by K-pop concerts will be back soon.
Until recently, most K-pop concerts took place online due to the protracted COVID-19 pandemic. But following the government’s June 11 announcement that sporting and entertainment events can now have up to 4,000 attendees ― up from the previous limit of 99 ― starting from June 14, organizers are now gearing up to bring performers back for live performances.
K-pop girl group WJSN, also known as Cosmic Girls, is scheduled to hold a fan meeting titled “Welcome to WJSN’s House” on July 10 and perform in front of 350 fans at the YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul. The event is organized by online game developer NC SOFT and its subsidiary, KLAP, which recently launched the fan community platform, “Universe,” that features a myriad of K-pop stars, including (G)I-DLE, Kang Daniel, Monsta X, and WJSN.
“We expect to see the fans going wild this time as the upcoming event is offline-only,” the company said in a statement. “We will make sure to express a sense of realism for the audience.”
On July 17 and 18, the boy band Golden Child is poised to stage its “Summer Breeze” concerts at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in central Seoul, performing in front of massive crowds after almost two years. According to the 10-piece act’s management company, Woollim Entertainment, the event will also be live-streamed.
“Through the concerts, thousands of fans will be able to discover the unexplored sides of Golden Child and cool off amid the sweltering summer heat,” Woollim said.
Ha Sung-Woon, the former member of the project boy band wants a One, who made his solo debut in 2019, is planning to have concerts in four cities across the country. His record label, StarCrew Entertainment, announced Tuesday that the singer would perform at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, July 24 and 25, before holding gigs in Gwangju on July 31 and Busan and Daegu, on August 7 and August 21, respectively. The company added that it was able to finalize the schedule after several attempts to book venues since last year.
In addition, veteran trot singer Na Hoon-a’s concerts will also welcome fans in July and August, while ballad singer HYNN is planning to perform on July 17.
The government’s easing of social distancing regulations is likely to be a significant breakthrough for the K-pop industry. Like all areas of the arts, it had taken a big hit following the global health crisis. Many K-pop labels and industry insiders were sent over the edge after losing one of their most lucrative revenue streams: live concerts.
Since the start of the pandemic, very few K-pop live concerts have taken place, as organizers could not profit from hosting audiences of less than 99 people, the maximum number of people permitted to attend events under the previous Level 2 social distancing regulations.
