K-pop events postponed as South Korea in period of national mourning

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K-pop events postponed as South Korea in period of national mourning after plane crash. Image: Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment

Seventeen. Image: Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment

K-pop artists and entertainment companies have postponed or canceled promotions and year-end events following the tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, on Sunday, December 30. The crash, which claimed 179 lives, prompted the government to declare a weeklong national mourning period.

While there is no formal prohibition on entertainment activities during the mourning period, it is customary for artists and agencies to suspend promotions to honor the victims and their families.

Seventeen’s sub-unit, BSS, delayed the release of official photos for their upcoming second single “Teleparty,” slated for release on Jan. 8.

“We extend our deepest condolences over this heartbreaking news and ask for the fans’ understanding,” BSS said on Seventeen’s X account.

IVE also halted their promotional activities for their third EP, “Ive Empathy,” scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

“We regret to inform you that the promotional schedule for Ive’s 3rd EP, Ive Empathy, originally planned for Dec. 29 and 30, has been postponed. … We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and their bereaved families affected by the recent tragedy,” IVE wrote on their official X account.

G-Dragon paid tribute by posting a black-and-white version of his daisy logo to his social media.

Innit Entertainment, a subsidiary of JYP Entertainment, postponed the release of the semi-final album for KBS’s audition program “The Ddanddara,” originally planned for Sunday. The audition show, hosted by JYP Entertainment Founder Park Jin-young, aims to discover multi-talented “ddanddara,” a Korean slang word for entertainer, across various genres including K-pop, ballad, and R&B.

State broadcaster MBC canceled its “2024 MBC Entertainment Awards,” originally planned for Sunday, citing national sentiment as the primary reason.

“We initially planned to hold the ceremony without broadcasting it, but after extensive discussions, we decided to cancel the event entirely,” MBC said.

“MBC Drama Awards,” scheduled to air Monday, will now be recorded. “MBC Music Festival,” originally planned for Tuesday, will also be recorded at a later date. Also initially scheduled for Tuesday, “SBS Entertainment Awards,” will not air, and, as of Monday, no decision had been reached regarding “KBS Drama Awards.”

The plane crash occurred Sunday morning, when a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok overshot the runway at Muan International Airport and collided with the airport’s outer wall, resulting in a massive explosion. Of the 181 passengers on board, 179 were killed and only two survivors were rescued, making it the worst aviation disaster in South Korea.

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