Taylor Swift’s Concert Film “The Eras Tour” Premieres in Korea to Excited Fans
Korean Swifties may have been disappointed when Taylor Swift announced that she wouldn’t be performing in Seoul as part of her “Eras” world tour. However, they were able to experience the concert in a different way with the premiere of the concert film, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.” The film, documenting Swift’s shows at SoFi Stadium in California, premiered at select CGV theaters in Korea on Friday.
“It’s been a long time coming,” sings Swift in one of her songs, and this sentiment resonates with her Korean fans, who had to wait nearly a month after the film’s worldwide premiere on October 11th to see it in their country. Despite the delay, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” has already become the highest-grossing concert film of all time, earning over $203 million at the box office worldwide as of October 30th.
Outside CGV Yongsan in central Seoul, fans gathered to celebrate the premiere. They chatted and exchanged friendship bracelets, a trend among Swift concertgoers where they trade colorful beaded bracelets. This activity was inspired by the lyrics of Swift’s song “You’re On Your Own, Kid” from her album “Midnights” (2022), which mentions making friendship bracelets. This creative activity allows Swifties to swiftly bond over their shared love for the singer, even if they had just met prior to the film.
“We were so devastated that Taylor isn’t coming to Seoul,” said three Swifties who had just exchanged homemade jewelry pieces. However, they were determined to see Swift live and purchased tickets for her shows elsewhere. Two fans traveled to Japan, while another attended the Australian performances.
Swift skipping Korea was inevitable due to the lack of a stadium large enough to accommodate her all-stadium tour. The Jamsil Olympic Stadium, Seoul’s largest stadium, is currently undergoing renovations until the end of 2026. Other indoor stadiums in Korea can only accommodate up to 20,000 people. In contrast, the Asian cities Tokyo and Singapore, which Swift is visiting, have stadiums with a seating capacity of at least 50,000.
When the news of the concert film’s release in Korea broke, fans rushed to buy tickets. However, even securing seats proved to be a challenge. “I tried getting tickets for IMAX, but they sold out instantly,” said Lee Chae-won, one of the fans. Despite the difficulties, fans were grateful for the opportunity to see the film, even if it was in 2-D.
Overseas reports from the past month highlighted fans’ excitement and devotion while watching the concert film, and Korean Swifties were no exception. As soon as the two-hour and 45-minute-long film started, fans were on the edge of their seats. They shrieked with joy and sang along to Swift’s first song, “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince” (2019). The theater pulsated with energy as fans engaged in fan chants and claps for certain songs like “Bad Blood” (2015) and “Shake it Off” (2014). If seating restrictions didn’t apply, the theater would have transformed into a dance floor.
The concert film showcased Swift performing approximately 40 songs from her various eras of music. Fans were treated to hits from albums like “Fearless” (2008), “Red” (2012), “Reputation” (2017), “folklore” (2020), and concluded with songs from her latest album, “Midnights” (2022). When Swift sang her final song, “Karma” (2022), and left the stage, the audience erupted in cheers and applause. It was as if Swift had indeed been there in Seoul with them.
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” is available in both 2-D and IMAX at select CGV theaters across Korea. Tickets are priced at 25,000 won ($19) for 2-D and 30,000 won for IMAX. Korean Swifties can now enjoy the concert experience of a lifetime, even if it’s through the power of film.
By Shin Min-hee [[email protected]]