How to access MelOn outside Korea with a VPN
Yes, you can access MelOn outside Korea, but the process involves more than just connecting to a VPN. You’ll need the right combination of a Kakao-based account, an active streaming pass, and — in some cases — a South Korean IP address. Below, we cover every step of the chain, including which VPNs can help when a region block does appear.
Korean music is enjoying global interest at the moment. After the worldwide success of Psy’s Gangnam Style a few years back, countries outside South Korea and south-east Asia seem to have finally woken up to the huge and exciting pop music industry that Korea has developed since the 1980’s. Its success peaked just a few weeks ago, when Korean boyband sensations BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, became the first ever Korean group to top the Billboard album charts in the USA.
Despite this new level of international recognition, it can be quite hard to find new Korean pop music outside of south-east Asia. Which is why there has been growing overseas interest in accessing the Korean streaming service MelOn. Both East Asian ex-pats and overseas listeners are keen to hear more than just the handful of K-pop songs that are charting outside the region. But unfortunately for them, MelOn is only available for listeners in South Korea.
Pretend to be in S. Korea and unblock MelOn abroad with these VPNs:
- NordVPN – Best for Streaming Sites – If you’re looking for ample South Korean connections to spoof a local IP and unblock MelOn, look no further than NordVPN’s ginormous network.
- Surfshark – No specialty servers, they all just work to unblock streaming sites anywhere in the world.
- ExpressVPN – Maximize your streaming fidelity with one of the fastest VPN networks in the business.
- CyberGhost – A reliable standby which can do just about anything.
However, with the right setup — including a verified account and an active streaming pass — it is possible to access MelOn outside Korea and get your K-Pop fix no matter where in the world you are. And in this article, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about how to access MelOn outside Korea, including which are the best VPNs for the job.
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How to access MelOn outside Korea with a VPN
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Use a VPN to access MelOn outside Korea
If you have ever tried to listen to something on MelOn outside Korea, you may have run into a wall — but it is important to understand exactly what that wall is made of, because a VPN alone will not always break it down.
First, the good news: MelOn can be accessed on the web at melon.com, and the MelOn app is available through Google Play with official support for Kakao login. That means the app itself is not locked to a Korean app store in the same way it once was. The bigger challenge for most international users is not purely IP-based geo-blocking — it is account status and streaming entitlement. In other words, you may be able to reach the site or install the app, but without a verified MelOn account and an active streaming pass, you will not be able to play content regardless of where your IP address appears to be.
That said, a VPN still has a role to play. If a specific page on melon.com, a promotional element, or a store listing appears blocked in your country, connecting to a South Korean VPN server can resolve that. A VPN works by redirecting your internet traffic through an external server and tagging it with that server’s IP address. Choose a server in South Korea and websites will read your connection as coming from Korea. This is useful for working around regional page restrictions.
What a VPN cannot do is create a verified Melon account on your behalf, substitute for a paid streaming pass, or bypass Melon’s account verification or billing requirements. Those steps need to be completed separately, and we cover them below.
Using a VPN to help access MelOn outside Korea is still a straightforward process. All you have to do is follow these four simple steps:
- Sign up for a VPN.
- Download the VPN app onto your chosen device.
- Log-in and connect to a server located in Korea.
- Visit the MelOn website or open the app, then sign in with your Kakao account and ensure your streaming pass is active.
There is nothing more to it than that. The only hard part is deciding which VPN to use. But we are here to help you with that difficult decision.
Picking the right VPN provider to access MelOn outside Korea
Choosing the best VPN to access MelOn outside Korea is tricky. There are a lot of VPNs on the market and all make some claim to be the best around. But not every one is suitable to use with MelOn. Some have limits on the amount of data you can use, while others may slow up your internet too much and affect the quality of your music streams.
So, when looking to choose the right VPN to use with MelOn, there are a number of basic criteria you need it to offer. And in our testing, we have applied the following:
- Korean servers available – MelOn is a Korean streaming service, so you need a VPN which offers servers located in South Korea.
- Fast Connection Speeds – Whether you plan to stream audio or visual content on MelOn, you will need a VPN which offers the fastest possible VPN speeds to ensure that your music is not interrupted by buffering or other connection issues.
- No bandwidth restrictions – Some VPNs have limits on data which and streaming can be very data intensive. So, if you want to listen to plenty of K-Pop on MelOn, you will need to find a VPN with unlimited downloads.
- Encryption strength and security–The best VPNs offer strong encryption to keep user data safe when streaming music on MelOn.
- Effectiveness of privacy policies – MelOn doesn’t like people getting around its geo-blocking, so it is important that your online activities are kept private when using their service. The best VPNs have a guaranteed no user logs policy which means they keep no record whatsoever of what you are doing online.
