On February 19, Sports Chosun revealed that SBS is planning to hold the Gayo Daejeon twice in 2024, marking a significant expansion for the renowned music festival. The broadcasting company will mount a mid-year show in addition to the traditional year-end one. Set for July 21 and December 25, both shows will take place at the new Inspire Arena, an indoor multipurpose performance hall located on Yeongjeong Island in Incheon. It has a seating capacity of 15,000 people.
SBS Gayo Daejeon began in 1992 as part of the SBS Star Awards’ singer category. It adopted its current name in 1996. Until 2006, it honored artists with a grand prize, celebrating K-pop icons like BoA, Fin.K.L, g.o.d, H.O.T, Jo Sungmo, and Lee Hyori. The awards ceremony was discontinued in 2007, briefly revived in 2014, and has since morphed into a music festival.
The 2023 edition’s theme was “SWITCH ON.” It took place at the Inspire Arena and featured TVXQ, who celebrated their 20th anniversary with a special performance. Other top artists, such as ATEEZ, BLANK2Y, ENHYPEN, ITZY, IVE, NCT 127, NewJeans, and NiziU, also performed. Groups like NMIXX, SHINee, Stray Kids, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and ZEROBASEONE were also present. All in all, a grand total of 25 teams hit the Gayo Daejeon stage last year.
Gayo Daejeon 2023 was controversial
Despite high expectations due to the star-studded lineup, the event faced various controversies, including issues with counterfeit tickets that affected many attendees. Safety concerns on-site and technical glitches with sound and subtitles during the live broadcast marred the proceedings, leaving fans disappointed.
SBS plans to hold Gayo Daejeon twice in 2024 to give fans more opportunities to celebrate K-pop music and culture. The organizers have taken note of the mistakes made in previous years and are likely taking steps to ensure improvements.
Meanwhile, fans are eagerly awaiting further details and hope that this year’s festivals will surpass the last. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: Will SBS be able to pull this off? Let’s wait and see! Source: Reddit.
