[Edaily Starin Reporter KIM HYUNSIK ] Even as record-breaking heat waves continue day after day, outdoor concerts drawing massive crowds are being held one after another. Event organizers are strengthening heatwave response measures to ensure audience safety, including the prevention of heat-related illnesses.

◇Providing Bottled Water, Allowing Re-entry… Strengthening Heatwave Countermeasures
According to the concert industry on the 6th, “PSY’s Soak Show: Summer Swag 2026” will take place at 6 p.m. on the 8th at Chosun University Comprehensive Stadium in Gwangju. Approximately 25,000 spectators are expected to attend the event.
The “Soak Show” is a branded concert concept where attendees enjoy the performance while being drenched by water spraying from all directions amid the sweltering heat. Although the show uses water cannons to spray water on the audience, the risk of heat-related illnesses can arise due to long waiting times, dense crowds, and high humidity. In fact, during last July’s Gwangju concert, four audience members complained of heat-related symptoms and were transported to the hospital.
Earlier, at the “2026 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival” held last weekend at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon, a total of seven people—including six audience members and one vendor representative—were transported to the hospital due to heat-related illnesses. Although the organizers took measures to respond to the heatwave, such as stationing medical staff on-site and operating “cool zones,” cases of heat-related illness still occurred amid the record-breaking heat.
Following the heat-related illnesses at the “Pentaport Rock Festival,” organizers of upcoming outdoor concerts are re-examining their heatwave response plans and are making concerted efforts to provide various ways for audiences to escape the heat.
A representative from P NATION, PSY’s agency, told Edaily that day, “We plan to provide bottled water to the audience before the performance to help them stay hydrated, and we will have medical staff, ambulances, and police and fire department personnel on standby at all times in case of emergencies.” The representative added, “We also plan to set up shade structures, mattresses, and a first-aid station so that people suffering from heat-related illnesses and other medical emergencies can rest.”
On the same day, “Waterbomb Busan 2026” will take place at Lotte World Adventure Busan. Like “Soaked Show,” “Waterbomb” is a summer music festival that utilizes water cannons, and approximately 10,000 attendees are expected at this Busan event.
Madeon, the organizer of “Waterbomb,” posted safety guidelines for the heatwave on its official social media accounts ahead of the event. The post recommended wearing hats to block the sun and urged attendees to reapply waterproof sunscreen every 2–3 hours. It also allowed attendees to bring in electrolyte drinks and advised them to hydrate every 20–30 minutes.
A Madeon representative stated, “Unlike concerts featuring a single artist, Waterbomb is an event that lasts 8 to 9 hours, so we are making preparations to ensure attendees can enjoy the show while taking sufficient breaks according to their physical condition,” adding, “We will have a system in place to respond immediately in the event of emergencies such as heat-related illnesses.”

◇“Proactive Prevention Is Key…Artist Announcements Also Help”
From the 21st to the 23rd, BIGBANG’s solo concert will be held at the Main Stadium of the Goyang Sports Complex. As the first performance of BIGBANG’s 20th-anniversary world tour, “XX: COSMOS,” more than 30,000 people are expected to attend each show.
An official from YG Entertainment said, “We are making every effort to prepare for the heatwave ahead of Big Bang’s concert,” adding, “We plan to operate rest areas where fans can take a break and deploy additional service booths and staff to minimize waiting times.”
The spokesperson continued, “We are also considering flexible admission policies depending on the weather conditions on the day of the event,” adding, “We will strive to create a safe concert environment by distributing bottled water, operating cooling mist systems, and deploying additional ambulances and temporary medical stations.”
In addition, a series of large-scale outdoor concerts are scheduled to take place, including the “2026 Kas Cool Festival” at Seoul Land in Gwacheon on the 22nd and the “Sustainable Wave Festival” at the Main Stadium of Incheon Munhak Stadium on the 29th and 30th. PSY’s “Soak Show” will continue at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on the 15th and 16th and at the Daejeon Mokwon University Main Stadium on the 22nd and 23rd.
A concert industry official emphasized, “Managing heat-related illnesses during the summer has become a core element of concert safety management, going beyond mere emergency response,” adding, “Since safety incidents can lead not only to the suspension of the concert but also to legal and social liability for the organizers, proactive prevention is of the utmost importance.”
The official continued, “Standing concerts, in particular, carry a high risk of heat-related illnesses due to a combination of crowd density, long waiting times, and rising body temperatures,” adding, “Simply having the artist remind the audience during the performance to ‘drink water frequently and seek help immediately if you feel unwell’ can significantly enhance preventive measures.”