by Ra Hwak Jin / Kim Sun Min
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Big Hit Music, shows a promotional poster for BTS' three concerts in Seoul on March 10, 12 and 13. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ BTS returns for first South Korean concerts in over two years
K-pop superband BTS on Thursday hit the stage in Seoul for the first concerts before its homegrown fans since 2019.
The first "Permission To Dance On Stage - Seoul" concert began at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in southern Seoul on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The audience of 15,000 erupted in thunderous applause when the seven members appeared on stage singing "On."
Since all screaming, chanting or singing along during concerts is barred under strict COVID-19 rules, fans instead expressed their enthusiasm by clapping and waving their purple-colored LED wands known as ARMY bombs in sync to the tunes of BTS songs. ARMY refers to the band's global fan base.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Big Hit Music, shows K-pop group BTS performing at a live in-person concert at Seoul Olympic Stadium in southern Seoul on March 10, 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap) |
The show was prepared without splashy stage sets or effects to help audiences better pay attention to their favorite stars, whom they have not seen for a long time, according to the group's agency Big Hit Music.
For this, a massive LED screen was installed on the stage as in the group's Los Angeles concerts last year, so the audience can get better views of the artists even at a distance.
The show that lasted for slightly more than two and a half hours closed with the band's performance of "Permission To Dance."
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Big Hit Music, shows K-pop group BTS performing at a live in-person concert at Seoul Olympic Stadium in southern Seoul on March 10, 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap) |
As it was the biggest music concert held in the country since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, the organizers appear to have made every effort to prevent spread of the virus at the venue.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has limited each show at 15,000 spectators per night, despite the stadium's 70,000 capacity, to provide some physical distancing amid the pandemic.
The band held the second concert at the same venue on Saturday and will hold the last on Sunday night.
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| ▲ This file photo shows BTS member Suga. (Yonhap) |
◇ Celebrities make donations to wildfires victims
To support victims of the east coast wildfires in Gangwon and North Gyeongsang Province, a series of donations have been made in the entertainment industry.
BTS' Suga(real name Min Yoon-gi, 29) donated 100 million won in celebration of his birthday on Wednesday to help the victims suffering from forest fires.
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| ▲ This file photo shows Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin. (Yonhap) |
The top star couple Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, who will marry later this month, donated 200 million won to the Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief.
According to the association on Wednesday, Lee Soo-man, CEO of K-pop Powerhouse SM Entertainment, donated 500 million won.
Actor Kim Woo-bin, who had donated 100 million won during the 2019 forest fire in Goseong, Gangwon-do Province, paid 100 million won for the victims.
Best friend actors Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae, also delivered 100 million won each to Hope Bridge, saying, "Please send it for residents who have suffered forest fire damage and officials who are striving to extinguish it."
"Actress Kim Hee-sun donated 100 million won," Red Cross said on Wednesday.
Kim Hee-sun said, "I hope that the suffering victims will return to their daily lives as soon as possible and the destroyed forest will be restored."
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Sejung Wellmade, shows Lim Young-woong. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Trot singer Lim Young-woong's fan club "Young-woong's Era" has donated 260 million won to Community Chest of Korea in support of victims of wildfires after the singer donated 100 million won to help wildfires victims.
In addition, singer IU, "The Queen of figure skating" Kim Yu-na, actors Park Min-young, Song Kang-ho, Shin Min-a, Lee Byung-hun , Lee Je-hoon, Lee Jong-suk, and Kim Hye-soo each donated 100 million won.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Fantagio, shows Moonbin & Sanha. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ Debut·concert postponed due to spread of COVID-19
As the number of daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 reached almost 400,000, it has significant impacts on the entertainment industry.
Moonbin & Sanha, a unit of the K-pop boy group Astro, delayed its comeback as the two have been confirmed to have COVID-19.
Fantagio, the agency, said on Wednesday, "Moon-bin and Yoon San-ha of ASTRO were confirmed to have COVID-19 on Mar. 7.”
Accordingly, the 2022 ASTRO AROHA Festival, scheduled on the 13th to mark the 6th anniversary of its debut was postponed to Apr. 9.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Cube Entertainment, shows BTOB. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
K-pop boy group BTOB's 10TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT "2022 BTOB TIME [Be Together]," which was scheduled to be held for 3 days from Mar. 18 to 20, also postponed due to a series of confirmed cases of the members.
BTOB's Lee Chang-sub, Peniel, and Yook Sung-jae have tested positive for the coronavirus on Mar. 11 after the member Im Hyun-sik tested positive.
Rookie girl group ILY:1 postponed its debut after a few members tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.
ILY:1's debut and showcase, which were initially scheduled on March 15, will be held next month.
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