Seoul, South Korea - The annual Incheon Airport Sky Festival, a long-standing event designed to showcase the aviation industry and boost the local economy, has undergone a significant transformation this year, drawing criticism for its shift towards a K-pop-centric format.

The Incheon International Airport Corporation announced that the 2024 Incheon Airport Sky Festival, held on November 9th and 10th at the Inspire Arena, attracted 16,000 attendees. The event featured performances by popular K-pop groups such as Oh My Girl, Lucy, NMIXX, ONEUS, and YOUNITE on the first day, and Melomance, Wheein, Paul Kim, and AKMU on the second day.

While the event raised 160 million won (approximately US$120,000) in ticket sales, which will be donated to youth scholarships and children's medical expenses, many have expressed disappointment with the festival's departure from its original format.

Since its inception in 2004, the Incheon Airport Sky Festival has been a beloved community event, offering a variety of activities for people of all ages. Held outdoors on the airport grounds, the festival featured a wide range of attractions, including flight simulators, drone demonstrations, VR experiences, food trucks, and cultural performances.

However, the 2024 edition marked a significant departure from this tradition. The event was moved indoors to the Inspire Arena and focused primarily on K-pop performances. The lack of outdoor activities and diverse programming has led to criticism from both airport employees and local residents.

One Incheon Airport employee expressed disappointment, stating that the festival had become little more than a "1.2 billion won concert." Others have raised concerns about the loss of the festival's community-oriented spirit and the limited appeal of a K-pop-focused event for a diverse audience.