'Put your phone down': K-pop band weighs in on concert etiquette
Cortis's plea has drawn mixed reactions in a fandom that's obsessed with capturing every moment.
K-pop boy band Cortis, kicking off their global tour in the South Korean city of Incheon, urged fans to put away their phones during their concert. The band's lead vocalist repeatedly commanded, "Put your phone down," in a theatrical display. Despite the warning, many fans continued to film the performance, a tradition in the K-pop community.
The band's insistence on fans not focusing on their phones raised mixed reactions. Some, like fan-filmed content enthusiast Park Ji-yeon, felt frustrated, having spent a significant amount of money on the tickets and related expenses. Others appreciated the band's attempt to foster a more immersive concert experience. Cortis, made up of primarily teenage members, has had a successful year, with their music videos garnering millions of views and performances at high-profile events like Lollapalooza.
The band's message of not looking at phones during concerts is part of a broader trend of artists advocating for reduced screen time during live performances. Some in the K-pop community have likened the band's stance to rock group Suede's frontman Brett Anderson, who once grabbed a fan's phone during a Singapore performance.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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