"Ah! Tess-hyung! This Is Not Right"... Na Hoon-a Concert Ultimately Canceled Due to COVID-19 Impact

4000-Person Na Hoon-a Busan Concert Ultimately Banned
Busan Civic Group "Na Hoon-a Throws a Tantrum"
Shin Dae-cheol Criticizes "Younger Artists Cancel Even Small Shows"

Singer Na Hoon-a. Photo by KBS Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Singer Na Hoon-a's Busan concert has ultimately been canceled. The concert, originally scheduled to be held at Busan BEXCO, was planned to take place six times over three days, with an audience of 4,000 people each time. However, as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Busan recently exceeded 100 and the spread intensified, the government ultimately banned performances at unregistered venues such as gyms and parks in non-metropolitan areas.

Previously, Na Hoon-a was set to hold the 'Na Hoon-a AGAIN Tess-hyung - Busan' concert at the Busan BEXCO Exhibition Center from the 23rd to the 25th. However, since thousands of people would gather in a limited space, many expressed concerns that "the concert could become a new infection hotspot."

In particular, criticism grew stronger as Busan recorded the highest daily number of new COVID-19 cases. As of midnight on the 21st, Busan reported 100 new confirmed cases, breaking the previous record of 82 new cases.

In response, Busan Gyeongnam Future Policy issued a press release stating, "In the face of the heightened anxiety of the entire nation and fragile quarantine measures, singer Na Hoon-a is being stubborn," and criticized, "Where is the responsible attitude of the national singer who moved the hearts of the entire nation with Tess-hyung? It is wrong for Busan City and the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) to suffer silently due to Na Hoon-a's stubbornness."

Singer Na Hoon-a. Photo by Yea Ra Ye So Ri

They continued, "The quarantine authorities should set up a temporary screening clinic at the concert venue BEXCO and establish a zero-tolerance policy for legal action against Na Hoon-a's side if COVID-19 cases related to the concert occur."

Musician Shin Dae-chul also raised his voice of criticism toward Na Hoon-a on his Facebook, saying, "Juniors are canceling performances with only a few dozen attendees," and asked, "As the king of singers, don't you need the virtue of restraint at least once?"

Earlier, despite the spread of COVID-19, Na Hoon-a's side proceeded with the Daegu concert as scheduled last week. The concert was held six times over three days, twice a day from the 16th, with an estimated total audience of over 20,000 people.

Regarding this, Na Hoon-a expressed his determination to proceed with the performance at the last Daegu concert, saying, "Let's see who wins, COVID or me."

As the controversy grew, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced at a regular briefing on the 21st, "From 0:00 on the 22nd to 24:00 on August 1, performances held at registered venues in non-metropolitan areas are allowed on the condition that 'performance venue quarantine rules' are followed, but all indoor and outdoor performances held at other locations are prohibited."

With this measure, performances held in gyms, parks, convention centers, and the like are completely banned, making it impossible for Na Hoon-a's concert to take place.

Additionally, the 'Mr. Trot TOP6 Concert' scheduled at BEXCO on the 30th of this month is also expected to be canceled. If the event is forcibly held, it will be subject to punishment for violating administrative orders under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.