How can an overseas visitor apply for Music Bank?

Create a KBS SSO account under the Foreigner Living Abroad category, submit the passport verification requested, and apply for the episode through Audience Application; it is free and lottery-based, not a seat guarantee.

Where is Music Bank held?

The guide lists KBS New Wing Open Hall at 13 Yeouigongwon-ro, with National Assembly Station on Line 9, Exit 4 as the nearest station.

How does M Countdown access differ?

M Countdown does not have a confirmed KBS-style foreigner SSO lottery; access is announced through each artist's official channel and is commonly tiered by fanclub, album proof, then passport-only walk-up space.

Is there a guaranteed paid M Countdown package?

The guide says no confirmed guaranteed-seat paid package was found on Klook or Trazy for M Countdown, unlike the paid option it documents for Music Bank.

Music Bank & M Countdown: A Foreigner's Guide to Getting In (2026)

Music Bank and M Countdown Use Different Entry Systems

Music Bank and M Countdown are both weekly K-pop broadcasts, but a foreign visitor cannot approach them the same way. KBS Music Bank has an official overseas-user registration and lottery route. M Countdown generally directs fans through each performing artist’s official notice and a tiered on-site process instead.

For the separate Inkigayo, The Show and full fanclub pre-recording breakdown, read Koursea’s Inkigayo and The Show foreigner ticket guide.

KBS Music Bank: The Official Foreigner Lottery Route

Venue and Schedule

Broadcaster: KBS
Venue: KBS New Wing Open Hall (KBS 신관 공개홀), 13 Yeouigongwon-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Nearest station: National Assembly Station, Seoul Subway Line 9, Exit 4
Live broadcast: Friday at 5:05 PM KST
Pre-recording: Usually earlier on the same day, around 11:00 AM

The live audience lottery and an artist’s fanclub pre-recording are different routes. Check which session your notice covers before arranging transport.

How an Overseas Visitor Applies

Register a KBS SSO account under the Foreigner Living Abroad category.
Submit the requested passport copy for identity verification.
After approval, log in and open the Audience Application (시청자 참여 / 방청 신청) menu.
Select the relevant Music Bank episode and submit the free lottery application.
If selected, bring the physical passport that matches the account for the door check.

This is a free lottery, not a guaranteed reservation. Applications for a Friday broadcast are commonly reported to open on the preceding Thursday and close before the show, but the window can vary by episode. Confirm the exact application period on KBS for your target date.

Fanclub Pre-Recording Is a Separate Route

Music Bank also hosts artist-specific pre-recordings. These use the same strict fanclub process described in the sa-nok requirements section of the Inkigayo and The Show guide: the passport name must match, the notice may require an official lightstick and comeback-specific proof, and applications can fill almost immediately after opening.

Is There a Paid Option?

Trazy lists a KBS Music Bank ticket or tour product for international visitors. Availability and pricing change, so check the current Trazy listing rather than relying on an old quoted price. Klook may also be worth checking for current availability, but a listing should not be assumed to exist for every episode.

Mnet M Countdown: Artist Notices and Tiered Entry

Venue and Schedule

Broadcaster: Mnet, operated by CJ ENM
Venue: CJ ENM Center in Sangam-dong, Seoul
Broadcast: Thursday evening
Call and recording times: Set by each week’s notice

M Countdown is filmed at the CJ ENM Center, not KBS New Wing Open Hall. The KBS venue belongs to Music Bank. Do not use fan pages that mix the two locations.

One recent 2026 notice listed an identity check around 7:30 PM and recording around 8:30 PM KST, but that is an example rather than a permanent schedule. Always use the official notice for the episode you want to attend.

How Foreign Fans Apply

M Countdown does not have a confirmed KBS-style foreigner SSO lottery. Access is generally announced through the performing artist’s official channel, such as a Weverse notice, official fan cafe or the Mnet Plus surveys application page.

At the venue, entry is commonly handled in tiers, subject to capacity:

Official fanclub members
Fans carrying the required album-purchase proof
Passport-only walk-ups

A physical passport is required at the door regardless of tier. Being present in a lower tier does not guarantee admission when space runs out.

Is There a Guaranteed Paid Package?

No confirmed guaranteed-seat M Countdown package was found on Klook or Trazy during this research. That makes M Countdown less predictable for a short trip than Music Bank’s paid listing or The Show’s foreigner-facing packages. Do not treat an unofficial reseller page as confirmation of entry.

Studio Etiquette for Either Show

Bring the physical passport connected to your application or fanclub record.
Follow the week’s official notice and staff instructions at the venue.
Keep phones and cameras put away when recording is prohibited.
Use the restroom and finish food or drinks before entering the studio.
Do not expect re-entry after taping starts.

Getting to the Correct Studio

Music Bank and M Countdown are not filmed in the same building. Before leaving, search the venue on Koursea’s Korea place lookup and use its Korean address card when showing the destination to a taxi driver. For Music Bank, use KBS 신관 공개홀. For M Countdown, use CJ ENM Center in Sangam-dong.