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K-pop group's 'Put Your Phone Down' plea sparks fan debate
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Culture & Society

K-pop group's 'Put Your Phone Down' plea sparks fan debate

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • K-pop group Cortis is encouraging fans to put down their phones and engage with live performances during their "Put Your Phone Down" world tour.
  • The request has sparked debate, with some fans prioritizing capturing memories and content over being fully present.
  • The group has slightly softened its message, emphasizing enjoying the concert experience together rather than a strict prohibition on filming.

K-pop group Cortis is challenging a deeply ingrained fan behavior: the constant use of smartphones during concerts. Their "Put Your Phone Down" world tour, which kicked off in Incheon on July 18, urges fans to look up from their screens and immerse themselves in the live performance.

I said, put your phones down.

— Cortis memberRepeating the request more loudly when it was not fully heeded.

However, this plea has met with mixed reactions. During a recent concert, band members repeatedly asked the audience to lower their phones, but thousands of screens remained aloft. While some fans complied, many continued to film, highlighting the difficulty of breaking this habit within K-pop culture, where documenting performances is common.

For some fans, like 22-year-old Park Ji-yeon, capturing high-quality footage is crucial for preserving memories. She rented a premium smartphone specifically for the concerts, stating, "I stood at the very front and couldn't bring myself to put my phone down because I don't know if I'll ever have this opportunity again." She views filming as a way to retain memories that might otherwise fade.

I stood at the very front and couldn't bring myself to put my phone down because I don't know if I'll ever have this opportunity again.

— Park Ji-yeonExplaining her reason for continuing to film during the concert.

Others, like 25-year-old Kim Ga-eun, observed fans in the standing area enjoying the music and dancing without their phones, suggesting a different way to experience the concert. "People in the back of the standing area were having a great time, dancing together. I think that really reflected the true idea of the concert," she noted.

People in the back of the standing area were having a great time, dancing together. I think that really reflected the true idea of the concert.

— Kim Ga-eunObserving fans who were fully engaged with the performance without using their phones.

Recognizing the fan response, Cortis has subtly adjusted its message. While the initial call was more direct, the second day of the concert saw the band acknowledge fans' desire to film. "We understand why you want to film, so let's just make sure we are all enjoying the concert together," Kim recalled the revised message. The group clarified that filming isn't forbidden but emphasized the importance of the shared live experience, framing "Put Your Phone Down" more as a mindset than a strict rule.

The message on the first day sounded more like: 'Let's put our phones down and have fun together.' On the second day, it changed slightly: 'We understand why you want to film, so let's just make sure we are all enjoying the concert together.'

— Kim Ga-eunDescribing the evolution of the group's message regarding phone usage at concerts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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