Inkigayo (SBS broadcast hall)

Lore & Background

Inkigayo is more than a building—it's a proving ground where rookies become legends. For Twice, the hall witnessed their first-ever music show win with 'Cheer Up' on May 1, 2016, a tear-soaked moment that catapulted them from promising rookies to national sweethearts. The venue's strict live-singing policy forces idols to prove their vocal mettle, and the thunderous, synchronized fan chants from ONCEs—who often camp outside from dawn to secure standing spots—create an atmosphere thick with adrenaline and devotion. The show's 'Take 7' nomination system has seen Twice dominate with multiple triple crowns (three consecutive wins), including 'TT', 'Likey', and 'Fancy', cementing their legacy as 'The Nation's Girl Group' with a record that still echoes through the hall's polished floors.

In Their Own Story

The air hums with anticipation as the SBS Open Hall fills with a sea of pastel-colored light sticks, each one glowing in perfect sync. Backstage, the nine members of Twice huddle in their cramped dressing room, checking mics and smoothing skirts, their breath quickening. Nayeon whispers a final 'Fighting!' before they step onto the dark stage—and then, the world explodes. The crowd roars as the first synth notes of 'Fancy' rip through the speakers, and the LED screen blazes to life with a cascade of neon pink and electric blue. For three minutes, time dissolves: there is only the sharp click of heels on the polished floor, the synchronized snap of choreography, the roar of a thousand voices chanting in unison, and the blinding glare of the spotlight—a moment that will be clipped, looped, and replayed in fan edits for years to come.

Reader's Guide

Inkigayo is housed in the SBS Open Hall in Deungchon-dong, Seoul, a purpose-built broadcast studio that crams around 500 fans into a space buzzing with energy. The stage is a broad, rectangular platform with a curved LED backdrop that morphs into everything from a glittering candy shop for 'Cheer Up' to a moody noir alley for 'Cry For Me'. The audience area splits into a packed standing pit and elevated seated rows, with fans waving official light sticks that pulse in wireless sync to the music—a sea of candy-colored lights that the idols can see from the stage. The show's beloved 'Goodbye Stage' tradition lets artists bow and wave after their final performance of a song cycle, a bittersweet farewell that often leaves fans teary-eyed. The hall's strict no-recording policy is routinely (and lovingly) broken by fans sneaking fancams on phones hidden in sleeves or bags—these shaky, precious clips become treasured memories for ONCEs worldwide. After the broadcast ends, the 'exit route' where artists wave to lingering fans is a sacred spot, where a single smile or wave from a member can make a fan's entire month.

Did You Know?

• Twice's first Inkigayo win was for 'Cheer Up' on May 1, 2016—their first music show trophy ever, and the moment they officially became a household name.
• The SBS Open Hall underwent a major renovation in 2018, adding a massive new LED screen and an upgraded sound system, which Twice debuted with their 'What is Love?' comeback, making the stage feel like a candy-colored dr
• Inkigayo's 'Triple Crown' rule limits a song to three wins; Twice achieved this feat with 'TT', 'Likey', and 'Fancy', each earning a permanent spot in the show's history.
• The show's MC rotation has included Twice members themselves—Jeongyeon and Nayeon both served as special MCs, charming audiences with their live banter and behind-the-scenes glimpses.