Best VPNs to access MelOn outside Korea
If you’re ready to get a VPN but dreading the market research, we’ve got you covered. The list below contains the best VPNs for unblocking South Korean content like MelOn from abroad:
1. NordVPN
- Unblocks American Netflix
- 5,400+ servers globally
- No IP/DNS leaks found
- Extra-secure Double VPN for data encryption
- 24/7 Customer Service.
- Can’t specify City or Province in App.
NordVPN is priced at a much more affordable level than ExpressVPN, especially if you opt for their new three-year subscription deal. But these lower prices don’t mean you have to compromise on service because NordVPN is another terrific VPN which is ideal for online streaming. Recent infrastructure investments mean their sizable server network is now made up largely of super-fast servers perfect for streaming.
It consists of 5,500 servers in 59 countries, including plenty in South Korea — making it an excellent choice if you want to access MelOn outside Korea reliably. NordVPN offers top-level security provisions, including 256-bit encryption on all OpenVPN connections as well as one of the biggest ranges of additional security features on any VPN service. They retain absolutely no user data, meaning your privacy is assured too, and there is also no limit on the amount of data every customer can use.
With a great range of user-friendly apps, you can also use NordVPN to stream MelOn content from almost every device too, meaning that despite its low prices, NordVPN still ticks all the boxes for K-pop fans.
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark
- Every server optimized for unblocking Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more
- Unblock Netflix on any server, no more picking and choosing
- Zero restrictions on simultaneous connections, apps available on every major device
- VPN home jurisdiction in British Virgin Islands is ideal for privacy
- Responsive customer support available 24/7.
- Growing network doesn’t have same coverage as more mature VPNs
- Apps may be too simplistic for power users.
Surfshark has a few things really going for it as a streaming VPN. First, there’s no hassling with arcane encryption settings; nor searching for specific servers which may or may not be within 10,000 miles of where you live. Instead, every South Korean Surfshark server just works to unblock MelOn, Netflix, or whatever else you want to watch. This makes it a great option when you want to access MelOn outside Korea without any fuss.
Secondly, there’s zero limits on how you use Surfshark. That means no bandwidth restrictions, server switching quota, and best of all: unlimited simultaneous connections. That means you can protect every device you own with just a single subscription–how’s that for value?
Of course, you want your streams to be fast; Surfshark only uses the most sophisticated encryption protocols to optimize performance. You can choose between OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, or the cutting edge WireGuard for full-throttle, buffer-free streaming. It all ties together with unbeatable 256-AES-GCM cryptography, backed by one of the industry’s best logging policies.
3. ExpressVPN
- Unblocks US Netflix
- Fast serves with minimal speed loss
- OpenVPN, IPSec & IKEv2 Encryption
- Keeps no logs of personal data
- 24/7 Chat Support.
- Priced slightly higher.
ExpressVPN has a first-rate reputation and is an ideal VPN for almost any online streaming, including when you want to access MelOn outside Korea. This is thanks in no small part to their super-fast connection speeds, available across their entire server network, which consists of more than 3,000+ servers in 94 countries worldwide. For K-pop fans, there are a good selection of Korean servers available.
ExpressVPN also offers excellent security and privacy protections. They use 256-bit encryption as standard for all customers and also a trustworthy no-logging policy. Crucially, there are no restrictions on data usage for any ExpressVPN customers either, which leaves you free to stream as much K-Pop on MelOn as you like. And with a wide range of user-friendly apps, you can also use ExpressVPN to access MelOn from almost any device too. If there is one downside to ExpressVPN, it is that the price is a little steeper than some of its rivals. But they easily justify that price with outstanding and reliable performance.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
4. CyberGhost
- Unblocks US Netflix in web browser
- Great user experience and easy installation
- Jurisdiction in Romania
- Strict no logging
- 45-days money back guarantee.
- Some streaming sites cannot be unblocked.
For a simple and user-friendly VPN, look no further than CyberGhost. Their fun VPN offers a great range of well-designed, user-friendly apps which can be deployed on almost every device and are so simple that even a complete novice can use them. Just click on “unblock streaming” and then choose a server in Korea. CyberGhost will do everything else for you, making it a hassle-free way to access MelOn outside Korea.
While CyberGhost is simple to use, it still offers strong security and privacy protections. This includes 256-bit encryption across all connections and a reliable no logging policy. Their large server network is made up of more than 5,900 servers in 90 countries, including several in South Korea. And they also have no data restrictions, which means you can stream as much music on MelOn as you like, no matter where you are.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
What is MelOn?
