“Mr. Trot” Criticized For Hosting Concert Amid Korea’s New Wave Of COVID-19

Residents are afraid it will further the disease.

Recently, a post was created in the online community, FMKorea, titled “Mr. Trot concert held amidst the current situation.” A photo was included in the post that revealed a packed concert hall with a person in every seat.

| FMKorea

The Mr. Trot Cheongju Concert was indeed held on July 10 and 11. The concert was held 4 times with at least 2,500 audience members for each concert.

Earlier, Mr. Trot‘s concert production company Showplay decided to cancel the Suwon concert, which was going to be held from July 23 to 25 and postponed the Seoul concert indefinitely due to concerns over the spread of COVID19.

“Mr. Trot” Concert advertisement.

However, the concert in Cheongju was performed as scheduled. The production company announced that it would prevent the spread of COVID-19 by using a social distancing seat system, making it mandatory to wear masks, measuring body temperature, and banning all food except for water. Still, the photo reveals that these measures seem not to have been taken seriously.

Cheongju is applying the first level of social distancing. As such, there is no regulation on seating or restrictions on operating hours for performance halls. Therefore, many Cheongju residents are worried that COVID-19 will further spread as audience members travel from Seoul to Cheongju.

Mr. Trot‘s Top 6 at the 2020 Melon Music Awards. | @melon/Twitter

Netizens criticized the show for being irresponsible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • “Are they lawless?”
  • I can’t believe them.”
  • “There’s no social distancing and the people are packed in.” 
  • “I guess it doesn’t matter since Cheongju is still at stage 1.”
  • “I feel that wearing a mask in the subway might be safer than there.” 
Source: Yonhap News, Wikitree, FMKorea and Image