First Half of 2025 Performing Arts Market Sets All-Time Record with 741.4 Billion Won in Ticket Sales

Strong Sales in Popular Arts Driven by High-Priced Tickets
Classical Music Declines... Down 24.2% from Last Year

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From January to June of this year, the first half of the performing arts market recorded 10.7 million ticket reservations and ticket sales of 741.4 billion won, setting an all-time record.

On July 31, the Arts Management Support Center announced these figures in the "2025 First Half Performing Arts Market Ticket Sales Analysis Report," which was based on reservation data from the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System (KOPIS). Compared to the same period last year, the number of ticket reservations increased by 700,000 (7.1%), and sales rose by 97.7 billion won (15.2%). The average ticket price was approximately 69,000 won, about 5,000 won higher than last year.

Performances in genres excluding popular arts?such as plays, musicals, classical music, Korean traditional music, dance, and mixed genres?accounted for 75.8% of all performances and 86.5% of all showings. These genres represented 67.4% of ticket reservations and 43.6% of total sales. Although these genres had a higher number of performances and showings, it was popular arts performances, which have a higher average ticket price, that generated more revenue.

By genre, plays and musicals achieved the highest first-half results ever, while dance and popular music also showed growth. Dance saw a 26.5% increase in ticket reservations and a 52.3% increase in sales. Among dance genres, contemporary dance recorded a dramatic rise, with ticket reservations up 95.7% and sales up 185.5%. Popular music saw a 25.1% increase in ticket reservations and a 34.1% increase in sales.

For classical music, the number of performances and showings remained steady, but ticket reservations and sales fell by 7.9% and 24.2%, respectively.

By region, the concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area was pronounced. The Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon regions accounted for 64.5% of all performances, 77.9% of all showings, 78.9% of ticket reservations, and 85.4% of total sales. All indicators in the metropolitan area increased compared to last year, but in non-metropolitan areas, both ticket reservations and sales declined, widening the regional gap.