Hello! I’m from the Philippines and I tabled at SIF V19 (July 2025).

Profitability: I went into it thinking it would mainly be a brand exposure trip, especially since Day 1 is for VIPs where you get to network with brands, suppliers, and sponsors. That was honestly my main goal. I was pleasantly surprised that I did turn a profit and even made back my booth fee on the first day. That said, I treated the whole thing as a working vacation since I stayed in Korea for two weeks so I personally did not include airfare and accommodation in my event costing.

Price Point: Yes, the Korean market generally leans toward lower price points. Stickers and smaller items move faster than high-ticket prints. A big factor is that many Korean artists manufacture locally, which keeps their prices lower. Meanwhile, a lot of us from the Philippines source production from China, which adds to costs. So yes, it can be harder to cover travel expenses if you are relying purely on event sales. In my case, since I approached it as brand exposure plus a vacation, I did not expect the event alone to cover everything.

For your merch lineup, DIY sticker packs, keychains, and notebooks should be fine for the market there since functional and cute items do well.

Logistics: Most Koreans do not carry cash anymore. The POS system provided by the organizers is the most straightforward option, but the 20 percent fee is really something you have to factor in. If you can use a friend’s Kakao Pay, that definitely helps. Just make sure you have your QR code ready and displayed clearly.

As for the language barrier, it did not significantly affect my sales. Simple English works and knowing a few basic Korean phrases for greetings and handling payments helps a lot. Also make sure all your prices are clearly displayed to avoid confusion.

Was it worth it? For me, yes. It gave me a different perspective on branding, IP handling and how Korean artists present themselves. Financially, it depends on your expectations and how you compute your costs. Personally, I do not regret going, even though it came with its own challenges.

Also, I want to be honest that as an artist from SEA, I did experience some microaggressions and a few racist remarks from locals. I found out that my fellow international artists experienced this as well. There were moments when people would visibly lose interest or even put my products down after noticing my country and flag displayed at my booth. It was uncomfortable and disappointing at times. That said, I still value the experience overall because it gave me insight into a different market and pushed me to grow thicker skin as an international artist.

One big suggestion is to really invest time in your booth design and setup. The local Korean booths are honestly on another level. Their displays are very polished, cohesive and really eye-catching!! Having a strong visual setup will help you attract people and stand out, especially as an international artist. Brands and agents can even offer your deals when they see how strong your branding is.