▲ This photo, provided by Lotte Cultureworks, shows the live viewing of BTS' "Permission to Dance on Stage-Seoul" held in Lotte Cinema. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

SEOUL, Mar. 25 (Yonhap) -- In the wake of the prolonged COVID-19 outbreak, theaters are becoming the "second stage" for K-pop idol groups.

They broadcast offline concerts in real time, and release movies about idol groups to captivate the fandom.

The industry predicts that the combination of K-pop and theaters is a "win-win" situation for theaters, artists and fans, and that this trend will continue even after the pandemic.

The most recent case of running contents in theaters is live viewing of K-pop superband BTS.
 

▲ This file photo shows fans coming to watch the live viewing of BTS' "Permission to Dance on Stage-Seoul." (Yonhap)

CGV, Lotte Cinema, and Megabox aired the second concert of "Permission to Dance on Stage-Seoul,” which was held in Seoul for the first time in two and a half years, selling about 50,000 tickets in an instant.

The live viewing was played at 3,711 movie theaters in 75 countries around the world as well as in Korea, making 40.3 billion won in sales.

In addition to BTS, the concerts of diverse artists, such as NCT 127, EXO’s Kai, SHINee’s Key, and Brave Girls, were previously aired in the theater.

 

▲ This photo, provided by Pledis Entertainment, shows the movie poster of "SEVENTEEN POWER OF LOVE : THE MOVIE." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

K-pop boy group Seventeen, which shows off their solid fandom in the U.S., China, and Japan, will simultaneously release its first movie "SEVENTEEN POWER OF LOVE : THE MOVIE" worldwide on Apr. 20.

It is a movie made by rearranging the performances of the group’s online concert "Power of Love,” which was held in November, 2021, and editing interviews and behind-the-scenes videos of the members.

The movies featuring idol groups gradually appeared before the COVID-19 outbreak, but more and more contents are being screened in theaters after the pandemic. 

 

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK attracted more than 500,000 audiences worldwide with its movie "BLACKPINK THE MOVIE," which was released in 2021 to mark the group’s 5th debut anniversary.

Moreover, Apink, NCT, MONSTA X, MAMAMOO, and IZ*ONE released the movie, attracting as many as 40,000 audiences in Korea.

In particular, "Thank you, all:Kim Ho Joong's First Fanmeeting Movie,” which depicts the actual fan meeting of trot idol Kim Ho-joong, showed off its popularity by surpassing 100,000 people.
 

▲ This file photo shows the live viewing of BTS' "Permission to Dance on Stage-Seoul." (Yonhap)
The reason why the theater was able to be reborn as one of the significant elements of the K-pop content platform is that it has advantages for all three parties, such as the theater, artists, and fans.

The number of audiences in theaters has plummeted to one third since the COVID-19 outbreak, and they can make profits by screening K-pop contents that guarantee some viewers.

A staff from Multiplex said, "It is even rare for blockbusters to be sold out nowadays, but fans almost fill up the whole theater to watch the content of mid-sized or bigger idol groups," adding, "In the case of BTS live viewing, some multiplexes have additionally released tickets."

He added, "As the OTT(Over-the-top media service) platform draws attention, the existence of the theater may be called out to the audience when it is gradually being faded into history.”

It also provides opportunities for artists and agencies to make additional profits as the seating capacity of the concert is limited. 

 

According to the latest quarantine guidelines, concert halls and non-registered concert halls can each accommodate up to 50% of the total capacity and 4,000 audiences.

The concert revenues would be inadequate if it only receives offline audiences according to these guidelines, but entertainment companies take strategies to offset the effect through live viewing in theaters and online streaming.
 

▲ This file photo shows fans coming to watch the live viewing of BTS' "Permission to Dance on Stage-Seoul." (Yonhap)
In the case of movies, there is also the advantage of showing more new content to fans and making connections between fans and artists when they are in hiatus.

The staff from an entertainment agency that released a movie of the idol group’s performances said, "The movie received favorable reviews when the fans and artists couldn't meet in person due to COVID-19," adding, "It will be a perfect content during the hiatus that occurs before releasing a new album.”

Some predict that content utilizing theaters will continue even after the pandemic when popular culture, including concerts, gets back on track.

Another staff from the agency said, "In the early days of the pandemic, live viewing or online streaming served as a 'substitute' for offline concerts, but now it is a ‘complement,’” adding, "In particular, theaters and online will play significant roles especially when artists cannot perform worldwide."

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Kim Sun Min.)

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