Music Bank starts at 5 p.m. KST on Friday evenings in South Korea

Music Bank is a live music show broadcast by KBS2, a South Korean television network. The show airs every Friday at 5:00 p.m. Korean Standard Time (KST). If you are outside South Korea, you will need to convert that time to your local timezone — 5 p.m. KST is 1 a.m. UTC, 8 p.m. Thursday in New York, 3 a.m. Friday in London, and 3 p.m. Friday in Sydney. The exact conversion depends on whether daylight saving time is in effect in your region.

The show runs for approximately 90 minutes, ending around 6:30 p.m. KST. It features live performances from K-pop groups, solo artists, and sometimes international acts. The broadcast includes a voting segment where viewers can influence which artist wins the weekly award. Because it airs live, there is no pause or rewind option if you are watching in real time.

Key Takeaways

  • Music Bank airs live every Friday at 5:00 p.m. KST on KBS2 in South Korea, with the broadcast lasting roughly 90 minutes.
  • If you live outside South Korea, convert 5 p.m. KST to your local time using a timezone converter, as the offset varies by region and daylight saving time.
  • You can watch live on KBS2 if you are in South Korea, or through Viki, YouTube, or other licensed streaming platforms depending on your region.
  • Voting for the weekly award opens at the start of the broadcast and closes 10 to 15 minutes before the final segment, so you must watch live to vote.
  • Full episodes are usually uploaded to streaming platforms within 24 hours if you cannot watch the live broadcast.

How to watch Music Bank outside South Korea

If you are not in South Korea, your viewing options depend on your location and which streaming services operate there. Viki (owned by Rakuten) carries Music Bank in many countries and often streams it live or uploads it shortly after broadcast. YouTube also hosts official clips and sometimes full episodes, though availability varies by region and changes periodically.

The KBS website itself streams the show live if you are in South Korea, but international access is restricted by IP address. Some international K-pop fan communities post live watch parties or links to unofficial streams on Discord or Reddit, but these are not licensed and may be removed without notice. The most reliable method is to check whether Viki or another licensed platform offers the show in your country — this information is usually listed on their app or website under "K-pop" or "Music Shows."

If you find that no licensed platform carries Music Bank in your region, you may have no legal way to watch it live. In that case, waiting for clips or highlights posted to official K-pop channels on YouTube is your alternative.

What happens during the broadcast

Music Bank follows a consistent structure each week. The show opens with a performance segment featuring three to five artists, then moves into a second round of performances. Between segments, there are interviews, behind-the-scenes clips, and announcements about upcoming comebacks from entertainment companies.

The voting window for the weekly award typically opens at the start of the broadcast and closes 10 to 15 minutes before the final segment. You vote through the KBS website or the official Music Bank app using a verified account. The exact voting rules and methods change from year to year — some years require a Korean phone number or ID, while other years allow international viewers to vote through the app.

The winner is announced in the last 15 minutes of the show, and the winning artist performs an encore stage. This final segment is the reason many fans make the effort to watch live, even if they skip earlier performances.

Time zones and planning ahead

Because Music Bank airs live, you cannot pause or rewind if you are watching in real time. If you cannot watch at 5 p.m. KST on Friday, check whether the platform you use (Viki, YouTube, or KBS's own site) uploads a full episode afterward. Most do, usually within 24 hours, though some regions may have delays of several days.

If you want to vote for your favorite artist, you must watch during the live broadcast or within the voting window — votes cast after the window closes do not count. The exact voting times are posted on the KBS Music Bank website and the official app each week, sometimes only a few hours before the show starts.

International fans often set phone reminders for the broadcast time in their timezone to avoid oversleeping or forgetting. Some use timezone apps or websites that show you exactly when 5 p.m. KST occurs in your location, updated for daylight saving time changes.

Other Korean music shows and their schedules

Music Bank is one of several weekly K-pop shows in South Korea, each with different artists, voting systems, and award criteria. Inkigayo airs on SBS every Sunday at 6 p.m. KST and features a different set of performers. Show Champion airs on MBC every Wednesday at 6 p.m. KST. The Show airs on SBS every Tuesday at 6 p.m. KST.

Artists often perform on multiple shows in the same week to maximize exposure, but the lineups are never identical. If you want to see a specific group perform, check their social media or fan sites to find out which shows they are scheduled for that week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I vote if I watch the replay instead of the live broadcast?

No. Voting closes before the final segment of the live show, so you must watch during the broadcast window to cast a vote. Replays are available afterward for watching performances, but voting is not possible once the window has closed.

What if 5 p.m. KST is the middle of the night where I live?

Many international fans watch the replay the next day instead of waking up for the live broadcast. Viki and YouTube usually upload full episodes within 24 hours. You will miss live voting, but you can still watch all the performances and see who won.

Do I need a Korean phone number to vote?

Voting methods vary by year and sometimes change mid-season. Some years require a Korean phone number or ID; other years allow international viewers to vote through the app or website. Check the KBS Music Bank website before the broadcast to see that week's voting rules.

Is Music Bank the same as other Korean music shows?

No. Each show has different artists, voting systems, and award criteria. Inkigayo, Show Champion, and The Show are separate programs with their own schedules and winners. An artist can win on one show but not place on another in the same week.

What happens if I miss the voting window?

Your vote will not count. The voting window is typically only open for the duration of the live broadcast, closing 10 to 15 minutes before the final segment. There is no way to vote after the window closes, even if you watch a replay later.