Fans watch the K-Pop Masterz Ep. 2 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on September 23, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — With the explosive popularity of K-pop in the Philippines, securing tickets for concerts, fan meetings and other similar events can feel like a high-stakes battle.

For dedicated fans, the process is a grueling test of patience, speed and financial resources. However, the right strategy can help increase one’s chances of scoring tickets to see their favorite idols live.

Based on interviews with local K-pop fans who frequently attend concerts, as well as the writer's firsthand experiences, here are some tips for new K-pop concertgoers to increase your chances of securing a ticket and seeing your idols in the flesh.

Preparing for ticket sale

• If you’re anticipating a concert from your favorite K-pop act, it’s wise to start saving early. Ticket prices can be high, and in some cases, announcements often come shortly before ticket sales open. Preparing in advance can help ease any financial stress when it’s finally time to grab those tickets.

• Once a concert has been announced, regularly check the artist’s official social media accounts, Weverse community, concert promoters’ website or social media pages, or verified news websites for details regarding ticket prices, seat map and ticket selling dates. 

• Notably, concerts also hold ticket presales (ticket selling prior to the general sale) through Weverse memberships, specific credit card promotions, and even memberships with the concert promoters. However, pre-sale tickets are limited to accommodate buyers for the general sale.

• For Weverse presales, which are usually done exclusively online, fans must register and have an active Weverse fan club membership, which comes at an additional cost. If you’re considering buying a membership for presale access, be prepared for this extra expense.

• For presales with specific credit card companies or promoters, it is best to check their guidelines for the presale process to ensure you follow the correct steps.

• Prior to the ticket selling day, it is crucial to decide on your preferred ticket tier, which corresponds to specific sections in the venue. Be sure to have a backup plan by having alternative sections you’d be willing to sit in, in case tickets for your top-choice section are difficult to purchase or sell out quickly. Do not panic buy.

• Some K-pop fans share views from the sections at past concerts they’ve attended to help other fans get an idea of what to expect, so you can check them on social media for reference.

• Decide if you want to purchase tickets by physically lining up on ticket booths or purchasing exclusively online.

Fans watch the K-Pop Masterz Ep. 2 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on September 23, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileOnline ticketing

• For online ticket purchases, always ensure a stable internet connection. If you get disconnected, you may lose your queue number and be assigned a new one.

• To increase your chances of obtaining tickets, consider using multiple devices or asking friends to help. Some people offer online ticketing services on X (formerly Twitter) for a fee. If considering this option, be sure to verify these accounts thoroughly: Check for previous successful transactions, recommendations from other reliable fans, and other signs of trustworthiness to avoid potential scams.

• On ticketing day, join the waiting room as soon as it opens. It is recommended to be on the website about 30 minutes to an hour before ticket sales begin. However, keep in mind that this does not guarantee a favorable queue number, as they are often assigned at random.

• When queuing to purchase tickets, avoid sharing a screenshot of your queue number or link, as others may copy and use it. If this happens, you may lose access to that queue or encounter difficulty purchasing tickets.

• There are time limits once you enter the ticketing website, so it is advisable to select your desired ticket tier, choose your section, and complete your checkout and payment as quickly as possible. Notably, while you are allowed to choose your preferred section, some ticketing sites let you select your exact row and seat number, while others will assign a seat to you.

Onsite ticket sale

• Prior to the ticket selling day, pick a branch of the ticket seller where you plan on lining up. Be sure to check the available payment methods at that branch, as some may only accept cash.

• K-pop fans often organize queues at ticketing booths, so it is best to coordinate with these groups. They are usually active on X (formerly Twitter) and often coordinate through messaging apps.

• If you plan on camping at the ticketing booth (often hours or the night before ticket selling), make sure to bring water and food to keep you hydrated and energized.

• While waiting in line to purchase tickets, you can increase your chances of securing a ticket by attempting to buy them online through your phone or other devices.

• While waiting in line, it is advisable to stay updated on the status of ticket sales. Promoters often announce when tickets for a concert have sold out on their social media accounts.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Khengie Hallig recalled that she camped out at a mall to secure tickets for the “Follow” concert of her favorite boy band, SEVENTEEN, in Bulacan last January.

She was part of a group of fans who queued at the same ticketing booth, connecting through X, where fans shared links to Telegram group chats to coordinate with others planning to camp out at the venue.

“If you’ll buy tickets in person, I advise you to join groups that organize a camping or queuing line for malls near you and be as early as you can,”  Hallig said.

Members of the K-pop group NCT 127 perform during their 'NEO CITY : THE LINK' concert tour at the Mall of Asia Arena on September 4, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FileAfter ticket selling

• Once you’ve purchased your tickets, be sure to keep the physical copy in a safe place, such as an envelope, to prevent the ticket’s text from fading.

• For online tickets, it’s advisable to take a screenshot and save it on your phone. Make sure the copy is easily accessible, especially on concert day.

• In some cases, fans are required to claim a physical copy of their tickets before the concert day. This can be done by presenting the voucher, along with proof of ticket purchase, payment method, and valid identification.

• If you’re unsuccessful in purchasing tickets and they sell out, it is strongly discouraged to buy tickets from third-party sellers online. Be wary of scalpers who resell tickets at inflated prices, or resellers who could potentially be scammers.

• Sometimes, plans to attend concerts fall through for others, who may resell their tickets at the same price or lower than the original. If you decide to purchase these tickets, it is important to verify that the sellers are trustworthy by checking their social media accounts used for reselling. To ensure the authenticity of the ticket, you can arrange a meet-up to inspect the ticket’s security features or have it confirmed at official ticketing outlets.

• Some resellers may price their tickets slightly higher than the original cost because they purchased them through fan club memberships, credit card presales, early purchase with a low queuing number (for VIP tickets), or by adding online fees.

Paula Postigo, a K-pop fan for 15 years, attempted to purchase tickets for K-pop sensation 2NE1’s concert but was unsuccessful. While she found resellers on X, she chose not to buy tickets being sold at higher prices.

“Hindi na ‘ko nag-try kasi sabi din nila na ‘pag sa scalper, baka scammer din, kahit P1,000 lang ‘yong patong,” Postigo said.

(I didn’t try anymore because they also said that if it’s from a scalper, it might be a scammer, even if the markup is just P1,000.)

“Kung hindi man makakuha (ng ticket), edi hindi. In-accept ko na lang, mayroon naman kasi ibang way para makapag-support ako sa kanila,” she added.

(If I don’t get a ticket, then it's fine. I just accepted it because there are other ways I can support them.)

Former Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called for an investigation into ticket scalping and the introduction of legislation to combat the practice following complaints of scalpers at 2NE1's concert in Manila.

For more news and features on K-pop, K-drama, and K-stars, visit the Hallyu Corner microsite.