spacious affair, making use of both indoor exhibition and performance spaces as well as outdoor park areas.
The change marks a significant improvement from previous years when the fair was held at various venues that often felt cramped when crowded.
The expanded layout was evident from the entrance, where a large Seoul Record Fair advertising balloon greeted visitors. Inside, popular R&B singer-songwriter Zion.T held a well-organized signing event, while singer-songwriter Lang simultaneously hosted her own meet-and-greet indoors without overcrowding issues.
Despite a light morning drizzle, the weather cleared by noon, providing ideal conditions for outdoor activities under overcast skies.
The fair’s most significant contribution to the Korean music scene has been the revival and renewed appreciation of vinyl records. The Seoul Record Fair First Release section, a symbol of the festival, drew the longest queues from early morning.
A limited collaboration album ‘AAA’ between Korean band Hyukoh and Taiwanese band Sunset Rollercoaster, restricted to one copy per person, quickly sold out its 500-copy run.
The vinyl resurgence was further evidenced by the popularity of records featuring artwork by artist Aokizy, including releases by synth-pop band Adoy and Thai duo HYBS, which many attendees carried like prized possessions.
The J-pop trend also made its presence felt at the fair. A booth advertising “Blue Coral sung by NewJeans’ Hanni” offered a variety of Japanese pop, enka, and anime soundtracks, including records by 1980s idol Seiko Matsuda.
Young attendees eagerly browsed these offerings, with an unusually large selection of 7-inch vinyl records catching attention.
The fair continued to attract its core demographic of 20- and 30-year-olds, with a noticeably increasing proportion of young female attendees.
Some carried string bags from a collaboration between NewJeans and Japanese pop art master Takashi Murakami, while colorful vinyl releases, such as a Harry Potter 20th anniversary edition, became popular photography subjects.
The event’s timing coincided with a nearby concert by K-pop star IU at Seoul World Cup Stadium, leading many early-arriving fans to explore the record fair and make purchases.
As in previous years, the Seoul Record Fair showcased a diverse range of genres, from jazz and bossa nova to hip-hop and indie rock. Notable releases included vinyl pressings of new works by artists across various genres, as well as a highly anticipated reissue of H2O’s modern rock classic “Today I.”
The fair also embraced the local community, with food vendors from the nearby Mangwon-dong area providing refreshments. A small stage offered performance opportunities for up-and-coming musicians, with audience members gathering to relax and enjoy the shows.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
