Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival kicks off with international acts galore

The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival kicked off on Friday, featuring 58 Korean and international acts.

The Incheon Pentaport Music Festival at the Songdo Moonlight Festival Park on Aug. 6, 2023 [YONHAP]

The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, heralded as one of “Korea's Finest Fests,” kicked off its three-day run Friday at Songdo's Moonlight Festival Park.

The annual event, which runs through Sunday, will feature 58 Korean and international acts, including K-pop rock band DAY6, indie rock act Wave to Earth and girl group QWER, as well as overseas artists such as Jack White, Kim Gordon and Sepultura. This year's festival will seek to expand its overseas appeal, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said.

Its organizers collaborated with those of overseas music events, including Southeast Asian music festival Axean and Taiwan's FireBall Fest to meld their lineups. Taiwanese rock band Fire EX. take the stage in the Korean rock festival on Friday, and Korean singers will perform overseas later on.

The Culture Ministry also invited press from foreign publications, including those from the United States, Hungary, Croatia and Argentina, as well as overseas content creators to cover the festival.

The ministry selected the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, alongside the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival and Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, as one of “Korea's Finest Fests,” previously known as the “Korea World Fest 3,” back in March. It will dedicate 2 billion won ($1.45 million) to the three festivals through 2026 with the goal of attracting twice as many foreign festivalgoers via global promotion and networking.

“We hope that the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival will widely promote attractive K-content abroad and a become national 'K-rock' tourism program that attracts people from around the world,” said Culture Minister Yu In-chon.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]