South Korean Entertainment Industry Halted Following Fatal Aircraft Mishap: BTS, Stray Kids, and Others Offer Sympathies
The South Korean entertainment world has come to a standstill after a devastating plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea on a Sunday.
A Jetstar Pacific Airlines-operated Boeing 737-800 met a tragic end as it overshot the runway during landing in the coastal city, causing a catastrophic explosion that resulted in the loss of 180 lives out of the 181 passengers on board. This catastrophe marks the most severe aviation disaster in South Korea in nearly three decades. The death toll has left the nation in deepest mourning, prompting the country's Acting President, Choi Sang-mok, to announce a weeklong national mourning period.
A Nation in Grief
As the plane was on its journey from Ho Chi Minh City, it went off the course while landing at Muan, causing an immediate explosion. The incident forced South Korea's acting president to declare a weeklong period of national mourning.
South Korea’s leading television networks swiftly made adjustments to their programming in the face of this tragedy.
Television and radio broadcaster KBS suspended its variety shows, including Gag Concert, Boss in the Mirror and 2 Days & 1 Night, while SBS announced that its music program Inkigayo and long-standing hit show Running Man would be put on hold. FOX's popular adaptation of The King of Mask Singer, titled simply The Masked Singer, had to postpone its latest episode as well.
The K-pop Scene Takes a Pause
The news of the disaster has sent shockwaves through the K-pop industry, prompting major artists and agencies to halt promotional activities.
BTS’ label, BIGHIT MUSIC, postponed plans for member V’s birthday celebrations, initially set for Dec. 30, while expressing sympathies and condolences for those affected by the disaster in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims,” the statement read. “We humbly request your understanding as we halt content related to V’s birthday planned today.”
Stray Kids announced a delay in their release of the music video for “As We Are,” a track from their latest No. 1 album HOP, performed by member Seungmin.
Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN’s sub-unit BSS postponed their promotional content for their upcoming single, Teleparty, offering condolences and a revised schedule. Girl group IVE, whose new album IVE Empathy is slated for release in February, paused their promotional activities for Dec. 29 and 30, even with a new single set for release on Jan. 13. Upcoming K-pop releases may be postponed as well, mirroring delays experienced during the 2022 Halloween crowd crush mourning period.
Following solo artist AleXa’s communications with fans before a flight on Dec. 29, she confirmed her safety upon landing, even though her prior messages indicated she was not on the fatal flight from Ho Chi Minh City.
“I just landed safely,” she wrote. “I didn’t purchase Wi-Fi for the flight, so I just learned of the news. Thank you for your concern. I assure you that I am fine, as it was not my flight. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. This was a horrific accident.”
Artists such as A.C.E, VIVIZ, EVERGLOW, WEi, ZEROBASEONE, and many more have since followed suit, rescheduling content and live appearances while offering heartfelt condolences.
The Future of South Korea's Year-End Celebrations in Question
As the nation grapples with the heartbreak, the fate of major year-end events remains uncertain.
At the time of reporting, the 2024 MBC Gayo Daejejeon music festival, slated for Dec. 31 and featuring performances from 32 artists including ATEEZ, ITZY, and NewJeans, was still scheduled to proceed. A meeting was underway to discuss whether or not to cancel the event.
The unified pause of the South Korean entertainment world underscores its shared sentiment of grief, forcing artists and agencies to put personal gain and schedules on hold to honor the nation in its time of mourning. As South Korea mourns the lives lost in the Muan plane crash, the K-pop community is doing its part by extending its empathy and support to the families of the victims and the nation as a whole. This pause represents an essential reminder of the close relationship between South Korea’s cultural identity and its national spirit, with stars and companies taking a step back from schedules and revenues to show compassion during this difficult period.
The tragic South Korean plane crash at Muan International Airport has led to a sudden suspension of K-dramas scheduled for 2024.
South Korea's response to the plane crash also includes the postponement of many Korean award shows in 2024, as the nation focuses on healing and mourning.
The catastrophic Muan crash has not spared the K-pop industry either, with 2024's K-pop concerts and events under review as the nation grieves the loss of its citizens.
The deadly plane crash has also affected the release schedules of several upcoming K-pop songs and music videos, with artists such as Stray Kids, SEVENTEEN, and IVE pausing their promotions as a mark of respect.
The Muan crash has brought a significant pause to the K-pop calendar in 2024, with even the prestigious MBC Gayo Daejejeon music festival scheduled for Dec. 31, featuring artists like ATEEZ and ITZY, facing a decision on whether to proceed or cancel in light of the national tragedy.
