Sophia Michaels
In light of the coronavirus surge, BTS’ management company canceled the group’s upcoming live performances in Seoul. However, some fans across the globe are wondering whether or not their concert date will be impacted. Here’s what we know about the Map of the Soul tour and how artists are responding to coronavirus.
BTS canceled their tour dates in South Korea over coronavirus fears
The first stop on BTS’ world tour was Seoul’s Olympic Stadium, where they planned to perform for multiple nights. Due to the high volume of coronavirus cases in the country, and the large crowds that usually accompany BTS events, Big Hit Entertainment decided the cancel the performances.
“BTS’s ‘Map of the Soul Tour – Seoul’, originally scheduled to take place on April 11-12 and April 18-19 at Olympic Stadium, has been canceled due to the worldwide spread of the Coronavirus (COVID19,)” Big Hit Entertainment said in a statement.
Coronavirus caused other artists to cancel live performances, including Madonna, Khalid, Miley Cyrus, and Pearl Jam. It led many BTS fans to wonder how the Map of the Soul tour would be impacted for other dates and venues.
Big Hit Entertainment has not canceled any other BTS live performances
While fans weren’t exactly excited about the canceled tour dates, some took to social media, sharing their love with the K-pop group. Of course, health and safety is the top priority for everyone.
This would not the first time coronavirus impacted BTS’ live events. To promote their album, Map of the Soul: 7, the K-pop group initially planned to hold a press conference live from South Korea. It was later moved to be a live-streamed event, broadcasted over YouTube.
Big Hit Entertainment has not yet announced if any other tour dates are canceled. BTS still plans to tour in North America, some parts of Europe, and parts of Asia.
“While we hope that the situation will improve, we must take into consideration the health and safety of hundreds of thousands of guests, as well as our artists and the dire impact as last-minute cancellations, may have on guests from overseas, production companies and staff,” Big Hit Entertainment Company stated.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lapF4DQPKQ?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]
The BTS members responded to the cancelation of their Seoul performances
Some celebrities, including Suga from BTS, donated money to coronavirus relief efforts. As a result, fans from across the world followed the k-pop idol’s example, reportedly donating over $300,000. During one V Live, RM commented on the canceled Seoul dates, saying he “burst into tears” when he heard the news.
“We prepared a lot for it. There was so much we wanted to show you,” RM continued, according to a translation from allkpop. Presumably, more information will be announced regarding the Map of the Soul tour within the coming weeks. As of Mar. 11, performances across the United States and Europe are still on.
Music by BTS, including their recently released album Map of the Soul: 7, is available on most major streaming platforms.
Written by: CheatSheet
