5 tips to successfully buy K-pop tickets online in the Philippines

Securing K-pop concert tickets is a battlefield. While it is stressful, these handy tips will make sure you overcome the chaotic world of buying K-pop tickets online in the Philippines

The absolute worst thing has happened to me as a K-pop fan: My ultimate bias of life is coming to the Philippines and I was not able to score tickets to his event (for the first day, at least). No, not even the worst seats in the house.

I am sorry to have failed you, Mr. Do Kyungsoo of EXO.

The pandemic has changed K-pop ticketing. Since the K-pop fanbase has considerably grown since then, concert ticketing has become way more competitive—suddenly you’re up against hundreds of thousands of fans vying for seats. Back when I got tickets for Super Junior’s first Super Show in Manila, or even EXO’s last Manila concert in 2018, I could buy tickets easily. No lengthy queuing system or ticketing assistance needed.

But times are different now, and I was not fully prepared for the ticketing bloodbath over this prized Kyungsoo fan meet—I know better now that they have announced a second day.

There are a lot of K-pop newbies and inexperienced senior citizen K-pop fans (like me) who aren’t used to this new generation’s ticket purchasing system

I am not alone in this plight. There are a lot of K-pop newbies and inexperienced senior citizen K-pop fans (like me) who aren’t used to this new generation’s ticket purchasing system. So I did even more research and talked to other fans who were successful in getting tickets online (camping overnight outside ticketing booths and buying physically is another story that I do not have the patience for, sorry guys). 

Here are the tips that I’ve found to be helpful, and will keep in mind during the second day sale. 

May the K-pop ticketing gods be ever in your favor!

Know which seats you want beforehand and save enough money for them

Right when the seat plan for your K-pop show has been released, discuss with your concert companion/s which sections and seats you guys will be gunning for during ticketing day. VIP is usually the most wanted section, so if these are your goal tickets, have back-up preferences in case those get sold out immediately (spoiler: they usually do). Then, to avoid any financial issues during ticket selling, make sure you start a concert fund and save enough money to buy them. We all know that K-pop concerts aren’t cheap, and you’ve got to be financially prepared for it.

Important advice: Follow the official social media accounts of the concert organizer and ticketing platform. These are the accounts that release important information about ticket sales, seat maps, and any updates or changes.

Visit the event’s ticketing website and “practice” purchasing tickets online 

By the time your K-pop event is announced, you would have probably been made aware of the ticketing provider. The most popular ones for K-pop concerts and similar K-culture events are SM Tickets, TicketNet, and Tickelo. It’s best to familiarize yourself with the ticketing website’s layout and the purchasing process, so that once it’s time to score those tickets, you can do it quickly and seamlessly. Does the ticketing website enforce a random number queuing system or not? What is the information needed to purchase tickets? Are your payment methods accepted on the website? Ask yourself questions like these to properly get ready for ticketing D-Day.

Gather friends or family for help with purchasing 

The more hands and devices you have helping you out, the better. There will always be some sort of queueing system where sometimes, you’ll be assigned a random number in the line—for better or for worse. You don’t have to enter this bloody battle for tickets alone. Enlist the help of close friends or family members and ask them to have their laptops, tablets, and phones out during ticketing day. Having multiple people and devices queuing online and attempting to purchase tickets simultaneously increases your chances of success.

The more hands and devices you have helping you out, the better

Consider ticketing assistance online, but be wary of scammers

If you don’t really want to burden your loved ones and ask them to help you purchase tickets, that’s totally understandable. Another option is to consider ticketing assistance services, which a lot of online communities (like X, formerly known as Twitter) often offer. These people usually have experienced individuals under their employ who can help you secure tickets—but as per usual when it comes to dealing with strangers on the internet, be extremely cautious. Scammers are everywhere.

Do your research and look through their accounts for positive feedback and reviews. The safest thing to do is ask your friends or online mutuals for referrals. The most trustworthy ticketing assistance providers are the ones with good feedback and a set of terms and conditions that protects both you and the service provider from ugly scams. 

Wake up early and prep everything you need

Is it ticketing D-Day already? Wake up early and set multiple alarms so you’re good to go once the sale begins. Prepare all your devices (phone, laptop, tablet), log into your accounts, be in contact with the people queuing for you, and have your payment information ready for a swift and seamless transaction. Ticketing days may be rough and tough, but I believe in you, and may the K-pop gods bless you with those golden tickets!

Bonus: Don’t lose hope if you don’t buy any tickets

I totally feel you. The online ticketing process is truly brutal, but don’t despair if you don’t succeed at first. Sometimes, if a concert is sold out, additional tickets are released closer to the event date, or you might find opportunities to buy from legitimate resellers on X, Facebook Marketplace, Carousell, or others. There is always the chance that successful buyers may resell their tickets because they found better seats somewhere, or they simply can no longer attend. 

Keep an eye on official announcements and fan communities for updates. Remember, not all hope is lost.