K-pop concert in Japan to proceed as planned after 7.6 magnitude earthquake

K-pop

Published: 02 Jan. 2024, 11:12 Updated: 02 Jan. 2024, 11:16

K-pop concert in Japan to proceed as planned after 7.6 magnitude earthquake

K-pop girl group aespa, left, and actor Park Seo-jun [YONHAP, NEWS1]

Concerns are arising as a concert featuring multiple K-pop artists, including aespa, Enhypen and actor Park Seo-jun, is set to take place Tuesday afternoon even though a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Japan just a day ago.

The "K-Pop Masterz×KROSS" concert said Monday that it decided to push forward with the concert "after careful consideration" in a notice posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Two performances are set to take place today, first at 11:30 a.m. and the second at 6:30 p.m. Park, aespa, Enhypen, BoyNextDoor and &Team are set to perform. Nagoya is located 250 kilometers (155.3 miles) away from Ishikawa Prefecture, where the earthquake hit.

"All the staff are preparing to hold the event safely and are looking forward to seeing you," organizer Kross said.

"We would like to express our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this earthquake. We are currently working to strengthen our system to ensure safe operations."

Boy band Enhypen [BELIFT LAB]

Boy band BoyNextDoor [KOZ ENTERTAINMENT]

"Please note that in consideration of the safety of participants and artists, if an earthquake is observed within Aichi Prefecture, we may consider canceling or postponing the event," the organizer added.

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Ishikawa Prefecture on the coast of western Japan on Monday afternoon. The Japanese government ordered more than 97,000 people in nine prefectures neighboring the region to evacuate, according to a Reuters report.

Over 90 aftershocks with over 1 magnitude have been detected as of Tuesday morning, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]