Fans upset with decision to push ahead with K-pop concert in Japan

Poster of "K-pop MasterzXKross vol.3" (K-pop MasterzXKross vol.3's X account)

Organizers of the K-pop concert “K-pop MasterzXKross vol.3” faced backlash from K-pop fans for proceeding with the event in Japan as scheduled on Tuesday despite a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the country only a day earlier.

The concert, hosted by Japanese digital design firm Birdman and label Entertainment Next, was held at the Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya, Japan, which is around 250 kilometers away from Ishikawa prefecture where the earthquake occurred Monday.

Ahead of the concert, K-pop fans took to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to urge organizers to cancel the event.

“It’s too risky. For everyone’s safety, just cancel the event and refund the payments,” one post on X read.

K-pop acts that performed at the concert include aespa, Boynextdoor, Enhypen and &team. Actor Park Seo-joon also took part in the event.

The organizers announced Monday that it had decided to push forward with the concert "after careful consideration" in a notice posted on X.

By Hong Yoo(yoohong@heraldcorp.com)