With The Most Popular Concerts Including SEVENTEEN, Tickets Are War. Users Are Only Allowed To Purchase One Ticket Per Day, And Fan Club Members Get Priority Entry.
SEVENTEEN (II) recently announced their live concert, “BE THE SUN”. The concert will be held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on June 25 and 26, 2022. In connection with the concert, fans are once again turning their criticisms on HYBE.
With the most popular concerts including SEVENTEEN, tickets are war. Users are only allowed to purchase one ticket per day, and fan club members get priority entry. When the ticket rules and instructions were released, fans realized that there was a lack of instruction and consideration for fans who needed to move around in a wheelchair.
For South Korean concerts, it is usual protocol that there is a special area or seat reserved for those using a wheelchair, and their guardian will automatically get an adjacent seat. “BE THE SUN” failed to provide this rule for fans who use wheelchairs. When asked, the agency gave a statement explaining the protocol.
“All concertgoers must use online reservations to book tickets and for concertgoers who require a wheelchair, they can contact the customer service center after placing their order and we will exchange them for a wheelchair. While the same standards apply to their companion, we will make the conditions are such that it will be quite comfortable even without an escort. The staff will help them move in and out. Inside the concert hall as well, staff will be available so there will be no inconvenience for them,” said Pledis Entertainment.
While wheelchair fans who have already secured tickets can contact the concert team to exchange their tickets for seats reserved for those using wheelchairs, what will be difficult for them is their guardian to secure tickets as well.
Given the difficult battle for tickets, it was unlikely that their guardians would succeed either. Even the possibility, both the guardian and the fan will have to be part of the fan club, which has been called unrealistic. Fans complained that the new rules only took effect after Pledis was acquired with HYBE.
“I miss Pledis. HYBE. What can they do right?” fan comments. “It’s always been like that since BigHit so talk about wheelchairs always comes up from time to time but it doesn’t become a controversy. This time, it’s different from before only Pledis, so it appears and becomes a controversy so I hope this will be feedback,” said fans other. “HYBE is a money thief,” said another.
The news comes at a bad time with South Korea rife with a lack of action for people with disabilities. Protests have been held in the city seeking a response. Director Hong Yoon Hee of the cooperative that creates content for the rights of people with disabilities in South Korea also spoke up about the controversy.
Hong Yoon Hee said, “My wheelchair-bound daughter is a fan of singers at HYBE. It’s not that Gocheok Dome doesn’t have a wheelchair. I don’t know the reason why they have to operate this really good chair so picky,” said Hong Yoon Hee.