MelOn is the biggest online streaming and music download site in South Korea. The service is operated by Kakao Entertainment Corp. and charges a monthly subscription for access to its content. In exchange for this, users are able to stream and download audio and video content from all of the biggest names in Korean Pop Music, as well as many other artists from south-east Asia and beyond. They can also create custom ringtones for smartphones using their favorite songs.
Unsurprisingly given its subscriber numbers, MelOn is a big corporate player in South Korea. It is one of the most influential entities in the K-Pop industry and is also regularly ranked towards the top of Korean Power Brand indexes. It sponsors many popular music TV shows in South Korea and in 2009 launched its own Awards ceremony, the MelOn Music Awards, which has become one of the biggest in south-east Asia, offering awards for all different genres of music, with a focus on K-Pop. To become successful in the highly competitive K-Pop industry, it is almost essential to get your songs popular on MelOn first. This is precisely why so many overseas fans are eager to access MelOn outside Korea — the platform is the true heartbeat of the K-Pop scene.
What can I listen to or watch on MelOn?
MelOn is aimed exclusively at the South Korean domestic music scene, so it is no surprise that K-Pop is the dominant genre on their service, with groups like BTS extremely prominent. This is their USP however, and the reason why so many people in South Korea use the service, and so many people from outside the country want to access MelOn outside Korea. But it is not the only genre to be found on the service. You can also stream Rap, Hip-Hop, Rock, Indie, Dance, Electronic, and much more.
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While the majority of the artists featuring on MelOn are from South Korea, there is also no shortage of Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese singers and groups as well as artists from elsewhere in the world too. You can stream the latest hits or older albums and singles from all these artists or download them onto your device to listen to later. You can also stream or download music videos too, with a huge library of current and older videos available for every user.
What devices can I use MelOn on?
The MelOn service is only available to use via their website or their mobile apps, which are available for all iOS and Android devices. To download these apps, you will need to enter the Korean Apple App Store or Google Play Store, but switching your location to do this is a pretty simple process. Both apps are well designed and easy to use but are only available in Korean, so it may take a bit of playing around or online searching to get to grips with how to navigate around unless you are a Korean speaker.
To use the MelOn app on either device, you will first need to set up a MelOn account. This is again a pretty simple process provided you can speak Korean. If you don’t, here is a simple step-by-step guide to help you get on your way:
- Download and Open the MelOn app and then click on the ‘nine-squared’ box located in the bottom right of the screen.
- Click on 회원가입to create an account.
- Click on 이메일인증가입 to register using an email.
- On the following screen, enter your email into the top box and your preferred username into the bottom one.
- Check the 전체동의 box below the text and then click 다음단계.
- MelOn will then send you a confirmation email which contains a verification number. Copy this from the email and on the next page, paste that number into the top box.
- Below that, you will need to enter an ID, which must be between 6 and 30 characters in length, a Password between 8 and 20 characters, and a Nickname, between 2 and 15 characters. Each box should show a green tick if you entered a valid choice.
- Then click 기입완료 to complete your registration.
- A confirmation page will then appear and you need to click on the box marked 확인 to confirm.
- On the next page, enter your Melon ID and Password, and you should now have entered your account.
Once you have set up your account, you will need to purchase a streaming pass to listen to or watch content on MelOn. This is also a pretty easy process:
- Open the MelOn app and click on 이용권 which you will see in the top right of the screen.
- The next page will list the available packages, so choose the one which best suits your needs. We recommend i-MP3 플러스 which gives you infinite streaming for 30-days as well as 30 song downloads too.
- You will then need to enter your Apple ID Password.
- You will then be prompted to click Buy to confirm you in-app purchase.
- You will receive notification that your purchase has been completed, click OK and then return to the MelOn app and you should be able to use their service.
- You can check your pass status and information in the MelOn app by clicking on the ‘nine-squared’ box in the bottom right of the screen, then clicking on 내정보 next to your ID. Details of your pass will be shown in the page that opens.
How to create a Melon account with KakaoTalk
The older Korean-language registration process described above originally required a Korean phone number, which put international users at a dead end. The current recommended path for international users is to sign up through KakaoTalk, which supports non-Korean phone numbers. Here is how to do it:
- Install KakaoTalk from your local App Store or Google Play. KakaoTalk is available in most countries outside Korea.
- Open KakaoTalk and create an account using your non-Korean phone number. You will receive a verification SMS to confirm your number.
- Complete your KakaoTalk profile setup with a display name and password.
- Install the MelOn app from Google Play, or visit melon.com in your browser.
- On the MelOn login screen, tap the login or profile icon to bring up the sign-in options.
- Select the yellow “Log in with Kakao account” or “Easy KakaoTalk log-in” option.
- Authorise MelOn to connect to your KakaoTalk account when prompted.
