World DJ Festival Makes Its First International Debut in Japan

The World DJ Festival (월드 디제이 페스티벌), known as 'Woldipe,' made its first international appearance in Japan on June 28-29, 2025, at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba. The event kicked off with the American DJ duo The Chainsmokers energizing a crowd of over 15,000 attendees with their hit song 'Closer,' which had previously topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks in 2016. While Japanese audiences are typically known for their quiet demeanor, the atmosphere was electric as fans jumped and danced to the music.

Over the two-day festival, a total of 52,000 people attended, featuring performances from more than 30 world-class DJs, including Alan Walker, Nicky Romero, Alesso, and KSHMR. This marked the first time a domestic EDM festival from Korea has been licensed for international export, showcasing the festival's expertise in event preparation and execution. The dazzling lights, impeccable sound quality, and captivating laser shows provided an unforgettable EDM experience for the Japanese audience. The Woldipe is the longest-running and largest DJ festival in Korea, starting in 2007 with 10,000 attendees and now attracting between 100,000 to 130,000 visitors annually, with about 20% being international guests. Last year, it ranked 42nd in the DJ Mag Top 100 festivals, taking the top spot in East Asia, surpassing Japan.

Despite being the second-largest music market globally, Japan has few successful large-scale EDM festivals. This prompted the decision to import the Korean Woldipe directly. Last year, the Japanese marketing company Samurai Partners and the major club operator Octagon collaborated to co-host the event, with support from Japan's largest telecommunications company, NTT Docomo. Koyuki Irie, the 40-year-old head of Samurai Partners, who also performed at the Korean Woldipe in June, expressed optimism about securing Docomo's investment, stating, "I've attended EDM festivals worldwide, but I haven't seen production as good as Korea's Woldipe."

The festival's localization strategy was evident throughout the venue. While the Korean Woldipe has been held outdoors at Seoul Land in Gyeonggi Province for the past two years, Woldipe Japan opted for the indoor Makuhari Messe. Although it is about 1 hour and 10 minutes from central Tokyo by subway, it is conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from Kaihin Makuhari Station, making it easier to obtain permits for large-scale events compared to Tokyo's city center. The festival was scheduled to avoid overlapping with Japan's major EDM festivals, GMO Sonic in January and Ultra Japan in September, and was held at the beginning of summer to escape the sweltering heat, which exceeded 32 degrees Celsius. Specially ordered scents were diffused throughout the venue to enhance the experience, tailored specifically for the Japanese event.

Ticket sales exceeded expectations, with an anticipated 30,000 attendees over the two days, but the actual turnout reached 52,000. The Japanese preference for receiving paper tickets via delivery or purchasing them on-site led to long lines forming before the festival opened at noon. Of the total audience, 98% were local Japanese, with a higher percentage of men (60%) compared to women (40%), and 86% of attendees were in their 20s and 30s. Tetsuya Kawai, a 30-year-old attendee who traveled from Nagoya, shared, "K-pop is so popular in Japan that everyone knows Woldipe is a popular festival from Korea. When the news of the event spread on social media earlier this year, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with people saying, 'It's finally coming!'"

Woldipe Japan is set to return next year with an expanded scale, and discussions are underway for expansion to 4-5 other countries. Kim Eun-sung, the head of the organizing company BPC Tangent, noted, "We were initially concerned about how changes in Korea-Japan relations might affect Woldipe Japan, but the Japanese organizers encouraged us to maintain the Korean elements, saying that Korean themes are currently popular in Japan." He added, "Reflecting the common preference for mainstream EDM pop in East Asia among the lineup helped contribute to the festival's rapid success. We want to continue showcasing how Korea's performance technology has grown to a level where it can be exported globally."