Grand Mint Festival 2025: A Weekend of Musical Extravaganza Under the Autumn Sky

The 'Grand Mint Festival 2025' (GMF) concluded successfully last weekend amidst perfect autumn weather, captivating audiences with its five multi-stage setup, each offering unique performances and diverse acts.

Returning after a decade, festival guide Ju Woo-jae kicked off the event with the pre-show 'You, All the Burdens to Me in GMF.' On the first day, October 18th, performances by bands like 'KIK,' 'Kkachisan,' 'Woo Yerin,' 'can't be blue,' 'Lidoor,' 'george,' 'GEMINI,' 'Kissnu,' 'Kim Ddudol,' 'TELEVISION OFF,' 'evenif,' 'Paul Kim,' 'Kim Sooyoung,' 'Yudabin Band,' 'Confined White,' 'Jisoku Club,' 'Jung Seung-hwan,' 'PAMUNGKAS,' 'Minseo,' 'Daybreak,' 'Owol Oil,' 'Jeokjae,' 'Jung Sewoon,' 'Lee Jun-hyung,' 'Peppertones,' and 'Touched' entertained the crowd. Headliners 'AKMU,' 'LUCY,' 'Silica Gel,' 'So Soo-bin,' and 'Rolling Quartz' took the stage to enthusiastic applause.

Headlining for the first time at GMF, 'AKMU' filled over 60 minutes with hits like 'DINOSAUR' and 'Last Goodbye,' showcasing their prowess as a 'trusted artist.' 'Jung Seung-hwan' surprised fans with a preview of his upcoming album's title track 'Happiness is Difficult,' alongside hits like 'This Fool' and 'If It Was You.'

'LUCY' captivated fans with their unique violin-infused sound, proving their worth as a three-time GMF headliner. 'Touched' energized the crowd with hits like 'Highlight' and 'Ruby,' while 'Silica Gel' delivered a visually and sonically stunning performance with tracks like 'No Pain' and 'Ryudejakeiru.' 'Peppertones' delighted with a setlist tailored to audience preferences, featuring special guests like 'Jo Hye-ryun' and Mint Paper's mascot 'Minty.'

On the breezy 19th, performances by 'LOW HIGH LOW,' 'GOGOHAWK,' 'Hi-Fi Un!corn,' 'OurR,' 'SNAKE CHICKEN SOUP,' 'Damon's Ear,' 'ONEWE,' 'KEN,' 'Samwolsaeng,' 'Wendy Wander,' 'Berry Koi Bunny,' 'Ha Dong-kyun,' 'Beomjin,' 'Car, the Garden,' 'THE SOLUTIONS,' 'blah,' 'MeloMance,' 'Soran,' 'Dragon Pony,' 'Michael Kaneko,' 'Park,' '10CM,' 'CNBLUE,' 'Thornapple,' 'Stella Jang,' and 'Yeon-jeong' engaged the audience with their distinct styles. 'Hong Isaac,' 'Younha,' 'N.Flying,' 'Nerd Connection,' and 'Park So-eun' closed the stages with memorable performances.

At the Mint Breeze Stage, 'Hong Isaac' made his debut as a headliner, delivering an emotionally charged performance that left a lasting impression. Known for his sincere voice, Hong Isaac showcased his growth as an artist with a high-quality set and previewed new songs, heightening audience anticipation. Longtime Mint Paper collaborator '10CM' proved their festival prowess with a performance that combined vocal strength and dynamic stage presence.

'Younha,' known for her legendary performances, captivated the audience with a 70-minute set featuring rock renditions and hits like 'Password 486,' exclusive to GMF. 'N.Flying,' headlining for the first time, left a strong impression with their explosive energy and stage presence, delivering an 80-minute performance.

Mint Paper, the festival organizer, expressed gratitude, stating, "It was a weekend where we could safely hold the festival under perfect autumn weather. In times when everyday life feels like a miracle, the 2025 season created a special memory. The clear weather made GMF safe and enjoyable, and we are grateful to the audience and artists for providing unforgettable moments."

With the successful conclusion of 'Grand Mint Festival 2025' under the clear autumn sky, Mint Paper announced preparations for the year's final festival, 'Countdown Fantasy 2025 2026,' promising to return with even more vibrant festivals and diverse content.

Reporter: Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia one@tenasia.co.kr