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Cortis asks fans to put phones down, Park rents one

8/7/2026

37 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Cortis asked Incheon concertgoers on 18 July to put their phones down.
Park Ji-yeon rented a top-tier smartphone to film despite the request.
Many attendees spent over one million won ($700; £520) on tickets, travel and lodging.
Cortis softened the request on day two, allowing filming if fans enjoyed the concert together.
The tour, by BigHit Music, began on 18 July and will visit New York, Los Angeles and Seoul.

History

Historical Context

TVXQ’s 2008 surge, marked by the Korean Commission of Youth Protection deeming their song “Mirotic” unsuitable for minors, sparked early regulatory scrutiny of K-pop performances. Their 2012 Tone tour drew 550,000 fans, showing the market’s size. The 2009 Seoul court ruling in the JYJ-SM contract dispute further tightened industry controls. Building on that legacy, BigHit Music asked fans to silence phones at its 2024 concert.

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Story summary

Cortis asked Incheon concertgoers on 18 July to put their phones down.
Park Ji-yeon rented a top-tier smartphone to film despite the request.
Many attendees spent over one million won ($700; £520) on tickets, travel and lodging.
Cortis softened the request on day two, allowing filming if fans enjoyed the concert together.
The tour, by BigHit Music, began on 18 July and will visit New York, Los Angeles and Seoul.

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