- Follow the on-screen steps to finish your Melon account setup.
This Kakao-based flow is the current standard for international users and replaces the older process that required a Korean phone number for direct registration. If you already have a KakaoTalk account, you can skip straight to step four.
Can foreigners actually stream on MelOn? Verified vs unverified accounts
Creating a Melon account and actually being able to stream music are two different things, and it is worth understanding the distinction before you go any further.
With an unverified international account, you can typically log in to Melon, follow artists, like songs, leave ratings, and browse the catalogue. What you generally cannot do is stream or download content — that requires an active streaming pass and, in many cases, a verified account status.
Users who have a verified account and hold an active Melon streaming pass have reported being able to stream content. However, Melon’s policies around international accounts and payment options can change, so it is important to confirm the current rules directly on melon.com before committing to a subscription. Payment methods accepted for international users may also be limited, and availability of specific passes can vary.
One thing to be clear about: a VPN cannot bypass Melon’s account verification process, substitute for a paid streaming pass, or override billing requirements. If your account is not verified or you do not have an active pass, connecting to a South Korean server will not unlock playback. Sort out your account status first, then use a VPN if a specific page or store element is still region-restricted.
Additional Benefits Of Using A VPN
There are major privacy and security benefits to using a VPN too. You probably know that whenever you go online, any data that you send over the internet is sent through the servers of your ISP (internet service provider). This means that your ISP can easily track your internet use and keep records of your online activities. This is particularly worrying if you participate in file sharing such as using torrents, as this activity will be noted and likely investigated by your ISP and you could be hit with a fine or prosecution for copyright infringement.
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With a VPN, all of your data is encrypted when you send it over the internet, so your ISP or government cannot see what sites you are visiting online or what files you are downloading. Therefore, they cannot track your internet use. This gives you security benefits too, like protecting your data when you use a public wifi network like the ones you find in cafes. And a VPN gives you a layer of protection against cyber attacks like phishing, smishing, and vishing which can use information about your location to scam you.
Why Get A Korean IP Address to access MelOn outside Korea?
As alluded to in the introduction, a Korean IP address unlocks a virtual treasure trove of region locked content normally exclusive to Korean residents. For example, the Seoul Music Awards are a huge music event celebrating the best of Korean music, with performances from massively popular k-pop bands. This event is shown on Korean websites, which unfortunately generally do not allow visitors from outside of Korea to stream k-pop video content.
These sites prevent non-Korean users from accessing video content by examining the IP address of incoming visitors. (It also works in reverse, South Koreans can’t watch streams from other countries either.) Whenever you connect to a network, you will be assigned an IP address, which is a unique string of numbers which represents your particular device. This IP address contains information about your location and specifies the country that you are browsing from. Therefore, when you try to access MelOn outside Korea, the site will examine your IP address to make sure it is Korean, and if not you will be denied access.
Should You Use A Proxy Or A VPN?
Another option that you may have heard of to access Korean content is to use a proxy. A proxy service is similar to a VPN in that it allows you to get around region locks, however, the way that it works is very different. A proxy does not encrypt your data. Instead, it passes your data via a server run by your proxy service to make it appear as if that data originated from the location of the server.
Although a proxy service can be useful to access MelOn outside Korea or other region-locked content, it has major drawbacks when compared to a VPN. Because a proxy does not encrypt your data, it does not offer any kind of security or privacy protection. This makes it potentially dangerous to use a proxy service as you are accessing content without anonymising yourself. As a VPN service offers the same facilities as a proxy service but gives you more features too, and the two cost about the same, we think that a VPN is better value.
Conclusion
K-Pop has been a big deal in Korea and south-east Asia for a long time. And in more recent time, it has begun to have a much wider international impact too. For fans of K-Pop, MelOn is the default online streaming service to use. It counts more than 50% of the Korean population as subscribers, but annoyingly for Korean ex-pats and fans of K-Pop overseas, it is not available outside the country.
However, with a VPN, you can access MelOn outside Korea no matter where in the world you are. In this article, we have explained how to do that, which VPNs are the best ones to use, and even given you a short guide to help get MelOn up and running if you can’t read Korean.
Are you a fan of Psy, BTS, or any of the other K-Pop artists that are quickly becoming global megastars? Do you want to hear more K-Pop and get into one of the world’s fastest-growing music scenes? Have you tried using MelOn only to find the service blocked because you are overseas? Which VPN did you use to access MelOn outside Korea? Was this guide helpful for you in getting MelOn up and running? Is there any useful information we have missed out? Which K-Pop artists do you recommend our readers listen to on MelOn? We always welcome the thoughts and opinions of all our readers, so why not share yours with us using the comment box below?
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