BTS Cancels Concert Series Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
The agency behind K-pop superstars BTS announced that the group has cancelled its BTS MAP OF THE SOUL TOUR. Scheduled for April 11 at 12 and April 18 to 19 at the Olympic Stadium in South Korea, the event was expected to have over 200,000 concertgoers.
Big Hit Entertainment said in a statement that the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea has affected over 2,000 individuals. Thus, it was hard to predict the outcome of the situation come April so cancelling the concert series was the only way to go.
The agency was considering the health and safety of its artists, production crews and the fans who will be going to the concert. The government of South Korea has also imposed restrictions on public events to prevent the spread of the virus.
BTS MAP OF THE SOUL TOUR was supposed to be the inaugural leg of the band’s planned world tour. It’s unclear if the group will still pursue this plan amid the outbreak.
Elsewhere in Asia, Tokyo has also closed its Disney park for two weeks, following Hong Kong and Shanghai’s closures. Cinemas in China also shut down at the height of the virus spread, affecting box office results and promotional tours. It comes as Disney’s Mulan, based on a Chinese folk legend, is opening in theaters across the world on March 27.
South Korean agencies have also cancelled many K-pop events locally and abroad. Artists and celebrities traveling to Asian countries have also canceled their concerts amid health and travel concerns.
Meanwhile, BTS’ new single has hit the top of charts in the U.K. yet again. “Map of the Soul: 7” emerged no. 1 in the song ranking, following Psy’s worldwide feat.
According to Forbes: “There are only two other Korean tracks that have broken into the top 10 in the United Kingdom, and one comes from the same man who once controlled the list. Another inescapably viral smash, the always-stuck-in-your-head kids cut “Baby Shark” rose as high as No. 6, making it the second-highest-charting Korean-language tune. Psy’s “Gangnam Style” follow-up “Gentleman” peaked at No. 10 when it was released, making it one of three Korean songs to enter the top 10. Psy is still the only musician from the country to push a pair of tracks into the highest tier in the U.K.”
